There are cruise tips… and then there are the tips that normally don’t get discussed because, well, they are a bit weird.
Maybe they are a little off-color, maybe they go against the grain, or maybe they just aren’t widely known. No matter, they are all things you don’t normally hear but you need to know for your next cruise.
Let’s dive in…
Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Ads
This one isn’t so much a tip as a weird thing to know that goes a bit against the image the cruise lines want to sell you. Are cruises fun? Absolutely. They are great vacations. Do they look like the marketing in real life?
No way.
If you’ve sailed before then you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, then listen up. The pictures you see of a family having a great time on a cruise, you’ll notice there is almost never anyone else around. It’s similar to how a car commercial never shows traffic. It’s just not the reality of what it’s really like.
So no, you aren’t going to be laying out enjoying the pool by yourself. It’s going to be you and a thousand of your closest friends. Same with the casino, ports, the theater, or the dining room. It’s not to say it’s a bad thing, just very different from what’s presented.
Staying Onboard In Port Isn’t A Bad Move
Perhaps the weirdest tip you’ll hear given the amount of time on the ship, but when you’re in port, just stay onboard.
Now if you’re a new cruiser or a port is completely new to you, then by all means go and explore. Maybe you don’t have to spend the entire day out and about, but you should go and at least check it out.
For those that have been to a port before and have seen what there is to see, then you shouldn’t feel ashamed about just staying on the ship. Truth is the ship when in a port of call is a completely different place. With far fewer people around, it can feel like you have run of the ship. It’s calmer, there’s more elbow room, and it’s just a more relaxing place to be.
It’s not something you’ll hear a lot, but if you’ve visited a port before, try just staying on the ship instead and enjoying a day to yourself that may be more memorable than rehashing the same spots again.
It’s a Smart Idea To Find A Second Toilet
I’m going to get real for a moment, but it’s a weird tip that could make sailing in your cabin much more pleasant.
The distance between your bed and the toilet, well it’s maybe 10 feet if you’re lucky. Meanwhile, the room has only one toilet. So you better be comfortable with the person you’re sharing a cabin with, including the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Instead, it’s a smart move to scout out a second commode on your trip. I’ve found that there are some that are out of the way and seem to get almost no use, such as those on lower decks that few people visit.
This way, if you — or your cabinmate — need to go and you don’t want it to be in the cabin, you’ll have a quiet place already scoped out.
How to Earn As Many Loyalty Points As Big Spenders
I’ve personally been on the record of saying that loyalty programs… well, they don’t really matter. You don’t start to get anything worthwhile until you reach upwards of 80 points on most plans, which is more than 2.5 months of sailing on a single line.
Still, I know some people really prize that loyalty status and so a weird tip is how to earn more points.
Most of these plans are simple — sail a night and get a point. So a 7-night cruise is worth 7 points. But sail in a suite, and it’s worth double points. A weeklong cruise nets you 14 points.
The weird thing is that if you sail solo — the exact opposite of spending a bunch of money on a suite — most lines also give you double points no matter the type of room that you sail, even an interior. Now, you do pay double occupancy, but it’s a weird quirk that can ramp up your status twice as fast.
Why You Want Specialty Restaurants On The First Day
There’s a weird move you can make that’s actually one of my favorites but few people take advantage. That’s eating in a specialty restaurant on the first day of your cruise.
If you don’t know, there’s included food on the cruise and then specialty restaurants that cost an extra fee. While it’s a pain to pay more, there’s no arguing that the food here is just better, which I attribute to the simple fact they are making meals for 30 people instead of 3,000 people. I always recommend people eat at a specialty restaurant at least 1-2 times on a weeklong cruise to break things up.
But depending on your cruise, it can be hard to snag a reservation. However, the first night — when everything is new on the ship, including the food — no one is really thinking about eating at a paid restaurant.
That means reservations are easier to come by and sometimes you can even find discounts for first night meals.
You’re Fine Flying In The Day Of Your Cruise… If There’s No Connection
The classic tip when it comes to getting to port — including what I usually tell people — is to fly in a day early. Between weather, computer issues, government shut-downs, and more, flying in the day before helps you to have plenty of time if something goes wrong.
But the downside is that’s another day you have to take off work and it’s another day you have to pay for accommodation, transportation, meals, and more. It can add hundreds to the cost of your vacation.
So if you can wing it, then yes, flying in the day before is best. But honestly, it’s fine to fly in on the first day… if there is no connecting flight. I’ve likely done this two dozen times and the only time I’ve missed a cruise was when there was a connection I missed due to a weather delay. Even with the delay, if I’d been flying direct, I would have been perfectly fine.
When you fly in the morning of, you’re usually on the first flight of the morning and those flights are better at being on time since the plane is already there, weather is typically calmer, and there’s less air traffic.
Use The “20 Year” Rule For Kids In The Cabin…
If you’re a family sailing, then you might be wondering if you should all stay in one room or split up and get two rooms. No one wants to feel like sardines, but the cost of another room can be a lot.
So what I like to suggest is what I call the 20 year rule. If the ages of your kids add up to 20 years or more, then get the second cabin. So if a couple have an 11 year old and a 13 year old, that means get a second cabin. It’s just too much for a single cabin to comfortably hold unless you start getting into suites. The kids pack more, take up more space, keep different hours, and have stronger personalities to where being all in the same cramped cabin is too much.
But if they had a 5 year old and a 9 year old, for example, then one cabin would manage.
…But The “5-10-15” Rule For Cabin Selection
Ever heard of the “5-10-15” rule of cruising? Most people haven’t, but it’s something I’ve come up with to help you when it comes to cabin selection. I think it’s weird that more people don’t follow it.
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 and it’s just a long time to go without natural light or fresh air in your room. And if your trip is exactly five 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.
Ditch the Car. Get To The Port Any Way But Driving Yourself
This is one tip that was nowhere on my radar just a few years ago, but it’s weirdly turned into a must-have in my opinion.
If you drive to the port, then you have to pay for parking. This used to be no big deal. In my homeport of Galveston, you used to be able to do it for maybe $10-$15 a day with an independent lot.
These days parking rates — not just in Galveston but around the country — have gotten ridiculous. Several terminals in Miami, for example, charge $35 per day just to park your car. And many lots charge you for a full day of parking for both the day you arrive and the day you leave… so on your 7-day cruise, you have to pay for eight days of parking.
That’s why if it’s possible, I tell people to get to the port any way other than driving yourself. I like using public transport in places like Miami and Seattle. It only costs about $3. Or it may be worth it just to take an Uber or Lyft or cab to the port.
Not everyone can swing it, but if you’re local, it’s worth it to find another way to get there.
80% Of Your Cruise Is The Same No Matter the Line
This weird tip is one that it took me a while to figure out as I had to see for myself and that meant taking a lot of cruises.
Now, I want to be clear that there is a difference between cruise lines. If you sail Carnival, it’s going to be different from Celebrity. But I’m also of the opinion that in general, 80% of a cruise is the same, no matter which line you sail.
The pool, casino, dining room, entertainment… you’re going to have that on any cruise you sail. Heck, the ports of call are all the same outside of the private destinations and even those private spots are becoming more similar to each other.
I say this not to imply they are all the same, but for those that are on the fence about trying a new line, if you like cruising, then chances are high that you’re going to like any other line you try.
