Shoe organizer is a favorite for us, on a wall with magnet hooks, not a door. Keeps the “walk in and drop” clutter off the desk, counters and tables. Some tips work and some don’t. That’s the beauty of sharing experiences and ideas.
Sorry Matt, I don't agree about the internet and I'm also an IT geek myself. One of the things that initially drew us to cruising was disconnecting from the outside world. This has now become harder to do with the internet being available on ships. It's not a cost thing for myself, but more a distraction from spending some quality time with the family. I do appreciate some people do require it for various reasons, it's just not for me.
One tip I'd heard before our Alaska cruise, that I disagreed with once we were onboard was to be on the public deck areas during our visit to Glacier Bay. I found that everyone congregated to the same areas (of course, they were the places with the best views). We went back to our cabin, and the view was the same on our own balcony, and, we had the view all to ourselves.
The Specialty Dinning is a big no for me. We once dinned at Chops Grille and when we saw the sides were pretty much the same thing you get at the MDR, that is a big no for me, you are paying more for the same.
Chops isn’t anything to write home about in my city either. But I went to 555 Fahrenheit when I cruised on Mardi Gras last February and it was fantastic. I already have it booked for my birthday cruise next year 😂
The over door organizer comes in clutch for young kids. But better option: get the version that hangs off a hanger hook or has the grommets. Either hang it in the closet or use the magnet hooks to hang it on the wall. Boom solves the door issues. Also don’t get quite so long of one. 12 slots is fine you don’t need 25.
Hard agree! I used a 7-pocket organizer to toss in all the little things that would clutter up the desk area: chapsticks, sunscreens, hand sanitizers. Loved it.
I disagree about the shoe storage, having that for my family of four was a game changer. It was great for sun screen, sunglasses, flip flops, goggles for kids, medicine and so much more. Can’t imagine cruising without it.
We had the airlines lose our luggage back when Ft Lauderdale shut down for days due to flooding. Our bags were put on another flight and our bags were lost for days! We had to make a trip to Walmart the morning of embarkation for clothes! We also had to go on a search and rescue mission for our cruise terminal checked bag on another cruise that was tucked away in a crew stairwell and we finally found it about 9pm! For us it’s minimal packing and a carry on and personal item that we carry on both the plane and the cruise!
I usually try to stuff a couple days worth of clothes, plus all my essentials, into a carry-on. That way, if my big bag gets lost or delayed, I have something to wear. If that means that my big bag is only half full - fine. I can bring something home, or I can not pack as neatly and tightly for the return flight.
I feel like I overpack every time and usually go home with one clean outfit. So if you plan on doing lots of swimming, and you want to dress up for dinner every night ...you will need a lot of clothes.
Better to overpack than to not. I see lots of passengers with just the 1 carryon bag and think to myself, gross! Lol dont mean to judge, but how do folks re-wear clothes that they sweat in....I'm sure they aint paying for laundry service either
@patrickbeach3070 That's exactly what I did on my 4 day cruise. Changed clothes twice a day and wore 3 different swimsuits. I also had workout clothes for the fitness classes.
I choose the internet package because I have family and I don't like the idea of being totally disconnected when a family member may try to contact me if something happens.
I agree with the tip about room location, especially on the biggest ships. We picked a balcony room on the 8th floor near an evelator on Wonder of the Seas. As it turns out we really like that central location. Easy to get to Central Park where we can have drinks before dinner. Plus walking through this area is so much prettier on our way to shows.
I agree that minimalist packing has become a silly craze, mainly to sell you-tube videos. It's a crock! Go on a holiday or a cruise and take the clothes you need to make your holiday comfortable. I've tried the minimalist thing and too many times I've been caught out and wasted time shopping for an item of clothing I needed. Checking in your baggage and waiting for it at the carousel is not that big of a deal. We're from Australia and we travel a lot for years to Europe and Asia and our luggage has never been lost. And it's so nice to have the clothes you need on your holiday.
As far as the internet goes if you’re doing a port intensive cruise & you have a phone plan that covers those ports then save your money on the internet. However if you’re going to have more than say two sea days & two or more ports without coverage that’s when I get the internet package.
Hey Matt, I used a door hanger that has fewer pockets as I cruised solo. I used the magnetic hooks and hung it on the wall. I used it for charge chords, ship info papers, sunscreen and such. I didn’t want those little things all over the small desk.😊
I use those magnetic hooks to hang the shoe organizer on the wall and i cut the organizer in half so its more manageable.. I have neck and back issues so the organizer to keep things higher up is very helpful. Loved this YT topic!
I'm old school. That means I have a full size suitcase and a carry on. I don't mind an interior cabin. When I started cruising most were and were even smaller than today's cabins. To be the cabin is just a place to sleep, shower and store your stuff. No specialty restaurants, one of the things about cruising was everything was included except for drinks and shopping. Those specialty restaurants aren't any better than the ones I have at home. Upgrades use to be free, and I use to not mind where my cabin was. That has changed, now that the ships are much larger I prefer to pick a cabin that is closest to where I'll spend most of my time or mid ship so I don't have to walk the entire length of the ship to get somewhere.
Clothes, for women can be from trousers and shirts, tops, swapped to dresses. Lighter. Have a fewer items that are jeans, trousers, nice tops for evenings. Mix and match outfits as sometimes people aren't afraid to wear the same top or trousers twice.
