What are the weird cruise tips nobody talks about? — featuring Cruzely.com
In this video: 10 Weird Cruise Tips I Wish I Knew Before I Sailed
Cruzely.com · 1 month ago
Is it really okay to skip shore excursions and stay on the ship?
Yes, especially if you've visited a port before. The video emphasizes that the ship transforms into a much quieter, more spacious environment when everyone else goes ashore, offering a genuinely different and often more relaxing experience than crowded dining rooms and pool decks.
What this video answers
Is it really okay to skip shore excursions and stay on the ship?
Should I always fly in a day before my cruise?
How do I know whether to book a cabin with a balcony?
This video offers ten lesser-known pieces of advice for cruise travelers—the kind of insights that don't make it into mainstream cruise planning guides because they're either a bit unconventional, rarely discussed, or simply unknown to most passengers. Rather than rehashing standard booking tips, the video digs into practical wisdom drawn from extensive sailing experience, addressing everything from cabin logistics to port strategy to specialty dining timing.
These tips suit anyone planning their next cruise, whether you're a first-timer trying to avoid common pitfalls or a seasoned sailor looking to optimize your experience. The advice spans family travel, solo cruising, deck selection, and ways to get more out of your vacation without overspending. Even if you've sailed before, you'll likely encounter at least one tip that changes how you approach your next voyage.
Key Moments
Key Insights from These Cruise Tips
Cruise ship marketing shows emptier pools and quieter spaces than you'll actually experience—expect crowded main areas and busy ports, similar to how car commercials avoid traffic
When returning to a familiar port, staying aboard during the day can be more relaxing than repeating the same shore excursions, since the ship becomes a quieter, less crowded retreat
Scout out an underused restroom on lower decks early in your cruise, creating privacy when cabin proximity becomes awkward with your cabinmate
Book a specialty restaurant on the first night of your cruise when reservations are easier to secure and discounts are more available, avoiding the repetitive taste of standard buffet dining
The "5-10-15 rule" for cabin selection: balconies matter more on cruises longer than five days; decks 10–15 offer ideal access to both the main interior areas and pool deck
Parking costs at cruise terminals can exceed $35 per day and charge for both arrival and departure dates, making public transport or rideshare a smarter financial choice when possible
What You Should Know Before Planning Your Next Cruise
Arrival day flights: Flying in on the morning of your cruise is generally safe if your route is direct, with morning flights having better on-time performance than later departures
The 20-year family rule: If your children's combined ages total 20 or more, book two separate cabins; under 20, one cabin can work, though it depends on packing volume and sleep schedules
Loyalty point strategy: Sailing solo or in a suite each earns double points on most cruise line loyalty programs, allowing faster status accumulation despite different pricing structures
Port exploration: New cruisers and those visiting a port for the first time should venture ashore, but returning visitors can skip re-exploring familiar destinations without guilt
Cruise line consistency: Approximately 80% of the cruise experience is similar across different lines—pools, dining, entertainment, and ports are largely comparable, so if you enjoy cruising, you'll likely enjoy most cruise lines
Specialty dining value: Specialty restaurants serve 30–50 people instead of thousands, resulting in noticeably better food quality and worth booking at least once or twice on a week-long voyage
Parking fees: Many ports charge for parking on both your arrival day and departure day, meaning a seven-night cruise costs eight days of parking fees
Frequently Asked Questions About These Cruise Tips
Is it really okay to skip shore excursions and stay on the ship?
Yes, especially if you've visited a port before. The video emphasizes that the ship transforms into a much quieter, more spacious environment when everyone else goes ashore, offering a genuinely different and often more relaxing experience than crowded dining rooms and pool decks.
Should I always fly in a day before my cruise?
Not necessarily. If you have a direct flight, arriving on the morning of your cruise is statistically safe and can save you hundreds of dollars in hotel, meal, and transportation costs. Morning flights are typically more reliable since the aircraft is already in position, weather is calmer, and air traffic is lighter.
How do I know whether to book a cabin with a balcony?
Use the five-day rule: trips shorter than five days don't require a balcony since you'll be busy on deck or ashore, but anything five days or longer warrants a balcony for fresh air and natural light during extended downtime in your cabin.
Is there a best location for a cabin on the ship?
Decks 10 through 15 are ideal on modern ships because they sit between the main interior areas (usually decks 6–8) and the pool area (upper decks), giving you quick access to both without excessive elevator waits—though you may wait longer when returning from ports.
Why is specialty dining worth the extra cost?
Specialty restaurants prepare meals for 30 people instead of 3,000, resulting in noticeably fresher, better-quality food. The video recommends eating at a specialty restaurant at least once or twice on a week-long cruise to break up the monotony of standard buffet options and avoid food fatigue.
A paid dining venue on a cruise ship that charges an additional fee beyond the included meals and typically serves fewer guests with higher-quality food preparation.
