While cruise lines have their policies, there are also unwritten "rules" that frequent cruisers swear by.
These range from etiquette around hygiene practices to going with the flow when things don't work out as planned.
One cruiser took to Reddit to ask for the "unwritten" rules when cruising. "We all know about things like avoiding (or stocking up on 😏) pineapples in your decor but what other unwritten/unspoken rules should people know about when going on a cruise?" asked baltinerdist.
The post received over 330 comments from other sailors giving their best advice. While some tips might seem like common sense, there's typically a reason why they come up — poor behavior on a cruise can cause awkward moments and frustration!
From washing your hands to saving the elevators for those with mobility issues, here are 14 "unwritten" rules of cruising that you should follow.
Don't let your stateroom door slam closed
Cabin doors are heavy, and it's easy to forget that they can shut with a loud bang. Whether at 12:00pm or 1:30am, it can be surprisingly disruptive to other guests. You wouldn't want to be awoken by your neighbors returning with their door slamming shut, would you?
"[We] were on the ship and it was a sea day and at 6:30am, our neighbors had a huge family with several cabins and they were in/out slamming their cabin doors. I was so frustrated because you don’t have to slam your door. Be mindful…just because you are up early doesn’t mean that everyone wants to get up at 6:30am while on vacation," explains DaisyMaddie.
Additionally, if staying in a balcony, you'll want to be mindful to close your verandah door before opening the hallway door. Otherwise, you risk creating a "vortex" of strong wind.
Read more: Cruise ship cabin guide
Keep your balcony's light off
Speaking of balconies, tbtimva advises guests to turn off their balconies' lights when not in use.
Another now-deleted user adds that you shouldn't even turn your light on if you don't need it. "Many of us enjoy sitting out at night and just enjoying a drink or listening to the sea and watching the stars," they say.
Moreover, if you have a balcony, you shouldn't smoke on it. In fact, it's actually banned on many cruise lines, including Carnival. If caught, you face a hefty $500 cleaning fee billed to your onboard account.
Don't be obnoxiously loud on the balcony
It's easy to forget to mind your volume when relaxing on your balcony and enjoying the sea breeze. However, sound carries more easily than you think!
ThemisChosen says, "[I]f you have a balcony, the only thing dividing you from your neighbors is a thin partition. They can still hear you. Keep your volume reasonable, don't talk about anything you don't want other people to know, and don't smoke."
Wash your hands
Germs spread easily on cruise ships, so you must play your part in helping keep everyone onboard healthy. An easy way to do this is by frequently washing your hands.
While cruise lines typically have hand sanitizing stations placed in high-traffic areas like the buffet and elevator banks, I'd recommend also washing your hands after playing in the casino, touching handrails, and especially after using the restroom.
One Reddit user shared a disgusting story about the cruise buffet involving his wife:
"[M]y wife watched a woman in the buffet line lick her fingers and grab a serving utensil. She didn't yell or chastise her, just kindly mentioned to her that she'd just licked her fingers and have the buffet worker grab some new tongs," Openmind0115 writes.
"Her eyes got as big as saucers, she put her plate down, and ran away crying. Sometimes people aren't aware of their own actions."
Read more: 20 rules of cruise ship etiquette no one ever tells you (but should)
Let people get off the elevator before getting on
Before thrusting yourself into the tiny elevator, let those getting off the elevator have space to safely exit. Better yet, if you are physically able, consider taking the stairs. More often than not, it's quicker than waiting for an elevator, especially if you're traveling one or two decks.
It's also polite to hold the elevator for guests with mobility scooters. One user, compunctionfunction, added that their dad is in a wheelchair, so they've learned to leave earlier for events to give themselves time to wait for an elevator because many cruisers are more inconsiderate than they thought.
Pro tip: Did you know that the sounds an arriving elevator makes dictate whether it's traveling up or down? If you hear one ding, it's traveling up, while two dings mean it's heading down. This can help you know whether you should approach an elevator or not.
Read more: The unwritten rules of going on a cruise
Don't be a chair hog
"Don’t save deck chairs if you have no intention of sitting in them," advises lifelongMichigander.
"Last cruise we kept an eye on a pair of deck chairs with towels and a bag on them that nobody sat in for more than an hour. Finally a woman waddled up to one, took something out of her bag and I followed her (surreptitiously!) to a pool in a different part of the ship, watched her climb back into the pool with people she obviously knew. I’m sure she had zero intentions of ever sitting on that chair but made it so that no one else could sit on it either."
Nobody wants their sea day to be ruined by selfish chair hogs, so instead of reserving seats for later, only claim the loungers you're actively using. Additionally, don't hog seats during events, including trivia. Another Reddit user claims they waited thirty minutes while one cruiser reserved a chair for trivia before taking it, since it hadn't actually been claimed.
Read more: 8 ways to beat the chair hogs on your cruise so you're not fighting for a lounger
Know your alcohol limits
churrotoffeeaddict wants people to know their alcohol limits on a cruise ship.
