holland america cruise hacks

• Holland America

My 11 essential Holland America Tips and Tricks for Cruisers

by Gary Bembridge · October 31, 2013

In this article I share my 11 essential Holland America tips and tricks for cruisers thinking of cruising with this line. They are based on my decade of cruising experiences and a Mediterranean cruise on Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. Drawing on both of these, I have put together 11 essential tips to help anyone considering cruising with the Holland America Line.

1: Ensure Holland America is the right cruise line for you.

My number one cruise tip is always to make sure you are going on the right cruise line. Lots of cruise lines can take you to the same or similar places, but the experience, accommodation, fellow passengers, activities and services provided will differ greatly. If you get it wrong you may have miserable time. If you get it right it will make your vacation magical.

In my view, Holland America is perfect for people who enjoy a sophisticated and refined environment. It is important to note the following when considering if they are the line for you:

• Holland America is built on a heritage of 140 years of transporting passengers around the world. They try to retain some of the traditions of cruising into its on board offer. It provides an up-market experience. You will find a focus on food with fine dining and cooking demonstrations. You will find decor that is subdued and full of art and maritime artifacts.  You will find entertainment that focuses on the classical and classics, with most passengers preferring to sit around the piano in the piano bar singing popular tunes than disco dancing the night away. You will find talks about the history and culture of destinations. You will not find water slides, high energy on deck games and round-the-clock partying.
• Despite the line’s Dutch roots, most of the passengers will be American. Though most cruises can have up to 40 or 50 different nationalities on board. In the European summer season the British and the Commonwealth countries, like Australia and Canada, are well represented.
• The language spoken on board is English in all announcements and publications, although they will cater for other language groups as needed. The entertainment caters for a North American and English speaking sensibility in my view.

For people new to cruising it is worth thinking of Holland America as an alternative to staying in a smart five star hotel.

2: Make sure you chose the right cruise itinerary.

The passenger profile changes based on the itinerary and this is worth bearing in mind when considering which cruise will be best for you. The following is worth noting:

• Passenger profile tends to be in their early 60s as an average, with many couples or solo travellers in their 50s, 60s and up to 70s on board.
• The average age reduces in school vacation time when more families come on board. You will find quite a few children and families on the ships in peak holiday periods.
• The age profile also reduces in the Caribbean when younger couples looking for a calm and sophisticated break chose this line.
• The age profile increases on the repositioning transatlantic crossings and on the long grand voyages. This is due to the time of the year that they happen in and the time required which means they best suits people with plenty of leisure time.

3: Make sure you sign up for their emails with offers and promotions.

Holland America emails provide regular updates on deals, promotions and offers. They are invaluable for finding the best cruise deals. Sign up for them on the website. They will often have offers targeted at different types of travellers, such as solo travellers or families, and so are really worth looking out for if you fall into these traveller types.

They are also very active in social media with an active cruise blog with news and reports from the ships and passengers as well as being on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

4: Make sure you chose the right dining option and approach.

You can chose to either have fixed seating at one of the two set dining times in the main restaurant (on the Nieuw Amsterdam this was upstairs in the Manhattan Restaurant) or you can also chose to opt into the any time dining. This means no fixed table, and the flexibility on dining time each evening. I think the latter is better – as you can then chose when to dine based on how busy your day has been.

5: Make sure you get insider tips and all your answers and concerns answered by experienced Holland America cruisers before you book and before your cruise.

I strongly recommend that you follow the Holland America Line forum on CruiseCritic.com . There is a wealth of advice from past passengers who will answer every question you possibly have, and will give you advice. You should sign up for the Roll Call for your cruise and also for the “Meet & Greet” that will take place on board. In these roll calls passengers provide tips on getting good airline deals, arrange to share transfers, plan to go on the same excursions – and may even make plans to group together and self tour if there is someone with lots of knowledge of the destination being visited.

Also make sure you review my tips for travellers on cruising with Holland America !

6: Make sure you budget correctly to get the cruise experience you really want to have.

While your accommodation, meals and entertainment is included in your fare, you should also make sure you include in your budget allowances for things that may be important to creating the sort of cruise experience you will enjoy. These may include:

• Speciality dining . While meals in The Lido, main restaurant and room service are included in your fare, there are a number of restaurants on the ships offering special menus that require an additional charge. For example, on the Nieuw Amsterdam these included The Pinnacle Grill serving large steaks and The Tamarind serving Asian fusion.
• Private pool cabanas . On the Nieuw Amsterdam there are some located pool side, but also there is the Cabana Club which is a private space overlooking the pool. This private deck area serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon treats and you have seating areas and loungers.
• Excursions . If you want to go on escorted excursions in ports of call you need to budget for between about $50 and $150 per person for each excursion. Many ports will have free bus transfers into town, but not all. Check with your agent or Holland America when booking for your budget.
• Transfers to and from the ship before and after the cruise.
• Entertainment such as gambling.
• Duty free shopping on board, and in ports.
• Spa treatments .
• I nternet access . As on all ships this is fairly costly. I had a package that cost around $100 for 250 minutes, although you can also buy smaller and larger packages.

When budgeting remember that gratuities will be added onto your bill on board automatically.

7: Review and Pre book as much as you can before you go on your cruise, including excursions, spa and speciality dining.

You are able to pre book many of your on board activities and excursions before your cruise. You should be able to book from about 90 days before the cruise and up to about 3 days before online. It is worth doing this to ensure you get your first choices and ensure you have what you want to do confirmed.

8: When packing make sure you bring the right clothes for the dress code on your cruise.

There are 2 main dress codes for the evenings. There will usually be around one formal night per seven nights (dark suits and tie or tuxedo for men and formal or cocktail dresses for women) and smart casual other nights (which does not mean jeans but does mean short sleeve polo style shirts for men and smart but informal dresses for women). Make sure you have clothes to cover these evenings in addition to your day vacation wear.

9: Get involved in and take part in the “On Location” activities on board during your cruise.

Holland America have introduced an “On Location” program to bring more of the ports of call and region experience onto the ship. Each day there will be a range of activities which can include local drinks and food events, talks about the destination, local entertainment and local goods to buy. They are advertised in the daily program. I went to some amazing events and parties with incredible food.

10: Attend and enjoy the free activities and services provided by Holland America on board partners.

The cruise line has a number of partnerships with experts and famous brands and they provide free activities and events. These include:

• Digital Workshop with Windows
• Explorations Cafe, Cyber cafe and library with New York Times. You can view the paper and website for free on the computers in the cyber cafe.
• Culinary Arts Center with Food and Wine magazine, with regular free cooking demonstrations.
• “Dancing with the Stars”, in association with the popular TV dance competition there will be lessons on dances from the show and a competition that runs through most cruises to find the dance champions for each one.

11: Watch the on-board TV channel to get information, insights and tips about the cruise, the ship, special activities, promotions and the destinations.

Often overlooked, this is the channel on the in-room TV that runs a daily program presented by the Cruise Director featuring events and activities. They also run the talks and presentations by the “On Location” port experts and cruise sales team. I learnt so much by having the channel on every time I was in my cabin, getting up in the morning and getting ready for dinner. I highly recommend doing the same.

Have you cruised on Holland America? If so what other essential tips would you add to this list?

Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam Atrium

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I travelled as a guest of Holland America Cruises on their MS Nieuw Amsterdam ship on a 7 Night Mediterranean Cruise from Barcelona visiting Naples, Palermo, Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence/ Pisa), and Toulon. Holland America are a Premium Cruise line with Dutch origins dating back to 1873.

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Gary Bembridge

I grew up in Zimbabwe, but I have been based in London since 1987. My travel life spans more than three decades and that includes more than 95 cruises. In 2005, I launched Tips for Travellers to make it easy and fun for people to discover, plan and enjoy incredible cruise vacations. And the rest, as they say, is history. I have the largest cruise vlogger channel currently on YouTube, with more than 3 million video views per month.

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Did 11 days last March on Zuiderdam on a Caribbean cruise and had a great time. This March will be 14 days on Rotterdam, same area different ports to relax and vacation. Im in a wheelchair so getting around and finding shore excursions has been tricky. My wife is able bodied so she can help me. Looking forward to a great vacation in March. Dr. Alan Mandel and Joan Fifield

Good to hear you had a good time, and hope your next trip is great. usually Holland America are good at having tours that work for people in wheelchairs but in the Caribbean I guess more challenging as so many can be focused around beach time and active pursuits. keep me posted on how it goes and what ports you go to as I could perhaps try and build up recommendations for ports for people looking for wheelchair friendly and engaging tours> gary

I really like Holland America-I’ve got 49 cruising days with them over the years, but now I’m a widow. Now if I want to take a cruise I must pay for a non existent traveling companion. Are there any cruise lines that do not apply such a penalty? Thanks.

Hi George, The Queen Mary 2 has quite a few single rooms for solo travellers. When they did their big upgrade a couple of years ago, they added many more. We’ve sailed on this ship twice. It’s been wonderful.

I’d recommend an update to this great article. Things like the Holland America app help plan your day on board and I’ve found on the last three cruises, it’s usually cheaper to book spa activities onboard.

With the newest ships, Holland appears to of blended upscale amenities with classic culture. I think it aged down with these two newest ships. Something that is hard to say about Holland America.

[…] 11 essential Holland America Tips and Tricks for Cruisers from Tips For Travelers […]

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My mom and I cruise a LOT on Holland America crseiu line. And by a LOT – I mean 2-3 times a year. That’s not a lot if you are a loyal member of the Holland America fan club who cruises for 2-3 months out of a year, but I’d say it’s enough to qualify me as a seasoned and well-traveled Holland America cruiser .

If you want tips and tricks to make the most out of your Holland America cruise, then continue reading.

This Holland America Cruise Tips & Tricks guide includes:

• Tips on how to get the best dining room experience
• The best cabins on Holland America ships
• Tricks to avoid crowds on Holland America cruises
• How to save money on a Holland America Cruise

This post may contain affiliate links. View the disclosure here .

Tips and Tricks for Cruising on Holland America Ships

Alright, let’s dive right in! These tips are a few of the insider’s secrets for cruising on Holland America ships.

P.S. – Have a Holland America cruise ship tip and trick you are willing to share? Please scroll down to the bottom of this post and leave a comment. 😊

1. Board Early Around 11:30 am

The official time to board Holland America cruise ships may be around 12 pm, but you can actually board early.

If you get to the cruise port before 12 pm, you’ll avoid all the lines and be able to walk on board the ship without waiting.

Plus, you’ll be able to make your way to the Lido for your first free meal of the day without any lines.

2. Pay for Unlimited Laundry

My mom and I get the unlimited laundry on the ship (a benefit of being a 4-star mariner), but it may be worth it to pay the $50 for unlimited laundry on a 7-day cruise.

You can even get on board and have dirty laundry washed! (Not recommended – but I have heard of cruisers doing this).

The laundry service on Holland America is amazing. They hang your clothes on hangers for you and neatly fold your underwear and socks.

Plus, it’s kind of nice having fresh-smelling laundry every day on a cruise.

3. Get Coffee at the Crow’s Nest (Explorations Lounge, Deck 11)

The coffee in the Lido isn’t very good. It’s gotten better over the years, but it’s still not that great. Some may say it is horrible.

Instead, head up to the Crow’s Nest and get a coffee, cappuccino, or latte from the Exploration Lounge.

If you are willing to pay $4-5 for a coffee, I highly recommend going to the Crow’s Nest each morning for coffee. The ladies are always really nice up there, and they will deliver your coffee to you while you take a seat…and usually give you a nice glass of water and a biscotti too.

Or, bring your own packets of instant Starbucks coffee and a coffee mug to make your own coffee each morning.

4. Eat on the OTHER Side of the Lido

Depending on the time of day, it can get crowded in the Lido!

Grab your food and then walk to the other side of the Lido, where they aren’t serving food, and sit there.

It will be quiet and you’ll get excellent service from the Lido staff.

My mom and I usually sit in the area for the Canaletto for breakfast and lunch. It’s quiet and very cute!

5. Enjoy the View in the Crow’s Nest

It’s so nice to get an unobstructed view of the ocean, and the quietest and most relaxing place on a cruise ship is on one of the leather seats in the Crow’s Nest.

It’s usually pretty empty up there, very quiet, and quite relaxing. It’s also a great place to read a book.

6. Go to the Pool at 4pm

Holland America ships aren’t as crowded as other cruise ships, especially when it comes to the pool (there are generally fewer kids on Holland America ships), but the pool can still be a bit busy at times.

Wait until 4pm to go to the pool. You’ll avoid the crowds, and your skin will thank you too.

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7. Get an Assigned Dinner Table vs. Open Dining

You have the option to eat anytime on Holland America ships, but I find it to be much, much nicer to get an assigned table each night.

That way, your waiter will get to know you, you get excellent service, and you get to eat with the same folks every night, should you decide to pick a table to eat with others.

8. Ask for a Dinner Table by the Window

My mom and I always request a table in the back of the dining room, right by the window. These tables are usually for 4-6 people, so you need to be okay eating with others, but the view is spectacular!

9. Choose Your Dining Time Wisely

The later dining time (around 8 pm vs. 5 pm) is very popular on Holland America cruise ships. If you enjoy going to happy hour, seeing a show, and then eating – go ahead and get the later dining time. People also tend to dress up fancier on the gala night if they have a later dinner reservation.

If you want to eat when the dining room is less crowded and see the show after dinner, go ahead and get the earlier dining time.

My mom and I personally prefer to eat early, go on a stroll around the deck, and then go to the show in the evening. Do what works for you!

10. Get a Cabin Mid-Ship Mid-Level

To avoid any rockiness in your stateroom at night, you ideally want to be mid-ship at mid-level. So if you are on a 12-deck Holland America ship, you probably want to be on deck 5 or 6.

But honestly…it doesn’t really matter much in my opinion.

Last cruise, my mom and I were at the very back of the ship by the dining room, and it didn’t bother me at all. Similarly, many of the fancy staterooms are on Deck 10 or 11, so it can’t be that bad!

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11. Get Good Water in the Relaxation Lounge (Deck 9)

A little hidden secret is that there is a relaxation lounge outside the gym for people waiting for a spa treatment. If you want the best water on the ship, go there!

You’ll find cucumber or lemon-infused water and a selection of teas and hot water as well. Plus, it is usually empty and quiet there.

12. Ask for Turn Down Service

Holland America cruise ships used to always provide turn down service at night. I personally love it! Turn down service includes turning down your sheets (literally), a really cute towel animal, a chocolate on each bed, the curtains closed, and your night light turned on.

To save money, many cruises (including Holland America) have stopped the turn down service. This is such a shame, as the towel animals are the best!

Simply ask your state room attendant for turn down service and you won’t be disappointed. It feels so luxurious!

The BEST Silk Pajamas for Women (and these silk PJs are under $25 on Amazon)

13. Put Décor on Your Stateroom Door

It can be a bit tricky to know whether to turn left or right when you exit the elevator, and to find your room!

Make your life easy by adding a magnet or a small ribbon on your cabin door. It will help your fellow passengers find their rooms as well!

14. Leave a Comment on the Navigator App

One thing that I love about Holland America is that they take customer satisfaction seriously . In my opinion, Holland America is better than Disney when it comes to excellent customer service!

If your stateroom attendant, dining room server, or another staff member goes above and beyond – go ahead and leave them a positive review within the Navigator App. It’s not the most logical place to go…you need to click on “Connect” within the app, and then click on the thumbs up icon that says, “Let Us Know.”

Similarly, if you are dissatisfied with something while on board, leave a comment. A crew member will fix it right away!

15. Get to Know the Lido Staff

The Lido staff are absolutely wonderful on Holland America cruise ships, and they are even better if you give them a smile each morning!

I personally LOVE blueberries, but the Lido only had strawberries each day. I told a staff member that I love strawberries each morning, but that what I really love it blueberries too.

The next day, she had a huge bowl of strawberries and another bowl of blueberries below the counter waiting for me.

So you never know…the Lido staff are really good and sweet and make your whole cruise incredible if you smile each day and get to know them.

16. Buy Shares of Carnival Stock for a $100 Credit

If you buy 100 shares of Carnival stock, you get a $100 on-board credit to spend on the ship. It’s totally worth it! All you have to do is buy the shares and them mail it to Holland America 3-4 weeks ahead of time.

It’s a bit tricky to know where to send proof of stock ownership to, so I included the detailed instructions below.

Holland America Cruise Credit Instructions for Owning Carnival Stock

Carnival Corporation offers the following benefit to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 Carnival Corp. or Carnival plc shares.

Per cabin onboard credit offer is:

• $250 for sailings 14 nights or longer
• $100 for sailings 7-13 nights
• $50 for sailings 6 nights or less

To redeem shareholder benefit, Holland America must receive the required info at least three weeks prior to the sail date.

The traveling shareholder must provide:

• Reservation number
• Ship and sailing date
• Proof of ownership (e.g., account from Fidelity showing proof of stock ownership)

Mail to Holland America at:

Holland America Line

World Cruise Reservations

450 Third Ave. W.

Seattle, WA 98119

You can also email Holland America at [email protected]. This is what I personally do!

Note: If both people in a cabin own Carnival stock, you can't "double up" on credit. The Carnival Shareholder benefit is limited to one per reservation.

17. Buy Jewelry at the Shops on the Last Sea Day

The shops on Holland America cruise lines are always fun to look at. If you wait until the last day, the cheaper jewelry (priced under $30) usually goes on sale for half price.

From this last cruise, my mom and I got blinging necklaces for only $4.88. Yes, you won’t find real diamonds for under $10 – but you will find fun jewelry that makes you smile for super cheap!

You can also buy the jewelry earlier on in the cruise, and then wear it to Gala night and feel like a princess .

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18. Go to the Flower Arranging Lecture

My mom and I skipped the flower arranging lecture during one of the Sea Days, but we should have gone!

We talked to two different ladies who each won a beautiful flower arrangement while attending the lecture. Not many people show up, so you have a pretty good chance of winning some beautiful flowers for your room.

19. Pack a Tupperware Container

I get hungry at night, but the midnight snacks are usually fried food and some fruit. If you get hungry at night and want to eat healthy, pack a small Tupperware container in your suitcase.

After dinner, I usually go up to the Lido and fill mine up with eggs, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and feta cheese .

If you want to be super healthy (or are just a weird eater, like me!), then pack a container to store healthy food in your fridge for any late-night cravings you may have.

20. Don’t Pay for Club Orange

I’m really not sure what you get for Club Orange…but it seems like a bit of a rip off in my opinion. You get a special line for guest services, which isn't really necessary.

You get a separate dining room for Club Orange members on some ships, but it’s not any nicer (I actually like it less!) than the normal dining room.

You may get priority for getting off the ship at each port, but you don’t really need that benefit on Holland America cruises.

Holland America also has a special colored menu for Club Orange members, but it’s exactly the same as what normal folks get!

21. Review the Wine and Beverage Packages

My mom and I don’t drink, but I will say that those that get the wine package on Holland America ships do seem to really like it. Holland America has a lot of options to choose from.

A common choice seems to be 4 bottles of wine per week. It’s enough alcohol that you can enjoy a glass at dinner each day (and some more), but it’s not so much alcohol that you will feel like you are wasting your money if you don’t get 6+ drinks a day.

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22. Book Your Spa Treatments Before You Board the Cruise Ship

Many of the spa treatments get filled early, so book before you board the ship if you don’t want to be stuck with a spa treatment on a day while at port – or at a time that conflicts with your dinner time or a show.

I’d personally recommend booking your appointments for around 10am on a sea day.

If you like the hydrotherapy pool, it’s also cheaper if you book before boarding the ship. Just make sure to book a week ahead of time, as Holland America stops selling spa treatments online about 3 days before departure.

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23. Go to the First Gala Dinner in the Main Dining Room

Most Holland America 1-week cruises have two Gala nights (usually on a Sea Day).

Recently, I’ve found that they only have filet and lobster on the first Gala night. So if you are going to skip one of the Gala nights, make sure it is the second one and not the first.

I also find that more people tend to dress up for the first Gala night, and then get more relaxed when the second one rolls around.

The Best Plus Size Formal Dresses for a Cruise Gala Night

24. Get the Hydrotherapy Pool Package if You Love Hot Tubs

The hot tubs on Holland America ships (and most cruise lines) aren’t particularly hot, and they are usually crowded. If you love hot tubs and relaxing, it’s definitely worth it to get unlimited access to the hydrotherapy pool for a week.

I personally don’t go, but my mom goes every day, and she loves it! She has joint problems and bad arthritis, and 15-20 minutes of running the hot water over her joints and muscles per day works magic. Really. My mom has had foot problems and the hydrotherapy pool has worked wonders for her.

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25. Ask for Fresh Fruit at Dinner for Dessert

If you don’t want to gain weight on your cruise, then you can order a fresh bowl of fruit or berries for dessert. It’s not on the dessert menu, but your dining room server can accommodate the request.

Each night, my mom and I order bowls of mixed berries for dessert, and it’s such a popular thing to do that our dining table guests usually follow our lead and start doing the same!

Weight Loss Tip: Order the salmon at dinner each night with steamed veggies for a low-calorie and healthy dinner. Make sure to ask for no butter and no oil, as the cruise ships add those to most foods.

26. Pack Your Own Beach Bag

Holland America usually gives guests a free beach bag in their rooms, but it is bright and blue with “Holland America” on the side, and it screams tourist!

Instead, I always pack my own beach bag with a zipper for carrying onshore. The best beach bags have a zipper (for your cash, cabin key card, and ID) and are plenty big to hold a big beach towel , sunblock, and a bottle of water.

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27. Keep Your Phone on Airplane Mode

Unless you want to accidentally be stuck with a high cell phone bill, remember to put your phone on airplane boat while at sea.

You’ll also want to check your cell phone plan before traveling. My mom and I have T-Mobile and it’s usually $0.25/minute to talk while at the cruise ports and free to text.

Just don’t count on getting internet on your phone while at port. Unless you can connect to a local free wi-fi, your internet connection may be so slow you can check email, but that’s about it.

28. Ask the Room Steward to Empty the Fridge

If you aren’t a fan of paying for bottled beverages and what-not, you can ask your room steward to empty the fridge.

My mom and I request this right away when we first board the ship, and then there is plenty of room to keep fresh fruit and any snacks you have picked up in the Lido.

29. Read the Reviews Online Before Booking an Excursion

Some of the excursions on Holland America cruises are good, and some are mostly riding around in a semi-hot bus for 2-hours seeing the local town, which sometimes doesn’t include much to see.

You can’t read the reviews for the excursions while on the ship, so make sure to do your research ahead of time.

I’d also highly recommend seeing how far away the attraction is from where the ship will dock. One time I signed up for a 45-minute cave tubing adventure, but little did I know (as well as everyone else on the excursion) that the cave was a 2-hour drive away on a bus with no bathrooms. We were all so miserable on the way home!

30. Look Up Pictures of Your Cabin Before Booking

You can sometimes find pictures of the cabins online . Make sure you know what you are getting!

My mom and I personally always book a Verandah. We really like having a balcony where you can open the door and let in fresh air.

31. Go to Tea Time – And Arrive on Time

One fun (and unique) thing about Holland America ships is tea time! It’s usually around 3 pm on Sea Days. But make sure to show up no later than 3:20 pm. Tea time starts at 3 pm and usually ends promptly at 3:45 pm so that the waiters can start preparing for early dinner.

Additionally, they sometimes run out of a dessert or two later, so make sure to show up on time so that you get the complete experience with three plates of different sandwiches and delicious treats.

32. Go to the Gym Around 4 pm

Like the pool, the gym starts to get empty around 4pm. The good thing about Holland America ships is that the gym is almost always empty, but this is especially true around 4pm. You’ll have the whole gym to yourself, except for maybe some of the crew members (like the dancers, or a singer from the band) working out.

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33. Get a View of the Sunset on the Outdoor Jogging Track

For a spectacular view of the sunset at night, head up to Deck 11 on the jogging track for a beautiful view of the sunset!

34. Carry Your Own Luggage Off the Ship

You have the option to leave your luggage outside your door the night before arriving at port to get off the ship, but I find it MUCH easier to just bring your luggage off with you.

If you carry your own luggage off the ship, you can get off the ship when the ship is cleared, you don’t have to wait for your zone to be called, you avoid the long lines at customs, and you can pack easily pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, and your favorite comfy pajamas in your suitcase vs. doing it at the cruise terminal when you do pick up your luggage.

35. Catch at Flight Home Between 10:30 am and 1 pm

If possible, try to schedule your return flight home around 11 am.

Most of the time, Holland America cruise ships are cleared by 7:30 am (although last cruise we weren’t cleared to get off until 8:05 am). Customs is usually very quick with Holland America cruises (10 minutes max) and an Uber/Lyft from the cruise port to the Fort Lauderdale airport is usually 15 minutes.

For my last cruise, my mom and I got off the ship at 8:05 am, got to the airport by 8:35 am, and were at the gate by 8:45 am.

Summary – Holland America Tricks and Tips for the Best Cruise Experience

In summary, cruising with Holland America is a great, stress-free vacation. The Holland America crew will take care of you…REALLY good care of you and go above and beyond to ensure you have a 5 star experience aboard their ship.

But if you know a few of the extra tricks and tips, you can make your Holland America cruise even better.

FAQs about Sailing with Holland America Cruise Lines

Have a question about cruising with Holland America? Leave a comment below (scroll down to the bottom of this post) and I’ll happily help you out!

How much is tipping on Holland America?

Holland America automatically adds a gratuity of about $16-$18 per person per day. You can adjust that dollar amount up or down once onboard at the front desk.

You can also give your dining room attendant or dining room server additional tips in cash.

Is Holland America sailing at full capacity?

As of January 2022, Holland America is NOT sailing at full capacity. Our ship had a capacity of about 2,600 passengers, and only 1,600 were on board.

Is Holland America owned by Carnival?

Yes, Carnival purchased Holland America cruise lines in 1989.

Is Holland America a good cruise line?

Yes! I like it. I’ve sailed with Carnival, Viking, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, and Holland America has the best customer service by FAR in my opinion.

Holland America is also a very chill and relaxed cruise line. If you want to party or want a cruise ship with lots of activities, I would not recommend Holland America cruise line.

Is the Holland America website down?

No, the Holland America website works…it’s just horribly designed! I personally find it easier to find which sailings are available by heading on over to VacationsToGo.com

Is Holland America better than Celebrity cruises?

