Cruise Hack: Maximize Cabin Space With Magnetic Shelves
by Chris and Michael from ChartingOurCourse.com
One of the biggest challenges on any cruise, especially a long-term or residential one, is the limited space. Making a small cabin feel organized and uncluttered is key to making it feel like home. We’ve tried countless tricks, but one simple, inexpensive item has completely changed the game for us: magnetic shelving.
Why Are Magnetic Shelves a Cruise Ship Game-Changer?
The secret is that most cruise ship cabin walls and doors are made of metal. This turns almost every vertical surface into potential storage space without the need for drills, screws, or sticky adhesives that can damage the walls and violate cruise line policies.
According to us, Chris and Michael, after spending months living at sea, finding clever storage solutions is non-negotiable. Magnetic shelves are our number one recommendation for instant organization. They are:
- Damage-Free: Simply place them on a wall, and they hold fast. Remove them, and there’s no trace left behind.
- Incredibly Versatile: You can move them around as your needs change. What holds sunscreen one day can hold your books the next.
- Space-Saving: They utilize vertical space, freeing up your tiny countertops, desk, and nightstands.
- Sturdy: A quality magnetic shelf can easily hold toiletries, electronic devices, spices, and other daily essentials.
Where Can You Use Magnetic Shelves in a Cabin?
Think of any metal surface, and you have a new home for your belongings. We use them all over our cabin, but here are the most effective spots.
- The Bathroom: This is the best place to start. Cruise ship bathrooms are notoriously tiny, with almost zero counter space. We use a magnetic shelf right next to the mirror to hold our sunscreen, daily lotions, and other toiletries. It keeps everything off the wet counter and within easy reach.
- Next to Your Bed: Use a small shelf as a makeshift nightstand for your phone, glasses, or a book. It keeps your essentials close without cluttering the small bedside table.
- At the Vanity or Desk: Organize your makeup, charging cables, or daily planner. It helps create a functional workspace or getting-ready area.
- By the Cabin Door: This is our favorite trick. We place a small shelf by the door as a “drop zone” for our keycards, sunglasses, and shore excursion tickets. We never have to search for them when leaving the cabin. For more cabin idea that takes advantage of the magnetic walls, check out our other post on Magnetic Wall Art.
What is the Best Magnetic Shelf to Get?
After trying a few different types, we’ve found that the best ones have strong magnets and a protective railing to keep items from sliding off during rough seas. For use in the bathroom, finding one that is rust-resistant is also a major plus.
The ones we personally use and recommend are perfect for the job. They are strong, the ideal size for a cabin, and have held up perfectly.
Our Go-To Magnetic Shelves: You can find the ones we use on our own residential cruise here: Magnetic Spice Rack Organizer
Final Thoughts
Living comfortably in a small space is all about smart organization. As pointed out by experts in small-space living, maximizing vertical storage is one of the most effective strategies. Magnetic shelves are the perfect tool for cruisers to do just that. They are an inexpensive, non-permanent, and incredibly effective way to transform your cluttered cabin into a functional and comfortable home at sea.
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