When preparing for your next cruise, you should make sure that buying a cruise liner is on your to-do list.
Cruise 101 is knowing that your plastic cruise card will be your lifeline once you board the ship; there will be no need to carry cash, other forms of identification or credit cards.
For this reason, you want to treat this card like a house key, a passport or credit card. You will use the card to make any purchases on board, open your stateroom door (and in some cases, be required to turn on the lights) and disembark/board the ship at ports of call.
Here’s why sailing lanyards are the best travel accessories.
Convenience
People love to cruise because, for the most part, they are a convenient vacation. Instead of spending the week rummaging through your bag for your cruise card when you make an onboard purchase or try to access your stateroom, a lanyard keeps it handy and easy to access.
Cruise cards have many functions and are required for everyday onboard activities, including opening the cabin door (and on newer ships, turning on the lights), providing proof of age to gamble in the casino, or entering the nightclub, going on board shopping, ordering drinks at the bar, playing arcade games and boarding and disembarking the ship at ports of call.
You will probably need to swipe your card at least 15 times a day!
You’re on vacation and you don’t want to waste time looking for your card all these times. Removing the lanyard from around your neck, from your pocket or pulling it straight out of your bag will make it easy to access your navigation card! You don’t want to be that the person holding the line at the bar!
Plus, you can hang the cord up in the room and easily grab it whenever you want to go out during the day. It’s a terrible feeling to be halfway to your destination and realize you’ve left your boarding pass in your room. If you hang the lanyard in a visible place, you’re less likely to forget it!
Read more: The 10 best cabin hacks to make your room more livable
Key card security
A lanyard will help you keep your cruise card safe and minimize the chances of losing it during your vacation.
The last thing anyone wants to do on vacation is stand in line at guest services. If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you’ll know that line can be terrifyingly long!
However, if you lose your card, you will have no choice! Since your card is required for so many activities on board, you’ll need to get a replacement as soon as possible, even if that means waiting in line for 30 minutes when you can stand on deck. the pool.
Think what would happen if you realized you lost your card while trying to disembark for a shore excursion. By the time you got to guest services and off the ship, you would have probably missed the group departure!
If you have a child who is prone to losing things, they may benefit most from a rope – I know a family who had to visit Visitor Services twice in one week because their youngest son got lost the card twice.
Additionally, a lanyard with a plastic sleeve is useful when traveling on a ship that uses RFID cards, as they cannot have holes in them.
The sleeve will also protect your card from other elements that could erase the information on it (I’ve had this happen with a lot of sunscreen before) and acts as a secure area to hold money and other forms of identification when disembarking at ports of call.
A fun souvenir
You can choose to reuse the same rope on every cruise, or you can buy a new one and build up a collection of ropes. They make cute and relatively inexpensive souvenirs.
If you’re going on a group cruise, for example, you can get all members of your travel party matching ropes. Everyone will have an automatic souvenir to remember their time together!
After the cruise is over, you’ll have a safe place to keep your cruise card to remember the wonderful vacation you had! Plus, you never know when a rope might come in handy in your daily life.
Custom accessory
If you wait to buy your rope on board the cruise ship, you will probably pay more than if you buy it in advance and have fewer options.
If you get your rope in advance, you have the entire internet at your disposal to search for the one that best suits your personality. Do you have a favorite sports team or clothing brand? Do you want her to be amazed? Does it make sense to get a lanyard with a plastic bag that can also hold and protect your phone?
Additionally, you will be able to choose the style of rope you want. Some are more like key chains or bracelets, while others come with detachable clasps.
What Sailing Rope Should You Buy?
With so many types of sailing ropes, you may wonder which one is best for you. Here are some options based on style and functionality for under $15!
Sailing rope for ships charts | 2-Pack Cruise Lanyard with ID Holder, Reversible Key Card Badge and Waterproof Ship Card Holder ($10.99)
With over 5,600 four- and five-star reviews, this two-pack of travel ropes is a popular choice; it has all the bells and whistles! For just $5.50 each, you’ll get more of a lanyard that comes with a waterproof ID holder, reversible wrap and detachable clip.
The waterproof pouch is large enough to hold your cruise card, a credit card or two, as well as some cash as you head out to explore ports of call.
If you have a drink pack, a detachable clip will make ordering drinks easy as you won’t have to fumble for your boarding pass. You can simply remove the bag and give it to the bartender.
Plus, they come in seven different prints, and you’re able to choose a mix & match option.
Cruise line (price varies by ship)
You can wait until you board your ship to purchase a lanyard and get one branded with the cruise line’s logo or name. They will be available throughout the cruise in the gift shop, so you have time to decide on the style and whether a lanyard is right for you.
While the functionality of each will vary, most are fairly simple; OTHER USEFUL can have a waterproof ID bag or detachable clip. The price of an onboard rope is usually between $5 and $15.
Fun fact: if you’re sailing on a Disney cruise line 2+ times, you’ll get a complimentary lanyard when you sign up as a Castaway Club benefit.
BIHRTC Key Ring Bracelet Car Key Chains Hand Holder Silicone Wrist Chain for Women ($11.10)
Traditionally, lanyards are not the most fashionable accessory, so a cute key ring bracelet is a great alternative. Although this is not technically a short lanyard, you are still able to attach your navigation card to the clip.
This specific key ring bracelet has over twenty different designs to choose from as well as over 4,800 five star reviews!
You may even be able to use it at home for your car and/or house keys!
FRIEQ Waterproof Phone Bag – 2 Pack Waterproof Phone Case Dry Bag with Rope for iPhone 14/13/ 12/11 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy S22 S20 and More ($7.99)
For those who always have their cell phones with them, a lanyard with a waterproof case large enough to protect your phone may be ideal.
While inserting and removing your navigation card may require a little more work, all the contents inside will be kept safe and dry. This rope will help you never miss a photo-worthy moment on your excursions!
For just $7.99, or about $4.00 each, you can get a two-pack of FREIQ Waterproof Phone Cases! 86% of 8,127 Amazon reviews give this product four or five stars.
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Ropes are great for convenience and security, plus they make a unique souvenir (that you may end up reusing someday)!
But they are not for everyone. Some people, for example, may prefer to keep it behind the phone case. If you decide not to use one during your cruise, make sure you have a safe place to keep your cruise card.
