Eating is a quintessential part of any cruise vacation, from the all-you-can-eat buffet to indulgent three-course meals in the dining room. Because of the variety of dining options, you're unlikely to go hungry while onboard — there will always be something tasty to satisfy your palate!
However, there are a few odd quirks about cruising that someone new to vacations at sea might not expect. For example, eating dinner in a cruise ship dining room is unlike anything you'd experience at a traditional restaurant at home.
While I look forward to not worrying about cooking or cleaning, there are 5 cringey things about eating in a cruise ship dining room that might catch you off guard.
Read more: 10 reasons to avoid the main dining room on a cruise ship
Napkin waving
Waving your napkin in the dining room might seem odd, but it's a tradition used to show appreciation for the crew. While a nice gesture, some cruisers have raised concerns about its hygiene.
"Not a tradition. A nasty behavior which flings all types of things into the air and is encourage[d] on some other lines during the 'entertainment' by the wait staff," wrote Homosassa on a Cruise Critic forum.
cruzingnut added, "I cringe every time I see people doing that....in the Lido, dining room. What the heck is wrong with people...that's just disgusting... And, the wait staff have to pick those nasty napkins up and then they reset the table with whatever was on the napkins on their hands. No wonder people get sick all the time, particularly on the longer cruises."
Loud announcements
You might also be encouraged to cheer or clap for the dining room team. Picture this: you're talking to your family about what you loved most about your excursion, only to be interrupted by a loud announcement over the PA system urging everyone to give a round of applause for the dining room crew members.
The following applause can feel out of place, especially when talking or just trying to enjoy a peaceful meal after a long day ashore.
Some cruisers love joining in on the cheers and showing their appreciation with other sailors. However, others feel distracted by the uproar of noise. If you are someone who doesn't like to be bothered during your meals, I'd recommend mixing up your dining schedule and reserving a quieter and more intimate specialty restaurant.
Uncomfortable pressure from the serving team asking for positive ratings
Crew members strive for positive ratings, and dining room team members seldom will let you forget about the post-cruise survey. The survey asks various questions and allows you to share your honest opinions about the ship, including the crew.
That said, one of the most uncomfortable parts about eating in the dining room is the pressure from some crew members to provide good ratings, as it helps them earn perks like a day off, a free specialty meal, or even a stay in a guest cabin for one sailing. Negative ratings can hurt their chances of a contract renewal. In specialty restaurants, poor reviews could even demote them to the Main Dining Room.
Still, it's bothersome to be reminded of the post-cruise survey when you're trying to enjoy your meals. The constant nudging may also make cruisers feel like they have to give a perfect score, even if there were issues with the service.
Read more: Crew member reveals shocking truths about cruise ship tipping
Singing and dancing crew members
As if loud announcements weren't bothersome enough, some cruise lines encourage their crew members to perform synchronized dances during dinner time! Carnival Cruise Line is known for this. Keep an eye out for the colorful shirts the dining staff will wear, as they signal the performance is about to begin.
Othertimes, an announcement may come over the speaker welcoming a crew member to the microphone to perform a song. That's right—you might be serenaded by a crew member during dinner on your Carnival cruise.
I've also had a random magician approach my table and perform a trick. Though impressive, it exemplifies that the cruise ship dining experience isn't what you might think! Almost anything goes, and expecting some sort of interruption is smart.
Sharing a table with strangers
While this is more a thing of the past, don't be too surprised if you're assigned a table with strangers on your cruise. For instance, when sailing on Disney Magic last year, my partner and I were assigned to a table for four and joined by another couple from Florida each night.
Sometimes, the conversation flows naturally. However, it can be uncomfortable if you don't want to make small talk about your day.
"[I]f we cruise without the kids, on the first day we always [go to] MDR and [check out] our table to make sure we have a table for 2 and change it if not. We did a cruise a long time ago, with 2 other couples at our table that were pretty annoying, so we ended up not going to the last 3 dinner nights, which is not great," shared scotsman3288 on a r/Cruise Reddit thread.
Read more: I tried eating alone in the Main Dining Room on my cruise
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