According to Cruise Critic reviews , Holland America is generally preferred by frequent cruisers over Celebrity cruises.

Some people say that Celebrity is a little bit better if you are paying for a premium cabin or if you want slightly nicer food at each meal.

What are the COVID rules for Holland America cruise lines?

If you are sailing with Holland America cruise lines, you will need to show 1) proof of vaccination and 2) a negative PCR or rapid test within 2 days of sailing.

Tip: CVS is great for rapid tests. Just make sure to sign up for your appointment a week in advance. Spots fill up quickly!

Is Holland America cruise line safe for traveling?

In my opinion, Holland America is the safest of all the cruise lines. Staff members are constantly wiping down surface areas, the ship gave everyone KN95 masks on our last cruise, and everyone wore their masks the entire time (and properly!).

What should I pack for a Holland America cruise?

You’ll want to pack a good book (even though the newer Holland America cruise ships have a library now), warm clothes for the morning/evening (sometimes it is cold on the ship), and plenty of cash for taxis in port.

Check out this master list of what to pack for your next cruise.

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Check out these related cruise and beach travel articles.

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Thanks for the tips! My husband and I are going on our first cruise in two years next week. So excited!

This may or may not be something that you are aware of but now eight or 10 weeks out from our Alaska cruise, we forgot a couple of the details. It seemed like there were several times during our time on the inside passage when the boat had to slow down to allow other pilots to embark to get us through certain territories? Do you know anything about that and are they pilots or captains from other countries that then give the cruise ship validity?

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Best Tips and Tricks for Holland America Cruises

There are many advantages to taking a cruise. Cruises make it easy to travel around the world. The ship is your hotel and transportation. Forget about airports, hotels, taxis, restaurants, tipping and hauling luggage around when cruising. Once aboard, there are no worries. Relax, grab a drink and eat, and enjoy the time on the ship. A cruise ship is relatively care-free compared to other forms of travel.

These are my best tips and tricks to know about cruises. This post is my fourth, in a series about Holland America cruising, and the final post. The links to the other posts in the series are at the bottom of this page.

Holland America Cruise Tips and Tricks

My best advice and tip about a cruise ship is to take time to pamper yourself. If a traveler wants a world-class tan or to sharpen poker skills, a cruise ship is a way to travel while doing both. People love the pool area, for swimming, lounging and spending hours tanning.

Does anybody like to have a spa treatment? Holland America pampers its guest in the ship’s spa.  In other words, regardless of your passion, from spa time to live entertainment, a cruise has it all. After a day in the sun, go to the spa or enjoy the evening shows. For those who are morning people, enjoy the sunrise from the deck. Anything is possible on a Holland America cruise. Holland America takes care of all the small details after boarding and on excursions.

Wining and Dining a Holland America Cruise

To avoid weight gain on a cruise, I recommend partaking in the sit-down breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sit down meals serve smaller portions and many courses which are very filling. Are buffets your favorite form of dining?  This cruise has an extensive buffet.

Cruise Tips About the Gym

To avoid ‘buffet’ weight gain, skip the desserts, and head to the gym or take a walk. The Maasdam has one gym to work off calories. Many guests take a stroll on the promenade deck. Typically, gyms on most cruise lines are world class; Holland American is no exception.

A salmon burger served in the Maasdam’s dining room.

Port of Call Tips

I have a few thoughts about cruise tips and tricks for ports.

For me, part of the reason I love to travel is to build memories. Travel is about the feelings I gain from each port, the people I met, and the memories I made. Most port stops are less than twelve hours. I gain an impression of each country’s culture at each port. Therefore, for me, these impressions and memories remain for years after the cruise, which makes the journey a great value.

My cruise tip and trick for each port is to enjoy the new feelings, embrace the unique cultures, and the people you encounter in each location.

Sentimental Journey

We stopped in Malacca, Malaysia. By the river, we met an old man selling small ink drawings. We chatted awhile, but, soon said goodbye. Before we could leave, he handed each of us a little sketch with his compliments. The man told us that he hoped we would remember him. We each gave him a small tip. Cleverly, he is a keen salesman. However, I still remember him, as I look at his drawing. The sweet man’s style reminds me of the generous nature of the people of Malacca.

A Great Memory

I met a 95-year-old gentleman at dinner. He told me he was traveling with his daughter. I ask, why he came on the cruise and he said he wants to honor his daughter by spending time with her. What made the story meaningful to me is that I later learn, through another person that the man’s daughter recently lost her husband in a tragic accident. Once I heard this, I understood the joy I saw on the man’s face. Meeting the man and his daughter are a priceless memory, I cherish.

Holland America offers many opportunities to create memories. The staff, the Holland America guests, and my travel companions make my time on board or on an excursion remarkable. My cruise tip and trick is to be purposeful. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet the other passengers and the staff.

This Sri Lankan police officer kindly allowed me to take his picture, typically don’t take photos without asking permission before snapping a shot.

Know What to See Before Arriving

It’s essential to know what to see and do before starting the cruise, to avoid wasting time on shore. For instance, I always make a list of sightseeing stops. Then, I compare my list to the excursion’s stops. An attraction that is popular is a wise choice. However, popular attractions are expensive, crowded, and possibly overrated. Therefore go early to avoid crowds and compare tours to find the one right for your budget.

First, consider your interests. Some people are history buffs. Others are food lovers. Still, some might be adventurers. Choose excursions that complement your interests. Following your passions makes travel enjoyable.

Tips and Tricks for Excursions

Whether guests use the cruise ship as a floating hotel and restaurant, an all-inclusive experience or as a transportation method to a destination, cruising works for everyone.

Cruise-sponsored excursion ensures that guests will see the famous local sites. Additionally, cruise ship tours are an excellent value for those who dislike planning. The Indian Ocean Explorer provides a wide selection of land excursions.

For independent travelers and those who know what they want to see, hire a guide, a taxi or a private tour. For the independent traveler, private transportation is easy to arrange in Southeast Asia. Taxis and guides are inexpensive. If the taxi driver speaks English, they are a great value because the driver becomes the guide. Another advantage is the price. Guests can negotiate fantastic taxi fares by the hour, 1/2 day or all day.

Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur.

Don’t Want to Haggle

For those that are not independent or adventurous, and don’t know what they want to see, I recommend the ship’s sponsored tours. Not everyone wants to haggle over the price of a taxi ride while relaxing on vacation. Many cruise guests want to be taken care of from beginning to end. Ship excursions offer tender loving care, are well planned, and pay attention to every detail. Holland America tours are worry-free and comfortable. Most important to some is the guarantee to see all the exciting sites and return punctually before the ship departs.

Malacca is heaven for those who love street art.

Warning Tip

Once out at sea, another tip and trick is your cell phone won’t work. There are several options which include buying a satellite calling plan, which all ships offer or call from each port using WIFI service, an international calling plan from your carrier or purchase a local SIM card. Be sure to sign up for the global calling plan before you depart the USA.

Travel Insurance Tips and Tricks

I strongly recommend travel insurance if cruising the Indian Ocean Explorer on the Maasdam. The itineraries to remote locations make medical options something to consider should you need them on the trip. Read Where in the World is Kate ‘s travel resources for travel insurance recommendations.

Before leaving, Holland America asks each guest for an evacuation city, in case of a medical emergency. The cruise line expects guests to have researched their options. Consider the possibility of a medical emergency and the need for an evacuation. Make a plan that fits your health needs for the best possible outcome. Being prepared is the best assurance to stay safe.

Be an Observer

Cruising for me is about simplicity. Enjoy the expansive ocean view from the promenade deck or the dining room. One of my favorite things to do on cruises aside from meeting other people is to grab a cup of hot coffee and head up to the top deck before the sun comes up.

I love to witness the sunrise slowly, coloring the sky and clouds with red and orange. Seeing the sunrise, promises a new day, great weather, and quiet way to start the day. At night, the warm equatorial breeze refreshes me, as I watch the sky painted with sparkling starlight. The simple views are breathtaking and only seen from a cruise ship.

The Maasdam at sea.⁸

Cruise Tip and Trick About  “Where and When”

Every evening, Holland America delivers a “Where and When” brochure highlights the next day, hour-by-hour shipboard activities. Circle the exciting things you want to do. Enjoy the events, and meet a few new guests who share your interests. To me, above all, people are the highlight of my Holland America trip.

Cruise Tip: Travel insurance is a good value. In other words, never leave home without it.

Cruise Tip: How to be a good Tourist

Cruise Tip: Ever wonder when to leave a trip? It happened to one of our writers. To learn more, read this post .

Want to learn more about this great experience from beginning to end, what we saw in Sri Lanka and Malaysia or  Singapore Thailand and the Maldives. If you want information about the total Holland America Experience or the itinerary for this cruise select any of those posts. If you need help planning for your trip, we have The Best Recommendations for Planning.

Copyright © 2024 Capetown-Rio, Inc. USA. All rights reserved. Republishing is allowed only with written permission. All photography rights on this page belong to Capetown-Rio, Inc. and the author. Do you have a question, business proposal, or speaking opportunity? Please contact me here.

Hello, my name is Jim. I live in Bellevue, WA. I'm a solo traveler, who loves budget travel. Any adventure is good if it's cheap. I like to tag along with other people if they help do the planning. Drench my food in hot sauce, lettuce is my primary vegetable, I eat to live. I have no pets.

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26 Things You’ll Want To Know Before Cruising Holland America

Endless allures and unbeatable luxury accentuated by mesmerizing views of the open sea. Some travel by air, others prefer embracing the perks of cruising escapades. After all, it is a floating island of abounding culinary fares, out of this world fun, boatloads of entertainment options, and an awesome time with some of the friendliest people on Earth!

Holland America offers a no-nonsense cruising experience with premium amenities and deluxe packages. It’s a perfect way to relax in style and indulge in culinary pleasures. However, if you are new to the world of cruising, you might have questions on what to expect, and what is included in your cruise fare.

If you picked Holland America Lines(HAL) for your next cruise adventure, here are 26 things you’ll want to know before your set sail. This way, you can really make the most out of your cruise without missing out on any of the fun.

#1 Travel Documents

Travel documents vary depending on the requirements of your nationality and the ports you’re visiting. Regardless, don’t forget to bring all your travel documents otherwise you will be denied boarding and no refunds will be given.

For US citizens, you must bring one or more of the following travel documents for closed-loop cruises: a. Valid passport with at least 6 months from expiration (Note: This is the recommended travel document for travel on land, air & sea) b. Passport card c. State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License d. Certificate of Naturalization with a government issued photo ID e. US Birth Certificate with photo ID

#2 Dining and Beverage

Whether you are satisfied with what’s complimentary to your fare, or treat yourself to new culinary heights at specialty dining venues, the choice is yours.

Complimentary Dining Options:

a. Lido Market –  Casual buffet dining b. Dive-In  – Burgers and Hotdogs c. 24 hour in room dining d. New York Pizza  – Thin crust pizza and salads e. The Dining Room –  main dining room (MDR) with dining served a la carte f. Tea Time –  perfect spot for an afternoon cup of tea

Specialty Fine Dining Options:

a. Pinnacle Grill –  Steakhouse restaurant b. Canaletto –  Italian fare c. Tamarind –  Pan Asian flavors d. Rudi’s Sel De Mer –  Classic French cuisine e. Nami Sushi –  Japanese restaurant

Specialty Casual Dining Options :

a. Grand Dutch Cafe –  cold beer, coffee and snacks b. Gelato –  ice cream parlor c. Explorations Cafe –  fresh pastries and specialty coffee

The Dining Room options:

Choose your dining preferences while doing your online check-in. a. Pre-Set Scheduled Seating and Dining Times(Early at 5:44pm or Late at 8pm) b. Flexible Open Dining or “As You Wish”(5:15pm-9pm)

Dining Packages:

These packages help you save you money dining at specialty restaurants. a. Signature Dining Package

• $35 per person
• Good for one night at the Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto

b. Distinctive Dining Package

• $50 per person
• Good for one dinner each at the Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto & Tamarind

c. Evenings at the Pinnacle Package

• $52 per person
• Two nights at the Pinnacle Grill

Beverage Packages:

a. Signature Drink Package

• $51.69 per day if purchased pre cruise, $57.44 if purchased on board
• unlimited alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages valued at $9 or less

b. Elite Beverage Package

• $63.19 per day whether purchased pre cruise, or on board
• unlimited alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages valued at $15 or less
• On Koningsdam, this also includes the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines

c. Quench Beverage Package

• $17.95 per person per day
• unlimited nonalcoholic beverages and specialty coffees

d. The Coca-Cola Package

• $8 per person per day
• unlimited fountain drinks

e. The Water Package

• 12 one-liter bottles of water for $32

f. Cellar Master Package

• $ 252 per person
• Choice of 5 wine bottles
• Standard and Premium wine tasting
• One dinner at Pinnacle Grill
• Wine accessory gift set
• A Holland America commemorative bottle of wine

Notes:  a. Prices include 15% gratuity b. Available for purchase on board on the first 48 hours of cruise only c. If someone buys the signature or elite beverage package, everyone in the stateroom ages 21 and above must also buy one d. Maximum of 15 drinks per day. Drinks are served one at a time.

#3 Luggage Tags

Luggage tags are for those who would like to check in their luggages to be delivered to your stateroom. Printable luggage tags are available at the Online Check-In start page. You may select to print as many as you need for your vacation.

Generic HAL luggage tags will also be available for you at the airport or the pier prior to your final check in. Be sure to print your name, stateroom number, and sailing date. Luggages without tags or owner identification may not be loaded on the ship.

#4 Holland America Line Connect

HAL allows you to stay connected via satellite internet with the following WiFi plans:

a. Social Plan

• Limited access that allows you to get connected via Facebook or WhatsApp
• Priced at $14.99 per day, or a discounted $69.99 for a 7-day cruise

b. Surf Plan

• Allows you to check your email or surf the web.
• Priced at $24.99 per day, or a discounted $99 for a 7-day cruise

c. Premium Plan

• High speed internet that allows you to stream videos, music and so much more.
• Priced at $29.99 per day, or a discounted $139.99 for a 7-day cruise

#5 Dress Code

On most evenings smart casual attire is appropriate.

On Gala Nights in fine dining restaurants, collared shirts and slacks are required for gentlemen. For ladies, elegant dresses, skirts, or slacks are all acceptable. Jeans, shorts and T-shirts are only allowed in the casual dining restaurants.

You can pre-order formal wear for gentlemen for your cruise by calling Cruiseline Formalwear at (800) 551-5091 or (305) 252-6565 . Your formal wear will be in your stateroom when you board. (Edit: Cruiseline Formalwear is no longer in business so you will have to bring in your own formal wear during formal nights.)

#6 Laundry Services

In your stateroom closet, you will find laundry bags and price lists for HAL’s laundry services.

Onboard coin-operated self-service launderettes consisting of washers, dryers, irons and ironing boards are available on the Amsterdam and Maasdam. Iron and ironing boards are provided at no cost.

For safety reasons, travel irons, and electric water heaters/kettles are not allowed in your stateroom.

#7 Limited Electrical Outlets

All staterooms are equipped with standard 110 AC and 220 AC outlets. All staterooms are equipped with hair dryers. Electrical devices such as small fans , power strips , multi plug box outlets/ adaptors , and extension cords without surge protectors are allowed onboard when used with proper caution.

#8 Ground Transportation

Transfers from the port city airport to the ship and back are available for purchase by calling Holland America Line at (877)724-5425 .

For guests who purchased the Fly Cruise Plan and transfers through Holland America Line, Holland America Line representatives will be stationed in the airport baggage claim area or outside the customs area.

Confirmation of transfer reservation and flight arrival information is required at least 14 days prior to their sailing date.

#9 Excursions

Shore Excursions are available to book online up to three days before sailing or by calling (888)425-9376 to book by phone.

For avid cruisers who would like to heighten their cruising experience with a specialized set of excursions available at select ports, there is a number of collections available for you. You can click here for more details.

a. Medallion Collection – exclusive excursions with small groups b. Encore Collection – showcases hidden gems and inside stories for attractions you’ve already seen c. World Wonders Collection – focuses on natural treasures, architectural marvels and even the seven wonders of the world d. Signature Collection – independent travelers who want to customize their time by reserving their own private transportation e. Cruise with Purpose Collection – cruise with a deeper purpose of giving back and improving our planet

#10 Cruise Cabin Types

HAL offers staterooms with ample closet space, secure safe for your valuables, flat-screen television, and a hair dryer.

Types of Cabins on Holland Ships:

a. Interior Staterooms – cheapest but smallest and without natural light. Perfect for budget cruisers.

b. Ocean View Staterooms – rooms accentuated with gorgeous views of the open sea

c. Verandah and Lanai Staterooms – all the perks of an Ocean View cabin with a private furnished balcony and small sitting areas

d. Suite Staterooms – Holland America has four types of suites differing both in accommodation size and luxury: Vista, Signature, Neptune and Pinnacle.

All suites contain premium duvets, sitting areas and a furnished balcony. Suites can easily accommodate families and larger groups thanks to extra beds or sofa beds.

Neptune or Pinnacle Suite bookings come with private concierge services and the Neptune Lounge, which features a library, a flat-screen TV and refreshments throughout the day.

e. Spa Stateroom or Suite – while similar in size and amenities to rooms in the same category, these rooms earn a “Spa” label thanks to their proximity to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon. Perks include extras like yoga mats and iPod docking stations. Exclusive spa services can be booked for an additional fee.

#11 When & Where Newsletter

When and Where is the HAL’s daily program newsletter. It is sent to your room at night and contains a detailed breakdown of next day’s schedule.

Information it contains: a. Schedule of onboard activities b. Times and location of musical performances c. Onboard dining venue, seating times, dress code and surcharges d. Special offers and discounts on shops e. Important announcements f. Weather forecast g. Ship’s anticipated arrival time and the time of the last tender back to the ship on port days

#12 Beverages On Board

Guests are allowed to bring in bottled water and soda as long as they carry it on board during embarkation.

Wine or Champagne Guests 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (no larger than 750ml) onboard in carry-on luggage during embarkation. No corkage fee is charged if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles are welcome, but will incur a US$18.00 a corkage fee each, regardless of where they are intended to be consumed.

Purchased Wine or Champagne in Ports of Call Wine and champagne bottles (no larger than 750ml) purchased in ports of call can be brought onboard and subject to a US$18.00 corkage fee each, regardless of where they are intended to be consumed. Guests can opt to have these bottles stored and returned on the last evening of the cruise at no charge.

All other alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of calls as well as all alcoholic beverages purchased from onboard shops will be stored and returned on the last evening of the voyage at no charge.

#13 Infants & Pregnancy

According to HAL policy, “Infants 6 months or younger at the time the cruise commences and women who will be 24 or more weeks pregnant during the course of their travel are not permitted to participate in the cruise.”

Note:  Pregnant women must provide a medical note from your physician stating your expected due date and medical fitness to travel.

#14 Muster Safety Drill

Muster Safety Drill is a mandatory drill instigated by the US Coast Guard so guests will know what to do in an emergency situation at sea or when the alarm is sounded. This is done before the ship leaves the dock at the port of embarkation.

Guests will be provided with clear instructions including the following pertinent information: a. Location of their muster stations b. Essential actions to take during an emergency c. How to put on a life jacket

#15 Key Card

Your stateroom key card also serves as your onboard charge card. With the exception of the casino, cash is not accepted for individual transactions on your cruise.

To keep them from getting lost, check out these  nautical-themed water resistant badge holders  you can use.

Notes: a. You can register a debit or credit card as part of your online check in. On embarkation day, HAL places an initial hold for $60 per person per cruise day on your card. b. Alternatively, you can visit Guest Services and deposit $60 in cash per person per cruise day. Excess deposit will be refunded at the end of the cruise. c. Traveler’s checks may be cashed at Guest Services. Personal checks, however, are not accepted.

#16 Souvenir Photos

At the Photo Gallery, HAL’s talented photographers are available to assist you with all your photographic needs.

Joe Craig Black Label Art Photography An exclusive portrait service offered by HAL to guests onboard the ship. Sittings are limited, so make sure to book early.

#17 Online Check In

Online check-in must be completed through the website at least 72 hours prior to your sail date.

Note: If Online Check-in was not completed at least 3 days prior to departure, you will still be able to print your Express Docs, including the boarding pass, up to the departure date. Guests who have not completed the required check-in prior to departure time may be denied boarding.

#18 Hotel Service Charge

HAL charges an automatic Hotel Service Charge of $14.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $16.00 per guest per day for suite guests. A 15% Bar Service Charge is automatically added to bar and Dining Room wine purchases.

Note:  Hotel Service Charges are paid to HAL crew members as part of their compensation.

#19 Luggage Transport Services

Save time and enjoy the perk of not having to handle your bulky luggages when you travel. HAL has the following luggage handling options for guests:

a. Luggage Forward –  this option allows you to have your bags picked up at your home and delivered to your stateroom. Upon disembarkation, your bags will be delivered back to your home.

Advantages:

• International service
• No unpredictable checked bag fees
• No risk of airline losing your luggage
• Full money back plus $500 on-time guarantee

To Book:  You can book online by clicking here , or call them directly at (877)466-2247.

b. Luggage Direct –  this option gives you the extra convenience of receiving your airline boarding passes and checking your luggage in to your flight while still onboard the cruise ship.

TSA-approved partners will take your luggage directly from the ship and deliver it to your plane. You will claim your luggage at your final airport destination.

• Priority disembarkation
• No need to locate your luggage or wait for a porters assistance in the terminal
• Avoid lines at the airport

To Book:  You can book online by clicking here , or by calling them directly at (877)847-0045. Cost is US$25.00 per person.

#20 Mariner Society

The Mariner Society is HAL’s loyalty program that rewards you points for each day you cruise and for purchases made onboard. You are automatically enrolled after you book your first cruise.

Mariner Society Reward Tiers: a. Star Mariner – 2nd cruise up to 29 cruise points b. 2-Star Mariner – 30 up to 74 cruise points c. 3-Star Mariner – 75 up to 199 cruise points d. 4-Star Mariner – 200 up to 499 cruise points e. 5-Star Mariner – 500 or more cruise points

Click here to know more about the perks of each tier.

#21 Communication

Here are some ways you can communicate onboard HAL ships:

a. Holland America Line Connect

• Simply register through HAL’s Navigator App, select “Paid Internet” and choose between a Voyage and a Daily plan.

b. Fax Service

• Contact the Front Office if you wish to send a fax.

c. Mail Service

• Letters and postcards may be mailed from the ship while in ports of call.
• Stamps can be purchased in port or from the Front Office and charged to your shipboard account.

d. Mobile Phones

HAL has a mobile cell tower while cruising on international waters. This way, you can make calls and send text messages while ‘roaming’. Charges and fees are based on your carrier’s international roaming plan.

Note:  If you have AT&T service, you may choose from a selection of packages offering discounted rates for international calls, texts and data while on board. Click here for more details.

#22 Babysitting

Club HAL After Hours offer babysitting services for children 3 years and up between 10pm and 12 midnight. Cost is $5 per hour per child.

At other times and for children under the age of three, limited babysitting is available through the Front Office on a volunteer basis. Cost is $8 per hour for the first child and $5 per hour for each other child.

#23 Boarding

Here’s a quick summary of the boarding process: a. Complete your online check-in b. Print your boarding pass c. At the pier, present your boarding pass and all your travel documents d. Have your picture taken e. Take your stateroom key and you’re good to go!

Note:  Please remember that you must be on the ship at least one hour before departure.

#24 Seasickness

When you’re on a cruise, getting seasick is a sure way to ruin the cruising experience. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent you from being seasick.

Here’s a few of our recommendations that helps: a. Scopolamine patch (Prescription – prevents motion sickness) b.  Dramamine  (Over the counter but get the less drowsy kind) c. Zofran (Prescription – helps with nausea) d. Ginger Pills (Natural way to prevent motion sickness) e. Seabands (Naturally prevents motion sickness by applying pressure to certain point on your wrist) f. Choose a stateroom on a lower deck and located mid ship.  Rooms closest to the front or the stern of the cruise ship experience most of the rocking motion.

#25 Club HAL Youth Program

Holland America Line’s Club HAL offers an impressive array of entertainment options and age-appropriate fun for kids and youngsters aged 3 – 17.

Programs include arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, challenging team games and themed parties. To know more about Club HAL, please click here .

#26 Smoking Policy

Smoking is only permitted on certain designated, outside decks. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted.

Check out HAL’s designated smoking areas by clicking here .

Notes: a. Cigar and pipe smoking

• Not allowed anywhere inside the ship except for the Oak Room on the Noordam; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

b. Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices

• Permitted in staterooms but are not permitted on stateroom balconies. These devices may be used in all designated smoking areas listed above.

c. Any guest caught smoking inside staterooms will be charged US$250 per day of violation.

To learn more about cruising, check out other articles on our site:

1. 33 Things To Pack For A Cruise Besides Clothes 2. Things to Leave Behind When Packing For Your Next Cruise 3. 18 Hidden Costs That Bump Up Your Cruising Budget

Why Yellow For Summer

July 26, 2019, my arenal volcano costa rica travel essentials, august 2, 2019.

Just an update, Cruiseline Formalwear has gone into bankruptcy and is no longer available for people to rent their tuxedos, etc. Also, suggest Bonine or the generic meclizine as a seasick remedy – it works well and doesn’t provide drowsiness as other methods so.

Thank you for this update Geraldine. I will add it to our post.

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21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly

Cruising is easy. Or so cruisers will tell you.

For starters, you only have to unpack once, even as you travel from place to place. You also don't have to go hunting for a restaurant every night. There usually are a bunch just steps away from your cabin with tables waiting for you. You'll also have no trouble finding entertainment.

But even in its simplicity, cruising still can be daunting for a first-timer. What should you bring? What should you plan on doing in ports? What is the best way to book?

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.

As the head of The Points Guy's cruise content team , I get these sorts of questions all the time.

This brings me to the tips below. If you've read this far, you are likely a first-time cruiser looking for advice for an upcoming trip, and that's exactly what this story is meant to offer. It contains my list of 21 ways to make your first sailing go more smoothly.

