Crafty Ways To Steer Clear Of The Crowds On Busy Cruises

Cruise lines are packing their ships full these days. They're admitting that they're selling at 100% or higher capacity. So, ships are really, really full, and I've seen this firsthand on a recent cruise, like MSC Cruises, Norwegian, or Caribbean, even Princess in Alaska. So, I want to share with you proven techniques to deal with managing crowds and avoiding crowds.

For bonus & exclusive content (including videos, articles, eBooks and more) become a channel member or patron:
---------------------------------------------------
Cruise lines are packing their ships full these days. They're admitting that they're selling at 100% or higher capacity. So, ships are really, really full, and I've seen this firsthand on a recent cruise, like MSC Cruises, Norwegian, or Caribbean, even Princess in Alaska. So, I want to share with you proven techniques to deal with managing crowds and avoiding crowds.

Check out my cruise-themed T-shirts and products:
---------------------------------------------------

My social media:
---------------------------------------------------

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 101 cruises I have done to date.

#cruisetips #CruisingTips #cruisetipsandtricks
00:00 Start
00:34 Cruise Line Add Ons
00:40 Ships-Within-Ships
01:24 Sanctuaries
01:54 Special Passes
02:54 Balconies
03:28 On Board Crowd Tips
03:39 Avoidance Techniques
04:05 Embarkation and Disembarkation
05:00 Smart Activity Plans
05:40 Dining Without Crowds
06:30 Pool Deck Tricks
08:00 Elevators
08:20 In Port Crowd Tips
08:30 Excursions
09:36 Staying On Ship
09:50 Lunchtime Tricks
11:18 Early Bird Tricks

[colleendobbertien]

I would also add to cruise/travel during off-season if possible. Now that we are retired this is what we always try to do. Less crowds and the locals are happy to see you!! We are also definitely a fan of private tour guides when possible. Love your YouTube channel - chock full of wonderful advice!

[timfross]

One fairly specific tip I'd like to share: on the Princess, Skywalkers Lounge is almost always quiet during the day. This is the large nightclub space overlooking the rear of the ship. It has commanding views of the scenery, and is typically vacant during the day. My fellow curmudgeons and I use it as a reading room.

[kathryncashner]

One hint for avoiding crowds in port--get off the tourist path. We had the best pizza I've ever eaten in Florence, one block off the main tourist walkway. There was a short line of workmen lined up at this place--we got pizza for lunch at 1 euro per large slice and got bottles of water, soda, or whatever at the grocery next door. There was a little public seating area which we had all to ourselves. It was absolutely nothing fancy but totally delicious. Our goal was to eat quickly and get on with our day, not to sit in an overpriced, fancy restaurant. In fact, we laughed at the fancy outdoor restaurant we passed with a sign that said pizza was 15 Euros per person. Of course, we didn't have a cute tablecloth or even a table.

[pacerdanny]

Great tips! We discovered self-debarkation when our Princess New England cruise ended in Brooklyn. We saw all the advance warnings and instructions about the regular debarkation and shuttle procedures, looked at how much the shuttle cost and how little luggage we had, and either canceled or never booked it. We got our own cab and were all set. Breakfast in the dining room and taking the stairs also work wonders!

[FraserAtSea]

Excellent video, Gary! One of my key tactics to avoid the crowds is to choose a day where you think lots of people will get off for the day, and use that as a day to enjoy the ship. It's usually only do-able for me on an itinerary with ports I've done before though, as I don't want to miss an entirely new port just to stay on the ship!

[roundandroundmyworld]

For dining times, I find that different cruises have different "busy" times in the dining room. Longer cruises with a larger percentage of elderly travellers tend to crowd up for earlier dinner. My last cruise actually opened the dining rooms at 4:30 PM and the room was half empty by 6:30 PM. On shorter trips with a younger crowd, busy times tend to move later. Another idea: if you actually want to swim, rather than just stand around in the pool, go later. On a recent Holland America trip, I found that I could have the stern deck pool all to myself any time from about 4:00 pm onward, even on sea days. The sun worshippers were all gone because the sunlight wasn't nearly as intense by that time of day.

[LizzieMcT]

I was going to order room service for lunch on a sea day, but then this reminded me to go to the main dining room instead, so I appreciate that! It totally slipped my mind that the main dining room was an option. I remembered to do the main dining room for lunch on embarkation day.

