gay cruise door decorations

Cruise Cabin Door Decorations: The Ultimate Guide for Cruisers

Sharing is caring!

A Guide to Cruise Ship Door Decorating

Are you going on a cruise and planning to decorate your cruise cabin door? Decorating your stateroom door is a great way to make sure you always find your cabin, and have a little fun along the way.

However, there are a few things you’ll need to know before you go out and buy any cruise door decorations.

In this post, we’ll go over the cruise line rules and policies for cabin door decorating, as well as some frequently asked questions. You’ll find some tips and great ideas for decorating your cruise cabin door, as well as photos from real cruisers which are included throughout this post.

Should You Decorate your Cruise Cabin Door?

As long as your cruise line allows it and you follow the rules, why not? Decorating your cabin door is a fun thing to do , especially if you’re going on a family cruise , group cruise or even if you want to celebrate a special occasion or anniversary.

Benefits to Decorating your Cruise Cabin Door

In my Life Well Cruised Facebook community , many people who decorate their cruise cabin doors, cited the benefits.

• It makes it easier to find your cabin, even if you’ve had too much “ drink package” .
• You can personalize your stateroom door, as they all really look the same
• It’s fun to participate and see many doors that are uniquely decorated, like looking at store windows
• It’s a great way to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries
• You can decorate for Christmas and other holidays
• It’s a focal point on a long hallway
• It’s a great activity for a group or family cruise (door decoration contest)
• It makes it feel even more like home

Can You Decorate Your Stateroom Door on All Cruise Lines?

Cruise cabin door decoration is quite popular on Carnival and Disney Cruise Line, however you’ll find people who enjoy decorating their cabin doors on many cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises .

The exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. In August 2019, Norwegian banned cruise cabin door decorations , citing safety concerns.

Guidelines for Cruise Ship Door Decorating

Here are the rules and guidelines to follow if you decide to decorate your cabin door.

Firstly, make sure that your decorations are not placed on the door frame, wall, railings or light fixtures. To avoid damaging your cabin door, use magnets or command strips. Tape, glue and other adhesives are forbidden.

For safety reasons, all decorations must be made of flame retardant materials. No string lights are allowed on the door or in the hallway.

Most cruise cabin doors, like the walls in your stateroom, are metal . This makes decorating with magnets a preferred way to adhere the decorations. Many cruisers even make their own personalized magnets at home from photos and pictures.

However, suites on some cruise ships may have wood doors. Make sure to check your cruise line website for their current cruise cabin decoration policy.

Cruise Line Door Decoration Official Policies:

Carnival Cruise Line stateroom decoration policy

Disney Cruise Line door decoration policy

Read next: 30 Cruise Cabin Hacks All Cruisers Need to Know

Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Ideas

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

Life Well Cruised is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

In addition to the cruise door decoration pictures included throughout the post, here are some of fun door decoration magnets that you can order, and in many cases, personalize for your cruise.

10 Fun Cruise Door Magnets and Banners

1.  drink package magnet decoration – personalized.

This magnet sign is a lot of fun, whether or not you’ve got the drink package . Of course, personalizing it with your family name makes a great photo!

Check on Amazon here:  CAUTION We got the drink package sign

2.  Carnival funnel personalized magnet decoration

A great buy or gift for any Carnival cruise fans , these magnets are also great as cabin door decorations.

Check on Amazon: Personalized Carnival funnel magnets (see details here)

3.  Royal Caribbean cabin door magnet

If you’re a Royal Caribbean fan, how cute are these personalized magnets ?

Check on Amazon:  Royal Caribbean magnet decoration (see info & reviews here)

4.  Disney inspired personalized door magnet sign

I love this Disney magnet door sign set, which can be personalized for the entire family.

Check on Amazon:  Personalized Disney door decoration (see awesome reviews here)

5.  Nautical cruise magnet – available for ALL cruise lines

This nautical magnet decoration is available for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and most popular cruise lines. You can personalize with a family name, or even “Girl’s trip” or “Anniversary Cruise”.

6.  “Our First Cruise” door sign

If you’re a first time cruiser , this cruise cabin door sign is perfect. Like any of the other magnetic door decorations, it can be personalized.

Check on Amazon:  Our First Cruise Magnet Door Decoration

7. Birthday banner door decoration

Decorate your cabin and door for a birthday on a cruise!

Check on Amazon here: Cruise theme Happy Birthday Banner 

8.  Photo sticky frames – DIY door decorations

These removable adhesive frames are perfect for photos, pictures, collages and printed signs. They can also be used inside your cabin on the walls to keep your cruise itinerary or any other information.

9. Disney Fish Extender

If you’re going on a Disney cruise, then you’ve probably heard of the tradition of decorating your cabin door with a f ish extender for fish exchange extender gifts. You can also decorate your Disney fish extender with personalized items. This is a great family activity as well as a great roll call or group cruise activity. See details here .

Check on Amazon: Disney fish extender (see info & pricing on Amazon)

10. Cruise Ship Sign Plaque

“I have no cruise control… It’s like the cruises book themselves!”

If you’re a cruise addict, you’ll love this sign to decorate your cruise cabin door, or inside your cabin or even to use at home.

Check on Amazon: Cruise control sign (verify price on Amazon)

Read more:   50 Best Gifts for Cruisers (that are unique & practical)

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 now just $17.

Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Tips (from real cruisers)

Traveling with magnets

If you have your magnet decorations in your luggage, cruisers suggest labeling the items in an envelope or bag with “magnets” written. As well, if you have your magnet decorations in your carry on bag at the airport, let the TSA agents know that you have magnets in your bag.

Cabin Door Decorating Contents

Group cruise.

If you’re planning a group cruise with family or friends, consider organizing a fun cruise cabin door decorating contest. As everyone to make their decorations different, and have a fun prize like a bottle of wine or champagne, a cruise t-shirt or even a $25 on-board credit ( OBC ).

If you use one comment element, like a group cruise logo magnet, it can also be a good way to identify those in your cruise.

Read more:   Cruise On Board Credits (OBC): How Can You Use Them?

Even if you’re not on a group cruise, if you’re part of a cruise roll call on Cruise Critic or Facebook and you have an active group, a cabin door decorating contest can be a lot of fun!

Leave Notes on Your Door

Some cruisers place a small whiteboard on their cabin door so that people can leave notes. Others may write a message or a joke that gives people a smile as they pass the cabin.

Decorate for the Holidays

Even if you’re not part of a group, if you’re cruising over Christmas or Halloween, you’ll find that many people decorate their cabin doors or even their cabin.

Even if you’re cruising over the New Year or Thanksgiving (or any other holiday), decorating can add to the cruise experience and travel memories!

•   How is Christmas Celebrated on a Cruise (what to expect)
• 15 Special Ways to Celebrate Christmas on a Cruise

What Should You NOT Do When Decorating Your Cruise Cabin Door

Sometimes people ask if anything is off limits when it comes to decorating your cabin door. Cruise lines that allow door decoration ask that you “keep it clean”. In other words, don’t include profanity or “adult” photos on your cabin door. This is especially true if you’re on a family cruise .

What about pineapples? You may ask

I find this mildly amusing, as I like pineapple decor. However, ever since I learned of what pineapples on a door can actually mean, I cannot look at pineapples in the same way.

While I could send you to google this, I may as well explain if you haven’t heard this yet.

Pineapples on a door mat or as a door decoration are supposed to signify hospitality and welcome. However, it has more significance for those that know…

Pineapples on a door is a code that “swingers” use to let others know about their “interests”. Upside down pineapples are said to mean the couple is actively looking for more than friendship.

So, on land, and on cruises, if you see pineapples on a door, it may mean more than you know. Of course, it may just be that they like pineapple decorations or that they have friends with a sense of humor ;-).

Read more: 25 Strange and Surprising Cruise Ship Facts

More Useful Items to Bring on a Cruise

Here are 8 cruise essentials that many cruisers bring on each and every cruise.

I’ve included Amazon links so you can click and verify pricing and reviews of all items.

Packing cubes  – They really just make packing and unpacking easier, and nothing will make you feel more organized for your cruise (or any type travel)

Reusable luggage tags – It’s a good idea to buy luggage tag holders before you cruise. You’ll simply slip the printed luggage tags (from your cruise line) into the durable plastic sleeves and attach them to each suitcase.

Magnet hooks  – Cruise cabin walls are metal. This is why  magnet hooks  are a top recommendation by avid cruisers to add extra hooks and storage to your stateroom.

Over the door organizer –  A cruiser favorite, you can fit a lot of items in the organizer, and hang it on the bathroom door or cabin wall. This is really helpful for families cruising with kids .

Hanging toiletry bag –  this toiletry bag is a huge space saver, as it can hang on bathroom door or even magnet hooks.

Large zippered nautical stripe beach bag –  an awesome beach bag that can hold 4 big towels and everything you need on shore excursions. I use it as a cruise carry-on bag as well.

Bonine (seasickness meds)  – Make sure to bring along your favorite non drowsy motion sickness medication. Personally, I find  Bonine  to be very effective without negative side effects (for my family).

Going on a cruise? Here are some articles to read next:

What I Wore on a 7 Day Caribbean Cruise (Cruise Outfits with Photos & Links)

How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise: 10 Tips that Work

17 Cruise Cabin Essentials to Organize (& more)

What To Wear on a Cruise Vacation (dress codes & more)

50 Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon

15 First Things to Do on a Cruise Immediately After Boarding

Cruise Luggage Tags and Holders (info & tags)

Final Thoughts: Cruise Cabin Door Decorations – The Ultimate Guide for Cruisers

Decorating your cruise cabin door can be a lot of fun, and a great way to highlight a special occasion like a birthday, anniverasy or graduation. Many cruisers buy door decorations, however you can get creative and make your own as well.

Have you ever decorated your cabin door on a cruise? If not, is this something you’d like to do in the future? I would love to hear about your experience! Please share your tips in the comments below.

Happy cruising!

If you found this post helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Share it on Facebook or Save for later Pinterest (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Let’s connect:

Follow me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised

Follow me on Pinterest at Life Well Cruised

Follow me on Instagram at Life Well Cruised

Follow me on YouTube at Life Well Cruised

We were on NCL in May 2022. We put a few decorations on our cabin door with magnets, and no one told us to take them down. Maybe NCL has changed it’s policy

That’s great. I’ve heard this anecdotally from a few cruisers. Thanks for sharing your experience Annie.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Decorating Cruise Doors: A Complete Guide

Ideas & rules – everything you need to know about cruise ship door decorations.

If you’ve been on a cruise lately, you’ll likely have seen a variety of magnets, signs, or even full banners across stateroom doors. Cruise door decorations are a trend found on almost all family-friendly cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and of course Disney Cruises.

Why decorate your stateroom door + a few ideas

There are so many reasons people might choose to add a little personalization on their cabin door during a cruise vacation! Sometimes it’s as simple as quickly identifying which cabin is yours. Elaborate decorations might be used to celebrate a life event or holiday. 

These are a few common reasons people participate in door decorating on a cruise ship:

It helps you to recognize your room/cabin

With the size of ships now, the chances of getting lost in finding your stateroom are pretty good! People use cruise cabin door decorations to mark their cabin and quickly identify it. Then there are those who tend to indulge too much and after an evening of breaking even on the drink package, a door magnet or small decoration will help you know when you’ve arrived — at the right cabin!