It's a list drawn not just from my own experience over 20-plus years of cruising but also the observations of more than 100 cruising fans who shared their tips with TPG in a lively conversation on the topic at the TPG Lounge on Facebook. (If you're not a member yet, we highly encourage you to join.)

Arrive at your departure port a day ahead of schedule

If you only follow one piece of advice in this story, it should be this one. It is the only way to ensure you won't miss your ship — something that happens to cruisers more often than you would think.

Many cruises depart in the afternoon, so it might seem just fine to fly or drive to a port on the morning of departure. But all it takes is a moderate flight delay or a pile-up on the highway to upset those plans. If you're delayed in your arrival at the port, the ship will not wait for you.

If you're traveling overseas for a cruise, we recommend traveling to the port two or even three days in advance. This isn't just so you don't miss the ship. It's also so you have some time to recover from jet lag. European cruises, in particular, can be port-intensive, with lots of touring, so you want to be refreshed and ready to hit the ground running right after the cruise begins.

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship

Pack your bathing suit in your carry-on

When you first arrive at a ship, before you even get on board, you'll likely be greeted by porters who will whisk away your luggage. It will be delivered to your room later in the day. This is a great convenience, as there's no need to haul your bags through the entire check-in progress. But it also means you might not have access to your luggage for many hours on your first day on board.

Be sure to pack anything you think you might need for these first hours of your cruise in your carry-on bag. This means things like medication, for sure, and a phone charger, but also a bathing suit, hat, sunscreen and other items that will let you head straight to the pool deck to start the fun.

Related: Use this packing list for your next cruise

Don't overpack

Use this strategy when packing for a cruise: Throw all the clothes you think you'll need on a cruise in a pile, and then take away half of them. You won't need them. Trust us.

Most cruising these days is casual, and you really only need a few outfits to rotate through a voyage. If things get dirty, it's no problem. Many ships have launderettes on cabin decks where you can run a load or two of laundry every few days. If not, you can send laundry out to be cleaned on board. It'll usually come back in a day or two.

The extra cost of doing a few loads of laundry on a ship is a small price to pay for the freedom of not having to lug a giant suitcase around as you travel to and from your ship. Plus, you'll want to save room in your suitcase for all the little treasures you're going to find along the way.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry service

Bring your own drinks on board

Many first-time cruisers assume they can't bring their own drinks on board a ship. But many lines will allow this, usually with some limits. It's one way to save money when cruising, as drink prices on ships can be high.

Among the lines that will allow you to be your own bartender is Disney Cruise Line . Adults can bring up to two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne or six beers onto Disney ships at the start of a cruise and at every port of call. Note that these beverages must be packed in carry-on bags. At Royal Caribbean , the bring-your-own allowance is two bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks.

One caveat: Many lines levy a "corkage fee" if you want to bring your wine into an onboard restaurant. Be sure to read the rules for your line before you bring any drinks on board.

Related: Are drinks packages on cruise ships worth it? A line-by-line guide

Bring extra toiletries

Yes, you'll be able to find sunscreen, aspirin and Band-Aids on a cruise ship. But it'll cost you. Cruise lines know you're a captive audience and price their shipboard stores accordingly.

I have a small "go bag" of over-the-counter medicines that I throw into my suitcase for every cruise that contains everything from cold medicine to seasickness pills. I rarely use any of it. But I also never get hit with a crazy toiletries charge.

While we're on the topic of sundries, don't forget extra batteries for your camera if you are bringing one.

Related: The ultimate guide to picking a cruise line

Bring these six other things, too

In addition to extra toiletries, cruising regulars often bring Clorox wipes or something similar to wipe down surfaces in their cabin upon arrival (and to bring along on shore excursions). I admit, I've never done this, though I know I should — if only to wipe off the remote control for the cabin TV.

Many cruisers also won't head to a ship without room freshener, a foldable shoe rack (which they hang in the cabin bathroom to store toiletries), a highlighter (to highlight activities on the daily planner) and a lanyard (to hold their cabin key card). I am, of course, too cool to ever put a key card lanyard around my neck, which means I lose my card once or twice on every trip. They always give me a new one at the front desk. My cruise team colleague Ashley Kosciolek also escews landyard-wearing on ships, but that didn't stop her from writing this wonderful guide to the coolest cruise lanyards around .

Some cruisers also swear by bringing magnets to ships to affix dinner invitations, excursion tickets and other important papers to their cabin walls. Walls on ships often are made with metal (even if they look like wood, thanks to faux wood veneers) and will hold a magnet. Some cruisers even bring magnets with hooks so they can hang up clothes and other items on their walls.

Related: 20 things you should bring on every cruise — including a roll of duct tape

Skip the buffet on your first day on board

There's nothing more jammed than a cruise ship buffet on embarkation day. Everybody boarding heads straight up to it. To avoid the first-day buffet crowds, head to whatever secondary dining option is available. Sometimes, a ship will open one of its table-served eateries for lunch on embarkation day. It'll likely be much less crowded than the buffet.

Research ports in advance

There are some types of vacations — a beach trip, for instance — where you don't have to do much advance research. You just sort of show up. Most cruises aren't this way — at least if you want to get the most out of them. At the heart of most cruises are port calls that, in many cases, are very short — often just a few hours. You want to have a plan for what to do in these ports or you'll miss out on a big part of the cruising experience.

Once you know what ports you'll be visiting, research them as much as you can at travel sites such as The Points Guy. Here at TPG, we're starting to build out a series of home port and destination port guides for everywhere from PortMiami to Bora Bora .

Related: The ultimate guide to Caribbean cruising

Join a Facebook group for your line

Another great place to get ideas for what to do in ports and on ships — and what to bring on a cruise, for that matter — are the many private Facebook groups dedicated to particular lines. I belong to a number of them, including the Royal Caribbean Cruises group, the COPs (Cruisers Opinion Page) group and the Holland America Line Fans group. You'll find thousands of cruise fans at these pages who often are more than willing to answer questions about their favorite line, its ships, its itineraries and the destinations on the itineraries. I've met some wonderful people in these groups, some of whom have become my longtime friends on Facebook.

Sign up for private tours

Booking a shore excursion directly through your cruise line is easy. You just check a box on an online form before sailing or while on board, and — poof! — it's all arranged. But booking tours through your line isn't the only option, and it's not always the best option. In many cases, you can save a lot of money — and get a better touring experience — by booking shore excursions through independent tour operators in ports or a tour booking service such as Viator or ToursbyLocals .

Often, independent tours will be much more intimate than the tours offered directly through cruise lines. They might go to the same sites but in a small van instead of a big motorcoach. You might have just six or eight other people on a tour with you instead of nearly 40. If your group is big enough, you might even be able to book a private tour with an independent tour operator.

Related: The ultimate TPG guide to shore excursions

Independent tours also can take you to places that the cruise line-organized tours don't. Plus, they often come with excellent service. ToursByLocals has staff on hand around-the-clock to respond to questions, and — for those worried about missing your ship — they offer a return-to-ship guarantee with every tour.

Sign up for activities in advance or soon after boarding

Some lines will let you sign up for shows, tours and other activities (including meals at specialty restaurants) in advance of sailing using online portals. If you want to be sure that you get a seat for a specific show on a specific night, or a specific tour or restaurant reservation time, it's a good idea to do this. It's not uncommon with some ships to find that some shows, tours and restaurant reservation times book up in advance.

If you don't sign up for activities in advance, a backup strategy is to do so just after you board a vessel. That said, whether you need to race to sign up for activities at the start of a voyage depends a lot on which ship you are on. I am more careful about signing up for a lot of things in advance when I am sailing on a giant ship such as Royal Caribbean's record-breaking Wonder of the Seas where there are thousands of other passengers competing for the choicest reservations.

Related: 12 giant ships that are the best for fun

Don't feel like you have to do it all

While we're on the topic of signing up for activities, note that it's OK if you miss a few things. You don't have to do it all. In fact, you should force yourself to try to not do it all. Remember, you're on vacation. Relax. Take some downtime. Sit on your balcony, if you have one, and just stare out at the ocean for a couple of hours. You won't regret it.

Always carry the ship's contact information with you

When going ashore, always bring the ship's contact information with you. Those details are usually printed in the newsletter that's delivered to your cabin each night. If something goes wrong when you're away from the ship, you'll want to get in contact with the cruise line right away.

Keep your phone in airplane mode

Some of the biggest cruise ship horror stories you'll find on the internet are tales of cruising newbies who racked up thousands of dollars in cellphone charges while on ships. This can happen when you leave your phone turned on and, say, watch videos on the internet. Many phone plans — even international plans — do not include talking, texting and data on cruise ships, and you'll pay exorbitant roaming rates for such services that will show up weeks later on your phone bill.

There are ways to make calls and access the internet from ships without spending a boatload of money. You can buy a Wi-Fi package, for instance, that will let you make FaceTime calls and stream videos (on some ships) over Wi-Fi without using phone data.

Some phone companies have cruise-specific plans you can buy in advance of a voyage. But I personally never go that route. I keep it simple. I just put my phone in airplane mode the moment I step on board a ship and never switch it back on. I then turn on the phone's Wi-Fi, buy a Wi-Fi package and do all my calling, texting and internet surfing over Wi-Fi. That way, there's no way that I can be surprised by an unexpected charge.

Download the cruise app

A growing number of lines now have apps that you can download to your smartphone in advance of sailing. The apps vary in what they offer, but many will show you a daily list of activities and all of the things that you have reserved. Many also will let you make restaurant reservations and book shore excursions and other activities, and a few will let you order drinks and other items to wherever you happen to be standing. That's pretty cool, right? The best part: The apps will work on board even if you don't pay for a Wi-Fi package.

Related: This cruise app lets you order pizza anywhere on board

Use a travel agent to book

Given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us — we recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you arrange things. A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. The agent also can help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

In addition, travel agents often can you extra onboard credit and other perks that you might not be able to get by booking directly with a line.

Related: Why you should always use a travel agent to book a cruise

Consider travel insurance

It's not always smooth seas when it comes to cruising — or any sort of travel. We hate to even bring it up, but you might need to cancel your cruise in advance due to the sudden onset of an illness. Or, maybe you'll fall ill during the cruise and need emergency medical attention. Maybe your flight to your ship gets canceled and you miss the vessel's departure. These sorts of things can happen to cruisers, and they're all the sort of situations where you might benefit from having travel insurance. Here's a comparison of the top travel insurance providers and information about Cancel for Any Reason add-ons .

Related: The TPG guide to travel insurance for cruises

Don't book a cabin near an elevator

Not every cabin on a ship is created equal. When choosing a room on your first cruise, you might want to stay away from those near elevators and just above nightclubs and other late-night venues. They can sometimes be noisy. Cabins just below the pool deck and near the anchor also can be problematic as well as cabins near casinos.

Related: 8 cabin locations on cruise ships that you definitely should avoid

Use a points card for onboard spending

You saw this one coming, no? Given TPG's origins as a points and miles website , we'd be remiss if we didn't remind you to maximize your credit card points while making purchases on ships. The way to do this is to tie a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases to your onboard account. This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on dining.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

Don't tip twice for drinks and spa treatments

Most cruise ships now automatically add a gratuity to bar bills, often in the amount of 18% to 20% of the total. Such automatic gratuities also are becoming more common in ship spas. But many first-time cruisers don't know this and write in a hefty tip at the "additional tip" line on bills at cruise ship bars and spas. Be sure to ask if a gratuity already has been included before adding another 15% or 20% to the total. Otherwise, you may end up tipping twice.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship

Use points to get to your cruise

Using points and miles to pay for a cruise doesn't always make sense , as it often requires a huge number of them to secure a cabin. But that doesn't mean you can't save big time by booking your flights to and from a ship using points and miles .

You'll find plenty of stories here at The Points Guy about how to, say, pay the equivalent of $1,330 in points for a flight that cost $16,000 , or book a $27,000 around-the-world trip for just $168 in out-of-pocket costs . Scroll around a little, and you may never pay cash for a flight to a cruise ship again.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Roaming Around the World

Travel Guides, Tips, and Tales

50 Best Cruise Hacks: Tips to Save Money, WiFi, Weight & Hassle in 2024

January 25, 2024 By John Widmer 130 Comments

Cruises can be costly, full of hassles, and ridden with hidden expenses. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

During the past decade of traveling the world, we’ve now spent more than a half year as passengers on cruise ships. With all that time out at sea, we’ve learned so many great cruise hacks and cruise tips.

Having spent eight months on nineteen different cruise ships, across eleven different cruise lines, we’ve become expert cruisers. In the process, we’ve uncovered all the best cruise hacks to save money and avoid the many excess costs so often incurred while cruising.

We even pulled off the ultimate cruise hack by achieving what only seems impossible: an affordable world cruise . We used a series of budget travel tactics in combination with many of the cruise hacks laid out in this article to cruise entirely around the globe on a budget of $60 per day (more on how we accomplished that is revealed at the end of this post).

During all this time as cruise passengers, we’ve developed an arsenal of cruise hacks in addition to collecting many cruise tips that other savvy cruisers have passed on to us. From cruise wifi hacks to cruise packing hacks, we’re now happy to share these secrets of the sea with you!

Whether you’re about to embark on your first cruise or are a seasoned cruising veteran looking for a few new cruise tips, we hope these cruise hacks help you save hassle and money on your next cruise. Or maybe even help you to save a few pounds too!

📱Cruise Hacks for Electronics

📶 Cruise Wifi Hacks

🤢 Seasickness Cruise Tips

⚠️ Cruise Insurance Tip 

🍽️  Fun Food Hacks on a Cruise

🏃 Health & Weight Hacks for Cruising

🍹 How To Drink for Free & Cheap

🏝️ Top Cruise Shore Excursion Tips

💵 Cruise Hacks to Get Cash

🚢 Cruise Hacks to Know Around the Ship

🧳 Cruise Packing Hacks & Checklist

Cruise Booking Hacks – Buy a Cruise for Less!

As we’re always looking for the best values around the world, one of the questions we receive most about cruising is when to book a cruise to get the lowest price possible . Like airfare prices, cruise prices tend to fluctuate greatly and there’s no surefire way to guess exactly how those cruise fares may change. But based on past booking patterns, it is possible to have some idea of the direction cruise prices may be trending.

Often, booking a cruise very early is the best advice. In other instances, last-minute cruise deals are a way to achieve rock-bottom cruise prices. Follow these tips when booking your next cruise and you’ll be sailing into an awesome deal.

1) Hack the Cruise Prices – Book Against the Grain

Timing is everything. Being flexible with your travel dates is one of the best ways to secure low rates on cruise fares. Many off-season cruises are listed at rates up to 80% off the same exact ship and itinerary found during peak season.

So always consider shoulder seasons and off-peak cruise time periods to secure the best cruise prices. Definitely avoid Spring Break sailings. You’ll not only save money but will also save yourself sanity, as it helps to avoid a cruise full of young kids mixed with the spring breaker crowd, looking to party.

Similarly, it can be a wise call to avoid winter holiday sailings and peak summer sailings. A simple rule of thumb is to book cruises when school is in session , if possible.

Some of the best cruise bargains can be found in the fall, soon after kids go back to school. During the early autumn time frame, the weather tends to remain moderate in most cruise destinations throughout the world. Even with nice temperatures, prices tend to drop low during this time when a lull in vacation travel occurs.

Late Spring brings another dip in cruise travel that tends to usher in attractive pricing, but not necessarily for Caribbean cruises. Instead look for some ultra-low-priced deals on Mediterranean and Alaska cruises in May, before Labor Day.

Where & when to find the lowest cruise rates:

• Caribbean cruise   dates – Sept, Oct, early Nov. Also first half of Dec.
• Alaska cruise   dates – Before Memorial Day (May) and after Labor Day (Sept)
• Mediterranean cruise dates – April and into early May. Late Sept and Oct.

Cruise prices drop significantly for sailings during these off-peak periods. Additionally, cruise lines will further offer enticing incentives to attract customers to come aboard during these less desirable times of the year.

Example : We used this strategy to snag an awesome two-week Eastern Caribbean cruise deal with Holland America during the early December period. They enticed us with prepaid gratuities, a $100 onboard credit, free beverage cards, and even reimbursement on local travel expenses to get to the port. These perks totaled about $700 in value. And that was on top of a highly-discounted off-season cruise deal listed at $500/pp. Given that $700 in perks was sent to us, this hacked our way into an almost free two-week Caribbean cruise. That’s what booking during the off-season is all about!

2) Book Early but Monitor Prices

It can be a safe bet to book a cruise as early as possible to lock in a low rate. Cruise lines often reward those who book early with their best prices for a sailing. This is holding particularly true in 2024, as cruises are selling fast, prices are rising, and ships are selling out completely.

Yet whenever booking early, it’s extremely worthwhile to continue monitoring fares .

If the price of a cruise does go down, you can usually change your booking to take advantage of the new pricing. Unlike when booking airfare, most cruise fares are cancelable and changeable up until a month or so before the sailing date. Read the fine print before booking to fully understand the cancelation policy. Then, be sure to keep a watchful eye on those prices.

If you find a more attractive offer to the cruise you’ve booked, call the cruise line or booking agent immediately to have them change your reservation. Alternatively, they can cancel the old reservation and rebook the better deal.

But don’t only monitor the cruise price itself . Although you may see prices remaining the same, there could be attractive promotions making it worthwhile to alter a cruise reservation. It could make sense to rebook your cruise if you later notice valuable promos being offered. Cruise lines love to entice passengers with offers such as complimentary beverage packages, onboard credit, or free cruise wifi.

Cruises usually offer free cancelation as long as you do so before the cancelation period, which varies by the cruise line and itinerary. Typically the cancelation period for a cruise is a month or two before the sailing date, so you can usually cancel without penalty anytime before then to rebook the better deal you’ve found. (Note: there are certain early booking fares like Carnival’s Super Saver , that are non-refundable. So when booking, verify your deposit is indeed refundable.)

Be diligent to check the price of your cruise regularly or consider using a service to alert you of price drops. One way to do this is to bookmark the cruise and check the price often to see if there have been any rate changes. This can be time-consuming, so a better plan is to let a travel agent do the work for you. You can also use tracking services such, Cruiseline.com ‘s Price Alerts, yet we’ve found that comes with some limitations (e.g., can’t track promos/perks, specific stateroom categories, etc.).

If you have a really good travel advisor who specializes in cruises, there’s a special agent-only tool that some travel agents can utilize for their clients (for free) to track cruise pricing changes specific to their exact stateroom category. This is one of the reasons we’ve become travel advisors so that we have access to these tools.

We recently saved a friend $400 when we used this tool to uncover that their cruise price had dropped. If we hadn’t been monitoring it for them, they’d have never known about this savings we immediately snagged for them!

3) Or Book a Last-Minute Cruise Deal Under the Right Circumstances

If all  of the following circumstances apply, you can usually find the best cruise deals ever by booking last minute :

• You don’t have a preference as to a specific itinerary, cruise line, ship, or stateroom
• You are considering a cruise not during a location’s peak cruise season
• You are comfortable booking a non-refundable cruise within a month or so from departure
• You live within driving distance of the departure port or within a cheap flight away

Getting last-minute cruise deals can be tricky and it is a gamble. But that gamble can pay off with slashed prices if cruise itineraries are undersold close to the sailing date. If you don’t have a strong preference for a particular ship and just want to go cruising at a very low price, booking last minute can be a great cruise hack to accomplish that.

The timing of the cruise will help to increase your odds of securing an incredible cruise deal. These last-minute bargains aren’t available during the height of a cruising high season. For example, if you want an Alaskan cruise during the middle of summer or a Caribbean cruise during the height of Spring Break, don’t dare wait to book those cruises last minute. Prices will likely rise before the cruise is ultimately sold out.

Instead, wait for last-minute rates during the unpopular times we reviewed in the prior cruise hack. We’ve seen weeklong last-minute Caribbean itineraries out of Florida in the Fall months for as low as $199! We’ve similarly seen last-minute Mediterranean and Alaska cruise deals drop below rates of $50/night during late Spring. So if you can hold out, try waiting about 45 days (or less) to book a fantastic last-minute cruise bargain at a non-cancelable rate.

4) Consider Repositioning Cruises for the Lowest Deals

Repositioning cruises are seasonal one-way cruises used to relocate ships from one region of the world to another. And we firmly believe they are the best travel value in the world .

Here’s a brief example of how repositioning cruises work. Once it starts to cool off in Europe in the Fall, many cruise lines tend to reposition their ships across the Atlantic, towards Florida ports for the winter high season serving the Caribbean. As a result, the cruise lines form a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic, often stopping at interesting far-flung islands and unusual ports along the way. It’s a full-service cruise and cruise lines even bring on extra entertainment to account for the influx in sea days.

But transatlantic repositioning cruises are just one example. These seasonal one-way cruises operate all around the world. You can find them voyaging across the Pacific, between Asia & Europe, between the Americas, and even down to Africa. And they’re all exceptional deals!

Despite exotic ports and extra onboard activities, prices for repositioning cruises tend to be super low due to supply and demand. That’s because people tend to avoid repositioning cruises for practical reasons since they are lengthy voyages (usually 2 weeks or more), tend to have an abundance of sea days, are one-way (requiring return transport), and these unique cruises aren’t as heavily promoted.

So prices drop, sometimes dramatically. We once even scored a two-week repositioning cruise across the Atlantic for only $159. That breaks down to about $12/day and this cruise even included unlimited alcohol!

If intrigued, be sure to read our separate post that details everything you need to know :

• Repositioning Cruises: Your Ultimate Guide

5) Why Use a Travel Agent to Book Cruises

There are two main ways to book a cruise:

• Direct with the cruise line
• Through a travel agent

With most things travel-related, we often advocate booking directly with the travel company to get the best price. Middlemen can take a cut and inflate travel prices. But this is absolutely NOT the case when booking a cruise.

Independent travel advisors have two primary ways they can offer their customers better deals than booking directly with the cruise line:

• Group bookings
• Exclusive deals

Group bookings are one secret weapon that savvy cruise advisors can use to sell cruises at lower prices than the cruise line itself. This is usually a behind-the-scenes technique that is transparent to the customer.

Here’s how it works – when prices are favorable, travel agencies will block off a group of rooms (which can include an even further discount), locking in a very low price for this block of cruise staterooms. If you book one of those staterooms with a travel agent who can access them, that low price gets passed on to you while the cruise line’s direct pricing is higher!

Offering exclusive deals such as additional perks is another way travel agents can beat the value compared to booking with cruise lines directly. Travel advisors work closely with the cruise lines to secure these perks, upgrades, and promotions that the cruise line may not offer directly to customers.

For example, we were recently interested in an Aug 2024 Carnival cruise to Alaska. Whether booking directly through Carnival or a travel agent, the price was the same. Yet going through the travel agency, we were able to secure $600 of onboard credit! The best offer directly from Carnival was $100 of onboard credit. So going through the travel agency provided an additional $500 of value!

On another recent cruise, we were given a complimentary drink package and wifi package that the cruise line wasn’t offering directly. Whatever the case, these promos were only available through a third-party travel advisor and not directly with the cruise line, even though the price of the cruise was the same.

But often to score these deals, you need a travel advisor who truly “gets it.” After years of bouncing around between different agents who never seemed to fully understand many of the tricks to get the best deals, we finally decided to just become travel advisors ourselves to gain direct access to these lower prices and exclusive perks.

If you have a great cruise travel advisor, be sure to utilize their services! And if you’re not already using a travel advisor, we’re happy to extend our services to our blog readers. (If you’d like me to help you score a great cruise deal, feel free to either shoot me an email or schedule a quick call .)

6) Book a “Guaranteed Stateroom”

We’re big proponents of booking what’s called a “guaranteed stateroom” to get the absolute lowest price on whichever cabin type you’re interested in (inside, outside, balcony, suite). With a “guaranteed” cabin, you are guaranteed a room within that particular type of stateroom range or higher. You simply do not get to choose the cabin’s exact location on the ship. The cabin location will be assigned to you prior to your cruise departure.

Booking a guaranteed cabin is not without some risk. Naysayers will cite the potential of being placed in undesirable areas such as under a nightclub, galley, in the ship’s bow, or next to an elevator. Of course, this may always be a possibility. So if you have a strong preference to ship location, don’t book a guaranteed stateroom. Yet we have always booked “guaranteed” and have never been assigned one of those undesirable locations of a ship.

Quite the contrary. It’s always been better! We once even booked a guaranteed inside cabin and ended up in an awesome balcony stateroom. We believe that you stand a better chance of being placed in one of the many great locations on the ship, rather than a bad one. You could even score an elusive free balcony upgrade , as we did once when simply booking an interior guaranteed stateroom.

The one thing to keep in mind is that these  guaranteed cabins always have the absolute lowest price for their category. So if you’re a price-sensitive cruiser like us, and simply looking for the best cruise deal, then booking a guaranteed cabin is the cruise tip to help accomplish that.

For more on how to get those upgrades, Read: 10 Secrets on How To Get a Free Balcony Upgrade on a Cruise Ship

Cruise Hacks for Electronics

In today’s digital age, there are many tech-savvy cruise hacks to stay abreast of before your sailing. These cruise hacks and tips will help you avoid drained batteries, make the most of cruise wifi, and keep you connected while out at sea.

7) Pack This Handy Device To Keep All Your Gadgets Charged

With only one or two electrical outlets in most cruise staterooms, this poses a problem to keep all those cameras, phones, tablets, and laptops charged. It can be very wise to pack a compact travel adapter to charge multiple devices and avoid drained batteries.

But power strips with surge protectors and cords are actually banned from cruise ships , as they pose an electrical hazard. If you bring a power strip, cruise security will confiscate it from your luggage.

Yet this special Cruise Power Strip   solves that issue, as it is a power strip designed specifically to be compliant with all the major cruise lines. Power strips with built surge protectors or extension cords are what pose an issue to cruise ships. So this Ship-Approved Power Strip excludes cords and a surge protector to become a completely permissible device to plug into the outlets of all the major cruise lines.

This cruise-approved power strip turns one outlet into three, plus two USB ports! So it gives the ability to charge five gadgets at once. It’s no wonder this simple device has over 12,000 five-star reviews on Amazon ! We never cruise without a portable power adapter like this. Grab one before your next trip!

Buy this Cruise-Approved Power Strip on Amazon

8) Use the Shipboard App for Free

In 2024, all the major cruise lines now have their own mobile app you can use onboard the ship, complimentary. Simply connect your phone to the ship’s wifi network and you’ll be able to use this app without incurring any wifi charges.

