After nearly 30 cruises, you learn a thing of two about sailing that you don’t learn on your first… or second… or fifth cruise. And some of those things are genius-level moves that make your trip even better.
That’s why I’m sharing what I’ve learned with you right now so you can have a better cruise starting day one…
Embrace the “5-10-15” Rule
My first tip is one that I’ve come up with over more than a decade of cruises. I call it the “5-10-15” rule and it helps you with cabin selection.
The first number, five, is for the deciding factor on getting a balcony. A balcony cabin is always nice, but if you’re wondering when it’s worth the money, use the five-day trip length as the cut off. Anything shorter than that and you’ll be out around the ship and in port for so much of your cruise that a balcony is great, but not a must-have.
Trips longer than that and you definitely want a balcony cabin as there is more downtime. It’s also just a long time to go without natural light or fresh air in your room.
And if your trip is exactly 5 days, you can go either way, but I’d lean more toward the balcony cabin.
The “10-15” go together and explain where on the ship to book. A modern ship will have a main interior area that’s typically a few decks in the middle of the ship, like decks six through eight. Then there is the pool area that’s at the top of the ship. I’ve learned that being in between these areas — normally around decks 10 through 15 — are ideal as they give you easy access to both without having to go far.
The only drawback to this location is that when you arrive back to the ship from a port of call, you will have to wait for an elevator to go back up to your room and it will be crowded. The rest of the time, it’s ideal.
How to Never Forget Your Keycard in the Room
I feel like about a third of the ships I’ve sailed has one of these:
For those that aren’t familiar, this is a device for saving electricity. It’s designed to house your room keycard. If you turn on the lights without a card inserted, then they will automatically shut off after a few minutes. This way if you aren’t in the room, the lights aren’t on.
Here’s the thing, it’s way too easy to have your card inserted, leave the room, and realize you forgot your card. With the door automatically locking when closed, you have to head to Guest Services for a new one.
Now, many people simply bring an old card with them to keep in the switch the entire trip. That’s the best thing to do. But if you forget that, you can get a little creative.
If you brought a towel clip or a lanyard, clip that to the card when it’s in the slot. These are big and eye-catching, making the chances of walking out with your card inserted significantly less.
Buy/ReBuy Items on Royal Caribbean to Save Money
This smart tip is only for those sailing Royal Caribbean, but that’s literally millions and millions of people each year.
Most people know that every cruise line offers discounted packages if you book before the cruise. I’m talking things like wi-fi, drink packages, and in Royal Caribbean’s case, excursions and things to do on CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean loves to move these prices around. Black Friday usually has big sales but even outside of that time, the prices can vary. For someone looking for the lowest price, it can be frustrating.
What I’ve learned, however, is that you can book it, cancel, and then rebook with no penalty. So if you book the drink package for $80 a day and then it drops to $70, you can cancel, and get the lower price.
Yes, you have to keep an eye on prices, but it does make it easier to get the best deal possible.
Learn the “Rhythm” of Passengers to See Smaller Crowds
Unfortunately, crowds are just part of cruising. Despite what those cruise ads show with people on the ship having a great time with no one else around… that’s not the case.
But over the years, you learn some of the rhythm of how people cruise. That’s a big help in avoiding crowds and getting a little more elbow room.
For one, people on the ship aren’t out and about early. If you want to swim or get in a hot tub and don’t want to share with a bunch of other people, then doing it earlier in the morning is ideal.
One I like to use is the private islands. If all aboard is 5 p.m. on CocoCay or Ocean Cay, then by about 3 p.m. the place starts to really empty out. Often, I’ll head down in the morning, head back to the ship around mid-day to cool off and get a nap, and then head back down in the afternoon for a second round. This way, I drastically avoid the crowds while still getting plenty of beach time.
Use Private Island Days to Save and Independent Ports for Spending
Speaking of those private islands, one smart tip I’ve learned over the years is that while you can spend as much as you want here with cabanas, beach clubs, jet skis, waterparks, and the like, it’s much smarter to use these stops as freebies.
The private islands run by the cruise lines have been built up as profit centers. A family could easily spend thousands of dollars here if they wanted to. But there are also so many included things to do like beaches, pools, and food that it’s hard not to have a good time even without spending a dime.
It can be the opposite in traditional ports of call. There, you practically have to spend money to have a good time unless you’re fine with just walking around. That’s why I like to save my money on those days in private destinations and instead spend on excursions in other ports of call.
In places like Cozumel or other ports, you’re going to have a much better time if you book excursions.
How to Eat From the Steakhouse for Cheap
I think one of the biggest changes I’ve noticed in cruising during the years is that prices and the opportunity to spend have gone way up. Nowhere is that more evident than with food on the ship.
