Cruising is more popular than ever, with over 21 million passengers projected to embark on a cruise in 2026. However, while cruises can be a lot of fun, some common mistakes can ruin your time onboard.
Although you're encouraged to kick back and relax on the pool deck, it's important to follow the cruise line's rules, which are in place to foster a safe, healthy environment for passengers and crew members.
Some rules are explicit, such as only smoking in designated areas. Others, however, are implied and considered basic etiquette.
Here's a list of big mistakes that should never be made on a cruise ship — the consequences can be as severe as a permanent ban!
Let children run amok
Cruises are popular vacations for families, with many itineraries letting babies as young as 6 months on board.
However, you want to give kids a strict set of rules to follow. You don't, for example, want your children to get into trouble or disturb other passengers by running up and down the hallways screaming or pressing all the elevator buttons.
Royal Caribbean Blog founder Matt Hochberg has been cruising with his kids since they were babies, and he loves that their family vacations have taught them independence as they've grown older. That said, they were not immediately granted certain privileges.
He remembers when he first let them venture to Sorrento's on their own for pizza. "Today, that's not a big deal," he wrote in a recent article, "As a parent, it was scary letting them walk down a few decks and back. But it taught them (and us) how to operate."
Hochberg added that his kids' freedom comes with expectations and rules to keep them safe and out of trouble. Communication, for example, is paramount.
Read more: Best children's cruise ships the whole family can enjoy
Smuggle drugs onboard
An easy way to get yourself permanently banned from cruising (and in trouble with the local authorities) is to bring illegal drugs on your ship.
Cruise lines follow strict federal laws and international regulations, and if you're caught with drugs in your checked or carry-on bags, you can expect severe consequences.
Even if marijuana is legal in your state, it's still banned at the federal level in the U.S. As such, all forms of the drug, including edibles, joints, hash oil, etc., are banned from cruise ships.
Moreover, cruise passengers with medical marijuana cards are not exempt from the strict ban. Therefore, you should speak with your doctor to discuss alternative ways to treat your illness while on the ship.
A few years ago, TikTok user @infamousxdrew shared what happened when he was caught with medicinal marijuana onboard Mariner of the Seas.
"Unfortunately, they saw my medical marijuana...and all the senior security advisors or whatever they're called...[came] to the conclusion that I must disembark," he said.
Read more: Cruise passengers arrested in Bermuda after smuggling illegal drugs on a Carnival ship
Reserve pool chairs with towels and beach bags
Chair hogs are one of the most annoying kinds of people on a cruise. While it's true that cruise ships never have enough lounge chairs, they are first-come, first-served.
There's no justification for placing towels and bags on the chairs just to go to breakfast and reserve them when you aren't actively using them. This kind of behavior prevents others from enjoying the lido deck and creates unnecessary (but understandable) frustration.
Cruise lines do their best to actively monitor which chairs are being used. However, with thousands of people on the ship, it is impossible for the crew to constantly police every chair.
Treat the crew members with disrespect
The crew members on your ship work hard to ensure you have a memorable experience. As such, you should be courteous to them throughout the entire sailing.
For instance, it is considered rude to leave your stateroom a wreck for your cabin attendant, as they are not responsible for cleaning up after messy guests. They will tidy up and replenish your towels, but you should show respect by keeping your space reasonably tidy, as it makes their job easier.
Moreover, if something goes wrong during your vacation (i.e., a canceled port of call), do not take your frustration out on the crew. They are doing their best to be accommodating under the often unforeseen circumstances.
Read more: 9 most important crew members to meet on your cruise ship
Skip the muster drill
Regardless of whether you're sailing on Margaritaville at Sea, Royal Caribbean, or Carnival, you will be required to complete the cruise line's safety drill before sailing away.
Generally speaking, it is a painless process. Most cruise lines have implemented a digital muster drill. However, you may be required to attend an in-person drill at your muster station, where crew members will explain important safety procedures and demonstrate how to use life jackets.
Don't think you can get away with skipping it, either. Attendance is taken very seriously, and failure to participate can result in your removal from the ship before departure!
Share a drink package
Drink packages are popular (and expensive) cruise add-ons. Although you might think an easy way to save money is by sharing packages amongst members of your party, cruise lines strictly prohibit this.
