Some tips on what NOT to do on your cruise

Having cruised for many years now I have acquired some personal pet hates regarding actions of some of my fellow passengers. I am sure many other people have similar frustrations so I wanted to use todays blog entry as a “what not to do” style list, although I probably come across as having a good old rant I am actually being quite constructive and I hope others will comment with their own irritating stories and we can all cruise together happily and avoid small mishaps

Firstly I am sure the biggest annoyance for everyone is the reservation of sunbeds, yes I know us Brits can be a nuisance with this but for everyone as a whole please do not reserve sunbeds for an extended period of time. I like many others will place my towel on a sun lounger before popping down a deck to grab a drink, this taking me no more than 5 or 10 minutes but, I have noticed some people will actually reserve their sun loungers then leave the ship for planned excursions. This is not fair on people who stay on board so please refrain from doing it as it can cause quite an issue.

Secondly I can’t stand it when people are in and out of their cabins directly next door to me and they persistently let their cabin door slam shut. Please can you just shut it quietly? The noise ripples through the walls, you go in one cabin slam the door, out the same cabin slam the door, into another cabin slam the door and the cycle continues.

Thirdly the buffet, now really need I say more on this subject? Well YES! Everyone embarks on the buffet area as though it was their last meal. They sometimes push and shove then huff and puff if you are not moving along the line fast enough. So let me say the food will not run out, there will be more. You are on holiday so relax and take your time, try not to stress over small issues that also impact on other cruisers. We will all be fed and happy in no time.

The above three are my biggest annoyances but I can easily sprout off another few like kids on board. If you are of the younger generation and are reading this then please I know you are on holiday and are probably having the time of your life but do you have to marathon sprint the entire length of the inside decks? Many a night I have been relaxing into a peaceful slumber when I was awoken by what sounded like a stampede of Elephants running along the corridor, shouting and screaming and yes having the time of their lives but I am trying to get my beauty sleep. I’m getting old you know I need a certain amount of sleep before I can become a sociable human being.

So my rant has now come to an end, I could probably sit here for a much longer period of time and go on and on and on but then this would go from being a blog entry into something that requires a small introduction and both front and back covers, on that note I shall be quiet, until tomorrow.

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I know we are all on holiday, But at 2am, Do we still need to be using our "Outside" voices on the inside decks?!?!?....Children AND adults alike!......

by Rob White on 22 Feb 2011

I love the comments, especially about the buffet. I have been on cruises where people just pile the food on like it is their last meal!-come folks, on a cruise ship the food is never ending. I also have been woken up by rukus in the halls and im not a happy camper after that....so yes, please leave the stomping and horse rompin to the clubs on board the ship and not the passage way

by theresa mazur on 21 Feb 2011

I was just on the Allure of the Seas,12/19-12/26/10. You don't have to worry about saving deck chairs ...they must have over 6000. My biggest problem is the smoke in the casino. They divide the casino, but it would be better to have 2 separate casinos.I am on the celebrity Eclipse this year, I heard no smoking Yipee!!!!!Also we wanted to sit with other single people on the ship....the Allure was not prepared for seating singles together at dinner. We met one lady who never went into the dining room, and ate alone every meal in the windjammer!!!!Come on RCC have one big table for singles!!!!

by Phyllis Henkel on 21 Feb 2011

i love cruising, and going out to see different places. i become upset when on an excursion, some people are not respectful of most of us by coming late, holding up the trip by making the entire group wat for them to take an extra picture, buy something etc.

by esther spiegel on 21 Feb 2011

Ah the children on cruise ships. they need to have a sleeping quarters for them under the galley to see if they liked to be included into the noise section? Also... those drunks after 3 am... leave them in the bar, let them sleep it off... and those who love to skygaze at night with us. oh alass this is wonderful to be in the middle of the ocean looking at the stars that I have never seen such a wonderful sight ever before. The brits know how to play bingo. ahaha... let them eat cake so to speak and let them win for time to time too. all the bingo cards are rigged. I think, when we used to play no more now. been on too many cruises and decided that we need to stop buying stupid crap on there, cheap ornaments. the hubby and i love to buy that cheap jewelry refurbishe it and turn it around , in sales. oh and those funny red hat ladies are a thrill to see them get excited over a free cheap bottle of champagne they can get a jim towers place for 1.99 a bottle. or ship on a stick.. I just also hate that the table mates thank god for Open Free Seating... We had table mates last year on the Oasis that could not speak english... Yes English or French would have been better they were of a different language which we had nothing in common except for shaking our heads on a bobbing motion of yes or no. Please let people choose to decide what time they want to have dinner and do not let them sit with people they do not like. Thank god for open Freestyle seating on the Norwegian and Princess!

by Moonlight Skywriter on 21 Feb 2011

I totally agree with you Danielle, especially your second comment about slamming the cabin doors! Another pet peeve of mine is smokers on their balconies.....I've been out on mine several times only to have to retreat back inside and close MY balcony door because of the stink coming from the next balcony. If you have to smoke, go up on the top deck or to the back of the ship where it will blow out into the ocean, not into fellow passengers rooms!!

by Pam Cruisingranny on 21 Feb 2011

I agree with everything you said I know everyone is here to relax and enjoy their paid for cruise. They either need more sunbeds or monitor them better.also as far as the kids yes there needs to be hall monitors and stop the running and yelling in the inside decks the parents of these kids need to make sure they discuss this before the even board the ship...we are all their to enjoy our cruise. so enough said lets enjoy our cruise....

by Judy Ellis on 21 Feb 2011

We are going on our first cruise in November to the Caribbean and I think that I would be bold enough to remove towels from loungers which had not been occupied for over 30 mins! Maybe if people started doing this then the problem would go away!

by Janet Brennan on 21 Feb 2011

I prefer to see the glass as half full....What about the gorgeous view, the relaxing sensation of being on the water, eating in a beautiful dining room and being waited on, the amazing shows, the endless amenities such as the spa, the gym,the pool & jacuzzi, the gift shops, the interesting ports of call, the friendly staff (even in spite of a few rude passengers & chronic complainers!), happy people being on vacation, the music, the comfortable beds, The good food (even at the buffet!), 24 hour room service and so much more. I guess I could just sit here for a much longer period of time and go on and on and on but then this would go from being a blog entry into something that requires a small introduction and both front and back covers, on that note I shall be quiet, until tomorrow ;-)

by Happy Cruiser on 21 Feb 2011

Never use the laundry service, unless you like your clothes shrunk, screwed up or half ironed. The charity bag gained a lot off our Indy cruise in Jan 2011.

by Nina C on 21 Feb 2011

I have really only one "pet hate", people who treat the crew members like dirty they wipe off the bottom of their shoe. I always go behind them and appologize for them but really get some class folks!

by Corine L on 21 Feb 2011