Never do these 20 things in your cruise ship cabin
Like anything in life, cruising has things you shouldn’t do – particularly in your cabin. I have 20 of these and I’ll also include some clever tricks to help you enjoy your cruise.
Cruise drinks packages – cruise tips you need to know for your next cruise ship holiday!
Are you feeling overwhelmed by cruise drink packages? You’re not alone! I was in the same boat until I started researching to ensure I was getting the best value for my cruise—and maximising my onboard experience! If you’re searching for low-cost cruises, understanding these packages is crucial to avoid any pitfalls! Recently, I discovered that there are 23 cruise lines catering to English-speaking travellers, each adopting a unique approach to their drink packages. Some of these packages include just beverages, while others offer additional perks like Wi-Fi, exercise classes, specialty dining, and even crew appreciation charges. I won’t dive into the details of all 23 cruise lines—this post would take days to read! Instead, I’ll focus on seven cruise lines across different categories from mass-market to ultra luxury, offering you examples of the types of packages you might encounter. All amounts are in US dollars and reflect packages as advertised for the US market; prices may vary slightly for Australian and other markets. It’s wise to conduct your own research before booking, but don’t worry—this information will set you on the right path to understanding how each cruise line operates. And after I go through the seven cruise lines’ drinks packages, I give an example of how I calculate if the package is worth it for us! Royal Caribbean Let’s start with Royal Caribbean, which offers three drinks packages—a method that’s fairly standard but unique because pricing varies by ship, itinerary, and even when you decide to purchase the package. Generally, it’s cheaper to buy before boarding, but not when booking. After you’ve made your reservation, Royal Caribbean often sends out promotional discounts that can lower package prices. They also offer fantastic deals for Black Friday. While their drinks packages focus solely on beverages, they do offer dining and Wi-Fi packages as well. A key point to remember: if anyone in your cabin wants to purchase an alcoholic beverage package, all guests of legal drinking age in the same cabin must purchase the package together. However, other beverage packages can be bought by just one person, and all packages are for individual use—no sharing allowed! Here’s a quick overview of Royal Caribbean’s drinks packages: The Royal Caribbean website doesn’t show the pricing, so I got that from this article by the Points Guy. Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian have recently announced that the current package – Free at Sea – is no longer being offered. While it continues to exist on cruises booked before the change that sail in 2024, any bookings since 1 October 2024 and all cruises sailing on or after 1 January 2025 will have the More at Sea included package. I’ll cover More at Sea, but firstly, for those sailing between now and the end of 2024 here is the information on Free at Sea. Free at See is included in the cruise fare and offers: You can upgrade to Free at Sea Plus, it’s $49 per adult, $29 per child, or $42 for a solo traveller per day, adding: If you upgrade to Free at Sea Plus, you can further upgrade the Wi-Fi to a streaming package for an additional $10 per person, per day. Remember, if upgrading to Free at Sea Plus, all adults in the cabin must upgrade as well. So what is More at Sea? It is also included in the cruise fare but there is no “More at Sea Plus” upgrade package. More at Sea offers: If you want to upgrade any aspect of More at Sea, there are individual upgrade packages for beverages and internet. Beverage packages include a water package ($20 for 12 16oz (473ml) bottles, $35 for 24, $50 for $48), unlimited Starbucks package ($16 pp pd) and an unlimited soda package ($12 pp pd). Princess Cruises Moving on to Princess Cruises, there are two packages available: Plus and Premier. Both come at an additional cost, allowing you to sail without them and pay as you go if you prefer. Princess Plus $60 per person per day Princess Premier $90 per person per day OceanNow delivery is a food and drink delivery service. You order on the Princess app, and it’s brought to you wherever you are on the ship. This is done by tracking the location of your cruise medallion on the MedallionNet system. All adults in the cabin must have the same package. Virgin Voyages Virgin Voyages takes an “almost all-inclusive” approach, where your cruise fare encompasses They don’t have drinks packages; instead, it’s a pay-as-you-go system. However, if you pre-load a “bar tab” with funds, you can receive a bonus. For example, if you add $200 to your bar tab, you’ll get $225 to spend on drinks. Viking Ocean Next, Viking Ocean also promotes an almost all-inclusive experience. They offer You can additionally purchase the Silver Spirits beverage package for $25 per person, per night, which includes: Oceania Cruises Oceania Cruises is part of the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings group and has also announced that the current package – Simply More – is no longer being offered. While it continues to exist on cruises booked before the change that sail in 2024, any bookings since 1 October 2024 and all cruises sailing on or after 1 January 2025 will have the Your World Included package. I’ll cover Your World Included, but firstly, for those sailing between now and the end of 2024 here is the information on Simply More. The Simply More package is included in the cruise price and provides: You can upgrade to the Prestige Select package for an additional $30 per person per day, which adds unlimited premium spirits, champagne, beer, and wine whenever and wherever you desire. Importantly, this upgrade doesn’t have to be purchased for everyone in your cabin. The Your World Included package is included in the cruise price and provides: The Prestige Select beverage package is available from $59 per person per day. Regent Seven Seas Cruises Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the closest to an all-inclusive experience!
