Underrated - Magnet hooks! I love magnet hooks. It keeps things like purses, hats, cruise schedules, etc., and even backpacks, off the desk. Plus you can hang your swimsuit to dry easily and out of the way with magnet hooks
Regarding over packing/under packing, I think it's smart to overpack undergarments. You can always wear a shirt/shorts/pants more than once, but socks and underwear can be a bit of a challenge.😄
@@DancEncountersVery true but it's the aftermath of that hand washing that gets me. 😅 For instance, I popped in the rest room once & was surprised and horrified to find a laundry string of my cabin mate's underwear. Haha
I had to handwash my daughter's underwear once when she was living with her dad and left to her own devices at age 12 to pack her own suitcase for a 7 night cruise. When we were in a relative hurry, trying to blow dry underwear with those hair dryers in the room, when they overheat and shut down, was not fun.
Rather than using a laundry hamper, here's an alternative. When we travel, we use a suitcase as a laundry hamper. All our dirty clothes go into a suitcase as we use them. Additionally, it reduces packing at the end of the trip.
I use packing cubes. I organize them with garments (one for the overnight stay before the cruise; one for embarkation day, etc), then use them for dirty clothes. As I get a free laundry for D+ loyalty, I can then empty them into the ship laundry bag. They still fill up as the cruise goes along, but then I just need one cube for my carry on (my disembarkation clothes in that cube get swapped with my nightwear) on the way out.
Lol as he was crying I thought. If you unpack your bags your luggage could keep the dirty clothes. Look in the comments and look what I see. Common sense.
Couple thoughts- I’ve cruised several times now. And with that the travel was both with or without a travel agent involved. Can’t say there’s been any difference either way. Bringing a collapsible hamper seems unnecessary and here’s why. When I get into my cabin I unpack leaving my empty suitcase under the bed. Then once clothes are used they go into the suitcase case again maybe in a plastic shopping bag. Easy fix.
Came here to say the same about laundry. Into the empty suitcase it goes. But I guess not everyone empties their suitcases into the closets so I can see a hamper being useful in that case.
I cruised with and without a travel agent and also didn't find a difference. I think for some of us we are comfortable handling things ourselves. Instead, I now became a travel agent so I can help those that aren't comfortable 😂. I get to research even more cruises and help others book their dream cruises.
funny my wife and I booked our cruise without a travel agent. Granted haven’t gone on the cruise yet but we did get a quote from a couple. Sadly in Australia every single travel agent came in roughly $1000-$1500 more expensive then booking it directly. My wife and I love researching and planning stuff so I don’t anticipate any issues from doing it this way. Time will tell I guess
I agree! I bring a couple of scented garbage bags and in goes the dirty clothes! I fold them too so they're not as bulky when I stuff them back in the luggage.
When I pack…I stick with one color pallet. Either black or navy baseline …and everything mix and matches. Basically expands your wardrobe. Also cuts down shoe needs.
For two adults, the over-the-door shoe bag isn't necessary, but in my opinion, for 3 or 4 adult women who have tons of moisturizer, sunscreen, razors, etc., it is very helpful. I do agree with using a travel advisor - I am a cruise specialist and I do so much more for my client family than book the cruise. I appreciate your honesty and content, especially for first time cruisers. You help me do my job!
I wear my swimsuit under a flowy dress on embarkation day. Whip that dress off and you are set. Kill the time until your cabin is ready hanging out by the pool. I always overpack. Always. You might spill things, you don't want to wear the same dress clothes to dinner. You sweat if it's in a hot region. You have sand in everything you took to the beach, and so on. Bring a bottle of wine if your cruise allows, but I never bring soda etc. I order my soda and water plus a bottle of liquor to the room. Bring medication in case you get sick/Covid. (we got it on our last cruise). I am extremely frugal, but one of the best pictures I have hanging in my house is one we had taken on our cruise. Sometimes $50-100 is worth it. Thanks for this video
My only other suggestion for cruisers is to book and pay for your excurions prior to boarding the ship. Often they will be less expensive and you reduce the chance of the one excursion you really wanted being sold out.
We usually do that, use the onboard credit then the excursion is really free, as the cruise credits pay for it, as for tendering being not common these days, maybe on cruises from the USA but some ports in Europe are small so you either have to tender due to the size of the ship or because there is already ships in port and limited space.
I always overpacked, then end up taking home clothes and shoes that I never used during the entire cruise. I do the same with landed vacations as well.
Thank you! I’ll be bringing magnetic hooks, carrying my bathing suit with me, putting my phone on airplane mode, putting suitcases under the bed, and filling out everything beforehand! All because of your tips! Thank you!
Hey Matt! Hope you’ve been well! Honestly, imho, we have found that booking far from the elevators and taking the stairs are our secret to keeping the pounds off when we cruise. Takes the guilt out of enjoying ourselves, too!
I've always subscribed to the concept that it's better to have something and not need it, than it is to need something and not have it. So I tend to overpack. I actually carry a small pharmacy with me, for example, because experience has taught me that medical maladies tend to occur at odd hours, often when the ship's medical facility is closed. I also carry clothes that I am confident I'll not wear. I carry emergency supplies (power banks, a small, usb rechargeable desktop fan, flashlights and even lumi-sticks) because, although incredibly rare, if your ship loses power, air conditioning, etc. you'll be less miserable if you can run a fan, see your way around the stateroom, etc. I carry a magnetic, motion detecting nightlight that "sticks" to the stateroom walls - great for middle of the night bathroom trips! I carry a closet shoe organizer (not over the door) and have for years, and believe it is quite worthwhile. We use it for...wait for it...shoes! Otherwise we have a dozen pairs of shoes piled up on the closet floor. We carry laundry mesh bags for our dirty laundry. Keeps dirty laundry from being strewn about (yes, you can use your empty suitcase, but that means pulling it out from under the bed several times a day - my mesh bag can sit on the closet floor because my shoes are in the hangning organizer!) I always carry rain ponchos and compact umbrellas - seldom have I used either of those in 20+ years of cruising but I still carry them. I carry magnets with swivel hooks - we hang our ball caps, sunglasses, pool coverups, etc. on them. Easy to grab a cap and sunglasses when they're hanging right at the stateroom door. And yes, we carry outlet "multipliers" always, although admittedly they come in much handier on older ships were only two 110 volt a/c outlets are provided. We'll use one of those for heavier draw items (like the blow drier) and the other we'll use the "multiplier" so we can charge phones, tablets, etc. as they cumulatively draw only about 10% of the outlet's capacity. Just be sure that the adapter used isn't surge protected, or it'll be confiscated. And I ALWAYS take more of my medication than I will need for the days of the cruise. That way if my return is delayed for any reason I'm still covered.
Yes, I decided not to bring a shoe organizer for storage and instead I brought super sticky notes and a marker and I placed them as labels for drawers and it indeed looked better and less clutter. The sticky notes also reminded me that I have stuffs there and when it's time to leave, I just remove them.
I cancelled The Key on our Ovation cruise next week when we got a 10am checkin and was refunded $650…for that $650, I was able to afford a three item VOOM internet (for three different people) PLUS a 3 night Dining Plan for 3 people
I bring a 12 pack of soda, but I carry it on in a backpack and then have an entire empty back pack to use for other things once the soda is in the fridge
Underrated: Planning. You can save a lot of money and aggravation by knowing in advance what's going to happen before you get on board. Obvious stuff like shore excursions are what most people think of. Less obvious ones are formal nights. They're usually the 2nd night. That's when the staff photographers are out. If you want nice pictures, that's when you want to plan them. If you want to try some specialty dining, find out the menus in the MDR and schedule it for nights you want to avoid.
5:33 my last cruise I bought the refreshment package but I also brought a 12 pack.... Why? Because I really enjoy my Arizona Green tea and none of the cruise lines have it. So if you have a special beverage in a can that's not offered on ship, you may find that a good idea. Maybe you don't want to have to leave your room, walk to And wait on elevator then walk to and wait on bar and then all over again... Just for a soda. Nice to have a supply in room. If you're worried about carrying it, get a backpack or personal rolling cooler from Walmart... Cooler is like $15. If you fly in you can buy it after landing. Sorry but I think bringing beverages is good advice
don't understand the "I can do it myself' theory -- when you are there to help -- especially if things go wrong (and that it the thing most think "it won't happen to me' :-)
Although I agree with most of your points, as others have said a pop-up hamper is overrated and unnecessary. We designate one of our empty suitcases as the "hamper". At the end of the trip all our dirty clothes are in one suitcase. This saves time when packing at the end of our cruise. The value of a good travel agent can't be stressed enough.
