🚢😤 CRUISE PAIN POINTS

The things that can really annoy you on a cruise… and how to survive them! 😂🚢

“Let's get something straight.

WE LOVE CRUISING. ❤️🚢

We love:

🌊 Waking up somewhere new

🍹 Cocktails

🍽️ Food

🎭 Entertainment

☀️ Sail-away

🏝️ Exploring ports

But…

CRUISING CAN ALSO BE EXTREMELY ANNOYING.** 😂

Because you've got:

🛗 Lifts that stop on every floor

☀️ Sunbed hoggers

🍹 People blocking the bar

🍽️ Buffet chaos

🔊 Noise at 1am

🧳 Luggage that disappears

💷 Charges you weren't expecting

😤 Queues

📱 Wi-Fi that makes you question your life choices

And sometimes…

THE CREW ARE TRYING TO SERVE 47 PEOPLE AT ONCE.

Let's get irritated. 😤🚢”

😤 1️⃣ THE SUNBED HOGGERS ☀️🛏️

“Let's start with the BIG one.

SUNBEDS.

It's 6:15am.

You walk onto the pool deck.

And there they are.

TWENTY SUNBEDS.

All covered with:

🛏️ Towels

📖 Books

🕶️ Sunglasses

💧 Water bottles

And…

NO PEOPLE.

Nobody.

They're apparently:

☕ Having breakfast

🚿 Showering

🏝️ On an excursion

💆 At the spa

And meanwhile 30 people are standing around thinking:

'DO THESE PEOPLE LIVE HERE?!' 😂

This has become such a common cruise complaint that some lines have explicit chair policies. Royal Caribbean currently says pool chairs are first-come, first-served and that its crew may remove belongings from chairs left unattended for more than 30 minutes. (Royal Caribbean)

Check your ship's policy.

And if you claim a sunbed…

ACTUALLY USE IT.

Going for breakfast?

Take your stuff.

Going ashore?

Take your stuff.

Leaving for three hours?

LET SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE THE BED.

Because:

A TOWEL IS NOT A PROPERTY DEED. 😂”

😤 2️⃣ THE LIFT THAT STOPS ON EVERY. SINGLE. FLOOR. 🛗

“Now…

THE LIFTS.

You press:

⬆️

The lift arrives.

You get in.

It's packed...And then…

DING.

Deck 4.

Nobody gets off.

DING.

Deck 5.

One person gets off.

DING.

Deck 6.

Nobody gets off.

DING.

Deck 7.

And you're thinking:

WE'RE GOING TO ARRIVE TOMORROW. 😂

Traditional cruise elevators can stop at every requested floor, even when the lift is already full. That's one reason elevator congestion is regularly cited as a cruise pain point. (Royal Caribbean Blog)

And then there's the worst one…

SOMEONE HAS PRESSED EVERY BUTTON, AND IT NOW LOOKS LIKE ELF'S CHRISTMAS TREE.

Now you've basically booked:

THE ELEVATOR GRAND TOUR. 😂”

😤 3️⃣ DESTINATION ELEVATORS — WHY DON'T ALL SHIPS HAVE THEM?!

“Now here's where things get interesting.

Some newer ships use:

DESTINATION ELEVATORS.

Instead of simply pressing:

⬆️

you select your destination deck on a screen.

The system sends you to a specific elevator.

Once you're in…

IT KNOWS WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

No random person pressing:

Deck 5.

Deck 8.

Deck 11.

Deck 13.

Deck 15.

😂

Royal Caribbean's Icon-class destination elevators were specifically designed to reduce congestion; Royal Caribbean says the system groups passengers by destination, and industry reporting says it substantially reduces average wait and travel time. (Cruise Ship Interiors Awards)

Now…

ARE THEY PERFECT?

No.

There is a learning curve.

If you select the wrong floor, you're not simply pressing another button once you're inside.

You may have to get out and start again. (TravelHost)

But personally?

I LOVE THEM.

Anything that stops:

'DING… DING… DING… DING…'

gets my vote. 😂”

😤 4️⃣ THE BAR BLOCKERS 🍹

“Now this one is going to annoy some people.

THE BAR BLOCKERS.

You walk up to the bar.

You know what you want.

GIN & TONIC.

Simple.

But sitting at the bar are six people who:

🍹 Have finished their drinks

🗣️ Are having a conversation

🍽️ Are discussing dinner

📱 Are looking at photos

And appear to have:

NO INTENTION OF MOVING.

