Is there such a thing as cruise balcony etiquette? Absolutely!
Picture this. I opened by balcony doors just after 7:00 am as our cruise ship docked at it’s first port of call. It was so beautiful. The sun glowed over the lush green landscape of Amber Cove in Dominican Republic.
I took my cup of coffee (that I ordered from the complimentary room service) and sat down to enjoy this peaceful morning. Then I heard it.
“Melissa? Are you up Melissa?” a woman bellowed from her cabin to another.
A man answered, loudly I might add, “She’s taking a poo.”
Lovely.
The conversation continued between 2 balconies on decks above me for about 15-20 minutes. This was after Melissa got out of the bathroom of course!
They proceeded to make plans for what time they would get off the ship, where to have breakfast and more. Seriously, there was even more bathroom talk.
I wanted to direct them to the chat feature on their cruise line app, but I kept quiet…
This got me thinking, there are some cruise ship balcony etiquette “rules” that are unspoken, but important when it comes to getting along with fellow cruisers.
Cruise Balcony Etiquette Do’s and Don’ts
1. Don’t Scream from One Balcony to Another
If you’re cruising with a group of people in different cabins, don’t yell from one balcony to another. This unwritten rule might seem like common sense, but I imagine sometimes people just aren’t aware of their environment.
While this situation happened this morning on our Carnival cruise, it’s not the first time. Even if later in the day, having loud conversations between cabins disturbs others who may be sitting outdoors reading, having a glass of wine or simply enjoying a sailaway.
2. Don’t Smoke Anything on Your Balcony
Most cruise lines don’t allow smoking on your balcony. It’s against the rules on a cruise as it can be a fire hazard. However, beyond the fact that you can be issued a fine for breaking this rule, it’s really unpleasant to your balcony neighbors.
There are smoking sections on cruise ships, typically outdoors on the lido deck and on the promenade deck. There may also be indoor smoking allowed in the casino or in a specific area.
Something to note is that weed isn’t permitted on cruises, as it’s illegal according to Federal Law and may be illegal in ports of call the ship’s visit. These days, cruise lines seem to be taking it seriously as there were sniffer dogs present at cruise boarding security.
That said, many cruisers will share that while smoking isn’t permitted on verandas and balconies, they have smelled the substance. Some cruise passengers have shared that this made going out onto their own balcony so unpleasant, that they didn’t use it.
Related: 33 Prohibited Items You Can’t Bring on a Cruise (that may surprise you)
3. Avoid Playing Loud Music on Your Balcony
Don’t play loud music on your cruise ship balcony. Let’s face it, your balcony isn’t that private and not everyone has the same musical tastes.
While some cruise lines allow cruisers to bring personal bluetooth speakers, others have begun to add these to their list of prohibited items on a cruise.
4. Be Quieter in the Morning and Late at Night
Heading outdoors late at night or early in the morning? One of the benefits of having your own private outdoor space is that fact that you can enjoy that ocean air anytime you want.
However, when on the balcony in the early morning or very late at night, remember that voices carry and your conversation may be heard by others. Try to speak quietly, especially if you don’t want everyone to hear.
Related: 9 Cruise Cabin Locations to Avoid Booking if You’re Picky
5. Don’t Leave Outdoor Lights On at Night
Some cruise ship balconies have outdoor lights that you can open and shut. If you’re sitting out at night and want to keep a light on, go ahead. However, don’t forget to shut the light when heading back inside.
It’s happened to us that we haven’t even realized that our balcony light was on. Of course, I never want to intentionally disturb my neighbors, but a light shining into their cabin can do it.
Try and be aware and close any patio lights before bed so this doesn’t disturb fellow cruise passengers.
6. Don’t Slam Doors Shut
Depending on the cruise ship, you may have a single balcony door that opens and shuts loudly. Many cruisers have shared that they wish their fellow cruise mates would hold the door, so that it doesn’t slam shut.
Whether it’s a front cabin door, or a balcony door, this is something not to do in your cruise cabin.
Related: 63 Things Not to Do on a Cruise (rules, guidelines & cruise etiquette)
7. Don’t Get Into an Argument with Fellow Cruisers
Should you call out other passengers on their “bad” or impolite behavior? Personally, I wouldn’t. Even though this was annoying, and we’ve had other annoying experiences in the past, getting into an argument can make things worse.
If noise or anything else impacts your ability to sit out on your balcony, call guest services, who can let security know.
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Final Thoughts
Cruise etiquette is mostly common sense and basic courtesy. Yet, sometimes when we’re on vacation we may just forget our environment and the fact that we’re all sharing the same space.
For cruise ship balconies in particular, “bad” balcony behavior can impact the enjoyment for other cruisers.
Have you experienced any of these things on a cruise? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ilana
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