Top Ten Things Cruisers Dislike

By Brooke Franco

Top things cruisers dislike - *Photo by Canva*

We’ve learned a lot about cruisers’ likes and dislikes. No matter the cruise line, type of ship, or destination, there are several common themes our members say are their pet peeves when cruising and dealing with their fellow shipmates.

We’ve developed a keen sense of what grinds our community member’s gears and irritates them the most when cruising. The following are the top ten things that cruisers dislike.

1. Deck Chair Hogs

Just imagine it’s the first day of your cruise, and all you can think about is sitting and basking in the sun with a frozen cocktail in hand. Then, you stroll from your cabin to the pool deck and begin scanning the area. Your feelings of excitement turn to stress as you see rows and rows of chairs, seemingly empty except for towels spread over them with not an ‘owner’ in sight.

At this moment you are faced with two options, neither one of them great.

1) Pick a chair as your own and toss the towel to the side, knowing you might have a possible ‘chair showdown’ with a fellow cruiser.

2) Spend minutes on end strolling the deck looking for a free chair, with the possibility that there might not be one!

Deck chair hogs can be found on any ship or cruise line. Member jeannepouria wrote in her review about this not-so-fun scenario, “Overall cruise was wonderful, but the issue with the pool chairs was a deal breaker for me…Towels were left claiming chairs all day, and no staff enforcing the rule, leaving many, many folks unable to find chairs or sit by the pool.”

2. Kids That Run Amuck

Kids and teens on cruises are great, don’t get us wrong! However, we’ve received numerous reviews over the years from travelers who have encountered some scenarios where parents on vacation may have taken, well, a break from parenting.

Of course, no one expects children to always behave like angels! However, sometimes when parents let kids run loose on a cruise ship, the unexpected is bound to happen. We’ve received comments on this topic from annoyed travelers who report they’ve witnessed children going through the ship solo, pushing elevator buttons, splashing around the pool, or using bare hands to grab items at the buffet.

Member debmf shared her experience with this on a past cruise, “Staff should keep kids from jumping in the pool on top of people. I'm not asking for lifeguards, just someone to tell them to stop jumping. The parents arrive on the ship and just let their kids do what they want, wander around unsupervised at all times of the day and night.”

3. Missing Ports or Short Port Stops

Many cruisers select their voyage based on the itinerary. Nothing is more disappointing than the cancellation of a favorite or much-anticipated port. Sometimes it's not the cruise line’s fault - there could be regulations from the port, or the ship is avoiding bad weather. Nonetheless, it’s never fun to miss or have the expected time in port changed, especially one you were looking forward to visiting. Whenever possible, the cruise line makes every effort to divert to a new location or provide some sort of compensation onboard.

In rare cases, cruisers may find their time in port shortened due to an issue with the ship, port conditions, weather, etc. As a result, excursions may be canceled, leaving cruisers with limited time to explore the destination.

4. Waiting in Lines

Whether you are traveling for pleasure or simply waiting in line at the bank or a restaurant, no one enjoys lines. However, on a cruise (especially on larger ships), you will find that lines come with the territory, much to the dismay of the impatient traveler.

Although many cruise operators try their best to minimize lines, sometimes it’s inevitable. Lines can typically be found at embarkation, some onboard activities, and even to enter restaurants. But, unfortunately, sometimes lines come with the territory when cruising or traveling in general.

5. Getting Seasick

Even the most seasoned sailors can get seasick in rough weather while on a cruise. There’s nothing fun about being on a cruise ship and suddenly finding yourself feeling worse for the wear and not being able to do anything to stop the ship's movement.

User happyatsea shared their experience from a past Carnival cruise, “Our first night out we had some rain and rough seas and most of the guests on the ship were very sick! I have never had a ship to rock so violently (my 20th cruise on Carnival)...I have never been seasick on a cruise and have no need for patches or medications, but I will admit for the first time I asked for some at the purser's desk.”

Luckily, there are several ways to prevent seasickness and help combat the symptoms if you feel nauseous. So, if you find yourself in this scenario, check out our top remedies in How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise.

6. Balcony Smokers

There’s nothing like walking out to the balcony from your cabin expecting the fresh smell of salt air only to be assaulted with the unmistakable stink of cigarette (or cigar) smoke. As a result, most cruise lines have eliminated smoking on personal balconies. Instead, there are designated areas on the ship for smokers. Primarily this is done for passenger safety and the overall safety of the ship. But, unfortunately, certain daring passengers let these rules go by the wayside.

Member visionarycmn encountered this on a past cruise and shared their experience, “Our cabin was very clean, except for the smoke fumes from the cabin next to us to at times we could smell in our room.”

7. Getting Nickel and Dimed for Extras

Depending on the cruise line and the package booked, some travelers will find that there may be numerous extra cost items onboard. First-time sailors may be surprised by the number of “extra” charges onboard some cruise lines.

No one likes surprises, especially when it comes to an unsuspected pricey bill at the end of a relaxing vacation. Whether it is drinks (even water or sodas), charges for onboard activities, dining, or spa services, some cruisers get sticker shock when adding up all the additional charges. Need more help? Post a question on the Cruiseline.com forum or on the sailing roll call to ask about extra charges.

8. Bad Wi-Fi

In today’s world, we pretty much take high-speed internet service for granted. When it comes to being on a cruise ship, many travelers expect the wi-fi service to be as fast as it comes, similar to being on land at home, especially if you opt to pay extra for the service.

Depending on the cruise line and ship, the wi-fi service will differ in price and reliability. In 2022, Royal Caribbean announced it would equip all of its ships with Starlink service, a possible game-changer for internet connectivity in the cruise industry.

9. Crowds

Like lines, crowds come with the territory in certain parts of the cruise experience, especially with the larger, mega-ships. Expect to encounter crowded areas, such as the pool and waterslides on a sunny day or the main theatre for Broadway shows and other top-rated productions in the evening.

Member tlpaul42 shared their issues with crowds on a past cruise, “Too many passengers, not enough ship! Poor planning on the part of (the cruise line). Who wants to stand in lines for over an hour to get into the shows and still be turned away due to crowds!”

Also, seasoned cruisers know that certain times of the year are more crowded on cruise ships. For example, during spring break, summer, and the holidays, you will likely find more family crowds on your cruise. Here’s a tip, if you are not a fan of crowds but want to check out all of the ship amenities, visit those spots during a port day!

10. Leaving!

Nothing bums a frequent cruiser out more than disembarkation day. It’s not the act of leaving the ship per se but waving goodbye to the cruise experience. Travelers are thrust back into the harsh reality of making their beds, cooking meals, and not spending the days relaxing by the pool or exploring a cruise ship or exotic port of call. We’ve coined this term the ‘post-cruise blues.’ It’s that sad, longing feeling of knowing your vacation is over. The post-cruise blues is natural and experienced by all cruisers, from first-timers to seasoned sailors.

Not to fear, there are numerous ways to cure the post-cruise blues. Our favorite option is to go ahead to plan your next voyage! You can explore ways to cure the post-cruise blues here.

Related Article: Top 10 Things Cruisers Like to Brag About

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You Tell Us: Do you agree with this list? Are there other dislikes you would include?