😂

Now…

if you're sitting at the bar and drinking?

FINE.

That's literally what the bar is for.

But if you've finished your drink and you're holding a meeting…

PLEASE MOVE TWO FEET. 😂

There are other seats.”

😤 5️⃣ THE “WHAT DID YOU ORDER AGAIN?” BAR MOMENT 🍸

“Now…

I want to be fair here.

THIS ONE IS OFTEN NOT THE STAFF'S FAULT.

You walk up.

The bar is packed.

One crew member is serving:

🍹 Cocktails

🍺 Beer

🥤 Soft drinks

☕ Coffee

💳 Payments

📱 Drinks packages

And someone is asking:

'Can I have another straw?'

😂

You give your order:

'Gin and tonic, please.'

They nod.

They walk away.

Five minutes later:

'Sorry, what did you want again?'

😂😂😂

I TOLD YOU.

But honestly…

if they're serving half the ship…

I GET IT.”

😤 6️⃣ WHEN CREW ARE OVERWORKED

“This is one of the pain points I think we need to talk about properly.

Sometimes the issue isn't:

BAD SERVICE.

It's:

TOO MUCH DEMAND.

A bar gets slammed.

The dining room gets slammed.

Guest services gets slammed.

An excursion returns.

Everybody wants something…

RIGHT NOW.

And the crew are trying to juggle:

👥 Customers

🍽️ Orders

💳 Payments

🧾 Bills

📱 Systems

And sometimes…

THEY JUST CAN'T MOVE FAST ENOUGH.

So before you start shouting…

remember:

THE CREW DIDN'T CREATE THE QUEUE. ❤️

Be patient.

And if you're somewhere that is absolutely overwhelmed…

FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.

Sometimes a quieter bar two minutes away gives you:

🍹 Faster service

🪑 A seat

😌 Less stress

and a happier holiday.”

😤 7️⃣ THE PEOPLE WHO SIT AROUND THE BAR WITHOUT BUYING A DRINK

“Now…

THIS ONE.

You have:

BAR.

You need:

DRINK.

But the seating area is occupied by:

👥 People having a chat

📱 People on phones

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People waiting for dinner

And…

NO DRINKS.

😂

You're standing there thinking:

'CAN I JUST GET A WATER?!'

Again…

if you're using the space and having a drink…

fine.

But if the bar is packed and you've finished?

LET SOMEBODY ELSE IN.

There are plenty of lounges on a cruise ship.

THE BAR IS NOT A WAITING ROOM. 😂”

😤 8️⃣ BUFFET CHAOS 🍽️

“Sea day.

12:30pm.

You walk into the buffet.

MISTAKE.

😂

Everyone is there.

Someone stops directly in front of you.

Someone is reaching across you.

Someone changes direction without warning.

Someone is standing in the middle of the walkway…

THINKING.

And you're behind them thinking:

THE PIZZA IS OVER THERE. PLEASE MOVE. 😂

Try:

🕐 Earlier lunch

🕑 Later lunch

🍕 Alternative casual restaurants

🍽️ Main dining

And before filling your plate:

WALK AROUND FIRST.

Know what you actually want.

😤 9️⃣ THE DINING ROOM WAIT

“You've booked dinner for 7pm.

So has:

EVERYONE ELSE.

😂

Suddenly:

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Couples

👨‍👩‍👧 Families

👥 Groups

all arrive at once.

💡 FIX

If you have flexibility:

Try earlier.

Or later.

Or check whether another included restaurant is available.

Sometimes changing your dinner time by:

30 MINUTES

can completely change the experience.”

😤 🔟 THE CABIN THAT'S IN THE WRONG PLACE 🛏️🔊

“Here's one that can ruin your sleep.

You book the cabin.

The picture looks beautiful.

The price looks good.

You arrive…

THUMP.

11pm.

THUMP. THUMP.

Midnight.

THUMP THUMP THUMP.

And you realise…

YOU'RE UNDER THE NIGHTCLUB.

😂

Or:

🏊 Pool deck

🍽️ Buffet

🎭 Theatre

🍹 Bar

🏋🏼‍♂️Gym

Before booking:

LOOK ABOVE, BELOW & BESIDE YOU.

The cabin itself might be gorgeous.

But:

WHAT'S NEXT TO IT?

can be more important.”

😤 1️⃣1️⃣ THE LIFT QUEUE THAT ISN'T ACTUALLY A QUEUE

“Traditional cruise elevators can create another problem.

