I love it when cruisers who watch my videos come up to say hello on board ships, like
on my recent Norwegian Viva Med cruise where I met so many.
So, I decided to ask them what tip, hack or trick had most changed their cruising for
the better that I should share in this video.
We agreed on 5 of them that I do think could change your cruising as much as it did theirs.
As you’ll see some, including the last one, may sound rather mundane at first - but can
make a massive difference.
If you are new here, welcome aboard.
I’m Gary Bembridge making it fun and easy to find, plan and enjoy incredible cruise
vacations – and now let’s get on to thse cruise changing tricks.
The first reminded me of when we went on cruises with my mother and mother-in-law.
They would repeatedly get lost and confused about which way to go, especially when leaving
their cabin.
It wasn’t until late in my cruising life I discovered what savvy experienced cruisers
already knew, and that is are signals cruise lines have put in place to help passengers
not get so lost.
Signals I still rely on today!
For example, cabin numbers always start at number one at the front of the ship and, as
you walk towards the rear of the ship, the numbers go higher.
So, I could tell my Mum if the numbers were going up as she walked along the corridor
she was heading to the rear of the ship, and if going down then towards the front.
It transformed cruising for my Mum.
People I met on Viva pointed out Norwegian makes it even easier with signals in the carpets
too.
On this ship it was triangles pointing the direction to head for the front of the ship.
On their older ships it’s the direction fish in the carpet design are swimming.
I relied on the triangles in the carpet every day on my Viva cruise to ensure I was heading
the right way!
Other lines also added even more signals, like on a Disney Magic cruise I saw they had
metal fish above the door numbers pointing the direction to the rear, and if the map
in the carpet was the right-side-up, I knew that was the direction to the front of the
ship.
Another signal I used with my mum is that on most, but not all ships, is the even numbered
cabins are all on the left-hand side (or the port side) as she faced the front of the ship.
And odd numbered cabins on the right-hand side (or the starboard side) as she faces
the front of the ship.
So that's how she could tell the left and right.
Some lines like Cunard made it even easier for her when we went on with red carpets on
the port/ left side and blue on the starboard/ right, making it simple when she came out
the lifts to know which side their cabin was on as she just had to remember the carpet
colour.
So, one great trick is to use these, and check if your ship has any specific added signals,
like those I mentioned we had on Viva, to make finding your way around easier.
But the next one people suggested I include was about saving money, which everyone loves
but they felt too many miss out on.
And that is booking a future cruise, or buying a future cruise deposit certificate, while
on your cruise if you want to sail the line again in the next few years.
Most of the people I met on Norwegian Viva told me they were doing this as the line was
giving $100 on board credit for every future cruise deposit certificate worth $250 bought.
If they bought four certificates it was $500 on board credit not $400.
This bonus only available on the cruise.
Booking on board always has discounts or added extra onboard credit we cannot get anywhere
else.
Plus, any booking can still be linked to our travel agent, and many allow no-penalty changes
at least once to bookings made on board.
This is a big plus for cruisers like me from countries like the UK which do not have refundable
deposit booking options.
So, a booking I did on my previous cruise to the Viva on Regent Seven Seas, part of
the same group, allows me a no penalty change I could not get had I booked back home.
But what if you don’t want to cruise on the same line?
Some I met on Norwegian Viva like to jump between lines like me, and we all agreed this
next trick was something not known enough.
And this is that some, though not enough, cruise lines will status match when we try
a new line.
I have varying degrees of loyalty on different cruise lines, but I'm often trying cruise
lines I haven't been on before or very much.
A few cruises before this Norwegian one, I went on MSC Virtuosa to the Norwegian Fjords
and they status match other cruise lines, or even high hotel or airline status.
I gave them proof of my top-tier Diamond status on Cunard, and they matched it, which unlocked
perks like free specialty dining, on-board discounts, and priority embarkation and disembarkation.
At time of making this, Virgin Voyages are also doing the same.
Some lines share status within the same group.
I had no status with Royal Caribbean having only cruised on them once, but I have high
Diamond status equivalent on their sister line Celebrity Cruises, and they matched that,
giving me perks like access to the Royal Lounge with snacks, coffees, and happy hour.
So, we all felt cruisers need to know to check whether any new cruise line they’re looking
at will status match any loyalty program.
Unfortunately, Norwegian does not status match, but we all felt there were some things we’d
seen cruisers miss out on this trip, and other cruise lines, that people should know about.
And there are five we all agreed on.
First by not going to the art auctions, like the packed one on Norwegian Viva, people missed
out on the free drinks served there.
Second by not going to the spa on embarkation day and getting a raffle ticket.
The draw took place just after we set sail and as you must be there to win, prizes all
went to the relatively few people who remembered to turn up for it.
I didn’t win on this trip but frequently have won free spa treatments this way by making
sure I am there for the draw.
Third, although I didn’t go to the shopping events where they launch supposedly new lines,
many did to get the free drinks and enter the raffles.
Fourth, going to the port shopping talks, particularly in Alaska, Caribbean and Mediterranean,
as they hand out loads of freebies, from stickers to bracelet charms, which you can then go
each day to the desk and collect another one, or get the other free ones by visiting nominated
stores like Effy, Diamonds International, Tanzanite International, or Delsol Colour
Change.
Fifth, going to cocktail parties you get invited to, like I was on this trip and others, as
they have plenty of free drinks and canapes.
But perhaps the most surprising thing we all got excited about and agreed that more people
need to know about and factor in, was not something sexy at all, and rather mundane
even!
We agreed this one is great for cruisers who like to pack light, or just travel with carry-on
bags.
It is crazy costly getting laundry done and many ships, Norwegian Viva included, do not
have guest laundry rooms to do our own.
But we all loved the offer to send a bag full of laundry for a set price that some lines
run part way through the cruise.
On Norwegian Viva it was just $29 for a big laundry bag, which we could pack full of laundry.
The cruise was 10 days, and I could pack light as I knew this offer would pop up part way
through the cruise.
So, I always ask my cabin steward when the offer will be run and plan for that.
By the way, check your loyalty program status or cabin perks as many of those include free
laundry, like on that Royal Caribbean cruise I mentioned earlier I got the status match
on
Are there any other things that you think smart cruisers should talk about more and
let people know about?
Leave those in the comments, but meantime, why join me over in this video where you will
find out seven things that smart cruisers do when they book their cruises - and why!
See you over there.