Small stateroom hacks...

Back to reality. Sigh. We got back from Hawaii on Monday and I have the vacation hangover. You know, not motivated to work, run necessary errands, cook, clean….I need something to look forward to.

As of right now, that’s not too hard because my next trip has been B-O-O-K-E-D! Norwegian Cruise Line released some seven night sailings that stop in Havana, Cuba, so I jumped on it. That’ll be in October. Yes, that’s hurricane season, but I picked the latest date possible. And, insurance.

I happened to like NCL (it runs in the family, my parents are Platinum), but, fun fact - their staterooms are said to be the smallest at sea. To tell you the truth, I can barely tell (small is small), but I also set myself up for organizational/space saving success.  Ready for some tips?!

Store your suitcases under the bed.  Most cruise lines have beds that are elevated and there’s just enough room to slide your suitcase in that spot. Make sure that each person has their designated area (your suitcase on one side, mine on the other) so you have easy access. If you’ve got one too many suitcases, nest them together.

Rearrange the room.  If there are pieces of furniture that can be moved, feel free to rearrange! I usually will take the ottoman or table in the sitting area and push it up to the balcony door (the one that doesn’t move). This helps open the space - a ton!  If there are shelves/counters cluttered with things you won’t use, find an empty shelf or space in the closet to stash.

Over the door organizers.  A lifesaver!  Consider a small one for your toiletries to put in the tiny bathroom. Consider an over the door SHOE organizer for the rest of the space. Place it on the stateroom or closet door and stash all your other things there!  Of course shoes, larger toiletries, fashion accessories, belts, etc.

Magnetic hooks.  Another lifesaver!  Your stateroom walls are metal, so grab some of these for extra storage. Hang a cardigan, your pool tote, baseball hat, cruise lanyard.  Under the magnet itself place your daily cruise program or shore excursion tickets. They usually come in sets and in varying strengths.  

Set up a charging station.  Dedicate counter space in your stateroom for the charging of electronics. Also dedicate a space for storage, like a safe or drawer. To keep cords organized consider a soft sided electronics organizer.  Oh and because staterooms have limited outlets, think about an extra charging device.  Pic of the organizer and charger below.

Pack your laundry.  I know it’s tempting to throw your clothes in a pile in the corner or on the sofa.  But, stop yourself and think how tidy your room will be if you don’t!  Once you're done with a piece of clothing, put it back in your suitcase!  You can also think about purchasing a reusable laundry bag or pop up hamper to put in the closet!

Bonus!  Upgrade to a larger room.  Think about an oceanview as opposed to an interior stateroom or a junior/mini suite instead of a balcony.  With the bump up in stateroom category will come some extra square feet!

Until next time!