Stateroom Door decorations To celebrate a special occasion

Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, retirement, or any other special occasion with a fun door decoration on your cruise cabin. Walk through the halls of most cruise ships and you’ll see people of all ages being announced on their door!  

Cruise Door Decorations to Celebrate a holiday

Christmas is a great time to take a cruise and an even better time to decorate your cabin door for the festive season! On a recent MSC Cruise on the MSC Meraviglia, we couldn’t believe the number of door decorations we saw with so many creative takes on the holidays! It was great fun!. 

But don’t limit the door decorating to Christmas, we’ve seen both large and small decor for Valentines Day, easter, and especially Halloween. 

You can leave messages on your cabin door

Fun + Practical, use a decorative magnet wipe board and announce to your travel mates where you’ll be. Want even more fun and live on the edge a little? Leave a dry-erase marker tied to the board and see other passengers get creative with your message board. Be warned, this is risky! 🙂

Meet like-minded travelers

Do you love beer? Maybe you’re loyal to a cruise brand? Rainbow flags and pink triangles, anyone? Or… are pineapples your thing ??? (if you know you know). Cruise door decoration s are a good way to express yourself! 

Receive Our Monthly CruiseLetter

Including cruise reviews, travel tips, and cruise deals

Cruise Ship Door Decoration Ideas

Cruise door magnets and banners.

The easiest way to add a little fun to your cruise cabin door is simply getting magnets you love. There are magnets for everything available on Amazon and Etsy, or even design your own and have them made! The ideas are endless. Additionally, this is the safest way to go when trying to adhere to cruise policies about flame-retardant materials. 

Other passengers go all out with banners and foil letters that can be adhered with command strips or even double-sided magnets. 

See a few great ideas on Pinterest for decorating your cabin door .

DIY & Personalized Cruise door decorations

Don’t feel like you’re stuck with what’s available in big box stores or online. If you’re creative, make your own door decorations! The most popular method is printing on magnetic material which is available at most craft stores or online. 

Avery Printable Magnet Sheets, 8.5" x 11", Inkjet Printer, 2 Packs, 10 White Magnetic Sheets Total (5814)

Where to buy cruise door decorations.

There are so many places to buy cruise cabin decorations including Amazon, Etsy, and specialty shops. But don’t feel like you’re limited to buying the ideal door decor, make your own! In fact, seeing the personalized nature of door decorations is what makes them special. 

Some of our favorite cruise door magnets from Amazon:

Don’t forget to check out Etsy for some great ideas on decorating your stateroom door for your next cruise!

Can You Decorate Your Stateroom Door on All Cruise Lines?

While some cruise lines encourage decorating and personalizing your cabin door, others have decided to rule the practice out. Norwegian Cruise Line & Virgin Voyages explicitly prohibit door decorations (though some people still do it). 

Cruise line rules about decorating cabin doors by each cruise line 

Some cruise lines promote door decorating fun and sell decorations to guests, however, there are some important rules to decorating your door! Here’s a list of rules for each cruise line.

Can you decorate a cabin or stateroom door on Disney Cruise Line?

Yes, you can! Decorating a stateroom door on a Disney Cruise is a great family activity as well as a great roll call or group cruise activity!

Disney Cruise Line door decoration rules

You may not affix items to your stateroom doors using tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives or command strips.  Over-the-door hanging organizers are prohibited. Light bulb strings are not permitted. 

The recommended door decorations for Disney Cruises are magnetic only… but it’s important to know that not all doors are magnetic.  Concierge staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have wooden doors. 

Can you decorate a cabin door on Carnival Cruise Line?

Yes! you can decorate your stateroom door, but there are rules about what’s allowed and what’s not. 

Carnival cruise door decoration rules

Carnival cruise line has put out the most extensive rules about decorating your cabin door. Some people may feel like these rules are too restrictive, but the fact that Carnival actually embraces the concept as well as they do, it’s no surprise there are rules. 

Rules are updated on occasion and it’s good to read the Carnival website about  decorating your stateroom door and stateroom here .

This is what Carnival allows, and doesn’t allow for cruise door decorations: 

• All decorations must be fire retardant from the factory (not sprayed with fire retardant material after the fact). 
• Only decorations on the actual door, not in the hall or on the frames & walls. 
• Magnets and command strips only – no tape.
• Nothing is allowed on the balconies (which is no surprise)
• Nothing can be hung to restrict airflow or lights.

Most importantly – what I see violated sometimes, is the fact people hang string lights. This is a no-no. Not even battery-powered fairy lights are allowed.

When in doubt, Carnival Cruises sells door decorations directly, but here are a few tips on Carnival Cruise Line door decorations.

Can you decorate your cruise cabin door on Princess Cruises? 

Princess is not necessarily the first cruise line that would come to mind to embrace creative door decor as the clientele trends older and there are fewer children (normally). There are no rules against decorating your cabin door on a Princess Cruise, but following the general guidelines of no adhesives and using items that are fire-rated will keep you from getting in trouble with the cruise line. 

Generally speaking, most passengers on Princess Cruises, should they do a door decoration, it’s usually a simple magnet to help identify a cabin or a small magnetic celebration door sign. I’ve yet to see elaborate door decor on a Princess ship the way you might on a Disney ship. 

Can you decorate your door on Royal Caribbean?

Following basically the same guidelines set out by Carnival, RCCL allows door decorations as long as they’re not hazardous or stuck to the door with tape or adhesives. 

Norwegian Cruise Line door decoration rules

Stateroom stewards have been instructed to remove all decorations and place them inside the room. A real bummer, right?

The reality is, while NCL published a policy against cruise decorations in 2019, there are still plenty of people who put magnets on their doors and they go ‘unnoticed’. Much more than magnets, however, will likely get the decorations removed. Just know that it’s officially against NCL rules to decorate a door, but it seems that the cabin stewards have some discretion. 

The below photo was from a Norwegian ship. So while they have rules, how they are applied or adhered to will vary. Just be prepared to have your treasures removed since it’s the official policy on NCL.

Can you decorate your cabin door on Virgin Voyages?

If you ask around about door decorating on Virgin Voyages , you’ll find that most people don’t participate and some travel agents have even said it’s against Virgin policy (we can’t find it in writing, though we’ve tried to confirm). On a couple of Virgin Voyages cruises, we saw only 2 doors that had anything on them and they were simple magnets. If in doubt, contact Virgin directly, just know it’s not a common practice with this cruise brand. 

Do you decorate your cabin door?

Let us know what you think of cruise cabin door decorations.

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our Monthly Cruise Digest?

We’re Giving Away a Cruise in 2024! Enter Now

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

Your cart is currently empty

 [email protected]

• Afghanistan (USD $)
• Åland Islands (EUR €)
• Albania (USD $)
• Algeria (USD $)
• Andorra (EUR €)
• Angola (USD $)
• Anguilla (USD $)
• Antigua & Barbuda (USD $)
• Argentina (USD $)
• Armenia (USD $)
• Aruba (USD $)
• Ascension Island (USD $)
• Australia (AUD $)
• Austria (EUR €)
• Azerbaijan (USD $)
• Bahamas (USD $)
• Bahrain (USD $)
• Bangladesh (USD $)
• Barbados (USD $)
• Belarus (USD $)
• Belgium (EUR €)
• Belize (USD $)
• Benin (USD $)
• Bermuda (USD $)
• Bhutan (USD $)
• Bolivia (USD $)
• Bosnia & Herzegovina (USD $)
• Botswana (USD $)
• Brazil (USD $)
• British Indian Ocean Territory (USD $)
• British Virgin Islands (USD $)
• Brunei (USD $)
• Bulgaria (USD $)
• Burkina Faso (USD $)
• Burundi (USD $)
• Cambodia (USD $)
• Cameroon (USD $)
• Canada (CAD $)
• Cape Verde (USD $)
• Caribbean Netherlands (USD $)
• Cayman Islands (USD $)
• Central African Republic (USD $)
• Chad (USD $)
• Chile (USD $)
• China (USD $)
• Christmas Island (USD $)
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands (USD $)
• Colombia (USD $)
• Comoros (USD $)
• Congo - Brazzaville (USD $)
• Congo - Kinshasa (USD $)
• Cook Islands (USD $)
• Costa Rica (USD $)
• Côte d’Ivoire (USD $)
• Croatia (USD $)
• Curaçao (USD $)
• Cyprus (EUR €)
• Czechia (USD $)
• Denmark (USD $)
• Djibouti (USD $)
• Dominica (USD $)
• Dominican Republic (USD $)
• Ecuador (USD $)
• Egypt (USD $)
• El Salvador (USD $)
• Equatorial Guinea (USD $)
• Eritrea (USD $)
• Estonia (EUR €)
• Eswatini (USD $)
• Ethiopia (USD $)
• Falkland Islands (USD $)
• Faroe Islands (USD $)
• Fiji (USD $)
• Finland (EUR €)
• France (EUR €)
• French Guiana (EUR €)
• French Polynesia (USD $)
• French Southern Territories (EUR €)
• Gabon (USD $)
• Gambia (USD $)
• Georgia (USD $)
• Germany (EUR €)
• Ghana (USD $)
• Gibraltar (USD $)
• Greece (EUR €)
• Greenland (USD $)
• Grenada (USD $)
• Guadeloupe (EUR €)
• Guatemala (USD $)
• Guernsey (USD $)
• Guinea (USD $)
• Guinea-Bissau (USD $)
• Guyana (USD $)
• Haiti (USD $)
• Honduras (USD $)
• Hong Kong SAR (USD $)
• Hungary (USD $)
• Iceland (USD $)
• India (USD $)
• Indonesia (USD $)
• Iraq (USD $)
• Ireland (EUR €)
• Isle of Man (USD $)
• Israel (USD $)
• Italy (EUR €)
• Jamaica (USD $)
• Japan (USD $)
• Jersey (USD $)
• Jordan (USD $)
• Kazakhstan (USD $)
• Kenya (USD $)
• Kiribati (USD $)
• Kosovo (EUR €)
• Kuwait (USD $)
• Kyrgyzstan (USD $)
• Laos (USD $)
• Latvia (EUR €)
• Lebanon (USD $)
• Lesotho (USD $)
• Liberia (USD $)
• Libya (USD $)
• Liechtenstein (USD $)
• Lithuania (EUR €)
• Luxembourg (EUR €)
• Macao SAR (USD $)
• Madagascar (USD $)
• Malawi (USD $)
• Malaysia (USD $)
• Maldives (USD $)
• Mali (USD $)
• Malta (EUR €)
• Martinique (EUR €)
• Mauritania (USD $)
• Mauritius (USD $)
• Mayotte (EUR €)
• Mexico (USD $)
• Moldova (USD $)
• Monaco (EUR €)
• Mongolia (USD $)
• Montenegro (EUR €)
• Montserrat (USD $)
• Morocco (USD $)
• Mozambique (USD $)
• Myanmar (Burma) (USD $)
• Namibia (USD $)
• Nauru (USD $)
• Nepal (USD $)
• Netherlands (EUR €)
• New Caledonia (USD $)
• New Zealand (USD $)
• Nicaragua (USD $)
• Niger (USD $)
• Nigeria (USD $)
• Niue (USD $)
• Norfolk Island (USD $)
• North Macedonia (USD $)
• Norway (USD $)
• Oman (USD $)
• Pakistan (USD $)
• Palestinian Territories (USD $)
• Panama (USD $)
• Papua New Guinea (USD $)
• Paraguay (USD $)
• Peru (USD $)
• Philippines (USD $)
• Pitcairn Islands (USD $)
• Poland (USD $)
• Portugal (EUR €)
• Qatar (USD $)
• Réunion (EUR €)
• Romania (USD $)
• Russia (USD $)
• Rwanda (USD $)
• Samoa (USD $)
• San Marino (EUR €)
• São Tomé & Príncipe (USD $)
• Saudi Arabia (USD $)
• Senegal (USD $)
• Serbia (USD $)
• Seychelles (USD $)
• Sierra Leone (USD $)
• Singapore (USD $)
• Sint Maarten (USD $)
• Slovakia (EUR €)
• Slovenia (EUR €)
• Solomon Islands (USD $)
• Somalia (USD $)
• South Africa (USD $)
• South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (USD $)
• South Korea (USD $)
• South Sudan (USD $)
• Spain (EUR €)
• Sri Lanka (USD $)
• St. Barthélemy (EUR €)
• St. Helena (USD $)
• St. Kitts & Nevis (USD $)
• St. Lucia (USD $)
• St. Martin (EUR €)
• St. Pierre & Miquelon (EUR €)
• St. Vincent & Grenadines (USD $)
• Sudan (USD $)
• Suriname (USD $)
• Svalbard & Jan Mayen (USD $)
• Sweden (USD $)
• Switzerland (USD $)
• Taiwan (USD $)
• Tajikistan (USD $)
• Tanzania (USD $)
• Thailand (USD $)
• Timor-Leste (USD $)
• Togo (USD $)
• Tokelau (USD $)
• Tonga (USD $)
• Trinidad & Tobago (USD $)
• Tristan da Cunha (USD $)
• Tunisia (USD $)
• Türkiye (USD $)
• Turkmenistan (USD $)
• Turks & Caicos Islands (USD $)
• Tuvalu (USD $)
• U.S. Outlying Islands (USD $)
• Uganda (USD $)
• Ukraine (USD $)
• United Arab Emirates (USD $)
• United Kingdom (GBP £)
• United States (USD $)
• Uruguay (USD $)
• Uzbekistan (USD $)
• Vanuatu (USD $)
• Vatican City (EUR €)
• Venezuela (USD $)
• Vietnam (USD $)
• Wallis & Futuna (USD $)
• Western Sahara (USD $)
• Yemen (USD $)
• Zambia (USD $)
• Zimbabwe (USD $)

