Cruisers share their top tips for getting the most out of your voyage
IT'S easy to get overwhelmed on a cruise holiday, with vast quantities of food, drink and activities onboard.
But a group of keen cruisers have shared their tips for making sure you get the most out of your holiday - and you need to be prepared.
If you're a novice cruiser of a veteran voyager, these tips might come in handy.
Bring magnetic hooks
Cruise ship cabins are notoriously small, but there's one way to get extra storage - according to one cruise-goer, the walls are magnetic.
Reddit user recommends guests bring some magnetic hooks with them to keep your room neat and tidy.
They wrote: "The walls are magnetic - bring a couple of magnetic hooks and it instantly keeps things organised.
"Hang hats, bathing suits, lanyards..."
Order two at a time
All inclusive dining offered by most cruises is something a lot of guests look forward to.
With food from around the world to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Reddit user recommends ordering two at a time to get the most out of your dining experience.
They said: "You can get as many plates of whatever you want as many times as you want.
"Order two as a time if you want. Might be harder on lobster night, but they'll always accommodate if possible."
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Pack essentials in hand luggage
Hartastic also warned that accessing your luggage on a cruise can be difficult.
They said you will often experience a gap between when you board and when you get your stuff, so advised guests to pack a separate bag containing everything you'll need for your first day.
They said: "Getting on a ship is a lot like getting on an airplane in that you give up your luggage before you go through security to get on board... and then it shows up at your room sometime that first day.
"So anything you absolutely want to have the first day (sunscreen, sunglasses, swimsuit if you want to swim, etc.) be sure to toss in a carry on since you never know exactly when your luggage will come."
Enjoy the late night peace and quiet
People suffering from jet lag might benefit from the next cruise tip.
User encouraged cruisers to take advantage of a sleepless night by getting out on deck while everyone else is asleep.
They said that is the best time to use facilities as they have just been cleaned.
They wrote: "If you wake up at 2am, it is the best time to wander around the take pictures, use the freshly sanitised tubs, or enjoy the serene moments.
Get a room close to the lift
If you don't want to spend too much time walking to and from your room, this next piece of advice is for you.
User said: "I'm not sure if this is something most people don't know as it may be totally obvious to everyone, but before my husband and I went on our first cruise our friends (that are frequent cruisers) told us to book our room as close to the elevator as we could.
"We (stupidly) did not do that and the walk to our room every time from the elevator took forever. I definitely regret that."
However, another Reddit user warned that getting a room too close to a lift might mean your room is too noisy.
wrote: "There is a sweet spot though. Too close and there’s a lot of noise, especially if it’s a ship with one of the big atriums.
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"I usually try to book 4-5 staterooms away from the elevators, that way it’s pretty close, but you don’t get the noise of everyone coming off the elevators at all hours."
Cruisers have also revealed where to stay on a cruise ship to avoid seasickness – and it might save you some money.