High seas, low vibes.
By the end of 2026, a record-setting 21.7 million Americans will have set sail on a cruise. While the masses continue to demonstrate their deep love for maritime adventure, some are behaving below board while onboard.
To determine decency and all that falls beyond it, leading experts recently revealed the rudest things a cruise passenger can do.
Pool lounger monopolization
The primary discourtesy? Monopolizing pool loungers.
Cruise passengers have long followed a tradition of grabbing anything they can find — towels, flip-flops, even dolls — to reserve pool lounge chairs for hours.
“Reserving a pool lounger for while you’re off enjoying another activity is simply unfair,” Deborah Director, a SmartFlyer travel advisor, told Travel + Leisure.
“Everyone deserves an opportunity to enjoy the ship’s amenities, particularly when outdoor space is at a premium.”
Many cruise lines are doing their part to curb the behavior.
Royal Caribbean has a strict policy stating that pool deck chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved.
Last year, passengers praised Norwegian Cruise Line for enforcing its anti-chair-hogging policy.
According to reports, crew members actively marked unoccupied chairs with stickers, and if sunbathers didn’t return within an hour, they removed towels and personal items from the unattended loungers.
Being a dirtbag in the buffet line
T+L also called out cruisers who don’t utilize the handwashing stations by the buffets, as going sans soap greatly increases the risk of contracting and spreading illnesses onboard.
This May, a Princess Cruises ship was rocked by a norovirus outbreak that affected more than 100 passengers and 20 crew.
Norovirus is the most common cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, according to the CDC. It accounted for 17 of the 23 CDC-reported cruise ship outbreaks last year.
As one Reddit user surmised, “Lack of hand hygiene is my biggest ick. The ships make it so easy for everyone to wash their hands. It helps reduce the spread of illness. Cruise ships don’t have to be floating petri dishes.”
Zero volume control
Silence is one sound you’re unlikely to enjoy on a cruise ship.
On a Reddit thread, a first-time cruiser counted loudness as her primary complaint.
“The noise was pretty overwhelming on my first cruise this winter. I wore earplugs a lot of the time. Noisy people in the hallways at all hours. I lost a lot of sleep.
Experts note that some of the most offensive sound sources are personal speakers.
While Carnival prohibits portable speakers, others like Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises restrict them to staterooms.
Lack of elevator etiquette
Many cruisers report passengers pushing into an elevator before others have exited, causing chaos, discomfort, and unnecessary congestion.
“It’s not only rude, but it also doesn’t even gain them anything,” said a puzzled Reddit user, “Not even a quicker arrival at their deck of choice, since the traffic jam at the door only delays the departure of the lift.”
Experts note that the petty practice is particularly inconsiderate to older travelers and people with disabilities.
A legion of cruisers say they take the stairs to avoid this trash behavior and burn extra calories.
Dirty dishes
T+L notes that rude cruisers routinely clutter corridors with their used dishes and room service trays, which, as dangerous as it is disgusting, can obstruct pathways.
Experts underscore the importance of calling room service to request pickup as soon as you have finished your in-room meal.
Others have noticed the plate problem both outside of rooms and in the dining room itself.
“People do this weird thing on cruises where they’ll put their dirty plates on other people’s tables while still in use to clear up a table. Don’t do this. I can’t stand someone putting their dirty dishes on my table while I’m still eating. I’ve never seen this happen anywhere other than cruises,” reported one Reddit user.
Being awful to staff
Being rude to the crew resounds through Reddit as a primary pet peeve.
“These people are paid to cater to your every wish. The least you can do is be polite to them,” said one user.
According to Calderwood, passenger conflicts usually trace back to poor preparation and surprise over vessel rules.
While booking shows, dining, and excursions early prevents headaches, frustration never excuses berating, belittling, or otherwise mistreating crew members.
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