I consider cruises to be the perfect vacation: you can explore many different places, have fun, relax, and enjoy great food.
However, like all things, there are some downsides, and if I had to point out one, it would definitely be the cabin bathroom. Due to space constraints, it’s always very small and lacks a window, which can make it uncomfortable.
Fortunately, over the years, I’ve discovered some tricks to make it a bit better and to make better use of its space. I want to share them, hoping that they will be useful to other passengers as well.
1. Shower Caddy or Organizer
Let’s start with the shower. Unless you have a suite, almost all cabins on cruise ships have a shower.
Showers are usually quite small, probably smaller than the ones you have at home.
Therefore, it is important to organize the space well. If you use a lot of skin care products in the shower, I recommend that you bring a shower caddy to keep everything tidy.
2. Travel-sized Toiletries
Depending on the cruise line you might find travel-size shower gel and shampoo or you might find dispensers that are filled by the cabin stewards.
I can tell you from experience that things can change a lot depending on the ship. For example, I will share two photos from two different Royal Caribbean ships below.
As you can see on one there was a single body+hair product, while on another ship there were separate shampoo, soap, and conditioner.
These products are usually not bad, but if you are used to your shampoo or have delicate skin, I definitely recommend bringing your own.
3. Toilet Spray or Air Freshener
As I said before, the bathrooms on cruise ships do not have windows. There is usually a vent on the ceiling but the smell still takes a while to go away.
For this reason, I recommend that you bring a small air freshener or Poo-Pourri spray. I always pack a travel-sized one and I love it.
4. Place Dirty Clothes Under the Sink
Over the years, I have noticed that on many ships there is a lot of space under the bathroom sink.
It can be used to store dirty clothes or swimsuits, simply by carrying folding containers.
With the picture below, you’ll better understand what I am talking about.
5. Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer
Another very interesting point is the bathroom door. It can be used to hang an over-the-door organizer that will save you lots of space.
Many passengers use it for storing shoes but you can really use it for everything from clothes to accessories.
The bathroom door is often the only solution if you want to use this kind of organizer.
In most cases, the balcony door is a sliding one so it is not suitable, plus it would block the beautiful view of the ocean.
6. Use the Waste Basket
The cruise ship’s drain system is very different from what we have in your homes.
I have already explained how it works in the article where we saw if cruise ships dump their waste into the ocean.
For those reasons I listed there, you should not flush anything down the toilet except toilet paper.
For all other things, you can use the bin you usually find under the sink. Yes, it is a bin, not an ice bucket as someone once told me!
7. The Clothesline is Usually Located in the Shower.
Many people don’t even notice it, but in the shower, you can often find a clothesline. I’ve even included it in the article on the 7 hidden things you can find in a cruise ship cabin.
It’s very convenient especially if you have an inside cabin or a window cabin, and you can’t dry wet clothes or swimsuits outside.
Some cruise lines also have laundromats on each deck that may have washers and dryers. You can check them in this article.
8. Pack Magnetic Hooks
Magnetic hooks are very useful on cruises, and you will be happy to know that the walls and ceiling of bathrooms are also magnetic.
You can use them for many things, to hang clothes or any kind of item that is not too heavy.
I always recommend taking some on a cruise, and that’s why they are on the list of cruise essentials.
9. Flush with the Lid Down
Since the bathroom is very small, it is a good habit to flush with the lid down, in this way, you prevent germs from spreading into the room.
In addition, it’s also important for safety since toilet flushing on cruise ships works by suction and it can be dangerous if you activate it while still seated.
For this reason, the flush button is often located behind the toilet lid.
10. Ask for Extra Toilet Paper
As soon as you get to your cabin, take a quick look to see how many rolls of toilet paper are there.
Usually, if there is only one, and you are a family of four in the cabin, it might be a good idea to ask the cabin steward immediately for more.
It’s always a good idea to have extra toilet paper, especially if you’re traveling with young kids who might spill liquids on the floor.
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