Ever spent 20 minutes walking the wrong way down a Deck 10 hallway? We’ve all been there, lost in a sea of beige and cabin doors that all look alike.
Basics of Not Getting Lost on a Cruise Ship
There are some basic universal mnemonic devices like port = left because both words have four letters. And those ‘YOU ARE HERE’ maps are available no matter who you’re cruising with. But most cruise lines also have little tricks specific to their ships that can help you find your way around. For instance:
- Most cruise ships generally number port side cabins with even numbers. Starboard side cabins are usually odd-numbered when facing forward. Cabin numbers also increase as you walk toward the aft (back) of the ship.
- Many cruise lines now have their own mobile apps that feature interactive deck maps. You can use these maps to help you navigate between forward, aft, port, and starboard locations. Some even have turn-by-turn directions to help you get to that art auction (free champagne!) or trivia event.
- Carnival helps you navigate at night by illuminating a red light on the port side and a green light on the starboard side.
- On older NCL ships, take note of which way the schools of fish are swimming – they always swim toward the FRONT (‘bow’) of the ship. On newer ships, you’ll find triangles in the carpet pattern, pointing toward the front of the ship.
Of course, this can all depend on whether your ship is older or newer, and which line you’re sailing on. Check with your cabin steward or guest services to get more tips and tricks on navigating the particular ship you’re sailing on.
Beyond the Basics
Once you get your basic directional bearings using these tricks, take matters into your own hands and make it easier to find your cabin. Streamers, signs and even door magnets can go a long way toward making your cabin door more unique among the sea of identical doors. A word of caution here, though: using adhesive or tape that leaves a residue, can leave you with an unexpected cleaning fee. This is why magnets are the superior choice.
When my husband and I cruise, we decorate our door distinctly enough that we can find our cabin from a pretty good distance. In fact, part of how Salty Swag Designs got started was that I wanted to design a particular magnet for our door. Pictured here is my hand-made prototype! I loved it so much, I went on to create a professional version on Zazzle. And from there…my Salty Swag Designs shop was born!!