Avoid Doing These 6 Things Or Risk Driving Cruise Crew Crazy

Until recently I used to think of myself as a self-aware and understanding cruise passenger, but that changed after I caught up with some crew members I know over dinner on a recent cruise. They told me there are 6 things blissfully unaware passengers keep doing that really wind the crew up, but most passengers don’t realise they are doing it as crew members have to hide their frustration when they do these. I want to reveal these so you can avoid doing these from here on.

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00:00 Start
00:36 Rule Breaking
03:00 Hands
04:09 The Cruise Maps
05:24 Gratuities
06:50 Timing
08:50 Complaints
09:46 Language

[MindiB]

The idea that people find it acceptable to criticize crew for their English/accent is bewildering to me! I hugely admire multilingual people and feel nothing but gratitude when someone speaks to me in my language, which to my shame is the only one I speak fluently. If I struggle with someone’s accent I view that as a me problem that means I need to pay closer attention or perhaps ask them (politely) to repeat themselves. Being rude is not an option.

[webstermitchell]

MANY TIMES I've watched the crew chase children out of an adults only area, really a HUGE reason why I now really focus on cruises with little or no children. There is no way to control it, it is a shame there are so many "unresponsible" parents out there.

[davidsteensma]

It seems worse since the pandemic - so many people are more thoughtless and confrontational than they were before. I feel for the cruise crew, this is a no-win situation. A subset of people are going to behave badly no matter what.

[mgweir]

The hand washing is a pet peeve of mine. That is why I like Holland America having staff handle everything at the buffet, instead of the passengers touching the utensils.

[Bobrogers]

These things used to be called "common courtesies", but they aren't as common as they used to be. There are too many people that believe they are "entitled" because they paid big bucks for the cruise. But they didn't buy the crew. Slavery was abolished over 150 years ago.

[nellie]

To avoid the lose-lose situations either uniformly enforce “the rules” or abolish them. Inconsistent response from crew/cruise lines is the root of their lose-lose conundrum.

[KJensenStudio]

I applaud this video for calling out what seems to be a pandemic of bad manners, across the Pond and across the board. As an usher for a performing arts center, I can tell you these six things he mentions are very real for all service jobs. Basically, just be polite and kind, and the whole experience will be better.Teach your children this from birth.

[fuzzylon]

Thanks for explaining that 'gratuities' are actually part of the fare and are used to pay the basic wages. I'm sure many cruisers don't really understand this.
The term gratuities sounds like it's tips and optional.
It would be more honest for the cruise lines to increase their fares and not add 'gratuities' at all - but that would need all the cruise lines to agree to do it - which seems unlikely.

[LishB]

I wish all cruise lines would just include gratuities in the price. It's not actually optional since staff rely on that money, nobody should be removing gratuities, so just bake it into the charges from the beginning.

[RaineStudio]

A "gratuity" is something that is freely given in thanks. That's the definition. If it is a mandatory charge, then it is a fee. It does violence to the language to call it something else.

[FraserAtSea]

Love your points here on 'hands' - it's got to be my biggest frustration on ships. I'll never understand people who aren't washing their hands going into dining venues, or not washing hands after bathroom breaks etc - argh!

[DmstFinsT]

The English complaint is really sad. I would never berate someone for trying to speak English when it is not their first language. It’s hard enough for people who it IS their first language 🤣

[GenericaQwerty]

I don't know if this is a widely-used tactic, but when I visited Japan recently, all the buffets and restaurants would stop letting you in half an hour before the closing time, no exceptions. For instance, "breakfast buffet closes at 9am, last admission 8:30am". It was so clear, easy to abide by, and must have really helped the staff avoid the deliberate latecomers. I hope cruise lines can implement something similar for the sake of their staff!

[iandickson]

Cruise Lines should pay people properly. And charge properly.

[gstlb]

Thanks for posting this. It’s great to see things from the staff perspective.

[abrahamclott]

1. Cruise lines should increase security staff and delegate rules enforcement to security. Not fair or realistic to expect hospitality, customer-facing staff to enforce rules.

2. I have always understood the posted end time for a meal to mean last seating. If the expected last seating time is in fact earlier, a last seating time should be posted. If the MDR is announced as open till 9 and 9 pm reservations are accepted, the passenger is not acting unreasonably by arriving a 9 and expecting service as usual.

[AlexP]

Following the rules is never a losing situation

[jeffreylevin]

I was watching one unrelated Youtube Video and this one popped up next while I was fetching my dinner out of the oven. I always find your videos so informative as always. What a life you are living. Traveling the world far and wide. Wish I had the talent and technical skills do pull of such a feat. I live vicariously as I alway say thru all my YouTube Cruise bloggers of about maybe 15 or so. Still trying to find a travel partner to make it more enjoyable and cost effective. I know how it is to not get tipped although as a limo driver there is always 20 percent gratuity included. But many people tip extra and some people really surprise me with very generous extra tips.

[jibrilamvs]

Worked in customer service for eight years. It’s a lose lose game. Constant frustration with stupid people where your only option of dealing with them is “smile and wave”

[deborahkeenahan]

The gratuities need to be in the fare price problem solved