20 Clever Cruise Hacks that Will Blow Your Mind!

My 1st cruise and we are driving 8 or so hrs. I feel like i am pavking to many clothes. That closet looks small and i hope we have drawers

I always print extras of the baggage tags and place them inside my luggage. That way, if the external tag falls off, they can still I’d the luggage.

Princess allows you to bring champagne or wine as well 1 wine bottle or champagne per person 🎉 we will try this on discovery Princess this Sunday 🍷

I love your personality and energy!! You know so much and convey all that knowledge in such an interesting way! You have been so incredibly helpful to me as I prepare for my cruise. Please keep making your videos!! Thanks so much!

I'm definitely using some of these ideas.

For laundry detergent, use true earth because they're just little sheets. You can put a bunch in your carry-on like put two or three squares in each one of that's two loads and you can cut them down to even smaller for doing your laundry in a bag or in the sink and it's dry so it's fine in your carry-on not liquid don't need to count as liquid in your travel bag or anything you just tear off a piece and here's your laundry detergent or if you're using a machine you can use the whole thing I double checked it is available for dish soap and hand washing dry sheets so those are both good and take a few dryer sheets in your laundry and an empty spray bottle put the dryer sheet the dryer sheets keep static down and keep your clothes fresh even if you've worn them keep dryer sheets in your clothes keep extra dryer sheets to keep any smell down and wrinkles cause it's fabric softener, a little moisture

Hi Ilana
Going on my second cruise in 18 days and my plan is to line that laundry hamper with the garbage bag and then put it in the empty suitcase for the trip home.

Thank you Ilana. I have watched I think, all your videos. Planning our first cruise. 🚢

I do the zip lock bag in the safe. I thought I was the only one who did that.

I use the plastic sleeve/dry erase markers trick every day for my business. If the ink dries and doesn’t come off easily, use rubbing alcohol to wipe it off. If you can’t bring a bottle on the ship, bring first aid alcohol wipes (bring a lot of them!)

My husband and I are looking at our first cruise. My main worry is that we have to fly to our departure ship port. Do you have any suggestions when packing to transition between the airlines restrictions and the cruise needs?

I use that sponge dish soap hack on my insulated iced coffee cup.

I find a flat box like a beer flat is handy to put top shelf things in. Several times I have found things at the very back of the top shelf left from the previous cruiser

Great tips! Thank you. Love the sponge idea so much!

As always, great job Ilana! Thanks 😎

Yes, I'd love to see more "cruise hacks!" Nice job, Ilana.

I take laundry leaves I roll pants and bras in a microfibre towel and jump up and down to dry the items. I use trainer liners rather than socks. My jewellery I pack in tiny stuff plastic bags individually

Love the tips

Yes...my hubby and I always pack clothing on hangers. It's definitely a great travel hack.

The garbage bag hack for dirty laundry and the zip lock bag hack for the safe are perfect. I set sail in 5 days, 12 hours, and 55 minutes. I’m all packed except for shoes and they may have to go in my day pack. Since I’m flying first I’m wearing my shoes I’ll be using for excursions in Alaska. Still have to fit in my jacket and right now it’s too hot to wear. Thanks for all the tips ❤

I absolutely LOVE your video's!!!!! I really enjoy it when you share all the other ideas that cruisers share with you. Keep up the good work, this cruiser loves you.

Great information. Thank you!

This was a great video, with some excellent ideas. I used the magnetic hook idea that I saw in a previous video, on my last cruise, and it worked wonderfully. I will rewatch this video and make a list of the items that I will use later! Thanks.

Hi Ilana, thank you so much for the hacks and tips videos. Does 3M Command strip work on any wall like metal wall?

Great tips! Thank u! I love you I do if there’s a box with the detergent. I have that foldable hamper on your suggestion but then I saw that you have a container for the shoes. Can you link that?

I love the idea of plastic bags for the cookies. As an adult who often cruises alone, I always take a few cookies to eat at night before bed. I also have a small light from Target (about $5) that I keep near the bed. I use it to go back and forth to the bathroom at night. These are all great tips!

Stop using single use plastic bags for laundry. Buy a few washable bags, and re-use them. That way your great grandchildren won’t still be dealing with the remnants of your travels.

