Cruise Ship Etiquette?

[MillauFr]

The only thing you really need to remember is to treat others how you want to be treated.

 

[PizzieDuster]

Hall Etiquette:

Do not run in the halls
Do not talk loudly in the halls
If some one is approaching you either from behind or the other direction move over to one side
When leaving your cabin please don't let the door slam, hold onto it and let it close softly.

Great advice! Especially about the door, late in the evening or early morning.

 

[Fleury]

I frequently kidnap my kids toys when I go on business and snap pictures of them to send back.

My favorite was when I took the Nut Brown Hare on a plane. The people must have thought I was nuts, but the picture of the nut brown hare with its head in a barf bag was priceless.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

At the Flying Fish we put Perry the Platypus in an extra chair and tied a napkin around his neck. But he didn't order a meal, even though they brought him a menu (no worms on the menu). He didn't get any wine either. And he won't on the cruise.

And everybody walked by and said "Hi Perry" like it was normal to have a platypus at the table.

Disney rocks.

We did this with Goofy on the plane home from the Cruise and WDW. We had a free seat beside us and everyone said "Hi Goofy!" as they walked by

 

[Carrie in AZ]

My suggestions have to do with being in the theater......

1) No matter how softly you think you are whispering, trust me when I say, if any noise at all is coming out of your mouth, WE CAN HEAR YOU AND IT IS ANNOYING. If you must say something to the people in your group, put your mouth right up next to their ear, then whisper what you need to say. None of us care to hear your discussions or comments while we're trying to watch the magic onstage!

2) If you've bought some of the bagged popcorn or snacks to enjoy during the show, please be aware that the packaging is very loud and when you reach inside and move your hand all around, it makes a lot of noise. No one around you wants to hear the rustling of your snack bag over and over again throughout the show. There is a way to reach inside softly without moving the bag all around.

Amen on softly closing your doors and not letting them slam shut.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The crew of DCL is just about universally wonderful. Show them respect and you'll get it back many times over. A kind (and genuine) word of appreciation goes a long way in a bit of humanity.

There are those who don't seem to have much respect for the CMs, who even think of them as their servants. I feel sorry for these guests. They have a sense of entitlement that is undeserved, even offensive, and they are missing out on connecting with some of the world's wonderful people.

My (admittedly humble) opinion is the CMs work hard for, and earn, our deepest respect and appreciation. But, also, just my opinion.

I agree 100%. It sickens me when I hear passengers treating crew like dogs and think they're so superior.

 

[disneygirl319]

Be on time for the safety drill. Your group cannot leave until all are accounted for.

Please don't wear your swim suit to dinner. You know how many dinners you will be attending. Prepare and pack for that. It shouldn't be a surprise that you need clothes for this.

To add to this comment....also please make sure your children are covered up while in shopping areas or internal areas of the ship. Or at least wear SHOES for goodness sake!

We saw two small children (ages 4-5) without shoes and only a SMALL jacket that didn't even attempt to cover the bikini top they were wearing during the muster drill. Our muster location was in one of the lower deck theatre areas. Even the CM said to the parents not to put the children on the seat as they were mostly still wet.

I'm sure they were having a great time in the pool when the muster drill came up but not to even have shoes on while walking around other indoors (if only for the own safety). Again, it was something they should have been prepared for.

Unfortunately this wasn't the only thing that occurred during my recent Disney sailing.

 

[disneygirl319]

Just returned from a recent Disney Dream sailing (1/16/14) and while I thankfully didn't encounter anything extremely outrageous there were still a few things that occurred that probably could have been prevented with some proper Disney cruise etiquette.

1) CHECKING IN WITH KIDS/TEENAGERS IN THEIR OWN CABINS. Apparently the cabins next to us were occupied solely by tweens and/or teenagers. It was a group of them as the dividers between the cabins had been removed. I don't think I saw an adult once come check on them (that I saw anyway) but at every port call they got together and put on a 'performance' during each and every sail away. I'm sure they were having a great time and thought they were absolutely adorable, but to me (and even my very laid back DH) we thought it was utterly annoying and pretty much ruined our verandah experience. We love being on our verandah during sail away but with this in person live singing (yelling) experience we couldn't stand to be outside. I thought about saying something to the stateroom attendant or guest services but I didn't want to be "that grumpy person" that didn't want anyone to have fun. But, bottom line, just because your child is in their cabin and/or is having a great time...it shouldn't infringe on others. And please check in on them!

2) JUST BECAUSE THE MOVIES ARE FREE, DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN SHOW UP WHENEVER YOU WANT AND/OR STAND AROUND. This was the most annoying issue of watching the movies at the theatres on the ship. Obviously the movies are free and often shown multiple times, so that just encourages people to show up whenever they want and stand around and figure out where to sit (as the movie has already started). We had large families come in trying to find 'prime' seating locations 30 minutes in to the movie. Of course finding seats for 2 people let alone 10 wasn't easy for most of the movies I went to, yet these people would still stand there are talk and discuss the best place to sit rather than quickly coming in and taking the first visible seat (even if they have to split up).

