22 Cruise Secrets You'll NEVER Forget

The truth about cruise sales... why some ships take out an entire deck in the middle of the ship... how to get freebies in the casino... and even a clever trick to never get locked out of your room.

I've compiled a list of 22 cruise secrets and tips that you'll want to know... and more importantly, you'll never forget. It doesn't matter if you're sailing Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL or any other cruise line, these are things you need to know.

🚢 107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies:

🧳 39 Useful Things to Pack For Your Cruise (Including 17 You’d Never Think Of):

[ShanniBananni]

This is the first of these videos that actually provided real secrets/tips I could use. 👍🏼

[sjoneil]

One of the best ones my dad taught me was to use the gym locker room to shower, it's spacious, usually never busy, always clean, and allows my spouse to get ready in the cabin at the same time. Holland America ships even have private dressing rooms if preferred.

[randy]

I was on the Carnival Spirit two weeks ago out of Mobile. The AC stayed the same for all 8 days, no matter the setting. Very cold first night as I had a balcony. Tips: Hang lanyard with room card on inside of cabin door. Bring car freshners (trees) to hang in bathroom and room. They do not take up much space in your luggage. Get a waterproof fanny pack for prescriptions, wallet and passport. Great for taking to the beach or while in port.

[mrs.thomas-usmcwife]

As far as the older ship tip goes, I was looking at a 7 night cruise on Symphony of the Seas in 2025. However, I ended up finding an 8 night cruise on Oasis of the Seas for cheaper. I got an extra night and port for cheaper because I decided to take a ship that was a few years older. Both have relatively the same amenities that I was looking for.

[robinescobedo]

A as planning first time cruiser I have been checking out lotsa videos. Yours are by far, the most informative, practical, and great use of my time. Thanks for doing a stellar job!

[harlanabraham]

My wife was famous for ordering multiple appetizers. Older ships are nicer and give you a good vacation. Newer ships are too crowded. Went on some of the behind the scenes tours. I like to put the key card in my pocket. That way I always have it with me. Only problem, If I change my garments. If the stateroom numbers get smaller then you are walking toward the front. If numbers get larger then you are walking toward the aft.

[sharonsusa]

Great and unique tips! I've been binge watching cruise videos for our trip in April and many of these I haven't heard anywhere else. You got yourself a new subscriber! 😊

[davidhoffman]

We actually prefer the older smaller ships. I have been on over 15 different ones and I LOVE the more relaxed feel of the smaller ones.

[billyrichterrocks]

5 year membership to AARP is $65. We’ve received far more than that in discounts on carnival gift cards. The future goal is $500 for deposit with our Christmas bonus and $100/month from now on and cruise once a year.

[danacasey]

My friend and I went on a Royal Carribean cruise last year and she was ruffied at the pool! She left her drink unattended for a minute to dip her feet, and it didn't take long to take effect. Luckily, I helped her back to the cabin. Lesson learned - if you leave your drink, don't drink it upon return. Order a new one!

[sparklestars]

We’ve never had thermostat issues on our Princess cruises. Often we sail on older ships. The heat and ac have always worked well. We’ve gone on cruises that go from tropical to colder areas and back. Adjusting the cabin temperature is a must.

[JoST]

We book newer ships in off seasons. Yes, the kids miss school, but we get the makeup work done and we are able to sail a newer (not newest but newer) ship for half the cost usually and not as crazy of a crowd. Airfare is hundreds of dollars cheaper for us also as we always have to fly to any port.

[josephpiskac]

Great presentation most like a cruise director that you have made. My favorite presentation was of the stunning architecture of some of the ships.

[helciobmello]

Nice tip about used cards and die. Thanks.

[lawrencewilhelm]

Something I've never heard anyone point out about knowing where you are on the ship - the numbering convention for naval & commercial ships is that odd numbers are on the starboard side an even numbers on the port side. This certainly goes for staterooms (although I was a a ship somewhere in the world that didn't do this) but also valves, turbine generators, electrical panels, etc. Bonus tip: port & starboard are not left & right. Left & right are directions, port & starboard are a place. Just think the front & the back of the ship as being directions but the bow & the stern being places. Port and starboard are the same. Then you don't have to add "when facing the bow" to what port & starboard mean.

[QueenSuperJ]

Definitely agree that you cannot control the temp on an older ship. Definitely CAN control the temp on a new ship. Our air broke down on in our Excel Aft Suite on Carnival Celebration. They came and measured the temp, agreed it was not working then sent repair people. We discovered that the three thermostats in the room controlled three different units built into the walls of that suite. 😮

[thenoeticskeptic]

5:00 I carry a portable room thermometer to know the temperature in my room. The thermostat in the room does change the airflow (like an airplane air nozzle), if it doesn't change the actual temperature. I have found that older ships do not change the temperature measurably if it is very humid outside (most notably, during my cruise up the Asian seaboard from Singapore to Vladivostok) or exceedingly hot. It reminded me of my Swamp (evaporative) cooler in the desert. At 110 degrees outside, it would drop the temp by 20 degrees, but at 90 degrees outside the cooler would drop the inside temperature by twenty-five or thirty degrees, meaning I had to get up and turn it on and off to keep it at a comfortable 72 inside. I have found more often than not, changing the dial to either warmer or cooler actually did it. You waking and the temperature is colder because you do not actually change a degree setting; you tell the thermostat to be warmer or cooler. On a hot, humid day, you set it cooler, and it can't lower it much during the day, but as the ambient air temp lowers at night, it is still making it cooler. So it did what you asked, just not when you asked it.
7:00 The newer ships I have been on are like European Hotels; the key card must be inserted into a slot to bring more than limited power to your room. You cannot put it on your shoes and still watch TV if you are a solo traveler.
13:45 Dozens of sexual assaults are reported each year out of over 30 million passengers (2023 estimate). Even if you divided that by 52 weeks (an estimated average of the number of people on a cruise each week), you still get nearly 600, 000 passengers. I cannot think of any city of 600, 000 that only had dozens of sexual assaults in a year.

[edvaira]

I would think another reason why the cruise ships offer you a nice discount for pre-purchasing drink and dining packages is they get to use your money interest-free from the time you buy (say, 90 days before the cruise) until they actually have to provide you food or beverages

[sandiblohm]

That makes so much sense about the fresh wallet. I know it would work with me!

[kimbritt]

Where are the gift cards on AARP? Can you post a link below? I am a member and can not find where to purchase them. Thank you for the great video.