We did a European 10 day cruise and 4 days in Rome with just one carry-on per person. We didn't dress elegant for the fancy nights and we spent over $100 twice for laundry services. But, it was worth it as we had our luggage with us when we traveled. When we cruise domestically, my wife and I have our own carry-ons for everything essential AND one large suitcase for everything else. Extra shoes, our elegant clothes, extras. If this bag doesn't make it all is not lost.
Cruise with Oceania and you get 2 specialty reservations on the small ships and 4 on the large (included in your fare). And you can check in the morning to see if there's room that night after you use those up. Balcony cabin or bust. Having somewhere private to sit and watch as the ship leaves port can't be beat.
For my wife and I, we typically go on 10 to 14-night cruises but have still never had an issue with a lack of storage space. So, for us, it's the magnet hangers and over-the-door organizer that don't make sense. And we're not typically minimalist packers, but we did just earn status with Celebrity/RCCL that allows both of us a free bag of laundry, so we might just try the minimalist thing next time to see how that works.
For the internet, you can buy an hour at a computer, which gives you more than enough time to send emails to family / friends, and it costs a lot less than than the internet package. I did stay on the boat once, when we stopped at Cozumel and EVERYBODY got off. I had the hot tub + salt water pool + fresh water shower to myself the whole morning. It was GLORIOUS!
We always buy the Internet because I love to listen to my Classical music stations and also keep up with our local news by reading our local newspaper every day. The shoe holders didn’t really work for us (sister and me) because we didn’t have that many little items to keep track of. But I can see where it would be really valuable for a family with kids! But we always pack our magnetic hooks for hats and seapass holders and magnetic clips for excursion tickets, Compass, etc. You just need to find what does and does not work for you.
I just came back from RC's Utopia and the app did not work without the internet...Once onboard they offered internet per day and I purchased the internet for the days not at port or when at sea.... I agree, it would be idea to just bring a carry-on (especially after SW did not connect our bags to our port destination, Fl), but I was beyond anxious about limiting my clothing and toiletries. I felt much better bringing a larger bag with all my items that I checked-in.
I'd rather overpack than underpack. For those that are worried about paying for checked bags when flying, fyi Southwest allows 2 free checked bags per passenger. I know a lot of folks don't like them, but if ur looking to save on cost for checked bags, do it.
We were on board, and decided to book a future cruise. It was more expensive through them, than it was when we booked it online ourselves by around $600
I think your assessment is generally correct in that whether or not the tips are effective are based on the lifestyle. My hubby and I intentionally do not get internet on cruises because we like to be disconnected.
We found using next cruise was more of a hassle than the benefit. There were lots of routes and if you tried to change the cruise you can lose your deposit.
Matt, my wife puts the shoe organizer over the closet door on her side of the bed instead of the door for the head. That way, it's out of the way most of the time and she can easiy use it for small stuff like jewelry.
If you are cruising in the Caribbean, it makes sense to skip going ashore if you have already seen everything at that port a time or two. But if you are cruising in Europe, most ports are very interesting and offer a lot to see.
If you put 3 or 4 100# magnets on an available wall, it would hold your organizer, my organizer is 1/3 the size of yours and works well for my situation.
My wife and I are both vegetarians. We like to go in the suites that include access to the Coastal Kitchen. We eat at Coastal Kitchen once in a while, but we decided that we like eating at the Windjammer a lot of the time. We never eat at either the main dining room or the specialty restaurants.
I prefer to skip most ports of call, ship is empty and I cruise for the ship and ocean. I would love a cruise with no ports, only private island. I never do specialty dining I also not fan of main dining room. Between buffet and smaller complimentary place why, it's same food most times?? I have to book a balcony rather pay upfront and guarantee it. I need to see sunlight and love watching the ocean at night. Shoe organizer is a game changer. Don't need over the door one. Hang it on magnets.
The avoid overpacking tip only works for some folks and it takes some practice to get it to work. As a family of 4 with 2 young kiddos, avoiding checking any bags is a HUGE win when travelling BUT it does not save you any money unless youre a regular traveller. In fact, I'd argue it needs a much larger initial outlay to get the right gear. BUT the benefits... - No lost luggage anxiety - Not having to queue for ages to drop bags off - Not having to wait for bags to arrive when all you want to do is go to your hotel room/home - Not needing any special transportation to accomodate luggage. Does it benefit the cruise? Probably not. Does it make the overall travel experience better? Absolutely!
I always pack a few days' worth of clothes and use laundry service every day. It's not that I don't mind packing more, it's that I do not like my room smelling like a locker room. If I am going use laundry services, there is no sense in bringing a ton of clothes.
I agree about getting a nicer cabin. Some people say they don’t care about their cabin because they aren’t in them very much. That’s fine but In reality most people are in their cabins more than half of each day. We sleep 8 hours, relax in the middle of the day for a few hours, get ready for the day and ready for dinner in there and sometimes just want to decompress away from people and read or watch a movie.
Our last cruise, not RC, did not have magnetic walls. Just the inside of the bathroom door. I was able to use my shoe organizer over the outside of the bathroom door. It made a difference for me.
