8 Unwritten Cruise Ship Rules You Must NEVER break!

I look at some unwritten, and unspoken, rules that cruise passengers need to know as they are what makes a cruise run smoothly and make it more enjoyable

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ABOUT TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS: If you want to get cruising right, Tips For Travellers makes it easy to plan and have the incredible cruise experiences you dream of every time. All my Tips For Travellers advice, tips and tricks tips draw on everything that I have learnt on the 96 cruises I have done to date.

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00:00 Start
01:11 Laundry Rule
02:06 On Time Rule
03:31 Buffet Rule
04:21 Main Dining Room Rule
05:12 Chair Rule
06:13 Crew Rule
07:38 End Of Cruise Rule
08:32 Unspoken Rule

[alvindsv]

Unwritten rule - Let people who are in the elevator get out before you try getting into the elevator. It makes it go so much more smoothly.

[ridingwilding]

Do you mean we should all be kind and considerate. It’s amazing that as a society we need to be told “rules” on how to be respectful.

[PrincessMistyBrightdawn]

My cousin and I, both in our teens, were allowed to share a cabin instead of rooming with our parents and we always kept it cleaned. I couldn’t believe how many cabins I walked past with the doors opened that were trashed. Just because someone is cleaning your room for you doesn’t mean you have to make extra work for them.

We also always let people with mobility scooters and the elderly go ahead of us in elevators. I couldn’t believe how many adults would push right past them and get on.

[carlmanvers]

Lesson for life: The true mark of who you are is how you treat people whose job it is to serve you. Treat the crew with kindness. It speaks volumes as to who you are.

[TeufelHandlanger]

On an excursion to Berlin from Warnemünde (which involved a three hour train ride each way), our tour guide made an interesting speech at the first stop. He said "You have eleven and a half minutes to be back here on the bus." Pointing to his wrist, he said "This is a Swiss watch on a German arm, and I am allowed to lose ten percent of you!" It got folks attention, at least, and generally the group was punctual.

[SignatureLayers]

"never be awful to someone who's going to be alone with your toothbrush" This... This right here is truth. lolz

[PetaHewitt]

An unwritten rule I follow is I always keep my cabin as tidy as possible so that when my assigned cabin staff member comes to clean it he or she doesn't have to pick through piles of detritus to get their job done. I also always thank them when ever I see them.

[CarboneCat]

The being friendly with the crew rule does go a long way. On my HAL cruise last July, we befriended one of the server that was taking care of a specific section of the Lido Market during breakfast. Whenever she saw any of us at the table, she happily serve all of our coffees in warm cups and how each of us liked it. Of course, I did mentioned her in the survey to make sure that she had a bonus. She was an absolute sweetheart who definitely deserves the best.

[lawrenceweinig]

Just a couple of points: 1. The importance of your unwritten rules can't be overstated. When you encounter flagrant violations of these, it can really dampen your overall cruise experience. 2. The likelihood of being annoyed by violations of these obvious rules is inversely proportional to the capacity of the ship, which is why I have learned to stick with really small ships. 3. Being kind and respectful to the crew pays dividends. On a recent cruise, our cabin became flooded by a burst pipe from the galley. Instead of fussing, I politely and cheerfully spoke to the front desk staff who instantly sent a small army to the cabin, gathered all of our belongings and relocated us to a new cabin. For the rest of the voyage, we were treated like royalty.

[AndyBruinewoud]

Don't do what my dad did on our Celebrity Cruise last month: Lean over to the couple dining beside us and blurt out "So, what do you think about Trump?"

[oliverstemp]

The laundry room sounds exactly like being a student. Set a timer on your phone so you know when to go back.

[mbrunson]

In 2000, my family and I went on a Carnival Cruise in the Caribbean and had a wonderful time. Our server (though I’ve forgotten his name in the past 22 years) was astounding and super helpful whenever we were in the restaurant. Then we went to Alaska the following year on Carnival, and not only was he on the ship, but he was the maître d’ of the main dining room. What’s more is that he remembered us and came to say hello almost every single meal we had in the dining room. We didn’t even remind him who we were, he surprised us the first night by serving us dessert. It’s true that being good to the crew is paramount to a great cruise, but if you cruise regularly, the crew will remember you, good or bad.

[LynetteMcGrath]

It costs nothing to be nice to the staff and it can make your cruise so much better. I cruised in 2013, and we had an exceptionally good Table Captain in the dining room. Went on another cruise in 2015 and when we were embarking, there he was as greeting staff for the day. The fact that we remembered his name and greeted him in person just lit up his face, and we got the best service in the dining room that trip (that wasn't the intention, just a nice consequence).

[theell]

I would also add something that occurs just before you get on the ship - be nice, polite, and have a good sense of humour with the person at the huge reception area who is checking you in. I have always found them to be so helpful when I do so, and they often give me some useful tips. And besides, it is great to give someone a pleasant moment during such a busy and hectic time for them.

[Stoneham]

Hey Gary, here's a simple one: When you're done with a lounge chair, don't just leave your towels on the chair and expect a crew member to take them away. Many times while grazing for an unoccupied lounger, I find used towels but no personal items laying there. Are the people in the pool or just to lazy to deposit the towels in the bin? We're off on the Enchanted Princess next week! Woo-Hoo!

[Randomness]

I have received hand-signed letters from cruise line senior management personnel stating that they liked my post-cruise survey suggestions so much that they had already modified operations to include them. So yes, surveys are taken seriously!
🚢

[Bobrogers]

Many years ago on a Rhine River cruise, our waiter, a 40-something Austrian who spoke flawless English, was a valuable source of information about the ship and all the ports we visited. The tipping system was to put tips in an envelope on the last day, and I included a note that explained the many ways that Walter had enhanced my cruise experience. As we all disembarked, the crew was lined up to wave good-bye, and Walter broke from the line and came over to shake my hand, wishing me a happy and safe journey. Clearly, my little note had made a difference. If some crew member has enriched your cruise, say so in writing!

[Remember_when]

Our friends did a Mediterranean cruise and on two of their excursions they had the same passenger. He was late getting back to the excursion free times every time. They all waited for him for 45 minutes on one excursion. My friend had no trouble telling him exactly what she thought but it fazed him not. I believe this is how he operates and other people don't matter to him. Very selfish.

[sheilacrosby]

Quite honestly I think your channel is so much more sophisticated than some of the other channels kudos to you

[jamesjill]

I had a good laugh with the last one. I had a friend who was a car salesman, and said if you're happy with the deal, enjoy it. He said everyone will tell you they got or could have gotten a better deal than you did, no matter what - even if it sounds absurd. If the dealer gave you the car for free, they would brag they could've done better. He said the same goes for purchasing a home, so don't fall for it. That was decades ago, and over the years he was right, everyone always seems to brag that they got a better deal. I've heard some whoppers!