Yes, we all like to let our hair down when we go on a cruise. It’s a time to relax. However, that doesn’t mean that, when you leave port, you also leave all your manners behind.
Take it from someone who’s been on their fair share of cruises over the years — if you’re a rude cruiser, you’re not going to make any friends with your fellow passengers. Here are the 14 etiquette rules I believe you should always follow as a cruiser.
1. Follow the Dress Code
No, I’m not saying you need to be dressed to the nines on every cruise, in tuxedo and ball gown (although it can be fun to attend the cruise ship’s formal night in your best formal attire).
Jeans and a t-shirt are usually acceptable in most areas of a cruise ship. Instead, just be mindful of the cruise line’s various dress codes for certain parts of the ship.
Those dress codes are in place not because you need to look a certain way, necessarily, but to ensure your other cruisers are comfortable.
When I’m sitting in the buffet, enjoying a nice breakfast, it can be a little (or a lot) stomach-turning to see cruisers stroll into the dining space in bare feet or dripping water from their swimsuits.
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As an example of what to expect, dress code-wise, Royal Caribbean requests guests only wear their swimsuits without a covering of some sort, on the pool deck. The cruise line also requests you wear shoes in every restaurant and entertainment venue.
(As a side note, in some cases, following the dress code can even keep you safe and legal. For example, if your cruise ship is stopping in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia or Trinidad and Tobago, you may find yourself in hot water if you wear the wrong thing, as camouflage print clothing of any kind is illegal in these destinations!)
2. Tipping Isn’t Required, But Don’t Be “That Guy”
We’ve covered cruise tipping quite a bit here at CruiseHive, and my take is that you should always generously tip cruise ship employees such as a room steward or butler, unless the cruise line has a no-tipping or no cash tip policy (as is the case on Virgin Voyages, as well as most ultra-luxury cruise lines).
However, the bare minimum etiquette expectation on a cruise is that you pay the automatic gratuities that will be added to your bill at the end of the cruise, as these tips go to so many individuals on the ship that work both directly with the public and behind the scenes.
Yes, you can technically ask for those tips to be removed, but, unless you truly received very poor service from a crew member, I caution you not to be “that guy” and raise a fuss.
3. Mind Your Children
I feel that cruising is an amazing option for families seeking a vacation that caters to everyone. Family-friendly cruise lines are also some of the best in the biz, like Royal Caribbean, consistently upping their game with every new ship.
That said, if you’re cruising with your kids, you can’t just let them run amuck. That’s a sure way to earn a few unfriendly, side-eye glances from your fellow cruisers and you may just find that they complain to the cruise staff.
There have even been some situations where kids have been seen sitting on railings or climbing over balconies with no sign of the parents.
While having tons of energetic fun is to be expected at the pool or waterpark, or when checking out unique attractions like Carnival Cruise Line’s BOLT roller coaster or Norwegian Cruise Lines’ go-karting tracks, keep the noise to a more indoor-friendly level when at restaurants or in entertainment venues like the theater. Likewise, keep the running to a minimum (especially in those long, narrow stateroom hallways and near the pool).
Your fellow cruisers will thank you.
4. Stay on Time While in Port
Cruise ships operate on a very strict schedule. When you leave the ship while in port, make a note of what time the ship plans to leave and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship before embarkation.
Yes, following this rule has meant that I’ve had to maybe cut some of my explorations or shore excursions short, and I may’ve had to leave a destination or two earlier than I would’ve liked, but it also means I’ve never been left behind in port before.
That’s right — if you don’t make it back to the ship by embarkation time, either one of two things will happen. The ship will either leave you behind (meaning you have to find a way to join it at the next port of call on your itinerary) or the ship may wait a small amount of time for you to return, but this is less than considerate to the other cruisers on board, as well as to the crew and captain.
5. Avoid the Urge to Skinny Dip and Stripping Down
Yes, there are many places around the world where it’s perfectly acceptable to swim or sunbathe topless. A cruise ship is not one of those places. In fact, a couple was caught in the action on their balcony during a christening ceremony of a new Explora Journeys cruise ship.
Even if you have a private stateroom balcony or a sundeck, even with your own private hot tub, avoid stripping down. You’d be surprised at just how easy it is for other cruisers to catch a glimpse of your balcony or sundeck, depending on where you are on the ship!
6. Only Smoke in Designated Areas
Many cruise ships have designated smoking areas somewhere on one of the top decks, where you can safely smoke a cigarette without bothering your fellow cruisers.