Ultimate Guide to Creative Cruise Door Decorations

Sep 18, 2023

Cruise vacations are a captivating blend of exploration, relaxation, and self-expression. While the allure of new destinations and onboard activities is undeniable, there's an enchanting way to infuse your personal touch into the experience: cruise door decorations. Transforming your cabin door into a canvas of creativity, these adornments not only showcase your personality but also add an element of uniqueness to your journey.

The Art of Cruise Door Decorations: A Unique Expression

Beyond the standard fare of cruise vacations lies a canvas of opportunity. Cruise door decorating stands as an exciting avenue to weave your individuality into your journey. Elevating your onboard experience, it's a chance to showcase your style and leave a lasting impression on fellow passengers.

A particularly appealing aspect is that most cruise lines embrace the concept of door decorating, allowing you to make your cabin truly your own.

Navigating the Seas of Creativity: Finding Affordable and Exclusive Decorations

While the desire to embellish your cabin door is strong, sourcing unique and cost-effective cruise door decorations can be a quest. The journey to make your cabin door stand out is dotted with challenges, but the rewards are immeasurable.

Crafting a Memorable Aesthetic: Materials for Cruise Door Decorations

Personalizing your cabin door involves a delicate balance between creativity and practicality. Adhering to cruise line policies and utilizing suitable materials is paramount. Familiarize yourself with each cruise line's stance on door decorations to steer clear of any complications.  

Lightweight and space-efficient adornments are the name of the game. Think door banners, signs, and the versatile cruise door magnets that can be easily affixed and removed. Personalized touches can offer a range of possibilities.

Unleashing Creativity: Customizing Cruise Door Decorations

Crafting door decorations that resonate with the destination or occasion of your cruise can truly make your cabin door stand out. Imagine a cabin adorned with tropical flowers for a Caribbean voyage or celebratory decorations for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. Festive themes also come to life during holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

  Setting Sail with Creativity: Ideas to Spark Inspiration

When it comes to crafting your cruise door masterpiece, inspiration can be found all around you. Here are a few avenues to explore:

Pinterest: A treasure trove of creative ideas, Pinterest offers a wealth of DIY inspiration, including cruise door decorations. A simple search can yield a plethora of ideas that align with your vision.

Etsy: For those who prefer the charm of ready-made decorations, Etsy is a paradise of unique and handcrafted cruise door designs. With an array of themes and styles, you're sure to find something that resonates. Check out our store on etsy https://cruiseinto.etsy.com

Cruise Specialty Shops:  Cruise Into , offers their own selection of door decorations and accessories available for purchase. This Cruise Door Magnet Store provides you with a curated range of options with Anniversary , Birthday , Cruise Quotes and many other special occasions .  

Crafting Your Door Décor: Materials and Innovations

Curating the perfect door decorations involves selecting the right materials and innovations. Here are some ideas to set your creativity in motion:

Magnetic Magic : Cruise doors often feature magnetic surfaces, making magnetic decorations a practical choice. Explore a plethora of options online, from elegant quotes to playful shapes and even personalized designs.  

Caution Tape Elegance : Transform your door into a work of art with colorful caution tape. Easy to shape and cut, it's a surefire way to catch the eye of fellow passengers.

Fun Quotes : Infuse humor and personality by creating signs with witty quotes or phrases. Use materials like foam board or card stock as your canvas and adorn them with markers or stickers.

Safety and Respect: Navigating Cabin Door Etiquette

As you embark on your creative journey, remember to consider your fellow passengers. Keep decorations tasteful, avoiding excessive size or noise that might disrupt your neighbors. Additionally, adhere to cruise line policies and avoid hanging items on balconies to prevent accidents.

A Voyage into Creativity : Enrich Your Cruise Experience

Decorating your cruise door is a tangible and delightful way to add your personal touch to your journey. By striking a balance between creativity and respect for others, you can make your cabin door a unique expression of yourself. So, embrace the opportunity to let your creativity set sail and make your cruise unforgettable.

James Trebilcock

Join the Cruise Into Crew

When You Sign Up To the Cruise Into Crew, You Will Receive Exclusive Discounts and Announcements

Recent searches

• Alaska Cruise
• Cruise Door Magnets
• Cruising Duck Tags
• Cruise Packing Lists
• Cruise Tote Bags

You may also like...

Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout

• American Express
• Diners Club

Shopping Cart

Cruise Tips For Families & Single Cruisers

Things to Know Before You Cruise

Cruise Door Decorations: tips, Rules, And Ideas!

Ahoy there! As a frequent cruiser, I know that one of the most exciting parts of a cruise vacation is personalizing your stateroom door. From colorful magnets to handmade banners, there are endless possibilities for decorating your cruise door and adding a touch of personality to your cabin.

But with different cruise lines having varying rules and regulations, it’s important to know the do’s and don’ts of cruise door decorations to avoid any surprises or penalties.

In this article, I’ll be sharing tips, rules, and ideas for decorating your cruise door. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned sailor, you’ll learn about ready-made and handmade options, materials and supplies, personalization ideas, and special occasion themes.

So grab your crafting supplies and let’s set sail on a journey of creativity and self-expression!

• Different cruise lines have varying rules when it comes to decorating cabin doors, with Disney and Carnival cruisers being the most enthusiastic about it.
• Door decorations can be made or bought, with craft stores and online shops offering a range of options.
• When making your own decorations, magnets are the best way to attach them to the door, and personalized designs can be easily printed and laminated at home.
• It’s important to follow cruise line rules and avoid damaging the door with tape or glue, as this can result in additional costs.

Popularity and Trends

I’ve noticed that decorating cruise cabin doors has become increasingly popular, with Disney and Carnival cruisers being the most enthusiastic, while Royal Caribbean cruisers tend to shy away from it.

It’s interesting to see the different decorating styles and cultural differences among cruisers. Disney cruisers, for example, often go all out with their door decorations, using everything from magnets to personalized signs and even fish extenders for organized gift exchanges.

On the other hand, Royal Caribbean cruisers tend to keep their doors plain and simple, focusing more on enjoying the onboard activities and excursions.

Carnival cruisers also enjoy decorating their doors, but with a focus on safety. Flame retardant decorations are required on Carnival cruises, and they advise against using card and paper decorations. Instead, magnets are the best way to attach decorations to doors.

It’s fascinating to see how different cruise lines have different rules and regulations when it comes to door decorations, and how each cruiser has their own unique way of expressing themselves through their cabin doors.

Cruise Line Rules

Most cruise lines prohibit the use of tape or glue to attach decorations to stateroom doors, but some offer stateroom decorating services for a fee. It’s important to follow the rules of the cruise line to avoid any damage or additional costs.

However, there are still plenty of magnetic options available for those who want to decorate their doors. Magnetic hooks, clips, and strips are all great options for attaching decorations without causing any damage to the door.

While some cruise lines allow magnetic decorations, most do not permit helium balloons. This is due to safety concerns and the risk of the balloons escaping into the open ocean. It’s important to check the rules of your specific cruise line before bringing any decorations on board.

By following the rules and using magnetic options, you can still have fun decorating your stateroom door without causing any damage or breaking any rules.

Ready-Made Decorations

I love browsing through Etsy to find unique and personalized ready-made decorations for my cabin door on cruises. There are so many options to choose from, and I always find something that fits my style and personality.

I especially enjoy looking for custom-made options that are specific to the cruise line or destination I’m visiting. It’s a great way to make my door stand out and add a personal touch to my vacation.

In addition to Etsy, I also like to check out craft stores and dollar stores for budget-friendly choices. These stores often have nautical-themed decorations that are perfect for a cruise, and I can always find something that fits my budget.

I love the creativity and fun that goes into decorating my cabin door, and ready-made decorations make it easy for me to do so without spending too much time or money.

Handmade Decorations

Creating personalized decorations for my cabin door is a fun and easy project that involves the whole family. We can use virtually anything to make them unique, such as scrapbook paper, stickers, and even seashells we find on the beach.

The possibilities are endless, and it’s a great way to get creative and make our cabin door stand out. One DIY inspiration we love is using magnetic paper to create custom magnets with our own designs.

We’ve printed out photos from our previous cruises and laminated them with self-stick laminating sheets to make them durable. We also enjoy making paper banners with our names or fun phrases using colorful cardstock and twine.

The best part of making our own decorations is the family involvement, and it’s a great way to make memories together while preparing for our cruise.

Materials and Supplies

To make unique and personalized cabin door decorations, I gather different materials and supplies such as scrapbook paper, stickers, twine, and magnetic paper. These DIY options allow me to create decorations that are truly one-of-a-kind and reflect my personal style. I love browsing craft stores for inspiration and finding materials that I can repurpose into decorations for my cruise cabin door.

