These 8 Cruise Habits Drive Fellow Passengers Crazy

Spending a week or two on a cruise ship with thousands of other people can lead to moments of irritation. This isn’t surprising, given the confined space and the variety of personalities on board.

To help you avoid being the source of eye-rolls and muttered complaints, we’ve gathered a list of behaviors that tend to annoy fellow passengers the most.

1. Children Without Proper Supervision

A baby cries loudly while seated in a high chair in a bustling cruise ship dining area, surrounded by adults dining and conversing, with a warm, well-lit interior setting featuring wooden tables and panoramic windows.

Many cruisers find unsupervised kids the most irritating aspect of their holiday at sea. You’ll often see children of all ages causing disruptions – from babies crying to teenagers throwing food or playing pranks like knocking on doors and running away.

Some passengers even get frustrated when others book family cruises during holidays and then complain about the noise children make. The good news? If you’re someone who prefers a quieter environment, you can simply opt for an adults-only cruise.

2. Elevator Etiquette

A crowded scene inside a cruise ship elevator with numerous people tightly packed together. The passengers, displaying a variety of expressions from concern to casual conversation, fill the wood-paneled elevator, reflecting a diverse group in a confined space.

Sharing lifts on a cruise can be frustrating due to various bad habits. One major issue is people rushing into lifts before letting others exit. This can create blockages and confusion.

Another annoying behavior is when some passengers push in front of others who have been waiting longer. Remember, priority should go to those with pushchairs or mobility aids who may not move as quickly.

A big concern is the number of people getting into a lift. There’s often a sign inside indicating the limit, like 16 or 20 people. Even when the lift is below this limit, some individuals get irritated, especially if there are already six or more people and they prefer more personal space.

One of the biggest frustrations is when someone quickly presses the ‘close doors’ button before others can enter. This often happens so fast that you barely have time to react.

3. Disrespecting the Crew

An intense interaction on a cruise ship, where a bald man in a blue shirt sternly points his finger at a female staff member dressed in a red and white uniform. The scene takes place beside large windows overlooking the ocean, with other passengers visible in the background.

Cruise workers often work long, hard hours to ensure an enjoyable trip. It’s disheartening to see passengers treat them poorly. Being polite costs nothing and makes a big difference.

Snapping your fingers at crew or barking orders like they’re your servants is a sure‑fire way to come across as entitled and ungrateful – and it’s completely unnecessary given how hard they already work. Respecting crew members not only creates a friendlier environment for everyone but also shows that you appreciate their hard work.

4. Taking Up Hot Tub Space for Too Long

A group of five young adults enjoying a lively conversation in a bubbling hot tub on the deck of a cruise ship. The background shows other passengers in casual attire, enjoying the sunny weather and ocean views, adding to the vibrant, social atmosphere of the cruise.

Staying too long in hot tubs, especially when they’re busy, annoys other passengers waiting for a turn. It can be really frustrating to see people hogging the hot tub for an hour or more while others stand by, waiting for a chance to relax.

Many cruise lines also recommend limiting hot‑tub sessions to short periods for health and hygiene reasons, so rotating out after 15–20 minutes is both considerate and safer for everyone.

Another common irritation is the presence of children in the hot tubs. Rules about kids in jacuzzies differ by cruise line, and it’s true that many people find it annoying when children splash or kick while others are trying to unwind.

Cruise blogger Cruise Mummy conducted a Facebook poll which found that two-thirds (66%) of respondents said kids should be banned from cruise ship hot tubs altogether, preferring a completely child‑free soak.

Recommended reading: The Unwritten Cruise Rules You Need to Know

5. Buffet Etiquette

A diverse group of passengers queuing at a cruise ship buffet, each holding a plate filled with various dishes. The buffet features an array of foods displayed in stainless steel containers, with a focus on a young woman at the front of the line, looking slightly annoyed, adding a hint of tension to the otherwise bustling scene.