Others may allow you to smoke in certain indoor areas, such as in a cigar lounge or the casino. Keep any smoking, including vaping, to these areas, both for etiquette and safety reasons (a fire on a cruise ship is a bad, bad idea).
7. Don’t Save Deck Chairs
There are only so many deck chairs on the pool deck and sun decks. As such, one of the most-complained about rude cruise passenger faux pas is saving deck chairs.
I’ve seen people come to the pool deck, put a few towels on several deck chairs in prime spots, and then completely leave, sometimes for hours at a time.
They go to the waterpark or to the buffet. They go to the bar. All the while, no one else can snag those seats, leaving people who actually want to use and enjoy them completely out of luck.
Don’t be a “chair hog.” Only claim a pool chair if you truly intend to use it. If you’re worried about getting a deck chair in a desirable spot, I’ve found that, the earlier you get to the pool deck, the better chances you have of getting a great seat.
8. Watch How Much You Drink
A cruise is a time for many to over-indulge, whether that means you’re chowing down at the buffet or hitting up the pool bar every chance you get.
Most cruise lines have a limit on how many alcoholic beverages a cruise passenger can order. On Carnival Cruise Lines, for example, you can only order 15 alcoholic drinks per day. However, while I don’t know about you, if I downed 15 margaritas at the pool bar after lunch, I might not remember the rest of the day.
So, even though these limits exist, don’t use them and a drink package as license to drink to excess. Watch your intake and, if you feel like you’re reaching your personal limit, scale back, grab a water and get a bite to eat.
Cruise lines (and other cruise passengers) do not look kindly on visibly inebriated passengers and, if things get out of hand, you could find yourself escorted to your cabin, you might face a fine or you might even get kicked off the cruise ship.
9. Keep the Volume to a Minimum
Beyond just ensuring that you and the kiddos use your inside voices when necessary, there’s also another potential disturbance that needs to be kept to a minimum.
If you’re using your phone or another device to make a call, stream music or video, or just scroll TikTok, take it off speaker phone. No one else wants to hear your music or phone call.
In fact, some cruise lines try to cut back on this issue by prohibiting cruisers from bringing portable speakers onto the ship.
10. Don’t Spread Germs in the Buffet
Remember how I mentioned that stomach-turning feeling I get when I see someone walking through the buffet in their bare feet or swimsuit? There’s one other buffet faux pas that makes me cringe and think twice about visiting the buffet in the future.
It’s when people are mindlessly spreading germs by either reusing their plate and other dirty dishes at the buffet, or they’re actively touching food at the buffet.
Think about it. You get a plate of pasta. You eat the pasta, with your fork going from your mouth to the plate and back again. You get up for seconds, using the same plate.
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The serving utensil touches your plate, which touched your fork, which was inside your mouth. Now all those mouth germs are in the pasta that everyone else is going to eat.
Then, there are the people I’ve seen who’ll actively just reach into a warming tray of hand-held foods like bread or cookies, and take what they want, ignoring the serving utensil. They may say they’re only touching what they’re going to eat… but are they really?
Listen. We’ve all heard stories of entire cruise ships coming down with norovirus and similar illnesses. Don’t add to the risk. Get a new plate each time you go to the buffet. Use the serving utensils.
11. Wash Your Hands
And on the note of avoiding illness, make sure that you’re washing your hands thoroughly. I also like to keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in a pool tote if I’m headed to the pool, or in a backpack if I’m headed into port, just in case.
Keeping yourself healthy keeps the rest of the cruise ship healthy, which is just good manners.
12. Be Courteous at the Elevators
The elevators are some of the busiest spots on a cruise ship, particularly at certain times of the day, when everyone’s rushing off to start their morning of fun or headed to dinner or a show.
Be courteous of your fellow cruisers as you get on and off the elevator. Wait for those who are getting off the elevator to do so, before you get in, for example.
13. Show Respect to the Crew
Sure, you don’t want to listen to the announcements and you don’t think you really need to go to the muster station or a muster drill.
However, it’d be wise to quiet up, listen up and do as the crew requests. The captain and crew always have a good reason for an announcement and you may indeed get some valuable info related to your trip.
In general, though, treat the crew with the courtesy they deserve. They’re not just there to make sure you have a good time, but also to make sure you have a safe time.
14. Be Patient
Overall, be patient as you deal with your fellow cruisers and the crew, no matter where you are on the ship and no matter the situation. After all, you’re several thousand people all stuck together on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean.
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Getting into a petty squabble or being rude won’t make your experience any better. However, having patience and a friendly attitude will go a very long way to ensuring your cruise is the best possible.