WHO WAS HERE FIRST?

You arrive.

Three people are standing there.

Then four more arrive.

Then an elevator opens.

Everyone moves at once.

And suddenly you're playing:

CRUISE ELEVATOR SURVIVOR. 😂

People squeeze in.

People block the doors.

People try to get in before others get out.

💡 FIX

Let people GET OFF FIRST.

Then get on.

I know.

Revolutionary. 😂”

😤 1️⃣2️⃣ THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T LET ANYONE OFF

“You've been standing inside the elevator.

Doors open.

You need to get off.

But six people outside are already trying to get in.

STOP.

😂

Let people off.

Then get in.

THE LIFT WILL STILL BE THERE.

😤 1️⃣3️⃣ THE EVERY-BUTTON PRESSER

“And while we're on lifts…

WHO PRESSED EVERY BUTTON?

Because one person in your elevator apparently wants:

THE FULL EXPERIENCE. 😂

Deck 4.

Deck 5.

Deck 6.

Deck 7.

Every.

Single.

One.

And now the lift is stopping 14 times.

If your ship has a traditional elevator:

JUST PRESS YOUR FLOOR.

And if you have children…

perhaps explain that:

THIS IS NOT A TOY. 😂”

😤 1️⃣4️⃣ SHIP-TIME CONFUSION ⏰

“Now here's one that can cause genuine problems.

SHIP TIME.

You get off.

Your phone changes.

The local time is different.

Your watch says something else.

Your excursion ticket says something else.

And you're thinking:

WHAT TIME IS IT?! 😂

Before leaving the ship:

KNOW THE OFFICIAL SHIP TIME.

And set your phone/watch accordingly if needed.

Especially for independent port days.

Because:

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THE SHIP BECAUSE YOUR PHONE HAD A LITTLE IDENTITY CRISIS. 😂”

😤 1️⃣5️⃣ THE PORT EXCURSION PANIC 🚌

“You book an excursion.

Great.

Then:

'Please meet at 8:00am.'

So now you're:

😴 Half asleep

☕ Coffee-less

🏃 Running

And there are 200 people going to exactly the same place.

Read your instructions the night before.

Set an alarm.

Know:

📍 Meeting point

🕐 Time

🎟️ Ticket

🎒 What to bring

And don't assume:

'Someone will tell me.'

YOU ARE SOMEONE. 😂”

😤 1️⃣6️⃣ THE PORT DAY TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE 🚦

“You're in port.

You've done your tour.

You have to get back.

And then:

TRAFFIC.

Now you're watching the clock thinking:

'PLEASE MOVE.'

This is why we keep saying:

BUILD IN A BUFFER.

Especially if you're doing the port independently.

Missing a landmark?

Annoying.

Missing your ship?

VERY ANNOYING. 😂”

😤 1️⃣7️⃣ THE TENDER BOAT WAIT 🚤

“Some ports don't allow the ship to dock directly.

So you need a:

TENDER.

And suddenly everyone wants off at the same time.

So you get:

🎟️ Waiting

👥 Queues

🚤 Tender boats

😴 Early wake-up

And you're thinking:

I COULD HAVE STAYED IN BED. 😂

If you don't have a time-critical excursion…

wait for the first rush to pass.

Sometimes the best strategy is:

LET EVERYONE ELSE GO FIRST.”

😤 1️⃣8️⃣ THE “EVERYONE HAS THE SAME IDEA” PROBLEM

“It's 6pm.

Everyone thinks:

LET'S GET A DRINK.

Bar packed.

Then:

LET'S GO TO DINNER.

Dining room packed.

Then:

LET'S GO TO THE SHOW.

Lifts packed.

Then:

LET'S GET ICE CREAM.

Queue.

😂

DON'T FOLLOW THE CROWD.

Go:

🕐 15 minutes earlier

or

🕑 15 minutes later.

Or…

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

It can make a ridiculous difference.”

😤 1️⃣9️⃣ THE ANNOUNCEMENT OVERLOAD 🔊

“Ding-dong!

'Good morning, ladies and gentlemen…'

Ding-dong!

'Don't forget today's activities…'

Ding-dong!

'Bingo starts in 10 minutes…'

Ding-dong!

'The captain would like to remind you…'

Ding-dong!

YES. WE KNOW. 😂

For some people it's reassuring.

For others…

IT NEVER STOPS.

Use the app and daily programme.

You'll often know what's happening before the tannoy tells you.”