Buffets on cruises can be a hotspot for annoying behaviors. One common complaint is cutting in line. While it might seem understandable if you just need a quick grab like extra baked beans for your kid, it doesn’t make it any less frustrating for those patiently waiting. Even though queuing can feel overly British at times, it maintains order.

Another irritating habit is piling your plate high only to waste food. On some ships, crew members serve the food, and you often have to insist to avoid ending up with an excess of a particular item. They aren’t mind-readers; they won’t know that you only wanted one slice of watermelon instead of ten!

Skipping hand-washing before heading to the buffet is also a major issue. It’s not just gross; it’s a health risk for everyone on board. Seeing people use their fingers to pick up food or sneeze into their hands is frankly disgusting. Remember, serving utensils are there for a reason.

6. Smoking in Non-Smoking Areas

A man in a grey shirt leans against the railing of a cruise ship balcony, deeply inhaling from a cigarette. The calm ocean and clear sky stretch into the horizon behind him, creating a tranquil yet solitary scene on the ship's deck.

On most mainstream cruise lines, smoking and vaping are banned in cabins and on stateroom balconies, and are only allowed in clearly marked smoking areas around the ship. Breaking these rules is not only a serious fire hazard, but smoke‑sensitive passengers or those with asthma can really struggle when people light up outside those designated zones.

Even vaping is usually treated the same as smoking, so stick to the signed smoking areas to keep everyone happy and comfortable.

7. Disruptive and Loud Behavior

A lively interaction among a group of guests in a cruise ship hallway, where a man in a red shirt appears to be telling an animated story to his friends. The hallway is bustling with other passengers moving around, creating a dynamic and social atmosphere against the backdrop of vibrant blue carpet and wood-paneled walls.

Excessive noise is a top complaint for cruisers looking to relax. Whether it’s loud conversations in dining areas or late-night chatter in hallways, such behavior can be very frustrating. Drunken antics and scraping sunbeds along the floor while others are napping also top the list. Remember, you don’t need to be extremely loud to disturb others.

Suggested reading: These Are The Worst Cruise Ships According To Reviews

8. Claiming Sunbeds

A row of sun loungers on a cruise ship deck, covered with towels and personal items to reserve spots. The loungers are arranged in tiers, allowing for optimal sunbathing and views. Stairs and railings in the background lead to higher deck levels, where additional loungers are also reserved in a similar manner.

Picture this: a sunny sea day, everyone wants to enjoy the outdoors, but when you go to find a sunbed, they’re all taken. Or at least, they seem to be. Many cruisers have the annoying habit of claiming sun loungers early in the morning by draping towels over them and then vanishing for hours. This behavior prevents others from using the seats, which can be quite frustrating.

Why do people do this? Maybe they’re used to places where there are plenty of loungers for everyone. Unlike sprawling all-inclusive resorts, a cruise ship’s deck space is fixed and limited, so it’s easy to end up with more people than available sunbeds. That’s why chair‑hogging feels especially frustrating at sea.

In response, some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, have introduced policies to tackle this issue. Royal Caribbean’s official rule says that if a pool chair is left unattended for more than 30 minutes, crew can remove belongings and send them to lost and found.

Here’s how it works: On many ships, crew now place a time‑stamped card on apparently abandoned loungers; if nobody returns within about 30 minutes, they clear the items so other guests can use the chairs.

On one of my recent sailings, I watched as a pool attendant time‑stamped a line of “reserved” loungers and then clear them after 30 minutes when nobody came back – and the nearby guests actually applauded!

Hopefully, more cruise lines will adopt this approach, which would help make your sea days much more enjoyable.

Wrapping It Up

On a cruise, everyone’s sharing the same space, and it’s common to get annoyed by others’ habits. Whether you’re taking a nap in a comfy chair or sharing a kiss with your partner, there’s always a chance someone nearby might find it bothersome.

Still, there’s no need to be overly cautious. A little self-awareness and simple courtesy can go a long way.