Loyalty program
A cruise line's membership system that awards points for sailing nights and offers perks or status upgrades once you accumulate enough nights with that line.
Port of call
A destination where the cruise ship stops, allowing passengers to disembark and explore the city or area.
Cabin
Your room or sleeping quarters aboard the cruise ship, ranging from interior rooms to balcony suites.
Double occupancy
The standard pricing for a cabin when two passengers share it, as opposed to solo or single-occupancy rates.
Embarkation day
The first day of your cruise when you board the ship and get settled into your cabin.
This video fills a real gap in cruise planning content by addressing the practical, slightly awkward realities that official guides gloss over. Rather than selling the fantasy of empty pools and perfect family moments, it arms you with honest, experience-tested strategies that save money, reduce stress, and genuinely improve your time aboard.
The standout strength is how the advice refuses to be one-size-fits-all—recognizing that returning port visitors don't need to repeat excursions, that families of different sizes need different cabin counts, and that solo travelers actually benefit from the loyalty system in unexpected ways. If you're planning a cruise and want real-world wisdom beyond the brochures, this is genuinely worth your time.
Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii
Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.
There are cruise tips... and then there are the weird tips that normally don't get discussed because, well they are a bit weird. Maybe they are a little off-color, maybe they go against the grain, or maybe they just aren't widely known. No matter, they are all things you don't normally hear but you need to know for your next cruise.
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Video transcript for “10 Weird Cruise Tips I Wish I Knew Before I Sailed” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
There are cruise tips, and then there are the weird tips that normally don't get discussed because, well, they're a bit strange. Maybe they're a little off-color, or maybe they go against the grain, or maybe they just aren't widely known. No matter, they're all things you don't normally hear, but you need to
know for your next cruise. Let's dive in. This first one isn't so much a tip as a weird thing to know that goes a bit against the image that the cruise lines want to sell you. Now, are cruises fun? Absolutely. They're great vacations. Do they look like the marketing in real life? No way. If you've sailed before,
then you know exactly what I am talking about. If not, then listen up. The pictures that you see of a family having a great time on a cruise, you'll notice there's almost never anyone else around. It's similar to how a car commercial never seems to show traffic. It's just not the reality of what it's actually
like on board the ship. So, no, you aren't going to be laying out enjoying the pool by yourself. It's going to be you and a thousand of your closest friends. Same with the casino, the ports, the theater, or the dining room. It's not to say it's a bad thing that there are others on the ship. Just it's
very different than what's presented in the advertisements. Perhaps the most controversial tip you'll hear in this video, but when you're in port, just stay on board sometimes. [music] Now, if you're a new cruiser or a port is completely new to you, then by all means, go out and explore. Maybe you don't have to spend
the entire day out and about if you don't want to, but you should at least go out and at least check it out some. For those that have been to a port though before, and they have seen what there is to see there, then you shouldn't feel ashamed about just staying on the ship. Truth is, the ship
when in a port of call is a completely different place. With far fewer people around, can feel like you have run of the ship. It's calmer, there's more elbow room, and it's just a more relaxing place to hang out. It's not something you'll hear a lot, but if you visited a port before, try just staying
on the ship instead and enjoying a day to yourself. That may be more memorable than rehashing the same spots again and again. Now, I'm going to get real for a moment, but it's a weird tip that could make sailing in your cabin much more pleasant. Now, in a cruise cabin, the distance between your bed and the
toilet, well, it's maybe 10 ft if you're lucky. Meanwhile, the room only has one commode, so you better be comfortable with the person that you're sharing a cabin with, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Instead, it's a smart move to scout out a second commode on your trip. I found
that there are some that are out of the way and seem to get almost no use on board, such as those on the lower decks that fewer people may visit. This way, if you or your cabinmate need to go and you don't want it to be in the cabin, you'll have a quiet place already scoped out. I've personally been on the record
before of saying that loyalty programs, well, they don't really matter to most people. You don't start to get anything worthwhile until you reach upwards of 80 nights on most plans, which is more than two and a half months of sailing on just a single line. Still, I know that some
people really prize that loyalty status, so weird tip is how to earn more points. Most of these plans are very simple. You sail a night, you get a point. So, a seven-night cruise is worth seven points. But, sail on a suite, and that's worth double points. A week-long cruise on a suite, that nets you 14 points.
The weird thing is that if you sail solo, the exact opposite of spending a bunch of money on a suite. Most cruise lines also give you double points no matter which type of room you sail. Now, you do pay double occupancy charges, but it's a weird quirk that can ramp up your status twice as fast if you sail alone.
