Updated February 2025
Once you’ve booked your cruise, you can breathe a sigh of relief. You are going love it, but knowing what to expect and what to bring can bring can feel daunting, even for the experienced cruiser! That’s why we’re here to share our best cruise ship tips.
Tip 1: Luggage Tags
A few weeks before your cruise most cruise lines will email you paper luggage tags that you are expected to print out at home and staple onto your bags. These are essential so the crew knows which cabin to take your bags to. However, few of these tags survive their first encounter with airline baggage handling!
We play it safe by using reusable plastic tag holders. You print out the cruise baggage tags, fold them, and slip them into the plastic sleeves. Problem solved!
And remember to leave them on your bags during the cruise as the crew will use them when you disembark.
There are many holders available with metal bands rather than plastic loops. We think the plastic ones hold up better. But either will work.
Visit here to see our recommendations for some to buy.
Tip For Virgin Voyage Sailors: No luggage tags needed (except your regular tags, of course). Just bring your bags to the terminal and the porter will tag them before transporting them to your cabin.
Tip 2: Magnets? Really?
One of our best cruise ship tips is magnet hooks. Really.
Almost all cruise cabin walls are metal. This means magnets are your friend for organizing your cruise stuff. We use heavy-duty 100 pound hooks because they can hold tote bags, drying swimsuits, jackets, whatever you want! There can be a lot of paper on a cruise, keep it in sight with these. Make sure you get magnet hooks that hold at least 25 pounds. If you want help finding some, visit our Cruise Essentials post.
Pop a few into your suitcase. You’ll thank us later.
Tip 3: Keep Your Cruise Card With You
On most cruises, your plastic cruise card is everything-your door key, your credit card, and your ID. We use a lanyard to keep it with us at all times. There are MANY styles to choose from.
Remember, with Princess Cruises you will have a Medallion instead of a card so read below for options on Princess. And on Virgin Voyages you’ll have a nifty little bracelet.
Tip 4: Are You Sailing on Princess?
If there is a Princess Cruise in your future, they now use Princess Medallions instead of cruise cards. They do everything from opening your cabin door to charging things to your account. You can even order a drink and they will use it to find you and deliver it to wherever you are. It connects to your phone or other device and makes it easy to message others in your party. We think they are pretty cool.
Of course, Princess Cruises sells holders and lets you purchase personalizations.
The Princess Medallion is almost the exact same size as an Apple AirTag, so you can use AirTag accessories to keep your Medallion safe.
Tip 5: Door Decorations and Celebrations
A popular cruise ship tip is magnetic door decorations. With so many cabins it can feel a little like a maze to find yours. Because of this, people like to decorate their doors with magnetic signs and decorations. Fortunately, they are easy to find and make.
Also, if someone in your party is celebrating a birthday, anniversary, retirement, etc. make sure to ask your travel advisor request a bit of celebration. Frequently, the ship’s staff will decorate your door to help celebrate. And if you want a bigger celebration, mist cruise lines have party packages you can purchase.
There are many magnetic door decorations that can be customized to suit you and your party.
Tip 6: Passport Cases
Most cruises must visit at least one foreign port, which means a passport is important. We like to keep ours in a passport case. We like a style that allows you to also carry a little cash, a credit card, and your cruise card all in one place. Handy for when you are taking those shore excursions. Also, RFID blocking is a big plus.
Tip 7: One of the Most Important Cruise Ship Tips: Medications
If you take medications, bring two weeks MORE than you need for your trip, because you never know what might happen. Bring them in your carry-on bag.
Also, we keep pictures of our prescriptions on our phone in case we need an emergency refill somewhere. Finally, we suggest you keep a hard copy of your eyeglass prescription.
We always also bring sunscreen, ibuprofen and over the counter allergy medications because they can be pricey while traveling. Besides, who wants to waste vacation time shopping for medications?
Finally, your ship will have a small shop that sells basics like aspirin, band-aids, and sunscreen, but they tend to be pricey.
Tip 8: Worried About Seasickness?
If you are concerned about seasickness, here are some suggestions. Please know seasickness can happen, but modern ships are bigger and have very effective stabilizer systems.
- Bring ginger candy, as ginger is known to help fight seasickness
- Anti-nausea wristbands and Dramamine are popular
- Scopolamine patches, though you need a doctor’s prescription
Remember, the ship has a doctor and small medical facility. In the unlikely event you experience severe seasickness, don’t hesitate to pay a visit.
Tip 9: Power Strips
Cruise cabins are notorious for not having enough electrical outlets for today’s gadget-obsessed traveler. Bring a power strip. But be sure it is NOT surge protected as many cruise lines will confiscate those and return them to you at the end of the cruise.
If you are sailing on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, beware as they have banned all power strips.
We reviewed our favorite power strips in this post.
Tip 10: Protect Yourself
The pandemic caused many people to consider the importance of purchasing travel insurance, for good reason. Seniors often do not realize that Medicare does cover emergency medical care when traveling abroad. We discuss the importance of travel insurance and what to consider when choosing some.
Tip 11: Your Cabin Attendant
Here’s an important cruise ship tip. When in need, ask your cabin attendant. We are amazed how many people come back from a cruise complaining there were not enough hangers in the closet. When we ask “Did you ask your cabin attendant for more?” they often say, I didn’t think to. Here are things you can ask you cabin attendant for assistance with on most cruise lines:
- More hangers
- More water (be careful as some cruise lines charge you for this)
- Changing the bed from a queen to two twins or vice versa
- Removing the panel on the balcony so you can socialize with your friends next door
- Tape
- A mattress topper
More
If you enjoyed our top cruise tips, you can learn more by checking out these posts:
Airfare Secrets: Getting the Best Price on Airfare
Travel Discounts Because of Your Job
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