3) IF YOU WANT A GOOD SEAT--GET THERE EARLY (and don't make me move because you want a prime location and just showed up 1 minute before the show). This occurred at every show we went to. I am a huge Disney fan (of course) and the last time we went on the cruise I missed every single show (due to motion sickness) so I was determined to get to the locations early and get a good seat and/or standing location so I could enjoy the show. However, they were many people that showed up just before the shows started trying to find the 'prime' location for THEIR family (just like in the movie theatre issue). Some of them would give you the look like "why are you here and why won't you move for my child?!?" I'm sorry but I got there 45 minutes ahead of time even missing some other things that I wanted to do so I could see the show. There were other locations they could have moved to (like to the side of the theatre for the main shows or the lower deck area for the pirate shows) but for some reason they wanted to be exactly where we were! So, please, if you really want a CENTER seat with a good view of the stage, show up early. Don't expect to get there with a few minutes to spare and have a bunch of people move seats so you can get a good spot. Again, take the first available seat that you can find and enjoy the fact you even got a seat.

Thank you!

 

[DisneYE]

2) JUST BECAUSE THE MOVIES ARE FREE, DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN SHOW UP WHENEVER YOU WANT AND/OR STAND AROUND[/B]. We had large families come in trying to find 'prime' seating locations 30 minutes in to the movie.

Thank you!

Loved these... Agree esp on 2 and 3...Ppl showing up late for movies (very late in DCL's case) is a huge pet peeve of mine...I'm of the opinion that doors should be closed for entry after 15 minutes... ppl arriving late and scrambling to find seats (lol at your 'prime seats' wording) really annoys me.. It's usually ppl that didn't find anything better to do and said 'hey kids, lets pop in the movie theatre to watch mickey's latest adventure..we're only 30 minutes late'.... urghhh...these ppl are so annoying..

This one should be on #3 or #4 on the top etiquette rules on DCL

 

[apealing]

Great info! I love this site.

 

[mslaidy]

I think one post was confusing etiquette with atmosphere of the ship, where it really is more to do with personal actions.

Behave as you would anywhere else..common courtesy goes a long way!!! I have a book I got as a gift a long, long time ago called "The Essential Little Cruise Book". It is written by a cruise director and gives general cruising tips and does have a section on ship etiquette. I have listed them below...again these are general etiquette tips and I paraphrased some of them. Not everyone will agree with all of them and may feel they don't pertain to DCL but here they are.

Never go up to the Captain when you see him around the ship and ask "Who's driving the boat"?....he's heard it a thousand times and it gets old quick.

Don't leave your laundry in the machines and not come back for it.
Don't leave your personal belongings on deck chairs to save them for later. They are for everyone and unless you are ready to use them don't leave stuff on them.

Don't walk around the ship in your bathing suit without a cover up and don't walk the halls in your nightie and curlers.

Don't drape towels and clothing on the verandah railing (makes the ship look tacky).

Always be polite when asking for something from the staff. Always smile and make eye contact.

Be modest in your attire, not everyone needs to see every bump and bulge.

Respect crew only areas (the ship is also their home and how would you feel if strangers were pushing their way into your living room).

Don't sit in the first row at the show and doze off....people behind you can be distracted by your bobbing head and the performers won't appreciate people dozing during the show.

Be discreet with your money and personal wealth. Nobody really cares and being ostentatious is in bad taste.

When leaving your cabin don't let the doors slam.

To be asked to dine with the Captain is an honor don't ever turn it down.

There is a reason cruise ships don't sell gum....if you bring your own don't stick it where it does not belong (like on the floor or under furniture). Dispose of it properly.

If coming back from muddy excursion, take off your shoes and carry them to room so you don't track mud through the ship

Don't block the elevators, wait until passengers leave the elevator before boarding.

If you encounter a problem seek out a crew member and discreetly explain the problem. Don't bore your fellow passengers with it.

Keep a grip on yourself, don't over indulge in alcohol and be annoying to others.

If the evening calls for formal attire don't change into shorts and t-shirt mid way through.

Never use your hand to touch food on the buffets, always use the tongs provided (or don't put stuff back if you change your mind).

Take a moment to commend the staff if you feel they have done a great job. A pat on the back goes a long way.

And my favorite:

If the sun shines smile, it is rains...smile and look for the rainbow!

MJ

Great reading especially for first time cruisers! Thank you for sharing.

 

[Plaid Princess]

Hall Etiquette: If some one is approaching you either from behind or the other direction move over to one side.

This just generally a good rule for life!