There's a weird move you can make that's actually one of my favorites, but few people take advantage. That's eating in a specialty restaurant on the first day of your cruise. If you don't know, there's included food on the cruise and then specialty restaurants that cost an extra fee. While it's a pain to pay
more, there's no arguing that the food here is just [music] better, which I attribute to the simple fact that they're making meals for say 30 people instead of 3,000 people. I always recommend that you eat at a specialty restaurant at least one to two times on a week-long cruise. Otherwise, the food
just gets kind of boring and old. But, depending on your cruise, it can be hard to snag a reservation. However, the first night, when everything is new on the ship including the food, no one is really thinking about eating at a paid restaurant. That means reservations are easier to come by and sometimes you can
even find discounts for those first night meals. The classic tip when it comes to getting to port, including what I usually tell people to do, is to fly in a day early. Between weather and computer issues or government shutdowns and more, flying in the day before it helps you to have plenty of time if something does go
wrong. But, the downside is that's another day that you have to take off of work and it's another day that you have to pay for accommodations and transportation and meals and more. It can add hundreds to the cost of your vacation. So, if you can wing it, then yes, flying in the day before it is
best, but honestly, it's fine to fly in on the first day of the cruise if there is no connecting flight in your path. I've likely done it about two dozen times, and the only time I've ever missed a cruise was when there was a connection that I missed due to a weather delay. Even with that delay, if
I'd been flying direct, it would have been perfectly fine. My flight would have just gotten in an hour later. When you fly in the morning of, you're usually on the first flight of the morning, and those flights are better at being on time, since the plane is already there, the weather is typically
calmer, and there's less air traffic overall. If you're a family sailing on a cruise, then you might be wondering if you should all stay in one room or split up and get two separate cabins. No one wants to feel like sardines, but the cost of another room, that can be a lot of money. So, what I like to suggest is
what I call the 20-year rule. >> [music] >> If the ages of your kids add up to 20 years or more, then get the second cabin. So, if a couple has an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old, that means second cabin. It's just too much for a single room to comfortably hold, unless you start getting into suites.
The kids, they pack more, they take up more space, they keep different hours, and they have stronger personalities, frankly, to where being all in the same cramped cabin, that's just too much. But, if you have, say, a 5-year-old and a 9-year-old, for example, then one cabin can manage.
Ever heard of the 5-10-15 rule of cruising? Most people haven't, but it's something that I've come up with to help you when it comes selection. I think it's weird that more people don't follow it, frankly. The first number, five, is for the deciding factor on whether you should get a balcony or not. A balcony
cabin is always nice, but if you're wondering when it's actually worth the money, use the five-day trip length as the cutoff. Anything shorter than that, and you'll be out and around on the ship and in port so much for your cruise that a balcony is great, but it's It's a must-have. Trips longer than that,
however, and you definitely want a balcony cabin. There's simply more downtime and it's just a long time to go without natural light or fresh air in your room. And if your trip is exactly 5 days, you can go either way, but I would lean more toward that balcony cabin. The 10 to 15, those go together and explain
where on the ship is best to book. A modern ship will have a main interior area that's typically a few decks in the middle of the ship like decks 6 through 8. Then, there is the pool area that's at the top of the ship. I've learned that being in between those two areas, normally between decks 10 and 15, that
is ideal as it gives you easy access to both without having to go too far. The only drawback to this location is that when you arrive back to the ship from a port of call, you will have to wait on an elevator to go back up to your room and it can get crowded depending on what time you get back in the port. The rest
of time, however, it is ideal. This is one tip that was frankly nowhere on my radar just a few years ago, but it's weirdly turned into a must-have in my opinion. If you drive to the port, then you have to pay for cruise parking. This used to be no big deal. In my home port of Galveston, you used to be able to do it
for maybe 10 or 19 bucks a day with an independent lot. These days, parking rates, not just in Galveston, but around the country, they have gotten ridiculous. Several terminals in Miami, for example, charge $35 a day just to park your car. In many lots around the country, they charge you for a full day
of parking for both the day that you arrive and that you leave. So, on your 7-day cruise, you actually have to pay for 8 days of parking. That's why if it's possible, I tell people to get to the port any way other than driving yourself. I like using public transport in places like Miami or Seattle. It It
costs three bucks to get to the port. Or it may be worth it just to take an Uber or Lyft or a cab to the port instead of having to pay for parking. Not everyone can swing it, but if you're in the area, it's worth it to go ahead and find another way to get there than driving yourself.
This weird tip is one that it took me a while to figure out as I had to see for myself, and that took a lot of cruises. Now, I want to be clear that there is a difference between cruise lines. If you sail Carnival, it's going to be different from Celebrity. But I'm also of the opinion that in
general, around 80% of the cruise is the same no matter which line that you sail. The pool, casino, dining room, entertainment, you're going to have all of that on any cruise you sail. Heck, the ports of call, they're all the same outside of the private destinations. And even those private spots are becoming
more and more similar to each other. I say this not to imply that they are all the same, but for those that are on the fence about trying a new line, if you like cruising, then chances are high that you're going to like any other line that you try out there in the cruise universe.
Thank you for watching, and if you like this video and found something helpful, then I hope that you'll subscribe. Be sure to also check out cruisly.com for more on everything cruising, and until next time, happy sailing.
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