What are the best cruise hacks that actually work in 2026? — featuring Eat Sleep Cruise

0:00 After 100 sailings across over 15 cruise lines, we're sharing the exact strategies and habits we started using years ago and haven't stopped. From booking to packing, cabin hacks, and more, these are the tips that will save you time, money, and frustration to ensure you stay one step ahead of

0:17 everyone else on board. Early on, it was fun for Heidi and I to review deck plans to find the ideal room location. But you do pay a hefty price nowadays, and honestly, unless you have specific needs, you're wasting time picking your exact room location. So now, we almost always book a guaranteed stateroom.

0:34 When you select a guaranteed cabin, or let the cruise line pick the cabin for you, you get at least the category you paid for, but the cruise line assigns the specific room. In exchange, you pay significantly less. We've been upgraded cabins that are better than what we paid for using the strategy. Other times, we

0:51 ended up with a less-than-ideal obstructed view. But we use this cruise hack again and again to secure a balcony cabin for a discounted rate. Now of course, it's not for everyone, but if you're flexible and want value, it's worth considering. Modern cruise ships offer some amazing

1:06 onboard amenities, but they also often go to fantastic ports of call. So you may feel the need to get off at every single port and do something. But honestly, we don't do that anymore. On nearly every sailing, we deliberately set aside one port day and stay on board. The ship is quieter, most

1:23 amenities are still available, and there are virtually no lines anywhere. It's one of the most underrated experiences in cruising, especially in certain regions like the Caribbean. Pick a port you've been to before or one that's less of a priority or none of the tours or excursions really appeal to you, relax

1:39 by the pool, use the water slides, or go to the spa. Once you do it, you'll wonder why you haven't done this on previous cruises. Now, this next tip is a little inside baseball. Have you ever walked back into a warm cabin with your phone that never charged? Here's how to make sure that doesn't

1:56 happen on your next sea day. Many cruise ship cabins use your room key card to power the lights and the outlets. Pull it out when you leave and everything shuts off. So, bring an old hotel key card or store loyalty card or any spare card of the same size, just not a credit card, and leave it in that

2:15 slot when you head out for a couple hours during the day. Your devices keep charging and the room is cool when you return. After 100 cruises, we've learned that pre-planning gives you an advantage. Whether it's picking shore excursions and tours or booking entertainment. Of course, when it comes to specialty

2:32 restaurants, especially those sought after dining experiences on certain cruise lines, the best time slots fill up fast. So, you should definitely book your specialty dining online before you sail. We typically pre-book no more than two specialty dining reservations per sailing unless we have a dining package.

2:48 Now, here's the trick. Look at the MDR menus in advance and schedule your specialty dining on the nights the main dining room is least appealing to you. That way, you're not paying for a specialty restaurant a night would have loved the main dining room anyway. Now, if you do get on board and realize

3:03 you did book a specialty restaurant on a night you prefer something from the main dining room, all is not lost. Speak to your head waiter. With enough advance notice, they can often put aside an entree or dessert from another evening for you to enjoy on your next visit to the MDR. In fact, requesting

3:19 meals from the main dining room is one of our cruise dining hacks that even experienced cruisers don't usually know. And in fact, we have a complete video right here on YouTube where we break down the 25 cruise dining tricks that most cruisers don't know about, which we link to down in the description. We're

3:35 often asked, "How do you save the most money on the cruise?" To be honest with you, there's one simple trick that still works even in 2026, and that's booking early. We found that booking early often leads to the lowest prices. And this is especially true for newer cruise ships, if you're are traveling during peak

3:52 travel season, or eyeing sought-after itineraries and destinations. Now, the sweet spot for us is to book between 6 months to a year out. Again, this depends on the ship and the location. In our experiences, cabins like ocean view balconies or other in-demand categories, those prices slowly creep up

4:11 as you get closer to the sail date. We can recall only a few times that the price actually dropped when we booked that far out. And if that does happen, often times you can get a price adjustment if the price goes lower before your final payment. Now, this does depend on the fare type you book,

