Don’t get me wrong, I love going on cruises. I’ve been on more than 25 cruises, and it’s definitely my favorite way to vacation. There are so many great things about cruising that make it an amazing way to vacation, but there are also some aspects of cruising that I’m not too crazy about. Here are the top things I can’t stand about cruising.
Things I Hate About Cruising
Waking Up Early to Disembark
The last day of the cruise is what I dread the most. It’s not just because it marks the end of the vacation and the need to disembark the ship, but mainly because of the early morning rush. We have to wake up really early and leave our cabin by 7:30 am, which is not easy, especially with a teenager who loves to sleep in.
Then, you are faced with the chaotic buffet where everyone is trying to get breakfast before disembarking the ship. Even if you go to the main dining room, it still feels rushed because the hours are limited.
Then, after breakfast, we’re left waiting with our carry-on luggage, feeling displaced because we can’t access our stateroom. It’s like being kicked out of our cabin really early and then being told to wait to leave the ship. The whole process makes the last day of the cruise really unpleasant.
Tender Boats
One thing I can’t stand about cruises is dealing with tender boats. It’s no fun when the cruise port is a tender port, meaning the ship has to anchor and passengers have to take tender boats to reach the port since the ship can’t dock there directly.
It’s a major time waster. You usually have to get a tender boat ticket and then wait until your number is called before you can board the tender. The waiting around is unbearable!
And it gets even worse – the tender boat itself is not exactly comfortable. It’s bare bones, crowded, and sometimes poorly ventilated, especially on hot days.
If you end up sitting on the uncovered section of the tender boat, you can easily get sunburned if you don’t have a hat or forgot to apply sunblock. The tender boat ride can be quite long, sometimes up to 20 minutes, which is no fun on a hot day!
Compare this to docking directly at the cruise port, where all you have to do is walk down the gangway—no waiting, no time wasted—it’s so much easier!
To be honest, sometimes, I just skip tender ports altogether! Especially if it’s a cruise port that I’ve been to, and I’m not crazy about it. I don’t think it’s worth all the hassle to deal with tender boats just to go to a so-so cruise port!
Embarkation
One of the things I don’t like about going on a cruise is embarkation. I don’t like having to stand in long lines to check in to get on the cruise ship.
Sometimes, it’s not so bad, and the cruise port is organized, but other times, the line is crazy long, and all I want is to get on the ship and have some lunch!
Looking for Lounge Chairs
One thing that really annoys me about cruising is the struggle to find a lounge chair on the pool deck, especially on sea days. It’s frustrating when all the chairs are taken, especially by people who “reserve” them with towels and random items.
It’s so unfair when vacant chairs are occupied this way. I just want to be able to relax by the pool and read a book without the stress of finding a chair.
Buffet is Closed
I really don’t like it when I’m on a cruise, and the buffet is closed at the most inconvenient time. When I’m traveling with a teenager who loves to sleep in, we typically head to the buffet around 11 am for breakfast, only to find it closed at that time.
There’s this annoying window of time from around 10:45 am to 11:30 am when they transition from breakfast to lunch, and somehow, that’s always when we try to grab breakfast. To make it worse, the main dining room is also closed at that time.
So we end up super hungry, waiting for the buffet to open back up! Sometimes, we’re lucky and we’re on a cruise ship with a grill at the pool that’s open, so we end up grabbing a bite there. It’s the worst when you want to eat, but the buffet and main dining room are closed.
I wish there was a section in the buffet that is always open, serving all-day brunch on sea days for people like us who can’t seem to get up early.
My tip for anyone who can relate is to order room service breakfast so you can leisurely enjoy breakfast in your room while waiting for your teenager to wake up!
Small Drinking Cups at the Buffet
I can’t stand the tiny drink cups at the buffet on cruise ships. They are so small—like cups for little kids! It’s a hassle to keep going back for refills, and I always end up juggling multiple cups on my tray. I really wish they had larger cups at the buffet.
Balcony Maintenance
One of the things that bothers me when I’m on a cruise is when they’re doing maintenance work on the balcony. It seems like on almost every cruise I’ve been on, there’s been some kind of maintenance work happening on the balcony.
The worst part is that they always seem to do the maintenance work in the morning when I’m looking forward to enjoying breakfast on my balcony! It’s just disruptive, and it feels like I have no privacy when there are maintenance guys painting or cleaning.
I get that they need to do the work, but I really wish they would do their balcony maintenance work in the early afternoon when most passengers are out at the cruise port or participating in onboard activities.
Lining Up at Guest Services
I really hate waiting in line at guest services on cruises. It’s the worst to waste your vacation standing in line! Sometimes, you can be stuck waiting in line for 30 minutes or more!
My tip for you is to try to bypass the guest services line and check if you can get the information you need through the cruise app. For example, if you have questions about your balance, you can check that on your cruise app or Cruise TV folio.
The Line at the Main Dining Room
One of the things I don’t like about going on a cruise is the long line at the main dining room if I’m on anytime dining. It’s the worst when my kids are hungry and getting cranky.
That’s why I always pick assigned seating when given the choice between that and anytime dining. Check out my article on why you are worse off with anytime dining on a cruise.
Luggage Delivered in the Late Afternoon
One thing that bugs me about going on a cruise is how long it takes for them to bring my check-in luggage to my cabin. It always shows up a few hours after I board the ship, usually in the late afternoon, right before dinner.
It’s a hassle having to wait until the last minute, especially if I have early seating for dinner. That’s why I always pack a carry-on bag with first-day essentials like my toiletry bag so I can freshen up and my bathing suit so I can go to the pool. Check out my article on what to pack in your cruise carry-on bag (you can get my free packing list).
Check out these free cruise printables
11 Fun Things to Pack on Your Next Cruise
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