When it comes to attaching my creations to the door, I find that magnets are the best attachments. They are easy to use and don’t damage the door like tape or adhesive can. I always make sure to use strong magnets to ensure that my decorations stay in place throughout the duration of the cruise. By using these materials and supplies, I’m able to create decorations that are not only fun and creative, but also won’t break the bank.

Personalization Ideas

According to a recent survey, incorporating personal photos and favorite quotes into cabin door decorations is a popular trend among cruisers. This DIY technique allows passengers to showcase their personality and make their stateroom door stand out.

Here are four creative inspiration ideas to personalize your cruise door decorations:

Collage of Memories: Creating a collage of favorite vacation photos is a great way to add a personal touch to your door decorations. Print out your favorite photos and use adhesive magnets to attach them to your door. This will not only make your door look unique, but also remind you of fond memories throughout the trip.

DIY Name Plate: Use wooden letters or letter stickers to spell out your name or initials. You can then paint them or cover them in glitter to add some sparkle. Use double-sided tape or adhesive magnets to attach them to your door.

Favorite Quote: Choose a favorite quote or phrase that inspires you. Print it out and attach it to a decorative piece of paper. Add some ribbon or jewels to make it stand out. You can then use adhesive magnets to attach it to your door.

Nautical Elements: Use sea-inspired elements like seashells, sand dollars, and starfish to create a beachy vibe on your door. You can use hot glue or double-sided tape to attach them to your door. This is a great way to bring the ocean vibe indoors and add a touch of nature to your door decorations.

With these DIY techniques and creative inspiration ideas, you can make your cruise door decorations unique and personalized. Not only will it make your stateroom easier to find, but it’ll also add to the overall fun and excitement of your cruise experience.

Special Occasion Themes

For my upcoming cruise, I plan on incorporating special occasion themes into my stateroom door decor. I love party planning, and what better way to celebrate a special occasion than on a cruise?

I plan on bringing decorations that match the holiday or occasion we’ll be celebrating, such as Christmas ornaments for a holiday cruise or balloons for a birthday celebration. I also plan on making personalized decorations, such as a banner with our family name or a photo collage of our previous cruises.

In addition to holiday themes, I also plan on incorporating other special occasions, such as a wedding or anniversary. I have seen some amazing door decorations that featured a bride and groom figurine or a ‘happy anniversary’ banner.

I may even reach out to the cruise line to see if they offer any special stateroom decorating services for these occasions. Overall, I’m excited to add a personal touch to our stateroom door and share our special moments with other cruisers.

Important Considerations

One important thing to keep in mind when planning my stateroom decorations is the potential cost of damages that could occur if I use tape or glue that may leave a mark on the door. Cruise lines have rules and regulations in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all guests on board. It’s important to follow these rules and take necessary safety precautions when decorating my stateroom door.

To help make the planning process easier, I have created a table below that outlines some decorating techniques and safety precautions to consider when decorating my stateroom door. By keeping these ideas in mind, I can create a fun and festive atmosphere while also avoiding any unnecessary damages or safety hazards.

By following these tips and being mindful of safety precautions, I can create a memorable and enjoyable cruising experience for myself and my fellow guests. Decorating my stateroom door can be a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to my cabin and make it easier to find my way back after a long day of exploring the ship.

Are there any cruise lines that actively discourage door decorations?

Some cruise lines discourage door decorations due to potential damage, but passenger opinions vary. Alternative ways to personalize your cruise experience include customizing your luggage tags, wearing matching outfits, or bringing themed accessories. Always check cruise line policies before decorating.

How do you remove door decorations without damaging the door or leaving a mark?

To safely remove cruise door decorations without damage or marks, I recommend using a hairdryer to loosen adhesive and gently peeling off decorations. For preserving, use self-stick laminating sheets or place decorations in a clear plastic bag with a label.

Can you bring your own magnets or do you have to use the ones provided by the cruise line?

Using your own magnets for cruise door decorations is a great DIY decoration idea. While cruise lines provide magnets, bringing your own allows for more customization. However, be aware of the pros and cons, such as potential damage to the door.

Are there any restrictions on the size or weight of door decorations?

When it comes to decorating cruise cabin doors, size limitations and safety concerns should be considered. Decorations should not obstruct the hallway or pose a fire hazard. Follow cruise line rules and avoid damaging the door.

Can you reuse door decorations on multiple cruises or are they typically one-time use only?

I’ve found that many cruise door decorations can be reused on multiple cruises, making them a worthwhile purchase. When decorating, I recommend using magnets and flame retardant materials for safety. Personalizing decorations can add a special touch to your stateroom door.

Creative Cruise Door Decorations & Ideas: A Complete Guide

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Are you embarking on a cruise adventure soon? Amp up the excitement by adding a personal touch to your stateroom door!

Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or a proud graduation moment, cruise door decorations are a fantastic way to celebrate these milestones at sea. It’s not just about making your door look fabulous—it’s about creating memories that stick long after the cruise has docked back home.

Table of Contents

Why Decorate Your Cruise Cabin Door?

Walking around the cruise ship, you’ll find many passengers who have taken the time to decorate their stateroom doors.

There are many reasons to decorate your cabin door, not the least of which makes it easier to find your room.

1. Show Your Personality

Your cruise stateroom door is the perfect canvas to express who you are. Think of it as the front porch of your temporary sea home.

You have a vast ocean to explore, but your door is your personal stamp.

Show off your interests , whether you’re a fan of tropical paradises, a Disney enthusiast, or love nautical themes. Your door decoration can be a fantastic icebreaker and give others a peek into your world.

2. Easy to Identify Your Room

Cruise ships are so big that it’s common for passengers to get lost on board. Even the most experienced cruisers can have difficulty locating their cabin door in the long corridor of identical staterooms.

A unique door decoration makes spotting your room a breeze . Apart from being practical for you, it’s also beneficial for others in your group. You won’t be that person awkwardly trying their key card on multiple doors before finding their own.

3. Start Conversations with Other Passengers

One popular door decoration is a magnetic whiteboard .

Attaching a magnetic whiteboard to your stateroom door is a great way to leave messages for other passengers. You can write words of wisdom, inspirational quotes , or fun jokes for fellow cruisers to read and enjoy.

A whiteboard is a great way to communicate with your travel companions while traveling in a large group. You could leave a note letting your friends and family know where they can find you or when you will return to your cabin.

4. Celebrate A Special Occasion

Cruise ships are celebration-friendly zones, and what better way to honor a special occasion than with a well-adorned door? Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or graduation , your door can reflect the joy and significance of the milestone.

Plus, other guests and crew will join in the festivities by offering their well wishes as they pass by.

4. Fun for the Kids

For little sailors, a decorated door is like a treasure map’s ‘X’ marking the spot. It’s a beacon of excitement and a signal that fun lies behind the door . It can feature their favorite characters, colors, or themes.

With every return to the room, their decorated door reminds them that this trip is an adventure made just for them.

Before your cruise, having your kids create their own door decorations is a great idea. Getting your kids to design cabin door decorations can keep them occupied for hours or days and excite them about their upcoming cruise vacation.

5. Send a Secret Message

Sometimes, your door decor can be more than just decoration; it can carry a secret message . Maybe it’s an inside joke among friends or the secret upside-down pineapple . The door becomes a conversation starter, a mystery for others to ponder, and a fun way for you to communicate a playful or romantic gesture.

Does Every Cruise Line Let You Decorate Your Cabin Door?

Door decorations on family-friendly cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line and Carnival are trendy. But you’ll find passengers decorating their cabin doors on plenty of other cruise lines.

Only one of the mainstream cruise lines has banned cabin door decorations. In August 2019, Norwegian Cruise Line banned all cruise cabin door decorations , citing fire safety concerns.

Some general rules apply to all cruise lines. They are:

• Decorations must not leave a mark or damage doors. If they do, you may receive a fine. Avoid tape and adhesives of all types.
• Decorations must not be offensive, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate.
• Decorations must not extend beyond the door. The corridors on a cruise ship are narrow, and your decorations should not block service carts or passengers.

Carnival Cruise Door Decoration Rules

According to Carnival’s website , the following rules apply for cruise cabin door decorations:

• Decorations may consist only of fire-retardant materials. Please note that items sprayed with fire retardant spray are not acceptable.
• Decorations may only be placed on the stateroom door, not the surrounding frame, walls, or railings.
• You may use magnets or Command Strips but no adhesives like tape or glue.
• Over-the-door hanging organizers must hang inside the stateroom, must also be of fire retardant material, and cannot damage the door.
• No decorations of any kind are allowed on balconies.
• No decorations or items may be placed over light fittings or fixtures. This may restrict the airflow and cause the item to ignite.
• No string lights of any kind are allowed.

Disney Cruise Line Door Decorations Rule

Guests on Disney Cruise Line are encouraged to decorate their stateroom doors. According to Disney’s website , the following rules apply:

• You are welcome to place magnetic signs on your stateroom door. Please note that Concierge staterooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have wooden doors.
• You may not affix items to your stateroom doors using tape or any adhesive, including removable gel adhesives, as this can damage the doors’ finish.
• Over-the-door hanging organizers are prohibited, as they can scratch and/or disfigure stateroom doors and trim.
• Guests who damage doors violating these guidelines will be assessed a $100 fee per incident to cover the cost of repairs.
• Light bulb strings are not permitted.

Royal Caribbean Door Decorating Rules

Door decorations are a common sight on Royal Caribbean cruises. Royal Caribbean encourages guests to decorate their cabin doors, even selling magnetic decorations on their website.

Royal Caribbean’s guest code of conduct  states, “Inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted. This includes…placing materials (including signs, banners, decorations, etc.) anywhere on the exterior of the ship, placing materials anywhere on the interior of the ship (including stateroom doors, along corridors, etc.) without the express permission of ship management or  which may be deemed by ship management as inappropriate …”

Celebrity Cruises

Door decorating isn’t as common on Celebrity Cruises. But the cruise line does allow guests to decorate cabin doors.

Celebrity Cruises guest code of conduct states , “Inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted. This includes…placing signs, banners, decorations, or other materials anywhere on the exterior of the ship; placing materials on stateroom doors, along corridors, or anywhere else on the interior of the ship without the express permission of ship management…” 

Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Holland America Line

Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Holland America Line don’t provide specific rules for door decorating. While door decorations are allowed on these cruise lines, they’re not as common as on other cruise operators.

Norwegian Cruise Line Door Decorating Rules

In August 2019, Norwegian Cruise Line updated their policy prohibiting cruise door decorations of any kind.

The announcement stated, “As per safety requirements, stateroom door decorations are strictly prohibited. Your stateroom steward has been instructed to remove and place all decorations inside the room. Thank you for your understanding and compliance with this safety policy.”

The cruise line cited fire safety concerns as the reason for the decision. Cabin stewards are instructed to remove all decorations and place them inside the room.

Tips for Decorating Your Cruise Cabin Door

Here are some general tips for decorating your cabin door:

• Never decorate the door frame, wall, railings, or light fixtures. Only stick door decorations on the stateroom door itself.
• Only attach decorations using magnets or command strips to avoid damaging the door. Avoid tape and adhesives of all types.
• Only use decorations made of flame-retardant materials.
• Cruise lines DO NOT allow string lights on your door or in the hallway.

How to Attach Cruise Door Decorations

Attaching cruise door decorations requires secure and non-damaging methods to the door.