4:29 so read the fine print carefully. But, there's an even simpler way to monitor prices and ensure you get the best cruise deal, which we'll share later in this video. Now, if you have the vacation time and really want to stretch your vacation dollar, consider repositioning cruise for serious value. When ships move

4:47 between regions, like from the Caribbean to Europe in the spring, or from Alaska to Mexico in the fall, the fares are generally reduced per night rates. And of course, it's the same ship, the same food, same amenities and entertainment, just a lot more sea days and less ports of call. If you time things right, you

5:05 can get a transatlantic sailing of 10 to 14 days in length that are often available for less than what a typical 7-day cruise costs. Now again, this is not for everyone. But, if you want a relaxing experience and time to enjoy all the ship amenities at a great rate, this is for you.

5:23 But of course, a transatlantic or transpacific sailing that moves for a longer, slower trip. For your regular week-long cruises, timing is where you really win. Peak season means peak prices. Shoulder season, the time frame just before or just after the busiest travel periods, offers noticeably lower fares. We often

5:44 cruise the Caribbean after the holidays in January or early February with cheaper rates. For seasonal destinations like Alaska and the Mediterranean, late April through early June and September into October are the windows we would suggest for the best prices. Plus, kids are back in school, so

6:01 there's less families and the weather typically is a little bit better or at least not as hot when it comes to the Mediterranean. Plus, the ships and the destinations themselves are less crowded, too, which is a bonus in itself. Of course, you want to save as much money as possible on your cruise.

6:17 But, you do need to keep in mind that the cheapest cruise isn't always the best value. A low base fare from a cruise line can quickly get eaten up by add-ons. We've taken sailings that looked more expensive up front, but included more of those extras in the upfront cost, giving us a greater experience,

6:36 and sometimes those sailings end up costing less overall than a cheap cruise where everything is a la carte once on board. Now, we're not going to name names when it comes to cruise lines and nickel and diming and upcharges. But, before you book based purely on the sticker price, look at the total cost of

6:55 the experience of what you actually want to do. Sometimes bundle fares like Princess Plus or Princess Premier with Princess Cruise Lines end up being the better value. When budgeting for that cruise, don't forget to budget for gratuities. In fact, we always suggest prepaying your

7:10 gratuities when you book, regardless of the cruise line. Cruise gratuities are consistently increasing across most major cruise lines, with most now charging between $16 to $22 plus per person per day depending on the cabin category. By prepaying them at the time of booking, you lock in the current rate. Plus, it

7:30 lets you budget in advance and removes the line item from your final bill. Now, if you're planning your first cruise and feeling overwhelmed, we completely understand. That's why we want to make you a special offer. We want to send you a completely free copy of our ultimate cruise planning guide

7:45 filled with all the tips and tricks we wish we knew before our first cruise. Plus, a cruise planning checklist, budget worksheet, and packing guides will help you go from booking to on board. So, scan the QR code on screen or use our exclusive link down in the description to download your completely

8:02 free copy right now. And of course, if you have any questions at all, please leave them in the comment section as we answer every single comment. We made a lot of mistakes in the 20-plus years we've been cruising together. But then there are some things you could overlook that can cost you a lot more.

8:19 And one of those is travel insurance. We never board a cruise ship or actually travel anywhere without travel insurance. In fact, we purchase an annual travel insurance policy for added convenience. Emergencies at sea, misconnections at flights, trip cancellations, lost luggage, any of these can turn into a

8:37 serious financial hit without coverage. Plus, that can mean you miss your entire trip. Along with always cruising with travel insurance, we always set sail, regardless of the itinerary, with a passport. US citizens can technically cruise the Caribbean and Alaska on a closed-loop itinerary with just a birth

8:54 certificate and an ID. If you have a medical emergency in a foreign port and you need to fly home, you need a passport. If you miss the ship, you need a passport. The scenarios where a passport saves you are exactly the stressful, unexpected ones where you can least afford the added complication. So,

9:09 just invest in a passport and take it whenever you cruise. And make sure your passport does not expire with at least 6 months of your travel dates. Another way to reduce stress and ensure your vacation starts off on the right foot is to always fly in the day before you cruise. Never fly in embarkation