I never get wifi when I cruise with family. But I always get wifi when I cruise solo so that I can keep in touch! (They worry if they don't hear from me)
I also love not having good internet. I prefer not to even get alerts when I'm on the ship!!! If I need internet that bad I will go find a Starbucks at a port or a public library like I did in Georgetown.
We did our first cruise on Navigator of the Seas, 4 days with no specialty dining. I got a little sick of Windjammer, but overall I think it was fine. The same number of nights on a bigger ship with more free venues I think would be ideal. I can’t imagine being on a different Voyager or Radiance class ship without the dining package though.
Internet service for our last cruise would have cost over $800 - no thank you. We did fine without it and had told everyone back home that we would be incommunicado for the duration. We had also made plans with friends and family to take care of any mishaps so we felt ok without it. We did not do any planned shore excursions but did get off the ship to explore the port area as far as we felt like walking. We don’t like to do the touristy stuff anyway and would rather just explore on our own.
No to the over-the-door shoe hanger & magnets. We took magnets on several cruises & didn’t use them so we don’t take them anymore. Never saw the need for the over-the-door shoe thing!
I overpacked for our Christmas Cruise and found I spent most of my time in Swimwear shirts and Lycra swim too I chose 4 formal outfits so we could get a great updated portrait I only used 2 of those formal outfits I took 8 pairs of shorts and Shirts for on shore excursions and only wore 3 of them with my swimsuit under them … So in total I only used 1/4 of what I packed
I agree about the luggage especially when Canadian airlines now make you pay for carry on or make you check them. Thee is no advantage to streamlining my packing unless going to Europe where I may be taking trains.Internet is not a must…disconnect. Staying on the ship in the Caribbean is fine…those ships have a free pool, water, food. Specialty restaurants are an unnecessary extra. We are happy with our chosen inside cabin.
I find i like a balcony cabin the best. I'll book an inside cabin on a very port intensive itinerary, but i like the balcony. No overdoor organizer. I put things away out of site. Love magnetic clips for papers, tickets and a printed copy of my itinerary. Always check a bag and just take a backpack on the plane. I find I get too sore carrying everything through the airport. I also always bring several plastic clothes pins and a small clock with me. Most of the so called "cruise essentials " are just a waste of space.
I could care less about internet access. My reason is simple, I’m on vacation! I turn my phone off right after embarking the pier and lock it in the safe.
I agree with the specialty dining. With a week on the ship you’ll get sick and tired of the same free food. Book one or two specialty dining! You’re on vacation! But NO TO WI-FI! My husband and I love cruising because we’re DISCONNECTED from everyone! I call it Freedom at Sea!
when it comes to booking the next cruise onboard, we have for the last cruises checked to see if we could get a better price. As we already had booked a cruise we wanted to see if they could give us a better price. No, they could not. At no time they have come up with an better offer.
We did Royal Up on a Mediterranean Cruise and our bid was accepted. We wound up with a cabin right by Adventure Ocean - which would have been fine if we had kids. We don't. We heard loud children pretty much morning through night. Especially when they were going to and from Adventure Ocean. Ugh!
As a Flight Attendant I’m use to using one carry on bag whether land or sea. Also, I refuse to pay for WiFi. I’m on vacation and I’m vacating the Matrix 😊
ABOUT THE SHOE ORGANIZER: Great Storage. DON'T hang it over the door and that eliminates the problem of it moving around. Hand it on a wall using the magnets. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Put the shoe organizer on the bathroom door not the cabin door! It’s a huge space saver especially with kids because it can hold SO much and it’s totally out of the way.
Matt, I have a question on Royal Up… depending on cost, but you you try to go to a large suite (bigger than jr.) from a mid ship ocean balcony? We do have an issue with motion sickness.
I like getting Wi-Fi because when we’re in a group, we text each other to see where everyone is, coordinate times to meet, etc., and I do check my work and personal email periodically. One of the reasons I cruise is to visit ports I may not get a chance to visit otherwise. We tend to do an excursion in each port, and then spend some time in the port itself, and we try to go to new places to see new things. Disagree about specialty restaurants. I sometimes find they are too specialized, and I have a hard time finding something to eat on their menus. I prefer eating dinner in the MDR and breakfast and lunch in any of the free restaurants. That’s not to say we don’t eat at the specialty restaurants, especially if we have a credit for one, but generally, I prefer not to. I do like the magnet idea, and we brought them on our HAL cruise last summer, however, they did not stick to the walls. The bathroom door was the only place they worked, so not all Cruise ships have walls that magnets work on.
For me, I don't want me or my kids spending the cruise staring at their devices and for the money it cost I can pay for a shore excursion which is a better value for me. It's really refreshing to separate from technology for a few days.
So over the minimalist packing. I agree with Matt’s distress of under packing. I love to change my outfits based on my mood and what we are doing on a cruise. I packed in just one piece of luggage on a cruise last year and I was so stressed the entire time. I’m back to two roller bags and as long as I can handle my own luggage, I’m always comfortable with how much I bring. Not to mention, I’m happy because I have plenty of clothing options and everything else I need. We cruise about four times a year and a couple of years ago we switched to almost always purchasing the Unlimited Dining package. The MDR has just gone so far down in selection and quality in my opinion. I do give the MDR a chance again every now and then and almost always disappointed. Service and staff is still great though. Food, not so much. Thanks Matt for your videos! Safe travels everyone.
