I’ve been on over 20 cruises in the last decade, and always have another one on the horizon.
Throughout the years, I’ve accumulated an array of helpful travel tips, but my favorite hacks go beyond the usual advice like downloading the cruise line’s app and packing a lanyard.
Here are five unconventional cruise tips I swear by that make life on board easier, more comfortable, and more cost-effective.
I always pack a roll of duct tape, which can fix almost everything.
I always add duct tape to my list of things to pack because it’s easy to bring and comes in handy for small emergencies.
For example, I’ve used it to repair a broken suitcase in a pinch or to bind flip-flops back together long enough to limp to the gift shop to buy a replacement pair.
On one recent cruise, I even used it to cover the motion sensor on the light in our room, which turned on automatically whenever someone walked between the bed and the bathroom.
Though a motion-sensor hall light was convenient in theory, we didn’t want to wake each other up if we got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. We just made sure to remove the tape before we left.
For an elevated shower experience, I like to visit the gym.
In my experience, cruise ship bathrooms are designed to be efficient, not spacious. The small shower gets the job done, but it’s definitely cramped, especially if you’re a bigger person.
I’ve found that the showers in the gym are almost always larger and sometimes have additional bathroom amenities, such as mouthwash and elevated bath towels.
Doing laundry on board makes packing for longer cruises much easier.
There’s usually a laundry or ironing room tucked away on deck for guests. I always make use of these rooms, as washing clothes mid-trip is a great way to minimize how much I need to pack.
Cruise cabins are small, and storage space is limited, so doing laundry on board is the perfect solution.
Plus, I’ve found these rooms are a surprisingly good place to meet interesting people.
I like to book spa appointments on port days.
Port days are often quieter on the ship because most passengers are ashore exploring.
If I’m not excited about a particular stop or I’ve visited it before, I consider staying on board and going to the spa instead.
On sea days, it can be tough to book a facial or massage, but on port days, I’ve found the schedule tends to be much more open. There are often money-saving specials, too, and the relaxation rooms feel so much more peaceful.
I rarely book a room with a balcony.
In my opinion, a room with a balcony isn’t essential unless you’re on an Alaskan cruise, where being able to take in the scenery is important.
On my first cruise, a travel agent told me I “had” to book a room with a balcony, and that once I did, I’d never be able to cruise in an interior cabin again. However, I don’t think that’s true.
I love a luxe stateroom as much as the next person, but I’ve had just as much fun on cruises where we’ve booked the cheapest cabin without any windows.
This story was originally published on November 21, 2025, and most recently updated on April 27, 2026.
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