The funny thing about cruise souvenirs is that the stuff you find months later is often the stuff you never meant to keep.
Of course, you can always buy up a souvenir like a mug or a T-shirt at one of the onboard shops.
But sometimes the best keepsakes are the ones you didn’t buy. They’re the little things that were part of your cruise, and plenty of passengers love holding on to them.
Here are seven you can take home for free!
1. Your Cruise Card
After a week of checking for it every time you leave the cabin, you might as well give that little card a second life.
If your ship lets you keep it, tuck it into a scrapbook or write the ship’s name and sailing dates on the back.
That helps once you’ve got a few cards that all look more or less the same.
Just keep it handy until you’re off the ship. Guest Services or security can tell you whether it’s yours to take home.
2. A Copy of the Daily Program
Save the program from a day you really enjoyed.
Maybe it’s the sea day you went to trivia three times, or the day you visited your favorite port.
Check with Guest Services if you’d like a paper copy. Many ships use an app nowadays, but the paper version is usually still available on request.
3. A Trivia Prize (remember to play)
A little medal or trophy takes up practically no room in a suitcase. And if you won it because someone at your table knew the theme song to a show nobody else remembered, well, there’s a story attached to it now.
Look for a free trivia session or game on the daily schedule and see what the host is giving away.
The prize varies, sometimes you can even win useful prizes with the cruise line’s logo, like hats, small backpacks, tote bags, flip-flops, and more!
4. A Port Map With Your Route Marked On It
If there’s a tourist information desk at the pier, see if they have a free town map.
It’s handy while you’re walking around, especially when the little streets all start looking alike, and you have no internet connection.
Before you fold it back up, circle the places you actually went.
A map is much more fun to look at later when it has your trip scribbled all over it.
5. Something You Made Onboard
Spot an origami session, a card-making workshop, or another craft on the schedule?
Check whether it’s included and whether you get to keep what you make. Some classes charge for materials, so it’s worth a quick look before you sign up.
The finished piece might be a little crooked. It’ll still look good tucked next to a photo from that day.
6. A Loyalty Pin
If you’ve cruised with the same line a few times, check what comes with your loyalty tier.
Royal Caribbean, for example, says eligible members receive a lapel pin on the cruise after they reach Diamond or Diamond Plus status.
It’s an easy one to overlook, especially if you spend more time checking the dinner menu than the loyalty benefits.
If you’re expecting a pin, ask about it while you’re still onboard. It’ll be a lovely keepsake to remember your cruise by.
7. A Photo With the Ship in the Background
When you get off in port, walk a little farther down the pier before you take the photo.
Right next to the gangway, all you’ll see behind you is a big white wall. A little distance can get the ship, the water, and everyone you’re traveling with into the same shot.
Ask a fellow passenger to take one on your phone and offer to return the favor. It costs nothing, and for once the person who usually takes all the pictures gets to be in one.
A small tip for packing day. Put the paper souvenirs inside a book or a folder before you start shoving things into your bag.
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