9:26 day. Now, I can admit on our first cruise, we didn't abide by this rule, and we had a stressful connector in the middle of country flight to Florida. Back looking back, I have no idea why we booked those flights, but regardless, now we always fly at least 1 day prior to our cruise. Flights get delayed or

9:41 canceled, and connections get missed. Any of those scenarios on the day you're supposed to board a ship that won't wait for you is a nightmare. Fly in early, book a hotel near the port, and relax. That extra hotel night is insurance that you won't miss your cruise entirely. We get a lot of questions about packing

9:58 and how to maximize space in cruise ship cabins. And while we tried a lot of the hacks and advice we see online throughout the years, here are the ones we consistently use and seem to work regardless of the ship and sailing. And on the top of that list is magnetic hooks. Cruise ship cabin walls are

10:13 metal, so magnetic hooks stick instantly, do no damage, and grabbing a couple of these on Amazon can completely transform how your cabin feels. We use them to hang hats, jackets, and anything else that would otherwise end up on the bed or sofa. You can also use them to dry wet bathing suits or raincoats.

10:31 They're inexpensive, and it's one of the single most recommended items experienced cruisers use, and there's a reason for that. Now, cruise ship cabins are also notorious for having few outlets, especially on older ships. So, a power strip without a surge protector or extension cord, which are prohibited on

10:46 most cruise lines, solves this problem instantly. So, look for a cruise approved power strip on Amazon, which handles phones, cameras, laptops, smart watches, and anything else you need to charge. Just make sure to confirm your cruise line's specific policy before you purchase one. For

11:02 example, Royal Caribbean only allows USB only multi-port chargers and European type C to US adapters. Devices that increase the number of standard AC outlets are prohibited. Even when you upgrade to a suite, cruise ship bathrooms, well, they're small and storage space is often limited. Using a

11:20 hanging shoe organizer on the back of the bathroom door on the wall with magnets is our preferred method, gives you instant storage. You can use an over-the-door shoe organizer to store toiletries, sunscreen, medications, glasses, and other small items that would otherwise clutter the counter

11:38 space. Admittedly, it took us a few cruises before we finally caught on the packing cubes. They keep your suitcase organized, make unpacking into drawers and cabinets faster, and compress clothing so you fit more in less space. Let's be honest, Heidi's all about maximizing that luggage space and

11:55 getting as close to 50 lb as possible. Buy cubes of different sizes and orientations and then organize by category. You can have daytime outfits, bathing suits and pajamas, undergarments. Keep them in the packing cubes and then leave the hanging closet space mostly for your nighttime outfits. Now, we give

12:13 kudos to those who travel the world in only a carry-on suitcase, but that is definitely not us and odds are it's not you either. One of the best investments we made, probably a few years ago, is a luggage scale. Weigh your bags before you leave home and again before you leave the

12:28 ship. Because of course there are souvenirs and on-board purchases and the weight of those items can add up fast. So to make sure you're not over the airline's weight limit. We also pack a lightweight collapsible duffel bag in our suitcases for that return trip home. If your bags end up being overweight,

12:45 you can redistribute them into a duffel bag rather than paying the airline overage fees or leaving things behind. If you've ever traveled with us, odds are you've commented on our luggage. We always travel with brightly colored or patterned suitcases. Yes, it's partly because Heidi likes

13:01 vibrant colors and patterns, but it's also because it makes spotting the bags so much easier. You'll find them instantly on a crowded luggage carousel at the airport or in the terminal on disembarkation morning. If you already have luggage you love and don't feel like buying new luggage,

13:15 that's fine. Just buy a brightly colored luggage strap or tag and that works just as well. Now, Heidi and I do everything as a couple. We work together, we travel together, and And know what we do? We also pack our suitcases together. So, if you're traveling as a couple or as a family, never put all of one person's

13:33 clothes in one suitcase. We always split items across bags, so that if an airline loses one, we each still have half of everything. It takes an extra 5 minutes of packing and of course some little coordination and arguing about whose clothes are heavier. Along with co-packing your

