Cruise hacks assist passengers save money and time, to allow them to maximize their time onboard and ashore with out breaking the financial institution.
Royal Caribbean Worldwide took to X (previously Twitter) to ask cruisers for his or her most underrated journey hack. Since being posted on October 22, the put up has obtained over 25 replies, with cruise followers wanting to share their best-kept secrets and techniques.
From insider recommendations on pre-booking add-ons to journey recommendation, this is an inventory of a few of the prime cruise hacks shared by seasoned vacationers that can assist you profit from your subsequent Royal Caribbean cruise.
Fly in at some point early
If you happen to’re like me, the closest main cruise port is not inside driving distance. Port Canaveral is over 500 miles—or practically 8 hours—away from Charlotte, so I am at all times looking out for flight offers to assist make my cruising behavior extra inexpensive.
Although some can drive to their nearest cruise port (or take the Brightline practice!), flying is a sensible possibility for individuals who do not need to spend hours on the street.
@CaptPat48 recommends flying in at the least at some point early, and I could not second this movement sufficient! Once I was pursuing my Grasp’s, I booked a cruise with a couple of buddies on Attract of the Seas after discovering an unbelievable deal. Nonetheless, we weren’t making an attempt to spend extra money than essential and determined to fly to Florida on the morning of departure.
Fortunately, all of us made it with out difficulty; nonetheless, I used to be an anxious wreck within the hours main as much as our flights. I vowed by no means to take that sort of threat once more and have since at all times flown out at the least at some point earlier than the ship’s scheduled departure.
You possibly can’t depend on the belief that your flight might be on time. Even whether it is, you will need to account for the time it will take to deplane, accumulate your baggage, and navigate to the terminal. If you happen to miss the ship’s all-aboard time, you’re chargeable for the related prices of assembly your Royal Caribbean cruise within the subsequent port of name—if potential.
Learn extra: The pricey cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise
Pack take-out containers
There’s meals out there 24/7 in your cruise, from late-night pizza at Sorrento’s to poolside tacos from El Loco Contemporary within the afternoon and early-morning pastries at Café Latte-tudes/Café Promenade/Pearl Café. Nonetheless, typically you may need a particular craving, reminiscent of french fries or reduce fruit, or you might simply need further meals readily available to assist calm a fussy baby!
“We convey [take-out] containers for bringing snacks again to our room. Then the room steward will not unintentionally throw it out and it will not get stale sitting on a plate,” says @LisaLueyLutes.
With take-out containers, you possibly can simply preserve your favourite snacks in your stateroom with out piling up plates in your mini-fridge.
Learn extra: Royal Caribbean meals: Evaluation and information
E book one other cruise whereas onboard
@Gina4ISU advises passengers to ebook one other journey whereas on their present one!
Whereas disembarkation day is unhappy for everybody (who actually desires to return to their every day duties after per week of being pampered by crew members?), among the finest methods to battle the post-cruise blues is to ebook one other one!
Whereas in your ship, go to Royal Caribbean’s Subsequent Cruise desk, the place the brokers will aid you discover out there itineraries and place a deposit in your subsequent crusing. Not solely will you stroll away excited in your subsequent getaway, however Royal Caribbean gives incentives to friends who make their subsequent reserving whereas onboard, together with:
- The perfect supply on any cruise, assured
- As much as $600 in onboard credit score
- Deposits as little as $100 per particular person
- Capacity to handpick your cabin
- Reserving as much as three staterooms with the identical advantages for family and friends
- As much as 10% off shore excursions
Plus, you possibly can switch the reserving to your journey agent inside 30 days.
Learn extra: 4 frequent errors folks make when reserving one other cruise onboard their ship
Reserve add-ons early
Royal Caribbean cruise fares aren’t all-inclusive. When you’ll get pleasure from limitless eating in venues just like the Windjammer Market and Principal Eating Room, specialty eating places price further, in addition to alcoholic and choose non-alcoholic drinks.
Whereas many cruisers favor to buy drinks individually, others discover worth in one in every of Royal Caribbean’s drink packages. If you happen to’re somebody who does not need to fear about tallying up every beverage whereas onboard and can drink at the least six cocktails every day, you’ll want to pre-purchase your drink package deal on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner.