@@dchang3838 Depends on the eSIM. I've been recommended GigSky elsewhere, since it works aboard the ship with Cellular at Sea. It's also not cheap at $35 for 1 GB for 7 days.
You need to check the poundage of the hooks. Cheap hooks that only hold ten pounds aren't going to work well. We always make sure the hooks are a minimum of a 30 pound rating. If you plan on hanging particularly heavy things you can get hooks rated for as much as 100 pounds.
Question are the charms they always advertise really free? Or do you have to sit through a long winding sales pitch thing first? I’d love to start my daughter on them but she does not want to sit there and get high pressures saled into buying more
Totally agree with the shoe organizer thing. We always stay 4 in a cabin. Sometimes with kids and sometimes with adults but we have never had a problem needing more storage. I just think people take a lot of crap that they don't need.
I absolutely agree! I went on my first cruise last February n took so much stuff that I didn’t need yet these cruising pages said I would. I literally bought this stuff because these different people said they were necessities. Now I don’t even know what to do with them.
Matt or anyone in the comment section, we’re gonna stop at Ensenada as one of our ports of call in May. We planned on staying on board. We have a 3 year old and don’t see any excursions that really appeal to us with our son. Is there anything you suggest either on board for the day or outside of an excursion there?
Worst tip I ever followed was using one of those pop-up laundry baskets in the closet for all the dirty clothes. It makes the cabinet and everything in it smell like worn clothes, terrible. We always set aside drawers for dirty clothes, and transfer them to the suitcases when the drawers are full.
I’m finding his opinions to be slightly pretentious. Like we get it, you’re an avid cruiser so you have great amenities and don’t fly budget airlines. But I feel like your channel is supposed to help cruisers whether they are novices or veterans. You are disagreeing with cost saving advice. There’s no reason to overpack for a cruise. There’s no reason for speciality dining package. Don’t forget that cruises are some folks’ only and once in a while vacations and buying the basic package is a lot of money for them. Strongly dislike this video
I personally never understand why you need shoe organizers or magnetic hooks. We have been cruising for 20 years (yes, on some old ships that “retired” a couple of years after we sailed on them.) We hang clothing that has been worn and can be worn again in the closet, if you think that terrible then maybe it shouldn’t be worn again. I leave the “just in case” supplies like Tylenol in a toiletry bag and keep it tucked in my suitcase, it there in case we need it but does not need to easily accessible. Most cruise lines has shelving and drawers in the bathrooms when you can stow your daily stuff, I mean do you really need an eyeshadow palette with more shades then your days on the cruise? And how many times have you noticed the same person wearing the same outfit on the cruise ship? (Well maybe that leopard print jumpsuit.😉) I would rather pay to have laundry done than dragging/hauling a heavy suitcase, after all I am on vacation. In fact I put a large trash bag inside my suitcase, then pack my clothes & things in that, close it up since airplanes seem to have some funky smell that still seem to get inside your suitcase. When I go home and have had laundry done beforehand I am to tuck it all in the bag, close it up and when I get home still have freshly laundered clothes to put away.
Matt, I have a question on Royal Up… depending on cost, but you you try to go to a large suite (bigger than jr.) from a mid ship ocean balcony? We do have an issue with motion sickness.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Shoe organizer is a favorite for us, on a wall with magnet hooks, not a door. Keeps the “walk in and drop” clutter off the desk, counters and tables. Some tips work and some don’t. That’s the beauty of sharing experiences and ideas.
We use this idea every time even if it's only tell of us. I hate crap on the desk.
If it fits in my suitcase, I'm taking it! 😂
😂😂😂 same here and my Cruise is in August and I’m already putting things away😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sorry Matt, I don't agree about the internet and I'm also an IT geek myself. One of the things that initially drew us to cruising was disconnecting from the outside world. This has now become harder to do with the internet being available on ships. It's not a cost thing for myself, but more a distraction from spending some quality time with the family. I do appreciate some people do require it for various reasons, it's just not for me.
Besides, you can check on things while at port.
We use the internet to save our pictures and take them off our phones.
One tip I'd heard before our Alaska cruise, that I disagreed with once we were onboard was to be on the public deck areas during our visit to Glacier Bay. I found that everyone congregated to the same areas (of course, they were the places with the best views). We went back to our cabin, and the view was the same on our own balcony, and, we had the view all to ourselves.
The Specialty Dinning is a big no for me. We once dinned at Chops Grille and when we saw the sides were pretty much the same thing you get at the MDR, that is a big no for me, you are paying more for the same.
Chops isn’t anything to write home about in my city either. But I went to 555 Fahrenheit when I cruised on Mardi Gras last February and it was fantastic. I already have it booked for my birthday cruise next year 😂
Yeah, but you're actually getting a steak instead of thin shoe leather
@@BEYONDYOURIQ The fillet you get at the MDR for $20 is exactly the same as the one in Chops, and its $20
@@MR3DDev good to know. Thanks
Chops is extremely subpar
The over door organizer comes in clutch for young kids. But better option: get the version that hangs off a hanger hook or has the grommets. Either hang it in the closet or use the magnet hooks to hang it on the wall. Boom solves the door issues. Also don’t get quite so long of one. 12 slots is fine you don’t need 25.
Hard agree! I used a 7-pocket organizer to toss in all the little things that would clutter up the desk area: chapsticks, sunscreens, hand sanitizers. Loved it.