13:49 suitcases as a couple, before you leave home, we also highly recommend you print your luggage tags and protect them. Design paper luggage tags have a way of getting lost or damaged. If the crew doesn't know who the suitcase belongs to, it can't be delivered to your cabin. That's why we always put our printed

14:06 luggage tags in a plastic sleeve, but only attach them to your bags right before you head to the terminal, not before you leave home, where they can get damaged in airport transit. Now, if you're new to cruising and don't know where to get portable luggage tag holders, magnetic hooks, or packing

14:21 cubes, you're in luck. In the description down below, we link to our Amazon packing which includes links to items we use on every single cruise. As we mentioned, we usually use large suitcases and then bring a carry-on on embarkation day. So, we always leave our larger suitcases with the porters when we arrive at the

14:38 terminal, and we suggest you do the same. But, be aware that that checked luggage won't make it to your cabins until mid-afternoon on embarkation day, sometimes even later. That's why we do bring a carry-on and we make sure it's fully stocked with everything you'll need for that first day on board. We're

14:54 talking about swimsuits, sunscreen, medications, a change of clothes, some toiletries, all your valuables, and definitely those electronics like those chargers, cameras, or laptops. Bring all that in your carry-on when you board the ship and you'll be completely prepared. Now, Heidi might say I'm cheap, I like

15:13 to think I'm economical. And on those first couple cruises, we definitely booked less than desirable inside stateroom cabins or maybe ocean view cabins. And in those tight quarters, we still have pictures where we left our suitcase out the entire week. In hindsight, I have no idea what we were

15:27 thinking. The single best thing you can do to make a small cabin feel like home is to unpack the moment your bags arrive. Hang everything. Fill the drawers. Organize the bathroom. Then slide your empty suitcase under the bed, where it fits perfectly on most ships. So, let's talk about the day that many

15:45 people get wrong, embarkation day. Now, most cruise lines require online check-in and will assign you a boarding time as part of that process. So, complete your online check-in the day it opens. For most cruise lines, it's anywhere between 45 to 60 days before sailing. Boarding time slots are

16:02 assigned first come, first served. So, if you wait too long, you won't be able to board the ship until later in the day. Arriving at the earliest slot means you can start your vacation sooner, but whatever you do, don't get to the terminal before your boarding time. Many cruise lines, especially Carnival Cruise

16:18 Line and Disney Cruise Line, are sticklers and they will make you wait outside the terminal in designated spots and won't let you start boarding until your assigned time. Now, the first few hours after boarding is the only time you'll have the ship largely to yourself. Use this to your advantage.

16:35 Walk the decks. Locate the restaurants and bars. Scope out your favorite pool spot and get your bearings before the crowds fill in. It's also best time to book spa appointments, make any remaining reservations, register the little ones for the kids club, and maybe even take a dip in the pool. You board

16:51 early, that's great. Then you head to the buffet, that's a no-no. The buffet on embarkation day is chaos and we try to avoid it whenever we can. At some cruise lines, the main dining room is open for lunch and it's far less crowded. Or look for other casual alternatives, the Guy's Burger Joint on

17:06 Carnival ships or El Loco Fresh on Royal Caribbean ships. Whatever you do, avoid the buffet on embarkation day. The muster drill is a mandatory maritime requirement. Get this one out of the way as soon as you board. Most cruise lines now offer an e-muster where you watch a safety video on the app or on your

17:24 stateroom television and then check in at your station without a full group assembly. This is the case, complete it immediately when you board. Takes you like 10 minutes and you won't have to think about it again the entire cruise. When boarding a cruise ship, there are also two quick phone settings that can

17:40 save you from expensive mistakes. First, switch your phone into airplane mode immediately to avoid international roaming charges. You can still connect to the ship's Wi-Fi when you're in airplane mode and utilize the cruise line's app. Second, set your date and time settings to manual

17:57 and then set the current time to ship's time. When your phone is set to automatic time, it picks up whatever time zone the nearest cell tower is broadcasting which in ports of call can be different from the ship's time. Missing the cruise ship because your phone switched time zones while in port

18:14 is a mistake you don't want to make. There's one person you need to meet on the first day of your cruise and no, it's not the cruise director and no, it's definitely not the captain. It's your stateroom attendant. Always meet your stateroom attendant on day one. Make sure to tell me your preferences.