These cruise apps are free to use for tasks such as checking your onboard account balance, browsing the day’s up-to-date activities, reading up on your next port, checking menus, accessing a ship map, or even making dinner reservations.

Be sure to download the app before your voyage so that you don’t incur wifi fees or roaming charges that you’ll otherwise get hit with if you wait to download the app while at sea.

Here’s a list of the major cruise apps to download before you embark.

9) Ditch the Walkie-Talkies and Instead Chat with the App

It has been a long-used cruise tip to bring walkie-talkies like these  onboard cruises to be able to communicate with your cruise mates during the voyage. It makes it easy to meet your friends or family members while going separate ways on these massive ships.

But you can now forgo using this dated technology and instead communicate using the cruise line’s app . This capability often comes with a fee, but that fee will likely cost far less than the price of a pair of walkie-talkies. The messaging app will work better too.

So how much do these cruise messaging services cost? It can vary by ship and even by each individual cruise itinerary. But to give some indication of costs during a recent sailing, Norwegian’s app – Cruise Norwegian – offered a messaging service for a one-time fee of $7.95. This allowed for voice calls and text, through the app, to fellow passengers during the entire cruise. It was a 13-day cruise, so that came out to less than a dollar per day. We find it to be a very fair price for this messaging service.

Cruise Wifi Hacks

On most major cruise lines, wifi is not free. Instead, wifi can be very expensive onboard cruise ships and can sometimes be painfully slow. Carnival, Celebrity, Disney Cruises, Holland America, MSC, Princess, and Royal Caribbean all charge fees for wifi on their cruise ships.

How much does wifi cost on a cruise ship? The cost of cruise wifi fees differ by cruise line, by ship, and even by speed (basic browsing packages vs high-speed / streaming packages). The wifi prices can even change from one sailing to the next.

To provide some idea, cruise wifi typically costs between $10-$25 per day for unlimited wifi on a single device. So if cruising as a couple and each person wants to connect their phones to wifi on a 7-night cruise, expect to pay a few hundred dollars for that privilege. But by utilizing the following cruise wifi tips below, you can get away with paying much less!

There is no easy way to hack the cruise wifi network to get free wifi on a cruise. Yet thankfully there are easy ways to exploit cruise wifi, extend it, share wifi access, connect multiple devices to the same account, and even get a wee bit of wifi for free  on certain cruise lines.

So here are some tried and true cruise wifi hacks to minimize your cruise wifi expenses and maximize your time online during your cruise.

10) Don’t Buy a Wifi Package on the Ship, Buy it Before You Sail

You can find nominal savings on a wifi package if purchasing it before your cruise. Typically most cruise lines give a 10%-15% discount  if you book a wifi package before you get on the ship. You can find these discounted wifi packages by logging in to your online account directly with the cruise line, before your embarkation day. It’s there where you browse the different wifi packages the cruise line offers for your specific itinerary.

Also, before booking a cruise, keep an eye out for promotions that may even include a free wifi package. Free wifi on cruises is becoming a more common promotion that cruise lines are offering to tempt you to book.

11) Before Your Cruise: Download Movies, Shows, Offline Apps, and Books 

If you do decide to buy a less expensive browsing wifi package for your cruise, you’ll want to stretch that package as much as possible. Don’t waste cruise funds on an expensive streaming package just to watch that Netflix series that could’ve been downloaded to your device in advance.

Understand that most streaming platforms allow you to download their series and movies to your devices to watch offline . So when you’re at home or at the hotel before your cruise, log in to your streaming subscriptions to download some movies or shows you think you may want to watch.

But don’t stop there.

Download some offline games to play. Download a book , whether something fun to read or some books about your cruise destinations. You can even download this article, or any webpage, to read offline later . Here’s how to download webpages for offline reading for iPhone here and for Android here .

Or download some podcasts and audiobooks too. To get access to thousands of audiobooks and podcasts, you get the free 30-day trial of Amazon’s Audible Plus . Download tons of content for your cruise, then cancel it once you return home.

Lastly, in Google Maps, you can even download the offline maps of your cruise destinations to learn about locations and directions without needing wifi. If you don’t know how to download offline maps, here are complete directions .

12) Get Free Push Notifications on Your Phone During the Cruise

Be sure to enable the wifi on your phone even if you don’t intend to purchase a wifi package. On some cruise lines’ wifi networks, push notifications have been known to slip through for free ! We have regularly experienced this cruise wifi hack firsthand on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and MSC cruises.

Without purchasing a wifi package, we have routinely been able to receive push notifications from messaging apps and social media to our phone when simply connecting to the ship’s wifi, on airplane mode without having a wifi package. When receiving these push notifications, you will not be able to respond to any messages, without purchasing an internet package. But it can still be a nice, albeit tiny, perk to be able to receive push notifications on your phone, free of charge.

So put your phone on airplane mode, then enable your wifi to see if you may be able to potentially receive push notifications on your phone during your cruise.

13) How to Get Wifi on a Cruise Ship for Free: Use 29 Seconds Per Session

Some cruises will sell small wifi packages by the minute or hour. When purchasing those, we’ve discovered that they will only deduct usage from your account if you’ve been logged onto the wifi for 30 seconds or more.

While you admittedly can’t do much browsing in that very short amount of time, it is a great way to quickly pull in new emails or send out a prewritten email. Similarly, you can pull up a webpage within those 29 seconds, then log off and read the content after you’re logged out. This can be a great cruise wifi hack to save money if you only need to occasionally check or send emails.

We first noticed this when logging on to Celebrity’s wifi for 29 seconds or less and saw it didn’t deduct any minutes from our usage. So you can use the wifi for free if you’re able to keep your session under a half-minute ! Just be careful to watch the time ticker and act quickly!

When using Holland America wifi, it also didn’t deduct any usage from our account when using it for less than a half-minute. Not all cruise lines use this practice though, as we discovered using Norwegian’s wifi for even a second deducts an entire minute. But this cruise wifi hack is worth testing out on your next cruise to see if you can use 29 seconds of wifi for free.

14) Use Wifi During Off-Peak Hours for Maximum Speed

If you did purchase a cruise wifi plan, use those minutes at times such as late at night or early in the morning. Or consider using them during peak meal times and during popular show times. You’ll find the speed to be blazing fast compared to other periods. These off-peak times may vary by ship and itinerary. Ask the Internet Desk Manager for the best times to log on.

💡 Pro-tip to test wifi speed on a cruise : Use a cruise’s complementary sites to assess how quickly the free pages load.

For example, Holland America provides complimentary access to nytimes.com. So we use the ship’s online portal to browse this news site for free. We’re doing so not to read the news, but rather to simply gauge how quickly those NY Times pages are loading. When they load fast, we know this is a good time to log on to our paid wifi plan to get more efficient use of limited wifi minutes on the cruise.

15) Get Your Wifi Refunded

If the Internet is painfully slow (as it can be), do inform the Internet Desk Manager of your troubles. He or she will almost always make it right by refunding hours/days during your sluggish wifi session(s), no questions asked.

Sometimes a cruise ship’s wifi system becomes overloaded or has outages, particularly in remote ocean locations. If the Internet is really bad and you find yourself waiting five minutes for a page to load, it is unfair to be charged for that when wifi a cruise is so costly. The Internet Desk Manager will be well aware of a ship-wide outage. So if you do have a legitimate wifi problem on your cruise, don’t hesitate to address it and get a refund.

For example, during a transatlantic cruise on the Norwegian Bliss, I once logged on in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to find that pages didn’t load after waiting several minutes. After trying many times throughout the day, the problem persisted. When I addressed this with the Internet Desk Manager, he confirmed that there was indeed a satellite outage. So he credited the lost wifi day back to our account.

Such instances are usually  only credited if you proactively request them , never automatically. So if you experience a session in which pages aren’t loading, be sure to speak up.

16) Use Free Wifi in Port and Find the Best Locations

Wifi on a cruise can be pricey, but you can always wait until you’re in port to connect for free. There’s almost always a place to connect to wifi right at the cruise terminal where you’re docked. However, those in-port terminals are often for a fee and can be moderately expensive. Occasionally cruise port terminals will have free wifi, but such connections will be painfully slow since many passengers and crew will all be trying to log on at the same time, clogging the network.

Instead, walk a few blocks away from the cruise terminal to find free wifi with better speed . Go to a local cafe, a bar, or even a fast-food restaurant. Even some malls or town plazas will have free wifi.

Sometimes the port maps provided on the cruise will have such free wifi spots marked. If not, ask your favorite crew member where he/she goes to use the wifi. If you’re on a ship with a regular itinerary, crew members will know all the best places in port with free wifi and fast speed.

17) Use Phone Data on the Cruise to Access Internet When Near Land

Typically, you should always ensure your phone is set to Airplane Mode when on a cruise to avoid expensive rates that phone plans can incur if it connects to the shipboard data networks.

However, when in port or even near land, consider using the data plan on your mobile phone to connect to the Internet. Before you cruise, be sure to check your phone carrier’s international roaming coverage. Some carriers, such as T-mobile or Google Fi , provide free data and texting in over 200 countries. That’s exactly what we use and it has worked very well for us all over the world.

But using your phone data plan is not just limited to being in port. When we’re cruising through areas within a few miles of the coastline, it’s possible to connect phones to have Internet access  through mobile data while on the cruise.

Take a look at the cruise’s route map to note if you’ll be passing by any islands or coastline where you may have data coverage.

For example, during a sea day on a recent Caribbean cruise, we noticed that we were passing within close proximately to a Bahamian island. Our ship was NOT porting in the Bahamas, yet we strategically checked our phone’s data signal when the island was near. Turns out, we were indeed able to access the Internet for nearly an hour since Google Fi’s coverage covers the Bahamas.

In addition to always having data while in port, we’ve often had data on our phone while cruising through the Panama Canal , in Alaska’s inside passage, cruising along the coastline of SE Asia, and even while cruising through the Suez Canal in Egypt.

If you already have an international roaming plan, this is a great free way to access the Internet on a cruise. Simply connect your phone to access the land’s data network! Once connected, you can even tether your phone data to a laptop or other device while cruising near land.

Just be sure that when you’re attempting to access land-based mobile data, you do so outside on your balcony or on deck . We’ve found that cruise ship walls can sometimes block data signals to the interior spaces of a cruise.

18) Cruise Hack to Connect Multiple Devices Using Only One Wifi Package

When purchasing a cruise wifi package, passengers are only permitted to connect one device at a time . So when there are two (or more) people in the same cabin, they cannot be logged in at the same time. Similarly, if you want to connect your mobile phone and your laptop at the same time, this cannot be done. For either of these scenarios of connecting multiple devices, you would need to purchase multiple wifi packages on the cruise.

Here is how to share wifi on a cruise ship : There is a way that you can easily bridge the cruise’s wifi network to create your very own wifi network right from within your stateroom. Shh… this is a cruise wifi hack the cruise lines don’t want you to know about. Here’s how it works:

All you need to do is pack a wireless travel router, like this one . Once on the ship, pair this portable travel router to the cruise wifi network to create a new mini wireless network right within your cruise stateroom. Essentially this device acts as a wifi repeater bridge, allowing you to share your wifi package and connect all your devices using only one wifi package.

Doing this cruise wifi hack works particularly well if you have an unlimited wifi package during your cruise. Set up your own localized network in your cabin and just let it run during the entire length of your cruise. Then you can connect as many phones, tablets, and laptops as you’d like. All of those devices will remain connected whenever you’re in your stateroom.

It’s super easy to use, is small/portable, and is priced under $50. Meanwhile, if you were to purchase a second unlimited wifi package, it would cost hundreds of dollars! So a wireless travel router easily pays for itself and it can be used similarly in hotels that charge for wifi, per device.

Check prices and reviews for the Opal Secure Travel WiFi Router on Amazon

If you buy a travel router like this for your cruise, it is recommended that you set it up at home before your cruise . At that time, connect all the devices you’re taking on the cruise to your travel router. That way, once you get on the cruise and connect your travel router, then all of your devices will automatically connect without the need to spend time on your vacation setting up each device.

Cruise Hacks to Avoid Getting Sick

If the motion of the ocean has you feeling ill, try some natural seasickness remedies. Seasickness medication, while usually effective, will often make you drowsy. So instead of spending your entire cruise in a Dramamine-induced coma, use these natural methods to improve your state of being and enjoy the ride!

While the well-known tactic of staring at the horizon can be effective, here are other ways to avoid seasickness on a cruise that you may not have known about.

Furthermore, cruises are an environment where viruses, colds, and other illnesses can easily spread. But we have one simple little trick to help thwart illness from ruining your cruise vacation.

19) The Best Stateroom Location to Avoid Motion Sickness

If you’re prone to seasickness, consider booking a lower stateroom, midship . You’ll find the motion is much more subdued on the lower, central areas of the ship. Avoid cabins in the bow, which tend to experience the most motion.

To further help with sea sickness, keep your air-conditioner on iced-cold . Experts have suggested that cold air is known to help fight off motion sickness.

It’s worked for us! We once sailed through the remnants of a hurricane in 20-foot (6-meter) seas when crossing the Atlantic. Nearly everyone on the ship, including the crew, was plagued by seasickness. Yet we had a cool, lower-midship cabin and felt just fine!

20) Go To these Surprising Spots on a Cruise if Feeling Queasy

Not in a lower mid-ship stateroom? Then head to the casino . Yes, the casino!

On nearly every cruise ship, the casino is conveniently located in the lower mid-ship. This is the sweet spot on a cruise to avoid motion. Cruise lines don’t want their gamblers to become ill.

Cruises also don’t want poker chips and dice sliding around. But they do want a central location to tempt people to stop in for a slot pull. So casinos are always very central and tend to be low too. If feeling nauseous, go to the casino!

If feeling nauseous, you may not want to deal with the buzz of slot machines. So perhaps an even better move is to locate the ship’s casino and instead go to a more pleasant space near the casino.

Another unconventional place to retreat if you’re just feeling mildly queasy is the ship’s pool ! Here you’ll get a double-whammy of help.

First, the pool water itself will feel refreshing and cool. Secondly, you’ll move with the water in the pool rather than with the ship, which can help with the disagreement your inner ear is having that’s causing the seasickness in the first place!

Just don’t go to the pool if you’re ready to blow. Your fellow pool-goers certainly won’t appreciate that.

21) Natural Sea Sickness Remedies that Are Free on a Cruise

We recommend green apples and saltine crackers as natural seasickness remedies that are totally free on a cruise ship. All the crew members strongly advocate these tried-and-trusted natural remedies. You may even notice cruises more prominently offering green apples and saltines during any particularly rough days.

As a tried-and-true natural remedy to a quest stomach, be prepared with ginger pills to lessen nausea.

Get seasickness medicine for free!

Did you forget to pack medicine or didn’t expect to get seasick? All ships sell seasickness medication at the gift shops. Instead of buying it, simply ask Guest Services, the clinic, or even your stateroom attendant for some seasickness medication. They’ll provide it free of charge. Even though seasickness medicine is sold in the cruise gift shops at outrageous prices, all cruises will provide some sort of seasickness medicine entirely gratis . Just ask.

When receiving complimentary seasickness medication from cruises, typically it’s been Meclizine Hydrochloride (generic Bonine). It’s been somewhat effective but can still cause drowsiness.

We recommend bringing ginger pills on board with you to use as a natural remedy. Sometimes we’ll even take them as a preventative measure. They’re also super inexpensive online, so order a bottle on Amazon before you depart and there will be no need to approach the customer service desk with a green face.

22) Cruise Tips to Prevent Getting Seasick in the First Place

The aforementioned can be helpful to ease your discomfort if seasickness happens. But the best strategy is to avoid getting seasick in the first place. If you’re prone to seasickness, use preventative tactics!

Here are a number of easy tips that you can employ to lessen the chances of getting sick during your cruise:

• Choose a larger ship . The larger the ship, the more stable it tends to be. You’ll notice less rocking and rolling.
• Choose a newer ship . Most cruise ships are equipped with stabilizers that can be deployed to help for a smooth voyage. Newer ships have the latest technology in their stabilizers and since their new, can are less likely to fail.
• Stay hydrated . Drinking plenty of water can help prevent dehydration, which can worsen seasickness symptoms.
• Consider acupressure bands . They apply pressure to specific points on your wrist. They’re inexpensive and many cruisers swear by them. Try these Sea-Bands , which cost less than $10.
• Avoid screen time. Staring at screens can worsen seasickness symptoms, so those prone to seasickness may want to minimize screentime.
• Get some fresh air . Often passengers find that fresh air can help reduce symptoms and the tried-and-true method of staring at the horizon really does work !
• Avoid greasy foods. Eating light, non-greasy meals can help to avoid seasickness.
• Take medication before you embark . If you are really prone to seasickness and are going to take some sort of medication, consider taking it before you even step foot on the ship. It can be more difficult to reverse symptoms once they’ve begun.

23) Tip to Avoid Catching a Virus while Cruising

While most cruise lines take very good cleanliness and sanitary measures to prevent the spread of illnesses, much of the responsibility remains on fellow passengers. Of course, you already know to frequently wash your hands with hot soapy water when cruising. But there’s another simple little trick that we always employ that’s helped us to never get sick during our many months on cruises.

The buffets are arguably one of the easiest places to spread germs on a cruise and hence the place to be most vigilant in prevention. At the entrance to buffets, cruises have hand sanitizing stations for passengers to clean their germ-ridden hands before reaching for the tongs. The problem is that hand sanitizer only lasts for a minute or two . So any sick passengers who touch their hands to their face or cough, then return to the buffet for seconds, are potentially infecting the entire buffet line.

Unfortunately, you can’t rely on other passengers’ hygiene to keep the germs away.

So here’s the tip! Use that hand sanitizer a second time after you’ve touched all the potentially infected buffet tongs. Most passengers only sanitize before visiting the buffet, which protects other passengers from your germs. But almost no one sanitizes after visiting the buffet yet before eating, which protects YOU from other passengers’ germs. Protect yourself!

This double-sanitization technique may seem like an over-cautionary step to take. But it’s important.

We’ve now been on three cruises where a virus spread and we were among the minority that never succumbed to illness. During our last cruise, there were so many passengers with a nasty cold, as coughing was rampant throughout every public space. Yet we were careful to always sanitize immediately after retrieving our food from the buffet and before eating. No sickness for us. Ever.

The Trip Insurance Cruise Hack You Need to Know

24) here’s why to always book travel insurance with a third-party.

When booking a cruise, most cruise lines or agencies will offer you something called “trip insurance” or “travel insurance.”  It’s very important to have travel insurance on a cruise, but NEVER book travel protection with the cruise line directly . The cruise hack is to book with a third-party travel insurance agency instead.

First, why do you even need travel insurance for a cruise ? There are endless reasons to protect yourself. But here’s just a sampling of why you need travel insurance: trip cancelation, medical coverage on a cruise, lost baggage, flight delays, etc.

• If you get sick during the voyage and need treatment, you’ll be stuck with an extremely expensive medical bill when visiting the ship’s doctor. But travel insurance covers such exorbitant expenses, should they arise.
• What if there’s an extreme health emergency, in which you require a medical evacuation? That’ll cost somewhere in the ballpark of $50,000-$100,000 (or more) for those without the proper travel insurance.
• If your flight is delayed to your cruise port causing you to miss the ship, travel insurance could fly you to the ship’s first port or could cover the costs of having to cancel your cruise.
• If your luggage goes missing, travel insurance will reimburse you for new clothes and other essentials. (This happened to us and we got to go on a shopping spree that netted $800 worth of new clothes !)
• If you got sick before the cruise or something unfathomable like a death in the family prevents you from going, travel insurance would cover all or a portion of your otherwise non-refundable cruise cancelation.

Why not book trip insurance with the cruise line : Policies from cruise lines often contain minimal coverage at inflated costs. And we’ve found it to be painstaking to track down specifics of what their coverage includes. Also, these policies sometimes cover only the cruise itself. That means if you’re staying in the port city of embarkation before or after your cruise, you may not be covered during your pre- and post-cruise travels. Furthermore, your flights to the cruise port may not be covered either, unless you booked them as part of a package with the cruise. And if for some reason the cruise line financially defaults, the cruise line’s own insurance policy won’t be able to help you out at all. For all of these reasons, it is important to instead book a separate policy with a third-party travel insurance company rather than with the cruise line itself.

Be careful when booking your cruise : When booking a cruise directly with the cruise line, sometimes they will automatically include trip protection or travel insurance with your cruise package. Insist you want it removed.

Where to book travel insurance for a cruise : There are many third-party travel insurance companies to book travel insurance with. Yet few travel insurance policies specialize in coverage specifically geared towards cruises. That’s why we like to recommend: CruiseSafe by VisitorsCoverage  to US residents traveling on a cruise for less than a month.

This small expense is well worth the peace of mind to protect yourself against unexpected travel mishaps that would potentially ruin a cruise vacation and cost thousands of dollars. Get a quick quote and compare plans now.

Food Cruise Hacks

With so much deliciousness on a cruise, it can often be a happy problem to navigate all of those delectable culinary treats. So here are a few cruise hacks to help you maximize your intake of all those tasty dishes!

25) Order Two Main Courses

Can’t decide between the steak and the lobster? Get both!

Your waiter will gladly oblige with your request for two main courses  if there are two options that both look enticing. This also applies to starters and desserts. Hope you’re hungry!

Of course, be mindful of food waste and only order what you can eat.

26) Request a Main Course for Your Appetizer

Despite wanting two mouthwatering main courses, you may not have the appetite to eat both. The solution: order one of the mains as an appetizer instead. We find that vegetarian main courses can make for particularly awesome starters.

Sometimes you can even request smaller appetizer-sized portions of main course dishes. Ask and you shall receive!

27) Eat Free Dessert in the Cruise’s Coffee Shop

The specialty coffee shops on board cruise ships are revenue centers where passengers can spend money on expensive cappuccinos and lattes. But what many cruise passengers don’t realize is that you can also find beautiful desserts at the ship’s coffee shops that are all complimentary .

Those wonderful cheesecakes, cookies, and pies won’t cost you a dime. No coffee purchase is required to indulge in them. So if dinner is running long and you need to make it to a show, skip dessert in the main dining room and instead enjoy an alternate sweet treat later at the coffee shop. Sometimes the coffee shop’s desserts are even superior to what’s on offer in the main dining room!

28) Get Free Room Service on a Cruise

Room service is often associated with high fees in hotels. Yet unbeknownst to some new cruise passengers is that many cruises offer complimentary room service to guests .

As of 2024, Princess, Holland America, and Disney all still offer a full room service menu that is entirely complimentary. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity also offer a complimentary selection of continental breakfast items for room service during the morning hours, although they now charge for hot breakfast items in addition to lunch, dinner, and snacks.

So if you’re sailing with any of those aforementioned cruise lines, do not hesitate to order a big pot of coffee and some pastries to be delivered to your room to help get you moving in the morning.

And even the cruise lines that charge for room service, it can still be a decent value if you play your cards right. Do note that all Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and MSC charge by the order, not the item . So when paying for room service on those lines, make it count! Whether you just order a simple cheese plate or two dinners with generous appetizers and desserts, you’ll be paying the same fee.

An additional room service cruise hack that we discovered on Virgin Voyages is that they’ll waive their $5 room service charge if you order a drink to your room. So just order a drink and then load up on the room service food.

Do check to confirm whether your cruise has complimentary room service. Or just look for the menu in your stateroom. As of January 2024, here are the room service policies and fees.

29) How to Get Free Candy on a Cruise

Have a sweet tooth? Don’t buy the overpriced bag of M&Ms for $10 in the ship’s duty-free shop.

Instead, simply head to the ice cream stand and ask the scooper for a cup of toppings of your choice. We’ve noticed that Celebrity’s ships tend to have a particularly nice range of candy to choose from. You can often get a cup of M&Ms for free, so there’s no need to pay for overpriced candy in the cruise gift shop. Personally, we go for the Sour Patch Kids to chew on while poolside – yum!

30) Why Go to a Specialty Restaurant on the First Night and Never Formal Night

If you want to indulge in a cruise’s specialty restaurants, do so on the very first night of your cruise . On the first night, passengers tend to choose the Main Dining Room. This leaves specialty restaurants with several open tables. Therefore cruises will have special offers on these specialty restaurants during the first night of the itinerary.

So consider going to the steakhouse on the very first night and you may find such deals like a 50% discount and a free bottle of wine! To find these deals, after getting on the cruise – check the Day 1 itinerary for such a promotion or enquire directly at the premium restaurant. If there’s a good offer, go for it! That promotion likely won’t come back again later in the cruise. The specialty dining deals on Day 1 are usually the most generous of every cruise.

Meanwhile, those who choose to go to the specialty restaurant later in the cruise, will not only pay full price, but they may also miss out on a great complimentary meal in the main dining room.

Some cruisers like to splurge on a specialty restaurant during formal night. Don’t do it – it’s a trap! Formal night is the worst possible time to splurge on a specialty restaurant. On formal night, the main dining room always serves its best complimentary dishes, such as lobster and chateaubriand, for example. You don’t want to miss these amazing complimentary meals by paying for an alternative at a specialty restaurant!

31) Skip the Buffet on the First Day

When you board a cruise ship mid-day, it can be all too convenient to relieve your hunger by heading directly to the buffet. All hungry passengers have the same idea. So the buffet inevitably gets crowded and hectic during the lunch rush on Day 1. But don’t follow this herd mentality once you board the ship!

Most cruises have a handful of complimentary dining options available during lunch that most passengers haven’t taken the time to scout out. So there’s no need to wait in a long buffet line to fight for the salad tongs.

Instead, start your cruise off right and find out what other complimentary restaurants may be open for lunch . You’ll eat better, avoid the crowds, and have a much more enjoyable beginning to your trip. Again, check your Day 1 itinerary once you embark which will clearly detail what other dining options are open.

During a recent voyage on the Norwegian Bliss, everyone crowded the buffet. We instead sat right down at the Local Pub, which was virtually empty, as most people just boarding had yet to figure out that this complimentary restaurant serves lunch. So while everyone else flocked to the buffet, we enjoyed table service at the pub’s casual and crowd-free table-service setting, with an order of fish & chips and a fantastic Reuben sandwich.

