Rapid-Fire Cruise Hacks That Make Your Next Sailing Easier
Rapid-Fire Cruise Hacks That Make Your Next Sailing Easier
Cruising has a rhythm to it. Once you understand that rhythm, everything feels smoother. Food is easier. Service feels better. Your cabin works for you instead of against you. And you step off the ship thinking, “That was effortless.”
These aren’t big, complicated strategies. They’re small moves that quietly improve your entire week.
Let’s get into it.
1. The Two Dollar Bill Experiment
Hand your cabin steward or bartender a $2 bill early in the cruise.
It’s not about the amount. It’s about the signal. It quietly communicates, “I see you. I appreciate you. I’m not forgetting you at the end.”
Some cruisers hate this idea. They believe tipping should only happen at the end. Others swear early generosity changes the tone of the entire week.
I’ve tried it on a few cruises with mixed results. Sometimes the service noticeably improves. Sometimes it stays about the same. Is it worth a two-dollar bet?
Have you tried it? Let me know on the socials linked at the end or through the contact form here on Blind Travels.
2. Be Genuinely Nice
This one feels obvious. It isn’t.
If you make eye contact, use names, and treat the wait staff in the main dining room like human beings instead of service robots, the entire experience changes.
Better timing. Extra suggestions. Maybe a dessert recommendation you wouldn’t have noticed.
Cruise ships are floating cities. A little kindness travels far.
3. Embarkation Day Phone Hack
On the first day, take a photo of your cabin door and set it as your phone wallpaper.
If you misplace your phone on the ship, whoever finds it immediately knows where it belongs. It’s a small thing, but it has worked for me more than once.
You’d be surprised how often a quick wallpaper saves a lot of walking.
4. Skip the Buffet Chaos at Breakfast
Buffets are convenient. They are not always peaceful.
If you’re sailing with Royal Caribbean, some locations of Johnny Rockets serve breakfast that’s included with your fare. Fewer people. Hot food. Less chaos.
On Princess Cruises, the International Cafe is a fantastic alternative for lighter breakfast options.
Personally, I often choose the main dining room over the buffet. It feels calmer, more controlled, and like I’m actually on vacation instead of in a food arena.
5. Use Continental Room Service Strategically
Full room service may cost extra, but continental breakfast is usually included.
I’ll order coffee, fruit, and pastries early. That way I’m not desperate for caffeine while I’m getting ready. Then I head out for a proper breakfast later.
Tip your server. It makes a difference.
6. Magnet Hooks = Instant Storage
Cruise cabin walls are metal.
Bring a few heavy-duty magnetic hooks and suddenly you have vertical storage for hats, lanyards, swimsuits, bags, or even lightweight organizers.
They’re inexpensive and wildly useful. You’ll never cruise without them again.
7. Bring a Small Flat Fan
Cabins can feel stuffy. Airflow helps sleep.
A small, flat fan that sits on your nightstand can:
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Circulate air
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Add white noise
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Make the cabin feel less boxed in
It’s one of those small comfort upgrades that pays off every night.
8. Ziplock Bags Solve More Problems Than You Think
Bring a variety pack.
They’re perfect for:
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Storing a wet swimsuit
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Taking snacks to go
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Protecting electronics from sand
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Keeping excursion essentials dry
Also consider a pop-up hamper or even scented kitchen bags for dirty clothes. It keeps your cabin fresher and more organized.
9. Multi-Port USB Charger (Not a Surge Protector)
Surge-protected power strips are typically not allowed anymore.
But a multi-port USB charger is fine and extremely useful. I personally use Anker because they’re reliable and compact.
Between phones, watches, headphones, cameras, and fans, you’ll run out of ports fast without one.
10. Bring an Extra-Long Charging Cable
Most USB outlets are at the desk, not by the bed.
An extra-long cable lets you charge and still use your phone comfortably at night. It sounds simple. It makes a difference.
11. Start a Cruise-Only Savings Account
Open a high-yield savings account and set up automatic monthly deposits.
When final payment comes due, you’re not scrambling. The money is already sitting there waiting for you.
It turns cruise payments from stress into routine.
12. Use the Right Credit Card Strategy
If you’re spending money anyway, use a card that earns travel rewards.
Some cruise line cards offer onboard credit or points toward future sailings. Others offer flexible travel rewards you can apply to cruise purchases.
We use one that allows us to convert points toward Princess cruises at the end of the year. It feels like bonus vacation money on spending we were already doing.
13. Nighttime Cookie Strategy
In the morning, grab a small milk or yogurt and stash it in your cabin fridge.
