These 10 Commandments of Cruising are those unspoken rules cruisers pick up over time. They’re the little things that keep cruise life easier, help avoid unnecessary headaches, and save you from awkward moments on board. They remind us to be respectful of fellow passengers and the crew who make it all happen.
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I thought it would be fun to put them into a set of “commandments” that cruisers of all experience levels can live by: part practical tips, part etiquette reminders, and all written with a bit of cruise humor.
Want to play along? Share your own cruise commandments in the comments or jot them down as you read. I’d love to see which ones you’d add to the list.
Thou shalt fly in the day before embarkation
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If there is one cardinal rule when planning your cruise, it’s this: fly into your embarkation city at least one day before. Flights get delayed and canceled all the time, and the ship will not wait for you. Miss embarkation and you’ll be scrambling to catch up at the next port.
Arriving early gives you breathing room. If something goes wrong, you can adjust plans or grab another flight and still make it. And as a bonus, when you arrive early, you get extra time to relax or explore the port city before boarding. Think of it as your first day of vacation, not a travel day you’re racing through.
Thou shalt not smuggle booze upon the ship
It’s tempting, I get it. Drink packages can be pricey. I’ve witnessed some creative (and questionable) attempts at sneaking booze onboard, but at the end of the day, it’s just not worth it. Cruise lines know all the tricks, and getting caught is a lot more embarrassing than skipping happy hour. Many lines let you bring a little wine or soda, so stick with what’s allowed. The repercussions can be as small as having your stash confiscated or as serious as being banned from cruising with that line.
Instead, look for where free drinks are offered onboard (like sailaway parties or loyalty events) and watch for flash sales on drink packages if you really want one. You’ll enjoy your cruise more by focusing on what you can actually sip without stress instead of worrying about sneaking something past security.
Honor thy muster drill
Muster drill is one of the first things you should take care of once it’s available. These days many cruise lines make it easy by letting you watch the safety video and then check in at your muster station.
A few lines, like Disney, still follow the more traditional process, requiring everyone to assemble at their muster station at a set time. Either way, just get it done. We all want to leave on time, and you definitely don’t want to hear your name called over the intercom or be stuck attending a special muster drill session the next day at sea. Think of it as the one pop quiz on board where paying attention only really pays off if you ever need to use it.
Thou shalt not hog deck chairs
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Lounge chair hoggers are a real problem on cruise ships. They make it their mission to wake up at the crack of dawn, drop towels and random items across multiple chairs, and then vanish for hours before returning for a quick half-hour in the sun. Many cruise lines now monitor pool decks and remove unattended items after a set amount of time. Don’t be that cruiser. Nobody enjoys seeing empty chairs held hostage for hours. Use the chair if you need it, but leave it free if you don’t.
Thou shalt wash thy hands before the buffet
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Don’t try to dodge the friendly washy-washy crew at the entrance. We beg you, wash your hands and sanitize before entering the buffet, and keep the cruise myths at bay. Cruise ships are close quarters, and keeping norovirus and other contagious bugs at bay is everyone’s responsibility. The crew does their best to stay on top of cleanliness, and you’ll find hand sanitizer stations more available than ever.
The crew will thank you, and so will your stomach. Nobody wants their souvenir to be the stomach flu.
Thou shalt let others depart before thou enter the elevator
If there is one bit of cruise etiquette we all need to relearn, it’s how to behave around the elevators. Don’t crowd and rush in the second the doors open. Wait patiently and let people exit first, which makes space for you and everyone else to enter. It keeps traffic moving smoothly and saves you from the awkward shuffle.
Basic manners still apply at sea. And here’s the funny thing: you’ll actually get in faster if you let others out first.
Thou shalt honor the crew with kindness
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The crew works long hours with little to no time off, often far from their families, to make your vacation enjoyable.
A smile and a thank you mean more than you think, but small gestures go even further. Remembering their names, leaving a kind note, or tipping extra for great service shows real appreciation. They’re the ones who know how to make your cruise experience better, and if you treat them well, you might just find a little extra magic in your service.
Thou shalt not be tardy when returning to the ship
If there is another cardinal rule that should never be ignored, it’s getting back to the ship with time to spare in port. Don’t be a pier runner. The ship will sail without you, so keep an eye on ship time, not local time, and leave a buffer before all-aboard.
Usually, the all-aboard time is about 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. For example, if the ship leaves at 4:00 PM, you need to be back onboard by 3:30 PM. The only exception is if you’re on a cruise line–sponsored excursion, in which case the ship will wait.
And remember, those pier runner videos are funny until it’s you sprinting down the dock. That gangway is going up if you’re not back on time.
Thou shalt pace thyself with the drink package
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Drink packages are nice to have for a number of reasons, especially if you like a variety of drinks throughout the day, such as specialty coffee, bottled water, cocktails, and more. It’s easy to get carried away when everything is included, and we’ve all seen people go too hard on day one. Unlimited doesn’t mean mandatory, and no one wants to spend a sea day nursing regrets in the cabin or worse, passed out in the hallway outside their cabin (witnessed it). Pace yourself, stay hydrated, and enjoy the value of your package over the whole cruise.
The last thing you want is to be so plastered that you wander into the wrong cabin with an upside-down pineapple on the door.
Thou shalt enjoy thy cruise
At the end of the day, cruising is about having a good time. Relax, laugh, and soak it all in. Don’t stress the small stuff or let little inconveniences ruin your trip. Try new foods, dance at Sailaway, and take way too many photos. The point of all these commandments is to help you have fun while avoiding the bigger sins of cruising, treating others well, and disembarking with more good memories than regrets.
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Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she’s become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
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