A Cruise Writer’s $10 Amazon Cabin Hack

The Sognefjord of Norway is a beautiful part of the world, with dizzying cliffs and stunning waterways. It’s also a playground for outdoor adventures like kayaking, hiking, and e-biking. Which is why, when I visited the area recently on a Cunard cruise ship, I had packed all sorts of outdoorsy gear.

While my stateroom aboard the Queen Anne had lots of built-in storage, the one thing it didn’t have was many coat hooks or other places to hang my gear. Fortunately, I pack a very simple solution any time I’m going on a cruise ship: Sturdy magnetic hooks are my go-to solution for maximizing storage in a cozy stateroom. While the specific hooks I use are no longer available to purchase, these highly-rated alternatives do the same job and get perfect ratings from cruise goers at Amazon. 

Diymag Magnetic Hooks

They work because most stateroom walls are metal, meaning you can affix the hooks pretty much anywhere and, of course, remove them easily. I have used these magnetic hooks for several years and taken them on cruises in the Caribbean, roundtrips from Florida, on sailings around Greece, and on an epic adventure through northern Europe. Every time, they proved super useful in organizing my belongings — and none of the staff on board gave them a second look. Plus, they take up next to no room in my suitcase yet make it possible to hang up all my gear that either won’t fit in drawers or needs to air out.

In fact, on my recent trip to Norway, they came particularly in handy. When our ship arrived one morning at the port of Olden, a pretty little town on the Nordfjorden, I dashed off for a day of e-biking and hiking. While I was adventuring, my wonderful stateroom attendant, Phoebe, set out my evening wear on those very same magnetic hooks, setting me up for the evening’s sail away gala. After a shower and a costume change, I hung my gear back up on those very same hooks, looking forward to the next day — and another big adventure.

I’m not the only cruiser who swears by this packing tip; more than 170 Amazon reviewers mentioned how they use these hooks aboard ships. Consider the Amazon reviewer who called this set a “cruise essential” or another shopper, who gave this set a five-star review, saying, “they stick right to the walls of the cabin.” These sturdy hooks are able to hold a fair bit of weight, meaning you can use them for all sorts of objects, like one person who said, “we were able to hang damp laundry, our toddler’s toys, and diaper bag.” Whether you are looking to hang formal clothes, outdoor gear, or go-to stuff for your family, these magnets are essential when traveling by cruise ship.

I was glad to have my set of magnetic hooks on my most recent trip, but they have come in handy on other voyages as well. I often find that cruise ship staterooms have limited coat hooks, storage pegs, and other places to put things like hats, jackets, and backpacks. Fortunately, it’s easy to just pack your own magnetic hooks to get more storage — and at $9, they’re a no-brainer.

Shop More Cruise Travel Essentials at Amazon:

Bagsmart Hanging Compression Packing Cubes

Nocs Provisions Waterproof Binoculars

Lysian Foam Earplugs

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack

Epicka Universal Travel Adaptor

At the time of publishing, the price started at $9.

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