5 Tips For Better Shipboard Sleep on a Cruise

Hey cruisers, I’m Sheri with CruiseTipsTV. I have a confession. When I’m tired, I get, well let’s just say I’m not as fun as I usually am. And cruising is all about fun. So let's keep the fun ship cruising and jump right in to "5 tips for getting better sleep" while on your cruise. #1- Block that light! If you have an inside cabin you won’t have any problems with this, but mornings in ocean view and balcony cabins can sometimes have the glare of a thousand suns. If you’re a light sensitive sleeper, like I am, there are two things you can do – the first is to pin your curtains closed with a few clothes pins and the second is to invest in a cozy sleep mask, like this one. This little guy is about $5 bucks on Amazon, and has been a sleep game-changer for me, especially when my husband and son tune in to late night cartoons after an exciting day ashore. Sleep masks allow me to drift off way faster, without being woken up (or bothered) by light. #2- Choose a quiet cabin! Not all cruise ship cabins or staterooms are created equal. If you’ve seen our video on how to choose a cabin, you may remember that we prefer rooms at the end of a hall. Cabins set AWAY from main areas, including stairs and elevators, tend to get less foot traffic in the hallways. What we didn’t mention is that cruise ship mechanical operations can be NOISY. We’ve been on a few cruises where lifeboats and anchors were lowered into the sea with some LOUD equipment at the crack of dawn, so now, we research this and try to avoid those areas. If you’re a light sleeper, this matters. If not, I wouldn’t worry about this one. #3- Skip the midnight buffet! I know, I know, I sound like your grandmother here, but folks…we all know we’ll have a better shot at zonking out if we don’t eat too close to bedtime. Grabbing a late night slice of pizza is SUPER tempting on a cruise, but you’ll feel better if you don’t. Okay, enough about that. #4- Quit drinking a few hours before bed. Okay, I know, I sound like grammy again…darnit! Well, It might seem like grabbing a glass of wine before bed will make us sleepy, but science is showing the opposite to be true, so if sleep is an issue for you, you might considering capping off the cocktails a few hours before you hit the pillow. #5- Grab a book and put away the technology. Unplugging on vacation is JUST as hard for me as it is for you, so I get it. Most people I know grab their phones and tablets before bed, and that’s hard not to do at home. But, folks…we’re talking about vacation here AND I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to pay for pricey internet connectivity at sea, so I’d rather plan ahead, crack open my balcony door, listen to the waves and smell the SEA and try to READ myself to sleep. Oh, and a little bonus tip, if you have extra room in your suitcase, packing your own pillow can be a neck saver!