How to Plan & Pack for the Perfect Cruise
For the last several years we’ve been taking a multi-generational family cruise over winter break and I can’t recommend it enough! Cruising is a great way to bring the entire family together for a fun trip that everyone can enjoy, regardless of mobility, energy level, eating preferences and activity interests. We favor Carnival Cruise Lines because their ships are set up to really cater to families and our kids are endlessly entertained.
We typically look for itineraries that depart from Galveston - since most of our family is in Texas this makes the departure city drivable and saves on the cost of flights. There are a number of major cruise port cities in the United States. To choose your departure port, check the cruise lines that service that port and the itineraries they offer to find the dates and stops that work best for you. Don’t forget to check out the ship itself for onboard activities, dining and entertainment to make sure your days at sea will have plenty on offer to keep your family happy and entertained.
We’ve now been on more cruises than I can count on one hand so I know exactly what to look for when planning and packing for a cruise. If you’re looking to enjoy your cruise to the max, follow my tips below to learn which areas of the ship offer the smoothest ride, essential packing items and strategies for keeping everyone happy and the trip flowing smoothly!
Winter Break in Grand Cayman, an excursion from the Carnival Legend.
How To Maximize Points
I know you’re asking how we took this cruise for free using our points but, unfortunately, it’s pretty much impossible to cruise for free. A few years ago there were some status-matching opportunities that allowed travel hackers to book a complimentary room for two people (and pay to add on any kids) but those opportunities have closed. People who began status-matching on cruse lines are sailing on their final cruises this year but no new cruises are being booked. So, with that in mind, we look at booking a cruise as a point earning opportunity - here’s how we can maximize your earnings:
The best credit card to use for booking a cruise is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This card earns 2x points per dollar on travel which is a solid return on your spend. The Chase Sapphire Preferred also includes travel protection for trips paid with the card. Travel protection includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel accident insurance and travel and emergency assistance. These travel protections extend to the cardholder’s entire family including parents, siblings, nieces and nephews as long as their trips are paid using the Chase Sapphire Preferred. As the main travel planner in our family (and the only person super into points), I booked everyone on their cruise so that they could enjoy the travel protection and I could benefit from the points. A win-win for us all!
If you’re considering booking a cruise and are would like help with the planning, please let me know! I am a registered travel advisor and can assist you in booking everything you need for your trip. There is no charge for you (I will earn a commission from the cruise line) and your pricing will be the same or better than booking on your own. When booking via a travel advisor you may get onboard perks and I’ll always make sure you’re using the right card so that you earn the maximum number of points and take advantage of any available benefits.
Choosing Your Cabin
When considering where you’d like your cabin to be on the ship, there are a few pro-tips to keep in mind:
Book Early - Especially During Peak Travel
Cruise lines open their calendars roughly 18 months in advance and regular cruisers know to jump on the itineraries they want early to get the cabins of their choice. Since we travel with family and are typically booking several rooms that we’d like to have together, we try to book a minimum of 12 months in advance but the earlier the better! When booking a variety of room combinations (2/3/4 person rooms and balcony/interior) booking early becomes even more critical as there are often only one or two rooms that will fit your needs in a certain area of the ship. And if you’re cruising during a peak travel time (hello school breaks!), the ship is almost guaranteed to sell out so lock those cabins in early!
Use Price Tracking to Lower Your Cost
By booking 12-18 months in advance, you’re likely to snag the lowest rate available but if a lower rate does come out, you can ask for the new lower pricing to be applied to your booking. Many cruise lines honor promotional rates that come out after booking, as long as the final payment has not yet been made. You can keep an eye on the pricing yourself and give the cruise line a call to have the lower pricing applied to your booking or, if you book with me, I can track your rate and rebook your cruise for you to take advantage of the new lower rate.
Higher, Aft Decks Offer a Smoother Ride
We try to book cabins as high up as we can get while all staying together. I usually prefer decks 9 or 10 but the number of decks will depend on the size of the ship. The aft (or the back of the ship) will also provide a smoother ride. If you’re not sure which area to choose, just look for the suites and book a room as close as you can get to a suite. The suites are placed in areas of the ship that are the most desirable so if you can get close to a suite, you’ll get the benefits of a smooth ride without the suite-sized price tag!
