Cruise secrets can help passengers make the most of their trip around the world while at sea.
One of the most difficult parts of a cruise holiday is the number of people and overcrowding, with some ships holding up to 4,000 people at one time.
Thankfully, there are a number of secret decks that passengers can retreat to and avoid the hustle and bustle of travellers.
Carnival Cruises has revealed some of the decks that are unknown even to the most frequent of cruiser.
While they are called “secret decks”, they are not hidden from passengers, more that they are unknown public observation balconies.
They are often found on the front of the ship, accessed through a door on the side of the ship.
People looking to find the decks for themselves will find two doors to often go through.
Signs will warn passengers that one which must always be closed to avoid the strong winds which can be up to 50mph at the front of the ship.
They may be restricted at night and at high winds to prevent any injuries.
On Carnival Fantasy ships, the secret decks can be found on Deck 8 and Deck 11 while on Carnival Destiny, Triumph and Conquest ships, they are on Deck 5, Deck 6, Deck 7, Deck 9 and Deck 10.
Popular cruise liners Carnival Spirit and Carnival Pride do not have these secret decks, as they only have a Lido deck for all passengers.
Princess Island Cruise decks Baja and Aloha can be found at the end of the cabin, normally outside doors that read “Keep Door Closed”.
Royal Caribbean passengers can head to the helipad for some of the best views on Deck 5.
Some decks are found underneath other floors or under lifeboats and swimming pool areas.
Cruise insider Heather Fasting previously explained on Cruise Radio: “Though you may not get the sun, you can enjoy plenty of peace and quiet – accompanied of course by the calming sounds of the ocean passing beneath.”
If passengers stumble across a deck with a hot tub on it, then they have entered a restricted area.
These are often for crew members only as a place away from passengers and cannot be accessed by guests.
Cruise secrets have revealed why passengers should always avoid the early disembarking queues.
These can often take more time than waiting until the end of the cruise.