Sharing cruise drink packages can lead to dire consequences, such as having the package revoked with no refund. In fact, to prevent this, most cruise lines require all guests over the legal drinking age sharing the same cabin to purchase a drink package.
When trying to book a drink package on a cruise line's online portal, you likely will not be redirected to the payment page until all eligible passengers have been assigned a drink package.
Throw things off the ship
Throwing things off the cruise ship is not allowed. Cruise lines have a commitment to protect the marine environments in which they operate. Things like cigarette buds, processed food, and other waste can disturb these fragile ecosystems.
To preserve the natural beauty of the ocean and comply with environmental regulations, you should only dispose of trash in designated bins on the ship.
If you are caught throwing something off the ship, you could be fined or banned from sailing with the cruise line again. For example, according to Section 9(i) of Carnival's cruise ticket contract, "All guests must adhere to Carnival’s environmental policy as follows: Any dumping or pollution of any kind including discharge of any item into the ocean and/or waterways is strictly prohibited."
It continues, adding that the guest will be liable for any illegal dumping or pollution, and any willful or negligent act could result in a $500 fine.
Read more: 10 Reasons You Could Get Banned From A Cruise Ship
Fight with other guests
Nothing ruins a vacation faster than a violent physical or verbal altercation. While fighting is never condoned, getting into a fight on a cruise ship can have permanent effects.
Cruise lines enforce a zero-tolerance policy for violence, and if there's an incident onboard, you can guarantee that security footage will be reviewed, firsthand witnesses' accounts will be taken, and the shipboard security teams will get involved.
For example, after a fight broke out aboard Carnival Sunrise in June 2025, several guests were permanently banned from sailing with Carnival again. That wasn’t an isolated incident, either. In fact, more than a dozen passengers were banned after a massive altercation occurred inside the cruise terminal in Galveston.
Read more: Cruise passenger banned for life after throwing chairs during violent brawl
Leave your cellular data on
Before sailing away, do not forget to turn off your phone's cellular data. If your phone is not in airplane mode, it could automatically begin using international roaming, which charges astronomical fees for data usage.
One Royal Caribbean cruiser was charged $1,300 by their cell provider after they forgot to disconnect from their cellular network. When they contacted Royal Caribbean, they were told it is the passenger's responsibility to switch to airplane mode.
If you want to stay connected at sea, consider purchasing a cruise Wi-Fi package. It is cheaper than staying connected to your cellular network — and in many cases, more reliable. You can also connect to Wi-Fi in many ports of call.
Book your flight on the same day that the ship leaves
Perhaps the silliest (and costliest) mistake you can make when planning a cruise is booking your flight on the same day as your ship's departure. If your flight is delayed or canceled, you risk missing the ship, as it won't wait for stragglers.
Cruise ships operate on tight schedules, and there are no second chances once the gangway is up. If you miss embarkation because of a flight mishap, you'll either forfeit your cruise or have to pay out of pocket to catch up with the ship at the next port of call — if that is even possible.
To avoid this nightmare scenario, fly in at least one day early. Although this may mean taking an extra day off work and paying for a pre-cruise hotel, those are small sacrifices for peace of mind.
Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make when planning their first cruise
Skip the handwashing station before going into the buffet
The buffet is one of the most popular restaurants on a cruise ship. That said, guests should follow basic etiquette guidelines to ensure that everyone has a pleasant and safe dining experience.
To start, make sure to wash your hands before entering the buffet. At the very least, use hand sanitizer. You’ll want to avoid handling serving utensils with dirty hands, as that can easily spread germs to others.
On a similar note, do not grab food with your hands. The tongs, spoons, and ladles are there for a reason. If you happen to drop a utensil or see that it isn't in the right spot, let a crew member know, so they can replace it and avoid possible cross-contamination.
Smoke in prohibited areas, like private balconies
Finall, you should never try to get away with smoking on a cruise ship. While smoking is allowed, it is only permitted in designated areas. These are typically in a specific area by the pool, the casino, or another outdoor zone.
If you are caught lighting a cigarette or vaping on your balcony or in the main theater, cruise lines have the right to bill you. The fine isn't cheap, either. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, states that it will assess a $500 charge per smoking violation to guests' onboard accounts if they are caught smoking.
Not only can smoking on cruise ships lead to steep fines, but it's also rude. Smoke can permeate into other public areas, which may bother passengers who have asthma, allergies, or simply prefer a smoke-free environment.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
