12 Things Polite People Never Do On Cruises & 5 Courteous Habits They Always Stick To

Cruise ships pack thousands of people into one floating playground, which means your actions matter more than you think. One person’s thoughtless move can sour someone else’s once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned cruiser, good etiquette isn’t about being uptight—it’s about making the experience better for everyone, including yourself. A little courtesy goes a long way when you’re all sharing the same deck for days on end.

1. Hog Lounge Chairs By The Pool

The dreaded ‘chair hogs’ are notorious vacation villains. Placing towels on prime poolside loungers at 7 AM, then disappearing for hours frustrates fellow passengers who actually want to use them.

Many cruise lines now enforce time limits on unoccupied chairs. Being considerate means only claiming chairs when you’re actually using them.

2. Cut Lines At Buffets Or Embarkation Points

Queue-jumping creates instant enemies on any cruise. Whether at the breakfast buffet or boarding after a shore excursion, cutting ahead of patiently waiting passengers shows blatant disregard for others.

Line-cutting is particularly problematic on ships where thousands of guests may be trying to access the same services simultaneously. Polite cruisers respect the wait.

3. Talk Loudly In Hallways Late At Night

Sound travels remarkably well through cruise ship corridors. Late-night hallway conversations or boisterous returns from the nightclub can disturb dozens of sleeping passengers simultaneously.

Cabin walls aren’t soundproof. Considerate cruisers keep their voices down when traversing residential decks after hours and save animated discussions for public areas.

4. Ignore Dress Codes In Dining Areas

Showing up in swimwear at the elegant main dining room isn’t just against rules—it’s disrespectful to fellow diners and staff who create special experiences. Dress codes exist for a reason.

Formal nights allow passengers to enjoy elevated dining experiences. If you prefer casual attire, specialty restaurants and buffets typically offer more relaxed options without disrupting the ambiance elsewhere.

5. Slam Balcony Doors Or Let Cabin Doors Bang Shut

Repeatedly slamming doors reverberates through multiple decks and cabins. The distinctive BANG of a carelessly released door can startle sleeping passengers or interrupt peaceful moments.

Ship doors are often heavy and wind can catch balcony doors. Taking an extra second to close doors gently shows awareness that hundreds of others share your floating home.

6. Leave Trash Or Plates Behind In Public Areas

Abandoned drink glasses on pool decks or theater programs left on seats create unnecessary work for already-busy crew members. Ships battle constant movement and wind that can send unattended items flying.

Staff work tirelessly to maintain cleanliness. Carrying your used items to proper disposal areas or returning them to bars takes minimal effort but makes a significant difference in the ship’s appearance.

7. Monopolize Crew Members For Personal Requests

Demanding excessive attention from individual crew members prevents them from serving other guests efficiently. Cruise staff juggle responsibilities for hundreds of passengers simultaneously. Crew members aim to please but have strict schedules and duties.

Reasonable requests delivered politely are appropriate, but expecting personal assistant-level service from busy staff inconveniences everyone waiting for their turn.

8. Let Kids Run Wild Unsupervised

Unsupervised children racing through hallways, pressing every elevator button, or splashing adults in hot tubs quickly become everyone’s least favorite shipmates. Modern cruise ships offer excellent youth programs.

Parents deserve vacation relaxation too, but responsible guardianship means knowing where children are and ensuring their behavior respects others’ experiences. Most ships provide supervised kids’ clubs for exactly this reason.

9. Save Seats For Large Groups In Crowded Venues

Entering a packed theater and finding rows ‘reserved’ with scarves and bags frustrates passengers who arrived on time. Prime viewing locations become battlegrounds when excessive seat-saving occurs.

Show venues fill quickly, especially for popular performances. Courteous cruisers either arrive together as a group or accept that separate seating might be necessary during high-demand events.

10. Complain Loudly Or Rudely To Staff

Berating crew members over minor issues creates uncomfortable atmospheres for everyone within earshot. Issues do arise on cruises, but public confrontations rarely yield better results than private conversations.

Guest services desks exist specifically for resolving problems. Addressing concerns calmly and privately shows maturity and gives staff the opportunity to properly assist without public pressure or embarrassment.

11. Hold Up Shore Excursion Groups

Arriving late for organized tours inconveniences dozens of fellow passengers and potentially shortens everyone’s experience. Shore time is already limited at most ports.

Excursions operate on tight schedules coordinated with ship departures. Punctual passengers appreciate fellow travelers who respect meeting times and locations, ensuring maximum enjoyment of destinations for the entire group.

12. Treat The Ship Like A Personal Party Zone 24/7

Cruise ships offer designated party areas and times, but treating every space like your private nightclub frustrates passengers seeking relaxation. Balance is key to everyone’s enjoyment. Celebration is encouraged on vacations!

However, respectful cruisers recognize when to dial down the volume and energy, particularly in mixed-use spaces where others may be reading, conversing quietly, or simply enjoying the ocean views.

13. Say Thank You And Greet Crew By Name

Acknowledging the humans who make your vacation special creates meaningful connections. Crew members work incredibly long contracts away from their families.

Nametags make personalization easy. Simply addressing your cabin steward or waiter by name with a sincere thank you transforms standard service interactions into genuine human connections, boosting morale for hardworking staff.

14. Use Headphones In Shared Spaces

Nobody wants to hear your TikTok videos or phone conversations while they’re trying to enjoy ocean views. Shared spaces mean shared consideration for everyone’s peace. Headphones are cruise ship heroes.

Whether you’re watching movies on your tablet by the pool or enjoying music on your balcony, containing your audio entertainment prevents sound pollution that can detract from others’ experiences.

15. Follow Disembarkation Instructions

Organized departure procedures prevent chaotic bottlenecks when thousands attempt to leave simultaneously. Color-coded or numbered systems efficiently manage passenger flow. Disembarkation morning brings natural eagerness to start homeward journeys.

Patient cruisers wait for their assigned departure groups, understanding that synchronized exits prevent overwhelming port staff and transportation services.

16. Respect Quiet Hours And Neighbors

Volume awareness becomes crucial when thin walls separate you from others trying to sleep. Televisions, conversations, and even moving furniture create more disturbance than many realize.

Cabin neighbors appreciate those who monitor noise levels, especially between 10 PM and 8 AM. Balcony voices carry dramatically, reaching cabins above, below and beside yours when you least expect it.

17. Wash Hands And Use Sanitizer Regularly

Frequent handwashing prevents illness outbreaks that can quickly spread through confined ship environments. Norovirus and other contagions threaten everyone’s vacation enjoyment.

Sanitizer stations positioned throughout ships aren’t just decorative. Using them before meals and after touching high-contact surfaces demonstrates concern for the collective health of passengers and crew members sharing your temporary floating community.