This might be one of the most underrated cruise travel hacks out there, especially if you’re flying in the night before with only carry-on luggage.

We always use Instacart or DoorDash to send a small delivery to our hotel before embarkation day. Here’s why it works so well:

---

✈️ We Travel Carry-On, So Liquids Are Limited

Flying with just a carry-on? That 3-1-1 rule really limits your sunscreen, soap, and personal care items.
That’s why we use Instacart or DoorDash to deliver full-size liquids straight to our hotel. Things like:

• Spray sunscreen (we usually order a 3–4 pack)
• Rub-on sunscreen
• Body wash
• Hand soap

You’ll use these items throughout the cruise, and buying them at the hotel or onboard is usually way more expensive.

---

🍿 Snacks for the Hotel and the Cruise

We also grab a few snacks for the room like:

• Doritos or SmartPop
• Sparkling water or soda
• A 12-pack of cans (yes, you can carry those onto your cruise)
• A big bag of popcorn since there’s no microwave on board

Whether it’s for movie night in the hotel or a stash for your cruise cabin, having your favorite snacks delivered is easy and affordable.

---

🧦 Did You Forget Something? Add It.

The night before a cruise is the perfect time to realize you forgot:

• Socks
• Flip-flops
• Toothpaste
• A phone charger

Just add it to your cart. You don’t have to make a huge order to make delivery worth it, especially if you’re tired, traveling with kids, or just don’t want to leave the room.

---

🍻 We Do This for Every Vacation

Even when we’re not cruising, we do the same thing:

• Water and beer for the room
• Snacks for beach days
• Sunscreen
• Beach toys when our kid was younger and we’d leave them behind for another family to use

Ordering local saves us time and stress. And when you’re on vacation, that’s priceless.

---

💸 Want to Try It?

If you’ve never used Instacart, use my referral code CBRADLEY156CB to get $10 off your first delivery.
We also use DashPass, which is included with some credit cards, and that saves us a few dollars on every DoorDash order.

---

✅ Final Tip

We used this exact strategy before our recent cruise on Utopia of the Seas: a quick DoorDash order from Target for just sunscreen and popcorn saved us at least $15 compared to ship prices.

Whether you’re cruising or just flying into town for a weekend, delivery to your hotel is a game-changer. Try it once and you’ll never look back.