Ever heard the phrase, “Don’t ask, don’t get”? As long as you aren’t rude or too demanding, it’s absolutely something you can take advantage of on a cruise.
There are a whole host of freebies, little perks or just useful touches that you can get if you speak to the Guest Services team, and most cruisers don’t know about most of them!
But if you’re fully prepared with this list, you’ll know all the little tricks and bonuses that you can use to just make your cruise that extra bit smoother, or even more special.
1. Sea Sickness Medication
Feeling a bit green around the gills? Guest Services often provides free seasickness tablets. They’re usually basic over-the-counter options, but they can save your cruise if you’re feeling queasy.
If you know that you’re likely to suffer from sickness during the cruise, I wouldn’t rely on the freebies from Guest Services. They aren’t guaranteed, and even if they have them, they could run out.
Whether you’re charged or not really depends as well. Sometimes I’ve been charged, and sometimes not. And that’s all on the same ship!
However if you’re caught off-guard by those sickness feelings, definitely check in with Guest Services before heading to the pharmacy ashore.
Read more: My Top Tips To Prevent Seasickness When Cruising
2. Replacement Cruise Cards
Lost your key card somewhere between the pool and the buffet? No problem. Just pop down to Guest Services, and they’ll print you a fresh one – no charge, no judgment.
There might be a little judgement if it keeps happening though – so you might want to consider some accessories such as a lanyard to help keep your card safe.
I have lost many cruise cards over the years. I just try not to do it more than once per cruise!
3. Daily News Digests
Missing your daily news fix? Some cruise lines offer complimentary news sheets summarising major world events – a great way to stay informed while you’re off the grid.
Not everyone does this and it’s a little more of a traditional thing – modern cruise lines probably want to push you towards buying a WiFi package.
Still, worth asking if you like to stay up to date.
4. Stationery
Planning to leave a little thank-you note for your cabin steward? Need an envelope to store your onboard receipts? Guest Services can sort you out with free pens, paper and envelopes.
Don’t expect reams and reams of the stuff, but you should have no problem getting a little that you need.
5. Maps of the Ship
Getting lost on a massive floating city is easy, especially on your first few days. Grab a free paper map from Guest Services, and you’ll be navigating like a pro in no time.
Again, though, many cruise lines are moving away from printed materials, and so you might be directed to download the cruise line’s app instead which may give you access to maps.
6. Phone Chargers
Forgot your phone charger at home? Or is your charging cable doing that annoying thing where it’s only working when your phone is balanced at an impossible angle?
Don’t panic. Some ships have spare phone chargers you can borrow from Guest Services.
You won’t be surprised to learn that charging cables are one of the more forgotten items onboard, so it’s easy for cruise lines to build up a stockpile.
Just remember to return it once you get your own. It’s not fair to keep it, and you’re helping the next person who forgets theirs.
7. Plug Adaptors
I recently took a cruise on National Geograhic Endurance – a small ship with only 71 cabins. As it was a press trip, all of the guests were UK journalists and travel agents.
The ship had no UK sockets at all, but luckily they had a stock of 30 international adaptors to lend out. That wasn’t enough though, the stockpile quickly ran out as over half the guests forgot to bring any sort of adaptor with them!
So if you forget your adaptors, don’t worry. Most ships have a mix of US, European and British sockets, as well as USB and USBC ports on the more modern ships. But if that’s not enough, just head to guest services and they will lend you one.
7. Help Setting Up Internet
Struggling to get your device connected to the ship’s WiFi? While there’s usually a dedicated internet desk, Guest Services can often help troubleshoot basic connection issues.
The apps are pretty straightforward and I’ve never found it to be too confusing. Still, good to know that the service is there if you need it.
Read more: Cruise Ship WiFi is Expensive: How to Stay Connected for Less
8. Earplugs
Whether it’s your noisy neighbours or the hum of the ship itself, sometimes you just need a bit of quiet.
Some ships even offer free earplugs at Guest Services – just ask. Worst thing is they’ll say no and direct you to the onboard shop to buy your own.
However if the noise is excessive and unreasonable, they’re going to want to help you to avoid a complaint.
Read more: 16 Things Pro Cruisers Pack That You Won’t Have Thought Of
9. Extra Towels, Pillows, or Blankets
Need an extra pillow or a couple of extra towels?
