Cruise line secrets add an extra thrill to planning your cruise holiday. With so many cruise lines and destinations to choose from, it’s essential to do thorough research to uncover hidden secrets that can make your experience even better.
Whether you’re creating a list of must-visit spots or learning insider secrets, preparing ahead guarantees a memorable voyage full of exciting discoveries and relaxation.
15 Cruise Line Secrets
These 15 cruise line secrets that can transform your voyage into an unforgettable adventure.
1: No Blood is Kept Onboard
Cruise ships don’t have the facilities onboard to store blood. When an announcement is made that someone needs a blood transfusion due to an emergency injury, anyone with the required blood type is asked to report to the medical facilities.
In such a case, the ship’s hospital becomes the centre of activity. Cruises ensure their facilities can handle a lot of medical situations, keeping mind the safety and well-being of passengers.
2: Cruise Ships do Discharge Certain Waste
In the cruise industry, ships strive to manage waste effectively as they travel across the oceans. Everything, from food to toilet waste, is processed in onboard treatment plants.
The reason for this is to protect the environment. Initiatives focus on minimizing impact, ensuring anything recyclable or treatable is handled properly. This effort is crucial for sustainable cruising.
3: Crew Members Enjoy Discounted Drinks
On cruise ships, crew members have the advantage of enjoying discounted drinks such as $8 beer, $14 glass of wine, or $16 cocktail per glass. This secret perk extends throughout the decks of the ship, making drinks packages a popular choice among the crew despite their modest cruise ship salaries.
4: Cruise Ship CCTV Cameras
On cruise ships, CCTV cameras monitor various areas including balconies, ensuring safety for both guests and crew. These cameras are part of the ship’s efforts to maintain relations with guests, offering a lot of reassurance.
Mindful of privacy, their presence remains a secret in many places onboard the ship, especially on balconies where activities like smoking or having intimate relations occur, providing a sense of security without causing surprise among passenger.
5: Sniffer Dogs Could Board Your Ship
When boarding cruise ships, security is paramount. Drug dogs patrol the corridors, ensuring no drug smuggler goes unnoticed. The mere smell of marijuana can trigger fears among passengers and crew alike. If someone is suspected of drug use, they may face serious consequences as an offender.
Ports enforce strict security measures to prevent drugs from entering, keeping everyone safe. For anyone tempted, the risks are clear the ship is no place for illegal substances, and reasons for such actions are scrutinized.
6: Lifeguards are Not Always Available
On cruise lines, the safety of children around pools is critical, yet lifeguards are not always present. Anyone can be a lookout in case of trouble, as staff members rely on someone to alert them to something amiss.
Despite nobody being officially designated, each member must play a role in ensuring the point of safety is upheld.
7: Pirate Threats Are Real, But Rarely Happen
In the Caribbean, known for its azure waters and vibrant cultures, adventurers often recount tales of daring encounters with pirates. These maritime pirates once roamed these seas, using weapons and water cannons aboard their ships to launch surprise attacks on unsuspecting vessels.
Today, modern cruise ships deploy advanced devices and defensive tools to ward off any historical pirate occasions, ensuring passenger safety and preserving the region’s rich pirate lore.
8: Morgue on Cruise ship
On one of the world’s largest cruise ships, accommodating thousands of guests of every age and body type, a lesser-known fact is the presence of a discreet morgue to handle unfortunate occasions.
These floating cities offer diverse holiday itineraries to suit all people, ensuring a comfortable journey with ample provision for every bit of comfort and enjoyment throughout their cruises, including some provision onboard for storing a dead body.
9: WiFi is Not Always Essential
WiFi packages available on cruise ships can be expensive, though not nearly as costly as unintentionally leaving your phone’s mobile internet on and connecting to roaming services. Avoiding those charges is essential.
If you want to go online but don’t need it for work while sailing, it’s usually better to wait until you’re in port, where free WiFi is often readily available. The crew can usually point you to places where you can access the internet for free, so feel free to ask them for recommendations.
10: Illness Bugs Can Spread
On cruise ships, the buffet is a popular dining choice for everyone, offering a wide variety of dishes and attracting large numbers of people.
To prevent the spread of viruses, it’s essential for everyone to follow the rule of using serving utensils and not using their hands at the buffet.
Handwashing stations are strategically placed around the ship to promote good hygiene, debunking the myth that buffets are breeding grounds for illness.
11: Less Expensive Excursions Are Achievable
When exploring a new city area during a cruise, there’s a wealth of landmarks and dining experiences to discover. While cruise line prices for shore excursions can be higher, opting for third-party tours often offers more affordable adventures with similar experiences and risks.
These tours might include transportation via shuttle buses from the port to various excursions around town, providing a broader range of experiences at a fraction of the price compared to ship-organized options.
12: Not All Cabins Are Equal
Balcony cabins, suites, and standard rooms are among the various cabin types available on cruise ships. Each category offers its own perks and considerations, such as proximity to elevators and potential noise from areas like the pool deck or nightclub.
Deck plans can reveal secret spots and quieter rooms that appeal to everyone, whether for relaxation or easy access to onboard theatre and dining time.
Choosing the right cabin involves weighing these factors to ensure a comfortable walk through your cruise experience.
13: All-Inclusive Offers
All aspects of a cruise, from fare and gratuities to specialty restaurants and excursions, vary widely between cruises. Some include more drinks and extras as part of their package, while others may charge separately for these parts. Choosing the right cruise involves understanding what is included upfront and what are the optional ones.
14: More Affordable When Purchased By The Bottle
In your cabin, you can enjoy the convenience of a drink package that includes various glasses and bottles of wine, listed on the ship’s price list. It’s more cost-effective to purchase three 250ml glasses of wine than to buy the 750ml bottle.
Whether you prefer a bottle or a few glasses, the waiter at the bar is there to assist, ensuring a pleasant experience for every wine drinker aboard.
15: Try Multiple Dishes on Cruise Ship
On cruise ships, the Main Dining Room offers a variety of dishes from starters to desserts that cater to cruisers of every course.
However, the abundance can sometimes lead to food waste, a problem that cruise lines and restaurants are addressing to promote a healthier cruise lifestyle.
Managing portion sizes and encouraging mindful eating can help reduce calories consumed while satisfying people’s bellies and minimizing the issue of excess food waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Norwegian Cruise Line Secrets?
Norwegian Cruise Line secrets include hidden deck spots, insider dining options, and unique onboard activities that enhance the cruise experience.
What Are Some Secret Places On Cruise Ships?
Some secret places on cruise ships include hidden lounges, secluded decks with panoramic views, lesser-known dining venues, and quiet spots away from the main areas, offering passengers a more intimate and unique experience aboard.
What Are Some Royal Caribbean Cruise Secrets?
For a great Royal Caribbean cruise experience, book specialty dining early, visit popular attractions during off-peak hours, join the Crown & Anchor Society for perks, and explore the ship on embarkation day to find hidden gems.
What Are Some Disney Cruise Line Secrets?
To make the most of your Disney Cruise Line experience, book excursions and dining early, meet characters during off-peak times, join the Castaway Club for perks, and explore the ship on embarkation day to find hidden gems.