Cruise Etiquette Mistakes That Annoy Crew and Fellow Passengers - Ilana, LifeWellCruised.com

Overview

A rundown of behaviors — some obvious, some subtle — that violate cruise etiquette and can create problems for passengers and crew alike.

Cruise ship toilet paper is softer-processing-friendly by design; it's built to break down through the ship's onboard sewage/treatment system
Regular household toilet paper (and especially wet wipes) can clog cruise ship toilets, causing backups into cabins and hallways
Creates extra cleanup burden for crew

Most cruise theaters allow photos but prohibit flash (and often recording)
Accidental flash use can be disruptive/disturbing to performers, especially from front-row seating, and disruptive to nearby guests
Reviewer shared a personal example of accidentally leaving flash on during a show

Applies specifically to complaints about things outside the crew's control — weather, sea conditions, missed/canceled ports
Captains sometimes reroute or skip ports due to rough seas, resulting in unplanned sea days
This creates extra work for crew (last-minute activity planning) and revenue loss for the cruise line (excursion refunds) — none of which is the crew's fault
Legitimate service complaints are fine; complaints about uncontrollable circumstances are the issue

Reserving pool deck chairs early in the morning (towels, flip-flops, clips) and then disappearing for hours
Cruise lines generally allow a grace period (30–40 minutes) before crew intervene — posting notices or removing items
Considered inconsiderate to both fellow passengers and crew, who have to enforce/manage the situation
Etiquette tip: don't reserve a chair you won't use until much later

Many passengers believe this helps servers — crew members have reported it does not
Two reasons: most guests aren't skilled at stacking, so it doesn't actually speed things up; and it can make it appear (to supervisors) that servers aren't clearing tables promptly, risking reprimands for staff
Proper etiquette: Signal you're finished by positioning your fork and knife together and lightly pushing your plate away — don't stack.

Frustrating for crew, who bear some responsibility for not over-serving guests, and unpleasant for fellow passengers
Reviewer shared a personal anecdote of an intoxicated passenger becoming disruptive and throwing a drink garnish into her husband's drink
Notes this kind of behavior can escalate into passenger conflicts on some ships

Not washing hands or using sanitizer before entering buffet lines
Crew are required to prompt guests to sanitize, and are sometimes met with rudeness for doing so
Beyond crew frustration, this is a real health concern — stomach viruses and gastro illnesses spread easily in close quarters like cruise ships

Has apparently become more common among cruise passengers in recent years
Considered inappropriate — comparable to asking a stranger in daily life what they earn at their job

Matters especially for excursions, where other guests and the tour guide are left waiting
Many cruise line restaurants now cancel reservations (and may charge a fee) for arrivals more than 15 minutes late
Punctuality affects the broader schedule and other passengers, not just the individual guest