Cabins Located Directly Under the Dining Area May Be Noisy
We’ve made this mistake before and, while it wasn’t terrible, I try not to book the deck one level down from the buffet, if I can help it. There is a lot of foot traffic at the buffet but what’s worse are the carts of dishes being pushed around. Cleanup and restock is usually happening when there aren’t a lot of people around - which means those dish carts are being pushed over your cabin ceiling when you’re trying to sleep.
Other Location Considerations
If you know you’ll spend a good amount of time in a certain area of the ship, you may want to choose a cabin with easy access to that area. If you love the adults-only deck or you want to be close to the entertainment or dining, look for a cabin that will make it easy to get where you want to go - especially if anyone in your party struggles with mobility. Easy access to the dining room does not mean that you want your cabin right next to the dining room (where it may be noisy) but it does mean that you may want to be close to an elevator that will deliver you to the dining room entrance. Taking a look at deck plans in advance will go a long way toward making your cruise as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Balcony versus Interior Cabins
Cabins with a balcony will be more expensive than interior cabins while cabins with a porthole or interior facing balcony will be mid-range. This will all come down to pricing and your personal preferences and if paying the extra money is worth it to you for the breeze or the view. Many people love sitting on the balcony while others are out and about on the ship so much that the balcony does not provide much value. One pro-tip that I can offer is that if you’re traveling with a group, you can look for cabins right next to one another with balconies that can be “joined” together. The balcony dividers on older ships swing just one way so even if your cabin is right next to your friend/family you may or may not be able to join the balconies together but newer ships allow balconies to be joined in either direction. The cruise line will be able to look up the cabins and let you know if the balconies can be joined or not. If you want one large, private balcony to enjoy together, joining balconies is a great option!
Itinerary & Excursion Tips
Cruises are very easy once you get onboard - the cruise director has arranged plenty of activities and there tons of food options to keep everyone in your party happy. Boarding and debarking from the ship is up to you and this can be a stressful time or a smooth and easy experience. I’ve found the methods that work best for my family and I think they’ll work well for you too. Here are my tips for smooth sailing from the beginning to the end of your trip:
Arrive the Day Before Departure
I always recommend arriving to your departure port the day before you sail. The ship will not wait for you if your flight is delayed or you get stuck in traffic and the peace of mind given from staying close to the port is worth it’s weight in gold.
Booking an Airbnb or hotel room for the night before your cruise will allow everyone to sleep in and feel comfortable and unrushed on departure day. We then schedule our boarding time for the ship for sometime between 11:00 - 1:00. This gives us the double benefit of a leisurely departure while also allowing us to enjoy lunch on the ship. This is absolutely the timing I suggest you follow for an easy and stress free start to your trip.
Parking
We’ve reserved parking with Galveston Park N Cruise for cruises departing from Galveston and have been happy with it. The parking area is right across the street from the cruise terminal and we love this location. Our strategy has been for my husband to drop the kids and I off at the cruise terminal along with all of our luggage. The porters take all of our large checked luggage immediately and I just keep a carryon which holds any liquids we’re taking onboard (wine, sodas, etc.) which are required to pass through security. The kids and I find a place to hang out (there are plenty of covered benches) while my husband parks and walks over to the terminal. We’ve tried other parking options that offer a shuttle over to the port and have found the wait for the shuttle to be frustrating so the proximity of Park N Cruise is a big selling point for our family.
Choosing Your Boarding Time
You’ll be able to reserve a time slot to board the ship a few weeks before your cruise departs. We try to get a time that works well for lunch as the buffet will be open when you get on the ship. This allows us to enjoy lunch onboard and have a nice place to wait until our cabins are ready. The cabins are usually ready around 3:00 or 4:00 so by the time you get checked in and board and eat lunch, you won’t have long to wait for your cabin. Your luggage will be delivered shortly after your cabins are ready - we use Apple AirTags to keep an eye on our luggage location and know when the bags have been delivered.