Most cruise ship doors are made of metal, making magnets the perfect way to attach decorations. You can use magnetic strips or hooks to hang lightweight items. Ensure the magnets are strong enough to hold your decorations securely.

Sometimes, the doors are covered with a non-metallic finish, so you need stronger magnets.

Avoid using glue, tape, or other adhesives which can damage the door.

Editor’s Tip

If you’re on a Disney cruise, it’s essential to remember that the Concierge staterooms have a wooden veneer. The extra-thick surface requires extra-strong neodymium magnets to attach your decorations.

5 Fun Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Ideas

Personalized drink package magnet.

This magnet is a lot of fun. Whether or not you got the drink package , this decoration will surely make your fellow passengers smile.

Of course, you can even personalize it with your last name.

Check on Amazon: Personalized Drink Package Magnet

Royal Caribbean Personalized Door Magnet

If you’re a Royal Caribbean fan, this adorable magnet is a great way to celebrate your time on a Royal Caribbean cruise. You can even collect them – one for every cruise you take.

Check on Amazon: Royal Caribbean Personalized Door Magnet

Personalized Carnival Funnel Magnet

Like the above anchor magnet, this item is a great gift idea for Carnival cruise fans. They make a great addition to stateroom doors, and you can have them personalized.

Check on Amazon: Personalized Carnival Funnel Magnet

Our First Cruise Magnet

If you are a first-time cruiser , you are undoubtedly excited about your first cruise vacation. This door magnet is perfect for sharing your excitement with other travelers.

Check on Amazon: Our First Cruise Magnet

Disney Fish Extender

If you’re going on a Disney cruise, you’ve probably heard of the traditional “Secret Santa” type fish exchange. You can decorate your cabin door with a fish extender and personalize the pockets so other travelers know who they are gifting to.

Check on Amazon: Disney Fish Extender

FAQs About Cruise Door Decorations

Can i decorate my cruise ship door.

Yes, you can decorate a cruise ship cabin door , and it’s a popular activity among many cruisers. Norwegian Cruise Line is the only cruise line that prohibits door decorating.

Can I Decorate My Cabin Door on Norwegian Cruise Line?

You cannot decorate your cabin door on Norwegian Cruise Line. In August 2019, NCL updated its policy to prohibit door decorations, citing fire safety as the reason for their decision.

Crew members are instructed to remove door decorations and place them in your cabin.

What is a Fish Extender?

A fish extender on a Disney cruise is the “fish” or “seahorse” shaped mailbox outside your stateroom doors. Disney cruise ships have a tradition where passengers leave gifts in the mailbox of other passengers as a type of “Secret Santa.”

A fish extender is a hanger that allows passengers to get more space for the fish mailbox.

Passengers typically fill the pockets of other guests’ fish extenders with small gifts, treats, or souvenirs as a way to add extra magic and community spirit to the cruise experience.

Can I Bring Balloons on a Cruise?

Balloons and other inflatable items are prohibited on cruise ships due to safety and environmental concerns.

However, as an alternative, some cruise lines provide a service where you can purchase balloons directly from the ship . Crew members deliver the balloons to your stateroom to mark your special occasion, ensuring both compliance with cruise policies and a festive atmosphere.

Do Cruise Ships Decorate For Christmas?

Most cruise ships decorate their ships for Christmas. Typical decorations include a giant Christmas tree, garland, and smaller trees around the vessel.

Marcello De Lio

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

We’ll be sailing on the Wonder of the Seas this coming May. I love being creative and understand that I’ll be limited to decorating our cabin door. We’ll be in a ocean view, would you happen to know what the surface door is made of? Metal, wood, etc. This will help me decide what I have to bring. Thank you.

The doors are most likely be made of metal, similar to the other Oasis-class ships. You shouldn’t have any issues using magnets to hang your decorations. However, it’s impossible to know for certain as the ship hasn’t debuted yet.

P.S. I would love to hear about your experience on the new ship! Feel free to comment on our Wonder of the Seas post when you get back from your vacation and share your experience.

Trending now

Cruise Door Decorations: Tips for Cruisers

Ahoy, cruisegoers! Ever noticed those vibrant cabin doors? Welcome to the world of cruise door decor, where your imagination sails free. From Mickey Mouse-themed doors to romantic heart accents, these embellishments are the unsung heroes of cruise culture. More than just glitz, they’re a canvas for joy and even a tad of friendly competition.

Whether it’s your maiden voyage or a return trip, this blog is your guide to door decorating. We’ll steer you through the dos and don’ts, laced with humor and a splash of fun. So grab your decorating tools; it’s time to make a splash in this colorful, maritime adventure!

Do People Decorate Cruise Doors?

You bet they do, and it’s not just a fleeting trend! Walk down any corridor on a cruise ship, and you’ll be greeted with a dazzling array of colors, themes, and designs. From celebrating anniversaries with heart-shaped decorations to channeling their inner pirate with skulls and crossbones, cruisers take this fun tradition seriously.

It’s not just about beautifying a door; it’s a personal statement, a conversation starter, and sometimes, a friendly competition with other guests. Whether on a Disney cruise with themed doors or an adventure with Norwegian Cruise Line, cruise door decorating is a cherished part of the voyage for many.

Cruise Line Decor Policies

Decorating cruise doors can be as much a part of the journey as the destinations themselves, but the rules differ across the seven seas. Here’s a shipshape rundown of what’s allowed and what’s not on various cruise lines:

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean sails with a touch of class, and the decor of cruise cabin decorations policy reflects that grace. While door decorating is allowed, it’s typically subdued, with an emphasis on elegance rather than extravagance. If you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary, tasteful cruise cabin door decorations are the way to go. But beware! The heavy use of adhesives that might damage the door is frowned upon. So remember, on Royal Caribbean, creativity is celebrated, but it’s the quiet, sophisticated kind.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line , the self-dubbed ‘fun ships,’ welcomes those who wish to carry the party right to their cabin doors. Humorous signs, colorful images, and clever messages are common, reflecting the line’s energetic vibe.

However, they do ask that you avoid any door decorations that could cause damage or pose a fire risk. So, channel your inner party planner, but keep it safe. After all, it’s all fun and games until someone’s door gets hurt!

Princess Cruises

On Princess Cruises, the doors often stay as serene as the ocean at dawn. Though not as common as on other lines, you will find the occasional cabin door decoration during festive seasons like Christmas. The Princess line embodies elegance and tends to attract a more understated crowd.

If you decide to buy cruise door decorations, think more along the lines of a royal ball than a beach bash. Adhere to cruise line rules , and make sure your decor is as refined as your surroundings.

Disney Cruise

Disney Cruise Line is where imagination sets sail, and cabin doors are no exception. Guests are known to go all-out with Disney cruise door decorations , transforming simple portals into enchanted entries.

But don’t worry, if you’re new to this, many craft stores offer Disney-themed decor that can easily be applied. The magic here is that everyone gets to join in, turning the ship into a floating fairy tale. Just remember, while creativity is encouraged, permanent adhesives are not part of the magic kingdom’s wishes.

Norwegian Cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line takes a different tack, banning door decorations altogether. While this might seem like a party pooper move, it’s rooted in safety and maintenance concerns. Any cruise door decorations found are promptly removed, so it’s best to channel your creativity elsewhere.

Explore the ship’s amenities, enjoy the entertainment, or even try your hand at the onboard activities. On Norwegian, the adventure lies beyond the door, not on it. And don’t worry, there’s plenty of creativity to be found throughout the ship – just not on your cabin door.

Guidelines for Cruise Ship Door Decorating

Decorating the door of your cruise cabin can turn a simple gateway into a delightful masterpiece reflecting your personality or celebration. But there’s a wave of rules to surf before you jump into this ocean of creativity. Here’s what you need to know:

Safety With Cruise Cabin Door Decorations

Before you unleash your inner Picasso on your cruise cabin door, there are some guidelines and sea laws to abide by:

• Location: Disregard the door frame, wall, railings, or light fixtures – these zones are prohibited. Decorations are only allowed on the door surface and should not interfere with its function. Confirm with your chosen cruise line regarding their distinct guidelines.
• Adhesives : Say no to tape, glue, and other sticky bandits. They’re forbidden due to potential damage. Instead, use magnets or command strips. Since most cruise ships’ cabin doors are metal, magnets have become a popular and damage-free option. Personalized magnets with photos are a favorite. But beware, some ships have wooden doors – always verify your ship’s guidelines.
• Materials : Your decorations must be made of flame fire retardant or materials. This isn’t just a fancy term but a critical safety rule. Forget the string lights; they’re as welcome as a storm at sea. Even paper or cardboard decorations should steer clear of light fixtures and electrical outlets.
• Fire Safety : While some lines like Carnival have specific policies insisting on flame retardant decor, others may not have strict regulations. But, why play with fire when you can avoid it? Always opt for materials that won’t ignite faster than your cruise vacation’s end date.
• Special Cases : Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages are the party poopers of the cruise world when it comes to door decorations; they’ve banned them outright. So, if you’re sailing with them, you’ll have to find other fun ways to express yourself.
• When in Doubt, Ask : Your stateroom attendant is like your cruise cabin’s guardian angel. If you’re unsure about your decor, a quick check with them can save you from any unintended faux pas.

Remember, these cruise door decoration rules are not just about spoiling your fun but ensuring that everyone’s safety is maintained. After all, nothing dampens a vacation mood faster than a decor disaster!

By following these guidelines, you can add a personal touch to your cruise cabin door without sinking the ship’s rules or running aground with safety. Happy decorating, fellow cruisers!

Benefits of Decorating Your Cruise Cabin Door

Who would have thought that decorating a cruise cabin door could have so many perks? But grab your craft supplies, dear cruisers, because the door to your stateroom isn’t just a barrier to your sleep chamber; it’s a canvas waiting for your creativity! Here are some surprising and delightful benefits of joining the cruise and stateroom door decorations and decor club:

Room Markers

First and foremost, most cruise lines and door decorations act as a personal lighthouse, guiding you back to your cabin. Imagine trying to find a needle in a haystack but replacing the needle with your room and the haystack with a corridor of identical doors. Not so easy, is it?

Creative Expression

But it’s not all about function. It’s about expressing yourself too. Why settle for a bland door when you can give it some flair and personality? Your stateroom door isn’t just an entryway; it’s a blank canvas waiting for your creative touch.

Make it uniquely yours, and you’ll never mistakenly wander into someone else’s cabin again. Think of the doors on the ship as a beautiful gallery. As you walk down the corridors, every decorated door tells a story. It’s like a festive parade of creativity, and you’re invited to join in the fun. It’s a window-shopping adventure at sea!

Seasonal Decorations

Celebrating something special? Birthdays, anniversaries, or a milestone? Your cruise cabin door can be your party headquarters. Add some celebratory zest, and you’ve got yourself a floating fiesta. What about holiday cruises? Decorating your cabin door with seasonal cheer is like bringing a little piece of home with you. The Grinch may have stolen Christmas, but he can’t take away your holiday-themed cruise door decoration!

Now, don’t let those long hallways intimidate you. Your decorated door can be a focal point in that seemingly endless stretch of sameness. It’s a bright spot that will surely bring a smile to other guests as they walk by.