Later that night, swing by a venue that has cookies. Cookies and milk before bed on a cruise hits differently.
It’s not necessary. It’s just excellent planning.
14. Dining Room Add-On Hack
When reviewing the main dining room menu, look for upgrade add-ons.
Sometimes you can add a lobster tail or filet for a reasonable upcharge instead of booking a full specialty restaurant.
It’s a way to elevate one dinner without committing to an entire specialty dining experience.
Bonus Flow Hack: Leave When You’re Done
This one matters.
When you finish eating in busy venues, head out so staff can reset the space. It keeps things flowing for everyone.
Cruising works best when everyone moves with a little awareness.
Cruise hacks aren’t about gaming the system. They’re about understanding how the system works.
Have a favorite hack I didn’t mention? I’d love to hear it. Reach out through our contact page or tag us on social.
Until our next adventure.
See you at the Gate!
Ted and Fauna
Every successful trip rewrites the story of what you thought was possible.
– Ted Tahquechi
About the author
Ted Tahquechi is a blind photographer, travel influencer, disability advocate and photo educator based in Denver, Colorado. You can see more of Ted’s work at www.tahquechi.com
Ted operates Blind Travels, a travel blog designed specifically to empower blind and visually impaired travelers. https://www.blindtravels.com/
Ted’s body-positive Landscapes of the Body project has been shown all over the world, learn more about this intriguing collection of photographic work at: https://www.bodyscapes.photography/
Ted created games for Atari, Accolade and Mattel Toys and often speaks at Retro Game Cons, find out where he will be speaking next: https://retrogamegurus.com/ted
Questions or comments? Feel free to email Ted at: nedskee@tahquechi.com
Instagram: @nedskee
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nedskee.bsky.social
Twitter: @nedskee
Be My Eyes and Amtrak Expand Live Visual Support to Over 50 Stations Nationwide
This is the kind of news that actually changes how we travel.
On February 17, 2026, Be My Eyes announced a nationwide expansion of its partnership with Amtrak. Live visual support through the Be My Eyes Service Directory is now available at more than 50 train stations across the United States, including some of the largest and busiest hubs in the country.
Chicago. Los Angeles. Denver. New York. Washington DC.
This is not a pilot anymore. This is scale.
And for blind and low vision travelers, that matters.
Before You Book That Trip: The Preparedness Checklist That Saves You Later
There is a moment in travel planning where excitement takes over.
The cruise countdown timer is ticking. The airfare is looking decent. The hotel has that rooftop pool you absolutely plan to “accidentally” spend too much time near.
And then you click purchase.
I have learned to pause right before that moment.
Because travel problems rarely start at the airport. They start weeks earlier, when we assume we are ready.
Let’s walk through the real checklist. Not the cute Instagram one. The one that keeps you calm when things shift.
Passport Changes You May Not Have Known Were Coming
There are some travel changes that feel dramatic.
This one feels more like someone quietly moved your favorite chair and didn’t tell you.
The U.S. State Department has ordered certain nonprofit public libraries to stop processing passport applications as official Passport Acceptance Facilities. This began rolling out in late 2025, and affected libraries were told their authorization would end in early 2026. The effective date most commonly cited is February 13, 2026.
If your local library offered passport appointments and suddenly stopped, this is likely why.
Let’s walk through what’s actually happening, who is affected, and what this means for blind and low vision travelers who have relied heavily on library services.
Cruise Perks You Didn’t Know Were Included (You Just Have to Ask)
There is a moment on almost every cruise when someone realizes they have been doing it wrong.
It usually happens quietly. Maybe you see a neighbor on their balcony, wrapped in a plush bathrobe, coffee in hand, ocean air rolling in like it was ordered specially for them. Or you overhear someone casually mention they had the dining room pack up dessert to take back to their cabin. Or you stumble into afternoon tea and wonder why no one told you this was a thing.
Here is the truth we have learned, cruise after cruise.
Cruise ships are full of perks that people assume cost extra. In reality, many of them are already included in your fare. They are not hidden. They are not secret. They are simply unadvertised.
And the key to unlocking them is surprisingly simple.
You just ask.
At Blind Travels, we love this kind of travel knowledge. Not because it makes us feel clever, but because it makes cruising easier, more comfortable, more fun, and more accessible for everyone. Whether this is your first cruise or your fifteenth, there is something here you probably did not know.
Let’s dig in.
Things You Should Not Bring on a Cruise Ship (Even Though They Seem Totally Fine)
Packing for a cruise feels deceptively simple.