I disagree about the shoe storage, having that for my family of four was a game changer. It was great for sun screen, sunglasses, flip flops, goggles for kids, medicine and so much more. Can’t imagine cruising without it.
We had the airlines lose our luggage back when Ft Lauderdale shut down for days due to flooding. Our bags were put on another flight and our bags were lost for days! We had to make a trip to Walmart the morning of embarkation for clothes! We also had to go on a search and rescue mission for our cruise terminal checked bag on another cruise that was tucked away in a crew stairwell and we finally found it about 9pm! For us it’s minimal packing and a carry on and personal item that we carry on both the plane and the cruise!
I usually try to stuff a couple days worth of clothes, plus all my essentials, into a carry-on. That way, if my big bag gets lost or delayed, I have something to wear. If that means that my big bag is only half full - fine. I can bring something home, or I can not pack as neatly and tightly for the return flight.
I feel like I overpack every time and usually go home with one clean outfit. So if you plan on doing lots of swimming, and you want to dress up for dinner every night ...you will need a lot of clothes.
Better to overpack than to not. I see lots of passengers with just the 1 carryon bag and think to myself, gross! Lol dont mean to judge, but how do folks re-wear clothes that they sweat in....I'm sure they aint paying for laundry service either
@patrickbeach3070 That's exactly what I did on my 4 day cruise. Changed clothes twice a day and wore 3 different swimsuits. I also had workout clothes for the fitness classes.
@Tru_00 you have to! Otherwise you run out and have to wash undies in the sink...no thank you!
@@andyl9920 There are loyalty perks that have laundry service on many cruise lines.
I choose the internet package because I have family and I don't like the idea of being totally disconnected when a family member may try to contact me if something happens.
I agree with the tip about room location, especially on the biggest ships. We picked a balcony room on the 8th floor near an evelator on Wonder of the Seas. As it turns out we really like that central location. Easy to get to Central Park where we can have drinks before dinner. Plus walking through this area is so much prettier on our way to shows.
I agree that minimalist packing has become a silly craze, mainly to sell you-tube videos. It's a crock! Go on a holiday or a cruise and take the clothes you need to make your holiday comfortable. I've tried the minimalist thing and too many times I've been caught out and wasted time shopping for an item of clothing I needed. Checking in your baggage and waiting for it at the carousel is not that big of a deal. We're from Australia and we travel a lot for years to Europe and Asia and our luggage has never been lost. And it's so nice to have the clothes you need on your holiday.
As far as the internet goes if you’re doing a port intensive cruise & you have a phone plan that covers those ports then save your money on the internet. However if you’re going to have more than say two sea days & two or more ports without coverage that’s when I get the internet package.
Hey Matt, I used a door hanger that has fewer pockets as I cruised solo. I used the magnetic hooks and hung it on the wall. I used it for charge chords, ship info papers, sunscreen and such. I didn’t want those little things all over the small desk.😊
Hanging wet clothing and/or towels on your balcony is not recommended, because it/they might end up in the ocean.
You can secure it on your chair, which is what I did.
@@Tru_00 What did you use to secure it to the chair?
@@bethanyaudion9441 The back part of the chair where you adjust the incline. You can lock in any article of clothing.
@@bethanyaudion9441 The back of the chair where you adjust the recline, you can securely lock your clothing there.
@@bethanyaudion9441 towel clips work great for this. Happy cruising!
I use those magnetic hooks to hang the shoe organizer on the wall and i cut the organizer in half so its more manageable.. I have neck and back issues so the organizer to keep things higher up is very helpful. Loved this YT topic!
I'm old school. That means I have a full size suitcase and a carry on. I don't mind an interior cabin. When I started cruising most were and were even smaller than today's cabins. To be the cabin is just a place to sleep, shower and store your stuff. No specialty restaurants, one of the things about cruising was everything was included except for drinks and shopping. Those specialty restaurants aren't any better than the ones I have at home. Upgrades use to be free, and I use to not mind where my cabin was. That has changed, now that the ships are much larger I prefer to pick a cabin that is closest to where I'll spend most of my time or mid ship so I don't have to walk the entire length of the ship to get somewhere.
Clothes, for women can be from trousers and shirts, tops, swapped to dresses. Lighter. Have a fewer items that are jeans, trousers, nice tops for evenings. Mix and match outfits as sometimes people aren't afraid to wear the same top or trousers twice.
We did a European 10 day cruise and 4 days in Rome with just one carry-on per person. We didn't dress elegant for the fancy nights and we spent over $100 twice for laundry services. But, it was worth it as we had our luggage with us when we traveled. When we cruise domestically, my wife and I have our own carry-ons for everything essential AND one large suitcase for everything else. Extra shoes, our elegant clothes, extras. If this bag doesn't make it all is not lost.
Cruise with Oceania and you get 2 specialty reservations on the small ships and 4 on the large (included in your fare). And you can check in the morning to see if there's room that night after you use those up.
Balcony cabin or bust. Having somewhere private to sit and watch as the ship leaves port can't be beat.
For my wife and I, we typically go on 10 to 14-night cruises but have still never had an issue with a lack of storage space. So, for us, it's the magnet hangers and over-the-door organizer that don't make sense. And we're not typically minimalist packers, but we did just earn status with Celebrity/RCCL that allows both of us a free bag of laundry, so we might just try the minimalist thing next time to see how that works.