Health and Weight Gain Cruise Tips

With all that eating, it may be worth watching your weight and burning a few calories. Between those decadent desserts and the midnight buffet, you may worry about your waistline expanding during all those wonderfully gluttonous meals at sea.

But you’re on vacation. It can be fun to indulge! So use these simple cruise hacks to enjoy all of that fantastic cuisine, without disembarking ten pounds heavier.

32) Why Weighing Yourself on Day 1 May Give You an Excuse to Gorge

Yes, really. Just do it.

You can always find a scale in the cruise ship’s gym or even the medical office. Find that scale to weigh yourself, even if you have no intentions of using the gym during the rest of your voyage.

Weigh yourself as soon as you get on board so you can keep tabs on any weight gain during the cruise. This is a particularly good idea for longer cruise itineraries.

After your initial weigh-in, weigh yourself periodically throughout the remainder of your cruise. By doing so, you may actually find that you’re not packing on the pounds as much as you feared. Many people are more active on cruises, burning calories while ashore or walking all around a large ship.

So checking your weight periodically may give you assurance to continue to indulge. Discovering that you’re not gaining wait can give a well-deserved excuse to have a cheat day of gluttony while cruising.

33) No Need for the Gym When You Can Use Stairs!

You’re on vacation. There’s no need to spend it at the gym unless you really love a good workout.

Instead, simply hold firm on always using the stairs. Most large cruise ships have a minimum of 10 passenger floors (often many more). So set a firm rule to never use the elevator.

By avoiding the elevator, you’ll end up burning lots of calories simply by trying to get from one place to another on these megaships. Often, you’ll get there faster too. This holds particularly true if your cruise has many aging passengers who must use elevators or has lots of kids who like to press elevator buttons.

If your cabin happens to be on a lower level, simply taking the stairs up to the upper deck for lunch and back down will burn approximately 100 calories , based on the estimate of 5 calories burned per flight of stairs. Considering that you’ll likely be making multiple trips up and down the ship’s stairs throughout the day, you can realistically burn several hundred calories just by going about your normal day aboard the ship. Do so. Then don’t feel bad about getting the chocolate lava cake later in the night.

Keep track of your steps and the number of calories you’re burning with a smartwatch. You may be surprised at just how much walking you can inadvertently do on a big ship! If you don’t already have a smartwatch, check out Apple Watches or more affordable FitBit watches .

34) Have Bread WITH Your Meal, Never Before

A lovely basket of bread is always immediately delivered to your table upon getting seated for dinner on a cruise. It’s so easy to butter up those tasty rolls and load up on all those carbs before your appetizer has even hit the linen.

As a result of eating all the pre-dinner bread, you may even find yourself too full to finish whatever delicious main course you’ve chosen to dine on for the night.

To avoid that fate, request for your server to only bring out the bread basket along with the main course . That way the delicious temptation won’t be on the table for you to fill up on before your meal.

Save your appetite for the main course and forgo the seduction of those unnecessary carbs. If you’re still hungry while eating your main course, then go ahead and enjoy some of that tasty bread. You likely won’t eat as much as you would have if it was presented while waiting for your dinner to arrive.

Cruise Tips for Drinking on the Ship

Drinking on cruises can be notoriously expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. Use these cruise hacks to quench your thirst without breaking the bank!

35) Drink for Free and Cheap on a Cruise

We have so many drink-related cruise hacks to share , so we’ve detailed them all in a separate post explaining all the different tips to get free & cheap alcohol on a cruise .

We show how to get hooked up with a beverage package and the truth about sneaking booze onto a cruise. Happy hours can make for happy cruisers. But knowing when the free cocktails are served is even better! Yes, many cruises regularly give passengers unlimited free drinks for short periods for those in the know. Cheers to that!

Creating your own mini-bar is another fun drinking cruise hack we regularly employ. And for those who want better coffee without paying inflated specialty coffee prices, we show how to be your own barista!

If you like to drink on a cruise, then be sure to check out this full article where we reveal all of our secrets for more economical boozing on the high seas:

• Read this: 25 Proven Methods to Get Free & Cheap Drinks on a Cruise

Shore Excursion Cruise Hacks

Shore excursions can be tricky, particularly if you’re new to cruising and don’t want to pay for the often exorbitant fees charged by the cruise lines. Booking excursions through the cruise line can be very convenient and offers a hassle-free experience. But you’ll pay a hefty premium to do so. These cruise tips should help get you on shore with some spare cash to spend while you’re there.

36) The Best Wake-Up Call on a Cruise

Instead of setting an annoying alarm or getting a wake-up call on your stateroom phone, just preschedule complimentary room service breakfast to be delivered to your cabin at whatever time you’d like to be woken up. Instead of a buzzing alarm or a loud phone ring, you’ll wake up to a soft knock on your door and have a cup of coffee in your hand within minutes of waking. Then enjoy a leisurely breakfast-in-bed as you pull into port.

If you’d prefer to eat a more proper breakfast, simply schedule a pot of coffee or tea to be delivered to your room. Once you’re done sipping and the caffeine has you moving, head up to the main dining room or buffet for a full breakfast.

Free morning coffee delivery is available to all passengers on the following cruise lines in 2024:

• Holland America,
• Princess, and
• Royal Caribbean

37) Do-It-Yourself Cruise Excursions Will Save Big

Go out on your own or book excursions directly with local companies operating in the area, which will undoubtedly save you hundreds of dollars across multiple ports . Just be sure you get back on the ship before the “all-aboard,” because late passengers not on the cruise’s excursion can get left behind.

In some ports, do-it-yourself sightseeing is easily accomplished by those comfortable with independent travel. Perform some port research in advance to see what’s near the port before you arrive. Do some Googling about the ports, read travel blogs, and/or buy a travel guide about the location. Once you have a solid game plan, then you can simply hop off the ship and sightsee on your own.

In some cruise destinations, a rental car can be the way to go for those comfortable with driving internationally. Popular rental car agencies often have locations directly at cruise ports. This helps to make rental cars a convenient and economical option to cover a lot of ground during the short time you have on land.

Not comfortable with driving? Then consider a taxi tour . There’s usually no shortage of taxis waiting around for some cruise passenger dollars. But taxis at many cruise ports are notorious for overcharging unsuspecting cruise passengers. Be sure to know the going rate in advance and negotiate, where appropriate. Also, we’ve found that taxis often cost less (and are more pleasant) when catching them from town, rather than directly from the cruise port.

In most popular cruise ports, it can be easy to find an independent local tour just as you walk off the ship. Those prices are sometimes negotiable too, so don’t be afraid to haggle or ask for a deal.

If you do want to consider a tour while in port, it’s wise to plan and book a tour in advance . That way you won’t end up wasting what little time you have on land to seek out an excursion that may become sold-out, or not available. You can sometimes find tour operators by Googling, which then results in a back-and-forth email exchange to actually book the tour and possibly the unnerving task of blindly sending funds as a deposit. Instead, we recommend this next tip…

38) Use Viator as a Safe Way To Save Money on Ports of Call Tours

We love booking shore excursions through Viator because they have a low price guarantee . This protects you from getting into the port and finding the same excursion at a lower price. Yet we further appreciate that Viator has 24-hour live phone support and their tours are usually fully refundable if canceled at least 24 hours in advance (for those who may be indecisive like us). But best of all, Viator has tours specifically for cruise passengers with dates & times that align with your cruise ships ’ itinerary.

These Viator shore excursions also include what they call a “Worry-free Shore Excursion” policy, which will ensure your timely return to the port for each activity . In the extremely rare instance (if ever) that some freak occurrence causes you to miss the ship, Viator will arrange and pay for transportation to the next port of call.

Also if your cruise happens to get delayed or diverted arriving at a port altogether, making it impossible to attend a shore excursion you booked, then your money gets automatically refunded in full. All of these assurances give us the confidence to book with Viator. We’ve done this for so many shore excursions now that it has probably saved us hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars during the past few years of cruising.

You can start searching for shore excursions directly from the Viator homepage . Or below are some links to Viator shore excursions for some of the most popular cruise ports. Of course, it’s best to book these excursions as far in advance as possible. Popular excursions do get booked full since many savvy cruisers are now using Viator to book their shore excursions at a discount. So get saving!

Western Caribbean, Bahamas, & Mexico

• Nassau, Bahamas
• Freeport, Bahamas
• Key West, FL, USA
• Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico
• Cayman Islands
• Jamaica (Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, & Falmouth)
• Roatan, Honduras
• Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
• Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Eastern Caribbean

• St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
• San Juan, Puerto Rico

Europe &  Mediterranean

• Rome, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Venice, Italy
• Barcelona, Spain
• La Havre, France
• Marseille, France
• Cannes, France
• Athens, Greece
• Santorini, Greece
• Mykonos, Greece
• Dubrovnik, Croatia

Other Locations

• Bermuda cruises
• Hawaii cruises
• Alaskan cruises

39) Why It’s Worth Actually Attending Port Lectures on a Cruise

Port talks on cruises can be helpful to give passengers an overview of the port being visited with a background about the history, culture, food, points of interest, practical tips, and more.

On some cruise lines, we noticed that these port talks are sometimes designed to sell you the ship’s shore excursions. So you may want to skip them in favor of other more fun shipboard activities. Yet other times the port lectures can be very insightful and helpful. To help distinguish between the two, determine if the port talk is being led by excursion staff or an enrichment lecturer. An enrichment lecture will tend to be more insightful.

But even if the port talk is based upon all of the excursions the cruise is attempting to sell, the lecturer will still highlight and show pictures of popular things to do in port on these tours. For those comfortable with independent travel, use this info to help decide which sights you may be able to see on your own.

Yet these excursion-related talks tend to have further benefits to entice and reward your attendance. Often at the lectures, they give away money-saving coupons to use onshore, and other shipboard freebies too. If so, that will be listed in the ship’s daily program. So check it out and you may find they’re giving away something worthwhile to attend.

40) Where To Find A Super-Helpful Port Map

There are some very informative port maps and mini-guides available for every port of call, but for some strange reason, these maps are typically not distributed to all passengers . Sometimes they’re handed out at the port lecture, so you may find them there.

But don’t worry if you’re unable to get to the lecture. Just ask guest relations for a port map to get the scoop on where everything is once you get off the ship. These maps tend to contain a plethora of helpful information such as sample taxi fares, ATM locations, and wifi hotspots. Be sure to grab one the day before you get into port! These port maps are always available but never pushed out.

41) Use Water Bottles on Shore

It’s important to keep hydrated while on shore. Yet in many popular cruise ports touristic ports tap water is unsafe to drink. Meanwhile, bottled water in these touristic areas can often be outrageously priced.

In a scorching hot situation, you may be thirsty enough to pay $6 for a bottle of water. Instead, be prepared and bring a water bottle filled with the ship’s drinkable tap water to bring on land with you. You’ll be saving a few bucks with this environmentally friendly alternative to buying expensive bottled water on shore.

Bring your favorite Stanley tumbler if you wish. Yet we suggest just packing a simple inexpensive water bottle like this .

42) Stop Paying for Expensive Rentals: Bring Your Own Beach Gear

At nearly every cruise port where there are beaches, you can guarantee that there will be no shortage of vendors offering pricey beach chair rentals and snorkeling gear . Many ports (particularly cruise lines’ private islands) have beautiful reefs that you can swim to from shore. We love snorkeling while in port as a DIY activity ashore.

Yet mask & snorkel rentals are way overpriced. It can also be a little gross to think about the dozens of people who put that snorkel in their mouths before you and the sanitary conditions of such island gear.

The funny thing is that if you plan in advance, you can buy some nice mask-and-snorkel sets for about the same cost as renting them once you’re on the island. Often cruises will rent out snorkeling equipment for $15-$30, or even more. Meanwhile, this popular Mask & Snorkel Set   is a great mask that costs about the same to buy then it would to rent for a day when you reach the islands.

Meanwhile, at the beach, you’ll certainly want to stay out of the sun and have a place to relax. A pair of beach chairs with an umbrella regularly runs about $30-$50 and higher throughout most Caribbean ports. For about the same price as those one-time rentals, you can buy a pop-up beach shade tent like this to use across multiple cruise ports and your next beach vacation.

And don’t forget the sunscreen either! We’ve seen astronomical prices for sunscreen throughout the islands and in the cruise ship gift shop, well over $20 for a small bottle. Meanwhile, Amazon has great prices on its Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 70 Sunscreen . So be sure to add a few bottles to your Prime order, to ensure you’re well-stocked before your next cruise.

The Cruise Hacks to Get Cash

43) how to turn onboard credit into cash money.

If you have onboard credit and you don’t spend it, you will lose it. Onboard credit is a promotional perk, commonly offered when buying a cruise, that is a dollar amount you can use once on the cruise on things like drinks, specialty restaurants, excursions, etc. But you must use it for shipboard expenses and cannot simply go to guest relations and ask for this onboard credit in cash. As its name suggests, this is a credit to spend onboard. So they won’t ever give you cash.

Instead of blowing your onboard credit on overpriced souvenirs that you didn’t really want to buy anyway,  this simple cruise hack  will allow you to transform your onboard credit into cash . Just head over to the casino!

Here’s how to turn onboard credit into cash: Insert your cruise card into the slot machine. Add whatever is left of your onboard credit to the slot machine. Although you don’t technically have to gamble at all, consider betting a small amount (a dollar, a nickel, whatever) on a slot pull just for fun. Don’t get carried away though. The slot odds are pretty bad!

Now that your funds are loaded as gambling credits, you can simply cash out those casino funds with the casino purser. In doing so, you will have just turned your onboard credit into cold hard cash. Jackpot!

Be sure to do this while still in international waters. If not, the casino will be closed once it nears port, and you will have lost the ability to cash out your onboard credit.

Note for 2024 : Although we have successfully used this casino cruise hack many times and on many cruise lines to turn onboard credit into cash, some cruises are beginning to catch onto this trick. During our last Holland America cruise, our onboard credit was marked as not usable in the casino. So just be forewarned that while this can indeed be an effective tactic, it may not always be possible.

Whatever you do, just don’t let your onboard credit go to waste! Either retrieve it as cash, using this cruise hack, or spend it on something worthwhile before you get off the ship.

44) Use This Cruise Hack to Get Cash on a Cruise without Fees

Cruise ships have notoriously high ATM fees onboard. We’ve seen transactions come with an ATM withdrawal fee as high as $15! So we always recommend bringing cash, should you need it ashore, during or after your cruise.

But if you need more cash while on the cruise, you could incur that outrageous ATM fee simply by using the shipboard ATM. Instead, you can use a similar method, as described in the cruise hack above, to get cash from your onboard account.

Simply go to the casino and buy casino chips as if you were to use them in the casino. You can use a credit or debit card to do this. It makes no difference. After you buy your chips, don’t actually gamble away your casino credit. Just cash out at the purser’s desk!

Some cruise lines will charge a small fee to get casino chips using your credit card and they may impose a minimum threshold to withdraw. For example, on a recent Norwegian cruise, they charged me a $3 fee and there was a $100 withdrawal minimum. Still, the $3 fee is significantly less than the $15 fee that the shipboard ATM would have charged.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean charges a 5% fee to buy casino credits with your credit card. And while that’s still cheaper than the ATM, there’s a loophole to get cash on Royal Caribbean with no fee. We’ve found the 5% fee is applied when getting it from the casino cashier, but not at the slots. So when sailing RCL, load up your casino credits on a slot, then cash out. In doing so, you’ll be accessing cash with no fee!

So there’s no need to visit the ship’s expensive ATM with this nice little casino loophole to access cash! Just buy some casino credit for a $3 fee and then cash it out immediately.

Cruise Hacks Around the Ship

One of the best cruise tips is to simply get to know your ship. Check out the ship’s deck plans before you get on board and use the following cruise hacks to help make the most of the ship itself. Avoid the crowds and enjoy the cruise to the fullest!

45) Get a Free Balcony Upgrade

Achieving a free balcony upgrade can be more difficult than ever these days. But we’ve managed to score a free balcony on three of our past four cruises. It can be very tricky to actually land these free stateroom upgrades, so we’ve detailed a very informative guide on exactly how to do so.

• 10 Secrets on How to Get a Free Balcony Upgrade on a Cruise

46) If Booking a Balcony Cabin, Know the Best Side of the Ship to Book: Port vs Starboard

If booking a balcony stateroom, take a moment to research whether the starboard or port side of the ship will have a more scenic view . Really, it depends on your specific cruise’s itinerary on whether to book a port or starboard cabin.

If your ship’s itinerary is going in a closed loop and visiting mostly mainland ports, book a port (left) side stateroom for a clockwise route. Book a starboard (right) side for a counter-clockwise route. In doing so you’ll generally be treated to better views when cruising in and out of ports.

If your itinerary is taking you in a circle visiting islands, the best views can be a little more uncertain, as it will depend on which side of the island each specific port is on. If splurging on a balcony it can be worthwhile to take a closer look at the route map for your cruise itinerary.

In doing so, you can determine whether the port or starboard side of the ship will be facing land more frequently, providing you with more scenic views.

47) Get the Good Seats at the Theatre

Most big cruise ships will have at least four entrances to the main theatre (upper starboard, upper port, lower starboard, and lower port). On some ships, one of those theatre entrances may be accessed at a non-thru corridor. This means there isn’t a hallway extending throughout the length of the ship to the main dining room, where many passengers will be coming from.

If your specific cruise has a theatre entrance with this configuration, that is the entrance you should always use to get the best seats in the house, particularly if you’re arriving just minutes before the show.

You may be surprised to find many empty seats right in the front in this particular corner of the theatre. During sailings on the Norwegian Star and the Holland American Volendam, the non-thru lower port-side theatre entrance was a sure bet every single time! While the starboard side was packed full every night, we’d easily slip into a front-row seat within minutes of the start of the show.

48) Tips to Avoid the Crowds while Cruising

Cruises tend to get a bad rap when it comes to crowds. It’s not entirely unjustified, as crowded spaces most certainly do exist on cruises. Yet it’s so easy to avoid the crowds on these enormous ships with some minimal effort.

For a quiet space during the day, go to this unlikely area : the club. Yes, the club !

The cruise’s disco may be rocking at night and into the wee morning hours. But during the day, the club usually sits empty.

Meanwhile, cruise spaces that you’d perceive would be quiet, like the library, can sometimes become full of people during the day. Yet at daytime hours, there’s usually not a soul in the club. That’s where we go for quiet time and it never disappoints! I’ve gone to the club during the day to get some online work done and I’ve always been the only person there.

Typically, the most crowded area we find on a cruise is the buffet during lunch on a sea day. Any crowd-averse cruisers should make a point to avoid the buffet from Noon-1:30 . Simply get a seat in a restaurant instead to avoid the midday cluster and enjoy a crowd-free environment. Or go to the buffet outside of those hours.

Catch some rays on the pool deck in the morning . The cruise’s lido deck can get crowded during the mid-afternoon hours. Instead, simply enjoy the pool before lunch. The morning is always our favorite time to head to the pool. As other cruisers nurse their hangovers or head to a late breakfast, the pool decks can be unusually empty in the morning hours, making for a much more enjoyable experience.

Find Your Secret Spot on a Cruise

When a ship is filled to capacity, it’s nice to have a pleasant place to retreat to for some serenity. Yet with a finite amount of public passenger space, this can often be challenging. But if you thoroughly explore all the out-of-the-way ship locations, you can be rewarded with your private area of zen.

We suggest strolling all around the ship on embarkation day to discover such hidden nooks.

On the upper decks, take some time out of the day to see what is at the very aft of the ship.

Then go all the way forward towards the bow. Since all the action tends to center on the middle of the ship, the aft and bow tend to be two very overlooked places to relax onboard . They also tend to come with excellent views!

Try this: On the main pool deck (lido deck) go to both ends of the ship, then check both up and down a few decks deck. You may have just found your secret tranquil oasis and escaped the crowds!

49) When it Rains: Use the Pool, Hot Tub, and Slides

If you don’t feel like squeezing into a cramped hot tub with a dozen other strangers, simply go when it rains. You’re getting wet anyway and the pool deck will be empty. Unless it’s a really bad storm or lightning in the area, the pool facilities will remain open and functioning.

You’ll also find no lines at the waterslide or the bar. Enjoy!

50) Use Limited Spa Amenities for Free

Even if you aren’t planning to splurge on that massage, don’t be a stranger to the spa, which may also have some minimal complimentary facilities.

If nothing else, the spa can provide a better place to shower than your stateroom! The showers at the spa tend to be much bigger than the small shower spaces in your cabin. Many ships also have complimentary steam rooms and saunas in the spa.

Heading to the spa for showers can also be convenient! If there are two people in the same cabin who need to get ready quickly for a formal night, the spa’s shower facilities can allow for someone to shower up there. You’ll find towels, hairdryers, and everything you need. Also, some cruise spa showers are known to have some nice complimentary soaps and shampoos available too!

So if you have a spouse that takes ages getting ready in the bathroom, take it upon yourself to use the spa’s shower facilities for free, while indulging in all extra complimentary perks.

51) Magnets Keep You Organized on Cruises

Did you know that your cabin’s walls are made of metal ? They are! So before boarding your cruise, grab your favorite magnets from your fridge at home. Or, better yet, buy these cool heavy-duty magnet hooks that hold up to 27 pounds and will help to avoid clutter in your small cabin!

Use the hooks to hang your lanyards, small bags, damp swimsuits, purses, hats, jewelry, and more. You can also use the magnets to hold the endless documents that arrive at your stateroom – daily guides, luggage tags, receipts, port maps, and other pieces of paper that otherwise clutter your cabin. It’s a great way to stay organized and create additional storage space.

Buy Magnetic Hooks on Amazon

52) Shop ’til You Drop on the Last Day of the Cruise

If you’re planning to do any onboard shopping, consider waiting ’til the last full day of the cruise. Often the ship will have a big sale on the last day of a cruise . There will be greater odds of this happening and better deals if the ship you’re on is about to change itineraries or if you’re on a repositioning cruise.

Check the daily program on the final full day of your cruise (the day before you get off) to see if there will be a big sale. Towards the last full day of a cruise, we regularly see sales in which all items in a certain store are priced at $10 or $5 and below. If you have an onboard credit remaining, this can be an ideal time to use it.

Also, if you purchase alcohol from the duty-free store on the afternoon or evening of the last day of a cruise, they’ll usually allow you to bring the bottle back to your cabin. If bought any other day, it’s held until the end of the cruise.

✅ Bonus: Cruise Packing Hacks & Checklist To Save

Besides your usual clothing and toiletries, here’s a checklist of cruise-specific items to remember to pack:

• Bottle of wine – Most cruise lines (Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Princess, RCL, Virgin) allow you to bring aboard 1 bottle of wine per person. Take advantage of that. You must pack it in your carry-on luggage and you must open it in your stateroom to avoid a corkage fee in the dining room.

• Water bottle – Stay hydrated on shore excursions without buying expensive bottled water. Pack a refillable lightweight water bottle like this .
• Sun Protection – Don’t forget to pack a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. But if you use all of your sunscreen and need to buy more on the ship, expect to pay upwards of $20 for a small tube in the ship’s overpriced gift shop. Instead, stock up before you go. Amazon has great prices on sunscreen .

• Prevent a Stinky Bathroom  – When sharing a bathroom with loved ones in the close quarters of a cruise cabin, sometimes “ship happens.” 💩 Things can get smelly. But that can be easily prevented. Use this Pou-Pourri before-you-go toilet spray and no one will ever know it happened.
• Stay organized with magnets – Yeah, we just mentioned this in cruise tip #49, but it’s such a fun item to bring aboard. Plus  these magnet hooks   are inexpensive, so it’s worth repeating here in this cruise pack list.

• An empty bag – If you do plan to buy lots of souvenirs during your cruise vacation, don’t forget to pack an empty bag so that you have extra luggage room to bring back your haul.

• Tracker – Toss an Airtag (iPhone) or Tile (Android) into your cruise luggage to help ensure your bags don’t go missing and also to track when they reach your stateroom.
• Cruise-Approved Power Strip   to keep all your electronics charged with a single outlet. We never travel anywhere in the world without one!
• Passport – Very important, don’t forget! (An ID + original birth certificate may suffice with some cruise lines/itineraries. Check before you depart.)

Speaking of packing… After constantly traveling around the world for the past five years on cruise ships and other forms of transportation, we’ve finally developed the perfect packing list. We have meticulously detailed all of our travel gear recommendations. So for a more all-encompassing pack list, see our big  Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist & Tips to ensure you don’t forget to pack anything important for your next trip.

Bon Voyage!

We hope these cruise hacks have been helpful and that you’re now all ready to set sail!

If you cruising and would like to read more of our blog, check this post out. We completed cruising entirely around the world without using a single flight. We accomplished this ultimate world cruise using 4 different ships and on a super low budget of around $60 per day! We spent a year living on cruise ships and it actually cost us less than our former working lives back on land. See this video we made of all the highlights.

• Continue reading here : How To Achieve the Impossible: A Cheap World Cruise

Happy cruising everyone!

Publishing note: This Cruise Hacks post is continually updated, most recently in January 2024.

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January 20, 2024 at 5:02 AM

Thanks for all the tips mentioned in this article! it’s always good to read things you have heard before and are implementing, but from a different perspective, always pick up some extra bits of information.

September 7, 2020 at 4:32 PM

I would like to find out which cruise lines have it so you never have to get all dressed up for dinner. We are more simplistic and would like to keep everything very casual. Thank you for any input you may have.

September 8, 2020 at 6:35 PM

Among the larger well-known cruise lines, Norwegian is one that does not have any formal nights. It’s casual every night there. Most of the other cruise lines typically have 1-2 formal nights for a week long cruise, and keep it casual on the other nights. But don’t necessarily let a formal night or two completely dissuade you from one particular line. Those who don’t want to get dressed up for formal night can always choose to remain casual by simply eating dinner at the buffet, instead of the main dining room. It’s always casual at the buffet. But if you want to eat in the main dining room every single night and still keep it casual, then Norwegian is probably your best bet.

February 19, 2020 at 12:21 PM

How do you “MONITOR PRICES”? I booked thru a travel agency and cannot find any website that will actually give me the rates. I would like to try to upgrade, but I can’t find out what the rooms are currently going for (or if the one I am currently booked into has lowered in cost.