“Plan forward and ebook all your ‘extras’ as early as potential (specialty eating, excursions, [The] Key, and many others.) as early as potential,” writes @DanielAshely13.
Not solely will pre-purchasing add-ons aid you price range in your trip, however you’ll rating higher offers than in the event you have been to purchase them on the ship.
Plus, every little thing on the Cruise Planner could be canceled as much as 48 hours earlier than your cruise begins, that means if you are going to buy a shore tour or drink package deal and later uncover the worth has dropped, you possibly can cancel and rebook for no penalty.
Learn extra: Cruise hack permits you to preview Royal Caribbean add-on prices earlier than you ebook a cruise
Put on your swimsuit underneath your garments on embarkation day
If you happen to rating an early arrival time, you’ll have practically your entire day to benefit from the ship’s facilities earlier than crusing away! Whereas the on line casino and onboard retailers might be closed, you possibly can take a dip in one of many swimming pools earlier than they develop into crowded on sea days!
Nevertheless, since you may hand your bigger baggage over to a porter on the terminal, if swimming on embarkation day is a must-do, be sure you have your swimsuit on underneath your garments, as really useful by @rhendrix69.
Alternatively, you possibly can put a washing go well with and alter of clothes in your carry-on bag. Although you possibly can’t change in your cabin because it will not be out there till round 1:00pm or 2:00pm, there are public restrooms on the pool deck!
Learn extra: 15 issues to pack in your cruise carry-on
Make the most of packing cubes
Talking of packing, @ChipHaynes1 is a fan of packing cubes.
Packing cubes are a game-changer for holding your baggage organized and maximizing house. These inexpensive compartments mean you can type your clothes and different journey must-haves, making it simple to search out what you want in your cabin.
Plus, when it is time to unpack, you will not waste time taking every merchandise out individually. As an alternative, merely slide the cubes into the drawers or cabinets.
Learn extra: 115-item Final Cruise Packing Listing
Have your trip choose you up on the airport’s departure space
To keep away from coping with the chaos of the airport’s arrival space, inform your trip to choose you up at departures as an alternative. “Sounds bizarre I do know however it’s sooner,” says @branches053, “Particularly if late [at] evening when not many flights [are] departing.”
In fact, this would possibly not work in the event you’re using a rideshare like Uber or Lyft, as airports have designated pick-up zones for these companies.
Nevertheless, if a pal or member of the family picks you up, the departure space could be a nice different to find your trip with out navigating crowds.
Learn extra: Royal Caribbean is discounting airfare by a whole lot of {dollars} for a 2025 cruise
Carry magnetic hooks
“I’m crusing [on] Anthem of the Seas on seventh November from Dubai and I swear by small magnetic hooks for the cabin,” remarks @kevevs1908.
Magnetic hooks are one of the crucial fashionable cruise cabin hacks! Since staterooms are a lot smaller than conventional resorts on land, cruisers have discovered savvy methods to make the most of the out there house.
Hooks can be utilized to hold hats, seaside baggage, lanyards, and different miscellaneous objects to assist preserve the self-importance space away from muddle. Plus, if you are going to buy some with clips, you possibly can safely retailer essential paperwork, reminiscent of shore tour tickets, disembarkation tags, loyalty profit data sheets, and extra.
Have a cruise “go bag”
If you happen to’re a frequent cruiser, unpacking and repacking the identical necessities could be tiresome.
As an alternative, @nospam23321 suggests holding a cruise “go bag” with objects like towel clips or bands, lip balm, magnetic hooks, a Bingo dobber, sunblock, door decorations, and rubber geese.
This fashion, packing might be simpler since you will not have to fret about sure must-haves. As an alternative, you possibly can concentrate on different particulars of your journey, reminiscent of reserving excursions or specialty eating, organizing pre-cruise transfers, or planning the right theme evening outfit.
Goal for nonstop flights
Nonstop flights could also be laborious to come back by in the event you do not depart close to a serious airport. Even in the event you do, they will usually be costlier than connecting ones. Nonetheless, the additional price could also be value it.
@randybieri says, “Attempt to get nonstop flights, particularly in your option to your trip/cruise, to scale back the danger of dropping your baggage throughout transitions.”
If nonstop flights are out of the query, think about condensing every little thing right into a carry-on bag to reduce the prospect of your chosen airline dropping your baggage.