For the internet, you can buy an hour at a computer, which gives you more than enough time to send emails to family / friends, and it costs a lot less than than the internet package.
I did stay on the boat once, when we stopped at Cozumel and EVERYBODY got off.
I had the hot tub + salt water pool + fresh water shower to myself the whole morning. It was GLORIOUS!
We always buy the Internet because I love to listen to my Classical music stations and also keep up with our local news by reading our local newspaper every day. The shoe holders didn’t really work for us (sister and me) because we didn’t have that many little items to keep track of. But I can see where it would be really valuable for a family with kids! But we always pack our magnetic hooks for hats and seapass holders and magnetic clips for excursion tickets, Compass, etc. You just need to find what does and does not work for you.
Well said!
You could also download your favorite music for the trip.
We used a net shoe organizer over the glass shower doors to hold shower items such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, etc.
I just came back from RC's Utopia and the app did not work without the internet...Once onboard they offered internet per day and I purchased the internet for the days not at port or when at sea.... I agree, it would be idea to just bring a carry-on (especially after SW did not connect our bags to our port destination, Fl), but I was beyond anxious about limiting my clothing and toiletries. I felt much better bringing a larger bag with all my items that I checked-in.
I'd rather overpack than underpack. For those that are worried about paying for checked bags when flying, fyi Southwest allows 2 free checked bags per passenger. I know a lot of folks don't like them, but if ur looking to save on cost for checked bags, do it.
We were on board, and decided to book a future cruise. It was more expensive through them, than it was when we booked it online ourselves by around $600
I think your assessment is generally correct in that whether or not the tips are effective are based on the lifestyle. My hubby and I intentionally do not get internet on cruises because we like to be disconnected.
We found using next cruise was more of a hassle than the benefit. There were lots of routes and if you tried to change the cruise you can lose your deposit.
Matt, my wife puts the shoe organizer over the closet door on her side of the bed instead of the door for the head. That way, it's out of the way most of the time and she can easiy use it for small stuff like jewelry.
If you are cruising in the Caribbean, it makes sense to skip going ashore if you have already seen everything at that port a time or two. But if you are cruising in Europe, most ports are very interesting and offer a lot to see.
Minimal packing won't work if you change weather types too often. You may need more layers, which means more space to pack clothes.
If you put 3 or 4 100# magnets on an available wall, it would hold your organizer, my organizer is 1/3 the size of yours and works well for my situation.
I use the magnets and have rigged up some para cord to hang things better in the room vs the stupid in shower clothes line
I adore dressing up on cruises and I take a different dressy outfit for each night on a cruise! It's totally worth it.
My wife and I are both vegetarians. We like to go in the suites that include access to the Coastal Kitchen. We eat at Coastal Kitchen once in a while, but we decided that we like eating at the Windjammer a lot of the time. We never eat at either the main dining room or the specialty restaurants.
I prefer to skip most ports of call, ship is empty and I cruise for the ship and ocean. I would love a cruise with no ports, only private island. I never do specialty dining I also not fan of main dining room. Between buffet and smaller complimentary place why, it's same food most times?? I have to book a balcony rather pay upfront and guarantee it. I need to see sunlight and love watching the ocean at night. Shoe organizer is a game changer. Don't need over the door one. Hang it on magnets.
The avoid overpacking tip only works for some folks and it takes some practice to get it to work.
As a family of 4 with 2 young kiddos, avoiding checking any bags is a HUGE win when travelling BUT it does not save you any money unless youre a regular traveller. In fact, I'd argue it needs a much larger initial outlay to get the right gear. BUT the benefits...
- No lost luggage anxiety
- Not having to queue for ages to drop bags off
- Not having to wait for bags to arrive when all you want to do is go to your hotel room/home
- Not needing any special transportation to accomodate luggage.
Does it benefit the cruise? Probably not. Does it make the overall travel experience better? Absolutely!
I fly southwest, its 2 free checked bags per passenger. Can also bring a carryon with a backpack when boarding
I always pack a few days' worth of clothes and use laundry service every day. It's not that I don't mind packing more, it's that I do not like my room smelling like a locker room. If I am going use laundry services, there is no sense in bringing a ton of clothes.
I agree about getting a nicer cabin. Some people say they don’t care about their cabin because they aren’t in them very much. That’s fine but In reality most people are in their cabins more than half of each day. We sleep 8 hours, relax in the middle of the day for a few hours, get ready for the day and ready for dinner in there and sometimes just want to decompress away from people and read or watch a movie.
Our last cruise, not RC, did not have magnetic walls. Just the inside of the bathroom door. I was able to use my shoe organizer over the outside of the bathroom door. It made a difference for me.
Going on wonder of the seas in may… I’ve watched DOZENS of ur videos to prepare:)
I never get wifi when I cruise with family. But I always get wifi when I cruise solo so that I can keep in touch! (They worry if they don't hear from me)
I also love not having good internet. I prefer not to even get alerts when I'm on the ship!!! If I need internet that bad I will go find a Starbucks at a port or a public library like I did in Georgetown.
