This Inappropriate Cruise Ship Behavior Can Quickly Ruin Your Overseas Vacation

When you think about a cruise vacation, relaxation probably comes to mind. Lounging by the pool, dining out at sea, exploring vibrant port cities, and enjoying live entertainment are some of the many things you can look forward to. But sometimes, even the most luxurious cruises can be ruined by bad behavior and poor cruise ship etiquette.

It's important to remember that while you're on vacation, so are the other passengers. Relaxing and enjoying your cruise doesn't mean you get to throw manners and common decency overboard. There are some basic rules of conduct that you may be familiar with, but there are also secret cruise etiquette rules you may not know about. Breaching one of these rules, whether unknowingly or not, can have consequences. Best case scenario, you'll just have to offer a polite apology. Worst case scenario, you could seriously anger other guests which could lead to a full-on fight. And even if this altercation involves just a few people, it could ruin the cruise for everyone.

For example, in September 2025, a Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas cruise ship was forced to return to PortMiami the same day it had left due to a fight that broke out among passengers that left multiple cruisers injured. Similarly, there were two incidents in 2025 when passengers on two separate Carnival cruises got lifetime bans after being involved in fights. So the next time you're upset with fellow passengers, you may want to take a step back and do some calming exercises. Because not only will you face consequences on board, but you may also have to deal with law enforcement once you dock.

To avoid the most embarrassing mistakes you can make on a cruise, familiarize yourself with the spoken and unspoken rules of etiquette. This is a simple tip will make your cruise experience even better and will help you avoid confrontation with other guests. One basic rule everyone should follow is to not hog or claim lounge chairs if you don't plan on immediately using them. On most days, many passengers will have the same idea of lounging on the deck taking in the sun. It would be very rude of you to place your belongings on a chair to "save" it for a later time when there are people who want to use the chair immediately.

Another breach of etiquette rules that is surprisingly common is line cutting. This happens at buffet lines, café lines, and lines for disembarkment. Unless you have an emergency, wait your turn. Similarly, don't let your impatience tempt you into squeezing into an elevator that's already full. Not only will you be uncomfortable, but you'll make everyone around you uncomfortable as well. The one thing you will need to be timely for, however, is embarkation. Cruises run on a strict schedule, and being late will make pretty much everyone on board, including the crew, very angry with you. In most cases, a cruise will leave you behind if you're not on board on time.