Sorry to not know much, SaraSue

February 20, 2020 at 12:16 PM

Good question – happy to provide a little more detail. Personally what we do is simply find the exact cruise listing on an online cruise agency, like CruiseDirect. Once I have I have the pricing page pulled up, I simply bookmark it in my browser. That way, it takes all but 5 seconds to simply click that bookmark and see if the price has changed. It’s a quick and easy task we’ll usually check each day.

Alternatively you can try asking the cruise agent you booked with to monitor. Some of the really good agents will do this, but it’s not the norm.

Lastly, there are some cruise fare monitoring services you can try. There’s a free app that you can download – Shipmate – that will alert you of price changes. Or you can try services like CruiseFish.net or CruiseFareMonitor.com that will alert you of price changes. We’ve never used these firsthand, so cannot personally vouch for them. Also, sometimes the perks/promos will change but not the prices and I don’t believe you’d be alerted in those instances. Thats’ why we just like to manually monitor prices and see and changes.

Hope that helps! 🙂

November 24, 2021 at 7:47 PM

Carnival has lowered my fare 3x simply by my own fare monitoring. If I find the same itinerary at a lower price, carnival has never argued. I cruise Feb 2022 for 530$ total for 2ppl , 5 day cruise in a cove balcony. My rate 6 months ago was over 1300$ Do your leg work and don’t give up, it will be worth it.

March 1, 2022 at 2:42 AM

So if you find a lower price, do you call or email them? Does it matter?

February 11, 2020 at 7:28 AM

I love your posts as its easy to since you share lots of information, thank you

October 25, 2019 at 1:00 PM

Excellent, what a webpage it is! This web site gives helpful data to us, keep it up.

September 14, 2019 at 10:51 AM

Great tips! We appreciate this information and will add some of these to our trip checklist. I’d like to give back by suggesting some of our own tips and one comment. Comment: On a RC cruise last year my electronics bag (laptop/phone accessories) was inspected and my power cube (small 3 outlet cube you get at Home Depot) was taken from me. It had not surge protection, just a simple 3 outlet cube. They said there was potential for fire hazard if too may power plugs were used in cabins. Maybe this is a RC thing? Our tips: We have a checklist for each trip that includes columns for the period of time before a trip/cruise (ie: 2 weeks out, 1 week out, 3 days out, up until day of trip) Each column has a checklist item that might need to be done (update apps/laptop, stop mail/paper, copy files/videos/movies to laptop, etc.) In all we have probably 100 things, most of which are in the separate “what to pack” column. You’d be surprised, when you add up everything you need to do before the trip and what to remember to pack how many things there are to do!! Regarding tips for a cruise: we also have used magnets and they work well however the command hooks work exceedingly well on most surfaces and are totally removable. We re-use the actual hooks and only buy the two sided adhesive strips. We use them on backs of doors, inside the shower, or anywhere we need to hang something. They come in a variety of sizes and designs for most needs. We also pack a “fly bag” or “cruise bag” which contains items we need to use before we have access to our luggage (phone chargers, toiletries, hand sanitizer, etc.) Again, great tips, thanks!

September 14, 2019 at 7:07 PM

Yeah, the cruises can be strict on some of the outlet devices. Usually it’s the surge protector that causes issues, but there can be other reasons. The power-strip device we recommend is approved for RC and all major cruise lines. We’ve never had issues.

As we’ve just packed for our latest cruise that we’re on right now, we can definitely relate to all the many to-do’s involved to prepare for the voyage. 🙂 The checklist by time period is such a great idea – love that! We love the magnets but may need to try those hooks out too. The cruise/fly bag is such a smart move! Not only to have the items you need immediately, but also just in case of lost luggage issues.

Thanks so much for the suggestions and happy cruising! We’re always updating this post and may have to add in some of your ideas!

August 25, 2019 at 2:42 PM

We’re are traveling on NCL to Alaska at the end of September. This article is great! In your article, you mentioned their app for staying connected to each other on the ship. The price you stated was $7.95. It is now $9.95 per their onlie FAQ. It is also called Cruise Norwegian now, not Norwegian iConcierge. Just keeping you up-todate. Thanks for the helpful info!

August 28, 2019 at 10:34 PM

Thanks so much for the update! Much of this info is always changing, so really appreciate being alerted to such changes. We’ll update this post to reflect the new pricing. Thank you!

June 21, 2019 at 11:19 AM

Love the blog!!

Would you happen to know why NCL restaurants close while at port? Looking at a Western Caribbean out of Miami and the ports are all back to back for four straight days. It forces everyone to one, 24 hour restaurant. Any tips?

June 23, 2019 at 6:26 PM

I’d guess they close many of the restaurants during lunch hours on port days because there is significantly less demand for lunch on the ship. They’ve likely figured that the majority of passengers will be onshore on these port days, so it may make sense for them to close some of the restaurants. It’s been our experience on NCL that they usually keep at least one sit-down restaurant open (like the main dining room) and the buffet when the ship is in port. If your ship has one of NCL’s pub on it, that’s usually open for lunch too on port days, even though that may not be listed. It has some good burgers, sandwiches, wings, fish & chips, etc. So you may have a few options after all. Have a great cruise!

June 13, 2019 at 2:30 PM

Thanks for blogging. I felt like a student I took so many notes! We’re traveling for my step daughter’s 18th and high school graduation so these space & money saving tips will come in handy!

June 7, 2019 at 1:18 AM

HI, great Blog. I have a cruise planned for this July, would be my third. But my first with my wife, we will be taking the cruise as part of our honeymoon. A 12-day cruise to the Greek Islands. Do you have any recommendation for a newlywed couple to get the most out of the cruise? Thanks for all the recommendations.

June 11, 2019 at 3:03 PM

Congratulations on your marriage! Enjoy your honeymoon cruise – it should prove to be amazing. Having gone on a Med cruise for our own honeymoon, one thing I can suggest is to see if the cruise might have some sort of honeymoon celebration package that you can add on using the cruise line’s online check-in portal. Check to see if your cruise may have something like that. We did this with cruising with NCL and they brought together all the other honeymooners with a really nice spread and lots of champagne. What was even better than the champagne was the opportunity to meet other honeymooners, some of which have become life long friends of ours that we would have never met otherwise. Have a great honeymoon cruise!

June 11, 2019 at 3:24 PM

Thanks for your recommendation, we will try to do that. THanks again for your congratulations. Reynaldo

February 28, 2019 at 12:15 PM

We have been on many cruises and developed some of these same hacks over the years. I so much appreciate having them all in one place and more than we came up with! We are going on a family reunion cruise and I will definitely share this with them. I also have a travel group that follows me, and so I will share with them, hoping they will also follow you. The only thing I can add has to do with how we pack. You know those plastic covers that pillowcases, sheets and blankets come in? They make excellent packing cases for travel. Some have zippers. I pack like things in a case, then pull out the case and throw it into a drawer when we arrive on the ship. Also, cruise ships usually offer discounts on laundry. With two of us in the room, we each get a discount bag and send our laundry down twice during the cruise. That way we pack less. Consider the cost of an extra bag is usually 25+ on an airline. With the discount, cruise laundry is usually $20 a bag, and we can really stuff that bag. Of course you can always do your own laundry on most ships.

March 3, 2019 at 12:48 PM

That’s great and what a great idea of reusing those plastic covers as a cruise packing hack to help stay organized. Love it! We’ve been relying on “packing cubes” to help keep us organized and use a similar technique to dump our stuff in the drawers and closets once we get on the ship. And yes, those stuff-the-bag laundry promotions can be great! We find that the per-piece pricing tends to be very high, so it’s really nice to take advantage when those promos come around. 🙂

May 21, 2019 at 5:54 PM

Is this discount bag for laundry something obtained on the ship or something you’re bring on-board from home?

May 23, 2019 at 5:50 PM

It’s obtained on the ship. Not all cruises do it, but most cruises we’ve been on do. Basically, they provide a medium size laundry bag and will wash everything in it for a semi-reasonable set price instead of the priced-per-item list that most cruise lines use. These laundry bag promos are never announced ahead of time, so you can’t really plan for it. Info about the laundry bag promos can usually be found in the dailies or in the material the stateroom attendant leaves. At the beginning of the cruise, you could ask your stateroom attendant if he/she knows if and when they typically do a laundry bag promotion.

February 10, 2019 at 3:43 AM

Cruising makes it easy to visit several places in a single trip without the need to repack your belongings and sit in a car/train/bus/plane to travel to each one; your hotel room comes along with you, and even provides the transportation. This will surely save lots of money during the trip.

January 20, 2019 at 3:33 PM

Room service on Royal Caribbean now has a $7.95 charge…..unless it’s continental breakfast (a hot breakfast will cost you though).

January 21, 2019 at 2:56 PM

Thank you for pointing that out. 🙂 I’ve just updated the post to reflect that.

January 18, 2019 at 1:10 AM

Awesome post! Thanks for sharing such useful information

January 1, 2019 at 8:23 AM

You have smartly covered every single topic and your tips are awesome. Thank you for these real money saving tips.

September 25, 2018 at 9:02 PM

Great tips & Hacks! I will defitnitely check out the resources to use on my upcoming crusie! Just wanted to reiterate on the “Cruise Checklist” for bottled wine. I have cruised several times on Carnival and each time I carried aboard one bottle of wine (per adult), water, and sodas. Below is Carnival’s Beverage Policy:

Bringing Liquor and Beverages Onboard – Embarkation

Guests are prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages onboard that are packaged in bottles.

A small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice, and milk) packaged in cans or cartons may be brought onboard on embarkation day and must be in the guest’s carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less per person.

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception – At the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750 ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne per person in their carry-on luggage. All liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages outside of this exception are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and such items will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided.

September 29, 2018 at 4:32 PM

Yup, it’s such a great tip to legally bring some vino onboard! We always check the alcohol policies to see what’s permitted. Most of the major cruise lines (NCL being the exception) tend to allow either a bottle of wine per person or two bottles per stateroom. Always a good idea to take advantage of that! 🙂

September 23, 2018 at 11:25 AM

Regarding travel insurance, you should check your credit cards to see if they include insurance as part of their benefits. Most credit cards targeted to travelers include coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, lost luggage, etc., and it’s included in the card’s annual fee. If you’re a Costco member, their card is free and includes $3,000 of coverage per traveler, with no limit on the number of travelers. Others, like Chase and AMEX travel cards (United, Sapphire, etc.) cover up to $10,000 (and some up to $20,000) for two people with some restriction on the relationship of the travelers. The only requirement is that you pay for the travel with the credit card. We took a particularly expensive Galapagos cruise last year and we paid for it using three different cards so that, in aggregate, we were able to cover the full cost of the vacation without spending an extra dime for coverage. Each card will reimburse however much you’ve paid on it, and it’s totally legit. We have had to make only one claim in the last 10 years, and it was virtually no-question-asked, just provide proof (a doctor’s note, cancellation notice, death notice, or the like), and the receipts for the expenses, and the insurance is paid as promised. I highly recommend this approach as travel insurance is a money-making scam for the travel industry. Not to say it isn’t good or necessary, only that it’s overpriced, rarely used, and is a big commission maker for agents, who will almost never tell you to consider whether you already have insurance via your credit cards. I know, because I’m a part-time agent and see how the agencies push the insurance. I always tell my clients to check their cardsl–it’s one of the biggest money-savers you can use to reduce the cost of your cruise. If you don’t have a travel-based credit card, go get one. The small annual fee–usually about $95 to $150–gets recovered on the first cruise you take without having to pay for the supplemental insurance. You also earn points toward travel, so the cards are a double win!

September 25, 2018 at 2:17 PM

I can only partially agree with this. Yes, a good travel credit card that includes travel coverage can be very beneficial, such as trip cancelation and lost luggage benefits that many do include. But, first of all, not everyone has a good travel credit that includes this coverage. We do, but we still ALWAYS take out a travel insurance policy and recommend. Why? Because credit card’s travel coverage does not include any overseas medical coverage, travel accidents, assaults, theft, natural disasters, emergency evacuation, and other cruise-specific coverage. If you need to see a doctor on a cruise, you’re looking nearly $200 just for a simple, quick check-up, let alone something more serious which could run into thousands of dollars. Your credit card coverage isn’t going to reimburse you for that, but travel insurance most certainly will. The trip cancelation and luggage coverage that many popular credit cards have is a great benefit to consider using when booking a cruise that we’d likewise recommend. But we prefer to have more than just our cruise cost and baggage covered, to ensure our health & safety is insured, which no credit card coverage includes to our knowledge. If we have a medical emergency out in the middle of the ocean, we’re relieved to know that our travel insurance will help us out.

July 21, 2018 at 9:01 PM

I have not read through everything and I am loveing it all so far so thank you! I was just reading about the messaging service instead of a walkie talkie and I was wondering if you have heard of the Voxer App which turns your cell phone into a walkie talkie then you don’t have to pay for the service. I use it for my small business and communicate with everyone in the US. They have another app for international messaging that does the same. They are Free!!

July 25, 2018 at 5:27 PM

Yes, have heard of Voxer but it wouldn’t really work well on a cruise ship. Push-To-Talk apps like Voxer are free to use but require a data or wifi signal in order to send and receive messages. So it would work on a cruise only if you purchased an unlimited wifi package for each phone, which would end up being a very costly way to use the app, given how expensive wifi plans our on most cruises. The ships’ own messaging apps would likely be a much more inexpensive messaging solution.

July 17, 2018 at 2:46 AM

I’ve been wanting to have a vacation on a cruise ships and this is probably the best cruise tips i’ve read so far. This is really helpful.

July 25, 2018 at 5:37 PM

So glad to hear this post has proved helpful to your future cruising!

July 12, 2018 at 4:50 PM

What a great find! We are taking our first 2 week cruise out of Amsterdam through the Baltics. I found some great ideas on here. I have a hint about cabin space, specifically bathroom storage space. Two cruises ago, I purchased a 12 mesh pocket over the door , (shoe) storage hanger from Amazon (MISSLO Heavy Duty Over the door Storage with 12 Mesh Pockets (White)) . There are 3 sizes available. When my husband and I get into our cabin, we unpack immediately and store our luggage under the bed. Then we unpack our toiletry kits. I use one side (6 pockets) of the mesh pocket hanger and he uses the other 6 pockets (he even stores some of his electronics in these pockets). We leave this on the inside of the bathroom door and it saves space on the small countertops. It comes with 2 removable hooks that fit over the top of the door. If it doesn’t fit, you can hang it by 2 strong magnets. We have used this on 2 cruises and also in hotel rooms when we are going to be there for more than a few days. My husband loves it! No more packing and unpacking toiletries, make-up etc. and the bathroom stays uncluttered. Thank you for all the work you did into putting this list together. We found it very helpful. Love your around the world cruise plan…have fun.

July 25, 2018 at 5:43 PM

Oh yes, we love those mesh hangers and travel with one ourselves. Although we’re not quite as organized with a his-&-hers section, but love that idea and we may have to now implement that! You’ve also just given me the idea of adding a hanging organizer to our section of packing suggestions for the next time we update this article. Thank you! Will have to look into the Misslo one you mention – it sounds perfect! Hope you have a wonderful Baltics cruise ahead – bon voyage!

May 15, 2018 at 3:02 AM

Glad that wine and gelato made everything better. I got a chance back in the 90s to explore Northern Italy but we only went to Milan. I really need to go back and explore Venice and the islands. Sorry you didnt find George but Lake Cuomo is beautiful.

April 14, 2018 at 8:27 PM

Like most people, we are cruising more and finding out the benefits of cruising compared to conventional holidays. And we are loving it.

Thanks for your additional tips and guidance. Really helps us.

Cheers Sharon…

April 9, 2018 at 6:05 AM

Several of the suggested packing lists I have seen mention packing a pressure extension rod. What use with this have on a cruise ship? Thank you!

April 9, 2018 at 7:45 AM

That’s a new one for me and had to Google it myself. I read that some cruisers pack a tension rod to have extra space to hang clothes in the small closets of their cabins. I can also see it coming in handy to put in the shower to hang wet clothes. Thanks for the tip!

February 2, 2018 at 2:05 AM

Hey John, Such a nice blog i have come across. great article with some amazing images. Cheers!!

March 20, 2018 at 8:59 AM

Thanks for the kind words Manish, much appreciated!

November 30, 2017 at 5:52 PM

These are some really GREAT Tips! We have cruised several times and have discovered several of them on our own, but learned many new ones!

An unusual question. We have been beginning to talk about going on a “Bucket List” retirement World Cruise, but our research so far has shown that the typical daily costs per person are MUCH higher than for other cruises. Do you have any thoughts or tips regarding these long cruises??

November 30, 2017 at 7:25 PM

Glad you found them helpful! 🙂

Regarding the world cruise and costs, we’ve found it to be a much more affordable approach to string together repositioning cruises and smaller segments of world cruises, taking advantage of ones with deals and/or promotions. That’s essentially what we’re in the midst of right now. We cruised from Vancouver to Japan, now traveling independently to Hong Kong, will cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore, and then likely Singapore to Dubai, Dubai to Barcelona, Barcelona to NYC – for what will amount to 2.5 months on 5 cruises. We’re estimating that our daily cost will be somewhere around $75 per person, per day, for the cruises specifically (including taxes, fees, and gratuities). So a bit more than $5,000 total per person for the cruises, which is a fraction of the price we’ve seen on world cruises. We spent a lot of time researching, had some luck catching deals, and are lingering in countries in between cruises (which is not for everyone and incurs additional costs, albeit lower per day than on the cruises). Anyhow, once we finish this journey later next year, we plan to write a very detailed account of our costs and strategies on how we managed to do this. But in the meantime, hope this reply may give you a few ideas for your bucket list retirement world cruise! 🙂

October 30, 2017 at 11:19 PM

When we cruise, it is always more economical to find a local when at port and book a cruise with them. The prices are always way less expensive than going directly thru the cruise line. We visited Roatan and saved over 70% by using local tours. Common sense goes a long way when wandering around in another country. Just be respectful and mindful of your surroundings and have fun.

November 6, 2017 at 2:09 AM

We completely agree with that. In fact, the last time we docked in Roatan we simply rented a car and drove all the way from the cruise port to Camps Bay. It was a great experience!

October 7, 2017 at 6:13 PM

Thank you so much for such a wonderful blog full of helpful tips. Found you through Pinterest. I have only been on one other cruise before; a 3-day to Nassau about 12 years ago, but am going on my second cruise, a 5-day to Costa Maya/Cozumel leaving 10/16. I am single, going with a group from church. Thank you for the drinks tips especially! I don’t drink enough to justify $50 A DAY for their Cheers package; although the $46 for the week for all other non-alcoholic drinks is well worth it. Your blog has me stoked for a really great time! I am a little jealous of your traveling. Give me 10-12 years, maybe I’ll be that Granny living out her retirement on a cruise ship! 😀

October 25, 2017 at 12:03 AM

Am so glad you found these cruise tips to be helpful and we hope you had a great cruise to the Yucatan! Yes, it’s important to weigh out whether the drink packages are worth it or not, depending on how much you drink. We also usually find that it’s not worth it for us, but it is nice when we can find a cruise that includes it as a perk! We’ve read about those stories of people living out their retirement on cruises – in some cases, it can be even more affordable than retirement on land!

October 4, 2017 at 1:05 AM

very well written post …great collection of pics…and very great and helpful Tips.Thank you

October 25, 2017 at 12:31 AM

Glad you found the post helpful. Happy cruising!

September 22, 2017 at 7:05 AM

Very great tips, I like the all of you suggest, its quit help at cruise holidays

July 17, 2017 at 7:31 AM

Superb cruise hacks and tips, its very helpful cruise holidays post for the people who travel pr planning their first time cruises holidays.

July 18, 2017 at 9:46 AM

Thanks! Yes, we hope this resource helps first time cruisers and hope that even seasoned cruisers may still pick up a tip or two! 😉

May 24, 2017 at 5:47 AM

These are great tips! We have been on several cruises but never with our little one. I can’t wait to take him on one, saving these for later!

May 24, 2017 at 9:07 AM

Glad you found them helpful. Hope you and the little one get on a cruise soon to put some of these tip to use! 🙂

May 20, 2017 at 4:00 AM

Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!

May 20, 2017 at 4:00 PM

Thanks and we’ve glad you found us and stopped by. Best of luck in your volunteer efforts!

May 13, 2017 at 4:18 AM

This tips are awesome! I am planning to take a cruise soon and I find this very useful. Thanks for sharing this!

May 16, 2017 at 12:28 PM

So glad that you found these tips useful. 🙂 We hope you have an an awesome cruise and these tips help to make your trip even better! Bon voyage!

March 30, 2017 at 9:17 PM

Thanks for the advice on how to arrive at your cruise ship with style. I had never thought of using a taxi or some kind of shuttle to make sure I get there safely and on time. This information would be perfect for anyone who might be stressed about their cruise and maximizing the fun.

April 3, 2017 at 11:36 AM

Hi Yilliang, Thanks for the comment. We firmly believe in maximizing our time at the ports of call!

March 29, 2017 at 11:11 AM

Whew, thanks for sharing this tips. Basically, I have a dream to travel the whole world with my 3 bros! I often read your blog, thanks for sharing all these! 😀

April 3, 2017 at 11:06 AM

Hi Joe, Thanks so much for the kind comment. Traveling around the world with your three brothers would be amazing! So glad to hear that we’ve provided some travel inspiration and thank you for following us along on our journey 🙂

February 17, 2017 at 6:55 AM

Great blog, really enjoy all of your tips. Question regarding turning credit into cash. You mentioned to do it before you hit US waters. What if our cruise is to Alaska? How does that work?

February 18, 2017 at 2:24 PM

Hey VW, thanks for the comment and question. Your Alaskan cruise route is likely going to be at least 2 miles offshore at periods of time during your sailing. During this time, the ship will be in international waters and the casino will be operational. You’ll then have an opportunity to turn your credit into cash. Enjoy your cruise!

February 11, 2017 at 12:18 PM

My husband and I are looking into a cruise for the first time and we can’t seem to come across answers to a lot of our questions. Love this article! Helped us incredibly! Couple more though if you don’t mind. Does it cost any money to just get off the ship during regular stops, and hang out at the beach? I expect to be spending some extra money on tips. I’m sure not only is it expected, but I’m sure the crew relies on it as a part of their income. I would expect the typical 15-20% on dining. What is a typical tip for a free meal? Or room service, and turn down services? Where else am I expect to tip that I’m not thinking of?

February 11, 2017 at 12:32 PM

Hi Maria! So glad you found this to be helpful! We’re happy to answer your questions… No, it doesn’t cost anything to get off the ship and walk around independently, go to the beach, etc. That’s often what we do! 🙂 As for tipping, the cruise will automatically add “gratuities” to your onboard account, which is charged to the card you have on file on the final day. The exact amount varies by ship, but usually it’s somewhere between $10-$15 per person, per night. These gratuities cover your tips for the wait staff and your stateroom attendant (cleaning, turndown service, etc.) It’s not necessary to tip the wait staff on top of the gratuities they receive, but you can certainly adjust the gratuity amount higher or lower, if you desire, based on the service you received. The only other place you would generally tip on the ship is the bar staff and casino staff. They are not covered by the gratuities, so you can tip them directly.

Hope that helps and you have a fantastic experience on your first cruise!

January 22, 2017 at 4:53 PM

We’ve taken at least 10 cruises and yet I still found many of these to be very helpful! Thanks!

January 23, 2017 at 5:28 PM

Hey Cyndi, thanks for the comment! We’re thrilled to learn that you found some of our cruise tips helpful, especially coming from a seasoned cruiser 🙂

January 21, 2017 at 8:23 PM

Wow, this is truly amazing. Y’all are so cute together! So happy for your experiences and for going out of your way to share them with us! I have learned A LOT from this blog. Again, thanks! About to read some more!

January 23, 2017 at 6:30 PM

Hi Matthew, thank you so much for the comment and kind words! So glad that you have learned a bit from our travel experiences. Here’s to you and future travels!

January 14, 2017 at 1:38 PM

Hey Carrie, I loved all the information you have in this post. It has been most helpful as I am preparing myself and my boyfriend for our first cruise for the end of this year. I am an avid planner and all of these tips and tricks are exactly what I have been looking for to get started and are great for my piece of mind. Now I have an idea on where to start as I tackle this huge trip we are taking (it’s only 6 days but in my mind it feels like months). I do have a question, I have traveled from state to state before by airplane but I have never taken a cruise and honestly I am deathly nervous. So nervous I don’t even want to to go, but we are going no matter what and I need some advice on how to turn my nervousness into excitement (at least some of it). I need some help; with it being only months away if I don’t change my view I won’t be able to plan correctly or pack correctly or be able to generally enjoy myself when it comes time to go. 🙁 If you have any sort of ideas or advice I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you very much.

January 15, 2017 at 8:49 AM

You have nothing to worry about 🙂 Cruising is one of the most fun and relaxing travel experiences out there. You may be nervous now, but once you board that ship you’ll find that all your concerns will just melt away. There’s a stat out citing that ninety-something percent of first time cruisers say they’ll return again to take another cruise. That’s quite the satisfaction rate! The biggest hurdle to get over is just taking that first cruise in the first place. The only thing to be nervous about is the possibility of being hooked on cruising and not wanted to leave the ship after your six days. Get excited! 🙂

June 19, 2017 at 9:26 PM

Hi there. I had to check your post a few times to make sure I hadn’t written it myself!

We went on our first cruise a few years ago. I’m a bit of a deal maven and got super caught up in a terrific deal I’d found. In all of my excitement of booking the steal, I neglected to acknowledge that I was *terrified* at the thought of the cruise! Some of it was logical – worries about seasickness or not being able to get off the boat. And some of it was illogical – dreading open water, falling overboard, etc.

As we boarded on our departure day, I was near tears. The enormity of the ship overwhelmed me and I felt like I was stuck doing this thing I didn’t want any part of. Like you I wanted to be excited but was too nervous to think straight. We immediately bought the liquor package (wise) and took our pina coladas to the top of the ship. I was panicked and annoyed with myself and my bf was dutifully trying to calm me. But as the fun music started playing and the boat pulled away with a lot of waving and fanfair, my anxious blubbering quickly turned to giggling and clicking glasses.

The truth is, the ship is truly akin to a floating Vegas hotel. It feels very safe and the extra traveler insurance I purchased made me feel that we’d be set in case of an emergency. Knowing wifi is avail (if expensive) helps you feel connectivity is possible. And, truthfully, the vibe was so fun and the activities so numerous, we were constantly occupied.

