If you’re a first-time cruiser, you’ll probably have a lot of questions before you take your first voyage. Facebook groups, online forums, and the cruise websites themselves can be helpful in answering some of your questions. However, there are plenty of unwritten rules to cruising. If you’re getting aren’t sure what to expect when you hit the high seas, your friends at Sea Vixen Voyages are here to help! Let’s take a crash course in cruise etiquette with some dos and don’ts.
Cruise Etiquette DOs:
DO Pay attention to the ship’s dress code, and follow it.
Most cruises are relatively relaxed affairs, however there are some expectations when it comes to attire.
While you may want to wear your swimsuit during every waking hour on board the ship, there are certain times when it’s inappropriate. Even the casual eateries on the ship will likely turn you away if you show up in a swimsuit without a cover-up or in bare feet. And if you plan to eat in the main dining room for dinner, many cruise lines won’t allow shorts or flip-flops in the MDR.
You’ve probably heard tales of “formal night” in the main dining room, and while some cruise lines have abandoned this time honored tradition, most still offer it at least once on a short cruise and twice on cruises longer than a week. While a tuxedo or formal gown isn’t necessary, you are expected to “dress up” for formal night. For men, dress pants, closed-toed shoes, a collared shirt and a jacket are appropriate. Ladies should wear a dress or coordinated outfit with a nice blouse and dress pants with formal sandals or dress shoes.
A lot of people love formal night and use it as their opportunity to have professional photos taken. Don’t want to get formal? That’s okay. Just plan to eat in the ship’s buffet or one of its casual restaurants that night.
DO Keep your kids under control.
We’re all on vacation and we’re ready to let loose. And while our kids are usually well-behaved, vacations tend to bring out the most rambunctious in all of us, adults and children alike.
And just like a crying baby or an over-exuberant child can ruin the experience of a movie or a nice meal, they can also put a damper on a relaxing cruise.
We’re not asking you to leave the kids at home. On the contrary, in fact. But instead of dragging them with you on your adult vacation, take advantage of the youth programs offered on nearly every cruise line. Your kids will make friends and great memories, while you can enjoy being an adult.
If you choose to keep your kids with you instead of attending the kids clubs, make sure to pay attention to the ship’s age policies. Lots of ships have adult-only sections, like the “Serenity Deck” on Carnival ships. These kid-free zones can sometimes be an adult’s only child-free oasis, especially during summer, spring break, and holiday season cruises. Respect the age policies in these adult-only areas as well as fitness centers, spas, casinos and nightclubs.
Want to cruise without the kids? Consider an adult-only cruise on Virgin Voyages, where nobody under the age of 18 is allowed.
DO Attend the muster drill (if in-person attendance is required)
Ask any seasoned cruiser their least favorite part of the cruise, and they’ll likely respond the same way: The muster drill.
The muster drill is the required safety briefing that each passenger knows what to do in the unlikely event that the ship is in danger. Typically, you’ll meet at a designated evacuation area, line up as though you’re going to abandon ship, and even learn how to put your life jacket on. And it’s serious business. The ship closes all bars, shops, restaurants, and other activities during the muster drill. If you don’t show up, they’ll send someone to look for you. Even if just one or two people skip out on the drill, the entire ship has to wait.
The good news? During the coronavirus shutdown, most cruise lines switched to digital muster drills. While you may still need to report to your muster station, other activities can be completed via the app or your stateroom television.
Cruise Etiquette DON’Ts:
DON’T Rush to get on the elevator before others get off.
Especially during busy times like embarkation, debarkation, meals, and showtimes, the elevators on your cruise ship can get hectic. Complicating things are the folks who simply forget basic elevator etiquette. In other words, let people get off the elevator before you try to cram yourself in there. It’s a simple concept, but it’s one that people tend to forget on their vacation.
While we’re talking elevator etiquette, remember a few other pointers. Always know where you’re headed before you get on the elevator. Some of the mega ships can have 16 or more decks. On these ships, it’s easy to forget which level the gym, main dining room, or piano bar is on. Do a quick check before hopping on board. And always step to the elevator when riding so that others can quickly get on and off.
DON’T Slam your stateroom doors.
We know you don’t mean to do it. The doors are heavy, and they shut loudly. But a slamming cruise cabin door is a huge pet peeve for many cruisers. The noise can echo up and down the hallway. Cruise staterooms are in close proximity to one another, so a slamming door can wake someone up quite a ways down the hall.
Remember that not everyone stays up late or gets up early on vacation. Be courteous when entering and leaving your stateroom.
DON’T Save loungers at the pools
We get it. A great seat at the pool can be hard to come by. And for some reason you woke up at sunrise, so why not go set a few personal items on a choice lounger at the pool?
Just. Don’t.
There’s nothing more annoying on a cruise than heading to the pool to catch some morning rays after breakfast and seeing every lounge chair “taken,” even though the pool deck is relatively empty. Believe it or not, we’ve watched people throw a towel or a book onto a pool lounger to “save their seat” at 2am before they head to bed! Most of the cruise lines have rules against seat saving, some are more diligent about policing this than others.
Of course, sometimes you’ll want to leave your lounger to get a cocktail, run to your stateroom for a forgotten item, or stretch your legs. But if you leave your chaise for more than about 15 minutes, don’t be surprised if you get of dirty looks when you return.
Want to learn more Cruise Etiquette tips?
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our Cruise Etiquette post (coming soon). We have plenty more dos and don’ts to cover for your next voyage.
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