Cruise ship bathrooms, like cabins, aren't known for their size. Instead, they're designed to maximize comfort and functionality with what little space they're allotted. To make the most out of your cabin experience, you'll have to be creative and utilize some hacks to fully optimize your stateroom, especially when it comes to the tiny bathroom.
Though frequent cruisers are aware of the benefits of surge-free power strips and magnetic hooks, you shouldn't bypass hacks to improve your cabin's bathroom.
From tips to increasing storage to DIY laundry solutions, here are 11 bathroom hacks for your cruise ship cabin.
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Invest in a shoe organizer or hanging toiletry bag
Today's newest ships tend to have more storage than older ones; however, depending on how many other passengers you're sharing the room with, you may want to prepare to utilize the space more efficiently.
Many cruisers are fans of over-the-door shoe organizers. The many pockets allow you to keep everything from flip-flops to shampoo and conditioner organized throughout your sailing.
Personally, however, I swear by my hanging toiletry bag. Though not as large as a shoe organizer, I find that there's more than enough space for all of my products. Plus, it's both cute and durable! It came in handy during my cruise onboard Carnival Elation. With only a singular shelf in the bathroom, there wouldn't have been enough space to store everything had I not brought my hanging organizer.
I also prefer it to the shoe organizer because I don't have to deal with unpacking and packing my products. Instead, I can simply zip it up and throw it into my suitcase the night before disembarkation.
Upgrade your bathroom with supplies from home
Speaking of products, you'll want to make sure that you bring all of your must-haves. While hotels typically provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion, the majority of mainstream cruise lines only provide shampoo and body wash.
If you forget any of your products thinking that you'll have complimentary ones in your cabin, you're sure to be disappointed. Moreover, restocking anything that you've forgotten or run out of will be more expensive onboard than at your local drug store.
Here's a list of toiletries and other cosmetics that you ensure are packed before leaving:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Mouthwash
- Contact lens case and solution
- Deodorant
- Shaving cream and razors
- Feminine hygiene products
- Lotion
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Detangling spray
- Body wash
- Dry shampoo
- Sunscreen
- Tweezers
- Nail file and clippers
- Lip balm/chapstick
- Hairbrush and/or comb
- Hair products such as mousse and gel
- Hair ties and scrunchies
Read more: What Toiletries to Pack for a Cruise (Packing List)
Portable Tide packets are a great laundry solution
Laundry onboard a cruise ship isn't cheap. Unfortunately, we can't plan for accidental spills or overly messy excursions. With one shirt costing around $5.00, you won't want to send out all of your dirty laundry. Instead, it's best to pack portable laundry packets.
Though laundry is perhaps the last chore you want to think about on vacation, some travelers don't like to return home with a suitcase full of soiled clothing. These convenient packets are small enough to throw into your luggage and allow you to quickly wash items in your cabin's sink. They're pre-measured, too, so you won't have to worry about overusing detergent.
Cruise.Blog writer Allie is a huge fan of Tide laundry packets. When she studied abroad on Semester at Sea, she did her own laundry for 100 days from her stateroom's sink by using these packets!
Read more: 26 Cruise Cabin Essentials You Need To Pack
Since irons and steamers are prohibited, wrinkle-release spray is your best bet to get out pesky packing-induced wrinkles
Wrinkles are often an unavoidable aspect of traveling. In May 2022, I took one of my closest friends on her first-ever cruise onboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.
Under the assumption she could bring her steamer, she threw it into her suitcase and left for the airport. While unpacking in my cabin, I received a text explaining that it had been confiscated. She'd be able to pick it up in the terminal after disembarking.
Like steamers, irons are also prohibited onboard cruise ships. Rather than accept the fate of wrinkled clothing, invest in some wrinkle-release spray. I find that this, along with hanging my clothing in the bathroom while I shower, helps eliminate the larger wrinkles.
Leave your bath towels at home
Every cabin, regardless of whether it's an interior or lavish suite, will be serviced by a cabin steward. In addition to making your bed, leaving important documentation, and removing any trash, they'll also refresh your towels daily.