😤 2️⃣0️⃣ KIDS ON SEA DAYS 👨‍👩‍👧

“Now…parents…

I see you.

It's raining.

Sea day.

Kids are:

BORED.

😂

And suddenly:

'Mum!'

'Mom!'

'Dad!'

'I'm hungry.'

'I'm bored.'

'What are we doing?'

Know where:

🎮 Kids' club

🏊 Pools

🎯 Games

🏓 Sports

🎭 Shows

🍕 Food

are before you need them.

Because:

THE BEST TIME TO FIND THE KIDS' CLUB IS NOT WHEN EVERYONE IS MELTING DOWN. 😂”

😤 2️⃣1️⃣ THE CABIN THAT'S TOO FAR FROM EVERYTHING

“You booked a giant ship.

Then discover your cabin is:

AT THE END OF THE EARTH. 😂

Dinner?...15 minutes.

Theatre?...20 minutes.

Pool?...17 minutes.

Forgot your phone?...ANOTHER 20.

When booking:

📍 Think about what you use most.

Want the theatre every night?

Don't book miles away.

Have mobility concerns?

Think about lift access and walking distances.

But…

don't automatically book beside the lift if you're a light sleeper.

EVERY LOCATION HAS A TRADE-OFF.”

😤 2️⃣2️⃣ THE SHIP IS TOO BIG

“Some people LOVE mega-ships.

And I get it. I am one of them!!

But there comes a moment when you think:

'WHERE AM I?' 😂

You've been walking for ten minutes.

You pass the same restaurant three times.

You have absolutely no idea where your cabin is.

Take a picture of the deck plan.

Use the app.

Learn:

🛗 Lift areas

🍽️ Dining

🎭 Theatre

🏊 Pool

🛏️ Cabin

And if you're really lost…

ASK THE CREW.

They live there.

You don't. 😂”

😤 2️⃣3️⃣ THE SERVICE DESK QUEUE

“Something has gone wrong.

You head to Guest Services.

And…

THE QUEUE IS 47 PEOPLE LONG.

😂

Recent cruise reporting has highlighted long guest-services waits, including cases where passengers have spent more than an hour in line trying to resolve problems. (Cruise Critic)

If it's something you can solve through:

📱 App

☎️ Phone

💻 Booking account

do that first.

If you need Guest Services:

GO WHEN THE REST OF THE SHIP IS BUSY DOING SOMETHING ELSE.

And if it's a serious issue…

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.

Dates.

Times.

Names.

Receipts.

Photos.

That makes resolving a problem much easier.”

😤 2️⃣4️⃣ WIFI THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO THROW YOUR PHONE INTO THE SEA 📱🌊

“Ahhh…

CRUISE Wi-Fi.

You pay.

You connect.

It loads.

It thinks.

You wait.

NOTHING.

😂

Before buying cruise Wi-Fi:

Check:

📱 Your mobile plan

🌍 eSIM options

📍 Your itinerary

🚢 Whether you need at-sea connectivity

And yes…

CHECK MARITIME eSIM OPTIONS IF YOU NEED CONNECTION WHILE SAILING.

But don't assume a normal travel eSIM works offshore.

Check the coverage first.”

😤 2️⃣5️⃣ REMEMBER THE HIDDEN COSTS

“You thought the cruise was:

£799.

Fantastic.

Then:

🍹 Drinks

📱 Wi-Fi

🍽️ Speciality dining

🏝️ Excursions

💳 Gratuities

📸 Photos

🛍️ Shopping

And suddenly:

£799 HAS LEFT THE BUILDING. 😂

Before booking:

CALCULATE THE TOTAL HOLIDAY COST.

Not the headline cruise fare.

The whole thing.”

😤 2️⃣6️⃣ THE “FREE” UPGRADE THAT ISN'T WHAT YOU THOUGHT

“You receive:

FREE UPGRADE! 🎉

Amazing.

Until you find out you've gone from:

Inside cabin

to:

Slightly better inside cabin. 😂

Always ask:

'UPGRADED TO WHAT?'

Category.

Deck.

Location.

View.

And what perks actually come with it.

Because:

FREE ≠ AUTOMATICALLY BETTER.”

😤 2️⃣7️⃣ THE CREW ASKING FOR YOUR ORDER… AGAIN 🍹

“We've already talked about this one.

But it deserves its own place.

You order:

'Pina Colada.'

Crew member:

'Absolutely.'

You wait.

They come back:

'Sorry, what was that again?'

😂

And yes…

it's annoying.

