Sharing a Cruise Cabin with Friends: Real Advice from our Cruise Addicted Members (So You Don’t Regret It)
Sharing a cruise cabin with friends can be a fantastic way to save money and make memories.
It can also be… challenging.
After asking the Cruise Addicted community for honest advice, stories, and survival strategies, one thing became very clear:
Cabin sharing can work brilliantly — but it needs communication, compatibility, and a little planning.
Here’s what our members taught us…
Start with Ground Rules (Preferably Before You Even Book)
Several members stressed the importance of having an open conversation before committing to share.
This doesn’t have to be awkward — think of it as a friendly cruise prenup.
Topics worth covering early:
Tidiness expectations (clothes in drawers, not on the floor!)
Sharing wardrobe and hanger space
Bathroom routines
Visitors in the cabin
Noise, lights, and late-night etiquette
Fragrance Sensitivites
As one member summed it up simply:
“You don’t really know someone until you’ve shared a very small cruise cabin with them.”
Another joked:
“Tidiness and consideration go a long way… just not far enough to cope with my snoring!”
In fact earplugs were a recurring theme…
Respect Each Other’s Routines
Morning and evening routines can make or break cabin harmony. Many successful sharers had a plan:
One person showers while the other heads out for coffee or breakfast
Alternating who gets up first each day
Quiet movements if your cabin mate is still asleep
One cruiser explained how taking turns in the mornings transformed their experience — she would leave the cabin first to grab breakfast or attend a class, giving the other uninterrupted time to shower and get ready, then they’d swap the following day.
Simple planning avoids bottlenecks and frustration.
Master the Nights (and the Lighting!)
Night-time etiquette came up repeatedly.
Top tips from members included:
Small flashlights or magnetic motion-sensor night lights instead of main cabin lights
Sleep masks and earplugs in your carry-on (even if you think you won’t need them)
Tiptoeing in if your cabin mate is asleep
Being mindful of noisy bathroom visits in the middle of the night
One experienced cruiser explained:
“I always bring a small flashlight for night-time bathroom visits — just shine it on the floor. No need for bright lights.”
Little habits like this make a huge difference.
Organisation Is Everything
Cruise cabins are clever, but compact and can soon get messy One member advised “A place for everything and everything on its place”
Other members swore by:
A fair division of hanging space, drawers and shelves
Magnetic hooks and over-the-door shoe racks or wall cubbies
Keeping personal items tidied away in your own drawers and shelves
Packing cubes and bathroom washbags.
A tidy cabin really does help keep the peace!
Strong perfumes, aftershaves, and heavily scented products can be overwhelming in a small cabin — especially for anyone with sensitivities.
Keeping fragrances light and checking before using sprays is another small courtesy that goes a long way.
Privacy Matters (Even with Friends)
Even the best of friends occasionally need a bit of space.
Several members said the key was not being in each other’s pockets all the time:
Do your own thing during the day if interests differ
Meet up for dinner in the evening
Step outside for phone calls
Don’t feel obliged to stick together constantly
One member joked about occasionally inventing urgent errands just to grab five minutes alone — which many of us found very relatable!
Another shared a light-hearted take on boundaries:
“The rules were simple: let your cabin mate know if you’re not coming back, remember it’s their space too, keep things tidy — and always share the chocolate.”
Know Their Personality — Not Just Their Name
This may be the most important lesson of all.
Before sharing, think honestly about compatibility:
Do they snore — and are you happy wearing earplugs?
Are they strong-willed or likely to dictate plans?
Do they expect you to take photos of them constantly?
Do they like sticking together all the time, or splitting up?
Are they open to meeting new people at dinner?
Do they like the cabin warm or cool?
Do they walk fast, slow, or stop every five minutes?
Ask yourself:
Are you comfortable saying, “Let’s do our own thing today and meet for dinner?”
Can you calmly resolve small disagreements?
Because the wrong cabin mate doesn’t just spoil a trip — it can put the friendship at risk.
As one member put it after a particularly memorable experience involving snoring, sleep-singing, and borrowed toiletries:
“Never again.”
Why People Still Share (Despite the Horror Stories)
With all that said, many Cruise Addicted members happily share cabins multiple times a year.
Why?
It saves a fortune
It can be great fun
You make memories together
You avoid paying solo supplements
As one group member summed it up:
“If you find someone compatible, it’s brilliant. If not… the extra cost suddenly feels worth it.”
The Cruise Cabin Sharer’s Charter (aka The Cruise Prenup)
Before you book, consider having a quick chat about:
Tidiness expectations
Morning and evening routines
Bathroom etiquette
Night-time lights and noise
Visitors in the cabin
Temperature preferences
Snoring (and earplug diplomacy!)
Fragrances and sensitivities
Doing things together vs separately
How you’ll handle disagreements if they arise
It doesn’t have to be formal — just honest.
A ten-minute conversation on land can save ten days of tension at sea.
Cruise Addicted Opinion
Sharing a cruise cabin is like cruising itself — wonderful with the right people, challenging with the wrong ones.
The secret isn’t perfection.
It’s communication, consideration, organisation… and a sense of humour!
If you’re planning to cruise with friends you can search for your own adventure here and if you want more advice from real life cruisers, come join us in the Cruise Addicted Group
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