We went on our first cruise in February. I was so worried that I overpacked because I heard again and again to take half of what you think you need. I wore all but one outfit. My husband brought less and ended up having to have clothes laundered. As far as a travel agent goes, I took your advice and used MEI-TRAVEL. Kelley is great!! Saved me so much hassle that we booked our next cruise through her! I used my over-the-door organizer and will bring it again. I liked having sunscreen and other toiletries easy to find without searching for them. Thanks so much for all of your useful advice! Our first cruise was amazing and will definitely not be our last. RC is outstanding ❤
I was a travel agent for 17 years and gave my clients all the help they needed. If they were first time cruisers I held their hands and walked them thur the process. I also stressed the importance of purchasing travel insurance.
@@RichardVanDyk-fz9kl I use AIG Travel Guard. They offer three options and are reasonably priced. I just recently filed a claim and it paid in full. No questions asked.
@@davidweissman7050 we just booked with AIG as well for our September trip. They were definitely the most comprehensive for special situations and to hear your positive experience makes me feel great about my choice!
@@JulieOTSeas Thanks for the response. I have a cruise booked in December and January and booked the insurance as soon as I could. With AIG if you purchase insurance within 15 days of making a deposit any pre-exsiting conditions will be waived. Enjoy your cruise.
I have an annual travel insurance policy. And thank goodness I did. My husband had a heart attack on one of our vacations, and the travel insurance reimbursed us for all the extra costs for changing flights, extra hotels, and so on.
Agree with most of these apart from the hanging shoe organiser. Especially with kids, it provides a great storage solution near the door where each person can put all their things to grab before heading out. And it gets things off surfaces. Absolutely love these for cruises :)
Most underrated advice for Royal Caribbean is TAKE SNACKS AND DRINKS YOU LIKE. Theres tons of free food and great food and drink options but i always bring a 12 pack of my favorite drink (Dr pepper cream soda). And some Doritos. But i love snacks so i value it a lot.
We went on a 10 day cruise in Feb./Mar with a 1 night pre-cruise night and over packed. As it turned out our flight home was delayed 3 days in which we still had clothing to wear. As for travel agent's the key is a "good one" I usually book myself, this time I used an agent that was recommended and he was horrible and ended up doing everything on line on my own because he was horrible
Just got off Oasis this morning. I used double sided packing cubes where one side is mesh and there is a plastic lined side marked "laundry". The three cubes only took up two shelves in the closet and gave me an easy way to corrale the laundry in the dirty side at the end of.each day. Then we still had all the hanging closet space and drawers. Worked out well!
I couldn’t agree with you more on being close to the elevator, we sailed on the Mariner and was in the last room on our deck in April and I would much rather be right next to the elevator. One of the nights it was rough and we bounced off the walls the whole way to our room 😂
😂 My husband, daughter and I were on a cruise when the seas got rough. We It was getting late, so we decided to go back to our stateroom. When we got on the elevator, it started shaking a bit. My husband said, “We’re on the Tower of Terror.” 😂 We got to the room, laid down on the beds, and stayed there for the rest of the night.
One thing that I learned from another youtuber for cruises, last year, is get Vacuum Sealed bags! OMG I'm so happy I got them. Doesn't matter if it's a Caribbean Cruise or Alaska Cruise. They saved me SOO much room in my bags. And at the end of the cruise, you ask nicely to the cleaners if you can borrow a vacuum for a sec. It can help you make room in your back again.
I was a travel agent many years ago, so I felt qualified to book my own most of the time, but I am changing my tune...it's great to have someone help me plan, handle issues, and be able to make sure my fare is the best fare! I found a great agent and will use her from now on. I also just use my suitcase as a hamper, it just feels like one more thing to remember otherwise.
Great advice on the outlet adaptors!! We are doing that next time. We just went on Allure of the Seas and we only had one working outlet. We brought a power strip and it was confiscated.
The Key works well for me in Australia as a solo traveller - when I get it on a good sale. I want the internet so paying $10 a day more via the Key is good value for me. Bag drop off, having a couple of specialty meals gives me a taste of Chops Grill and I really enjoyed the leisurely breakfast on debarkation day. I'm not in a hurry, so it was so nice relaxing and being waited on while everyone else is rushing and lining up to get off.
I love the Key for the Lunch and internet rolled on, and not having to worry about the Early check in time, and lastly the getting off the boat time and not worrying about it
Just got of spectrum of the seas yesterday. Had a stateroom literally right beside the elevator and it is perfectly fine for me. I totally agree that having a stateroom close to the elevator is essential especially if you are trying to make full use of your deluxe drink package 😂
Hi, Matt. Thanks for all of the info. Helpful as always! I was skeptical about the collapsible hamper when I first heard you share that idea. On previous cruises, I've just either put dirty clothes in one of the laundry bags that is usually hanging in the closet, and took that bag home with the dirty clothes in it, or I would just collect the dirty clothes in my empty suitcase. On my most recent cruise, however, I decided to give it a try. I will be taking that from now on, on all of my cruises. First, it just makes the room seem more tidy and organized. Second, it allows the dirty clothes to air out during the cruise. The other thing I did, was I purchased a collapsible rolling cart. I used that to bring onboard a 12-pack of club soda. I know you think that particular tip is overrated and I tend to agree. But, having it in the rolling cart made it really convenient on embarkation day, and was not challenging at all going through security. I also used that rolling cart for bringing onboard the door hanger signs we made, which were unwieldy and couldn't be packed in a suitcase. THEN . . . on disembarkation day, we simply put the laundry hamper in the rolling cart, which was now empty, and rolled it on out. This kept our dirty clothes separate from the inevitably overpacked clean clothes in the suitcase, kept it airing out, and it was super easy to take off of the ship being in the rolling cart. I'll be taking both with me on cruises from now on. Mind you, I did this having my car at the ship terminal. I don't think I would do this if flying. I'd still probably take the hamper just for the in-cabin reasons stated above, but then probably wouldn't use the rolling cart. This is the kind of rolling cart I'm talking about, which--again--collapses so it was very easy to store away in the closet during the cruise. www.amazon.com/MaxWorks-50704-Rolling-Utility-Capacity/dp/B0BKTLJ5RG/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1SAWKU4744Z3&keywords=collapsible+rolling+cart&qid=1685937123&sprefix=collapsible+rolling+cart%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-6
Agree that the cheap collapsible hamper makes a lot more sense in that it allows the clothes to air out -vs- stuffing them moist and dirty into a plastic bag in a dark, closed suitcase.
When it comes to power strips, the thing that makes it illegal on board IS the surge protector since they can cause issues with the way the ship's electric grid works and are a fire hazard. You can bring multi-outlet extension cords and USB blocks on, but they can't have the surge protector. I've brought both for multiple cruises without any issues with the crew.
I wish I knew if this is true and you could use a normal extension cord (several plug outlets but no surge protector) on the ship. So many conflicting reports. Our first cruise is scheduled for Fall '23.
Hi Matt, how about packing a nightlight, especially if you are in an inside cabin. It's completely dark in the middle of the night if you have to get up and use the bathroom. I have stubbed my toes a few times in the past because I forgot to pack one.
I bring the Ikea “big blue bag” for my laundry for all my trips instead of a hamper since I can use it as a beach bag as well. They have so many options now it doesn’t have to be the “blue” bag.
One of the best tips I recently used was the magnetic hooks. I had never used them and found they are great for hanging things and keeping things handy.
I loved the key just for the disembarking! It was worth it to me just moving to the front of the line to get off the ship when you're ready, not when they are ready for you.😊
I agree with much of what you said except: Wine and soda - I have saved enough by never getting the drink package to get 2 extra cruises which has pushed to diamond so now drinks are free. "Over-the-door" hanger - I hang it with neodymium magnets from the ceiling against an empty space on the wall or over the adjoining room door. Great for shoes, caps, cables, and the remote control.