Pro Tip: don’t carry weed with skunk genetics! Some fuddy duddys get butt hurt when they smell it on their balconies.....

OMG I love the plastic wrap idea under the cap to prevent leaking.

Like the saran wrap on bottles. I put any bottles that may leak in a zip lock. Learned my lesson on a previous trip when I forgot to put a shampoo bottle in a zip lock!
Great tips. Experienced cruiser. I still pick up on a good tip. They didn't have all the great internet tips when I started cruising, so Iearned by experience. Lol
Just wondering how many cruises have you been on and your opinion on fun ships vs more relaxed cruise lines.
Have been on 5 different cruise lines. Still prefer fun and activities. And I'm a senior!!

My wife and I check before final payment and the outcome is upgrades and money back, it’s a good hack that works

Funny thing the cruise you put in the thumbnail is the one my FATHER. Literally built , if you go on any carnival boats me and my family will be ok there

This tip is in place of using a laundry hamper to use pillow cases for dirty clothes. We all have them, they take up very little room in your suitcase. You can separate into colors or his and hers, they can also be washed if you need to do laundry on your cruise. Kat from SoCal

I would like to share this woman who still have a period should bring over enough pads or tampons

To add to the laundry hack i fold and roll my clothes in a towel and stomp on it to get all the water out hang up and in the morning It usually is dry

Thanks for the hack of baggies laundry washer

I love your videos and have ordered a lot of the items you've posted links for, thank you very much! Is it really that dark in the cabin? We have a balcony cabin, will there be light from there?

You could buy a collapsible salad spinner for small clothing items and use it to do some laundry in your bathroom instead of using a ziploc bag. Just a thought….

FYI: on the Carnival ships some walls are not metal but the ceilings are. I use magnets all the time and they work great! Either wall or ceiling.

Almost Platinum 😂😂

I love your videos. Wish I had seen them before my first cruise, thought. I wanted to tell you about a couple of hacks I've found. First, sweet tea is hard to come by. I've got that figured out. 2 of those tiny drink cups, one filled with ice. the other with hot water and a tea bag (those are free). Add desired sugar (about 500 packets) and poor the hot into the ice, a little at a time. Free sweet tea.
Second, I hang a laundry bag on the hook inside the bathroom and just add dirty clothes. Then take the whole bag and throw it in the suitcase with Febreeze. This might not work for flyers, but for us jumping in the car and taking off, it works really well.

What do you recommend for wet bathing suits in the cabin?

Whats the stipulations on the bottle of wine or sparkling wine? Size?

We are cruising to Mexican riviera leaving from Los Angeles. My 15 Year old granddaughter doesn't have a passport. Will she be able to get off the ship in Mexico using her birth certificate?

Here’s a useful hack when you go on an excursion — costs nothing and save you a hassle. Before you climb aboard your bus/van/car, take a couple of seconds to take a couple of photos of the vehicle: one from the side, showing the whole vehicle, including any signs or logos, and one from the back or front showing the license number. When you get back to the pickup point, you can easily find your own vehicle in a large parking lot of similar vehicles.

Hi My name is Sadie I’m 62 and going on my first cruise ever on The WONDER 5-28-23. I booked this cruise last year because my whole family(23) is going. Well your videos are amazing and I’m now known as the Amazon Queen 😂. Packing Cubes are Awesome OMG at first I tried it without them in a rolling duffle. The results were bad. Then purchased the cubes and perfect. I don’t mean to go on and on . However I have a serious question regarding the Wonder . I will be using a scooter and the only accessible cabin I could get was 14305. Under the Wind Jammer across from the Aqua Theater Boardwalk Balcony. So any tips tricks suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sadly I have seen all the videos . In closing I will say I have one of the larger packing cubes full patience’s . Thanks for the wonderful and informative advice ❤. Ms Sadie

My favorite hack is use my pockets in my clothes for bandaids , hair clips, travel bar soap etc. I put the stuff in ziplock bags. When I get to my destination an I’m unpacking then I pull it out and I also have Ziplock bags if need. I also use hair clip to help hang up in shower.

Bring a good padlock for your luggage if you want to lock your laptop up in you room. Those little locks are easy to break.