Family cruises or group get-togethers can elevate the door-decorating game to a whole new level. Engage in a friendly door decorating contest, and you might just ignite a ship-wide trend.

Memorabilia

Lastly, there’s a comforting aspect to decorating your cruise cabin door. It brings a touch of familiarity, a slice of home to your traveling adventure. It’s your space, your temporary abode on the high seas, so why not make it feel like it?

So grab those magnetic door decorations, fellow traveler, and unleash your inner artist. Decorating your cruise door isn’t just a fun pastime; it’s a symbol of individuality, a marker of celebration, and a beacon in a sea of identical doors. Happy decorating!

What Kinds of Materials Are Suitable for Cruise Door Decorations?

Decorating your cruise door is like donning your favorite party attire—it’s all about finding the right fit. But instead of fabric and fashion, you’ll be dealing with materials and themes. To avoid any maritime faux pas, let’s dive into the ocean of suitable materials for cruise door decorations and explore a few ideas for the themes they can bring to life.

Perfect for metal cruise cabin doors, Magnets are versatile and can be used to bring various themes to life. Planning a Disney Cruise? Craft some Mickey Mouse shapes. On a romantic getaway? Try Heart-Shaped Door Magnets next. From tropical palm trees to personalized family photos, magnets adhere to your creativity—literally!

Command Strips

Not just for wooden doors, Command Strips can be used for hanging wreaths, festive banners, or memorable pictures. They can make your door a focal point for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or even a fun-filled group cruise activity.

Flame Retardant Materials

A safe and playful option for everyone, Flame Retardant Materials can be used to craft especially Halloween-Themed Decorations , colorful party props, or nautical designs. No risk, just lots of fun!

Removable Gel Adhesives

These Sticky Heroes allow you to attach temporary signs, Funny Quotes , or whimsical images without harming the door. They’re a fun way to add humor or inspiration to your door stand on cruising days.

Dry Erase Marker

Transform your cabin door into a message board or daily joke corner. Whether leaving notes for fellow passengers or sketching a new drawing each day, Dry-Erase Markers make your door interactive and engaging.

Construction Paper and Craft Stores Supplies

With Construction Paper and Crafts , create vibrant collages, seasonal displays, or countdown calendars for your cruise vacation. These materials, paired with magnets or command strips, allow you to craft your dreams.

String Lights

If allowed by the cruise line policies, Flame-Retardant String Lights can turn your door into a cozy haven. They can be part of romantic themes or create a festive atmosphere that twinkles with joy.

Remember, each cruise line has specific rules, so always check the guidelines for Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise, or Royal Caribbean. Your door is a blank canvas, and these materials and themes are your brushes and colors. Unleash your creativity, but keep it ship-shaped!

Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Tips

Embarking on a cruise adventure and eager to jazz up your cabin door? Start by checking your cruise line’s policies to know what’s allowed. Next, use magnets or command strips for a damage-free decorating experience. Safety is paramount, so be sure to opt for flame-retardant materials. Let your creativity sail with themes like holidays, family fun, or romance.

But remember, it’s a community at sea, so consider neighboring doors and don’t overshadow other guests’ decorations. Above all, enjoy the process! Your door should reflect your personality and act as a beacon guiding you back after a fun day exploring. Happy decorating!

And there you have it, fellow sea wanderers – the complete map to cruise and decorate your door with decorations that won’t have the captain summoning you to the bridge. Whether you’re sailing the high seas with Disney or embarking on a Royal Caribbean adventure, your cabin door is your canvas.

From complying with cruise line rules to choosing themes that make fellow passengers smile, decorating your door is more than just fun; it’s a chance to express yourself and make your sea-faring abode feel like home. So grab your magnets, command strips, and your sense of adventure, and let’s turn that cruise cabin door into a masterpiece. Safe sailing and happy decorating!

Do people decorate their doors on Royal Caribbean?

While it’s less common on Royal Caribbean ships, you will still find some doors adorned with decorations. Often, it’s frequent cruisers celebrating special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries who take up the brush and canvas, so to speak. Adding your personal touch can make your voyage even more memorable, distinguishing your door from the sea of sameness.

Can I bring birthday decorations on a cruise?

Yes, birthday decorations are generally allowed on cruises. It’s a fantastic way to make a special day even more memorable. However, it’s wise to review the specific cruise line policies to ensure that your decorative enthusiasm for special occasions doesn’t lead you into uncharted waters. Adhesive materials are often prohibited, so plan accordingly.

Are the doors on the cruise cabins magnetic?

Most cruise cabin doors are indeed magnetic, making decorating a snap with personalized magnets or magnetic adhesives. Some suites may have wooden doors, so it’s always good to check your cruise line’s website for their specific cruise cabin decoration policy. Bring a variety of decorating materials to cover all bases.

Should you decorate your cruise cabin door?

Decorating your cruise cabin door is a fun way to express your personality, celebrate special occasions, and even help you find your cabin after a night of indulging in the drink package. It adds a personal touch to your journey. Just make sure to adhere to the safety and guidelines provided by your cruise line, and let your creativity sail!

Digital Marketer

I’m Bobby Pham, but you can call me “Bobby on Cruise.” I’ve been cruising the high seas and exploring the world for years, and I’m thrilled to share my passion and expertise with you. When not cruising, I spend my time on growing my marketing agency.

About FunkyCruise

• LGBTQIA+ Cruisers

Door Decorating? Really?

By Marian Paroo , February 17, 2011 in LGBTQIA+ Cruisers

Recommended Posts

Marian Paroo

I've been looking on other boards here, and it seems that a lot of people do it. They claim that they do it mostly because they are afraid they won't find their cabin otherwise.

I haven't door decorated since college, and that was in the previous century.

Do you guys (and gals) do it? Do you put up subtle hints?

Would this play on an MSC cruise or is it strictly American?

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

We do for Christmas Cruises only.

We sometimes do it on all-gay cruises. But something simple and maybe funny. On the Allure we just had a nice photo of us both dressed in Hawaiian shirts. But some people go really crazy with their dooes. We have never decorated our door on an ordingary cruise. I can read numbers and don't need to use something else to locate the proper cabin.

Hal San Diego

:) We typically decorate our door on most cruises because we are usually celebrating something (anniversary, birthday, xmas, etc) and like the way it brightens up an otherwise boring corridor...on our recent holiday cruise, the stewards, head housekeeper and cruise director all loved the xmas wrap and big red bow...however the neighbors were not happy when they attempted to come back to their cabin three sheets to the wind on the final night and couldn't find their door because we had removed the wrapping on our door before dinner and they were totally lost with our landmark!!!

Hal San Diego:)

We always decorate on gay cruises; RSVP has a competition these days.

We did not decorate on the QM2... they would not have been amused. :)

I love putting up simple door decorations on a gay cruise. I usually have something related to San Francisco and it almost always elicits friendly conversation from passersby. And, I enjoy seeing those cabin doors that are really decked-out - string lights, etc.

We are quite a creative bunch, if I do say so. :D

We set a budget of about $3-4 (not counting tax) at the local dollar store about a week before we leave. Usually involves some sort of wrapping paper and a bunch of sparkly bows. It's nice to see our "home" from 394 rooms away down that LONG hall :).

I've never done it. I don't have trouble findng the cabin. I might do it for a celebration, though.

CruisinMaterial

While I don't have trouble finding the cabin, I used to decorate on both gay and straight cruises. On the 2006 Caribbean Princess cruise I did a Pirates of the Caribbean theme on my stateroom door and the neighbors next door got all pissy and complained and well that ended my door decorating on straight cruises. Leave it to straight (elderly) people on Princess to be a bunch of party poopers!

On NCL since I am hardly ever in my cabin... I haven't decorated but I'm sure they wouldn't mind at all. Maybe I should on my upcoming Epic cruise... however, the hallways in the studios have their own decor (lighting specifically). :cool:

While I don't have trouble finding the cabin, I used to decorate on both gay and straight cruises. On the 2006 Caribbean Princess cruise I did a Pirates of the Caribbean theme on my stateroom door and the neighbors next door got all pissy and complained and well that ended my door decorating on straight cruises. Leave it to straight (elderly) people on Princess to be a bunch of party poopers!   On NCL since I am hardly ever in my cabin... I haven't decorated but I'm sure they wouldn't mind at all. Maybe I should on my upcoming Epic cruise... however, the hallways in the studios have their own decor (lighting specifically). :cool:

What on earth did they mind? You were having too much fun?

I've seen some pretty racy door designs online from gay charters but on mainstream cruises, it seems pretty harmless to have something fun up. I always seem to know where I am on a ship and the few times I ever do get turned around are weird for me.

I couldn't figure it out either. The head of the Housekeeping Department came down and knocked on my door but I saw him in their cabin a few minutes prior and didn't think anything of it. I wouldn't have known who he was until he introduced himself and explained he'd received a complaint. Needless to say I knew where it came from. He had two stewards and himself arrange them in my cabin. LOL I had some pirate faces and a pirate ship. All of which were taped to the door using paper tape (which as you may know or may not know is very non-adhesive so it wouldn't leave any residual and is used for sensitive skin people). It just really made me annoyed that people are that bored during their cruise that they can complain about something so trivial.

If it were as racy as some of the door decorations I've seen on Atlantis then I could understand it but harmless pirate faces and a pirate ship are not worthy of complaining over! Sometimes I will never figure out my fellow straight cruisers beefs... this is just one of those times! :cool:

We have decorated our door for Christmas, and Princess did for our birthday. That is the only time we do it.

Srsly?   I've been looking on other boards here, and it seems that a lot of people do it. They claim that they do it mostly because they are afraid they won't find their cabin otherwise.   I haven't door decorated since college, and that was in the previous century.   Do you guys (and gals) do it? Do you put up subtle hints?   Would this play on an MSC cruise or is it strictly American?

Well, on most of my mainstream non-gay cruises I haven't seen too many doors decorated. You certainly could if you wanted too. Yes, it would be a great way to identify your cabin especially if you've had one too many....but this is the first time I'd heard people doing this for this purpose and I've been cruising since 1981. Now, on the all gays charters it's a whole different ball game. I would saw about 40-50% ish of the cabin doors - maybe more; maybe less. I've seen a whole hall decorated up with garland, flags, posters, you name it; I've seen it. The only caution I've seen is that it not be obstructive or offensive to the staff (naked men, etc) or they (Atlantis, RSVP) will remove it. However, I seen some pretty risque stuff. It's so fun to see what people come up with. Gay men can be so creative.

MiamiSpartan

We only decorate on the all gay cruises & it seems like 60-70% do it on those trips...

It's fun to see how creative people can get!

We usually do something simple:

Photos of us on previous trips, photos of our animals, large magnets representing Michigan State and U of Miami...

twoontheisle

Just a little sumtin sumtin like this always seems to break the ice with neighbors and passers by! We are always careful and respectful of the paint and finishes of the ship however.

Never have, never will. I've over-indulged before, and still not needed that kind of help finding my stateroom. Never had a problem meeting people either. To me, it's like cars. I don't need to customize my car with a different paint job, or custom wheels, or color coordinated ribbons hanging from the rear view mirror. Even my personalized plate and HRC sticker seems too much sometimes. I pretty much trust that ship designers, like car designers, know the look they want, and accept it if I decide to purhase or not. One of the reazons I don't like NCL is that I've seen some of their interior decor. The ship designers know the atmosphere the ship wants for its cabin decks, so, other than rearranging the furniture in a few staterooms (I am gay, afterall), I pretty much leave things as they were.

