Going on a cruise is a fun and relaxing vacation, but sometimes things don’t go as planned and you end up on a bad cruise. Here are red flags and warning signs that you booked the wrong cruise. Also, below I’m sharing my travel password tracker as a free printable, I use it to keep track of all the usernames and passwords from various travel websites.
Warning Signs That You Booked a Bad Cruise
1. Lots of Children
If you find yourself on a cruise ship where kids are everywhere and you were expecting a relaxing vacation, then you’re on a bad cruise. The moment you step on board, you are greeted by kids running around, slamming cabin doors, and making a lot of noise in the hallway.
To make it worse, you’re in a room next to a family with crying children. Then, at the buffet, you encounter kids making a mess as they try to serve themselves.
The good news is you can try to escape the chaos by looking for adults-only areas on the ship. Hang out at the cruise adults-only pool. It might also be worth paying extra for access to the adults-only thermal spa, which gives you access to the spa saunas and hot tubs.
Instead of going to the buffet, go to the main dining room or a specialty restaurant where you can enjoy some peace and quiet.
You should also stick to activities that are usually geared towards adults, such as art auctions, live music at a lounge, and the casino (where kids are not allowed). I would avoid trivia and game shows. Stay away from the pool!
2. Sick People Everywhere
If you find yourself on a cruise where people are coughing and sneezing all around you, it’s not a good sign.
You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re packed in a crowded elevator and someone lets out a sneeze or if you’re at the buffet and hear someone coughing. If you suspect there are many sick people on your cruise, it’s crucial to practice good hygiene to avoid getting sick yourself.
Always wash your hands before eating and always carry hand sanitizer with you. Wear a mask if you’re in a crowded space like a shore excursion bus or the theater.
Avoiding the cruise elevator and taking the stairs instead is a good idea. Hopefully, these measures will help you stay healthy and avoid catching any illnesses that may be going around.
3. Dirty Cabins
You know you’re in a bad cruise if your cabin is dirty. I’ve been on a few cruises where the smell of urine was overpowering when I walked into my cabin’s bathroom.
This is a clear indication that the cabin steward did not clean the bathroom thoroughly. Understandably, they have limited time between cruises and may be in a hurry, but it’s still disappointing.
I politely requested that my cabin steward do a deep clean to eliminate the smell. I also slipped him a few bucks as a tip when I asked him to do the deep cleaning. This strategy worked wonders because when I returned, my bathroom was spotless, and the smell was gone.
4. Dirty Common Areas
One sign you are in a bad cruise is when the ship is dirty. You may notice some tell-tale signs of uncleanliness.
Dirty plates and bowls left outside your cabin for hours, buffet tables not being cleaned promptly, visible trash on the floor, and pool lounges left with dirty towels all indicate the ship is understaffed and poorly maintained. If you complain, it may not make much of a difference, since there may not be enough crew members to handle the workload.
However, you can take steps to protect yourself from the uncleanliness. Wash your hands frequently and avoid the pool and hot tub, as it’s unclear if anyone is even checking the PH and chlorine levels. Check out CDC’s list of the dirtiest and cleanest cruise ships.
5. Lots of Drunk People
If you find yourself surrounded by a rowdy, drunken crowd on a cruise, that’s a sure sign that you are in a bad cruise. This can be incredibly frustrating if you on a cruise to unwind and relax.
There are some things you can do to avoid the drunk crowd. Stay away from places where people will be drinking. Steer clear of the pool, hot tubs, bars and lounges. Head to the spa for a relaxing massage or relax in your cabin while ordering room service.
Sadly, once you’re on a party cruise, there’s not much you can do to avoid the rowdy crowd. The best course of action is to make sure you don’t book a similar cruise again in the future. Avoid shorter cruises of less than 7 days since these tend to be more of a party cruise atmosphere. Book longer cruises, the longer the better!
6. Bad Service
If you’re on a cruise and you notice that the service is less than satisfactory, it’s a red flag that you’re in a bad cruise. Cruises are known for their exceptional service, but if you’re experiencing lackluster service, you should take action.
One solution is to give your cabin steward and server a few extra dollars as a tip. A little extra cash goes a long way in improving the quality of service you receive.
Doing this will ensure that you’ll be treated with better service and have a more enjoyable cruise experience.