The same goes for pool towels! You'll have access to clean towels throughout your voyage, so you can replace them as needed. Just make sure that you don't accidentally pack or lose them, as cruise lines have the right to charge you for any missing towels.
Save that valuable space in your luggage for your essentials and leave all your towels at home.
Read more: Why you should get your cruise cabin serviced in the evening instead of the morning
Suction-cup footrests will help make shaving easier
Cruise ship showers aren't known for being spacious. You won't have as much space to move about as you do in your shower at home. Though you'll be able to wash your hair and body with ease, females may notice that shaving is more difficult than usual.
Purchasing a suction-cup footrest from Amazon will ensure that you aren't stuck sticking your legs outside of the shower to prop them on the toilet seat. Sometimes, that's not even an option, as the toilet may not be placed near the shower.
With the suction-cup footrest, you won't have to worry about trying to awkwardly balance or get water all over the bathroom!
Read more: Top 25 cruise cabin hacks to improve your stateroom's functionality
Air freshener will help keep the bathroom smelling pleasant
Cruises range from short weekend getaways to extensive voyages around the globe.
Either way, you're sure to indulge in foods that aren't part of your routine diet while onboard. It's not uncommon for foods to disagree with your stomach, so while you'll want to travel with anti-diarrhea medication and antacids, air freshener can go a long way, too.
If you're worried about any unpleasant odors in the bathroom, consider bringing along a bottle of Poo-Pourri. After you've taken care of business, you'll leave the restroom smelling fresh and clean!
Read more: Unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for
If you are worried about space, bring some magnetic hooks
Though many of today's newer ships have plenty of shelves for toiletries and cosmetics, magnetic hooks can be useful to hang wet swimsuits, hair towels, and other damp items.
Hooks will enable you to shower without the need to move all of the wet items from the clothesline. They're beneficial in your stateroom, too, as they can be used to hang hats, lanyards, day bags, and more, rather than stuffing them into a drawer and having to search for them later on.
Inflatable tubs can be used to bathe young sailors
Most cruise ship bathrooms don't feature a tub, which can make bathing infants and toddlers difficult. Inflatable tubs can help turn what otherwise might be a challenge into an easier and more enjoyable experience. They provide a convenient solution for parents cruising with younger children.
Note that if you're staying in a suite, you'll likely have a full-size tub, so you won't have to worry about purchasing an inflatable one ahead of time.
Some standard cabins, such as Deluxe Oceanview staterooms onboard Carnival's Dream Class (i.e., Carnival Dream, Magic, and Breeze), as well as "Family" cabins on Disney Cruise Line ships, do have tubs. Onboard Disney Dream, for instance, cabins 5018, 5518, 6012, 6510, and 6512 only have a shower; the tub is absent.
Read more: 15 Things You Should Never Do in Your Cruise Ship Cabin
Night light
Regardless of whether you're staying in a tiny interior room or large suite, your cabin will be dark at night. Rather than leaving the bathroom light on, many cruises prefer to bring a portable night light, particularly one that is battery-operated and motion-sensored.
Though newer ships are equipped with more outlets, they are typically not found in bathrooms. If you want to keep the light in the bathroom, the only way to ensure it will work is by bringing one that's battery-operated. Moreover, even if you prefer it in the cabin, you won't want the night light to take up valuable outlet space.
Some ships have as few as one or two outlets, so you'll have to decide whether you want to charge your device or plug in the light!
Shower weights
Though not present on every ship, many, especially Carnival's older ships, have shower curtains instead of glass doors. Having sailed onboard Carnival Conquest and Carnival Elation, I quickly learned that they're clingy, with the nearly constant contact being rather annoying.
Currently, I don't have any future Carnival sailings booked. However, if I find myself on any ship outside of their Excel Class, I'm going to head to immediately purchase shower curtain weights. The weights will help make the curtain heavier, which will prevent it from moving around as much.
Again, it's important to emphasize that not all ships have curtains. You don't want to make a useless purchase, even if it is inexpensive. Older ships, such as Vision of the Seas and Norwegian Sky, tend to have curtains, whereas newer vessels like Freedom of the Seas and Norwegian Getaway have glass doors.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