I scoured the internet for someone who might say the right thing to calm me. You’ve probably come and gone on your cruise by now, but if there’s another fearful adventurer, hopefully this aids in alleviating some of that extra anxiety.

I even contacted a friend who had been aboard that Carnival ship that got stuck without power for several days. She said she’d have no qualms about returning in a heartbeat, even with that mess.

It truly is fun and relaxing…even a bit silly. We had a blast and surprised ourselves.

June 20, 2017 at 4:01 PM

Thank you Lauren for giving your personal story. From trembling to giggling – love it! Perhaps the person who initially wrote this comment has come and gone on her cruise, but am sure someone else will likely stumble across this thread and I do hope your heartfelt words will appease them, and help to get them on the ship so they can go through the same transformation as you have. Cheers to you and we hope you have more happy cruising adventures in the future! 🙂

January 4, 2017 at 12:57 AM

Great tips – going on our 2nd cruise, this time with Carnival, in February.

I am “amending” my list of items to take, because of some of your suggestions.

January 5, 2017 at 10:31 AM

Hey Carrie, thanks for the comment! So glad you found our suggestions to be helpful. Enjoy your cruise!

January 3, 2017 at 3:50 PM

I am actually pleased to glance at this webpage posts which carries tons of helpful data, thanks for providing these data.

January 5, 2017 at 10:27 AM

Thanks so much for the comment, we’re thrilled that you found our Cruise Hacks to be helpful!

December 26, 2016 at 10:29 PM

Going on our first cruise in January. These tips have been very helpful. One question: Can onboard credit be used for gratuities? Thanks.

December 28, 2016 at 2:47 PM

Hey AJ! Thanks for the comment, so happy you found our tips to be helpful. Yes, most of the time you can apply on board credit toward gratuities. However, this my vary by cruise line and the type of credit you’ve received. We’d recommend calling your cruise lines to confirm. Enjoy your first cruise!

December 20, 2016 at 11:00 AM

These are great tips! I especially enjoyed the wifi section. I just returned home from a cruise and I was happy to see some push notifications come through.

I totally agree about checking out the hot tub during the rain – it’s the only time we got to enjoy the hot tub kid-free.

October 28, 2016 at 8:00 PM

On the first few nights of a cruise, I find it helpful to deploy a thin glowstick on the step-up to the bathroom. It’s easy to stub a toe in the dark until you get used to it.

November 3, 2016 at 10:58 AM

That’s a great tip – thanks for adding! 🙂 Not only is it great to not stub you toe but also I hate turning on the bright bathroom lights in the middle of the night because it always wakes me up and is hard to go back to sleep. Your glowstick idea definitely solves that. Will have to give it a try next time. Thanks!

November 6, 2016 at 1:22 AM

There’s no need to turn on those BRIGHT bathroom lights in the middle of the night if you bring along a couple of cheap battery operated votive lights. We attach super strong neodymium magnets to them.

November 10, 2016 at 12:48 PM

Also a great idea and another perfect use for those super strong magnets!

September 24, 2016 at 7:40 AM

I have read lots of cruise tips and yours are the best! We are going on Royal Caribbean in Oct I have prepurchased the wifi and was planing to use it with our Laptop. to watch movies, emails and keep up with kids and grandkids I’m going to buy minutes from AT&T for my husband and I to use for finding each other on ship I’m a little nervous about using both correctly. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for your help

October 12, 2016 at 8:46 AM

Hey Janet! Thanks for the kind words! As far as the wifi, we wouldn’t recommend streaming movies on the laptop, as that will quickly us up whatever minutes you purchased. Also, the bandwidth may not be strong enough to stream movies, but Royal Caribbean has recently upgraded their wifi, so maybe it will be. Any other wifi usage on your laptop should work just fine. As for the phone, I’d need to know your AT&T package to comment, but you can connect your mobile device to the ships wifi too. Be sure also to check your AT&T package to understand your exact coverage to avoid costly roaming charges. Have a fantastic cruise!

August 3, 2016 at 5:13 AM

Cool tips! One of my most effective hassle-free and money-saving must-haves during travels is a pair of two-way radio. i use this when with a friend or loved one so we can communicate more easily when we’re apart.

August 5, 2016 at 1:38 AM

Hi! Thanks for the comment! The two-way radio is an excellent idea, thanks so much for sharing!

January 21, 2017 at 8:14 PM

I have wondered bow well two way radios work on the ships through all the walls and nooks and crannies. Have you had good success with communicating by walkie talkie?

January 23, 2017 at 6:51 PM

We’ve never personally used walkie talkies, so can’t comment from firsthand experience. However, we do see fellow cruisers using them on occasion. I think most people use the cruise line’s app (where available) to stay connected.

August 2, 2016 at 12:38 PM

Thank you so much for sharing these Wow tips! I will be sharing them with friends and family!

August 5, 2016 at 1:35 AM

Hi Mike! Thanks so much for the comment and sharing!

July 31, 2016 at 6:58 PM

Interesting article, im looking for wifi tips and this is it! Thank you

August 5, 2016 at 1:34 AM

Hi! Thanks so much for the comment. So happy you found the tips to be helpful!

July 11, 2016 at 11:30 AM

Thanks for this informative post,

One thing that I noticed last cruise was that when people arrived back to the ship after a day at port, they would bypass the liquor check-in by placing one alcohol bottle in their backpack/purse and checking in a different set of bottles being able to take the unchecked bottle to the room. There are some vendors that deliver the liquor to ship after purchase but there are still a few vendors that leave that task to the customer. I still think that it is easier just to buy the beverage package and not have to worry about it and fully enjoy my vacation.

July 13, 2016 at 4:19 AM

Interesting observation and thanks for sharing! And having a the beverage package during our last two cruises, we completely agree with your sentiments there. It’s often so worth if you’re going to have more than a few drinks each day. And then you don’t have to worry about your spending – just relax and have fun! 🙂

July 5, 2016 at 10:24 PM

This is well thought out, well organized and extremely valuable information. We’re going on our 5th cruise in August and I’m still very interested in “hacks” or any kind of tip that might enhance my trip. Thank you so much for sharing this information. I too, am a firm believer in treating crew members with the utmost respect and dignity and I often tell them on the first night not to worry so much about our cabin.

July 6, 2016 at 5:21 AM

Thanks Julie! There seems to be so many cruising hacks out there so this was our attempt at gathering some of our favorite hacks and putting them in one place. Happy to hear you found them valuable. And yes, definitely important to treat crew members well. Often, they’ll treat you well in return! 🙂 We sometimes make friends with the crew, as often times they’ll be surprised to learn that we’ve visited, or temporarily lived in, their home countries. It’s always a fun icebreaker for us. Funny, we do the same as you with our cabin steward. We’re not THAT messy that we need to have our room cleaned twice daily, lol. So we always let them know that it’s A-ok if they ever miss our room. This always seems lift some weight off their shoulders and is our little way of letting them know that we won’t be high maintenance. Hope you have a great 5th cruise in August. Enjoy!

June 3, 2019 at 7:25 PM

Oh ya, that’s what I’ll do as well namely hang the “don’t disturb” sign outside and leave the room. I don’t need the room cleaned everyday and it’ll make the Room Steward’s life easier. I worked on cruise ships so I know just how long they’re in their boots everyday.

April 28, 2016 at 2:25 AM

#18, 19, 24, 25… Among others… How to piss off the crew who serve you and come across as a grade-A cheap-o jerk. We talk about how awful you are in the crew bar every night.

April 28, 2016 at 10:21 AM

Really? I’m actually quite surprised by this comment.

#18 Get your minutes refunded. When I spend 10 minutes ($5) for a page to load and it doesn’t load, I would expect to be refunded since I did not receive the service I paid for. If you ordered a beer at a bar and only received an empty cup, would you not complain to the bartender and ask for the beer that you ordered? #19 Ask crew for best wifi location. I treat crew members as friends, not servants. And so having a friendly chat with a non-busy crew member about wifi onshore doesn’t seem like I’d be putting them out much and it’s info I appreciate very much. #24 Order two entrees. The only reason why I even suggest this is because half of the servers we’ve had on cruise ships absolutely insist on bringing me two entrees despite me only wanting one. This often seems to make them happy to somehow over serve me. I’m actually on a cruise right now and it happened to me last night. I insisted on one, but he insisted on bringing me two because he really wanted me to try a dish he thought I’d like. #25 Request an entree as an appetizer. Again, this is another move that is often suggested by the servers themselves. I fail to see how this would make someone a grade-A cheap-O jerk.

I realize that there can be some very rude cruise passengers and have witnessed it firsthand. I’ll apologize on their behalf if they have left you jaded and bitter, which it seems that they have. But not all of us are “awful” nor do I think these cruise hacks contribute to that. Cruise passengers are often spending large sums of money that they’ve worked hard for and saved hard for to be delivered an incredible experience. This post is an attempt to help passengers make the most of their experience and enjoy cruising, which I’ve received much positive feedback that it, in fact, does.

April 14, 2017 at 12:05 AM

Well stated! I thank you for the time and attention to detail and for sharing all of these wonderful tips. I’ll be going on a cruise at the end of the year and I’m looking forward to implementing all of them. Best wishes…⚓️

September 8, 2016 at 2:41 PM

I am confused about why crew members would mind letting a passenger know where to find wifi at higher speed or lower price?

September 13, 2016 at 1:26 AM

Yup, was also confused by that!

January 21, 2017 at 8:04 PM

Kiki, that sounds depressing that you can’t find anything better to discuss with your fellow crew members. I feel sorry for you, and those like you. Maybe some research, or a few visits to a therapist, could enrich your life if you could learn how to be more positive and appreciative. Or, if you really can’t learn to love and appreciate your job, what’s keeping you there? YOLO, find something you enjoy, perhaps. Be happy!

April 6, 2016 at 10:58 AM

These tips are amazing! I have never been on a cruise before but these will for sure insure I have an amazing time without having to hassle around much because of a lot the tips! Can’t wait for this trip now. Thanks for sharing!

April 7, 2016 at 4:13 PM

So glad to hear these tip were helpful! Thanks so much for letting us know. We hope you have a great first cruise and that these tips help to make it even more enjoyable! 🙂

February 16, 2016 at 10:44 PM

Thanks for the great ideas… you gave me a couple new ideas I never heard before.

FYI, I’ve read multiple reports on Carnival that while power strips (in good condition) are permitted, surge protectors are not (and can be confiscated). Apparently the surge protection interferes with the ship’s electrical system.

(The Belkin model you recommend is a surge protector, so it would not be allowed under this policy).

February 17, 2016 at 2:38 PM

Glad we could give you a few new ideas! Some of these tips are tried & true, so we’re always happy when we can share a few fresh ideas.

Thanks for the heads-up about the surge protectors on Carnival. We’ve used this particular Belkin model on Celebrity, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean and it has worked beautifully. I have not personally used it on Carnival and don’t know much their surge protector policy. However, I can report that a friend of ours used this exact model on a Carnival Cruise in November 2015. He reported that it worked fine on the Ecstasy and that it was not confiscated. So not sure if it may vary or perhaps they may just be looking to confiscate those big bulky surge protectors / power strips. Either way, thanks so much for the heads-up on this! I’ll send Carnival an email to see if they can provide a finite answer.

February 28, 2019 at 11:42 AM

Did you get an answer to this from Carnival? We frequently travel on Carnival and have purchased two of the units that you recommend for future cruises on RC and NCL.

March 3, 2019 at 12:53 PM

Actually, we had previously suggested a different power adapter. But we can confirm that Cruise Power Strip now recommended in this post “Adheres to Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian and all major lines’ terms & conditions.” It is “No Surge Protector & Without Extension Cord to be fully cruise ship compliant.”

February 10, 2016 at 9:49 PM

Hey John and Heather, I’m really enjoying your blog! The quality of the information you’re providing and your presentation are outstanding. My wife and I love to travel and we’ve traveled yearly to Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean for the past 40 odd years. About 5 or 6 years ago we started cruising and have done a couple of Spring transatlantics. As a result we’ve taken up Zumba and Salsa and have become quite good dancers. When you consider that a dance lesson or a Zumba class at home can easily run you $10-$20 an hour per person, dancing for free on board is a great value! As you suggest, we’ve found the wine packages on board and the in-room bottle service a great value, but have still managed to push a 15 night bar bill on Celebrity > $800, but when you’re only paying $700 per person for a balcony, that’s still a good overall value. We’ve also take your stairs only advice and usually manage to gain less than 5 pounds per week 🙂 I’ve recently started a blog targeted at cheap around the world cruising for retired folks and I’ve been planning an example 1 year cruise for < $50 per day. I've been using the VacationsToGo.com searches and sorting by the nightly cost as you describe, and then I've also been using other search tools looking for 7 day cruises for < $500 which some cruise engines will let you do in an advanced search. By the end of the year I'm planning to deploy my own search engine and app that will automate a lot of the process of planning a year long cruise staying under a user specified per night budget. Thanks again and happy travels! -John Bremer

February 11, 2016 at 5:37 PM

Hey John! Thanks so much for stopping by our blog. We wholeheartedly agree with the incredible value of cruising. Although we haven’t been able to get as much out of the dance courses as you have. We tried learning Tango on a repositioning cruise to South America and failed miserably. I totally blame our lack of coordination and not the dance instructors, lol. And $700 pp for a balcony on a 15-day Celebrity cruise is reason enough to splurge on some cocktails in our opinion! That’s fantastic. This search engine and app that you’re describing sounds brilliant. Feel free to send us an email if you need any beta testers. Love the concept! All the best on the development and we’ll keep abreast on the blog. Happy to connect and happy travels to you too!

February 28, 2019 at 11:47 AM

Any more word on the cruising around the world app? We are both retired and looking to add it to a future cruise. Have 3 in the works right now, but want to do an around the world.

February 10, 2016 at 12:36 PM

Love this! The only tip I would add is to bring Febreeze for the bathroom in the stateroom:)

February 11, 2016 at 1:36 PM

Oooh, great tip! Sometimes things can get a little stinky in those tight corners 😉

March 1, 2017 at 11:23 PM

Went on a ladies trip sharing cabins with different relatives. One of them brought those little jars of poo-pouri and handed them out as gifts to each lady. They were a hit and worked like a charm!

March 6, 2017 at 9:51 AM

Hey Jaquel, thanks for the comment. What a wonderful gift idea and a great way to keep the cabin smelling fresh, thank you for sharing!

June 11, 2019 at 2:32 PM

Poo~Pourri is so perfect for cruises! It traps odor and it’s all natural and safe to flush! Love the 10mL size for travel and of course the 2oz scent “Ship Happens.” 🙂

February 8, 2016 at 7:43 AM

Room service breakfast is free on Royal Caribbean so long as you don’t request delivery during off hours (midnight to 5 am I think). Not sure about other room service food options but it’s great to avoid the crowds and get off the boat early on port days!

February 9, 2016 at 10:50 AM

Thanks for the update Steven! On our last Royal Caribbean cruise, it wasn’t included but it seems this has changed. I’ll edit the article to reflect that. Thanks again for pointing that out. Completely agree with you sentiments about room service breakfast on port days. Eat in and beat the crowds! 🙂

December 15, 2015 at 11:21 AM

Wow. These are fantastic. I have bookmarked this awesome resource for future reference. Can’t wait until my next adventure now. Thanks so much!

December 30, 2015 at 11:12 AM

Thanks for the feedback. Its so nice to hear these tips are proving useful! Hope you enjoy your next adventure wherever that may be. Happy travels!

April 23, 2018 at 10:29 AM

May 9, 2018 at 11:32 AM

We share your sentiments and Norwegian cruise line is probably best for that. They don’t enforce a formal night like most other cruise lines. On NCL, they tend to have one night during the cruise that you dress up only if you want. Most other cruise lines you can still go fairly casual except for the planned formal nights.

May 22, 2018 at 6:11 PM

We just got back on 5/13/2018 from a cruise to Bermuda on the Norwegian Escape and there was no formal night

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• Saving Money
• How To/Life Hacks
• Travel & Cruising
• Decluttering
• Holland America Cruise Line: Pros and Cons

I’m an enthusiastic cruiser who’s taken about 20 cruises on four major cruise lines (Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival). A friend and I recently completed my first Holland America cruise on the Zuiderdam and compiled a list of Holland America Cruise Line pros and cons (good and bad features).

Good Things about Holland America Cruise Line

• We originally  booked an inside cabin to save money and were offered an upgrade to a balcony cabin for $250 each (which we took!)
• A group of white synthetic leather-like lounge chairs around the pool was incredibly comfortable.
• The larger pool had a open/close roof, so you could sit by the pool if it rained. (However, when the sun was out they normally didn’t open the roof all the way and the space was incredibly humid and hot.)

4. Every other cruise ship we’ve been on has photographers who take photos of guests and print and display them in a gallery for sale. Zuiderdam used a digital photo viewing system where, using facial recognition, all a guest’s photos were automatically grouped. You just swiped your room card and could view all your photos and order a digital copy ($19.99) and additional prints, and could also order custom gifts like coasters, mugs, etc. with cruise photos on them. It was fun to crop and play around with our photos and see what they’d look like on the gift products; however, in the end, we weren’t at our most photogenic and didn’t buy any… You had to buy a digital copy of each photo, too, before you could have them printed or make custom gifts with them — so it was $19.99 plus the price of those things.

5. Holland America offered a $25 package — called something like Luggage Direct — to have your luggage delivered to the airport at the end of the cruise before debarkation and boarded on the plane. All you had to do was pick it up at your destination (even if you had connecting flights). We both did this to avoid the hassle of going to a huge terminal to pick out our suitcases, going through customs with them, getting them to the airport, etc. — and it worked well.

6. Although there wasn’t any drawers in the cabin to store clothes — other than the two night stands — the storage closets each had adjustable shelves in them as well as hanging areas.

7. Our sliding glass door to the balcony had a key and could be locked using it. That seemed safer than the slider lock other ships use.

8. The ship’s decor was beautiful and understated (in a good way).

9. The exterior elevator doors were gorgeous! They looked like a mix of gold and silver carvings.

10. Elevators had “day-of-the-week” carpets in them — very helpful on a cruise when you forget what day it is!

11. Carpeting throughout the ship had thick padding, giving it a plush, luxurious feel.

12. Spiral staircases in the atrium were carpeted; it looked pretty, felt good and made them feel safer.

13. The ship had many, many well-decorated lobbies with comfortable seating – clear down to and including on the first floor. We didn’t have time to sit in them all!

14. Our room had a full bathtub, which made the shower area much larger.

15. Our room had motion-activated floor lights on the floor across from the bathroom which was helpful for middle-of-the-night trips, and a great safety feature.

16. Our room had abundant electric plugs and USB sockets! (See caveat on #19 below.)

17. The ship shops offered a nice travel charm bracelet deal where cruisers could get a chain and five travel-related charms for $10. (The promotion for it was, however, confusing – with multiple offers of free and discount chairs that weren’t easy to understand.) My friend did get a charm bracelet and was happy with it.

Bad Things about Holland America Cruise Line

1. This cruise line clearly caters to elderly, sedentary cruisers. We’re over 50 but active and fun-loving, so it wasn’t a good fit for us.

2. This ship had very, very limited onboard active and fun activities. I guess it was relaxing — but we thought it bordered on boring. You’d enjoy it if things you like to do on vacation include going to teas, playing bridge and chess, listening to live classical  music performances and seeing evening shows featuring dancers. These things put me to sleep… but we did sit in comfortable chairs and read a lot of books. And we did the two line dancing classes.

3. Zuiderdam, because it’s a smaller ship, had no chairs at all available in the inside, large pool area many times. Lots of people put towels on the chairs and were nowhere to be seen. We resorted to sunbathing on decks with chairs that were nowhere near a pool — and the sun got to be scorching very fast! Or we sat on our balcony (which we – thankfully – had).

4. There was no poolside entertainment. Princess cruise line has outdoor movies by the pool, live bands, etc. but this ship had none. They did play some piped in music.

5. Zuiderdam also had very limited seating in the casual dining room. Many days we had to ask other people if we could share their table so we could sit and eat at all, which wasn’t comfortable for any of us.

6. The ship was way too cold onboard, so we had to wear jackets all the time. I’m from the South where they like cold air conditioning in the summer, but this was too cold for me!

7. The onboard lectures and events focused on subjects like swollen ankle reduction, wrinkle reduction and arthritis pain. In fact, they repeated the swollen ankle discussion so it must’ve been popular.

8. We ordered large bottles of water for our room in advance, since we’ve done it in the past and it was easy to put them in the refrigerator and take them along to shore excursions and drink from them all day. It also saved money over buying a bottle of water while leaving the ship ($4.10 each for a small bottle of water on Holland America!).

However — we were horrified to see that the large bottles were glass and had caps that had to be removed with a bottle opener (like old Coke bottles)! We had no bottle opener – because it was never mentioned when we ordered them – and had to run down the room stewart or take a bottle to a bar to have a bartender uncap them. Every time. And once the bottles were opened, they couldn’t be resealed, carried along, and used all day either. As a result, about 8 of the 12 bottles of water we ordered, we never used – so that ended up costing us money, not saving money…

9. Our cabin was small. We couldn’t both walk across the room at the end of the bed at the same time. The balcony seemed smaller than usual, too – and was cramped if you sat on the chairs facing forward. At the end of the week, we discovered it was roomier if we put the chairs on each end of the balcony (facing each other) with a coffee table/foot rest in between.

10. No 24/7 self-service ice cream was available. It seemed like a cost-cutting effort to control portions because a server had to scoop it, and it was limited to meal times. How much more could it cost to let people serve themselves?

11. There was absolutely nothing to snack on after 9:30 when the dining rooms closed. We actually went to bed hungry several nights – and finally had to go to the ship store to buy snacks. Who goes hungry on a cruise ship????

12. The formal dining room meals were not great.

13. The formal dining room dessert selection was small and bad. No cheesecake – ever!

14. The ship library was extremely small with a very limited number of book selections.

15. Ship communications announced nightly live theater performances for the entire week at the beginning, unlike other cruise lines. That was fine – except there were only three nights with comedians and/or illusionists (the shows I enjoy), so it was kind of a downer…

16. The steps on the interior staircases were very narrow, making it necessary to “walk like a penguin” when traveling up and down them. Maybe everyone used the elevators?

17. The bathroom sink in our cabin sprayed water all over the countertop every time it was used – so it was wet, messy and annoying.

18. Plastic cards with a bar code used for onboard payment, departure/return to the ship and to enter the cabin had a very poor quality print job on them. The ink wore almost completely off both of our cards early in the week – making it necessary for us to go to guest relations to get new ones. Have never seen that problem on a cruise line!

19. The abundant electric plugs in our rooms wouldn’t accommodate either of our hair dryers! They were placed too close other items and the hair dryers had a “stem” on them. When we were forced to use the hair dryer provided with the cabin that used foreign voltage, the cord wouldn’t stay in the plug. As a result, we had to manually hold the plug in the socket and dry our hair with the other hand. 🙁

20. Formal dining room service was slow and not up to the standards we expected.

21. Communication about events wasn’t good; the daily newsletter said, for example, that bingo tickets would be sold at a certain time. They didn’t mention that the bingo games also took place then. The written and verbal instructions for the mandatory back-to-the-U.S. immigration meetings said it was OK to take official government ID (which to me means a driver’s license) but when we got in the long line and waited to get to the front, the person then said we must show our passports). The time changed an hour one day on the cruise and we didn’t know anything about it!

Overall Conclusion

Cruising is inherently fun, especially if you go with someone you like – and this cruise was fun. The shore excursions and beaches were good, we got some sun and warm weather in the middle of winter, and vacation always beats being at work!

Although the vacation was nice, we will never travel on Holland America cruise line again.

Related blog posts:

• Norwegian Cruise Line: Pros and Cons
• Beautiful Barcelona
• Rock of Gibraltar – A Fun Shore  Excursion
• R iding Camels in Tangier, Africa on a Norwegian Mediterranean Cruise
• Casablanca Shore Excursion on Norwegian Mediterranean Cruise
• Norwegian Cruise to Spain and Africa: Day One
• Bid on Room Upgrades on Norwegian Cruise Line; You Might Win Big
• Weird Vacation Incidents on My South American Cruise
• South America Cruise: Ushuaia, Argentina the End of the World
• South America Cruise: Adventures in Punta Del Este, Uruguay
• South American Cruise: A Day in the Falkland Islands
• South American Cruise: Penguin Rookery at Punto Tombo National Reserve, Argentina
• Crown Princess Review: South America Cruise
• South America Cruise:  Buenos Aires Shore Excursion
• Traveling Solo: Why I Love Princess Cruise Lines
• W eird Solo Travel Adventures
• Regal Princess Review: Top 20 Amenities
• Cruisin’ Solo and Lovin’ It
• 9 Things People Hate about Cruises
• Ode to Lost Luggage
• Mediterranean Cruise: Lost Luggage Second Year in a Row
• Mediterranean Cruise: An Adventure in Montenegro
• Mediterranean Cruise: A Day in Santorini, Greece, Climbing a Volcano and Exploring a Mountaintop Village
• Mediterranean Cruise: A Day at the Beach in Katakolon, Greece
• Mediterranean Cruise: Touring Athens
• Mediterranean Cruise: Fabulous Venice
• Mediterranean Cruise: The $847 Hotel Room
• Mediterranean Cruise: Weird Incidents
• Mediterranean Cruise: Souvenirs from Italy and Greece
• Mediterranean Cruise: Palma de Majorca
• Mediterranean Cruise to Malta
• Mediterranean Cruise to the Greek Islands and Venice: Off to a Bumpy Start
• 16 Ways to Save Money on Cruises
• 12 Reasons Cruises are Better than Land Vacations
• Why I Love Solo Cruising
• Celebrity Equinox Review: 14 Cool Features

2 Responses to Holland America Cruise Line: Pros and Cons

I’m glad you got back before you had to worry about the virus. Today I heard from another friend who just cancelled her family cruise to New Zealand!

The fancy door reminded me of this one https://carnegiemuseums.org/magazine-archive/1996/sepoct/feat4.htm at the Carnegie donated by the third Koch brother.

I laughed out loud when you mentioned the lecture topics.