THANKS, Matt...now everyone is going to book a cabin near the elevator. That's been our secret for many years. Those are the best cabins on the ship and we have NEVER had a problem...but it is VERY convenient.
Absolutely NOT overrated! I just used a TA for the first time and will not use one again. She was great, but I'm me and when I want to do something I want to do it! If I wanted to make a payment she had to and she couldn't make it on Sunday. No biggie to some, but for me being in full control is worth it. I think people exaggerate the phone lines and the benefit a TA has. I've called on every cruise I've been on and haven't wait more than 5 minutes. Easy stuff for me!
Greetings Matt. I’ve been tryin to get you to notice me. So I finally made a donation. At first when i heard you , i was a bit confused because i thought you talked a little fast. But now after hearing you so often, you have become part of my morning routine. Thanks for all your advice and enjoy Lake Tahoe. Go kayaking if you get the chance.
If you do want formal pictures taken, just get the digital package where they give you a thumb drive of the pictures. I got wedding pictures done that way and we selected just the pictures we wanted and had nice prints done at Walgreens. It saved us hundreds of dollars.
Your point on embarkation day is spot on - I’m currently on a cruise in the Med, and spotted a couple on embarkation day with floats (armbands) for the kids strapped onto their hand luggage cases on embarkation day. This is such a good idea from them - get the kids in the pool while it’s quiet on day 1!
Thank you for these. The laundry hamper is a really good idea. I always have enough storage space. Sometimes not enough hangers. I also bring my charging tower that has 5 ports and 1 C port for charging my devices.
I go out of my way to stay near an elevator :) Agree with the hamper. Disagree with the over-the-door organizer. Everything from shoes to sunscreen goes in there, it's so handy!
Life Well Cruised occasionally makes videos of recommended cruise supplies. The 3 I found most useful were the adapter thingy you mentioned, a hanging toiletry bag (because the bathroom sink on our Norwegian ship was some ridiculously oversized rectangle thing that took up the entire counter), and magnetic clips to keep track of excursion tickets. NEVER would have found those in the mess on the tables/desks.
I believe the hamper is overrated. We just bring a couple of kitchen trash bags store them in an out of the way place. Once we empty them at home, we use them as trash bags. Recycled!
When I select a room, I will usually go for midship and in the lower decks to help minimise motion sickness. I don't mind the extra walk as I will be eating more during the cruise.
I just stayed in a room right off the elevator lobby on Grandeur. It was great. No problem. No noise issues or anything. I wouldn’t stay in an inside room right next to the mechanics of the elevators - been there. Done that 😂
Here's my rule on packing, dirty cloths you can wear again (for the most part) but dirty underwear is just nasty. You honestly only need two or three pairs of pants or shorts, maybe 5 shirts at most & one dress up outfit. However if you are going on a 7 day cruise for example pack 10 sets of underwear. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes on the plane invest in a travel backpack where you can put a change of clothes and a light jacket and you won't need to overpack.I just find that packing an outfit for each day you are going to be gone is just unnecessary because your cloths just don't get dirty enough that you cannot rotate the combination of tops and bottoms.
I think the key is good value. Have used it once and booked it again for my next cruise. When you look at the wifi charge for several devices and then add on the lunch, breakfast and tender priority- plus more - I think it is well worth it.
I am getting ready to pack for my 10th cruise, and every cruise I pack less. I am now down to one rollaboard and one tote, and I still didn't wear around a third of the clothes. We choose our cabin to be as close to the elevator as possible. Never had a problem with noise, and it is SO convenient. I always buy the Key, but I generally only pay only a few dollars more than the internet alone. I especially love it for tender ports,and the special seating in Two70 where it really matters.
I loved our laundry hamper - it made a huge difference in our room and the comfort level - with two adults and two kids, there were tons of clothes, and it was so nice to not have to trip over a giant pile of dirty clothes everyday. Every 3 days or so we’d transfer the dirty clothes to the suitcase. Kept our room so nice looking!
This was an awesome topic. I’m whipping this video out every time someone tells me to bring a shoe organizer with me when I cruise. Thanks for this - I feel seen.
I really like the simplicity and peace of mind of packing only a carry-on for flying, so my cruising is also carry-on only - with a little planning, it is very possible to have enough but not too much. :)
I found out on our last cruise that it having cabins on one of the top decks has advantages when needing an elevator. People go up for the pool deck (which you access by the stairs) so when you need to go down getting one is easy and almost almost empty. People in middle of the ship decks often had to pass on crowded elevators.
So agree with the packing we are all different. I do not do carryon only because I want what I want. I pack carefully. Medium sized suitcase usually. Big yea to drink package - convenience
I always use the ship's laundry service when cruising. For about the cost of alcoholic drinks for 1 person for 1 day you can get 1 week's laundry service. We never have more than 1 day's worth of dirty laundry in the cabin. We pack far fewer clothes (especially for a 14 night cruise), and we come home with clean clothes that get put away and there is no post-cruise laundry mountain to address.
We're in our 70s, and we ALWAYS try to get a cabin near the elevator, especially on the mega-ships. We are close to most of the restaurants and many of the bars. Saves a lot of steps. Ass far as travel agents, I've had both good and bad, so choose wisely.
I think the laundry basket is overrated. I use a kitchen-sized plastic bag, that I hang in the closet. It ties up, masking the smell of dirty laundry. Then you can pack it easily for your trip home.
The over the door shoe organizer was a life saver for us. 4 in a cabin (2 kids, one in diapers) we kept diapers wipes sunscreen hair brush little shoes, lotion etc.
I don’t pack my suit in my carry on. I prefer to explore the ship on embarkation. I always pack light because I want to be able to carry my luggage off the ship. Hate searching for it at the port. Never had a problem, and my attitude is if I really need it, I can buy it or get laundry done. Usually carry on a bottle of champagne to enjoy on our balcony. Also never used a TA 7:07 yet snd never had a problem. I book as far aft as possibly. Love a balcony with a view of the wake and view that walk as exercise after all that food and drink. Never thought I’d disagree with you on so many points! Still love your videos! Also no need for hamper taking up space. I throw my laundry in my empty suitcase under the bed.
The shoe organizer is used for us on each hotel trip....and we will use for our upcoming cruise. We use it for toiletries, meds, small first aid kit etc. I need things OFF my counter and somewhere easy to find so I can have my family finding things and not the "mom where is the sunscreen, bandaids, deodorant..." Otherwise stuff sits around, gets thrown around, etc. It is for my sanity!!
I like the tip about the Hamper for sure, We are going on Navigator for Halloween this year & our room is 3 doors down from Elevator. I have done bookings both with RC & Travel Agent, we are very Happy with our TA she has reduced our cruise over $500 in price reductions something you don't get from booking with RC.. I found it waiting on hold alot for RC when booked thru them. I can send an email to my TA & she answers right back.. Thanks for all your tips!!!
For anyone who really wants a camera for a cruise, you can rent them. You can rent a good quality camera for a fraction of buying one. If you're considering buying a camera, it's actually a good way to try out different models without laying out a lot of money. If you already have a camera and just need a lens for a given purpose you can rent them too. I have a mid-range DSLR and I always rent a lens when I need one. For example, I rented a zoom lens for our Alaska cruise. It was a $2000+ lens that I rented for about $100. Just a thought...
I just booked a cruise on the Allure of the Seas and I purposely pick a cabin that is literally 10-15 feet from the elevators and couldn’t be happier. There’s nothing more annoying than walking down those long hallways. You’re absolutely right about buying an expensive camera for your cruise, I purchased a waterproof digital camera for the cruise and I took less than ten pictures, I used my cell phone for all of my pictures and videos. I haven’t used that camera since the cruise and now it sitting in the cabinet collecting dust.
Definitely DO NOT get a room near the elevator if you are a light sleeper . Made this mistake on a cruise in the past and it really messed up my sleep for the entire week .