What to Pack for Your Next Cruise: Essential Packing List and Tips
Congratulations on booking your cruise! As you prepare for your adventure on the high seas, the big question is: what should you pack? In this blog, I’ll share a comprehensive packing list filled with cruise essentials and Amazon must-haves. Plus, stick around for two bonus tips—one about what you should never pack and another packing tip for embarkation day! Cruise Packing Essentials Let’s dive right in with five essential items you’ll want to include in your cruise packing list: 1. Magnetic Hooks If you’ve done any research on cruise essentials, you’ve likely heard about the wonder of magnetic hooks. These clever little devices are invaluable for keeping your cabin organised since most cruise cabins feature metal walls, ceilings, and doors beneath their decorative finishes. As someone who values organisation – as my regular readers will know – I can’t recommend them enough. Just be sure to select strong hooks! For example, the magnetic hooks I use have a capacity of 110 pounds (approximately 50 kg). However, bear in mind that their weight-holding ability decreases when attached to walls compared to ceilings. You can utilise these hooks in numerous ways—hang bags, caps, wet swimmers, and even backpacks. They also work well for drying clothes or hanging over the door organisers. Additionally, consider using them to manage electrical extension cords or even hang blackout curtains! The potential uses are nearly limitless. I also suggest packing magnetic clips, which can be lifesavers for organising important documents such as the daily cruise schedule. 2. Your Cruise Card Your cruise card is another vital item. It functions like a credit card: serving as your cabin key, identification, and your method of spending money or using your drinks package while onboard. It’s crucial to keep this item with you at all times! Many cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises, have begun using medallions instead of traditional cards. However, for now, let’s focus on the classic cruise card. It fits conveniently in your pocket, but for those prone to misplacing it, a lanyard is a practical solution. You can easily find lanyards with clips or protective sleeves. Because lanyards irritate my neck (autism = sensory issues), I prefer a magnetic iPhone card holder that also works as a phone stand. This dual-purpose item means I always have my phone handy while keeping my cruise card secure. If you’re using a Princess medallion, there are various fun accessories available, including Air Tag holders that can help you keep track of your items. I use an Air Tag holder with a round carabiner, which I clip to my phone case – it has loops for a cross body strap, another travel essential! 3. Travel Medication Kit Next up is the all-important travel medication kit. While taking over-the-counter medicines is a wise decision for any trip, it’s especially crucial on a cruise. Two key reasons for this: When packing, consider including the following items: painkillers, antihistamines, antacid tablets, seasickness medication, Band-Aids, anti-diarrhoea pills, extra prescription medications, blister patches, antiseptic spray, and even hydration sachets. I store my travel pharmacy in a folding jewellery organiser to keep things neat and easy to access while taking up minimal luggage space. 4. Dress Code Considerations There’s often a misconception that formal attire is a must for cruise evenings. While some cruise lines maintain dress codes requiring tuxedos or evening gowns, this is not universal. Always check your cruise line’s website for specific dress codes as many casual venues still welcome guests in relaxed attire. If dressing up is part of your cruise experience, ensure you pack a nice outfit that you feel great in. Personally, I prefer not to lug around an evening gown—I dress up a nice outfit with accessories and appropriate shoes. Dressy flats or wedge heels are my go-to shoes for added stability on the ship, particularly when the ocean gets choppy. Depending on your cruise itinerary, there may be themed parties, such as “White Night” or “80s Night.” These events can often catch guests by surprise, so checking forums like Cruise Critic for insider information can be helpful. 5. Drinks Policy A delightful surprise for many first-time cruisers is that several cruise lines permit guests to bring their own wine and soft drinks onboard! Typically, this involves a restriction of one bottle of wine per adult. Make sure to check the specific policy of your cruise line to avoid issues. Always pack any drinks in your carry-on luggage since security will be inspecting all bags. Steer clear of trying to sneak spirits onboard; if caught, you risk confiscation and potential fines. Bonus Tip #1: Items You Should Never Pack Now for a critical piece of advice: one item you should absolutely avoid taking on a cruise is a power board with surge protection! These devices can interfere with a ship’s electrical systems and could potentially lead to fires in extreme cases. If you attempt to pack a surge-protected power board, it will likely be confiscated during security screening, and there’s a chance you won’t get it back. Instead, look for power adapters that allow multiple devices to plug in; these are typically permitted on board. Always double-check your cruise line’s list of prohibited items, as you may be surprised by what else might be included! Breaking news September 2024: Royal Caribbean have just banned multi-socket adapters. Having multiple USB A or C ports appears to be fine but not having multiple electrical sockets. Bonus Tip #2: Strategic Packing for Embarkation Day As for the second bonus tip, let’s discuss embarkation day packing. Just like when flying, you’ll have options for checking in luggage that will be taken to your cabin for you. However, if you choose to check your bags, ensure that you don’t pack anything you may need during the first few hours onboard the ship. Often, you won’t see your luggage until after dinner, and there might be times when you don’t have immediate access to your cabin upon boarding. Therefore, pack your carry-on strategically to
