My travel Mahjong set had already passed the Mexico test: I could pack it easily and play a couple of SoloMahj games in my room. But that still left one question. Would those little tiles work when there were other people around the table?
On our Disney Dream transatlantic, they got their chance. And then some.
We played with family, played with friends, and taught new friends in the concierge lounge. My bestie’s dad even played for the first time. By the end of the trip, my answer was easy: I would 100% bring this set again.
Our travel setup in action: little tiles, mini racks, and cards around the table.
This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through my link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
One little set, a whole variety of players
I brought my My Fair Mahjong Mini Anywhere set—the same compact setup I wrote about in How I Pack a Mahjong Set for a Trip Without Regretting It.
This time, it got much more than a couple of solo games.
Sometimes it was Mom, my bestie, her mom, and me. Sometimes it was Mom, my bestie, and me. Other times, Mom and my bestie played with both of my bestie’s parents joining in. We had a whole variety of people around the table over the course of the cruise.
My bestie and I also held lessons for new friends in the concierge lounge. One of our new friends’ mothers joined us, too.
That was one of my favorite parts of bringing Mahjong: it became something we could share with people we met onboard. The set earned its luggage space through actual games and lessons throughout the trip.
Could everyone read the mini tiles?
For the most part, yes. Everyone did great with them, including my bestie’s dad, who had never played Mahjong before.
I did give one of our newer players the little tile cheat sheet to help her identify the tiles. She was still learning, so having that reference was useful. I would keep it with the set for future trips, especially if we might be teaching again.
The tiles are small, and I would not promise that every player will find them equally comfortable to read. But for our group, their size worked really well for travel. We were able to play together without wishing we had brought the full-size setup from home.
If you want a closer look at the set itself, I covered it in my My Fair Mahjong Anywhere Tiles review.
The mini tiles got plenty of use on this trip.
The table did not need to be huge
We found that we liked round tables best. There were several options slightly bigger than the mini mat, which gave us plenty of room for our setup and drinks.
That is a practical advantage of a travel set that is easy to overlook when you are thinking only about suitcase space. Once you arrive, you still need somewhere to play. A compact setup gave us more options onboard.
For our games, we did not need to find a giant table to make it work.
The compact mat left room around the edge of the table for our cards.
Our favorite evening spot: Vista Café
We played most nights at one of the tall tables in Vista Café on Deck 4. We liked the lighting, and we especially liked that the chairs had backs.
Those details mattered when we were settling in to play for a while. Being able to see the tiles and sit comfortably made it a spot we wanted to return to.
We also tried Pub 687 one night. It was on the dark side for Mahjong, and the stools did not have backs, so it was less comfortable for us.
My advice after trying both: look at the chairs and lighting as carefully as the table. Enough room for the mat is a good start, but the whole setup needs to feel comfortable once everyone sits down.
The concierge lounge was also where my bestie and I taught our new friends. Between those lessons and our evening games, Mahjong became a lovely part of our cruise routine.
This time, we had the cards
After Mexico, I knew to pay attention to the smallest item on the packing list: the NMJL cards.
Mom brought hers. My bestie and her mom had cards from my bestie’s sister, and I brought mine. Those four cards were our core set for most of the trip.
One of our new friends also brought her mom’s card when she came for her second lesson.
The tiles may take up more space in your bag, but the cards deserve their own check before you leave. Having that core set of four meant we had cards ready for our regular group games.
What would I change next time?
Honestly, nothing annoyed me about using this set on the cruise. I would bring it again without hesitation.
The mini tiles worked for our group, the setup fit the tables we liked, and we used it often. I also came home carry-on only after London, the cruise, and shopping, so bringing Mahjong still worked with the way I wanted to travel.
For next time, I would keep the same essentials together: the travel set, its mat and racks, the little tile cheat sheet, and current NMJL cards for the people planning to play.
The biggest change may be how many people are ready to join us. Two of our friends said they would have to learn before next year’s cruise, and I think both of our students are sailing again next year, too.
Apparently, bringing a little Mahjong set on vacation can turn into plans for the next vacation.
Would I bring a travel Mahjong set on a cruise again?
Absolutely. Mexico showed me that the set was easy to pack and useful for solo play. The Disney Dream showed me how much more we could do with it.
It worked for our family and friends, gave us a way to teach new players, and became something we looked forward to most nights. For me, that is more than enough reason to give it a spot in my bag next time.
Have you brought Mahjong on a cruise—or taught someone to play while traveling? I would love to hear how it went.
For more beginner tips, accessories, and travel advice, visit my American Mahjong Guides.
Comments