We use pillowcases for dirty laundry. I am a photo fanatic for my iPhone and having two extra small backup batteries that attached to the end of your phone were Lifesavers. Also, I get hot very easily and neck fan saved my life. Plus, I had a portable fan that was rechargeable next to my bed because they don’t have enough plug-ins. But it was a lot of work keeping everything charged. I am bringing enough charging cables was important. We also brought a ear thermometer and we both did get Covid so we also had Covid tests. But that time may be over. We went on a three week cruise to the Amazon so having one of those month pill sorter helped a lot. The only thing I put in the dirty clothes was underwear. I hung up my clothes after wearing them because I did wear them several times. I put all my clothes on those skinny velvet hangers and roll them all up and pack them that way, so when I get to the ship, I can instantly hang them up And I was able to get at least 20 tops in there and also a couple of dresses and I wear leggings so those are very lightweight and easy to roll up and put in your drawer once you get there. One of the best things I had on my Amazon cruise was a strap for my iPhone that I could wear it around my neck and not worry about losing my phone or dropping it.
I have had better success with cruise rates and communicating directly with the cruise line than through a travel agent. I really enjoy it too. Maybe I just haven’t found a really good travel agent. I always take two bottles of wine because I don’t do a lot of alcohol drinking. I may pack a few kombucha bottles for my next cruise.
Wow. It’s been our experience on Royal that a dirty shirt would be a step up in the main dining room. In those cases that extra bottle of wine comes in handy!
I love the Key! If you buy the Wi-Fi, it’s only a couple of extra dollars per day. On our last cruise the perk was free room service rather than the embarkation lunch. We definitely broke even with that!
Was on RCL AOTS and got the Key! What a Waste! I am disabled and needed assistance and was just pointed in the direction I was already going… Thanks for the video!
Using a TA is an add on to your cruise experience that may or may not enhance your cruise vacation. It could add frustration to the process. It could negatively impact your cruise experience especially if the TA was not a “good” one. Therefore, constantly saying “use a TA” is overrated.
Related to the packing rule- I’ve learned that it’s hard to pack too many socks and underwear, about 2 sets for each day, and always bring a few more shirts than the number of days. Reason being that after a long day of walking and exploring the ports, you’ll be sweaty and want to change before dinner and evening shows. Pants and shorts you can continue to wear, so no need to bring any extra. And while you can have shorts and shirts laundered ($$$), I’d prefer not to have socks and underwear laundered, since the take up so little space in the suitcase anyway.
These tips are very helpful for pre cruise preparation. I agree regarding the Key as I think I only benefitted from it once and that was my second ever cruise on RC which was also Dec 2021 - just getting back to sailing. The tip for a dirty clothes hamper is likely one that I would consider overrated as I use my suitcases to put my dirty clothes in and use laundry bags to sort and pack them to go home. Everything else was very useful especially using the european plugs to add extra plug real estate onboard as well as taking US plugs.
I’ve used 3 different travel agents. All 3 had great reviews and were highly recommended. I wasn’t happy with any of them. Maybe my expectations are not realistic, but I’ll be doing it on my own from now on. I do agree with almost everything else though, except The Key. I thought it was great.
Curious what expectations you had that weren't met. I ask this because I am using a travel agent for the first time for my upcoming cruise, and she keeps asking me if I need anything from her, and I can't think of one darn thing to ask for! She helped me book the cruise reservation, the airfare, the ground transfer back to the airport, and travel insurance, all of which I could have done myself but it was nice to have the help and not have to sort out all the paperwork myself. Beyond that...what does a travel agent even do unless and until you experience some sort of travel problems in the immediate hours before or after the voyage? (The Cruise Planner is very easy to use, so no need for help there.)
@@dcnole book excursions, drink package, make reservations for speciality dining, etc. For all 3 of them, after the cruise was booked, they told me I had to do all the other stuff myself.
@@bj5843 Gotcha. Mainly Cruise Planner stuff. That doesn't seem like a crazy expectation on your part. Mine offered to help me with that, but I had already done it on my own because I liked doing it and it was pretty easy. That said, if I had needed help with an outside excursion provider, I would have gone to her and I would certainly have hoped she could help me.
On my last Trans Atlantic cruise I was the only one to get a picture of the Rock of Gibraltar in the dark. I used my Iphone and the dark lens option made it possible to get the outline of it in complete darkness. I had the people around me saying maybe I should take a picture of your phone.
We aren’t going to have much choice but to overpack for our cruise. We will be travelling from New Zealand to Florida for a 3 week vacation and our cruise will be one week of this. We will have all sorts with us by the time we get to the cruise with shopping etc. will try to organise that we only need to use one suitcase for the actual cruise so we can just store the rest unopened under the bed.
If you haven’t been to NZ before you are going to love the place. We went 7 yrs ago and we’re blown area at how lush and beautiful it was. If you are a LOTR (Lord of the Rings) fan then you need to visit Hobbiton - Peter Jackson left the sets intact after filming The Hobbit!
5 or 6 rooms down is plenty away from the elevator...first royal cruise in May so will have more feedback, but MSC was a party crowd and hence the elevator area was louder (not really thatcloud to be fair) than Disney and Celebrity.
I can assure you, our last cabin was up against the wall where the elevator hallway was. To be exact, the headboard to our bed was up against that wall. It was so loud on a consistent basis from people gathered there waiting for or coming off elevators making LOTS of unnecessary noise. Ill definitely never do that again. It did wake us from sleep. Taking a few extra steps is not a big deal. If it takes 2 extra minutes to get somewhere who cares. Id rather try to stay in shape and get my sleep!
I plan my shots for my videos long before I set foot on my ship. I have 3 cameras to choose from: one for long distance, one for underwater, and I use my camera on my phone for close-ups. The profile pic you see here was taken on my cell phone. I switch cameras depending on the shot I need. If I'm taking a pic of the Statue Of Liberty from the ship on Embarkation Day, I'm obviously going to use my large camera that has a 36x zoom. If it's underwater (I love to snorkel), I'll use my underwater camera for the water-lock features. Everything else is done on my phone.
Tendering is very common on Australian itineraries. You tender Airlie Beach and Cairns (Yorkey's Knob) on the North Queensland route. Vila and the small islands in the South Pacific. Moorea on the Transpacific. And Bay of Islands, New Zealand also. There may be others.
great video matt :) the adapters are a big yes for us aussies, on our next two sailings .... resilient lady in december then quantum of the seas in march 2024, there is no australian power points, only europeon and US ones, so an adapter is very much needed for our next 2 cruises
Underrated - Magnet hooks! I love magnet hooks. It keeps things like purses, hats, cruise schedules, etc., and even backpacks, off the desk. Plus you can hang your swimsuit to dry easily and out of the way with magnet hooks
And when we got paper notices from the cruise I used the magnet hooks to put them up so I wouldn't lose them.
Very overrated
I love magnet hooks! Everything stays tidy!
Regarding over packing/under packing, I think it's smart to overpack undergarments. You can always wear a shirt/shorts/pants more than once, but socks and underwear can be a bit of a challenge.😄
Socks and underwear can be washed in the sink if absolutely necessary. But I do agree, I bring extra of both.
@@DancEncountersVery true but it's the aftermath of that hand washing that gets me. 😅 For instance, I popped in the rest room once & was surprised and horrified to find a laundry string of my cabin mate's underwear. Haha
I had to handwash my daughter's underwear once when she was living with her dad and left to her own devices at age 12 to pack her own suitcase for a 7 night cruise. When we were in a relative hurry, trying to blow dry underwear with those hair dryers in the room, when they overheat and shut down, was not fun.
Who wears underwear on vacation?! 😂
@@urofseronI wear underwear always but my hubby doesn’t. 😂😂😂
Rather than using a laundry hamper, here's an alternative. When we travel, we use a suitcase as a laundry hamper. All our dirty clothes go into a suitcase as we use them. Additionally, it reduces packing at the end of the trip.
that's a pretty good traveling tip.
I just use plastic shopping bags to separate clean and "to be washed" items
I use packing cubes. I organize them with garments (one for the overnight stay before the cruise; one for embarkation day, etc), then use them for dirty clothes. As I get a free laundry for D+ loyalty, I can then empty them into the ship laundry bag. They still fill up as the cruise goes along, but then I just need one cube for my carry on (my disembarkation clothes in that cube get swapped with my nightwear) on the way out.
