Cruising is meant to be relaxing, but there are a few things many of us do without realizing they drive the crew (and other passengers) a little crazy. Some are obvious, like chair hogging on the pool deck, while others are more subtle.
I’ve put together this list of cruise etiquette slip ups that crew members notice every single time. A few of these I’ll admit to being guilty of myself, so let’s go through them so you can avoid these common cruise mistakes on your next sailing.
Cruise Etiquette Mistakes to Avoid
1. Bringing Your Own Toilet Paper
I know cruise ship toilet paper isn’t exactly the softest, but there’s a good reason for that. It has to be processed through the ship’s plumbing system, which is different than what you have at home.
Most cruise ships use a vacuum style system to move waste through the plumbing, similar to what you’d find on an airplane. Regular toilet paper and especially wipes can clog the toilets on a cruise ship, since they don’t break down the same way the ship’s system needs them to.
A clog like this can back up into your cabin and the hallway, which is a mess nobody wants, least of all the crew who have to clean it up. If a clog happens in your section, it can also affect your neighbors, so it really is a shared responsibility.
The good news is that this is one of the easiest cruise mistakes to avoid. Just stick to what’s provided in your cabin bathroom, and if you have sensitive skin, you can always pack a few flushable wipes labeled specifically as septic safe.
2. Using Flash Photography in the Theater
Most cruise ships allow photos during shows, but flash photography is a no-go. I have to confess I broke this rule myself by accident, forgetting to turn my flash off during a show right in the second or third row.
It was embarrassing for me and definitely not pleasant for the cast or the other guests around me. A sudden flash can be startling and even disorienting for performers who are relying on precise timing, especially during dance numbers or acrobatics.
Beyond the performers, other guests in the theater notice a flash going off too, and it can pull everyone’s attention away from the show for a moment. If you’re taking photos during a performance, double check that your flash is turned off before the lights go down, and consider switching your phone to night mode instead for better low light shots.
Recording video is also generally not permitted during shows, mostly due to copyright reasons tied to the performers and choreography. It’s worth checking the specific policy for your cruise line before you head to the theater, since rules can vary slightly from one line to another.
3. Constantly Complaining at Guest Services
There’s a difference between raising a genuine concern and complaining about things that are completely out of the crew’s control. Guest services really don’t enjoy dealing with passengers upset about the weather, rough seas, or a missed port of call.
If seas are rough, the captain may decide not to dock, and instead turn the day into an extra sea day. It’s disappointing for everyone, including the crew, who then have to scramble to plan activities that weren’t part of the original schedule.
There’s also a real financial hit to the cruise line since they have to refund shore excursions when a port is skipped. The last thing crew need is a line of frustrated cruisers at the desk over something nobody could control, especially when the decision was made for everyone’s safety.
Of course, if there’s a genuine issue with your cabin, your dining experience, or your overall service, guest services is exactly who you should speak to. The key is keeping your tone calm and respectful, since crew members are usually more than willing to help when they’re approached kindly rather than with frustration.
4. Being a Chair Hog
Chair hogging is one of the most talked about pieces of cruise etiquette, and for good reason. This is when someone reserves a pool deck lounger early in the morning with a towel or flip-flops, then disappears for hours.
Most cruise lines only allow about 30 to 40 minutes of unoccupied reserving time before crew step in, sometimes leaving a note or removing your items altogether to free up the chair for someone else. On busier sea days, crew may patrol the deck more frequently simply because loungers are in such high demand.
If you know you won’t need that chair until after lunch, it’s best to just wait and grab one later instead of reserving it first thing in the morning. A good rule of thumb is to only save a chair for the amount of time you’re realistically going to be away, whether that’s a quick trip to the buffet or a short dip in the pool.
Being mindful about chairs makes a real difference for your fellow cruisers too. Nobody wants to walk the deck for twenty minutes searching for a place to sit, only to find rows of empty loungers covered in towels.
5. Stacking Your Dishes in the Dining Room
This one surprised me too. A lot of cruisers think they’re being helpful by stacking their plates when they’re finished eating, but crew members have said this doesn’t actually help them at all, since most of us just aren’t very good stackers.
It can also get servers in trouble, since it can look to supervisors like they aren’t clearing tables quickly enough when plates are already piled up before they’ve had a chance to get to them. This small habit, while well intentioned, can actually create more work behind the scenes.