Of course Halloween is a great door-decorating time. We participated and saw a lot of others who did the same thing.

I don't have a real problem finding my room, but I think a door deco makes it a more simple task, and actually has led to fellow passengers saying hello.

For our last cruise I arranged for group door magnets, only to find out when aboard that the doors now had a new surface to which the magnet was useless. Wasted my money. We'd been on the same ship the year before and the magnets worked great, but oh well.

So I scrap the magnet idea, which was easy to put up and remove with no residue at all, and if I want to door deco for our group in the future I'll have to buy tape.

Decorating on the Atlantis charters is popular, some go all out and decorate the surrounding wall areas, some are quite creative and fun to see, quite a bit of balcony decorations as well especially with the interior balconies

apollobeach

We have sailed over Easter on two occasions and decorated our cabin door.

I've never done it (heck I've only been on two cruises and consider myself a newbie), but I've been thinking about it for this upcoming trip. Mainly because we are getting married on the ship and have a few guest cruising with us.

Any suggestions?

Nope. Don't decorate hotel room doors either.

On some lines, packages can be purchased which include room and/or door decorations for special occasions.:)

On occasion, I've either used Vistaprint to print what they sell as a small car door magnet, or printed onto 8.5X11 inkjet magnetic sheets to create a subtle but fun door sign. If I'm traveling with friends, I like to leave a white box in the design and add a magnetic dry erase marker to the door for note leaving.

Some lines I've heard get stuffy and cite potential fire hazards given the amount of loose paper. I've never decorated on the QE2 or the QM2 - as others have said, on Cunard it "just isn't done." :D

5:00_Somewhere

Wow, I never knew this was such a hot topic. :p

We've done it only one time, and that was when Halloween happened to fall in the middle of the cruise. We taped one of those almost life sized articulated cardboard skeletons on the door (with a couple of bats, if memory serves.) Several people commented on it (positively). Even the cabin steward enjoyed it.

LOL! And I do have to confess that it did make it a little easier to find our cabin after that one rather raucous evening in the disco. :D

Other than that, no. Not because I have an issue with it, though - I figure, whatever people to do add to the fun is great.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
• ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 9 hours ago

LauraS · Started 13 hours ago

LauraS · Started 21 hours ago

LauraS · Started Monday at 09:36 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

10 Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Ideas That You’ll Find Easy

By: Author Tyler Bowman

Posted on Last updated: October 14, 2023

Categories ONBOARD EXPERIENCE

Are you a busy parent who wants to make your family cruise extra special without adding more stress to your plate? Look no further than your cabin door! Decorating your cruise cabin door is a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to your stateroom and make your vacation even more memorable. And with our ten easy and hassle-free cruise cabin door decoration ideas, you don’t have to be a crafting expert to make your door stand out.

From simple magnetic signs to colorful banners, these ideas will help you add a touch of pizzazz and personality to your door without taking up too much of your time. Plus, it’s a great way to help your tired kids find their way back to your room after a long day of exploring the ship. (The same is true for disoriented adults!)

Before you start decorating, it’s important to note that not all cruise lines permit cabin door décor, so be sure to check with your cruise line before you start. So, let’s get started on making your cabin door the talk of the ship!

Cruise Cabin Door Decoration Ideas

Whether you create your own unique door design or personalize a template, decorating your cruise cabin door lets other guests know something about you. Special occasions can feel even more special if they are shared. You may also want to include something about where you come from or your destination.

If you are cruising as a family, planning your door decorations can be an exciting pre-cruise activity. Make it a dinner-table-boardroom-type discussion where everyone can offer some input – some of the best ideas are often the simplest!

Things to decide: 

• Theme – do you want to focus on the season, a family event, the family members, or the destination? You may want to let your fellow passengers know information about which countries you have visited, how many previous cruises you have been on, or some details about yourself or your hometown.
• Overall look and feel – do you want the effect to look glam and modern, vintage, classic, chic, or trendy? Maybe it just needs to feel homey and welcoming. 
• Color scheme – This is especially important for full-cabin door designs where too many bright colors on a busy design can look overwhelming. 
• Do you want to include some type of communication system ? An erasable message board is a great idea for groups or families that split up during the day for activities. (Find other ideas for communicating on a cruise .)
• Do you want to use one large door covering, or would you prefer a group of small decorations you can add to during the cruise? 
• Do you want the door décor to be specific to the current cruise, or will it be used again on future cruises? 
• Are there any specific symbols, signs, or messages you need to include on your cabin door decorations? 

This post contains affiliate links that could result in a commission to this website (at no additional cost to you). Visit our  Disclosures Page  for more information.

10 Fun Cruise Cabin Door Ideas

Your cabin door is your own to decorate and communicate with other cruise guests as much as your want. It is like the screensaver on your phone, or the profile pic on your FB account – it conveys a message about the residents of that stateroom. 

Let’s explore some fun and unique ways to decorate your cruise cabin door that will stand out and bring a smile to fellow passengers.

1. Go Retro

Popular cruise door retro themes include posters and pics featuring scenes from the iconic ‘Love Boat’ series. Retro pics from magazine covers can be customized and made into door magnets – be sure to personalize your design to ensure that it stays in place, as these can be pretty popular.

2. Make A Grand Statement Or Announcement

Door decorations can be great opportunities to celebrate or recognize a birthday — particularly those BIG milestone birthdays.

Top Cabin Door Decorations for Birthdays

Or, they can feature other announcements that you want to share with the world. A giant ‘Jennifer, will you marry me?’ banner covering your door when your partner returns from a day at the pool would be a unique and memorable way to propose and get noticed! 

Other big event cruise door announcements can include: 

• Just Married!
• Wedding Anniversary Cruise
• New Graduate

Top Cabin Door Anniversary Decorations

3. Have A Favorite Movie Or Book Theme

Using a theme from a favorite book or a famous line from a movie is a great way to meet new people and make friends. A short motivational motto or words from a favorite book can be interesting. Imagine a cruise door themed to Dr. Seuss’s ‘ Oh the places you’ll go!’ .

4. Nautical Theme

Yes, we know this has been done a million times, but there are new ways to jazz up an old theme. Your cruising vacation is special family time, so if you want a pirate, mermaid, or sailor theme on your door, go right ahead. Kids love keeping things simple, and the cabin door should also have special significance for them. 

5. Destinations

If you and your family are frequent travelers, use your cruise cabin door as a logbook of destinations you have visited. Add small flags of countries you have been to, and you can even add a bucket list of places you plan to see in the future. 

6. Convey An Interest Or Hobby

An excellent way to meet people with the same interests is to provide clues about what you are interested in on your door. For example, families who enjoy bird watching or horseback riding may use decals of birds or horses. Sports fans may like to include logos of their favorite team. 

While all the decorations on your cruise cabin door must be made of flame-retardant materials, you can hang signs, small toys, or seasonal items like a wreath or tinsel on your door. Just ensure that it is well secured, looks neat, won’t fall off, blow around, and doesn’t cause obstruction in the passage.

8. Practical Cruise Door Decorations

If you are part of a team or tour group or have extended family cruising with you, you may like to include an erasable whiteboard as part of your cruise door décor. It’s a great way to communicate while you are in informal holiday mode!

9. Minimalist And Elegant 

Door decorating can be fun, but it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many passengers enjoy the anonymity of being on a cruise and don’t want to attract any attention. 

At the same time, having a decal on your cruise cabin door is a good idea as it differentiates it from all the other identical doors. That makes it easier to find, and you are less likely to have other confused passengers trying the door while searching for their own cabins. 

There are loads of tried-and-tested simple cruise cabin décor designs available to order online that look elegant and stylish. An inexpensive peel-and-stick porthole may be all you need to make your cruise cabin door easy to locate without being showy. 

10. Seasonal Cruise Door Decorations

Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Halloween decorations are always on point during the relevant seasons. You may be cruising the seas in a tropical destination, but you can still have a gorgeous warm, decorated fireplace motif on your cabin door. 

Top Cruise Door Decorations for Holidays

Practical Considerations When Decorating A Cruise Cabin Door

The first and most essential step to decorating a cruise cabin door is to figure out the best way to attach your décor. Cruise liners that do permit door decorations all have strict rules in place. These include: 

• You may not damage, stain, or mark the door
• No adhesive tape or sticky putty should be used
• The materials used may not be a safety hazard
• Potential fire hazards like string lights may not be used
• The decorations must only be on the door, not the surrounding walls or doorframe
• Decorations must never include profanity or be offensive

In addition, if you are planning a large banner or poster, you need to know the size of the cabin doors. Door size can vary slightly between liners, but the width of a regular cruise cabin door is usually around 23 inches. It is slightly wider for wheelchair-accessible rooms. 

Another valuable tip is never to put anything sentimental or irreplaceable on your cruise cabin door. Unfortunately, some cute generic items or cruise magnets may get removed. 

An excellent way to prevent your cabin door décor finding new owners is to personalize everything as much as possible. It is far less likely that a banner that says ‘Happy Birthday, Susan’ will vanish than one that simply says ‘Happy Birthday.’

How To Attach Cruise Cabin Door Decorations

Since you cannot damage your cabin door, it is essential to carefully plan how to attach your decorations securely to the door so it doesn’t fall off and look untidy. The two most commonly used methods are: 

• Magnets – Cruise cabins doors are most often metal. So magnets can be a perfect option.
• Command hooks or strip s allow you to decorate neatly and securely and are easy to remove without leaving a trace. Just remember to bring a pack along on the trip! (Make sure that your cruise line allows command strips. Here’s an example of an approved policy from Carnival .)

Best-Selling Magnetic Cabin Door Decorations

• Unique Cabin Identifier: Use it as a cruise cabin door decoration so you can easily find your stateroom. A very good navigational tool when going back to your stateroom especial in the evening.

• Package Contains: what you will get are 2 pieces of cruise porthole magnets in 2 styles, which can well satisfy your daily decoration and replacement demands, and you can share cruise door magnets…

• Funny Tropical Hawaii Themed Decor: there are 5 pieces of the tropical magnets, one is rectangular shape, designed with a funny sentence, [Don’t Mind Us We’re in CRUISE MODE], and the other four are…

• Appropriate Size & Weight: Big enough to see. Light weight, won’t take much space of your luggage.

• Sufficient Number: you will receive 5 pieces of cruise ship magnets, abundant to satisfy your application, exchange and replacement needs, allowing you to arrange them in different parts of the cruise…

Do I Have To Decorate My Cruise Cabin Door? 

Cabin door decorating is a fun, voluntary activity. If you don’t want to decorate your door and want to relax, unwind and not attract any attention during your cruise, there is no pressure to put anything on your door. 

Some tour groups may arrange a door decorating competition as an additional activity to look forward to during the cruise. However, it is always optional; if you don’t decorate your door, you won’t be alone. 

Some cruise lines do not encourage door decoration. Norwegian Cruise Lines have banned door decorating, citing it as a safety hazard. However, most cruise lines allow door decorating to a more or less extent. Royal Caribbean allows door decorating, but it should remain simple and elegant, while on Disney and Carnival cruises, you can show off your creativity. 

What Is A Fish Extender? 

