Cruise the seven seas the smart way with these tips from social media cruise experts. Bon voyage!
TEXT: MORGAN AWYONG
PHOTOS: UNSPLASH
Cruises offer something for everyone – entertainment for the kids, eateries the entire family can enjoy and plenty of kid-friendly activities that will give dads and mums a welcome break. Fuss-free cruise itineraries offer dads peace of mind knowing that everyone’s doing something they enjoy. And if you want to plan a seamless vacation for Dad, here are some hacks to make that next cruise a smooth sail all the way.
PLAN WAY AHEAD
The logic is simple – the earlier you book, the cheaper the fares. Travel agent @sonya_heath shared on TikTok that tickets reflect demand, and as cabins start to fill up, you’ll likely have to pay more as the departure date approaches. Also, you’ll have a choice of better cabins when you book early.
Plan your booking around special events like an anniversary or treat Dad to a Father’s Day surprise – you just might be able to enjoy extra perks or special programmes that are planned for special occassions.
CABIN CHOICE MATTERS
With cruise cabins, sometimes higher isn’t better. As the pool deck is usually located at the top deck, you just might be getting more than you bargained for if you choose the level below it. @jaysonjudson found that out the hard way during one trip, when he had to endure the sounds of cleaning and chair-stacking that happened at 5am as the crew were preparing for the day’s activities.
KEEP THINGS STABLE
If you or your cruise companions are susceptible to seasickness, then choose rooms that are in the middle of the ship. Self-proclaimed cruise addict and travel agent @cruisinsusie shared that seas can get choppy and having a cabin situated away from the forward and the aft, staying in the middle of the ship, on the lower decks will help as there’s less movement. She also suggested having a green apple in the room to consume to alleviate any symptoms.
DON’T LOSE THAT TOWEL
If your cabin comes with a balcony and chairs, chances are you’ll be air-drying some of your towels or clothes. @jaysonjudson would like to remind you that the winds at sea can get really strong, and to remember to bring large pegs to clip them firmly onto the chairs or railings. After all, you don’t want to have to pay extra for lost items or lose your swimsuits to the sea.
GAIN EXTRA STORAGE
Cabin rooms are famously compact, and you wouldn’t want to spend half your time searching for something tucked in your luggage. @judytwinpalmstravel shares that a lot of cabin interiors have metallic surfaces, and one can instantly hang items on the wall with magnetic hooks. This will be especially useful to hang toiletries and swimsuits in the bathroom.
HANG AND ORGANISE
Free up even more cabin storage with this tip from @midlife.cruises. She uses collapsible hanging suitcase organisers so she can transfer her contents directly to the cabin wardrobe in one move. She also uses hanging shoe organisers to double up as storage for smaller items like lotions, cards, pamphlets and more.
SLIDE IT AWAY
Luggage is often bulky and awkward to lay out in a small cabin, but @cruise.blog reminds us that there’s often enough space under the bed to store them. If you’ve followed the previous tips for creating more storage in your cabin, you needn’t worry about pulling it out every time you need something and you can use it as a temporary holding area for your dirty laundry.
DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR MUST-DOS
Part of a cruise’s attraction is its many activities and it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re exploring them onboard. @smartcruiser reminds us that one should always preview all the activities and reserve the ones you don’t want to miss as soon as you board. This is even more so for main highlights which are often the unique activities on the ship or the large theatre performances.
DOWNLOAD THE APP
If your cruise company comes with an app, use it. They often invest a lot in them to make their workflow more efficient, and may sometimes be the only way to book certain facilities or activities. @yourstrulychelsea lists “deck plans, reservations and entertainment options and their times” as some of the useful information you can access just through your smartphone, from anywhere on the ship.
Keep it easy and breezy with these cruise hacks and make that next sailing trip an extra memorable one for the family. Hop into HomeTeamNS’s TikTok for more wacky fun and club news.
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