Life on a cruise ship is very different. For crew members, ships are not just places of travel, they are homes, workplaces, and communities, often for months at a time. Many crew live onboard on rotating contracts, spending long stretches at sea before finally returning home.

Over years of ship life, certain patterns naturally stand out. While the vast majority of guests are respectful, friendly, and appreciative, some everyday behaviors repeatedly catch the attention of crew. These moments are rarely about major incidents, but rather small actions that reflect courtesy, and respect. Here are some:

1. Saying “Hello” Costs Nothing

Let’s start with something incredibly basic: greeting the person serving you.

Standing at a buffet and saying, “Hi, good morning, may I have… thank you,” should be automatic. Yet many guests skip all of that. They point, demand, or bark orders as if the person behind the counter isn’t even there.

Crew aren’t machines. They’re people often far from home, working long hours, smiling through exhaustion. A simple greeting can completely change someone’s day.

2. Leaving a Disaster Behind You

No one expects guests to clean tables or wash dishes. You’re on vacation. But that doesn’t mean turning shared spaces into chaos.

Leaving piles of plates, cutlery scattered everywhere, napkins on the floor, food spilled across the table and then walking away like it’s someone else’s problem is unnecessary. Making a small effort to stack plates or leave the area manageable shows basic consideration for the next guest and the crew member who has to clean up.

3. Room Service Trays in Corridors: Just Don’t

Cruise ship corridors are narrow often barely wide enough for two people to pass. Leaving room service trays outside cabins isn’t just rude, it’s dangerous.

Those trays block walkways, create trip hazards, and can cause serious issues in an emergency. Imagine trying to evacuate quickly, or maneuvering a wheelchair, walker, or stroller around dirty trays and dishes.

It’s also unpleasant. No one wants to walk past someone else’s half-eaten breakfast.

If your tray needs to be collected, keep it inside your cabin or call room service. They’ll pick it up quickly. That’s literally their job—when asked.

4. Treating the Ship Like a Trash Can

Coffee cups left on stairs. Glasses placed in flower pots. Items dropped on the floor with the assumption that “someone else will deal with it.”

This kind of behavior sends a clear message: my convenience matters more than your dignity. Asking someone to bend down and clean up after you because you couldn’t be bothered is disrespectful plain and simple.

5. Taking Frustrations Out on the Wrong People

Weather changes. Ports get cancelled. Hurricanes happen. And none of that is the bartender’s fault. It’s not the waiter’s fault. Often, it’s not even the captain’s fault.

Cruise itineraries can change due to weather or unforeseen events that’s clearly stated in the terms and conditions everyone agrees to when booking. Yelling at crew won’t change the weather, and it certainly won’t earn you a free cruise.

Everyone works hard for their vacation. Crew understand that. They have families too. They also miss birthdays, weddings, holidays, and home sometimes for up to nine months at a time—so guests can enjoy theirs.

A Little Perspective Goes a Long Way

Cruising wouldn’t exist without crew. Every meal served, cabin cleaned, drink poured, and safety drill completed is made possible by people who gave up comfort and time with loved ones to make your holiday special.

Most guests are wonderful. Truly. But it only takes a few moments of thoughtlessness to make a long shift harder than it needs to be.

So next time you’re onboard, remember: kindness is free, respect is simple, and treating crew like humans not servants makes everyone’s journey better.