12 Simple Cruise Hacks To Make The Most Out Of Your Family Cruise

Over the years, we have picked up a few tips and tricks (i.e. cruise hacks) that make our cruises more enjoyable. Here are a few of the best ones that you can use to get the most out of your family cruise:

1. Ask the room steward for an extra blanket and pillows.
   
   Carnival has a super soft blue blanket which is so nice for added coziness. It is useful for cooler nights on the balcony as well.
   
   
2. Avoid falling in the the bed crack by asking for a mattress topper.
   
   The Queen or King beds in staterooms are two twin beds pushed together and falling in the crack in between them can be annoying. Simply asking for a mattress topper can add to your comfort and help you avoid this frustration.
   
   
3. Ask for ice each day.
   
   Okay, this one isn’t really one of the cruise hacks but it is a useful tip. Generally, if you ask for ice on the first day of your cruise, the ice will get refilled daily. This is a very nice way to chill your drinks as the “refrigerators” in the cabins don’t get very cold.
   
   
4. If there is extra furniture in your room that is not needed and will make it too crowded, ask for it to be removed.
   
   This is not always necessary, but if you find you need the extra space just ask your room steward to remove it for you.
   
   
5. Bring magnetic hooks and/or clips for the room.
   
   These are super useful to hold your lanyards, bags, belts or anything else you don’t want to get misplaced in the shuffle. They also help to keep the room from feeling too cluttered.
   
   
6. Pack a small first aid kit for any mishaps. Bring Tylenol or Advil for headaches and Dramamine for motion sickness.
   
   
7. Bring a box of cold medicine and/or throat lozenges in case they are needed.
   
   The ship’s store is expensive and extremely limited. It is also better to have some on hand in case you need them in the middle of the night.
   
   

8. Use packing cubes and a foldable hanging closet pre-packed to make unpacking faster and easier.

9. Use the cruise app to preview dinner and lunch menus to decide what you will be eating ahead of time to make ordering less stressful.
   
   
10. Bring a beach bag for shore excursions to bring towels, sunscreen and other essential items to the beach or pool.

I can’t tell you the amount of times we have lost sunscreen or towels so just remember a beach bag to help you carry these items each day.

11. Bring some Ziplock bags or reusable containers to bring snacks back to the room.
    
    These are also great to put lotions, shampoo or anything that can leak just in case so they don’t leak on clothes in the suitcases.
    
    
12. Pack a reusable water bottle to fill with water, soda, etc. to keep the trips to get refills farther apart.

BONUS TIP: Pack These Essentials

What cruise hacks have you found? Continue the conversation in our Facebook Group!