Yeah, cruising now is kind of scary! We’re so lucky to have traveled when we did! And that’ sad people are having to cancel their vacations now.

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75 Genius Cruise Hacks and Tips: Get Organized, Save Money, Cruise Better

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Going on a cruise and looking for the best cruise hacks, tips and tricks? Whether you’re a first time cruiser or seasoned veteran, we can always use more cruise hacks to get organized, save money and have a better cruise vacation!

In fact, after more than 25 cruises, I’m always learning new things from other cruisers and I’m so happy to pass these tips along to you. Consider this post the Ultimate Cruise Hacks Guide!

In this post I share 75 awesome cruise hacks that cover everything from packing for your cruise , saving money, cruise food, managing seasickness and more!

75 Cruise Hacks, Tips and Tricks – The Ultimate Guide

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cruise Packing Hacks

Here are some handy things to bring on your cruise to keep organized as well as some cruise packing tips.

1. Packing cubes

There are many ways to use packing cubes to be organized as you pack for your cruise.

• Use different colored packing cubes for each member of the family
• Use packing cubes to place outfits together, or organize by types of clothing (ie. t-shirts, shorts, bathing suits)
• Don’t unpack every packing cube. Some packing cubes can be unzipped and placed directly on a shelf or in a drawer in your cruise cabin

Recommended: Packing cubes (this set has over 9000 5* reviews on Amazon)

2. Travel luggage scale

If you’re flying to and from your cruise ship, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t go over your luggage weight allowance. Typically, we buy a few souvenirs or extra t-shirts and your suitcase may weigh more than you think. An electronic travel luggage scale is a useful travel gadget to pack.

Recommended: Travel luggage scale (check price & 25000+ Amazon reviews)

3. Luggage tag holders

Save time and add convenience by printing your cruise luggage tags and placing them in these plastic luggage tag holders. They’re reusable and inexpensive as well.

Recommended: Luggage tag holders (find your cruise line tags here)

4. Make your luggage stand out

So many of us have black or navy luggage, and this can make it hard for your luggage to stand out and for you to find it at the cruise terminal or airport. There are a few simple things you can do, to recognize your luggage quickly

• Add bright ribbon or yarn to the handles of your luggage
• Cover your luggage with a decorative sleeve

5. Mix your suitcase items

Worried about lost luggage? Unfortunately losing a piece of luggage can happen when flying. Even though it likely will be found and sent to you in a day or two, you won’t want to be stuck without clothing and your necessities.

To avoid this problem, make sure to pack a few items of clothing in your travel companion’s bag, and vice versa. This way, at least you and your spouse still have at least a couple of things to wear and you won’t be stuck.

6. Pack an embarkation day carry on bag

A very important tip for first time cruisers , make sure to pack a cruise carry on bag to bring on the ship on embarkation day . It will take a few hours for your luggage to be delivered to your cabin after boarding your cruise ship , and this way you’ll have your first day essentials.

Don’t forget to pack your bathing suit or even put it on under your clothes if you plan on hitting the pool as soon as possible!

Recommended: Carry on bag tote (see reviews & style options on Amazon here) 

7. Bring extra reading glasses and sunglasses

Many cruisers report losing their reading glasses or even their sunglasses . It’s a good idea to bring an inexpensive pair of each of these just in case.

Cruise Cabin Storage Hacks

8. bring magnets.

An awesome cruise hack you should know is that most cruise cabin walls are actually metal (covered of course). So, if you bring magnet hooks then you can actually add extra storage space to your cruise cabin. You can hang backpacks, bathing suits to dry, and more.

Make sure that the magnets are “heady duty” , as other ones won’t be strong enough. Small magnet clips can also be very convenient to organize your papers, tickets and invitations.

Recommended: Magnet hooks (see details & Amazon reviews here) 

9. Over the door organizer

Many cruisers like to use an over the door hanging organizer to place items such as sunscreen, bud spray, hair accessories, and more. This can be especially helpful if you’re on a family cruise and looking for ways to keep as organized as possible.

Recommended:   Hanging Over the door cabin organizer

10. Hanging toiletry bag

Keep your toiletries organized and out of the way by packing them in a hanging toiletry bag . Cruise bathroom space tends to be limited, so a hanging bag makes use of the vertical space on the bathroom door or cabin wall.

Recommended: Hanging toiletry bag (see 5 color options & Amazon 5* reviews here)

11. Request extra hangers

While you can put your clothes away on the shelves or in a drawer, you’ll minimize wrinkles on your clothing if you can hang as much as possible. When meeting your cabin steward on after boarding on the first day , make it a point to request several extra hangers.

12. Poo-Pourri

Cruise stateroom bathrooms are small and so are the cabins, so bathroom smells might be more obvious than you’d like. Many cruisers bring Poo-Pourri bathroom spray as part of their cruise essentials packing list .

Recommended: Poo-pourri bathroom spray

13. Portable fan

The temperature can be hard to regulate in your cabin, so if you tend to get warm, especially at night, you can bring along a small portable fan . This one is battery operated as well as by USB for convenience.

Recommended: Portable travel fan (rechargeable battery & USB)

14. Motion sensor nightlight

If you’re in an interior cabin or if you tend to sleep with the black out curtains at night, consider bringing a motion sensor nightlight or battery operated tea lights. This way, if you need to get up to go to the washroom during the night you won’t disturb your partner, nor will you stub your toe.

Recommended: Motion activated nightlight

15. Laundry tip

Bring a pop up laundry hamper or mesh bag to keep your dirty clothes stored away in your stateroom.

An extra hack I recently learned from other cruisers, is to bring along a scented kitchen bag. You can use this when you pack your laundry in your luggage, to keep things smelling fresher.

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 now just $17.

Money Saving Cruise Hacks

16. book a guarantee cabin.

Did you know that cruise lines will often charge you a $100 plus per person for the privilege of choosing a cabin. If you aren’t too picky about your stateroom location, a great way to save hundreds per cruise is to opt for a guarantee cabin .

17. Cruise when it’s less crowded

Now who wouldn’t want to cruise when there are less people? Well, this is another way to say to cruise during the shoulder season for popular cruise itineraries like Alaska , the Mediterranean and Bermuda . You could save 50% or more!

18. Choose an interior cabin

The least expensive cabin for all cruise ships will be interior staterooms . If you don’t think you’ll be in your room much, skip an oceanview or balcony stateroom and stay in a cozy inside room.

Related:   15 Best Tips for Cruising in an Inside Cabin: cabin organization and more

Related:   7 Reasons Why You Should Book an Inside Cabin

19. Book your own shore excursions

Save money in cruise ports of call by booking your own shore excursions or even by touring on your own. This can work well when you can take a taxi to a local beach or in a city where it’s easy to do a Hop On Hop Off bus tour.

Cruise tip: Always be careful to make it back to the cruise ship on time. If you have any concerns then avoid potential mistakes by booking with the cruise line .

Related:   11 Cruise Shore Excursion Day Tips

20. Bring wine

Most cruise lines will allow you to bring a bottle of wine , per person, on a cruise. Unless you have a beverage package , bringing your own wine is an awesome money saving cruise hack .

21. Bring your own drinks

Many cruise lines allow you to bring on a case of water bottles or even a small case of soda on embarkation day.

Related:  What Food and Drinks Can You Bring on a Cruise ?

22. Level up your cruise knowledge

One of the best ways to save money on all aspects of cruising is through knowledge. Some people seem to find the best cruise deals and are cruising several times a year. However, they’ve learned a few things to make this possible.

Emma Cruises has an awesome course where she teaches this, and more. This is a great course for new and seasoned cruisers.

*Exclusive discount for our readers – use code LIFEWELLCRUISED for 10% off*

See details here: Emma Cruise Academy “How to Cruise for Less”

23. Monitor for price drops

While booking as early as possible is usually the best way to save money when booking a cruise , prices can actually come down after you book. To make sure you can take advantage of price drops, monitor the price of your cruise and cabin category. If the price has decreased before final payment, ask the cruise line or your travel agent for a price adjustment – in most cases they will do so.

Something to keep in mind, is that although a price may be lower, it may not include some of the extras or perks you had with your original price. Make sure you get the best deal by looking at the overall value. 

Related:  Best Way to Book a Cruise? Travel Agent, Direct or Online

24. Book a specialty restaurant the first night of your cruise

Cruisers have reported discounts and even a free bottle of wine given as a bonus if you book specialty dining the first night of your cruise. Readers have noted this on Carnival Cruises and Celebrity, but this may be possible on other cruise lines as well.

25. Book onboard

Plan on booking your next cruise while onboard. If you do need to sit down to go over options, make sure to make an appointment with the Future Cruise Desk early in the cruise.

The benefit is that you can get a nice on board credit to use on your next cruise, or sometimes on the cruise you’re on. If you aren’t sure of what cruise you want to take next, as if you can put a deposit on an open date instead so you can cruise shop when you get home.

Related:  Cruise On Board Credits (OBC): How Can You Use Them?

Cruise Food Tips and Hacks

26. avoid the buffet on embarkation day.

Cruise ship buffets are usually really good, but they get especially crowded on embarkation day. Head to the Main Dining Room instead for a quick sit down meal, or look for any of the amazing casual restaurants that might be open on boarding day .

If you’re heading on a Princess cruise, try the International Cafe or Alfredos (you won’t regret it).

Related:  Princess Cruises Alfredo’s Pizzeria Review (with photos) 

27. Order 2 main dishes

Did you know that on most cruises, you can order as many dishes as you like? So, if you love steak and also love shrimp, ask your waiter for both and make it “surf & turf”.  On some cruise lines they’ll combine the dishes on one plate, with only one serving of the sidedish.

28. Have appetizers on your balcony

If you’re going for a late dinner, consider heading up to the buffet and making a plate of cheese and crackers or charcuterie and bringing it back to your cabin. Pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy pre-dinner appetizers on your private balcony.

29. Ask for off menu items

While you can’t do this each night, if you did really enjoy a dish, as your waiter if the chef may be able to prepare it another evening. There may be other items not on the menu that are easy to get. Ask for fresh fruit for dessert, gelato or even a cheese plate. You may even want to ask for an ice cream sundae, often available on the kid’s menu.

30. Get free room service

Have an early shore excursion? Consider ordering a free room service continental breakfast. While not every cruise line includes free room service at all hours (we love the ones that do!), many will have free room service for a simple breakfast.

31. Get free gourmet ice cream or sorbet

Many cruise ships have a specialty ice cream shop onboard, which is not included. However, it might surprise you to know that most cruise lines actually make their own delicious ice cream, gelato and sorbet to use in the main dining room for desserts.

If you don’t want to pay extra for name brand ice cream, go to the main dining room, even for lunch, and ask for the ice cream of the day. There may even be an included ice cream counter in the buffet area.

32. Get “free” candy

While you’d have to buy licorice and other candies in the convenience store or candy shop, you can actually get free candy, used as ice cream toppings, at the ice cream counter in the buffet.

Weight Management Tips

As much as we all love cruise food and tend to indulge, we all want to avoid too much weight gain on a cruise . Here are a few cruise hacks that can help.

33. Take the stairs

Cruise ships are big and have so many decks. By taking the stairs as much as possible, even part way, you’ll get those steps in balance out some of the extra indulgences.

34. Use the jogging track

There is usually no better view than from the jogging and walking tracks. They’re usually located at the top of the cruise ship and you can see the sea in every direction. Perhaps start the morning off with a 30 minute walk or head to the track later in the day.

35. Use the fitness centre

I love the gym on a cruise ship! It’s usually located in the front of the ship and I like going there much more than I enjoy the gym at home 😉

You may want to use some of the equipment or even try out some of the classes. Please note that some classes will be included on your cruise, while others will have an extra charge .

36. Get a low calorie dessert

If you feel that you are eating a bit too much rich and high calorie foods, order a low calorie dessert. Cruise lines have delicious lower fat and healthier food options available for all cruise passengers.

37. Skip the frozen cocktails

One of the best things you can do to avoid gaining weight on a cruise is to skip high calorie frozen drinks like Pina Coladas and BBC’s (Banana Baileys Colada). Instead, opt for refreshing drinks like a Mojito or even a diet soda and rum.

Related: How NOT to Gain Weight on a Cruise (and still eat)

Cruise Outfit Planning Hacks

Some of these cruise hacks and genius tips that come from readers and viewers. Many of these are simple things hat you can do that will make cruise packing and outfit planning easier.

38. Pin jewelry to clothing

This recent tip is brilliant. If you have a necklace or earrings that you plan on wearing with an outfit, simply pin it to the fabric or put it in a plastic baggie. A simple trick for necklaces that tend to get tangled is to use a straw. Pass it through and this really works!

39. Plan your cruise outfits for each night

Many ladies avoid overpacking by planning out their outfits for each night of the cruise. If you plan on mixing and matching and re-wearing some items, you can even take a photo with your phone as a reminder.

40. Use a cruise travel planner

Born out of necessity, as I have forgotten items more than once, I created a printable cruise planner that you may find useful. It covers everything from cruise planning, checklists for embarkation to disembarkation tips , packing checklists, a cruise outfit planner and more.

See what’s included and details here ($10 off for a limited time): Ultimate Cruise Planner

Cruise Wifi Hacks

Cruise ship internet just isn’t like on land, so you can expect it to be slower and more expensive on a cruise. However cruise lines have made great strides, and it’s significantly better now than only a few years ago.

41. Book a Wifi package online

If you need to work on the cruise or even keep in touch with people, consider an internet package. The best price you’ll get is by purchasing an internet package in your cruise planner online before your cruise.

We saved 35% on Voom , Royal Caribbean’s wifi package, by making a pre-cruise purchase. Princess Cruises MedallionNet is also often priced at a 50% discount if you purchase it early.

42. Receive messages and notifications

If you don’t plan to use the internet while on a cruise, but still want people to reach you just in case, let them know they can still send a message. Many people report receiving text messages, even when in airplane mode. However, make sure you don’t respond until you have free wifi.

43. Download the cruise line app

Nowadays it’s super important to download the cruise line app for online check in, emuster and more. However, there is often a messaging part of the app which is very useful to communicate with other people on the cruise.

44. Use Free Wifi in cruise ports of call

In most ports of call , there will be some free wifi in the cafes or even in an entire section of the cruise port. This is a good time to take a break and check your emails and social media if you haven’t been doing so on the cruise.

Tip: Ask the crew or simply watch where the crew go for free wifi. They know all the tips and tricks since they return to the port regularly.

Related:   27 Cruise Packing Mistakes You Might be Making

How to Get Free Stuff on a Cruise

45. join contests.

One of the best ways to get freebies on a cruise is to participate in different contests and raffles. Prizes for participating range from a keychain to a bottle of champagne. Every so often, you’ll see some cruise contests or games where jewelry is the prize as well.

46. Free massage

After you board your cruise , go ahead and check out the spa. In order to promote their services, it’s common for the spa staff to be doing mini massages. You’ll often find embarkation day promotions if you book an appointment for later in the week.

47. Free On Board Credit (OBC)

Get additional on board credit by booking the cruise during a promotion. This may be with the cruise line, however a few times a year, travel agencies specializing in cruise travel will run additional sales and the value of the OBC can be double or more.

Related:  50 Must-Have Cruise Essentials to Bring on a Cruise

Get Free or Cheap Drinks

48. go to the champagne art auction.

Most cruise ships will have 1 or 2 Champagne Art Auctions during a sailing. There’s no purchase necessary and it can be a fun way to learn about some interesting established and up and coming artists.

49. Past passengers cocktail party

If you’re a return passenger, you’ll likely receive an invitation to a past passenger cocktail party or event. Most of the time, wine, cocktails and canapes are served.

Make sure to arrive early as the drinks do tend to stop being served after about 30 minutes.

50. Join a drink making contest

On some fun loving cruise lines, one of the activities will be a drink making competition of sorts. When you participate, you’ll likely get a free drink.

51. Drink of the Day

Most cruise lines have a special drink of the day offered at a reduced price. While not free, it will likely be a few dollars less than other similar drinks on the menu. Look for happy hours and 2 for 1 specials as well.

52. Liquor tasting

Make sure to check the cruise activities daily schedule and watch out for the free liquor tasting. This is often done to promote some of the duty-free liquor sold on the cruise , where they’ll be giving out samples you may enjoy.

Related:   20 Ways to Save on Your Family Cruise

Cabin Upgrade Tips

Book early for the best cabin choice. However, if you want to snag a cabin upgrade, there are a few tips to try.

53. Guarantee cabin

Although you won’t choose a specific cabin, a  guarantee cabin is usually the best priced cabin in the cabin type. Often the price will be discounted by $100 or more per person, and you’re guaranteed that category or higher.

Most of the time, you’ll get at least 1 category upgrade, and if you’re lucky, you may get a much better cabin than you paid for.

54. Bid for an upgrade

Once you book your cruise and choose a cabin, if there’s availability, the cruise line will send you an email offering you a chance to bid for an upgrade. While there’s a minimum bid set, you can choose with category to bid on, including suites. You may just get a major upgrade for a minimum price.

55. Call and ask

If you’ve made your final payment on your cruise, but you see that cabins are still available on your sailing, call your cruise line or travel agent and ask if it’s possible to get an upgrade. You just never know, however I’ve seen it happen from time to time.

Related:  10 Worst Cruise Ship Cabins to Avoid

Seasickness Tips

56. green apples.

Want a cruise hack that really works to ease motion sickness ? Green apples actually help to ease queasiness and mild seasickness. In fact, we first learned about green apples from crew members who use green apples as a natural remedy for motion sickness.

Since green apples will usually be available in the buffet, take one or two back to your cabin ready to slice up and eat if you need them at any time.

57. Ginger candies

Another natural remedy for seasickness is ginger. While you can eat small pieces of ginger, and this may be given out on some cruise lines, it’s easier to pack ginger candies and bring them onto your cruise. I love ginger candies and bring them on every cruise, just in case.

Recommended:   Ginger Candies (check price & see Amazon reviews here)

58. Seabands and medication

Many veteran cruisers use seabands and swear by them. If you’re sensitive to motion and may get seasick, make sure to pack seabands and even some Bonine motion sickness medication just in case.

Recommended: Seabands (see Amazon reviews) & Bonine (my favorite)

59. Plan for boats and tenders

One thing many people don’t think about, is that even if they don’t get seasick on a cruise, small boats and tenders to get off the ship may be a different story. I have a friend who did a whale watching excursion and instead of enjoying it, she was so sick. A good tip is to take Bonine or another non-drowsy seasickness medication, use seabands or even a motion sickness patch behind your ear.

Related:   10 effective Ways to Prevent & Deal with Seasickness on a Cruise

Cruise Booking Tips

60. use a travel agent for extra perks.

Travel agents often have extra perks that they can give you when you book with them. When using a travel agent, whether local or online, make sure that they have experience and specialize in selling cruises.

Related:  Best Way to Book a Cruise: Travel Agent or Direct with the Cruise Line?

61. Book onboard

Booking a cruise while you’re on a cruise is often a great way to save money and get extra on board credits . Sometimes, you can make an open booking, which is great of you aren’t 100% sure which cruise you’d like to so next.

62. Arrive a day before your cruise

This tip is often repeated, but for good reason. Anything can happen, especially if you’re flying into your cruise port. Always plan to arrive at least one day before your cruise for peace of mind, plus you can visit your embarkation port city and extend your vacation .

63. Book excursions online (pre-cruise)

Along with online check in, it’s a good idea to pre-plan cruise excursions by booking them in advance. Often, the price will be less expensive than booking on the cruise ship and you’ll avoid disappointment of an excursion selling out.

64. Research your cruise ports

While you can book cruise line shore excursions, in some cases it can be easy and give you more freedom to head to a beach or do a walking tour on your own. Of course, you always want to be safe and never miss the cruise ship so research is key.

Find out info on specific cruise ports by reading reviews on Cruise Critic and other review sites and consider joining facebook groups and roll calls for your sailing. You may even find some fellow cruise passengers who want to organize a private tour together, which is common on some cruise itineraries.

We did this on our Mediterranean cruise and it worked very well.

65. Get travel insurance

Make sure you have travel insurance for your cruise . Often, the cruise line’s insurance has limitations on medical coverage, so it’s a good idea to research and buy cruise travel insurance that will fit your needs.

Related:  What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise

Cruise Shore Excursion Tips

66. when to book excursions with the cruise line.

While you might save money by doing excursions on your own or booking privately, there are times when booking with the cruise line is your best bet.

If the activity or excursion is a full day or very far away, booking with the cruise line is a safer option.

Why? When you book with the cruise line it comes with an assurance that the ship won’t leave without you if your excursion is late. Unfortunately, anything can happen – there may be traffic or a taxi or bus may break down. It’s not as rare as you’d think (just google the YouTube videos).

67. DIY your shore excursion

Research your cruise port and see if you can visit easily on your own. Many cruise ports have beaches or attractions that are close by and easily accessible by taxi or walking.

For example, when we visit the island of St. Thomas on a cruise , we love to go to Magens Bay Beach on our own . When in Bermuda we head over to Horseshoe Bay Beach by shuttle.

It’s less expensive and we get more time at the beach.

68. Ask the crew for suggestions

This tip is not used nearly enough to get some great advice for visiting the cruise ports. The crew return to the ports almost every week, so they often know some of the best places to visit, as well as how to do it economically and safely. After all, they need to return to the ship even more than passengers!

I usually ask the people who work in the shops, because we’ve learned that they have more time off during the day than the waiters and cabin stewards. We’ve gotten great beach, restaurant and bar suggestions in the past. Of course the shore excursion desk staff are super helpful, and will often give you a map and some tips and recommendations.

69. Port lectures

Most cruise lines will have port lectures or port shopping talks . While in some destinations, the focus is on steering you to buy watches and jewelry or locally made items, which may or may not be your interest, we’ve found some talks to be very informative.

When in Europe, our experience was that the lectures were full of information about the sights and culture, as well as what to expect.

Important Cruise Tips & Reminders

70. put your phone on airplane mode.

When you sail in international waters, your mobile phone plan won’t usually cover. It can be common for people who forget to put their phone in airplane mode to have huge, unexpected cell phone charges. Put your phone in airplane mode before Sailaway to avoid this rookie cruiser mistake .

71. Bring refillable water bottles

Water is safe to drink on the ship, however many people like to have refillable water bottles to keep hydrated throughout the day. This is especially important when leaving the ship on cruise port days and excursions.

Make sure to pack a refillable water bottle as part of your cruise essentials packing list .

72. Bring plastic bags

Perhaps bringing plastic ziploc style baggies aren’t the most important thing in the world, but they sure are handy. You can use large ziplocks to place wet bathing suits after an excursion and smaller ziplocks to take snacks or a muffin from the buffet.

If you’re cruising with kids , you’ll see some pretty good tips in this post:  10 Cruise Experts Share Their Best Tips for Cruising with Kids

73. Check your passport

Friendly reminder – it’s been a while that many of us have traveled out of our country. Check your passport for the expiry date and make sure to renew way in advance. This is taking much longer than usual, and passports need to be valid for at least 6 months before you travel in many countries.

74. Get organized

I’ve heard so many people say that they’re finding it “harder” to travel these days, and this is true, but in most cases not as hard as it seems. Being organized and having everything in one place is more important than ever, and will be so helpful.

A) Proof of Vaccine

Keep your vaccine card and information in the same place as your passport. We’re using a passport wallet for this and will bring it on our cruise.

Here’s what we’re using: passport wallet (RFID)

B) Group booking emails

Group your cruise booking or reservation, flights, hotels, excursions and other emails pertaining to your cruise in an email file folder. It will be much easier to look things up and reference when everything is in one place.

C) Use a printable cruise travel planner

I like to have everything in one place and really like to write things down. If you’re the same, you’ll love the Ultimate Cruise Planner .

This is a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with several packing checklists, cruise port planning forms, payment trackers and more. The nice thing is that you can print out as many pages as you need, helpful as plans sometimes change.

Here are the details & what’s included: Ultimate Cruise Planner ($10 off for a limited time)

Things Not to Forget on Your Cruise

75. make your cruise easier with these cruise travel accessories.

“Cruise-approved” non -surge power bar with USB outlets

Cruise luggage tag holders

Passport wallet case

Hanging toiletry bag

Packing cubes

Magnet hooks

Portable electronic travel scale

Water-proof phone case lanyard

Vaccine card protector cruise lanyard

Carry on bag (nautical style)

Over the door hanging organizer

For a full list of cruise accessories please read this post next:   50 Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon

Ultimate Cruise Hacks Video

Need more cruise hacks? In this video  I go over 50 amazing cruise hacks, tips and information. It’s a long one, but totally worth it if you’re preparing for a cruise! It has over 170,000 views so far and I’m so grateful for your shares!

Popular posts to read next:

30 Cruise Cabin Hacks Every Cruiser Needs to Know

50 Most Recommended Amazon Items to Bring on a cruise

27 Cruise Packing Mistakes You Might Be Making

20 Cruise Packing Tips all Cruisers Need

21 Essential Things to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On

25 Cruise Embarkation Tips and Secrets

Final Thoughts: 75 Genius Cruise Tips and Hacks

Planning for a cruise is different than other types of vacations. In this post we shared 75 smart cruise hacks from saving money, to cruise food and drinks, to getting organized and more!

I’m always learning new cruise tips and tricks from other cruisers, so please share your cruise hacks in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!!

P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Let’s connect:

Join me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised

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I look for your videos every day. I do want to let you know that I have an airline stewardess that I watch her YouTube vids too. She said something I thought I’d mention to you. A J-hook. She said the J-hook takes a lot off the top of the suitcase to keep from hurting your back. I’ve looked at them on Amazon.

Thanks for mentioning this. I’m going to have to take a look and give it a try. I really appreciate you watching my videos and taking time to comment on my posts 🙂

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Back to General Information

Is smoking permitted on holland america line cruises.

Answer: For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah.

Designated Smoking Areas Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam

Sea View Bar area* Oak Room (Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking) Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam

Sea View Bar area* Casino-smoking is allowed in designated areas for active players only and only when outside of 12NM from the Netherlands Volendam, Zaandam

Sea View Bar area* Casino-smoking is allowed in designated areas for active players only and only when outside of 12NM from the Netherlands

Sports Deck, outside Crow's Nest Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Electronic cigarettes are not permitted in staterooms or in other public areas of the ship other than designated smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.