While your cabin steward is usually the go-to, Guest Services can also arrange for extra blankets, towels, or pillows if you’re feeling chilly or just want to be extra cosy.
This is extra helpful on larger ships where you may barely even see your cabin steward, so Guest Services could become your main point of contact for these requests.
10. Special Occasion Decorations
Got a birthday or anniversary? Let Guest Services know, and you might score a free card, a small gift, or even a surprise decoration in your cabin.
I would say this is less likely than many others on this list though, as most of the major cruise lines now offer celebration packages that you can buy.
This are often quite expensive – but Guest Services will still want to push you towards buying one rather than giving you something for free.
11. Mailing Postcards
Want to send a postcard straight from the ship? Drop it off at Guest Services, and they’ll make sure it’s sent out for you. Handy!
You will need to make sure it already as a stamp, though. They’re helpful but they aren’t going to pay for things they don’t need to.
12. Borrowing a Fan
Some cabins can get a bit warm, and if you’re someone who needs a bit of airflow to sleep, you can sometimes borrow a fan from Guest Services – if they have them available.
I’d ask quickly because if they do have them, they won’t have many. First come, first served.
13. Emergency Laundry Help
Got a serious stain or a wardrobe malfunction just before formal night? Guest Services can sometimes help with emergency laundry or even basic repairs (like giving you a safety pin).
Don’t turn up at the desk with a bag of laundry though. That’s what the onboard laundry services are for. This is purely for emergencies.
Read more: How To Do Laundry on Cruise Ships: The Ultimate Guide
14. Luggage Repairs
Busted zipper? Broken wheel? Believe it or not, some ships can even help you get your luggage repaired, thanks to their onboard maintenance teams.
You’ll need to drop it off and wait because you won’t be their top priority – they’ll be fixing ship-wide issues first. However, a free fix that takes a couple of days is better than no fix at all.
15. Hypoallergenic Pillows
If you’ve got allergies, you don’t have to suffer.
Guest Services can help you swap out your pillow for a hypoallergenic option – just ask.
Some suites on cruise ships come with full pillow menus to choose from, but if you’ve an allergy then you should be able to get swapped regardless of your cabin choice.
16. Printing Important Documents
Need to print out an excursion ticket, a boarding pass, or some other important document? Guest Services can often print a few pages for you, no charge.
As with everything on this list, don’t push your luck. A few pages is fine – an essay, probably not.
17. A Bible
You’ll find a Bible in the drawer of the bedside table in most hotels, but the same can’t be said for cruise ships.
Cruise ships are often cautious about anything that could be interpreted as controversial or sensitive, especially since they dock in various countries with different laws and cultures.
However, if you want to read the Bible and haven’t brought your own, just head to guest services. Even if the ship doesn’t have a library, they should have a spare copy of the Bible that they can lend you.
18. Sports Equipment
Most cruise ships have facilities like sports courts for basketball, football, tennis or pickleball. But what if you get there and there’s no equipment?
That’s actually pretty common, and all you have to do is go to guest services and ask.
While there will be organised sports at certain times, the rest of the time you’re free to start your own games. Just ask at the guest services desk and they will give all the balls or bats you need.
18. A Dramatic Show!
A bit of a cheeky one to end on, but if you’re the kind of person who likes to people watch, and you find entitled cruisers to be entertaining, then the Guest Services desk is a great spot to catch some drama!
I don’t see entitled people on every cruise, but I’ve definitely seen a few people get demand-y and shouty before, and it’s quite embarrassing for them.
I would obviously rather that the Guest Services team didn’t have to handle those people, but they’re very good at taking it in their stride.
So yes, if you like a bit of gossip and find rude people getting flustered to be a bit entertaining, grab a drink and a seat near Guest Services. It won’t be long before you’re front row to some drama.
Read more: Overheard: The Worst Complaints At Guest Services On A Cruise
Final Thoughts
Guest Services is more than just the place to complain about your noisy neighbour or check your bill.
It’s a treasure trove of useful (and free) goodies that can make your cruise even better. Don’t be afraid to swing by and ask – you never know what you might get for free.
The golden rule though is to not expect anything. These are all freebies you might be able to get.
The worst cruisers are those who think they are entitled to a load of extras, and then demand them.
Don’t be one of those.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