18:31 Extra towels, a nice bucket, blankets, more hangers, morning versus evening service. Your stateroom attendant will be very accommodating. Tipping extra on day one doesn't hurt either and who knows, you might get a surprise towel animal or a little something extra. Now to be honest, we've definitely have

18:50 bought the drink package on cruises before but we don't always do it. So before you buy the drink package, you need to do the math. It's true that the break-even point of most cruise line drink packages is somewhere between six or seven alcoholic drinks per day per person but most people only count

19:07 cocktails or alcoholic drinks and miss the full picture. You You to also factor in things like specialty coffees, bottled water, soda, and fresh squeezed juices, too. When you add those up alongside the alcoholic drinks, the drink package can make more sense than it appears for many cruisers.

19:25 And if you do buy a drink package, if your drink package does include bottled water, grab a couple every time you pass a bar and stash them in your cabin. You'll always have water available to hydrate after a night at the bar or when you wake up in the morning. Now, if you're not a big drinker, but still want

19:40 to enjoy a glass or two of wine and consider bringing your own wine on board. [music] Most major cruise lines allow you to bring aboard one 750 ml bottle of wine per adult or up to two bottles per cabin on embarkation day in your carry-on luggage. Just be sure to check your cruise lines policy before

20:00 you pack cuz some lines, like MSC Cruises, do not allow any outside beverages. In recent years, more and more cruisers choose to forgo traditional dining for more flexible options. But, that doesn't mean you still can't get the best of both worlds. Even with flexible dining, we request

20:17 the same server each night, especially on longer sailings. Your server team gets to learn your preferences, your drinks arrive as you sit down, and dinner becomes more enjoyable. So, ask the maître d on night one if you enjoy the service you get, and they'll try to accommodate this

20:33 request even with flexible dining. You're on a cruise to eat and have a good time. So, don't be embarrassed when the main dining room. Feel free to order multiple dishes. You can usually order as much as you want. Two appetizers, a couple entrees, multiple desserts. It's the best way to try things you're not

20:50 sure about and perfect for sharing multiple items with your travel party. Now, there is one caveat, however. Some cruise lines are starting to charge extra for additional entrees. For example, Carnival Cruise Line charges cruisers $5 on the third entree or more, and Norwegian Cruise Line actually

21:06 charges $5 additional for any second entree. But those cruise lines still let you order as many appetizers and desserts as you want. So, before you do anything, check the menu before ordering or ask the wait staff if there are additional charges to order multiple items. Now, if you've been on a couple

21:23 cruises, you know that on busy sea days and embarkation or disembarkation day, the elevators, well, they can be a nightmare. So, there's a simple little trick that experienced cruisers know. Press the button going in the opposite direction of everyone else. Ride to the end of the line and then

21:39 ride back in the direction you actually need to go. You'll get a spot on a nearly empty elevator every time. That's a couple extra minutes to your ride, but it might save you in the long run and especially helps you avoid standing in a crowded waiting area. In mainstream cruising, more and more

21:55 ships now have a long list of paid extras. Before you board, look at what's available on your specific sailing pre-cruise on your cruise line's online planner. Then pick two or three you definitely want to try and budget for them. Then stick to the plan. Whether it's specialty dining, a drink package, maybe

22:15 an upcharge entertainment, spa, Wi-Fi, whatever it is. Nine times out of 10, what you pay pre-cruise is going to be cheaper than the onboard pricing. In the rare instance that you actually pay more pre-cruise than what's onboard, speak to guest services or see if you can cancel and rebook at the cheaper rate. We

22:35 always recommend hit the ground running and front-load your must-do attractions in the beginning of the cruise. The water slides, the rope course, the racetrack, and other activities are usually less crowded in the first few days than they are by the end of the cruise when others finally stumble upon

22:51 them. Plus, keep in mind that weather can impact if these attractions are open or not. Don't plan to do it tomorrow because rainy weather might deter your plans. By checking items off your list early, you can relax while others wait in long lines on the last sea day. Now, speaking of sea days, these are