Back in the day, it used to be that all the food was included on the cruise. Then that turned to a few specialty restaurants charging nominal fees. Today, it seems like many places outside the buffet and dining room are an extra charge and the prices can be high. I’ve seen some charging upwards of $60 per person for a meal.
No thanks.
But these charges have also crept into the dining room, but it’s actually not a bad deal. You usually find a section of the menu from the steakhouse. On the annoying side, these plates are upcharges for things like good steaks (not the ones normally served in the dining room) and lobster. On the plus side, this gives you the chance to get a meal from the steakhouse for about half the cost of dining there and without needing a reservation.
So if you’re in the mood for a steak but don’t want to pay full price or they are booked up, ordering off the dining room menu is a smart play.
The Best Spa Value Around
One genius level move is something that I’m a little wary of giving too much attention to because I think the cruise lines will catch on and end it.
Now, I’ve never gotten a massage on a cruise. To me, for $150 plus gratuity it’s too expensive for a service that lasts an hour. But what wasn’t heavily advertised is a thermal pass. And after buying one of these, I’m hooked.
A thermal pass gets you access to the ship’s spa. It comes with hot tubs, heated loungers, saunas, rainfall showers, and way more. And with a day pass, you get to hang out here as long as you want. Best of all, the passes are about $40-$50 for a day. To me, that’s an absolute steal.
There are plenty of people that know about the passes, so days at sea can get busy. But you rarely see it listed as an item on the spa menu, so you might have to ask. To me, it’s one of the best deals on the ship.
Consider This Before Spending too Much Time at the Back of the Ship
A genius move that smart cruisers make is something that many have never considered and that is limiting time aft of the ship when it’s underway.
There was a research paper done a few years back that measured pollution around the outside of the ship. It turns out that certain parts of the ship — notably the back of it — can have air that isn’t so fresh. This makes sense with the exhaust in the middle of the ship that means the back part of the ship is under that exhaust when the ship is sailing. Of course the wind direction will also have some impact on where that exhaust goes.
Even without a study, I’ve certainly noticed that you can find what looks to be soot or ash around the ship. And just like how I wouldn’t want to lay out my towel and get some sun behind an idling car, I also try to avoid just hanging out in this area. It doesn’t mean I avoid it completely — after all, there is usually a lot to do in this section of the ship. I just don’t sit and relax on this part if I can help it.
Save Yourself From Eating the Buffet All the Time
It seems these days the number of included restaurants is soaring while the free options are dwindling. In fact, some ships have the buffet, dining room, and maybe a spot or two where you can grab a snack included in the fare. Carnival is one of my favorites for having a lot of included options, so I want to give them kudos for that.
No matter the line or ship you sail, however, smart cruisers know that when they can they should eat anywhere other than the buffet. The buffet is the only place that’s open for breakfast lunch and dinner. No matter what, you’re going eat a lot of meals here. It’s by far the most convenient spot to eat.
But the buffet quality… well, it’s buffet quality. It’s not bad but it’s nothing to write home about. So after you’ve eaten here three or four times, if you’re like me, you’ve had your fill. The smart move is to hunt out other restaurants around the ship — including dining rooms serving breakfast and lunch — to where when you do eat at the buffet, it still has some novelty to it.
Three Hours Saves a Lot of Hassle When Boarding
The pro move when it comes to getting on the ship? Just hold your horses. After dozens of cruises, I’d wait to be the absolute last person on the ship if I could. But the majority of people want to get onboard as soon as they can. I can only tell you that this is a hassle unless you have some sort of VIP status like booking a suite or high loyalty.
When you board early, you’re going to face long lines at security and check-in. Then once you are on the ship, it’s unlikely your room is going to be cleaned and ready for you if you get on the ship before one or two o’clock. So you get the luxury of exploring the ship with your bag in tow.
When you show up later to board, there is practically no line at check-in and you can go immediately to your room to drop off your things. It’s a much smoother and less hectic way to start your cruise.
Get the “Homework” Done in the Cabin
My last smart move is one that I always do and I think it helps me get the trip started off right. Some people don’t realize it but you have homework to do before you cruise. There’s a muster drill where you have to watch safety videos and then check in at your muster station. It’s mandatory and only takes a minute, but you can go do it at anytime before the ship leaves.
My suggestion, and what I normally do, is to knock this out first thing. Hell, you can even do it with a drink in your hand if you want.
I also think it’s smart to take some time and unpack your suitcase as soon as you can. That way, you don’t have these things hanging over you as you get your vacation started. There’s no muster drill to interrupt having a good time and if you go out and have a late night that first day, you come back to a room where all your stuff is unpacked already. That’s way nicer than having to dig through a full suitcase when you’re tired and want to go to bed.
