Good etiquette extends to a cruise ship vacation, and there are a few things some cruisers do that are sure to annoy others around them.
Everyone's on vacation, so there's a certain degree of a laid back atmosphere on a cruise. However, vacation isn't an excuse to be inconsiderate of others.
I've cruised enough to notice when certain behaviors irritate others, and it's either the result of ignorance or selfishness. I'm not saying I've never gotten into an elevator and hit the "close door" button because I wanted to get going. We're all a little bit selfish, but I like to think I have never done any of the 10 most annoying habits on a cruise.
You don't need to go on a cruise to make friends, but you can do little things to avoid being that guy. If you've never cruised before, consider this a good list of what not to do.
Smoking where you're not supposed to
Royal Caribbean has designated areas of the ship specifically for smoking or vaping, and everywhere else it's not allowed.
Unfortunately, a few people will sneak smokes in elsewhere, such as on their stateroom balcony or even in public areas around the ship.
Smoking is not permitted in any dining venue, theater, bar, lounge, hallway, elevator, and jogging track. Outdoor areas near restricted areas, food venues, and kids play areas and pools will not allow smoking.
In my experience, people vaping indoors is the most commonly occurring example of this. Almost always they try to be sly about it, exhaling into their shirt, up in the air, or down to the side.
This is one of the few annoying habits on this list that is more than about being inconsiderate, it's flagrantly against Royal Caribbean's rules.
Using your hands at the buffet
I'm always surprised when I see someone use their hands to grab food from the buffet, but it happens.
It might seem innocent, like grabbing a bread roll or cookie. The issue is mitigating the spread of germs onboard, and using your hands doesn't help with that.
It's unsanitary, and others around you are sure to notice.
Not letting others out of the elevator first
When an elevator arrives at a floor, the people waiting for the elevator should stand aside from the doors to let others out of the elevator first, before getting in.
Unfortunately this lack of elevator etiquette is not limited to cruises. I see it at hotels on land all the time, but it doesn't excuse it.
Not only is it polite to let others out of the elevator first, it benefits you to do so because it frees up space in the car.
Playing music loudly
In today's age of Airpods and noise cancelling headphones, I'm always surprised when someone is playing their music too loudly.
I experience this less at the ship's pool than in cabins. Some people are used to listening to music in their room as they get ready, and I suspect that might be why some passengers play their music too loudly.
Cruise ship staterooms are not very well insulated against noise, and your music will absolutely bleed through the walls.
Likewise, when bringing a speaker to the pool or beach, make sure the volume is not high enough to be heard all around you.
Yelling at someone else
We all have moments where there's an issue and your blood boils and you want to lash out at a family member, friend, or stranger. But yelling and creating a scene isn't the solution.
This is one of those "easier said than done" bits of advice, because when you become frustrated, you're not going to start thinking of blog posts.
Likewise, if another passenger gets on your nerves, my advice is walk away to defuse the situation. It's simply not worth hashing it out with a stranger and then having to become a spectacle in that moment.
Hogging a pool chair all day
Chair hogs are a real issue that probably rank among the most frustrating parts of a cruise.
My definition of a chair hog is someone that goes out to the pool in the early morning, puts towels or belongings down on chairs to reserve them, and then disappears for a few hours.
A lot of people want to be in or near the pool, especially on sea days. It's fine if you want to wake up early and enjoy time by the pool, but you shouldn't take up chairs if you're not going to be there for an extended period of time.
While I doubt the chair hog problem goes away anytime soon, try not to contribute to making the problem even worse.
Talking loudly during shows
While a Royal Caribbean theater is not as formal or swanky as a Broadway theater in New York, talking during a performance is rude to both your fellow passengers and the cast on stage.
Obviously it's okay to whisper something to someone sitting next to you, but having a full conversation is a faux pas to avoid. Especially at normal speaking volume.
It's perfectly acceptable to excuse yourself to step out of the theater to take a phone call or speak with someone else.
Holding up disembarkation lines
Getting off the cruise ship in the morning is never fun. Your vacation is over, and you're headed back to reality. So the last thing you want to do is slow the line down disembarking.
There's usually a line to exit the ship, and all that's required is you scan your SeaPass card. Yet, there's always a number of passengers who either don't have their SeaPass card ready or left in in their cabin.
The SeaPass is needed to scan so the crew knows you've disembarked. So keep your SeaPass with you as you exit the ship, and have it ready to scan when you get close.
Trying to register at kids club at prime time
Royal Caribbean holds an open house for the entire afternoon on embarkation day, and yet there's usually a family that tries to register their kids at Adventure Ocean at check-in later that evening.
The problem is there's just one entrance to the kids club for each age group, and if someone is registering their kids, it blocks the rest of the line. This means everyone else must wait to sign their kids in while the parent at the front finishes the registration paperwork.
Adventure Ocean registration begins at 1pm on the first day of your cruise, and it's a great time to go and meet the counselors and get everything taken care of so drop off is super quick.
Being disrespectful to crew members
There's never an excuse to be rude to a crew member.
Crew members work extremely hard to make your vacation amazing, and sometimes accidents happen. Or they're there to enforce important rules, regardless if you agree with the rules or not.
Unfortunately, some passengers will completely ignore a crew member, yell at them, or lecture them like a child.
If there's an issue at hand, ask to speak to their manager or go to Guest Services to get it resolved.
And if a crew member gives you an instruction, it's your obligation to follow it. They didn't make up the rules, they're just reminding you of what you should be doing.