It’s tempting to book the earliest boarding time possible so that you can maximize your time onboard but I don’t recommend it. Since cabins won’t be ready until later in the afternoon, the ship will be at its most crowded during this window after boarding but before cabins are available. You’ll also be carrying around any items you had to take through security (drinks, essential items, etc.) making it difficult to explore the ship.
Excursions
We typically book excursions directly with the cruise line due to the agreements that the providers have with one another. If you book an excursion through the cruise line and the excursion is late getting you back to the ship, the ship will not leave you behind. We have actually had this happen before in Jamaica - due to a terrible traffic jam our excursion was nearly an hour late getting us back to the ship! We weren’t the only people late to the ship so it may have been ok either way but knowing that the ship wouldn’t leave us behind was a great comfort!
If the cruise line does not have any excursions that you’re interested in, I recommend booking through Viator. Viator partners with independent tour operators to provide tours all over the world. You’re able to read reviews from other travelers and make sure you feel comfortable with their performance and what they have to offer. We’ve used Viator a few times and have been happy with the experience. BONUS: Viator is a partner with Rakuten which will allow you to earn extra cash back or points on your purchase. I include step-by-step instructions for how to set this up to maximize your return in the Miles Ahead Membership so please log in if you need guidance.
Debarkation
Debarkation is when it’s time to leave the ship. You’ll be able to schedule your debarkation time a day or two before the end of your cruise. People generally try to get off of the ship as quickly as possible and book the earliest debarkation time but this is not something I recommend unless you have an early flight to catch. Otherwise, you’ll be in huge crowds waiting to leave the ship. Not fun.
Instead, I recommend booking a later debarkation time and enjoying breakfast in the dining room while everyone else is rushing to get off of the ship. By the time you’ve finished breakfast, most people will have left the ship. If you still have a little time to kill before your debarkation time, we like to head to the top deck for a round of putt-putt until it’s time to go.
Cruise Specific Gear Recommendations
There is a surprising amount of cruise-specific gear that will make living in a small space with your family MUCH more comfortable! These items are not necessary but I find they make our trips much more enjoyable.
Door decor can be fun and festive but it’s also surprisingly practical. Imagine walking down a long hallway where all of the doors look identical and trying to find your room. Now imagine your kids or your mom trying to do the same thing. Having a dolphin or turtle on your door makes it pretty much foolproof to find your room and it lets us feel comfortable letting the kids run down to their cousin’s or grandparent’s room and be sure they’re going to the right place.
Magnetic door decor can work well but sometimes the “stick” isn’t strong enough. We favor the peel and stick decor for this reason. I think the portholes are cute and I like getting a porthole variety pack and giving a different scene to the people in our party.
It may feel a little silly walking around the ship with your ship card hanging around your neck but pretty much everyone else on the cruise will be doing the same thing. And having quick access to your card in a way where it won’t get lost is fantastic - especially if you have kids!
Cruise cards area used as the key to get into your room and are also the way that you charge expenses to your account (you can set a limit on kid accounts). You’ll need your cruise card on you at all times so keeping the card on a lanyard makes it very easy.
Expensive (and not very cute) options will be available onboard but it’s best to buy them in advance. I like these lanyards which feature a retractable badge reel and detachable clip. These features give you easy access to your card for unlocking your cabin door and also allow the option of quickly detaching the card so you can hand it to the bartender for onboard charges. You have the option of keeping your cruise card in the provided plastic pouch but for the kids, we remove the retractable reel and attach their cruise card to the metal key ring so that they’re less likely to lose it. This set also comes with cruise luggage tags which aren’t completely necessary but they are nice to have.