Lol as he was crying I thought. If you unpack your bags your luggage could keep the dirty clothes. Look in the comments and look what I see. Common sense.
I usually bring a garbage bag in my suitcase. This keeps it organized and separates dirty/used from clean.
Couple thoughts-
I’ve cruised several times now. And with that the travel was both with or without a travel agent involved. Can’t say there’s been any difference either way.
Bringing a collapsible hamper seems unnecessary and here’s why. When I get into my cabin I unpack leaving my empty suitcase under the bed. Then once clothes are used they go into the suitcase case again maybe in a plastic shopping bag. Easy fix.
Came here to say the same about laundry. Into the empty suitcase it goes. But I guess not everyone empties their suitcases into the closets so I can see a hamper being useful in that case.
I cruised with and without a travel agent and also didn't find a difference. I think for some of us we are comfortable handling things ourselves. Instead, I now became a travel agent so I can help those that aren't comfortable 😂. I get to research even more cruises and help others book their dream cruises.
Agree! I use those outside pockets of the suitcase to stash dirty laundry.
funny my wife and I booked our cruise without a travel agent. Granted haven’t gone on the cruise yet but we did get a quote from a couple. Sadly in Australia every single travel agent came in roughly $1000-$1500 more expensive then booking it directly. My wife and I love researching and planning stuff so I don’t anticipate any issues from doing it this way. Time will tell I guess
I agree! I bring a couple of scented garbage bags and in goes the dirty clothes! I fold them too so they're not as bulky when I stuff them back in the luggage.
When I pack…I stick with one color pallet. Either black or navy baseline …and everything mix and matches. Basically expands your wardrobe. Also cuts down shoe needs.
For two adults, the over-the-door shoe bag isn't necessary, but in my opinion, for 3 or 4 adult women who have tons of moisturizer, sunscreen, razors, etc., it is very helpful. I do agree with using a travel advisor - I am a cruise specialist and I do so much more for my client family than book the cruise. I appreciate your honesty and content, especially for first time cruisers. You help me do my job!
I wear my swimsuit under a flowy dress on embarkation day. Whip that dress off and you are set. Kill the time until your cabin is ready hanging out by the pool. I always overpack. Always. You might spill things, you don't want to wear the same dress clothes to dinner. You sweat if it's in a hot region. You have sand in everything you took to the beach, and so on. Bring a bottle of wine if your cruise allows, but I never bring soda etc. I order my soda and water plus a bottle of liquor to the room. Bring medication in case you get sick/Covid. (we got it on our last cruise). I am extremely frugal, but one of the best pictures I have hanging in my house is one we had taken on our cruise. Sometimes $50-100 is worth it. Thanks for this video
My only other suggestion for cruisers is to book and pay for your excurions prior to boarding the ship. Often they will be less expensive and you reduce the chance of the one excursion you really wanted being sold out.
We usually do that, use the onboard credit then the excursion is really free, as the cruise credits pay for it, as for tendering being not common these days, maybe on cruises from the USA but some ports in Europe are small so you either have to tender due to the size of the ship or because there is already ships in port and limited space.
I like to do that too. We often get off the ship with either no bill or a very small bill because we book and pay for most of the extras before we go
I always overpacked, then end up taking home clothes and shoes that I never used during the entire cruise. I do the same with landed vacations as well.
Thank you! I’ll be bringing magnetic hooks, carrying my bathing suit with me, putting my phone on airplane mode, putting suitcases under the bed, and filling out everything beforehand! All because of your tips! Thank you!
Hey Matt! Hope you’ve been well!
Honestly, imho, we have found that booking far from the elevators and taking the stairs are our secret to keeping the pounds off when we cruise. Takes the guilt out of enjoying ourselves, too!
I've always subscribed to the concept that it's better to have something and not need it, than it is to need something and not have it. So I tend to overpack. I actually carry a small pharmacy with me, for example, because experience has taught me that medical maladies tend to occur at odd hours, often when the ship's medical facility is closed. I also carry clothes that I am confident I'll not wear. I carry emergency supplies (power banks, a small, usb rechargeable desktop fan, flashlights and even lumi-sticks) because, although incredibly rare, if your ship loses power, air conditioning, etc. you'll be less miserable if you can run a fan, see your way around the stateroom, etc. I carry a magnetic, motion detecting nightlight that "sticks" to the stateroom walls - great for middle of the night bathroom trips! I carry a closet shoe organizer (not over the door) and have for years, and believe it is quite worthwhile. We use it for...wait for it...shoes! Otherwise we have a dozen pairs of shoes piled up on the closet floor. We carry laundry mesh bags for our dirty laundry. Keeps dirty laundry from being strewn about (yes, you can use your empty suitcase, but that means pulling it out from under the bed several times a day - my mesh bag can sit on the closet floor because my shoes are in the hangning organizer!) I always carry rain ponchos and compact umbrellas - seldom have I used either of those in 20+ years of cruising but I still carry them. I carry magnets with swivel hooks - we hang our ball caps, sunglasses, pool coverups, etc. on them. Easy to grab a cap and sunglasses when they're hanging right at the stateroom door. And yes, we carry outlet "multipliers" always, although admittedly they come in much handier on older ships were only two 110 volt a/c outlets are provided. We'll use one of those for heavier draw items (like the blow drier) and the other we'll use the "multiplier" so we can charge phones, tablets, etc. as they cumulatively draw only about 10% of the outlet's capacity. Just be sure that the adapter used isn't surge protected, or it'll be confiscated. And I ALWAYS take more of my medication than I will need for the days of the cruise. That way if my return is delayed for any reason I'm still covered.
Yes, I decided not to bring a shoe organizer for storage and instead I brought super sticky notes and a marker and I placed them as labels for drawers and it indeed looked better and less clutter. The sticky notes also reminded me that I have stuffs there and when it's time to leave, I just remove them.
I cancelled The Key on our Ovation cruise next week when we got a 10am checkin and was refunded $650…for that $650, I was able to afford a three item VOOM internet (for three different people) PLUS a 3 night Dining Plan for 3 people
There are almost zero positive reviews for The Key 😅
I bring a 12 pack of soda, but I carry it on in a backpack and then have an entire empty back pack to use for other things once the soda is in the fridge
Underrated: Planning. You can save a lot of money and aggravation by knowing in advance what's going to happen before you get on board. Obvious stuff like shore excursions are what most people think of. Less obvious ones are formal nights. They're usually the 2nd night. That's when the staff photographers are out. If you want nice pictures, that's when you want to plan them. If you want to try some specialty dining, find out the menus in the MDR and schedule it for nights you want to avoid.
Amen
5:33 my last cruise I bought the refreshment package but I also brought a 12 pack.... Why? Because I really enjoy my Arizona Green tea and none of the cruise lines have it. So if you have a special beverage in a can that's not offered on ship, you may find that a good idea. Maybe you don't want to have to leave your room, walk to And wait on elevator then walk to and wait on bar and then all over again... Just for a soda. Nice to have a supply in room.
If you're worried about carrying it, get a backpack or personal rolling cooler from Walmart... Cooler is like $15. If you fly in you can buy it after landing.
Sorry but I think bringing beverages is good advice
Thank you so much for mentioning travel agents. No one realizes how important this is, and that we are free. I appreciate you Matt!
don't understand the "I can do it myself' theory -- when you are there to help -- especially if things go wrong (and that it the thing most think "it won't happen to me' :-)
Although I agree with most of your points, as others have said a pop-up hamper is overrated and unnecessary. We designate one of our empty suitcases as the "hamper". At the end of the trip all our dirty clothes are in one suitcase. This saves time when packing at the end of our cruise. The value of a good travel agent can't be stressed enough.
We went on our first cruise in February. I was so worried that I overpacked because I heard again and again to take half of what you think you need. I wore all but one outfit. My husband brought less and ended up having to have clothes laundered.
As far as a travel agent goes, I took your advice and used MEI-TRAVEL. Kelley is great!! Saved me so much hassle that we booked our next cruise through her!