The proper etiquette is to place your fork and knife together on your plate to signal you’re done, and you can gently push your plate away a little. This is a widely recognized signal in cruise dining rooms and restaurants in general, so your server will know exactly when to clear your setting.
If you’re dining in the main dining room or a specialty restaurant, your wait team is trained to keep an eye on these cues throughout the meal. Trusting them to do their job, rather than trying to help by clearing plates yourself, actually makes service run more smoothly for everyone at the table.
6. Over Drinking
Drink packages are popular, and it’s understandable that people want to get their money’s worth. Crew members do have a responsibility to stop serving anyone who’s clearly had enough, and other guests notice this behavior too.
On a recent cruise, someone sitting near us had clearly had a bit too much and started causing a scene, even flicking a garnish into my husband’s drink. Situations like this can escalate quickly, and in some cases they can even lead to security getting involved or a passenger being cut off for the rest of the evening.
It’s also worth remembering that alcohol affects everyone differently at sea, especially with sun exposure and the motion of the ship adding to the effects. Pacing yourself throughout the day, drinking water between cocktails, and knowing your own limits will help you enjoy your cruise without any regrettable moments.
Crew members genuinely want everyone to have a great time, but their job also includes keeping the ship a safe and pleasant environment for all guests. A little self awareness goes a long way toward making sure your night out doesn’t become someone else’s bad memory.
7. Skipping Hand Washing or Hand Sanitizer
Crew are required to remind passengers to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before entering the buffet, and it’s honestly one of the easiest ways to help everyone stay healthy. Some passengers respond rudely when reminded, which makes an already repetitive job harder for crew who are simply doing what they’ve been asked to do.
Stomach viruses spread easily in close quarters like a cruise ship, and outbreaks can affect hundreds of passengers if hygiene protocols aren’t followed. This is exactly why cruise lines take hand washing so seriously, often stationing crew members at every buffet entrance throughout the day.
The process usually only takes a few seconds, whether it’s a quick rinse at the sink station or a squirt of hand sanitizer at the entrance. Making it a habit every single time you head to the buffet is a simple way to protect yourself and everyone else onboard.
8. Asking Crew About Their Salary
This one has become surprisingly common over the past few years, but it isn’t something most of us would ask a stranger on land, so it isn’t appropriate to ask crew members either. If you wouldn’t ask a fellow passenger what they earn at their job, it’s best not to ask crew members about their income.
Crew wages and how gratuities factor into their pay is a genuinely complicated topic, and it’s not something most crew members are comfortable discussing with guests. Many crew members are also simply not permitted to share specifics about their compensation as part of their employment terms.
If you’re curious about how crew are compensated in general, there’s plenty of publicly available information online about how tipping and service charges work across different cruise lines. It’s a much better approach than putting an individual crew member on the spot during your cruise.
9. Not Being on Time
Punctuality matters more on a cruise than almost anywhere else. Showing up late for a shore excursion affects not just you but the whole group and the excursion guide waiting on you.
Many specialty restaurants now enforce strict reservation windows too, and some will even charge a fee if you show up more than 15 minutes late. This policy has become more common in recent years as cruise lines try to keep dining schedules running smoothly for every seating.
Being late can also have bigger consequences beyond a missed reservation. If you’re not back onboard by the ship’s all aboard time, the ship can and will leave without you, so it’s always worth giving yourself extra time when you’re exploring on your own in port.
Keeping to the schedule matters for the crew and for your fellow passengers, whether that means being on time for a show, a dinner reservation, or simply getting back to the ship. A few extra minutes of planning ahead can save you a lot of stress in the long run.
Final Thoughts on Cruise Etiquette
None of these etiquette slip ups are meant to make you feel guilty. Most cruisers, myself included, have been guilty of at least one of these without realizing it.
The goal is just to be a little more mindful so that your cruise, and everyone else’s, goes a little more smoothly. Small adjustments to how we act onboard can make a big difference to the crew members working hard behind the scenes, as well as to the passengers sailing alongside us.
A few small habits, like turning off your flash, not stacking your dishes, and giving up that pool chair when you’re not using it, go a long way toward keeping crew and fellow passengers happy. For more tips on cruise etiquette and what not to do onboard, check out my post on 63 things not to do on a cruise.
What do you think is the most annoying thing cruisers do onboard? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.