I cannot express enough how much I love magnetic hooks for cruises!! The ship walls are made of metal so you’re able to stick the hooks pretty much anywhere you need to hang something and having this extra level of organization in a small space is wonderful. Some examples of how we use magnetic hooks hooks are: hanging lanyards/keycards by or on the door, hanging beach bags, hats or other small items and hanging the kids headphones and devices by their beds. That last one is especially useful for the kid in the top bunk who otherwise doesn’t have anywhere to keep their personal items. We get the 30lbs+ hooks so we’ve hung water bottles, small bags with personal items and other random items for the top bunk kid with no problem. I like this set of magnetic hooks because you get 20 hooks and they hold up to 30lbs - that feels like the right quantity and weight for a family of 3-4.
This may sound like an odd suggestion but paired with a few magnetic hooks, you can hang this shoe organizer on the wall and get rid of a TON of clutter. We use these pockets to stash away small items like extra charging cables, card games, spare sunglasses, extra sunscreen, goggles and anything else laying around the room without a home. I like the clear organizers so that you can easily see what’s inside. I have seen suggestions for the mesh style for breathability but let’s be real - anything stuffed into a mesh pocket is not going to dry (hang that item on a magnetic hook!) and the mesh makes it hard to see what’s actually in the pocket. Clear plastic pockets win for me.
I did not have a retractable clothesline until our most recent cruise but I absolutely loved it! Thanks to the pools and waterslides on our ship we almost always had a few damp swimsuits in our cabin. This was even true on excursion days where most of our activities were water-based. We used this retractable clothesline on our balcony to securely hang all of our damp items and the strength provided by the clamps gave me confidence that our swimsuits wouldn’t blow away. You can also decide on the spacing for the clamps with the positioning beads so that your clothes don’t end up all bunched up at one end. We used this clothesline on some very windy days and it performed well every time!
If you do not have a balcony, you can easily use this clothesline in your room. If you’re hanging your items overnight or while you’re out for the day, they should have enough time to dry but if you need them faster, you may want to bring along a portable fan to speed up the drying process. This fan works well and is great to have on hand for anyone who runs hot while sleeping or likes some airflow when not using it on your swimsuits.
OK - so this is an item that we take on all of our trips. A collapsible laundry hamper does wonders for keeping clothes off of the bathroom floor or scattered around the room. With a clear place to put dirty laundry, it’s easy to redirect the kids and remind them where to put their dirty clothes. We adults like having a designated place too!
Last but definitely not least are ducks! There is a game that passengers play with one another of hiding small plastic ducks around the ship for others to find. Once found, you can keep your duck or hide it again for someone else to find. This is a fun and entertaining game for everyone but our youngest kid LOVES hiding and finding ducks and will absolutely make this his mission on days at sea. Great for all ages, bringing a set of ducks along is particularly useful if you have kids under the age of about 12 or so. The amount of entertainment they’ll get from “duck hunting” or from hiding their own ducks and checking to see if they’ve been found is immeasurable.
This set of ducks comes with a variety of plain ducks and ducks with some personality as well as optional tags. Some people add a tag to their ducks with a message for the person who finds it and others just hide the ducks themselves. There is no right or wrong way to hide your ducks - you can do whatever floats your boat!
Here’s a pic of our cabin on day seven of our ten day cruise. There were four of us living in this space (including 10 and 13 year old boys!) and having the gear we needed to keep our space free of clutter kept everyone happy (especially mom!) and in full vacation-mode. Here you can see:
Lanyards (with key cards attached) hanging on magnetic hooks on the door.
A collection of ducks on display under the TV.
Kids electronics hanging on magnetic hooks by their bunk beds.
Laundry hamper in the closet holding all of the dirty clothes (thankfully, not seen).
A clear shoe organizer on an otherwise empty wall holding all of our small stuff.
Hats, bags and a damp swimsuit hanging on magnetic hooks at the end of the bed.
I highly recommend putting the time and energy in BEFORE you depart to think about the cruise-specific gear that will work best for your family to make your time at sea the most enjoyable!
From our cruisin’ family to yours, I hope these tips and tricks help you to select the best cabin on the ship, plan out your itinerary and pack the gear you need to feel put together and organized while living in a small space with your family. And don’t forget - how to maximize your spending and turn a paid vacation into a point earning opportunity!