We did our first cruise on Navigator of the Seas, 4 days with no specialty dining. I got a little sick of Windjammer, but overall I think it was fine. The same number of nights on a bigger ship with more free venues I think would be ideal. I can’t imagine being on a different Voyager or Radiance class ship without the dining package though.
Internet service for our last cruise would have cost over $800 - no thank you. We did fine without it and had told everyone back home that we would be incommunicado for the duration. We had also made plans with friends and family to take care of any mishaps so we felt ok without it. We did not do any planned shore excursions but did get off the ship to explore the port area as far as we felt like walking. We don’t like to do the touristy stuff anyway and would rather just explore on our own.
No to the over-the-door shoe hanger & magnets. We took magnets on several cruises & didn’t use them so we don’t take them anymore. Never saw the need for the over-the-door shoe thing!
I have sailed so many times; the ports are old hat. To me, the ship is the destination. I always get off the ship in Labadee and Cocoa Kay.
Could use the magnets to hang the organizer on a bare wall.
I overpacked for our Christmas Cruise and found I spent most of my time in Swimwear shirts and Lycra swim too I chose 4 formal outfits so we could get a great updated portrait I only used 2 of those formal outfits I took 8 pairs of shorts and Shirts for on shore excursions and only wore 3 of them with my swimsuit under them … So in total I only used 1/4 of what I packed
I agree about the luggage especially when Canadian airlines now make you pay for carry on or make you check them. Thee is no advantage to streamlining my packing unless going to Europe where I may be taking trains.Internet is not a must…disconnect. Staying on the ship in the Caribbean is fine…those ships have a free pool, water, food. Specialty restaurants are an unnecessary extra. We are happy with our chosen inside cabin.
I find i like a balcony cabin the best. I'll book an inside cabin on a very port intensive itinerary, but i like the balcony. No overdoor organizer. I put things away out of site. Love magnetic clips for papers, tickets and a printed copy of my itinerary. Always check a bag and just take a backpack on the plane. I find I get too sore carrying everything through the airport. I also always bring several plastic clothes pins and a small clock with me. Most of the so called "cruise essentials " are just a waste of space.
I could care less about internet access. My reason is simple, I’m on vacation! I turn my phone off right after embarking the pier and lock it in the safe.
Agreed! I’m on call at work 24/7. It’s great I can tell everyone I’m literally not reachable.
I agree with the specialty dining. With a week on the ship you’ll get sick and tired of the same free food. Book one or two specialty dining! You’re on vacation!
But NO TO WI-FI! My husband and I love cruising because we’re DISCONNECTED from everyone! I call it Freedom at Sea!
when it comes to booking the next cruise onboard, we have for the last cruises checked to see if we could get a better price. As we already had booked a cruise we wanted to see if they could give us a better price. No, they could not. At no time they have come up with an better offer.
Kinda need a way to contact the people you are cruising with. Without Internet that's not always possible
Such great information!!
LOL never realized that my husband and I are minimalist when it comes to packing. We just take one backpack each and one carry on for souvenirs.
We did Royal Up on a Mediterranean Cruise and our bid was accepted. We wound up with a cabin right by Adventure Ocean - which would have been fine if we had kids. We don't. We heard loud children pretty much morning through night. Especially when they were going to and from Adventure Ocean. Ugh!
As a Flight Attendant I’m use to using one carry on bag whether land or sea. Also, I refuse to pay for WiFi. I’m on vacation and I’m vacating the Matrix 😊
ABOUT THE SHOE ORGANIZER: Great Storage. DON'T hang it over the door and that eliminates the problem of it moving around. Hand it on a wall using the magnets. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Put the shoe organizer on the bathroom door not the cabin door! It’s a huge space saver especially with kids because it can hold SO much and it’s totally out of the way.
A cruise tip that doesn't work and never should be happening is the double, triple, and even quadruple tipping
Matt, I have a question on Royal Up… depending on cost, but you you try to go to a large suite (bigger than jr.) from a mid ship ocean balcony? We do have an issue with motion sickness.
TOTALLY DISAGREE with the shoe storage hack!! This is one of the BEST hacks that we've heard and use it on EVERY cruise!!
Disconnecting is overrated.
2 clip magnets one for the daily news one for the excursion envelopes in order
I like getting Wi-Fi because when we’re in a group, we text each other to see where everyone is, coordinate times to meet, etc., and I do check my work and personal email periodically.
One of the reasons I cruise is to visit ports I may not get a chance to visit otherwise. We tend to do an excursion in each port, and then spend some time in the port itself, and we try to go to new places to see new things.
Disagree about specialty restaurants. I sometimes find they are too specialized, and I have a hard time finding something to eat on their menus. I prefer eating dinner in the MDR and breakfast and lunch in any of the free restaurants. That’s not to say we don’t eat at the specialty restaurants, especially if we have a credit for one, but generally, I prefer not to.
I do like the magnet idea, and we brought them on our HAL cruise last summer, however, they did not stick to the walls. The bathroom door was the only place they worked, so not all Cruise ships have walls that magnets work on.
For me, I don't want me or my kids spending the cruise staring at their devices and for the money it cost I can pay for a shore excursion which is a better value for me. It's really refreshing to separate from technology for a few days.
I agree with just about all your points.
Although, Matt, you don't have to buy a Wifi package anymore, cause your Pinnacle. And you get free Wifi for your entire cruise.
