Planning a cruise with a friend is exciting, but there are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid if you're sharing a cabin together.
Cruise cabins are notoriously small, and you'll quickly learn that sharing a stateroom with a friend means living in very close quarters. Although this makes for fun late-night chats and quality bonding time, there are definitely some quirks to consider when planning your cruise.
I’ve been lucky enough to cruise around the world with some of my best friends, whether in Alaska, the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, or even the Arctic Circle. I cherish the memories we've made together, but in the process I've learned a few tips for rooming together.
Things like keeping the room tidy and splitting the beds are essential, and it's also important to plan some alone time throughout your vacation.
Here are the 8 mistakes I avoid making when planning a cruise and sharing a cabin with a friend.
Not discussing your budget
If you’re planning to share a cabin with a friend, be sure to discuss your budget before doing anything else. You don’t want to get into a situation where one of you wants to book a suite, but the other only budgeted for an interior cabin!
Budgeting goes beyond just the cabin category, too. You’ll also want to discuss your budgets for add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, and shore excursions. If one friend wants a Deluxe Beverage Package, the other person in the cabin will be required to purchase one, too.
Read more: How much is a Royal Caribbean cruise?
I’ve cruised with friends who sailed on tight budgets, but also with those who budgeted extra for cruise add-ons. Each experience was fun, but I found the cruise was more enjoyable when we had a similar budget to each other.
When I sailed to Alaska with my friend Reeham, we had an amazing time exploring the state’s scenic ports.
As a PhD student, though, her budget was much lower than mine. We were more limited in excursion options and add-ons due to her budget constraints.
Luckily I expected this beforehand, but a similar situation could prove problematic if there is a drastic budget difference between two friends.
Doing everything together
Just because you’re cruising with a friend doesn’t mean you have to do everything together. It’s important to respect each other’s boundaries, and it’s normal to want alone time here and there.
It could be as simple as a solo trip to the gym, or you might want to split up on a port day so you can try activities that best match your individual interests.
A few years ago, for instance, I sailed through the Mediterranean with my friend Samantha. She had been to Barcelona several times before, so opted to stay onboard during our port day. I didn’t mind, as it gave me ample time to wander around the city on my own. The alone time was nice for both of us, and we were recharged to enjoy time together once I got back on the ship.
Read more: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion
On another occasion, I planned a strenuous hike during a port day in Stavanger, Norway. My idea of “fun” wasn’t the same as my cabinmate’s, so he opted to walk around the city center while I spent the day hiking.
You're going to spend a lot of time with each other during the cruise, so having some alone time is recommended.
Living on totally different schedules
Before sharing a cabin with a friend, consider whether your schedules are compatible.
I’m a morning person through and through. I love waking up early on a cruise to catch the sunrise and watch my ship pull into port. At night, you’re unlikely to find me partying in the ship’s nightclub.
I find that sharing a cabin works best if you and your friend have similar schedules. If you’re a morning person, you don’t want to be stuck waiting hours for your friend to wake up so you can disembark the ship in port.
If you're a night owl, on the other hand, you could get annoyed if you're woken up at dawn when your cabinmate is starting their day.
Before sharing a cabin with a friend, consider your habits to determine if it’s really the best choice.
Not splitting the beds
Don’t forget to split your cabin’s bed into two twin-sized beds. In addition to the benefit of having your own bed, you’ll also appreciate the expanded walking space in the middle of the room.
Read more: 16 things to do as soon as you get to your cruise cabin
If you’re lucky, your cabin might already be arranged with two beds on embarkation day. If not, simply ask your stateroom attendant to split the bed. They’ll get it done as soon as possible, and it’s well worth the effort.
Forgetting USB hubs for charging devices
Power outlets can be hard to come by in cruise cabins, and especially on older ships. With two people in the cabin, it’s crucial to pack items to maximize your room’s charging capacity.
Whenever I cruise with a friend, I make sure that both of us pack a USB hub and a European power adapter. This way we each have enough ports to charge items like phones, laptops, cameras, smartwatches, and e-readers.
Read more: 7 Items to buy your first time on a Royal Caribbean cruise
If you’re sailing on a brand new ship like Utopia of the Seas or Star of the Seas, you might find it unnecessary to pack these items. If your ship was built before 2014, though, packing USB hubs and adapters is essential.
Not cleaning up clutter in your room
Cruise cabins are tiny, and they can quickly appear messy. Whether it’s piles of dirty clothes on the floor, a jumbled mess of cords near the outlets, or bottles of toiletries crowding the sink, it’s challenging to keep your cabin clutter-free.
If you’re sharing a cabin with a friend, make sure you’re on the same page when it comes to tidying up. Although your stateroom attendant will service your room each day, they don’t typically organize your personal belongings.
I’ll be honest—I don’t always keep my room clutter-free on a cruise. Luckily, most of the friends I’ve sailed with don’t either. Even still, I’m extra cognizant of keeping my belongings somewhat organized when sharing a cabin so I don’t inconvenience my cabinmate with a mess.
Sharing an internet package
Royal Caribbean’s internet packages are priced per device, but it’s still possible to “share” a 1-device package with a friend. The kicker? You can’t both use the internet at the same time.
On several cruises, I’ve allowed my friends to use my internet package when I’m not using it. In theory, sharing the package is easy. I give them my login information, and once they log in on their phone, I get kicked off on mine.
Read more: Royal Caribbean WiFi: Guide to Internet at sea
In practice, though, sharing an internet package gets annoying quickly. Constantly logging in and out of the Wi-Fi is cumbersome, and sharing can also lead to tension if one person is “hogging” the internet.
I recommend purchasing your own internet package when cruising with a friend. Not only can you communicate more easily while onboard, but it gives you complete freedom to use the Wi-Fi as you so choose.
Not communicating with each other
Finally, speaking of communicating, make sure to stay in touch with your friend when going about the ship. You’re unlikely to spend every second together onboard, and it’s surprisingly easy to lose track of each other amongst a sea of other passengers.
Fortunately, it’s never been easier to stay in touch on the ship. If you both have internet packages, turn on your Wi-Fi settings so you can text and call each other with no extra charge. Alternatively, apps like Messenger and WhatsApp work well for texts, audio calls, and video calls.
You can chat for free within Royal Caribbean’s app without an internet package, although notifications can be finicky at best. There have been several times when a friend has messaged me within the Royal Caribbean app, but I didn't see the message until much later.
Read more: How to communicate with someone on a cruise
If you both have iPhones, you might find that iMessage works without an internet package so long as you’re connected to the free version of the ship’s internet.
Of course, old-school methods of communication work, too. Consider using sticky notes or a dry-erase board in the room to let your friend know where to find you.
