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 desperate 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 number of the prime cruise hacks shared by seasoned vacationers that can assist you take advantage of your subsequent Royal Caribbean cruise.
Fly in someday 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 prepare!), flying is a sensible possibility for many who do not need to spend hours on the highway.
@CaptPat48 recommends flying in no less than someday early, and I could not second this movement sufficient! Once I was pursuing my Grasp’s, I booked a cruise with just a few buddies on Attract of the Seas after discovering an unbelievable deal. Nonetheless, we weren’t attempting to spend more cash than obligatory and determined to fly to Florida on the morning of departure.
Fortunately, all of us made it with out situation; 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 form of danger once more and have since at all times flown out no less than someday earlier than the ship’s scheduled departure.
You may’t depend on the idea that your flight shall be on time. Even whether it is, you should account for the time it’s going to take to deplane, accumulate your baggage, and navigate to the terminal. If you happen to miss the ship’s all-aboard time, you might be answerable for the related prices of assembly your Royal Caribbean cruise within the subsequent port of name—if attainable.
Learn extra: The pricey cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise
Pack take-out containers
There’s meals accessible 24/7 in your cruise, from late-night pizza at Sorrento’s to poolside tacos from El Loco Recent within the afternoon and early-morning pastries at Café Latte-tudes/Café Promenade/Pearl Café. Nonetheless, typically you might need a selected craving, equivalent to french fries or minimize fruit, or you might simply need additional meals readily available to assist calm a fussy baby!
“We deliver [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: Evaluate and information
E-book one other cruise whereas onboard
@Gina4ISU advises passengers to e-book one other journey whereas on their present one!
Whereas disembarkation day is unhappy for everybody (who actually needs to return to their each day obligations after every week of being pampered by crew members?), among the finest methods to battle the post-cruise blues is to e-book one other one!
Whereas in your ship, go to Royal Caribbean’s Subsequent Cruise desk, the place the brokers will enable you to discover accessible itineraries and place a deposit in your subsequent crusing. Not solely will you stroll away excited in your subsequent getaway, however Royal Caribbean provides incentives to visitors 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
- Skill 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 widespread errors folks make when reserving one other cruise onboard their ship
Reserve add-ons early
Royal Caribbean cruise fares aren’t all-inclusive. Whilst you’ll get pleasure from limitless eating in venues just like the Windjammer Market and Important Eating Room, specialty eating places value additional, in addition to alcoholic and choose non-alcoholic drinks.
Whereas many cruisers want to buy drinks individually, others discover worth in one among 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 no less than six cocktails each day, you’ll want to pre-purchase your drink package deal on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner.
“Plan forward and e-book all your ‘extras’ as early as attainable (specialty eating, excursions, [The] Key, and so on.) as early as attainable,” writes @DanielAshely13.
Not solely will pre-purchasing add-ons enable you to funds in your trip, however you’ll rating higher offers than if you happen to have been to purchase them on the ship.
Plus, all the things on the Cruise Planner may be canceled as much as 48 hours earlier than your cruise begins, which means if you 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 enables you to preview Royal Caribbean add-on prices earlier than you e-book a cruise
Put on your swimsuit beneath your garments on embarkation day
If you happen to rating an early arrival time, you should have practically the complete day to benefit from the ship’s facilities earlier than crusing away! Whereas the on line casino and onboard retailers shall be closed, you possibly can take a dip in one of many swimming pools earlier than they change into crowded on sea days!
Nevertheless, since you may hand your bigger luggage over to a porter on the terminal, if swimming on embarkation day is a must-do, ensure you have your swimsuit on beneath your garments, as advisable by @rhendrix69.
Alternatively, you possibly can put a showering 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 accessible 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 conserving your baggage organized and maximizing house. These inexpensive compartments let you kind your clothes and different journey must-haves, making it simple to seek 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 a substitute, merely slide the cubes into the drawers or cabinets.
Learn extra: 115-item Final Cruise Packing Record
Have your experience 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 experience to choose you up at departures as an alternative. “Sounds bizarre I do know however it’s quicker,” says @branches053, “Particularly if late [at] night time when not many flights [are] departing.”
In fact, this may not work if you happen to’re using a rideshare like Uber or Lyft, as airports have designated pick-up zones for these providers.
Nevertheless, if a pal or member of the family picks you up, the departure space could be a nice different to find your experience with out navigating crowds.
Learn extra: Royal Caribbean is discounting airfare by a whole bunch of {dollars} for a 2025 cruise
Deliver 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 vital well-liked 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 accessible house.
Hooks can be utilized to hold hats, seashore luggage, lanyards, and different miscellaneous objects to assist preserve the vainness space away from litter. Plus, if you buy some with clips, you possibly can safely retailer essential paperwork, equivalent to 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 may be tiresome.
As a substitute, @nospam23321 suggests conserving 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 manner, packing shall be simpler since you will not have to fret about sure must-haves. As a substitute, you possibly can deal with different particulars of your journey, equivalent to reserving excursions or specialty eating, organizing pre-cruise transfers, or planning the right theme night time outfit.
Purpose for nonstop flights
Nonstop flights could also be laborious to return by if you happen to do not go away close to a serious airport. Even if you happen to do, they’ll usually be costlier than connecting ones. Nonetheless, the additional value could also be value it.
@randybieri says, “Attempt to get nonstop flights, particularly in your strategy to your trip/cruise, to cut back the chance of shedding your baggage throughout transitions.”
If nonstop flights are out of the query, think about condensing all the things right into a carry-on bag to attenuate the prospect of your chosen airline shedding your baggage.