Tips for maximizing space in cabin?

[SunnyDays]

For all you experienced cruisers, what products/ideas do you have for maximizing storage space in the stateroom and just helpful things to have? I know of: magnet hooks, over-door shoe organizer, & power strip (w/o surge protection).   Thank you!

 

[OCSC Mike]

Slide your suitcases under the bed  (open & flat if need be). Ask for as many extra hangars as you need & fill the closet bar.

We travel light, no fancy clothes for formal night, so don't find the need for many hacks but figured I'd share.

[SunnyDays]

@OCSC Mike, thank you. I’m struggling with “formal nights”… how formal is formal? We will be on an 8 night Mediterranean cruise in the summer.  2 adults and 2 teens.  What to wear?

[OCSC Mike]

10 minutes ago, SunnyDays said:

@OCSC Mike, thank you. I’m struggling with “formal nights”… how formal is formal? We will be on an 8 night Mediterranean cruise in the summer.  2 adults and 2 teens.  What to wear?

You will see everything from suits/gowns to t-shirts. The dress code is more of a suggestion these days, especially in the Caribbean. Wear whatever you are comfortable with. Some will be fancier, some will be underdressed. If sometone doesn't think you're dressed fancy enough... too bad.

Just one man's opinion. I could care less what anyone else wears to dinner. I'm there to eat.

[Pooch]

Hubby & son wore dress pants, shirt & tie, no jacket.  Daughter & I wore nice dresses.  Nothing terribly fancy but a little nicer than other nights.

[smokeybandit]

Last cruise we wrongly just assumed the 2nd formal night was the last sea day when it was not. We walked into the dining room nowhere near close to formal and no one batted an eye.

[GatorCruiser]

The whole room is a magnet friendly as the walls and ceiling are metal  , get  magnet hooks to hang stuff with all over the walls and Even from the ceiling 

[Pooch]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

Last cruise we wrongly just assumed the 2nd formal night was the last sea day when it was not. We walked into the dining room nowhere near close to formal and no one batted an eye.

I’m thinking it’s the last sea day but NOT if that is the last night of the cruise due to people needing to pack.

[smokeybandit]

20 minutes ago, Pooch said:

I’m thinking it’s the last sea day but NOT if that is the last night of the cruise due to people needing to pack.

You're thinking correctly. And we know this from past cruises. But, not that night apparently!

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, GatorCruiser said:

The whole room is a magnet friendly as the walls and ceiling are metal  , get  magnet hooks to hang stuff with all over the walls and Even from the ceiling 

This is one of the tricks that has the biggest ROI. They're cheap, light, small, but are so useful.  Don't forget your balcony, too, to hang damp stuff.

[DunkelBierJay]

One way to maximize space is pack about 50% of what you initially think you want to bring. It's a lot less schlepping that way too.

[shof515]

depending on the ship, the sofa might have storage drawers on the bottom and the chair under the desk sometimes has storage in it if you remove the top piece

[Moby Dick]

1 hour ago, DunkelBierJay said:

One way to maximize space is pack about 50% of what you initially think you want to bring. It's a lot less schlepping that way too.

Funny but true.  Doesn't matter though, we will still pack 50% more than we need.  

[Moby Dick]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

This is one of the tricks that has the biggest ROI. They're cheap, light, small, but are so useful.  Don't forget your balcony, too, to hang damp stuff.

Yes!

https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Refrigerator-Magnetic-Neodymium-Upgraded/dp/B07QSJ6Q72/ref=sr_1_6?crid=34ZH1CVNL8US6&keywords=magnetic%2Bhooks&qid=1651967087&sprefix=magnetic%2Bhooks%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-6&th=1

[Moby Dick]

[YellowBrickRoad]

I bring magnets, magnets with hooks, my clothing cubes, clothing hooks for attaching our swimsuits, and I love my shoe organizer that I can hook to door…use it for everything I need, like lotions, googles, toiletries, shoes, etc. Love that I can see everything right away and makes everything organized! 
My steward loves how everything has its place. I’m sure makes their cleaning easier too….

[Shari]

16 hours ago, GatorCruiser said:

The whole room is a magnet friendly as the walls and ceiling are metal  , get  magnet hooks to hang stuff with all over the walls and Even from the ceiling 

We use the magnets but on our last cruise the magnets looked like pistol speedloaders and so hubby was called down to security, escorted to a building on the pier, and had to watch while they opened MY bag (had his name on it).  The security person was looking so smug until they discovered it was just the magnets.  It was scary and but now it is a hilarious story to tell.  Moral of the story be aware of over zealous security personnel.

[Moby Dick]

12 minutes ago, Shari said:

We use the magnets but on our last cruise the magnets looked like pistol speedloaders and so hubby was called down to security, escorted to a building on the pier, and had to watch while they opened MY bag (had his name on it).  The security person was looking so smug until they discovered it was just the magnets.  It was scary and but now it is a hilarious story to tell.  Moral of the story be aware of over zealous security personnel.

I put mine in my carry on.  Not for that reason, just I just do.  But, you've given me a good reason to continue to do so.

[smokeybandit]

8 minutes ago, 10-42 said:

I put mine in my carry on.  Not for that reason, just I just do.  But, you've given me a good reason to continue to do so.

Your magnets or your speed loaders?

[Moby Dick]

6 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Your magnets or your speed loaders?

Yes!

[Moby Dick]

Formal night, ugh!  This is my opinion - I worked most of my adult careers being formal, very regulated uniforms (U.S. Army), shirts and ties in civilian management positions and lots of stuffy social events.  When I cruise, I like to be anything but formal.  If I had my way, I'd show up in whatever venue in my speedo (trust me, you don't want to see that).  But, I keep my wife happy for a happy life and wear a pair of long pants, a button down shirt, and a baseball cap.  Oh, shoes and socks, too.  