[Mariazellerbahn]

Regarding disembarkation crowds ... I stay on the ship until I am kicked off. Food is available all day on the final day and everything except the bar and casino are still open. About 11 o'clock when there is only me left onboard, I take a casual stroll to the gangplank.

[ronaldcrabb]

I know there is a large number of folks who want the earliest check in time but we try for the 1:00pm window. We don't have to bust our butts to get up and get going on embarkation day. The long lines have evaporated and we breeze through the check in process and most times our rooms are available when we board the ship. We can drop our carry on bags in the room, do the e-muster and the throngs in the food venues have all left for their cabins leaving it quiet for us.

[robertk]

My wife is a teacher so we have always cruised during peak. You just need patience otherwise embarkation / debarkation will always be a terrible experience. We always arrive at least the day before the cruise and plan to depart the day after the cruise arrives to ensure we aren't rushed. Our private escape is always our balcony so cruises with room service included is a requirement for us. We will often grab a window seat in the buffet to read, relax, and snack since the wife is a bit sun shy. Also helps that we aren't partiers so aren't interested in the group gatherings. We also go to bed early and wake up early where a crowded ship often appears quite empty. We take a cruise for the sites from the ship and rarely take the over valued excursions so at best we get off briefly and explore the port shops for a magnet souvenir or t-shirt and have the ship to ourselves for the rest of our time in port.

[barbaralazier]

Great tips. One reason I get a balcony is to have alone time. Those big crowds are just not me. I look where the quiet out of the way places on the cruise are located and head there with my sewing hand work. It is amazing how many other passengers will join me with their work or to read.

[shydiatl]

I hate crowds. I loved this video and saved it. I didnt know that suites offered areas outside of the crowds. This was very helpful and please keep us updated, maybe like a part 2.
Thanks Gary. Cheers

[IvyroseGullwhacker]

This is definitely why I'm more interested in a medium-to-small ship experience. It's more expensive, but more chill and tailored. I grew up in a tourist town that got packed during the summer. I still live in a kinda touristy area. I don't want that touristy vibe on vacation! I totally understand why other folks would want it, especially if they don't live in an area with tons of attractions like I do.

[jecny]

Hi Gary. Great video and I agree with most of your tips. For those who can afford it, the easiest solution is to just book into First Class (or whatever they are calling it now). Another solution, you touched on in a recent video is to just travel on a smaller ship. There are trade offs there. You will have few or no really large crazy crowds. The ship is likely to be much quieter and you will probably visit ports that the bigger ships don't go to. Which also helps with crowd mitigation. The downside is you will have fewer shipboard amenities. So this might not be a great choice if you really enjoy the amusement park and Las Vegas style entertainment options or are easily bored.

[MadeNCda]

Thank you for this Gary, your recommendations make perfect sense to me. Especially because i dont like crowds and do want to get the most value from my cruise fare. I would rather go out early, back for lunch then if time permits go off again or stay on board. When you factor in 1st day is self guided really prior to embarkation, and last day is also w disembarkation, you have to be smart in how you extract value from your cruise. Essentially the cruise is 2 days short and cost per day much higher so get the most from what you paid.

[travelingwithmikeandpam]

We always go early off the ship. A lot of the times we rent a car/van & go exploring. Love it!

[dchenkin]

I avoid the disembarkation crowd the extreme opposite method. I relax on the ship outside the buffet until last call; very few passengers wait until last call and I get off the ship in a few minutes. I find a place to relax outside the terminal and find getting a Lyft, UBER, or Taxi is less money if you are patient. Also, airfare often is less catching a flight late afternoon or even the next day.

[letarogers]

I did my first and only cruise 20 years ago. I mostly just remember all the crowds and queues. Cautiously giving it another shot in two weeks on the Celebrity Eclipse for a repositioning cruise down the west coast. I see myself taking lots of walks on deck in a warm hoodie followed by a warm drink, enjoying our aft balcony, and dining in the specialty restaurants.

[seatrees]

I so love your use of the word civilised. ❤❤

[LoveBoatCruising]

Thanks, 5pm seems to be a time I feel I have the ship to myself😂I love the sanctuary for the afternoons❤