Cruise Etiquette

Just because you got a cheap deal on a cruise, that doesn’t entitle you to have the run of the entire ship and go buck wild. There is the staff and other cruisers’ feelings to consider. The following are some tips to make a cruise more enjoyable for yourself, your family, friends and everyone else on the cruise ship whether they are there working or are a fellow customer like you.
Be Polite Hopefully your mama covered this one already, but if not, then here you go. Say please and thank-you, wait your turn and never butt in front of anyone in the buffet or waterslide line. Don’t get too drunk or crazy, especially on the first night as the waves of the sea and the alcohol can combine for less than happy effects. You don’t want to get sick or get throw off the boat on day 1, so take it slow, ease into the imbibing and always respect your fellow travelers and the staff of the ship itself. If you take a day trip into town when the boat docks, the same goes, especially if you are in a foreign country. Respect the customs, the locals, try to speak bits of the language – even if you butcher it, your efforts will be appreciated. The last thing you want to do is get arrested or robbed so tread lightly, be polite and don’t tread off the beaten path alone as this can lead to potentially fatal results.
Tipping on an All Inclusive Trip? Just because a cruise is all inclusive doesn’t mean you can’t sneak your favorite waiter/ bartender or bellboy a wee present on the last day of the cruise, as long as you are discrete.  Their managers are looking out with eagle eyes and you don’t want to get them fired, of course, now do you? Be discrete or make it a present of something they can actually use/need instead of cash. There are little to no employee rights working in international waters, so many of the workers are working for next to nothing, so keep that in mind if you do buy them a gift and give them something practical that they will be able to utilize and will appreciate.