I have a list of 20 items to complete in your cruise ship cabin when you get into it for the first time.
You booked a cruise and you’ve made it to your ship on time. You’ve gone through the boarding process and have your keycard. It’s time to actually board the ship. Go to your cabin and drop off your hand luggage and check to see if your checked luggage has arrived. It might still be missing. It takes time for everyone’s luggage to be delivered to every cabin.
You might want to take a spin around the ship to find out where things are or have some lunch, if it’s time for that.
Here’s my list of 20 items to complete, now that you’ve made it to your cabin for the first time.
I usually take care of some immediate cabin setup first, even if my checked luggage isn’t there yet.
1. Turn off your cellphone’s cellular service unless:
Unless you’ve purchased a shipboard cellular plan for your cellphone, turn off its cellular service. I don’t purchase them as my phone can make calls and text messages via the Internet. I purchase an Internet plan from the ship. Using it, I can make cellphone calls and messages, plus use the Internet for the web or apps.
2. Make sure the bed is in the configuration requested:
Every once in a while your bed won’t be as requested, such as twin beds instead of a queen. If it’s wrong, get it fixed immediately.
Normally you take your Keycard with you wherever you go on the ship as your identification, but sometimes it is needed in a slot in your cabin to kept the HVAC running, lights on and outlets where you might be charging something active.
3. Keycard to keep your cabin working:
Many ships now require you to put your cabin keycard in a slot to run the HVAC system, lights and outlets. You need to know if that’s required for your cabin.
4. Activate your WiFi package aboard the ship:
If you’ve purchased a WiFi package, activate it immediately to gain access to your email, etc.
5. Check for bedbugs:
Pull down the covers and lift up the mattress and check for bedbugs.
6. Sanitize your cabin:
Cabin stewards do their job well, but they don’t necessarily hit all the top germ points. I use alcohol wipes to sanitize doorknobs, deadbolts, TV remotes, light switches, the safe’s keypad, the thermostat and other high touch points.
Make sure that everything that’s supposed to be in your cabin is there and check that everything works.
7. Get your cabin bearings:
Make sure that everything that’s supposed to be in the cabin is there and that it works correctly. Make sure your life vests are in the room, as well as the TV remote and any other items that are supposed to be there. Then be sure that everything is working, including the HVAC thermostat, toilet, sink(s)’ faucet and drain, TV, cabin door lock, cabin safe, telephone and all the electrical outlets. Check your balcony, if you have one, to make sure the door works properly and that it has the correct furniture.
8. Set up your cruise ship app:
If your cruise line has an app for your cellphone that’s useful during your cruise, make sure you install it and login to set it up for use.
Securing your valuables and important documents in the cabin safe is critical for theft prevention.
9. Secure your valuables and important documents:
Before you leave the cabin for the first time, secure your valuables and important documents in your cabin’s safe. Lock up your home keys, passport, credit cards, driver’s license, other important documents and any valuables you might have, such as a laptop, camera or tablet. Keys, passport, credit cards, identifications, etc. aren’t needed aboard the ship and should be left in the safe of your cabin to help you ensure that they won’t be stolen or lost while you’re at sea. Take them with you, if needed, during shore excursions or when you disembark at the end of the cruise.
Mini-fridges, if used improperly, can cost an arm and a leg, maybe more. Beware.
10. Empty the mini-fridge:
Unless you want to pay for what’s in it or don’t intend to use the refrigerator at all, ask your cabin steward to have everything in it removed if your fridge is the pay-by-item mini-fridge. You can then fill it with what you prefer that you’ve purchased, as most cruise lines generally allow you to bring a limited number of non-alcoholic beverages such as soda or water on to the ship. Put them in the fridge.
11. Personally meet your cabin steward and their team:
The one person in your ship’s crew to definitely meet is your cabin steward. It’s not only the right and courteous thing to do, but it’s also very helpful when you need the steward to assist you with a problem. Let the steward know your preferences. For example, on some ship lines they’ll fill up the mini-fridge in your cabin with what you want for free. Let them know what that is. Cabin stewards can be extremely helpful, so don’t miss meeting them and their entire team.
12. Store your luggage under the bed:
Once you’ve finished unpacking, stow the bags under the bed to make space in your cabin for you.
If by this time you still don’t have your checked luggage, go after it.
13. At this time your checked luggage should have been delivered to your room:
If your luggage isn’t in your room, it’s time to inform your cabin steward and I always suggest going to the head concierge of the ship and get help locating your checked bag before the ship departs. You want to locate the bag before the ship leaves, in case it was left on the pier. On my last cruise I went to everyone I could to get help locating my bag. We finally located it as the boarding ramp was being stowed and we left the dock just five minutes later. That was a scary moment.
14. After your bag has made it to your cabin:
If you have your bag(s), unpack your clothes and pack them in the drawers and hang them in the closet. Empty your bags completely unless you want to keep a few items you aren’t sure you’ll need stored in the bags under your bed.
15. At this point, you might want to shower and change clothes:
If I was in-transit the day of the sailing, at this point I’d likely want to change clothes after taking a shower to refresh myself.
Not fulfilling the e-muster requirements can result in you being thrown off the ship.
16. If your ship has an e-muster drill:
If your ship does an e-muster drill, go through it entirely, then check in at the muster station to prove you know what to do in an emergency and have your card ready to prove you were there.
17. Peruse the daily planner:
Review the daily planner that the ship prints for you each day. You definitely want to know what’s coming up, in case you need to reserve a time or slot.
Making reservations as soon as possible can prevent you from being shutout of the reservations at decent times.
18. Make additional reservations:
Book specialty restaurants, the spa, fitness center instruction, movies, cooking classes, etc., before they get totally booked up.
19. Use magnets on the wall:
There’s often not enough hooks for hanging in your cabin for all kinds of items during your cruise. Consider magnetic hooks.
20. Now that you’re finished in the cabin, find the laundry room:
Now it’s time to tour the ship and find the laundry room. We use it incessantly on all our cruises.
These steps can help you set yourself up for a wonderful cruise and have a comfortable, functioning cabin.
(Image: Celebrity Summit docked at Juneau, Alaska – Copyright © 2019 NSL Photography. All Rights Reserved.)
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
