Cruises are a fantastic way to enjoy a vacation full of fun, good food, and the company of people we love.
However, as with all things, cruise ships require a little bit of etiquette to ensure that everyone on board has a pleasant experience.
Consider that bigger cruise ships can carry more than 7,000 people, can you imagine the chaos if everyone just did whatever they wanted?
Fortunately, there are rules, often unwritten, that many passengers abide by and are a sign of good manners. Do you follow them too? Let’s take a look at the most important ones.
1. Be always on time
First, remember to always be on time. I know you are on vacation and sometimes it can happen to take it easy, but showing up late can disrupt the schedule for others.
For example, if you’re late for dinner during the first seating, you could push the delay to the passengers who have the second seating as well.
In addition, if you’re too late you may lose your reservation. For example, tour guides during excursions do not wait for latecomers.
I don’t think we need to mention that the ship also doesn’t wait during embarkations. I have already explained this in detail in the article on what happens when you miss a cruise ship.
2. Respect the Dress Code
Most cruise lines have dress codes. It’s not mandatory to follow them but at least try to be classy and never tasteless.
For example, you should avoid flip-flops, tank tops, and swimwear in the main dining room. I’ve explained this in the article on the things you should not wear on a cruise.
On many ships, you will also find formal nights. Again, it is not required to put on a fancy suit or a gala dress. But still, try to maintain some degree of formality with a shirt for men and a nice dress for women.
3. Keep Noise Levels Down
Everyone hates noise, especially people who want to relax on vacation.
I know it would be difficult to avoid children’s cackling at the pool or on the water slides, but try to be particularly mindful in cabin hallways and during the night.
Avoid playing music without headphones or loud conversations near the cabin doors.
If you’re a light sleeper, I also recommend you take a look at the 10 things you should do to sleep like a baby on a cruise.
4. Follow Smoking Rules
Smoking on cruise ships is subject to strict regulations because fires can be extremely dangerous on board.
There are usually designated areas on the outside decks of ships that are specially marked by signs.
You should only smoke in those areas and remember that on almost all cruise lines, smoking on cabin balconies is prohibited.
For added safety, you can follow these tips on what to do if there is a fire on a cruise ship.
5. Wash Your Hands Frequently
With so many people in such a small space, hand hygiene is essential to avoid spreading illness.
You should wash your hands every time you eat or use the hand sanitizers placed around the ship.
I especially recommend that you wash your hands at the buffet, as many of the tongs are touched by all passengers.
6. Don’t Overfill Your Plate
Food etiquette dictates that a person should only put on their plate what they are able to eat.
Overfilling your plate is bad manners and is also a bad habit that leads to food waste.
Consider that food waste is a major problem on cruise ships, and cruise lines are trying to tackle it.
On my last cruise with MSC, I even found this at the buffet entrance:
In addition to this, check the 10 things you must never do at the buffet on a cruise.
7. Don’t Hog Deck Chairs
Speaking about manners, reserving deck chairs for hours without using them is something that really makes passengers angry.
Fortunately, cruise lines have begun to crack down on chairs hogging. If you leave your belongings for too long (usually 30 min. unattended), staff can remove them to free up space for other passengers.
If you travel on a cruise line where the staff doesn’t take action against them, you can still use one of the strategies to outwit chair hogs on cruise ships.
8. Be Polite to Crew members
Another thing you should remember is to be polite to crew members. Remember that they are there to work but they are not at your service.
Try to keep the ship clean and avoid throwing food or drinks on the floor.
Remember that treating crew members with respect often results in better service, and creates a positive environment for all.
You should also avoid doing one of the 10 things cruise ship workers hate to see from passengers.
9. Listen to Announcements
Announcements made by the captain or crew often contain important information about the ship’s schedule or safety protocols.
There may be an announcement in case of an emergency, and it is important to remain silent to hear it properly.
Some announcements may be done in code, in which case they are directed to the crew but you might find out what they refer to by checking the meanings of coded announcements on cruise ships.
10. Do Not Throw Anything Overboard
Tossing trash or other items into the ocean is a very serious offense.
It’s environmentally harmful, against cruise line policies, and probably also against local laws.
Violators may face hefty fines​ and the cruise line can ban you for life from their ships.
I want to remind you that feeding seagulls is also prohibited. This was probably not known by the passenger who saw security coming into the cabin.
