The Genius Dollar Store Cruise Hack We Wish We’d Known About Sooner

As anyone who's been on multiple cruises knows, there are some common pitfalls when it comes to rooms. With the average cruise stateroom topping out at 170 to 190 square feet, tight quarters can often mean clutter buildup, lost items and stinky smells. It's a challenge Allie from Cruise Blog knows all too well. "Before every trip I take, I usually head over to Target for some last-minute essentials," she shared in a recent video .

Earlier this year, I went on my very first Mediterranean cruise on the Sun Princess . While overall, it was an amazing experience, I quickly learned that the clutter problem was real. Over the span of the 7-day cruise, I found myself with a jumble of various papers I'd received each day to my cabin, each one announcing important details about various ports. At one point, I found myself scrambling because the port required a specific document that I hadn't even seen thanks to all the paperwork buildup. Luckily, I was able to run up to my room and find it, but it was a close call, and I almost lost my chance to get on my tour bus.

Thankfully, Allie's found a genius solution to the clutter conundrum, and all it took was a trip to The Dollar Tree. "Despite my hesitations, I was pleasantly surprised at everything my dollar store had available...I only spent a little bit more than $20 for everything."

Her brilliant find? Different types of magnetic organizers, hooks and boxesthat make staying organized a breeze thanks to the way they cling to stateroom walls. Read on for the genius way she uses various magnetic lifesavers, plus more genius Dollar Tree must-haves for your next cruise:

Related: Make Sure You Do This One Thing Before Your First Cruise, Says Samantha Brown

The Brilliant Dollar Tree Find Every Cruiser Needs

"Cruise cabin walls are typically magnetic, allowing you to use magnetic items for a multitude of reasons. Magnetic hooks are wildly popular in the cruise community, especially considering cruise staterooms are very small. Anything you can hang on the wall will keep the room less cluttered," says Allie.

Her first purchase? An an eight-pack of magnets. "We used these in the cabin during our cruise to hang up important papers, such as the daily schedule with all the activities and events happening on the ship." You could use them for a variety of reasons, she says.

"I also purchased this two-pack of two clips. These are bigger and more heavy-duty, allowing you to hang heavier items on the wall, such as a bag or a jacket," says Allie. "They were more sturdy than I anticipated, though they would be heavier to pack if you're worried about luggage weight." Hooks are also great for coats, robes and wet bathing suits.

She also discovered a set of small magnetic boxes in the same area as the hooks and found a great use for it—keeping small items you don't want to lose. "I ended up putting my nightly earplugs inside and hanging them up on the wall near my bed. This helped me keep track of my earplugs with ease, and I'm sure there are other creative uses for them."

Finally, she scored a $1.25 magnetic dry-erase board. "Many guests will bring magnetic decorations for their door, and it's not uncommon to see a dry-erase board—we placed the magnetic dry-erase board near our door and we enjoyed other guests writing messages on it throughout the cruise."

Related: Carnival's Offering a Deal It's Calling 'Its Biggest Ever'

10 More Dollar Tree Essentials You Need for Your Cruise

Allie usually hits up Target before every cruise, but she admits she might be changing that routine up for the dollar store next time. "These items saved me both time and money before my recent Carnival Cruise. I will definitely return to the dollar store for my next cruise because the savings were substantial." Here are more Dollar Tree must-haves:

• Travel-size laundry detergentand stain remover wipesfor quick stain cleanup and washes in your sink.

• Small bottle of liquid hand soap, like Soft Soap, which is a great alternative to bar soaps that tend not to do the job in the bathroom.

• Plenty of hand sanitizers."It's easy to get run down and sick." Wipe surfaces like doors, bathroom stalls and more.

• Cabin organization essentials:Pop-up hampers can be great for longer cruises. Having a designated space for dirty and stinky clothes is key.

• Three-pack of travel jarsfor medicine, supplements and other small items instead of bringing the big bottles from home.

• Sandwich baggies:"Very handy for many reasons!" These keep belongings in an easy-to-find place, protect passports from moisture and are great for bringing snacks ashore.

• Small bottle of room spray:"Small spaces can quickly become stinky and stale. I grabbed an apple cinnamon scent, which was perfect for fall."

• Sticky Notes:Use them to communicate with your travel buddy or stateroom attendant without wasting precious wifi bandwidth.

• All types of travel-size products.Save money and luggage space with travel-size minis of your favorite products, such as Crest whitening toothpaste, a travel-size bottle of Palmer's Cocoa Butter, lip balm, travel shower kit and travel-size loofah, medications, supplements and vitamins. "Shower products can be low-quality or a 3-in-1 type mystery liquid. Bringing your own is key," she says.

• Snack section:The Dollar Tree has many nonperishable snacks and candy for just $1.25. Avoid budget-busting prices at the airport or at the cruise snack shop.

Related: What to Wear on a Cruise: A Day-by-Day Outfit Guide From a Cruise Director

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.