 

[Plaid Princess]

there are many good reasons for turning down this invitation and truth be known the selection of who gets to go is often not made by the captain ... he's just told who will be there ... SHMOOZING is part of the job ... NOT ALWAYS but not uncommon. (do you think the captain WANTS to shake the hands of 1000 people or have his picture taken 1000 times .. a couple of times a week?!?) IF U do not care to go I have one comment .... decline quickly ... odds are they'll fill the seat with someone else and that person may see it as the highlight of their life! Don't let the seat go empty . . . I've gotten the invite ... and been invited to the bridge ... and had the captain just join us in the bar for a refreshment. Sometimes they enjoy talking shop with a fellow sailor http://s241.photobucket.com/user/Capt_bj/media/shameless.jpg.html Often when meeting the captain on formal night I'd hand him my card and he'd hand it to the always present assistant and whisper something ... often resulting in a note delivered to the room soon after. I've dined with the captain, been on the bridge for port entry/departure http://s241.photobucket.com/user/Capt_bj/media/AimeHorn.jpg.html {dd sounding the horn departing Castaway} accompanied the captain on his daily 'walk about' ... a 3 hour tour from stem to stern and keel to mast. And partied with the captain in port . . . and I've been the Captain hosting the meal .... especially difficult if the invited guests and you don't speak the same language!!!! but back on topic .... decline if you want ... politely and QUICKLY

http://youtu.be/2esfW4gBNao

 

[sparty7798]

I would argue that one of the biggest things you will see is kids running around with no adult supervision. Sometimes little kids. I guess parents assume that a cruise ship is as safe as being home but that certainly is not the case. There are strangers everywhere. I think this is one area DCL needs to work on in my opinion.

 

[Lita]

http://youtu.be/2esfW4gBNao

Lol!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[ChristinaDK]

I have autism and my partner has severe adhd. Beside that he has a bad knee, and I have really bad legs. I will in matter of years spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, but for now I will walk. But that mean I need to take breaks in the hallways, take the lifts, walk slowly. Many people think that I'm rude, but that's not the case so forgive me

 

[muse7mom]

My suggestions have to do with being in the theater......



2) If you've bought some of the bagged popcorn or snacks to enjoy during the show, please be aware that the packaging is very loud and when you reach inside and move your hand all around, it makes a lot of noise. No one around you wants to hear the rustling of your snack bag over and over again throughout the show. There is a way to reach inside softly without moving the bag all around.

I have to say that this kills me when I go out to see a movie too. Rolling up and down that bag of popcorn 20 times during a movie kills the atmosphere. Trying to open that bag of Twizzlers during a quiet part of the movie isn't pleasant. Doing it slowly? Makes it worse. Sometimes your hand isn't going to fit inside that bag.
Sorry, huge pet peeve from a movie fan.

 

[unimog]

Thanks for all of the comments. This reminds me to have a little one-on-one discussion with my DD7 about etiquette before our upcoming cruise - some great discussion examples here. Just like home except everybody is in very very close quarters, so especially important!

 

[mmouse37]

Time for a bump up!!!

MJ

 

[MomOTwins]

Lol, I started reading back through and I'm totally thinking this thread needs to be retitled "personal pet peeves" rather than "disney cruise etiquette."

The family whose kids had on wet swimsuits at the muster drill? Who can blame then when every "first time cruise tips" blogs suggests bringing your kids in bathing suits to hit the pool early, and those same first time cruisers don't know that luggage is often not delivered to rooms until after muster drill.

Rustling sounds from wrappers and popcorn bags in the theaters? Admittedly not a 2022 DCL problem, but for goodness sakes, if they sell the snacks, it can't be a violation of cruise etiquette to open the packaging to eat them.

Someone gets a little carried away with staging elaborate photo ops for their Duffy bear? So what--how does that affect you in the slightest?

I think as a general guiding rule--if it isn't something a majority of cruisers can all agree on, it likely is in the realm of personal preference rather than cruise etiquette. Things I think we pretty much would all agree on:

• Be nice to the phenomenal, hardworking CMs, including paying at least the standard gratuity
• Remember to use your "indoor voice"
• As Daniel Tiger says: "walk, don't run, if you wanna have fun".
• Don't save theater seats/deck loungers for substantially longer than it takes for an absent person in your party to use the restroom or get a drink/snack.

My golden rule is live and let live a little--remember you are not the only person on the ship who is on a vacation they have paid a lot of money for and have been dreaming about for a long time. While etiquette can be a good thing to the extent it makes us more considerate toward others, enforcing it without regard to others' feelings can be bad manners. I'm looking at you man who screamed at my kid because we got lost and wandered through the adults only pool area by mistake on our first cruise. Or lady who stood by my laundry machine and began dumping out my clothes the second the clock hit zero because "time was up and it's rude not to empty your machine right away"... even though I was actually in the laundry room but just standing back a bit because those rooms are tiny and even before Covid I tried to respect people's personal space.