I used my over-the-door organizer and will bring it again. I liked having sunscreen and other toiletries easy to find without searching for them.
Thanks so much for all of your useful advice! Our first cruise was amazing and will definitely not be our last. RC is outstanding ❤
I was a travel agent for 17 years and gave my clients all the help they needed. If they were first time cruisers I held their hands and walked them thur the process. I also stressed the importance of purchasing travel insurance.
Travel insurance is a ripoff as it either doesn’t cover everything or is exorbitantly expensive if it does. Self insure yourself is the way to go.
@@RichardVanDyk-fz9kl I use AIG Travel Guard. They offer three options and are reasonably priced. I just recently filed a claim and it paid in full. No questions asked.
@@davidweissman7050 we just booked with AIG as well for our September trip. They were definitely the most comprehensive for special situations and to hear your positive experience makes me feel great about my choice!
@@JulieOTSeas Thanks for the response. I have a cruise booked in December and January and booked the insurance as soon as I could. With AIG if you purchase insurance within 15 days of making a deposit any pre-exsiting conditions will be waived. Enjoy your cruise.
I have an annual travel insurance policy. And thank goodness I did. My husband had a heart attack on one of our vacations, and the travel insurance reimbursed us for all the extra costs for changing flights, extra hotels, and so on.
Agree with most of these apart from the hanging shoe organiser. Especially with kids, it provides a great storage solution near the door where each person can put all their things to grab before heading out. And it gets things off surfaces. Absolutely love these for cruises :)
check before your next cruise because some no longer allow them since the hooks have been damaging the doors.
Most underrated advice for Royal Caribbean is TAKE SNACKS AND DRINKS YOU LIKE. Theres tons of free food and great food and drink options but i always bring a 12 pack of my favorite drink (Dr pepper cream soda). And some Doritos. But i love snacks so i value it a lot.
We went on a 10 day cruise in Feb./Mar with a 1 night pre-cruise night and over packed. As it turned out our flight home was delayed 3 days in which we still had clothing to wear. As for travel agent's the key is a "good one" I usually book myself, this time I used an agent that was recommended and he was horrible and ended up doing everything on line on my own because he was horrible
Just got off Oasis this morning. I used double sided packing cubes where one side is mesh and there is a plastic lined side marked "laundry". The three cubes only took up two shelves in the closet and gave me an easy way to corrale the laundry in the dirty side at the end of.each day. Then we still had all the hanging closet space and drawers. Worked out well!
When I used the shoe hack, I put it inside the bathroom. It helped keep toiletries, meds, etc all together and in the room I would need them the most.
Be careful storing medications in the bathroom. Heat and moisture are bad for drugs - they can affect the potency, etc.
I couldn’t agree with you more on being close to the elevator, we sailed on the Mariner and was in the last room on our deck in April and I would much rather be right next to the elevator. One of the nights it was rough and we bounced off the walls the whole way to our room 😂
Your comment made me laugh because I had the same experience. Walking down the hall with my hand on the wall so I wouldn't run into it.
😂 My husband, daughter and I were on a cruise when the seas got rough. We It was getting late, so we decided to go back to our stateroom. When we got on the elevator, it started shaking a bit. My husband said, “We’re on the Tower of Terror.” 😂 We got to the room, laid down on the beds, and stayed there for the rest of the night.
One thing that I learned from another youtuber for cruises, last year, is get Vacuum Sealed bags! OMG I'm so happy I got them. Doesn't matter if it's a Caribbean Cruise or Alaska Cruise. They saved me SOO much room in my bags. And at the end of the cruise, you ask nicely to the cleaners if you can borrow a vacuum for a sec. It can help you make room in your back again.
I was a travel agent many years ago, so I felt qualified to book my own most of the time, but I am changing my tune...it's great to have someone help me plan, handle issues, and be able to make sure my fare is the best fare! I found a great agent and will use her from now on. I also just use my suitcase as a hamper, it just feels like one more thing to remember otherwise.
Great advice on the outlet adaptors!! We are doing that next time. We just went on Allure of the Seas and we only had one working outlet. We brought a power strip and it was confiscated.
I use the over the door hanger not for space but not to forget bug spray, sun screen, and other stuff when i go on excursions.
The Key works well for me in Australia as a solo traveller - when I get it on a good sale. I want the internet so paying $10 a day more via the Key is good value for me. Bag drop off, having a couple of specialty meals gives me a taste of Chops Grill and I really enjoyed the leisurely breakfast on debarkation day. I'm not in a hurry, so it was so nice relaxing and being waited on while everyone else is rushing and lining up to get off.
I love the Key for the Lunch and internet rolled on, and not having to worry about the Early check in time, and lastly the getting off the boat time and not worrying about it
Just got of spectrum of the seas yesterday. Had a stateroom literally right beside the elevator and it is perfectly fine for me. I totally agree that having a stateroom close to the elevator is essential especially if you are trying to make full use of your deluxe drink package 😂
Hi, Matt. Thanks for all of the info. Helpful as always! I was skeptical about the collapsible hamper when I first heard you share that idea. On previous cruises, I've just either put dirty clothes in one of the laundry bags that is usually hanging in the closet, and took that bag home with the dirty clothes in it, or I would just collect the dirty clothes in my empty suitcase. On my most recent cruise, however, I decided to give it a try. I will be taking that from now on, on all of my cruises. First, it just makes the room seem more tidy and organized. Second, it allows the dirty clothes to air out during the cruise. The other thing I did, was I purchased a collapsible rolling cart. I used that to bring onboard a 12-pack of club soda. I know you think that particular tip is overrated and I tend to agree. But, having it in the rolling cart made it really convenient on embarkation day, and was not challenging at all going through security. I also used that rolling cart for bringing onboard the door hanger signs we made, which were unwieldy and couldn't be packed in a suitcase. THEN . . . on disembarkation day, we simply put the laundry hamper in the rolling cart, which was now empty, and rolled it on out. This kept our dirty clothes separate from the inevitably overpacked clean clothes in the suitcase, kept it airing out, and it was super easy to take off of the ship being in the rolling cart. I'll be taking both with me on cruises from now on. Mind you, I did this having my car at the ship terminal. I don't think I would do this if flying. I'd still probably take the hamper just for the in-cabin reasons stated above, but then probably wouldn't use the rolling cart. This is the kind of rolling cart I'm talking about, which--again--collapses so it was very easy to store away in the closet during the cruise. www.amazon.com/MaxWorks-50704-Rolling-Utility-Capacity/dp/B0BKTLJ5RG/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1SAWKU4744Z3&keywords=collapsible+rolling+cart&qid=1685937123&sprefix=collapsible+rolling+cart%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-6
Agree that the cheap collapsible hamper makes a lot more sense in that it allows the clothes to air out -vs- stuffing them moist and dirty into a plastic bag in a dark, closed suitcase.
I have enjoyed The Key perks on several cruises…especially the priority seating for shows.
When it comes to power strips, the thing that makes it illegal on board IS the surge protector since they can cause issues with the way the ship's electric grid works and are a fire hazard. You can bring multi-outlet extension cords and USB blocks on, but they can't have the surge protector. I've brought both for multiple cruises without any issues with the crew.
I wish I knew if this is true and you could use a normal extension cord (several plug outlets but no surge protector) on the ship. So many conflicting reports. Our first cruise is scheduled for Fall '23.
Royal Caribbean won’t allow any cord, at least per the rules.
Hi Matt, how about packing a nightlight, especially if you are in an inside cabin. It's completely dark in the middle of the night if you have to get up and use the bathroom. I have stubbed my toes a few times in the past because I forgot to pack one.
I don't know if it's over or underrated, but a good packing tip!
I bring the Ikea “big blue bag” for my laundry for all my trips instead of a hamper since I can use it as a beach bag as well. They have so many options now it doesn’t have to be the “blue” bag.
One of the best tips I recently used was the magnetic hooks. I had never used them and found they are great for hanging things and keeping things handy.
I loved the key just for the disembarking! It was worth it to me just moving to the front of the line to get off the ship when you're ready, not when they are ready for you.😊
I agree with much of what you said except:
Wine and soda - I have saved enough by never getting the drink package to get 2 extra cruises which has pushed to diamond so now drinks are free.