I fully understand though, there are many folks that look forward to putting on their best undies, gowns, tux, top hat.  I say, "go for it".  

Also, trust me on this, what I wear will have no impact on the flavor of your meal!  I won't complain about what you wear if you don't complain about what I wear.

[mathbees]

4 hours ago, Shari said:

called down to security

On my last cruise, I had a bundle of magnets stuck together in my carry-on through TSA at the airport. I got pulled aside for a check and when they pulled it from my bag, they thought it was a puzzle. As soon as I said "hooks for a cruise" they laughed and let me on my way.

[ChessE4]

On 5/7/2022 at 3:46 PM, SunnyDays said:

@OCSC Mike, thank you. I’m struggling with “formal nights”… how formal is formal? We will be on an 8 night Mediterranean cruise in the summer.  2 adults and 2 teens.  What to wear?

My first reply got lost in cyberspace, so let me condense my first post a bit:  We are also going to the Med for 8 nights, and we will pack a couple of nice outfits.  I prefer a tie on formal night along with slacks and a sport coat.  Others say clothes don't matter.  Well.... remember you are representing yourself to other cultures, and let that influence your packing.  Whatever you choose, have a memorable cruise.

[smokeybandit]

33 minutes ago, ChessE4 said:

Well.... remember you are representing yourself to other cultures, and let that influence your packing.

Be a good person, that's what someone will remember you the most for.  Not "well that person didn't wear a tux to formal night"

[CruisingOz]

We always pack six magnets, even when in a suite. They are so handy go keep items off the lounge, floor, etc and handy for everyday items like hats and alike. 

[Pooch]

Our suite on Harmony had so much storage that even with 4 adults, we didn’t use half of it.  I don’t waste luggage space on more storage options.

[RWDW1204]

Agree with everyone who says magnets for hanging things. Just make sure you get heavy duty ones  And don't know if this is an exception but we just did Vision Owner's Suite and our walls weren't magnet friendly.  Ours wouldn't stick. Ceiling worked and balcony ceiling beams also. Under the bed is another location that others have mentioned.  May need to leave your suitcases open to fit but that gives you them available to put things in and have readily available. 

[leesam82]

I personally love the magnetic hooks. They are very useful by them selves or with a plastic shoe over the door shoe rack. My family uses the the magnet to hold the plastic shoe rack against the wall and we put our sunglasses, sun screen, and other miscellaneous loose items in there so it doesn't clutter the cabin. 

[Moby Dick]

One more idea.  If your cabin requires your Sea Pass card to turn on the lights, take an old unusable prepaid card from the local arcade or something like that.  It doesn't take an actual Sea Pass card or credit card.  Just something about the same shape and size.  No magnetic strip required.  

It doesn't create more space, but it just makes life a little easier.

[Ditchdoc]

On the subject of magnet hooks.

Many of these magnets are STRONG. They will snap together at light speed and it will take a large pair of pliers and a vise to separate them. If you are unfortunate enough to get a bit of skin between them when they mate, they will pinch it off leaving you bloody and cussing.

Moral of the story, keep them separated. This is best done by buying suitable screw top plastic containers just big enough to hold one magnetic hook. These containers can be found in hobby stores etc.

Moral of the story, again, keep them away from each other at all times.

On a side note.

In our home, our full, unfinished basement serves in part as a home gym and there are metal columns as well as air conditioning ducts that make great places to hang exercise equipment using the magnetic hooks. There are no doubt many uses for these under the right circumstances.

[ChessE4]

15 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Be a good person, that's what someone will remember you the most for.  Not "well that person didn't wear a tux to formal night"

Agree.

[CrznTxn]

Whichever of the extra storage accessories you choose to take, remember to pick up after yourself in your room and keep it tidy. The room steward is there to clean your room, not pick up your clothes and what ever and put them away.

[XtremeGK]

11 hours ago, 10-42 said:

One more idea.  If your cabin requires your Sea Pass card to turn on the lights, take an old unusable prepaid card from the local arcade or something like that.  It doesn't take an actual Sea Pass card or credit card.  Just something about the same shape and size.  No magnetic strip required.  

It doesn't create more space, but it just makes life a little easier.

I bring old hotel room cards for this very purpose!

[BigKarl]

We use our Crown and anchor Membership card.  Do they still provide them when you join C&A?  it has been so many years ago that we received ours.

[HeWhoWaits]

1 hour ago, XtremeGK said:

I bring old hotel room cards for this very purpose!

The key card from your night before sailing arrival is perfect.

[Moby Dick]

36 minutes ago, BigKarl said:

We use our Crown and anchor Membership card.  Do they still provide them when you join C&A?  it has been so many years ago that we received ours.

Don't know, I've never had one but not a bad idea if you have one.  

Just thought of another card to use, a casino reward/perks card that is no longer any good.  But, there is a myriad of possibilities.

[whitsmom]

13 hours ago, 10-42 said:

One more idea.  If your cabin requires your Sea Pass card to turn on the lights, take an old unusable prepaid card from the local arcade or something like that.  It doesn't take an actual Sea Pass card or credit card.  Just something about the same shape and size.  No magnetic strip required.  

It doesn't create more space, but it just makes life a little easier.

I always that an old gift card for lights, an over-the-door pocket/shoe hanging to keep all the OTC, sunscreens, and all the other stuff (this is always the first thing I pack!), heavy duty magnets, and the last time I took collapsing/pop-up  laundry hamper type thing for dirty clothes.  I have my 8-slot USP charging port that we take that everything can be in one place.  I also take a small motion night-light for the bathroom.