But if they're serving 20 people at once…

HAVE SOME PATIENCE.

The solution isn't to yell.

The solution is:

BE HUMAN.

And if it's taking forever…

MOVE TO A QUIETER BAR.”

😤 2️⃣8️⃣ THE PEOPLE WHO WON'T MOVE ASIDE

“Here is another cruise classic.

You're trying to get:

➡️ Through a corridor

➡️ Into a lift

➡️ Out of a restaurant

➡️ To your seat

And there's a group of six people standing:

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

Having a conversation.

😂

Sometimes you simply have to say:

'Excuse me.'

Politely.

Because:

THE SHIP IS STILL THERE FOR THE OTHER 4,000 PEOPLE. 😂”

😤 2️⃣9️⃣ THE FOMO PROBLEM

“This is a strange pain point.

Cruise ships give you:

TOO MUCH TO DO.

And suddenly you think:

'I'M MISSING SOMETHING.'

You skipped the quiz.

You didn't see the show.

You didn't try the new restaurant.

Someone else went to the pool.

Someone else did the excursion.

And you think:

I'M HAVING A BAD CRUISE.

No...You're not.

You are simply:

NOT ABLE TO BE IN SIX PLACES AT ONCE. 😂

Pick three must-dos.

Everything else is a bonus.

RELAXING IS ALSO AN ACTIVITY. ❤️”

😤 3️⃣0️⃣ THE DISEMBARKATION NIGHTMARE

“You've had seven wonderful days.

Then the final night arrives.

PACK YOUR BAGS.

Your suitcase gets collected.

You wake up.

And suddenly…

THE HOLIDAY IS OVER. 😭

Then you've got:

🧳 Luggage

🛗 Lifts

👥 Queues

🚕 Transfers

✈️ Flights

And everyone is trying to leave at once.

Pack early.

Keep a final-night bag.

Know your departure plan.

And if you don't have an early flight…

DON'T JOIN THE MAD RUSH.

Sometimes breakfast and a slower exit are far more pleasant.”

🏆 3️⃣1️⃣ THE BIGGEST PAIN POINT OF ALL

“You know what I think the biggest cruise pain point actually is?

EXPECTATION.

You see:

✨ The perfect ship

✨ The perfect cabin

✨ The perfect holiday

✨ The perfect itinerary

And then…

something goes wrong.

The weather changes.

The port is cancelled.

The restaurant is busy.

The lift is packed.

Your cocktail takes 15 minutes.

The sunbed you've been eyeing is occupied.

😂

And suddenly you think:

'THIS HOLIDAY IS RUINED.'

No.

IT'S NOT.

Something annoying happened.

That's different.”

❤️3️⃣2️⃣THE GOLDEN RULE

DON'T LET A SMALL PAIN POINT STEAL A BIG HOLIDAY. ❤️

If the lift is packed…

take the stairs.

If the buffet is chaos…

eat somewhere else.

If the bar is slammed…

find another one.

If someone has stolen your sunbed…

find another seat.

If dinner is delayed…

have a drink.

If the weather changes…

adapt.

And if the crew are having a nightmare trying to serve 300 people…

REMEMBER THEY'RE HUMAN.

Because sometimes:

**THE BEST SOLUTION TO A CRUISE PAIN POINT…

IS SIMPLY NOT TO LET IT BECOME YOUR PROBLEM.**”

“So…

IS CRUISING PERFECT?

Maybe for some..

And that's exactly why we love talking about it.

Because:

☀️ Sunbed hoggers are annoying.

🛗 Lifts can make you lose the will to live.

🍹 Bar blockers are real.

🍽️ Buffets can become war zones.

🔊 Some cabins are noisier than you'd expect.

💷 Extras can add up.

🧳 Luggage can disappear.

🚌 Ports can be chaotic.

📱 Wi-Fi can test your patience.

And sometimes…

EVERYONE JUST NEEDS TO MOVE TWO FEET TO THE LEFT. 😂

But that's cruising.

And honestly…

I'd take a few annoying moments on a cruise over a boring week at home. ❤️🚢

So remember:

KNOW THE PAIN POINTS.

PLAN AROUND THEM.

DON'T BE THE PAIN POINT. 😂

Because there's nothing worse than complaining about the sunbed hoggers…

while you're secretly saving one yourself.

👀

And remember…

The perfect cruise doesn't exist.

But the:

PERFECT CRUISE MEMORY

just might.

🚢❤️ SEE YOU ON BOARD!