During my years as a cruise blogger, I have heard about several strange things that happen aboard cruise ships.
Some are downright weird, others simply unusual, but all are interesting.
I tried to dig into my memory and created a list of 10 things that I think will impress you.
Stealing towels at the pool
I don’t know why a person would do this but, during one of my cruises, a woman was caught stealing towels at the pool.
It’s a bit strange because the towels used at the pool belong to the cruise company. They are not of a famous brand or of extreme quality.
The worst thing is that, when you take a towel from a towel station, your cruise card is scanned and you will be charged if you do not return the towel that was handed to you.
Dressing Inappropriately
I know that the way we dress is personal, and everyone is free to dress as they wish.
However, there is a difference between dressing freely and dressing inappropriately.
A couple of times I saw, both men and women, going to the cruise restaurant in swimsuits. Luckily they had covered the top part but had only the bathing suit on the bottom part.
The restaurant manager politely asked them to go to the cabin to change and come back.
Ignoring hygiene rules
I find it crazy that there are people who do not wash their hands before eating at the buffet.
It is not only a matter of respect, but you should know that cruise ship buffets are one of the places where contamination is most likely to occur.
You may have noticed that at the entrance to the buffets, on many ships, there are special sinks and there are attendants who ask you to wash your hands.
It’s strange how so many people pass by without doing it. It only takes 30 seconds and prevents intestinal problems for everyone who wants to enjoy their vacation.
Remember to Washy Washy!
Feeding animals
When you are on cruise ships, it is absolutely forbidden to throw anything into the sea. That obviously includes food to feed sea birds or fish.
I often see people feeding the seagulls from the ship. Please don’t do it.
Those kinds of birds eat everything and in some cases can even be aggressive. They will hardly leave you alone until they have eaten everything!
Complaining About Everything
Remember to go on a cruise with a positive spirit: unforeseen events can always happen, but if you only look at the negatives, you will ruin your vacation.
I’ve seen people who complained about everything: the food, service, entertainment, and even the weather.
Isn’t it strange that if a person doesn’t like anything about cruises, they still go on one for vacation?
Getting too close to a crew member
There is no harm in having a chat with a crew member. It might get weird, though, if it goes too far.
As I have already mentioned in other articles, crew members have very strict rules regarding their interactions with passengers, and it is easy to get fired if a chat is mistaken for flirting.
Cabin crawls
Cabin crawls are a very odd thing, at least for me as a European. I don’t know if it’s a more common thing in the United States.
They are basically events organized by a group of passengers to visit each other’s cabins.
The idea behind them is that you’ll be able to see, in person, different cabins and different categories.
Usually, these groups are organized on social networks such as Facebook, online forums, or directly with people you meet on the ship.
Claiming deck chairs
Deck chairs are in high demand on cruises, especially those near swimming pools.
Some passengers get up early to “reserve” them with towels or personal items, and sometimes never return to use them.
I find this behavior disrespectful towards others, and it also goes against the policies of some cruise lines.
Sneaking alcohol onboard
Another strange thing that some passengers do is sneak alcohol onboard.
Every cruise line has its own alcohol policy, and they are usually quite strict in enforcing it.
I have to make a mea culpa and admit that I wrote an article on how to sneak alcohol on a cruise ship.
Cruise Ducks
One thing that some people might find strange, but which is typically accepted and quite popular is the hunt for cruise ducks.
It’s like a scavenger hunt but without any hints, you just have to find the rubber ducks that other people have hidden on the ship.
I find it quite fun as long as you play without exaggerating. In some cases, I have seen people bring hundreds of rubber ducks on a cruise, and that could be one of the things cruise ship workers hate to see from passengers
