I’m a cruise ship worker… these are 10 common mistakes first time cruisers make that drive crew mad

A cruise ship employee has revealed the 10 most common mistakes new passengers make on board.

Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, has worked on cruise ships for nine years and regularly shares advice on how passengers and fellow crew members can get the most out of their experience.

In a recent video uploaded to her YouTube channel, Cruising as a crewwhere she has amassed over 67,000 subscribers, she delved into the most common pitfalls that new ‘cruisers’ often encounter and how to avoid them.

Read on for the expert’s full list of do’s and don’ts, covering everything from the importance of arriving at departure ports on time to preventing seasickness and packing efficiently.

1. Treating a cruise like an all-inclusive

Lucy started by revealing that the first mistake she sees novice cruisers make is ‘treating a cruise like an all-inclusive holiday’ and therefore not budgeting properly.

She explained: ‘Some people, when they have only done all-inclusive holidays, make the mistake of thinking that a cruise holiday is very similar.

“So a lot of people don’t take into account extra expenses while they’re on board because they have the misconception that most things will be free.”

The cruise ship employee added: ‘While this is partly true and most of your food is included at the buffet and dining room, there will be activities and restaurants that cost extra money.

She admitted that it can “really ruin people’s holidays” when they realize they need extra money for everything they want to do.

Lucy also reminded viewers of the tip bill that first-time cruisers may not be aware of – it’s important to put some amount aside to cover this so you’re not left scrambling for cash at the end of your holiday.

She said, “On many cruises you get the tip bill at the end, which I’ve also seen a lot of people not budget for.”

2. Missing ship departure time

Secondly, many vacationers new to the cruise world do not manage their time efficiently enough and have even been left behind after missing the ship’s departure time.

Lucy noted: ‘When it does happen it’s usually new cruisers because they get out in port and go exploring, which is part of the fun – but what they don’t allow is time to return. .’

She gave the example of the Bahamas, which are “known for their terrible traffic,” so you might not factor in enough time to catch a taxi back to the port.

The YouTuber concluded, “It’s obviously making things very difficult for the cruise line and it’s just a mess. When you are on a cruise, it is very different from being in a hotel that remains stationary.

“You should absolutely make it a priority to get back to the ship on time and ask crew members what traffic is like at each port when you take a taxi to a particular destination.”

3. Skip travel insurance

Lucy’s next warning is that ‘travel insurance should never be skipped, whether on a land holiday or on a cruise, but especially on a cruise ship’.

She continued, “The reason for this is that your cruise may be canceled due to weather changes. You or a family member may become ill, or the flights to the destination where you will board your cruise ship may be canceled or delayed.

‘Unlike a land holiday, where if your flight is eight hours late and the hotel stays where it is, the cruise ship moves, so if your flight is eight hours late it means you’re going to miss it.

“You should absolutely get travel insurance as soon as you book the cruise.”

4. Transfer of excursions

The cruise professional then warns not to get too ‘click happy’ when booking excursions.

She recommends booking just three for a one-week cruise, and a maximum of six for a two-week cruise.

Lucy explains: ‘Most excursions start at seven or eight in the morning, which is fine if you’re a morning person, but many people on holiday like to sleep in.

“I’ve definitely seen people who have an excursion booked for every day and they’re like, oh my god, I’m devastated, I can’t do this, I can’t keep up.

‘They are incredibly exciting, but they drain your energy and everyone goes on holiday differently.

She advised: ‘If you’re like most people and want a few exciting days but also a few relaxing days, keep this in mind when you book your excursions and don’t book one for every day.’

5. Ignore safety instructions

Number five on the list of common mistakes made by cruise ship passengers is ignoring safety instructions.

She confessed, “I think we can all have the attitude of, ‘It’ll never happen to me, I’ll never be on a cruise ship that’s in an emergency situation.

“While I hope to God this is true for you, you never know.

“As crew members, in an emergency, we don’t want everyone running around in panic because they didn’t pay attention during the first safety briefing, so they don’t know where their emergency station is.”

The YouTuber pleaded, “If you get nothing else out of it, please know where to go in an emergency.”

6. Not researching the ports

Moving on to her next point, Lucy notes, “One mistake I see novice cruisers make is not researching which ports their cruise ship goes to – and you really want to do that before you book your excursions.

‘For example, in Nassau in the Bahamas there is a straw market right outside the ship. There was an excursion available on board the cruise ship to take you to the straw market.

“So naturally the people who booked this excursion were a little disappointed when they got there. You don’t want to book an excursion that you could do alone.’

Instead, the travel fanatic suggested saving excursions for when you’re traveling “quite a distance from the cruise ship.”

Key factors to consider are the currency you need, the language spoken, whether it is easy to get around and whether it is considered safe.

7. Do not take any medications with you

When you book a holiday, the last thing on your mind is getting sick and needing medication. But it can happen and it’s better to be prepared.

Lucy said: ‘It’s always good to just take a little pharmacy with you. Bring a bandage, bring a band-aid, bring some ibuprofen.

‘A few little things so that if you catch a cold or get seasick, you don’t have to wander to the medical center and wait a long time before being seen.

She adds that it also means you don’t have to buy medicine on board, which can be quite expensive compared to on land.

8. Do not reserve activities in advance

Number eight on the list of Birmingham residents is the mistake of not booking activities and restaurants in advance.

She told viewers: ‘If you research the ship before you get on board and you see a restaurant that you really want to go to, most of these cruise lines now have apps and you can pre-book everything before you even get on the cruise steps. .

‘Book in advance. Even if you end up canceling your booking, book it in advance because once it’s fully booked, it’s done.’

She warned: ‘It gets booked up quickly so you need to make sure you get in and get what you want.’

9. Not packing essential items in hand luggage

Something that travelers on their very first cruise may not be aware of is the fact that you often won’t see your luggage until the evening of your first day.

Lucy recalls: ‘When you board a cruise ship you usually leave your large luggage with the crew members and it arrives in your cabin later in the day.

‘But sometimes that can be much later in the day, because the crew members have to sort through between 3,000 and 10,000 pieces of luggage.

“So make sure you have your essentials or things you’ll need as soon as you board the cruise ship in your backpack so you have it at hand and can get on with your day.”

Items like phone chargers, shower supplies, and a change of clothes are common culprits when left in main luggage.

10. View of your cabin location

Finally, new ‘cruisers’ may not realize how important it is to book the right cabin – and Lucy has shared her advice on finding the best one with the least chance of seasickness.

She revealed: ‘If it’s your first cruise, I’m sure seasickness is on your mind. The location of the cabin will play a big role in this, so you want to be in the center of the ship.

‘You don’t want to sit in the back, especially not in the front, because that’s where you feel the movement the most.

“So if you book a cabin, you want to make sure it’s in the middle of the ship. Plus, you want to make sure the cabin you book is surrounded by other cabins.”

Adding: ‘The cheaper cabins will have a restaurant above them or a gym above them because it will be noisy, so the location of the cabin is very important.’