You may come across the term ‘Fish Extender,’ especially if you are on a Disney Cruise. Essentially, it’s a gift-exchange program among Disney cruise passengers . This is not an official event sponsored by the cruise line, but it is one that is well-established and operates through internet message groups .

A practice that has evolved is that passengers leave small gifts or tokens for each other on the fish-shaped hook outside each cabin door. 

Fish extenders cannot be purchased on board ; rather, you must pack one if you want to participate. They can be purchased at various sites online, or you can make your own before the cruise that fits with your door décor.

What Is The Deal With Pineapples On Cruise Cabin Doors? 

While pineapples are often associated with tropical islands and a relaxed beachy lifestyle, they have taken on an entirely different meaning on some cruises. An upside-down pineapple on a cabin door may indicate that the cabin occupants are swingers. 

While there is nothing wrong with including pineapples as part of an overall large design, family cruisers may be better off if they ensure that individual pineapple motifs on their cabin door cannot be flipped over as a prank by mischievous fellow passengers. 

Closing Thoughts

Decorating your cabin door on a cruise can be a great way to stand out and make it easy to know which room belongs to you at a glance. Plus, planning and creating your door decor in advance can be a fun pre-cruise project. Just remember to check with your cruise line first to see the rules regarding door decorations.

Tyler Bowman

Contributor

Keep up with the latest cruise tips and insights! Follow us on Pinterest:

Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Related Articles

My Inspiration Corner

Lifestyle , Travel · March 18

Cruise Door Decorations: 125 Ideas

Find this again easily by pinning it!

And 5 reasons that decorating your cruise room door is good to do.

I just returned from another cruise and as usual, enjoyed looking at all of the cruise door decorations. It is always fun to see how people decorate their cabin room doors. You can tell that some people plan ahead and prepare banners and decorations prior to their cruise departure. Others realize the benefit of decorating their cabin room door while on board and throw something together with whatever they can get their hands on.

In this post I am going to share photographs of 125 decorated cruise cabin doors from my recent trip and five reasons it is a good idea to do it. AND – at the bottom of this post, I’ve linked up cruise door decorations you can buy on Amazon, making is super easy for you. I am an Amazon affiliate, meaning that I may make a small commission for a purchase you make, but that doesn’t change the price you pay at all.

5 reasons to decorate your cruise room door

• It is sometimes hard to find your room when you are walking down LONG hallways where every door looks the same. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed my room. Having a cruise door decoration makes it easy to spot your room.
• If you are with a group, having a cruise door decoration makes it easy to find and connect with others in your party because you’ll recognize each other’s decorations, which often include names.
• It is Fun and Festive!
• It is a place to share something that you are celebrating (birthdays, anniversaries, graduations) with other guests.
• Incorporating a memo board into your cruise door decoration allows members of a larger group to leave notes for each other. Most cruise ships now have social media plans that can be purchased and used for texting, but this can work for those that don’t.

There are 125 photos shown below. As you reach the bottom, you’ll notice that many people also simply tie something onto the their “mail slot” right next to their door. I wanted to share a sampling of these too in my collection of cruise door decorations.

Western Decor

We cruised out of Galveston, Texas so this decor was very appropriate.

Command hooks work great for hanging things on the door.

Cruising Living the Good Life banner

Spring Break sign

Anniversary Celebration

It’s so fun to see the anniversary celebration decorations. If you’re celebrating an anniversary, be sure to add that info to your decor.

Banner with cruise dates

Wow. These people have been on a lot of cruises!

Celebration of a graduation

Wipe off boards

It is so helpful to have wipe off boards when you’re cruising with a group.

I had to include this last one because I just stared at it trying to figure out what it was.

As you plan your cruise door decorations, please see your cruise line guidelines for adhering/hanging things in your room to avoid any charges for damage. Keep in mind that the doors are magnets, so magnets can hold your decorations up. While there are stated rules about what can be used, I see everything – scotch tape, duct tape (don’t do this one!), magnets, plastic temporary hooks, etc.

Cruise Door Decorations – available on Amazon

Amazon has great customizable banners that are pretty cheap.  I saw various versions of these all over the ship.  Click on the images below to check out the details about each banner.

Cruising Together

Banner with Cruise Ship Image

Cruising to Paradise

Beach Image with Fun Sign

Bon Voyage Time to Party

Cruising Through Life One Port At a Time (Port Hole)

Cruise Partners For Life

And the Adventure Begins

Palm Tree Cruise Partners

We’re on Cruise Control

Today’s Forecast:  Cruising with a Chance of Drinking

Time to Cruise

Life is Simple…Just Add Water (Ship)

Life is Simple…Just Add Water (Beach Chairs)

Cruising Through Life

What Happened on The Ship Never Happened

Cruise Partners For Life (Palm Trees)

Caribbean Cruising (Shells & Flowers)

Living Life to the Fullest

Cruise Partners for Life (red, white, and blue stripes)

This is Our Happy Place

Cruising Mode

Paradise Bound

Happy Anniversary

Our First Cruise

I hope that the pictures help get thoughts started in planning your next cruise room decoration. Please see my 5 Must-Have Items for your next cruise post which shares five items I always take on my cruises.

You’ll Also Love

• Site Disclosure
• Graduation Party
• Food & Drink
• Entertaining
• Blog (Grid Layout)

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

Copyright © 2024 My Inspiration Corner · Theme by 17th Avenue

Copyright © 2024 · Magnolia on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Home » Cruise Tips » Dos and Don’ts for Decorating Your Cruise Ship Cabin Door

Dos and Don’ts for Decorating Your Cruise Ship Cabin Door

Find out everything you need to know about decorating your cruise ship cabin door, including which cruise lines allow it and which don't.

Share this post:

If you’re a first-time cruiser, perhaps one of the items not on your initial vacation to-do list is decorating your cruise door. But if you cruise often, you’ll come to find that on many cruise lines, decorations on cabin doors are a fun way that some passengers express their personality and display their excitement about the sailing. Whether it’s a banner to mark a milestone birthday or a wreath during Christmas, cruisers have been known to take full advantage of door real estate to transform their stateroom into a home away from home for the entire voyage — from the outside in.

Of course, even cruise door decorations aren’t without a little controversy. Some passengers lean into the over-the-top embellishments. Others feel it’s a bit tacky. Even cruise lines are divided on the issue of decorating cruise ship doors. Some actually ban the practice claiming it’s a fire hazard.

So ultimately, what are the dos and do nots of decorating your cruise door? Find out everything you need to know if you’re curious about snazzing up the door of your cruise ship cabin — including which lines don’t allow it. 

Do check whether your cruise line allows door decorations.

Many family-friendly cruise lines embrace their guests’ creative compulsion to dress up their stateroom door. Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Princess Cruises all allow cruise door decorations. These can range from enthusiastic cutouts of Disney characters with kids’ names on them to hanging hearts for a honeymoon or anniversary celebration.

But even cruise lines that allow door decs have restrictions, which should be followed closely for safety reasons. For example, Carnival’s policy does not allow the use of materials deemed flammable or not fire retardant. In addition, they must be manufactured as flame retardant and can’t be transformed using a flame-retardant spray.

To avoid your room steward having to disassemble your cruise door masterpiece, read the fine print for your cruise ship before boarding with an entire bag of ribbons and posterboard.

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS: Score Cruise Deals Now!

Don’t decorate your cruise door if the cruise line prohibits it.

This one is straightforward. Door decorating is a blast, but don’t do it if the cruise line tells you not to. If you’re cruising with a line that doesn’t allow anything on your door and you do decorate, it’s possible that your stateroom attendant will clean it off with a warning.

Cruise lines that don’t allow door decorations include but aren’t limited to:

• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Virgin Voyages

Do use door decorations to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays.

If you and your travel party have established that (approved) cruise door decorations are permitted onboard your ship, then get ready to unleash your inner design artist. Surprise a friend or loved one by decorating their door for a birthday, bachelorette party, or a “just because.” Not only will they feel special every time they get to their stateroom but having a jazzy cruise door is also extremely helpful in spotting your cabin.

Not everyone is crafty, and that’s totally fine. Cruisers can easily purchase or customize online door signs and magnets intended for cruise ships. The best part is that some of them already adhere to cruise line rules about door décor materials. Others are even ready to adhere to the door. (Most cruise doors and cabin walls are metal and therefore work with magnets).

Don’t damage the door with your decorations.

Even if your materials are up to code, make sure you don’t affix them with tape or anything that could damage the door. After all, while it is your room for the week, it is still company property of the cruise line.

As mentioned, most cabin doors will be metal and should work easily with magnets. Though, there are some models with a wooden veneer. In many cases, Command strips that are easily removable after a few days might be a good option. If you’re not sure about the surface of your door, ask your travel advisor or look up some photos and reviews online to see if you can gage whether the door will be magnetic.

For those looking to turn their cruise door into a spectacular display of lights, know that no string lights or anything of the kind is allowed on the door or anywhere else in the corridor. This also extends to the ceiling of your cabin and your balcony if you have one. Regardless of cruise line, these rules are basic safety measures to avoid fire hazards and obstruction of the hallways.

If you do damage your door or insist on hanging prohibited materials, you could face a fine from the cruise line for the infraction.

Do use your cruise door as a way to engage with friends and fellow passengers.

We’re not talking about inciting a lively debate over politics. Consider hanging a white board and erasable marker so you can write simple messages or communicate with others in your cruise group.

Remember to only decorate a door even your mom could be proud of, meaning vulgarity is never acceptable. Not only will offensive content be removed from a cruise door, but you’re bringing bad vibes onboard. And, that is simply not cool.

Ask a question or a riddle, play Tic-Tac-Toe…the options for an entertaining cruise communique via door go on and on.

The holidays are an especially popular time to leave goodies on the door. Attach a small bucket or bag on Halloween so cruisers — or crew — can go “trick or treating”. Or, hang a few candy canes in December. A cruise vacation is all about having a good time, so spread the cheer beginning with your door.

BOOK NOW: Get Exclusive Rates on Your Next Cruise!

Don’t let fish extenders or pineapples confuse you.

On Disney Cruise Line specifically, you’ll find pouches hanging from a wooden dowel attached adjacent to many cabin doors. These are called “fish extenders”. The name is derived from the metal fish above each stateroom number on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. While this little metallic adornment varies by ship class (it’s a seahorse, for example, on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy), its purpose it to hold documents and tickets left by your room steward.

It also conveniently allows these fish extenders to hang, serving as a place for little gifts. Make your own fish extender or find an elaborate variety on websites like Etsy. Not only is it a place for friends and family to leave surprises for the kiddos, but prior to sailing, some Disney cruisers take to message boards to organize a White Elephant-style gift exchange for anyone who wants to participate.

In terms of the pineapple, it might seem like a festive, tropical fruit to brighten up your door for a Caribbean cruise. However, it’s worth mentioning that it has an alternative meaning when placed on a cruise door. Used in many cultures to symbolize hospitality, a pineapple on a door aboard a ship could signify that the couple inside is very hospitable…and open to meeting other like-minded couples, if you catch our drift.

Are you known for decorating your cruise door? What types of themes and décor have you used to decorate your cruise ship cabin? Drop us an anchor below with some inspirational tips.

Related Posts

Cruiseline module – Remove Title

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up to our newsletter!

DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

What’s Trending

Contact Us: [email protected]