Carrying your cruise card correctly is crucial for a smooth sailing experience especially when exploring the ship’s dining options. Many travelers make simple mistakes that lead to lost access and dining delays. Here is a helpful guide on how to avoid these common errors so you can fully enjoy every meal on board.
Demagnetizing Next To Your Phone
You might think slipping your card behind your phone case is smart. It actually wipes the magnetic strip right before you try to enter the main dining room for dinner and missing your reservation is way worse than missing out on a steak that I personally thought was just okay and a bit chewy anyway.
Letting Lanyards Dip In Your Soup
Wearing a super long lanyard around your neck seems convenient until you lean over the buffet table and your card takes a quick swim in the hot soup. The buffet soups are usually quite nice and comforting if you like simple flavors but they definitely do not need extra seasoning from a plastic room key.
Punching Holes Through The Chip
Some folks use a hole puncher to attach their card to a keychain and accidentally destroy the internal chip. This makes it impossible to buy those extra premium desserts like the gelato which I found a bit too sweet for my personal taste though many kids absolutely loved it.
Handing It Over At Specialty Restaurants
When you eat at the fancy specialty restaurants you have to hand over your card to pay the cover charge. People always forget to grab it back after dessert and losing your card right after a heavy meal definitely ruins the relaxed vibe even if the specialty sushi was pretty decent and fresh although maybe not the best I ever had.
Putting It In Your Back Pocket
Tucking the card into your back pocket is a guaranteed way to drop it while sitting down on those tall stools at the midnight pizza station. Late night pizza is a total lifesaver when you are craving a salty snack even if the crust is sometimes a little doughy but you cannot get a slice without your card.
Wearing It Ashore Like A Tourist
Keeping your cruise lanyard proudly around your neck while exploring the ports marks you as a major tourist. Pickpockets might grab it while you are distracted by street food which is a shame because trying the local tacos is my favorite part of any trip since local food often beats ship food hands down.
Leaving It In The Cabin Slot
Newer ships make you leave your card in a slot by the door to keep the cabin lights on so people always rush out for breakfast and leave it trapped inside. Room service breakfast is fairly basic and maybe a bit bland compared to the dining room but you will be stuck eating it if you lock yourself out of your room.
Giving Cards To The Kids
Letting your kids carry their own cards without a secure clip means they will absolutely lose them near the soft serve ice cream machine on the pool deck. The soft serve is incredibly refreshing on a hot sea day even if the chocolate flavor tastes a little artificial but hunting for a lost card ruins the fun really fast.
Tossing It Into A Big Beach Bag
Throwing your card into a giant beach bag means you will be digging around for ten minutes while the bartender waits to charge you for your poolside burger. The burgers are surprisingly juicy and probably my favorite casual lunch option on board but nobody wants to stand behind a guy frantically searching his bag for a piece of plastic.
Mixing Up Cards With Your Partner
When couples carry their cards loose in the same wallet they often hand the wrong one to the barista at the coffee shop and get the drink package denied. I actually really enjoyed the premium coffee since the regular drip coffee is often too bitter for me so keeping your own card safe in a designated pocket is definitely worth the effort.
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