I felt the same way before I was pinnacle. And I actually buy a second plan so I can use my laptop and phone concurrently
So over the minimalist packing. I agree with Matt’s distress of under packing. I love to change my outfits based on my mood and what we are doing on a cruise. I packed in just one piece of luggage on a cruise last year and I was so stressed the entire time. I’m back to two roller bags and as long as I can handle my own luggage, I’m always comfortable with how much I bring. Not to mention, I’m happy because I have plenty of clothing options and everything else I need. We cruise about four times a year and a couple of years ago we switched to almost always purchasing the Unlimited Dining package. The MDR has just gone so far down in selection and quality in my opinion. I do give the MDR a chance again every now and then and almost always disappointed. Service and staff is still great though. Food, not so much. Thanks Matt for your videos! Safe travels everyone.
“plus i’m lazy,” 😂😂 😂😅😅😅😅
Keeping it real!
A travel esim is a much better alternative to the cruise Wi-Fi. 1 gig of data lasted me my whole Cruise. Good enough for me for $25
Can you use travel esim on the ship?
@dchang3838 yes I do. It works near land or in Port but not all the time. A great alternative if you just want casual internet
@@dchang3838 Depends on the eSIM. I've been recommended GigSky elsewhere, since it works aboard the ship with Cellular at Sea. It's also not cheap at $35 for 1 GB for 7 days.
I tried using magnet hooks from amazon and they couldn't hold anyrhing just slide down. Any recommendations
You need to check the poundage of the hooks. Cheap hooks that only hold ten pounds aren't going to work well. We always make sure the hooks are a minimum of a 30 pound rating. If you plan on hanging particularly heavy things you can get hooks rated for as much as 100 pounds.
I had that issue so I put another hook under the first one. The bottom hook will help with the weight.
Question are the charms they always advertise really free? Or do you have to sit through a long winding sales pitch thing first? I’d love to start my daughter on them but she does not want to sit there and get high pressures saled into buying more
Totally agree with the shoe organizer thing. We always stay 4 in a cabin. Sometimes with kids and sometimes with adults but we have never had a problem needing more storage. I just think people take a lot of crap that they don't need.
I absolutely agree! I went on my first cruise last February n took so much stuff that I didn’t need yet these cruising pages said I would. I literally bought this stuff because these different people said they were necessities. Now I don’t even know what to do with them.
I agree with everything you said, lol
Even the expensive internet sucks. This screams unhealthy relationship with technology.
Matt or anyone in the comment section, we’re gonna stop at Ensenada as one of our ports of call in May. We planned on staying on board. We have a 3 year old and don’t see any excursions that really appeal to us with our son. Is there anything you suggest either on board for the day or outside of an excursion there?
Always go to Chops, never get Internet, don't want to be bothered while on vacation
Worst tip I ever followed was using one of those pop-up laundry baskets in the closet for all the dirty clothes. It makes the cabinet and everything in it smell like worn clothes, terrible. We always set aside drawers for dirty clothes, and transfer them to the suitcases when the drawers are full.
We just put dirty clothes in one of the empty suitcases under the bed.
I like using the pop up hampers
I’m finding his opinions to be slightly pretentious. Like we get it, you’re an avid cruiser so you have great amenities and don’t fly budget airlines. But I feel like your channel is supposed to help cruisers whether they are novices or veterans.
You are disagreeing with cost saving advice. There’s no reason to overpack for a cruise. There’s no reason for speciality dining package. Don’t forget that cruises are some folks’ only and once in a while vacations and buying the basic package is a lot of money for them. Strongly dislike this video
The over-the-door shoe organizer is my least favorite tip. It’s just a bad idea IMO. But other people swear by it.
Kind of funny that most of the tips Matt doesn't like are the ones that do not put more money in RCCL's pocket.
I personally never understand why you need shoe organizers or magnetic hooks. We have been cruising for 20 years (yes, on some old ships that “retired” a couple of years after we sailed on them.) We hang clothing that has been worn and can be worn again in the closet, if you think that terrible then maybe it shouldn’t be worn again. I leave the “just in case” supplies like Tylenol in a toiletry bag and keep it tucked in my suitcase, it there in case we need it but does not need to easily accessible. Most cruise lines has shelving and drawers in the bathrooms when you can stow your daily stuff, I mean do you really need an eyeshadow palette with more shades then your days on the cruise? And how many times have you noticed the same person wearing the same outfit on the cruise ship? (Well maybe that leopard print jumpsuit.😉) I would rather pay to have laundry done than dragging/hauling a heavy suitcase, after all I am on vacation. In fact I put a large trash bag inside my suitcase, then pack my clothes & things in that, close it up since airplanes seem to have some funky smell that still seem to get inside your suitcase. When I go home and have had laundry done beforehand I am to tuck it all in the bag, close it up and when I get home still have freshly laundered clothes to put away.
Please speak more slowly and more clearly. Sometimes you mumble quickly and I cannot understand you. Sorry.
Please talk slower
First
To avoid the restriction on alcohol, filling up the mouth wash bottle with hard liquor.
Sail with Royal and get royally screwed with empty promises, rudeness and apologies.
Rude staff on Royal
Matt, I have a question on Royal Up… depending on cost, but you you try to go to a large suite (bigger than jr.) from a mid ship ocean balcony? We do have an issue with motion sickness.