7. Bad Buffet Food
If you’re on a cruise and notice that the buffet food is terrible, it could be a sign that something’s not right. Whether it’s cold food or a slow replenishment of the buffet, it’s likely that the kitchen staff is not up to par.
It’s best to avoid the buffet altogether to avoid getting sick from stale or spoiled food. Instead, it’s wise to stick to the main dining rooms for your meals to ensure your food is freshly cooked. Check out my list of 10 foods I never eat at a cruise buffet.
8. Seasick
You are on a bad cruise if you are sailing in rough seas and choppy waters. I’ve been on a few cruises to Canada out of New York, and without fail, we always hit turbulent waters, which, unfortunately, triggers my seasickness.
It’s a downward spiral from there, and it isn’t easy to bounce back from it. The seasickness ends up ruining the entire cruise for me. So for me, I avoid the New England/Canada cruises from New York. Check out my list of the roughest seas in the world to avoid cruising on.
Cruise Essentials
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Cruise Lanyard
Bring cruise lanyards; to make your life easier so you are not constantly looking for your cruise card!
Towel Bands
Towel bands are great in keeping your beach towels in place! So, they are slipping off the pool lounge chairs!
Power Strip
Definitely bring a cruise-approved power strip so you have more outlets for charging your devices. Cruise cabins never have enough outlets! Please double-check with your cruise line, as some do not allow power strips and will only allow USB charger cubes.
Packing Cubes
Use packing cubes to make cruise packing easier. These cubes will help keep your clothes organized. Unpacking is easy because you just need to take the cubes out of your luggage and put them in the drawers and shelves—so easy! Assign a color for each person in your cabin so you don’t get your cubes mixed up.
Anti-Theft Cross Body Bag
This anti-theft crossbody bag is perfect for travel. It features a slash-resistant design and RFID-blocking technology for added security. It even comes with a side pocket to hold your water bottle.
Luggage Tags
For safety, make sure every luggage and bags are labeled with a luggage tag. I like these custom luggage tags that you can order and personalize with your information.
Passport Neck Wallet
Keep your passport and other travel documents safe in this passport neck wallet.
Magnetic Hooks
Bring magnetic hooks to organize your cabin and keep it clutter-free. These hooks are for hanging baseball caps, cruise lanyards, goggles, bathing suits and towels.
Detergent Travel Packets
These detergent travel packets are great for handwashing bathing suits in the sink.
Anti-Seasickness
This anti-seasickness medicine is a go-to to combat seasickness on a cruise. If you have kids, make sure you bring the chewable version. If you are looking for a natural solution, try these acupressure bands.
Hanging Toiletry Bag
Cruise cabin sinks are notoriously small. Get a hanging toiletry bag to make it easier!
Cruise Travel Planner Printable
Get our comprehensive cruise travel planners to stay organized before and during your cruise. It includes pre-cruise and post-cruise itineraries, a cruise port planner, sea days planner, packing lists, cruise budget tracker and more!
- Caribbean Cruise Travel Planner (30 pages)
- Alaska Cruise Travel Planner (28 pages)
- Mediterranean Cruise Travel Planner (30 pages)
- Mexico Cruise Travel Planner (30 pages)
- Baltic Cruise Travel Planner (29 pages)
- British Isle Cruise Travel Planner (29 pages)
- Bermuda Cruise Travel Planner (29 pages)
- Bahamas Cruise Travel Planner (30 pages)
Cruise Travel Insurance
It’s smart to always buy cruise travel insurance. Get a quote for CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason) if you are going on a cruise during hurricane season.
Wrinkle Releaser
Keep your clothes wrinkle-free and odor-free with these travel size Downy wrinkle releaser.
Shore Excursions
Cruise shore excursions are expensive, I suggest doing a quick price comparison with Viator to see if you can get the same tour for less.
Get Your Free Travel Websites Password Tracker
Sign up once and you will get access to ALL exclusive content on this website. After unlocking the printable, just save the printable image and then print it. Use it to keep track of all the usernames and passwords from various travel websites. I hope you like it!
Check out my cruise packing lists with free printables for your upcoming Caribbean cruise, Alaska cruise, Mexico cruise, Mediterranean Cruise, British Isle Cruise and Bermuda cruise
25 Things People Forget to Pack for a Cruise
Cruise without Seasickness: Genius Tricks You Need to Know
18 Worst Things that Can Ruin Your Cruise Vacation
11 Most Annoying People to Avoid on a Cruise