"Over-the-door" hanger - I hang it with neodymium magnets from the ceiling against an empty space on the wall or over the adjoining room door. Great for shoes, caps, cables, and the remote control.
THANKS, Matt...now everyone is going to book a cabin near the elevator. That's been our secret for many years. Those are the best cabins on the ship and we have NEVER had a problem...but it is VERY convenient.
We used the key on are freedom of the seas trip this year and loved the two included meals. The key show seating was great. Would buy again.
Absolutely NOT overrated! I just used a TA for the first time and will not use one again. She was great, but I'm me and when I want to do something I want to do it! If I wanted to make a payment she had to and she couldn't make it on Sunday. No biggie to some, but for me being in full control is worth it. I think people exaggerate the phone lines and the benefit a TA has. I've called on every cruise I've been on and haven't wait more than 5 minutes. Easy stuff for me!
Congratulations on 250K subs! I watch all of your videos and can't be happier for your milestone. Keep up the great work. 👍🙂
Thank you so much
Greetings Matt. I’ve been tryin to get you to notice me. So I finally made a donation. At first when i heard you , i was a bit confused because i thought you talked a little fast. But now after hearing you so often, you have become part of my morning routine. Thanks for all your advice and enjoy Lake Tahoe. Go kayaking if you get the chance.
Awesome, thank you!
If you do want formal pictures taken, just get the digital package where they give you a thumb drive of the pictures. I got wedding pictures done that way and we selected just the pictures we wanted and had nice prints done at Walgreens. It saved us hundreds of dollars.
How much was the digital packet at the time of purchase?
@@ataniacummings : Currently, it's $128. I did mine a part of a wedding package 4 years ago.
Your point on embarkation day is spot on - I’m currently on a cruise in the Med, and spotted a couple on embarkation day with floats (armbands) for the kids strapped onto their hand luggage cases on embarkation day. This is such a good idea from them - get the kids in the pool while it’s quiet on day 1!
Thank you for these. The laundry hamper is a really good idea. I always have enough storage space. Sometimes not enough hangers. I also bring my charging tower that has 5 ports and 1 C port for charging my devices.
I go out of my way to stay near an elevator :) Agree with the hamper. Disagree with the over-the-door organizer. Everything from shoes to sunscreen goes in there, it's so handy!
I’m a huge fan of the over the door organizer even on newer ships especially if you have kids and/or are going on a 7+ night sailing
check before you go on your next cruise -- as some are not allowing them because the hooks are damaging the doors.
We always book a room within 8 rooms near an elevator... never had a noise/traffic issue!
Life Well Cruised occasionally makes videos of recommended cruise supplies. The 3 I found most useful were the adapter thingy you mentioned, a hanging toiletry bag (because the bathroom sink on our Norwegian ship was some ridiculously oversized rectangle thing that took up the entire counter), and magnetic clips to keep track of excursion tickets. NEVER would have found those in the mess on the tables/desks.
I believe the hamper is overrated. We just bring a couple of kitchen trash bags store them in an out of the way place. Once we empty them at home, we use them as trash bags. Recycled!
I just got off the Navigator cruise the other day..Don said you were on the ship..I learned so much from you
When I select a room, I will usually go for midship and in the lower decks to help minimise motion sickness. I don't mind the extra walk as I will be eating more during the cruise.
I just stayed in a room right off the elevator lobby on Grandeur. It was great. No problem. No noise issues or anything. I wouldn’t stay in an inside room right next to the mechanics of the elevators - been there. Done that 😂
Here's my rule on packing, dirty cloths you can wear again (for the most part) but dirty underwear is just nasty. You honestly only need two or three pairs of pants or shorts, maybe 5 shirts at most & one dress up outfit. However if you are going on a 7 day cruise for example pack 10 sets of underwear. Wear your most comfortable walking shoes on the plane invest in a travel backpack where you can put a change of clothes and a light jacket and you won't need to overpack.I just find that packing an outfit for each day you are going to be gone is just unnecessary because your cloths just don't get dirty enough that you cannot rotate the combination of tops and bottoms.
I think the key is good value. Have used it once and booked it again for my next cruise. When you look at the wifi charge for several devices and then add on the lunch, breakfast and tender priority- plus more - I think it is well worth it.
I am getting ready to pack for my 10th cruise, and every cruise I pack less. I am now down to one rollaboard and one tote, and I still didn't wear around a third of the clothes.
We choose our cabin to be as close to the elevator as possible. Never had a problem with noise, and it is SO convenient.
I always buy the Key, but I generally only pay only a few dollars more than the internet alone. I especially love it for tender ports,and the special seating in Two70 where it really matters.
I loved our laundry hamper - it made a huge difference in our room and the comfort level - with two adults and two kids, there were tons of clothes, and it was so nice to not have to trip over a giant pile of dirty clothes everyday. Every 3 days or so we’d transfer the dirty clothes to the suitcase. Kept our room so nice looking!
Compliment - that's a really nice pic of the tulips with the Haraldshaugen Monument in the background 👍
A laundry hamper is also one of my biggest cabin tips! So handy! Great list, Matt!
This was an awesome topic. I’m whipping this video out every time someone tells me to bring a shoe organizer with me when I cruise. Thanks for this - I feel seen.
Exactly!!
I really like the simplicity and peace of mind of packing only a carry-on for flying, so my cruising is also carry-on only - with a little planning, it is very possible to have enough but not too much. :)
I found out on our last cruise that it having cabins on one of the top decks has advantages when needing an elevator. People go up for the pool deck (which you access by the stairs) so when you need to go down getting one is easy and almost almost empty. People in middle of the ship decks often had to pass on crowded elevators.
So agree with the packing we are all different. I do not do carryon only because I want what I want. I pack carefully. Medium sized suitcase usually. Big yea to drink package - convenience
I always use the ship's laundry service when cruising. For about the cost of alcoholic drinks for 1 person for 1 day you can get 1 week's laundry service. We never have more than 1 day's worth of dirty laundry in the cabin. We pack far fewer clothes (especially for a 14 night cruise), and we come home with clean clothes that get put away and there is no post-cruise laundry mountain to address.
We're in our 70s, and we ALWAYS try to get a cabin near the elevator, especially on the mega-ships. We are close to most of the restaurants and many of the bars. Saves a lot of steps. Ass far as travel agents, I've had both good and bad, so choose wisely.
I think the laundry basket is overrated. I use a kitchen-sized plastic bag, that I hang in the closet. It ties up, masking the smell of dirty laundry. Then you can pack it easily for your trip home.
The over the door shoe organizer was a life saver for us. 4 in a cabin (2 kids, one in diapers) we kept diapers wipes sunscreen hair brush little shoes, lotion etc.
I don’t pack my suit in my carry on. I prefer to explore the ship on embarkation. I always pack light because I want to be able to carry my luggage off the ship. Hate searching for it at the port. Never had a problem, and my attitude is if I really need it, I can buy it or get laundry done. Usually carry on a bottle of champagne to enjoy on our balcony. Also never used a TA 7:07 yet snd never had a problem. I book as far aft as possibly. Love a balcony with a view of the wake and view that walk as exercise after all that food and drink. Never thought I’d disagree with you on so many points! Still love your videos! Also no need for hamper taking up space. I throw my laundry in my empty suitcase under the bed.
I highly recommend packing cubes, they compress your clothes and makes it easier to keep everything separated.
Laundry hamper, magnet hooks, towel clips. The 3 things that never leave our cruise bag!
The shoe organizer is used for us on each hotel trip....and we will use for our upcoming cruise. We use it for toiletries, meds, small first aid kit etc. I need things OFF my counter and somewhere easy to find so I can have my family finding things and not the "mom where is the sunscreen, bandaids, deodorant..." Otherwise stuff sits around, gets thrown around, etc. It is for my sanity!!
Bottles of soda are very different than the soda fountains , so having a few extra on a cruise is really nice esp on a 7 day cruise
I like the tip about the Hamper for sure, We are going on Navigator for Halloween this year & our room is 3 doors down from Elevator. I have done bookings both with RC & Travel Agent, we are very Happy with our TA she has reduced our cruise over $500 in price reductions something you don't get from booking with RC.. I found it waiting on hold alot for RC when booked thru them. I can send an email to my TA & she answers right back.. Thanks for all your tips!!!