23:09 some of the most valuable days on any cruise and the easiest to waste. The best deck chairs, the quietest spots, sit-down breakfast in the main dining room or brunch. We like to wake up early on sea days and make the most of every hour. The one exception, you're on a port-intensive cruise and you need that

23:27 day to rest and recharge. But, don't just sleep in out of habit and miss out on everything you wanted to do. Even on short cruises, laundry can add up fast. Many cruise ships offer self-service laundromats where you can wash and dry your own clothes, usually for a small fee. Many lines also run

23:45 fill-a-bag specials mid-cruise for a flat fee. Believe us, it's definitely worth it. Using a laundry service lets you pack a little bit lighter, rewear your favorites, and arrive home without a mountain of laundry. Every major cruise line has an app. And in the old days, the app was

24:03 optional. Now, it's mandatory. So, if you have a cruise coming up and haven't downloaded the cruise line's app, do it right now. They use the cruise line's app, well, for essentially everything. From completing the online check-in, which we talked about earlier, to reviewing tour and shore excursion

24:18 options, making dining reservations, checking the daily schedules, chatting with others in your travel party, and so much more. So, make sure you download it, set it up, and get familiar with the layout. Each cruise line's app has a slightly different layout and different features.

24:35 Once on board, connect to the ship's internal network, the internet, which you can still use even if you don't purchase a Wi-Fi package. Of course, make sure to put your cell phone in airplane mode and then take advantage of all the options in the app. That said, if you prefer a paper daily newsletter,

24:50 they're usually still available on most lines. Just ask your stateroom attendant or go to guest services to get a physical copy. While booking shore excursions directly through the cruise line is convenient, you'll almost always pay more. Booking private tours or through third-party

25:05 operators like Shore Excursions Group often offer the same or even better experiences at noticeably lower prices. The cruise line guarantee that they'll hold the ship if your excursion runs late sounds reassuring, but a reputable third-party operator knows exactly how to get you back in time and some even

25:22 offer a return to ship guarantee as well. In fact, you can save up to 40% off the advertised cruise line shore excursion prices by using our exclusive link down below or scan the QR code on screen for Shore Excursions Group. Their platform is super easy to use. You select your cruise line, ship, and

25:40 sailing date and Shore Excursions Group shows you all the tours available. And often you can take advantage of bundle deals for even further savings. Whether you book your tours with the cruise line, Shore Excursions Group, or decide to wing it, make sure you pack a well-prepared day bag when going ashore.

25:58 Believe us, not having the right essentials can make or break your entire day. We always pack a rain jacket or a compact umbrella cuz weather can change fast in most cruise destinations. A portable phone charger, refillable water bottle, or extra bottled water from the ship. A portable fan and suntan lotion

26:17 for warm weather ports. It might sound like a lot, but it all fits in a small backpack and we've never regretted having any of it. Cruise line private islands often get dismissed as fake port dates. But after visiting essentially every single cruise line private island, we'd argue that they're some of the best

26:34 days on any sailing. The beaches are gorgeous, the food is often free, and there's plenty of activities if you want them. If your itinerary includes a stop at one of these destinations, don't plan to stay on board that day. Go ashore to enjoy a fun day in the sun. And as promised, we're sharing the

26:51 simplest ways to ensure you get the lowest price on any cruise and can take advantage of price drops. And that's to work with a certified travel advisor. Now, Heidi and I are not travel advisors. That's why we partnered with MEI Travel. We love working with our personal cruise consultant, Blair, who

27:08 navigates all the options to find the ideal cruise line, ship, and itinerary while making sure we take advantage of all the deals and promotions. And the best part, any deals and promotions MEI Travel is running is in addition to any promotions you might see on a cruise line's website. Plus, there's never a

27:24 fee to book with them. So, scan the QR code on screen or use our exclusive link right now to get your free, no-obligation quote. And of course, we have plenty of other cruise tips and cruise review videos right here on YouTube to help ensure you stay one step ahead of everyone else on board.