I've sailed on 4 different cruise ships each from a different cruise line in the last year. Here are my top 6 tips the make the most out of a trip as someone who doesn't like to travel by sea.

Brittany Chang/Insider

• I make a living out of writing about travel and cruise ships despite being a cruise cynic.
• Over one year, I've sailed on four ships across four cruise lines.
• Here are my six tips to make traveling at sea more comfortable.

I make a living out of writing about travel, which includes sailing on cruise ships.

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Ironically, I'm not a big fan of cruises. And as a picky traveler, I've found critiques for every ship I've sailed on.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Insider

After traveling on four ships across four cruise lines, I've learned a few tips to make these sea-based travel experiences more comfortable.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Here are my six hacks and suggestions that could ease the stress that comes with traveling on a floating hotel.

Brittany Chang/Insider

1. Pre-book onboard dining and entertainment as soon as possible.

Brittany Chang/Insider

All of my cruise travels have been on sailings exclusive to media and booking agents. As a result, my trips have either been covered or discounted by the cruise line.

In my experience, you may have to pre-reserve your onboard dining or entertainment. I suggest doing so as soon as possible.

When I traveled on the Norwegian Prima during its inaugural sailing, I reserved my speciality dining and nighttime entertainment right after stepping aboard the cruise ship. This gave me my first or second pick of onboard restaurants and showtimes. 

If you're a picky eater or have a set schedule, I recommend booking your meals and shows as soon as possible. You could miss out on your top options if you don't.

2. Bring your own shampoo and conditioner.

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Not all cruise ships provide a separate body wash, shampoo, and conditioner for their guests. If you too prefer having all three, I recommend packing your own just in case.

3. When you're starting to feel sea sick, try not to think about it. Otherwise, go take a nap.

Brittany Chang/Insider

When I attended the inaugural sailing of Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise, the small vessel was no match for the choppy waters. I was one of many travelers who struggled to walk straight on the swaying ship. That's where I learned one of the most important tips for seasickness: When you start to feel nauseous, don't think about it. 

Think of it as a meditation practice. The more I fixated on the rocking motion and my sickness, the more unwell I felt. But when I distracted myself and took my mind off of my nausea, I instantly started to feel better. 

However, if you can't fix it, my suggestion is to grab your motion sickness patches and lay down to take a nap. Don't overextend yourself — The bar, buffet, and pool can all wait. And definitely don't stare at your phone or laptop.

4. Unpack everything the moment you enter your stateroom.

The Infinite Veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Apex.

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Unlock your stateroom's door, take in the view (if you're not in an interior stateroom), and explore all of the amenities. After that, unpack.

Some experienced cruise travelers like to bring accessories like magnetic hooks or portable hampers to maximize storage space. But because I travel alone, I don't bother bringing these extra add-ons. Instead, my tip is to always unpack as soon as possible.

Staterooms aren't floating mansions with limitless storage. It's easy to clutter a 200 to 300-square-foot stateroom especially if you're traveling with other people. To prevent this, I prioritize unpacking and organizing the moment I enter my stateroom. This helps me keep track of all of my clothes without causing a mess during my days at sea.

This includes toiletries. Unpacking and organizing my multi-step skincare routine onto the bathroom shelves keeps the small space clutter-free. Luckily, the waves are never choppy enough to knock over my glass-bottled products.

 

5. The early bird gets the worm. Just don't be rude about it.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Cruise ship buffets, pool decks, and gyms can be packed at peak hours. Nobody likes circling around the breakfast buffet looking for empty seats while holding a full plate of food.

The earlier you wake up, the more you can take advantage of these popular common spaces without fighting for a spot. Just don't be the jerk who wakes up early in the morning to claim a desirable pool chair with a towel just to abandon it until later in the afternoon.

6. Research the cruise line before you travel.

The Celebrity Apex.

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Are you a Gen X couple looking for a quiet and luxurious cruise? I recommend Celebrity Cruises. Are you a family looking for an amusement park-like ship? Try out Royal Caribbean Cruises or Norwegian Cruise Line. Traveling on a budget and looking for a short getaway? Margaritaville at Sea may be your best bet.

Different cruise lines target different demographics. To make the best out of your vacation, pick a cruise line and ship that best aligns with your target demographic and budget. And if you don't like the idea of a weeks-long cruise, stay away from transoceanic itineraries. 

Are you an experienced cruise traveler with a story or tip to share? Email this reporter at bchang@insider.com

 

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