Space-Saving Hacks for Any Cruise Cabin

Cruise ship cabins are famous for being relatively small. In general, an inside cabin is about half the size of a typical hotel room, and even balcony cabins can feel tight.

But whether you’re in a standard cabin or a spacious suite, smart organization can make your room feel way more livable.

Below you’ll find 10 practical, space-saving cruise hacks that experienced cruisers often use. These tips will help you maximize every inch of your cabin and keep clutter under control, so you can completely relax and enjoy your cruise.

Unpack and Stow Suitcases Under the Bed

One of the first things to do after embarkation is to unpack your bags and get those empty suitcases out of the way.

Most cruise beds are raised just enough that standard suitcases slide perfectly underneath.

Storing your luggage under the bed frees up floor space and keeps the cabin tidy.

Some passengers also like to leave one suitcase open under the bed and toss in used clothes as the cruise goes on. It’ll be like an “open suitcase hamper” to keep dirty laundry out of sight.

Use Magnetic Hooks and Clips on the Walls

Here’s a fun fact about cruise cabins that surprises many first-timers: nearly all the walls and even ceilings on cruise ships are metal.

This means magnetic hooks and clips can be total game-changers for creating extra hanging space.

Bring a variety of strong magnet hooks to hang hats, jackets, lightweight bags, or lanyards on the walls instead of piling them on chairs.

In addition, you can also use magnetic clips that are fantastic for keeping papers off the desk, like daily schedules, shore excursion tickets, or restaurant reservations.

Apart from convenience, using magnets to get items off surfaces will instantly cut down cabin clutter, and it will make it much more livable.

Hang an Over-the-Door Organizer

Packing a foldable over-the-door organizer is one of the best ways to create additional storage in a tight cabin.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen them, but multi-pocket hanging organizers (often sold as shoe holders) can be hung over your cabin or bathroom door and provide loads of extra spots to stash items.

I often use it for toiletries, accessories, and gadgets, but also to free up the tiny bathroom shelves by moving sunscreen, hair products, medications, etc.

When I travel with my family, each person claims a few pockets for their stuff, and we’re all happy!

Pack with Packing Cubes (and Roll Your Clothes)

Keep in mind that staying organized from the get-go will save space in the long run.

When packing, you can use specific packing cubes to compartmentalize your clothing and keep them sorted and compressed.

Some passengers also like to roll their clothes inside the cubes to maximize space and minimize wrinkles.

Once on board, packing cubes double as mini-drawers: simply place the cubes in your cabin’s drawers or on shelves. This way, you’re essentially unpacked in seconds, and your clothes aren’t strewn everywhere.

I’ve spoken with many seasoned cruisers, and many of them love to use packing cubes because unpacking and repacking is much faster, and gives you more time to enjoy the ship.

Bring a Pop-Up Hamper for Laundry

Dirty clothes are always a problem while traveling. As I said before, some people place them in an open suitcase under the bed, but I prefer to bring a collapsible pop-up laundry hamper.

These fold-flat hampers spring open to hold your used clothing throughout the cruise so that you don’t have a messy pile on the floor at the end of the cruise.

Just tuck the hamper in a corner of the closet or under the desk (some even fit under the sink) and you’ll avoid accidental mix-ups.

When it’s time to pack up, you won’t be hunting for scattered socks or shirts on the last day. And the thing that I love is that pop-up laundry hampers are very light to carry and take up very little space.

Ask for Extra Hangers and Hang Everything You Can

Another good thing to save space is to make the most of your closet by utilizing hangers (and don’t be shy about requesting more from your stateroom attendant).

Cabins often come with a limited number of hangers, but your room steward will gladly bring you extras if you ask. Remember that they’re included in the list of the 10 surprising things your cabin steward can bring you for free on a cruise.

When you travel, hanging up clothes (instead of folding them into drawers or leaving them in suitcases) saves a ton of space and helps keep outfits wrinkle-free.

You can even hang multiple items per hanger (for example, two lightweight tops or a pair of pants with a shirt), and if you have a lot of smaller items, you could also pack a few cascading hanger attachments that let you hang hangers vertically to fit more in the closet.

Use Hidden Spaces

You just have to be a bit creative and use every nook and cranny of your cabin, remember that cruise ship designers often include more storage spots than you can immediately see.

Check for hidden storage like drawers under the sofa, compartments behind mirrors, or cabinets above the bed (some ships have overhead bins above the headboard that are perfect for stashing shoes or jackets you don’t need often).

If you aren’t sure, ask your cabin attendant to point out any secret storage areas or have a look at the article with the 7 hidden things no one notices in cabins.

At the same time, eliminate any items taking up space that you don’t actually need. When you arrive, you’ll often find things like an ice bucket, extra pillows/blankets, or a coffee table.

By clearing out unneeded items, you’ll create a more open, roomy cabin, as I’ve explained in the guide on how to make a cruise cabin instantly more comfortable.

Hang Wet Items to Dry in the Bathroom

Wet swimsuits or hand-washed laundry can clutter a small cabin if left on chairs or towel racks.

Instead, take advantage of your bathroom for drip-drying clothes. Most cruise ship bathrooms have a retractable clothesline in the shower (as you can see in the photo above) so just bring along a few cheap clothes pegs.

If your ship doesn’t have a built-in line, you can use a couple of magnetic hooks or suction cup hooks on the bathroom ceiling or walls to hang a travel clothesline or laundry bag.

Of course, if you have a balcony cabin, you can let everything air dry outside, just be careful with the wind when the ship is moving. I’ve seen clothes fly off neighboring balconies more than once.

Pack Light and Bring Only What You Need

The ultimate space-saving tip is simply not to overpack.

I know it’s tempting to bring outfits for every possible occasion, but remember that cabin storage is limited and the less stuff you bring, the easier it will be to organize.

If you arrive with multiple giant suitcases for a short cruise, you might find you don’t have enough places to put everything, even if you use all the storage hacks above.

Aim to pack mix-and-match pieces, remember that it’s not a crime to re-wear outfits, and you can use onboard laundry services or self-serve laundry if available instead of packing your entire closet.

In addition, choose travel-size toiletries, pack only the gadgets you truly need, and remember to avoid these cruise packing mistakes everyone makes.

Of course, don’t leave the essentials at home. But what exactly are they? Well, I’ve laid it all out for you in this list of 20 cruise essentials you should always bring on a cruise.