You’re not hopping between hotels. You’re unpacking once. You’ve got a cabin, daily cleaning, food everywhere, and a floating city designed to make life easy. That’s exactly why people tend to get creative with what they bring, and exactly how perfectly normal items end up confiscated at the pier.
Cruise ship security isn’t trying to ruin your vacation. They’re trying to keep thousands of people safe in a self-contained environment where fire, power, food safety, and local laws matter more than convenience.
The tricky part is that many prohibited items don’t feel dangerous. Some feel clever. Some feel cozy. Some feel like things you’ve brought on every other vacation without issue.
Before your dream cruise turns into an awkward conversation with ship security, here are the things that seem harmless, but really aren’t, and what to bring instead.
Curtains, DIY Cabin Dividers, and Hanging Fabric
This one surprises people.
Bringing your own curtains, room dividers, or hanging fabric panels might feel like a smart way to create privacy or block light. On a cruise ship, it’s a safety problem. Anything hung in a cabin can interfere with fire suppression systems or block escape routes during an emergency.
Things Every Smart Cruiser Does on Embarkation Day
Embarkation day has a very specific sound.
Rolling suitcases rattling across metal thresholds. Crew members calling cheerful greetings while moving at double speed. Elevators chiming endlessly. Somewhere nearby, music is already playing and the smell of food drifts up from multiple directions at once. Everyone feels that same low-grade pressure: I should be doing something right now.
Smart cruisers feel it too. They just don’t let it run the day.
Embarkation day rewards people who slow down, make a few deliberate choices, and let everyone else sprint past them toward long lines and unnecessary stress. You don’t need to do everything on day one. You just need to do the right things.
Here’s how smart cruisers move through embarkation day, calmly, efficiently, and with their future selves in mind.
TSA Changes For 2026 Are Already Catching Travelers Off Guard
Air travel security is in the middle of a major transition, and if TSA screening feels inconsistent lately, you’re not imagining it. New technology, new staffing, and evolving enforcement rules are reshaping the airport experience, sometimes smoothly, sometimes not.
Here’s what’s changing, what’s confusing people the most, and how to get through security with fewer surprises in 2026.
1. TSA Is Hiring Fast, And Training Is Still Catching Up
Transportation Security Administration is hiring thousands of new officers nationwide. Long-term, this should mean shorter lines and faster screening.
Short-term, it means you’re more likely to encounter agents who are still learning the nuances of screening. That can lead to bags being checked even if they were packed the exact same way last year.
Cruise Buffet Mistakes Even Seasoned Cruisers Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Cruise ship buffets are one of the great paradoxes of vacation life. They promise freedom, variety, and the kind of casual abundance that feels illegal on land. They also quietly derail otherwise perfect cruises when approached without a plan.
This isn’t about rules. It’s about flow.
If you’ve ever walked out of the buffet feeling uncomfortably full, oddly unsatisfied, or slightly annoyed at humanity, you’ve already met the problem. The buffet rewards people who move with intention and punishes those who treat it like a competitive sport.
Before we dive in, quick note for our blind and low vision readers. We have a dedicated guide with strategies specifically designed for navigating buffet lines, stations, and seating with confidence. That article is linked below and pairs perfectly with what you’re about to read.
This guide is for everyone. New cruisers. Experienced cruisers. People who “don’t usually do the buffet” but somehow end up there every day anyway.
Let’s fix the mistakes quietly ruining good meals at sea.
Cruise Line Extras: Which Ones Are Worth It and Which Aren’t
We pulled out of Aruba before sunrise, the horizon glowing like a promise. On the balcony, coffee in hand with a warm danish on a small plate, the ocean breathing gently below. That quiet, lazy start to the day is one of the reasons we choose Royal Caribbean over others. It’s not just that the ship is great, it’s that something as simple and lovely as free continental breakfast delivered to your room is actually included. Pastries, fruit, coffee and juice can arrive without a cent extra charged, and it sets the tone for the whole trip. It’s easy to forget how big that small thing feels once you’ve experienced it. (Royal Caribbean Blog)
And then there’s everything else the cruise lines try to sell you. Some things are delightful, some are worth doing once in a lifetime, but many fall into the category of optional luxuries you don’t need to have a great time. The trick is knowing what actually adds value for your kind of traveler and what just adds to your bill.
The Drinks Package: Float Your Boat or Sink Your Budget
Almost every major cruise line sells a version of a “drink package.” This lets you pay a flat daily fee for unlimited beverages from bars, lounges and sometimes specialty coffee stops. It feels smart at first glance, like you’re buying peace of mind. (The Points Guy)