It's easy to indulge in a few more drinks than usual while on vacation. However, be mindful of your limits. Not only is stumbling around drunk on a cruise embarrassing, but it's also potentially dangerous. A rule of thumb I like to follow is that for every two alcoholic drinks, whether a cocktail, mixed drink, or seltzer, I'll drink a glass of water. Plus, this helps avoid dehydration in the warm Caribbean.
While nobody is saying you can't have fun and enjoy Carnival's drinks, moderation is key. You don't want to wake up feeling hungover and waste a day in bed with a raging headache!
Read more: What's the cost of a drink package on Carnival?
Don't let your children run wild
Cruises are ideal family vacations because they offer something for everyone. Parents, for example, can enjoy poolside cocktails and adult-only comedy shows, while kids bond with other children at Camp Ocean.
That said, Humble-Bid9763 warns parents to keep an eye on their children, rather than ignoring their whereabouts and letting them get into trouble.
"Don’t let your children run wild. I can’t tell you how many...parents let their teenagers (and younger) kids go unattended and they are running down the halls and causing trouble. Be a parent," they write.
Another compelling reason to watch over your children is that their behavior can get you banned from future sailings.
As Michelle Couch-Friedman reported for The Points Guy, Linda S. was sailing on a Carnival cruise when her youngest son was banned from future voyages after damaging an arcade game machine and fighting with another young boy. The chaos was captured by the ship's security cameras.
Though she kept an eye on him for the remainder of the cruise, they were given an official document on Carnival letterhead on disembarkation morning stating that the 9-year-old boy was banned from Carnival and all its brands for the remainder of his life.
Read more: 10 Reasons You Could Get Banned From A Cruise Ship
Leave Bluetooth speakers at home
Last November, Carnival banned Bluetooth speakers from its ships, citing security concerns — speakers are noisy and can cause guests to potentially miss important safety announcements made over the PA system.
It was a controversial move, with some guests praising the cruise line and others fuming over the decision. Though they're now banned, you shouldn't try and smuggle a speaker onboard. pburnett795 warns those thinking about it that nobody wants to hear their music.
On that note, you shouldn't bring any prohibited items onboard, including steamers, irons, and heating pads, as it's likely they'll be confiscated and kept until you return to shore.
Read more: Cruise ship prohibited items: 23 things you can't bring on a cruise
Practice patience
A lot can go wrong on a cruise. For example, rough seas can cancel evening entertainment, while local conflict can divert ships to different ports of call. Rather than get upset over things out of your control, RimefeatherMage suggests going with the flow.
"Go with the flow. Things happen. Ports have to be skipped. Excursions get canceled. Drinks get spilled. Rain falls," they write.
"But you're still on vacation. There are still a lot of other things to do. Yes, be sad you couldn't do the thing you wanted to do. Lament your lost moment. But don't let it spoil your entire vacation. And, for the love of whatever you believe in, don't try to ruin it for everyone else."
Avoid this embarkation day mistake
One key part of cruise planning is budgeting for pre-cruise travel. Having been on 29 cruises myself, I'd never risk missing my cruise by flying to the embarkation city on the morning of departure. leadout_kv agrees, saying, " Don’t fly in the day of the cruise. You will regret it one day."
Instead, fly in at least the night before. This gives you time to come up with alternate travel plans should your original flights be disrupted. Even if the weather is fine, crew scheduling or aircraft maintenance can easily derail plans.
Waking up minutes from the terminal means you'll have a more relaxed embarkation morning, rather than scrambling to find a last-minute flight that will arrive on time or anxiously awaiting takeoff.
Read more: I've been on 29 cruises and beg cruisers not to make this huge embarkation day mistake
Don't be afraid to stay on the ship when in port
While exploring new ports is undeniably one of the best parts of a cruise, don't forget that the ship is also a destination.
Passengers aren't forced to disembark on port days. Instead, many veteran cruisers love staying onboard to take advantage of the ship's amenities with fewer crowds.
MouldyBobs recommends that guests consider an "On Board" day. "You'll have the place to yourself (mostly)!" they add.
Read more: Can you stay on the cruise ship in port?
Leave magnets on doors
Door decorating is popular on Carnival cruises. Guests will bring magnets for certain occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries, as well as basic cruise-themed decor.
While it's fun to check out everyone's doors, you should leave the decorations exactly where they are. For parents, this might mean keeping a close eye on your kids while walking the long hallways.
"Don't steal magnets, accessories, or whatever off someone's door. #1 that's just rude. Someone spent their hard earned money on that and #2 we need that stuff to find our rooms... especially after a night (or day) of drinking," says mailynmykelle.
Don't cut in line
With thousands of people trying to board the ship, order a drink, grab food from the buffet, and enter the theater for original shows, you're likely to encounter lines on your cruise.
"Do not cut in lines," advises Patient-War-4964, "If you do, don’t expect other people to be quiet about it. This is a rule for life."
To avoid lines, time your activities to avoid peak hours. For example, head to the buffet when it opens for breakfast, rather than waiting until 8:30am or 9:00am.
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!
