Many people are guilty of committing these bad behaviors on cruises. Maybe you are one of those cruisers who routinely commit these bad cruise behaviors? These things can waste time, cause unnecessary stress, or even get you into trouble. Here are some common cruise behaviors that you need to stop doing on cruises.
Sharing Cruise Beverage Package
When you’re on a cruise, it’s important to follow the rules when it comes to the beverage packages. Some passengers try to share their drink packages, but that’s a big no-no.
The cruise lines require adults in the same cabin to each have their own package to prevent sharing. However, if you’re with a big group and staying in different cabins, there’s no obligation for everyone to get a package. This is where it can get tempting to share drinks within the group. But beware!
If you’re caught, the cruise line can cancel your package and charge you for each drink at full price, which can add up to a hefty sum. It’s best to play it safe and stick to the rules.
If you want to save money on drinks, consider bringing your own wine on board since most cruise lines allow one bottle per adult. Just make sure to check the alcohol policy of your specific cruise line before you set sail.
Smoking on the Balcony
Many cruise passengers mistakenly believe that smoking on their private balconies is acceptable. In reality, most cruise lines prohibit smoking in stateroom balconies due to the fire hazard it presents. This includes vaping and e-cigarettes. It’s also important to note that smoking inside the cabins is strictly prohibited.
For those who wish to smoke, most cruise ships provide designated smoking areas, typically in locations such as casinos, cigar bars, specific sections of the nightclub, outdoor decks, and promenades. It’s important to check with your specific cruise line to find out exactly where the designated smoking areas are on the ship.
It’s essential to be aware that many cruise lines impose a cleaning fee if passengers are caught smoking in their stateroom balconies. For example, Royal Caribbean charges a $250 cleaning fee if their no smoking policy is violated in stateroom balconies.
Overstaying in their Cabin on Disembarkation Day
One thing people do on cruises is overstay in their cabin past the allowed time on disembarkation day. Most cruise ships require passengers to leave their cabins in the morning and wait in public areas, typically the lounges or the buffet, for their turn to disembark. The time to vacate the cabin can be as early as 7:30 a.m.
This is to give the cabin steward enough time to clean the room for the next passengers. However, some guests end up overstaying or returning to their cabin to ask to use the bathroom.
Most of the time, the cabin stewards are accommodating and will have a hard time saying no to your request. But the problem is that now they have to wait for you to leave your cabin before they can start cleaning. This disrupts their cleaning schedule and adds unnecessary strain to their workload.
Be considerate and mindful. Don’t overstay in your cabin—it will put your cabin steward in a difficult situation.
Showing Up Early for Embarkation
One thing people do on cruise embarkation day is arrive at the cruise port at the wrong time. During the online check-in process, you will receive a designated time slot to board the ship. It’s important not to disregard this assigned time.
Some people show up at the port earlier than their check-in time, which can lead to unnecessary waiting. If enough people arrive at the wrong time, you will end up messing up the embarkation process for everyone. The purpose of these assigned check-in times is to manage the flow of passengers arriving at the cruise port to ensure a smooth boarding experience. With thousands of passengers boarding the ship, it’s essential to follow the assigned time to maintain order and shorten the wait time for everyone.
Using the Same Plate at the Buffet
One of the things some people do on a cruise is to use the same plate when they go back for seconds at the cruise buffet. Doing so is generally considered bad etiquette since it’s perceived as rude and inconsiderate to other passengers.
Also, using the same plate for multiple trips to the buffet is also unsanitary and can potentially spread germs. As a courtesy to fellow passengers and for hygiene reasons, it’s best to use a fresh plate for each serving at the cruise buffet.
Hogging Pool Lounge Chairs
One of the things people do on cruises is they hog pool lounge chairs. They will go early to the pool, put their stuff on pool lounge chairs and end up not coming back to use it until later on in the day. This makes it challenging for others to find vacant chairs. It’s important to be considerate and avoid hogging chairs when you’re not using them.
Not Printing Luggage Tags
One thing people do when they go on a cruise is they don’t print out their luggage tags. Many people show up at the cruise port without printing out their luggage tags, which delays the check-in process because they can’t just hand over their luggage to the porters to check in their bags.
They have to manually fill out the luggage tags. This creates unnecessary stress since they have to scramble to find their deck and stateroom numbers. Save yourself unnecessary hassle by printing out luggage tags in advance!
Going to Guest Services Unnecessarily
One thing people do that they shouldn’t do during their cruise is to keep going to guest service unnecessarily. The line for guest services is notoriously long. It’s a major time waster that I suggest you avoid as much as possible.
There are things you can do without having to line up in guest services. For example, if you want to check your account balance, you don’t need to line up. You can simply check your account balance in your Cruise TV folio or through the cruise app. Reserve visits to guest services for important matters like lost cruise cards or legitimate complaints that require their assistance.
Not Bringing Carry-On Bags
One of the things people do on cruises that they really shouldn’t do is to pack everything in their check-in luggage. When going on a cruise, it’s not a good idea to pack everything in your checked luggage and not bring a carry-on bag. It’s important to have a carry-on bag for your first-day essentials like prescription medication, a bathing suit, extra clothes, and electronic devices.
This is because it can take a few hours for your checked luggage to be delivered to your cabin. If you plan to swim on the first day, you’ll need your bathing suit with you in your carry-on.
Also, on the last night of the cruise, you’ll be required to leave your checked luggage in the hallway, so you’ll need a bag for your overnight items, such as toiletries and clothes. The carry-on bag is the one you walk off the ship with. Check out: What to Pack in Your Cruise Carry On Bag (Free Packing List)
Check out these free cruise printables
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