Whether you’re a new or experienced cruiser, finding your way around a cruise ship can be quite a challenge. With cruise ships getting bigger, it’s not uncommon to get a little lost on these floating cities. If you don’t know where everything is, you might miss out on some amazing experiences, from unique dining venues to exciting entertainment options.
However, by familiarizing yourself with your ship’s layout before your vacation, you’ll be able to get around the cruise ship with ease. This will lead to a stress-free embarkation day and an amazing cruise vacation. Knowing where everything is will help you make the most of your time on board and ensure you don’t miss out on any of the ship’s offerings.
So, whether it’s your first cruise or your twentieth, understanding the ship’s layout is key. With that being said, here are 10 ways to find your way around a cruise ship.
10 Easy Ways to Not Get Lost on a Cruise Ship
1. Watch Ship Tours on YouTube
Before your cruise, take the time to watch a ship tour for your specific cruise ship on YouTube. Plenty of creators make ship tour videos on YouTube, and they’re a great resource for familiarizing yourself with the cruise ship before your vacation.
Watching ship tours on YouTube will help you learn the layout of the cruise ship and may give you some tips along the way. Furthermore, watching cruise vlogs, tours and review videos before your cruise is a great way to get excited about your upcoming vacation.
Watching ship tours has been a game-changer for me. By the time I board, I already know where everything is, which means I can make the most of embarkation day.
2. Research the Cruise Ship Deck Plans in Advance
When you visit your cruise line’s website, you’ll find deck plans for your cruise ship. By familiarizing yourself with the deck plans, you’ll have a good idea of the cruise ship’s layout. As an example, you’ll know the location of the various restaurants, lounges and bars, pools, the kid’s club and more.
I always check the deck plans before getting on my cruise. This way, I can see which elevator is closest to my cabin and what venues are on my side of the cruise ship.
Moreover, it is a good idea to check the deck plans before you book your cabin. This is the best way to choose a cabin in a prime location that meets your wants and needs for your trip.
3. Pick-up a Cruise Line Brochure from a Local Travel Agency
This might sound like an old-school cruise hack, but it can be surprisingly effective. If you have a local travel agency near you, ask if they have a current cruise line brochure.
Often, cruise brochures include specific cruise ship deck plans, complete with details you’ll want to know before you board.
Related: Best Way to Book a Cruise: Travel Agent or Direct with the Cruise Line?
4. Use the Wayfinding Screens Located Around the Cruise Ship
Wayfinding screens are featured on new cruises and recently refurbished cruise ships. These large interactive touchscreens are user-friendly, effective, and a great tool for getting directions onboard a cruise ship.
Whether you’re looking for directions to the pool deck, the theatre, or even your cabin, the wayfinding screen will provide them. All you have to do is input where you’d like to go, and the interactive wayfinding screen will give you step-by-step directions on how to get there.
Typically, these screens are located by the elevator bays or stairwells. You may also find them nearby restaurants, public lounges, and other popular venues,
5. Use the Ship Diagrams Located Next to the Elevators
The cruise ship diagrams are located next to the elevator bays. Typically, they are meant to show cruise passengers where the emergency exits and muster stations are.
However, the ship diagrams also feature the deck plans for the cruise ship. It is a good idea to use the cruise ship diagram as a resource to find your way around the cruise ship.
When I’m on an older ship that does not have wayfinding screens, I use the cruise ship diagram to get directions. Although cruise ship diagrams may be considered “old-school,” they’re reliable and great for getting directions.
Related: 75 Genius Cruise Hacks and Tips: Get Organized, Save Money, Cruise Better
6. Pick Up a Pocket-Size Foldable Map at the Check-In Desk or at Guest Services
On embarkation day, many cruise lines offer a pocket-side foldable map at the check-in desk. Since cruise lines are trying to reduce the amount of paper onboard the cruise ships, you may have to ask for the map when checking in.
This map is a great tool for getting around on your first day. Typically, it shows the ship’s layout and highlights important venues like the Lido deck, buffet, and main dining room.
If you don’t find maps at the check-in desk, don’t worry. You can always inquire at guest services. They often have pocket-side foldable maps available for passengers who request them.
Related: 14 Tricks to Board Your Cruise Ship Faster on Embarkation Day
7. Use the Cruise Line App
These days, the cruise ship deck plans are usually integrated into the cruise line’s app. This means that you can get step-by-step directions directly from your cellphone using the cruise line app.
Using the map in the cruise line app is a total game changer. Not only will it make getting directions quicker, but it’s also very efficient once you learn to use it.
For example, I recently sailed on the Sun Princess, and I always used the Princess app for directions. Even though I’ve sailed with Princess before, since this is a brand new cruise ship and class, the Princess app was especially useful.
8. Explore the Ship on Embarkation Day
Exploring the cruise ship on embarkation day is a great idea. I always familiarize myself with the lido deck, buffet, and main dining room. This way, I know how to get to the areas of the ship that I frequent most often.
Obviously, larger cruise ships have more dining venues and, in some cases, multiple main dining rooms, which can make things confusing. However, taking the time to explore the ship will make it easier to get around.
If you have trouble navigating the cruise ship, consider inquiring about a guided ship tour. Certain cruise lines offer a guided ship tour on the first day, which makes it easier to familiarize yourself with the ship.
9. Recognize Landmarks
Onboard a cruise ship, you’ll find that landmarks and small details are cleverly used as directional cues. Cruise lines have implemented this system to ensure that getting around the ship is a breeze for their passengers.
For instance, some Norwegian Cruise Line ships have cabin hallway carpets with a fish design. Cleverly, the fish are swimming towards the front of the ship, making it easier for cruise passengers to know whether they are heading forward or towards the aft of the ship.
On Holland America’s Pinnacle-class cruise ships, each stairwell has a subtly different look and theme. When we were on Holland America’s Rotterdam, the forward staircase had an architecture theme, the middle staircase had a music theme, and the aft staircase was animal-themed. Each stairwell featured unique artwork, making it easy to know which part of the cruise ship you were in.
10. Ask a Crew Member
If you happen to be lost or need help finding a specific venue, feel free to ask a crew member or even a fellow cruise passenger. Whether you’re a new or experienced cruiser, people onboard will be more than willing to help.
On a cruise ship, it’s normal to get disorientated or lost, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!
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Final Thoughts on How to Find Your Way Around a Cruise Ship
At first, it’s normal to have trouble getting around the cruise ship. However, by doing some research before your trip, and exploring on embarkation day, you’ll get used to the ship in no time.
By using these cruise tips mentioned above, getting around the cruise ship will be a breeze.
Do you have any tricks for finding your way around a cruise ship? Please let me know your tips and questions in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Author Bio: Ethan Schattauer has been cruising with his family since he was four years old and has been on more than 30 cruises. As a frequent traveler, Ethan shares his unique perspective on what cruising is like from a young person’s perspective. Ethan also writes about men’s fashion, travel and college advice on the website WhatToWearMen.com.