For anyone who really wants a camera for a cruise, you can rent them. You can rent a good quality camera for a fraction of buying one. If you're considering buying a camera, it's actually a good way to try out different models without laying out a lot of money. If you already have a camera and just need a lens for a given purpose you can rent them too.
I have a mid-range DSLR and I always rent a lens when I need one. For example, I rented a zoom lens for our Alaska cruise. It was a $2000+ lens that I rented for about $100.
Just a thought...
I just booked a cruise on the Allure of the Seas and I purposely pick a cabin that is literally 10-15 feet from the elevators and couldn’t be happier. There’s nothing more annoying than walking down those long hallways. You’re absolutely right about buying an expensive camera for your cruise, I purchased a waterproof digital camera for the cruise and I took less than ten pictures, I used my cell phone for all of my pictures and videos. I haven’t used that camera since the cruise and now it sitting in the cabinet collecting dust.
Definitely DO NOT get a room near the elevator if you are a light sleeper . Made this mistake on a cruise in the past and it really messed up my sleep for the entire week .
We use pillowcases for dirty laundry. I am a photo fanatic for my iPhone and having two extra small backup batteries that attached to the end of your phone were Lifesavers. Also, I get hot very easily and neck fan saved my life. Plus, I had a portable fan that was rechargeable next to my bed because they don’t have enough plug-ins. But it was a lot of work keeping everything charged. I am bringing enough charging cables was important. We also brought a ear thermometer and we both did get Covid so we also had Covid tests. But that time may be over. We went on a three week cruise to the Amazon so having one of those month pill sorter helped a lot. The only thing I put in the dirty clothes was underwear. I hung up my clothes after wearing them because I did wear them several times. I put all my clothes on those skinny velvet hangers and roll them all up and pack them that way, so when I get to the ship, I can instantly hang them up And I was able to get at least 20 tops in there and also a couple of dresses and I wear leggings so those are very lightweight and easy to roll up and put in your drawer once you get there. One of the best things I had on my Amazon cruise was a strap for my iPhone that I could wear it around my neck and not worry about losing my phone or dropping it.
I have had better success with cruise rates and communicating directly with the cruise line than through a travel agent. I really enjoy it too. Maybe I just haven’t found a really good travel agent.
I always take two bottles of wine because I don’t do a lot of alcohol drinking. I may pack a few kombucha bottles for my next cruise.
Wow. It’s been our experience on Royal that a dirty shirt would be a step up in the main dining room. In those cases that extra bottle of wine comes in handy!
I love the Key! If you buy the Wi-Fi, it’s only a couple of extra dollars per day. On our last cruise the perk was free room service rather than the embarkation lunch. We definitely broke even with that!
Was on RCL AOTS and got the Key! What a Waste! I am disabled and needed assistance and was just pointed in the direction I was already going… Thanks for the video!
Using a TA is an add on to your cruise experience that may or may not enhance your cruise vacation. It could add frustration to the process. It could negatively impact your cruise experience especially if the TA was not a “good” one. Therefore, constantly saying “use a TA” is overrated.
Related to the packing rule- I’ve learned that it’s hard to pack too many socks and underwear, about 2 sets for each day, and always bring a few more shirts than the number of days. Reason being that after a long day of walking and exploring the ports, you’ll be sweaty and want to change before dinner and evening shows. Pants and shorts you can continue to wear, so no need to bring any extra. And while you can have shorts and shirts laundered ($$$), I’d prefer not to have socks and underwear laundered, since the take up so little space in the suitcase anyway.
These tips are very helpful for pre cruise preparation. I agree regarding the Key as I think I only benefitted from it once and that was my second ever cruise on RC which was also Dec 2021 - just getting back to sailing. The tip for a dirty clothes hamper is likely one that I would consider overrated as I use my suitcases to put my dirty clothes in and use laundry bags to sort and pack them to go home. Everything else was very useful especially using the european plugs to add extra plug real estate onboard as well as taking US plugs.
I’ve used 3 different travel agents. All 3 had great reviews and were highly recommended. I wasn’t happy with any of them. Maybe my expectations are not realistic, but I’ll be doing it on my own from now on.
I do agree with almost everything else though, except The Key. I thought it was great.
Curious what expectations you had that weren't met. I ask this because I am using a travel agent for the first time for my upcoming cruise, and she keeps asking me if I need anything from her, and I can't think of one darn thing to ask for! She helped me book the cruise reservation, the airfare, the ground transfer back to the airport, and travel insurance, all of which I could have done myself but it was nice to have the help and not have to sort out all the paperwork myself. Beyond that...what does a travel agent even do unless and until you experience some sort of travel problems in the immediate hours before or after the voyage? (The Cruise Planner is very easy to use, so no need for help there.)
@@dcnole book excursions, drink package, make reservations for speciality dining, etc. For all 3 of them, after the cruise was booked, they told me I had to do all the other stuff myself.
@@bj5843 Gotcha. Mainly Cruise Planner stuff. That doesn't seem like a crazy expectation on your part. Mine offered to help me with that, but I had already done it on my own because I liked doing it and it was pretty easy. That said, if I had needed help with an outside excursion provider, I would have gone to her and I would certainly have hoped she could help me.
Same!! I think it's overrated to use a TA. I need someone who is very proactive and will really work hard for me. Most of them do not.
What did you like so much about The Key? I've never seen much value in it, so I'm curious :)
Love your cruise blog Matt..LOL!@ under packing your clothes and having to ration it out like food. 🤣🤣👏
On my last Trans Atlantic cruise I was the only one to get a picture of the Rock of Gibraltar in the dark. I used my Iphone and the dark lens option made it possible to get the outline of it in complete darkness. I had the people around me saying maybe I should take a picture of your phone.
We aren’t going to have much choice but to overpack for our cruise. We will be travelling from New Zealand to Florida for a 3 week vacation and our cruise will be one week of this. We will have all sorts with us by the time we get to the cruise with shopping etc. will try to organise that we only need to use one suitcase for the actual cruise so we can just store the rest unopened under the bed.
If you haven’t been to NZ before you are going to love the place. We went 7 yrs ago and we’re blown area at how lush and beautiful it was. If you are a LOTR (Lord of the Rings) fan then you need to visit Hobbiton - Peter Jackson left the sets intact after filming The Hobbit!
5 or 6 rooms down is plenty away from the elevator...first royal cruise in May so will have more feedback, but MSC was a party crowd and hence the elevator area was louder (not really thatcloud to be fair) than Disney and Celebrity.
Thanks for the tips and the ship tours you do
Very helpful!
I always bring an extension a power strip. It just can't have a surge protector.
I can assure you, our last cabin was up against the wall where the elevator hallway was. To be exact, the headboard to our bed was up against that wall. It was so loud on a consistent basis from people gathered there waiting for or coming off elevators making LOTS of unnecessary noise. Ill definitely never do that again. It did wake us from sleep.
Taking a few extra steps is not a big deal. If it takes 2 extra minutes to get somewhere who cares. Id rather try to stay in shape and get my sleep!
I plan my shots for my videos long before I set foot on my ship. I have 3 cameras to choose from: one for long distance, one for underwater, and I use my camera on my phone for close-ups. The profile pic you see here was taken on my cell phone. I switch cameras depending on the shot I need. If I'm taking a pic of the Statue Of Liberty from the ship on Embarkation Day, I'm obviously going to use my large camera that has a 36x zoom. If it's underwater (I love to snorkel), I'll use my underwater camera for the water-lock features. Everything else is done on my phone.
Tendering is very common on Australian itineraries. You tender Airlie Beach and Cairns (Yorkey's Knob) on the North Queensland route. Vila and the small islands in the South Pacific. Moorea on the Transpacific. And Bay of Islands, New Zealand also. There may be others.
great video matt :) the adapters are a big yes for us aussies, on our next two sailings .... resilient lady in december then quantum of the seas in march 2024, there is no australian power points, only europeon and US ones, so an adapter is very much needed for our next 2 cruises