After embarking on more than a dozen cruises, I’ve truly met some of the most amazing people onboard who have become lifelong friends.
However, I have also met some pretty terrible and inconsiderate cruisers over the years. From my experience, these are the 13 worst types of cruise guests you might meet onboard – and I implore you to NOT be one of them.
In This Article:
- Entitled and Rude Passengers
- Checked-Out Parents and Their Out-of-Control Kids
- Chair Hogs and Seat Savers
- Latecomers
- Line Cutting and Refusing to Wait
- Impatient Elevator Users
- Overindulgent Guests
- Walking Noise Complaints
- Know-It-Alls
- Rule-Breaking Smokers
- Anti-Germaphobes
- Social Media Obsessors & Amateur Documentarians
- Overly Romantic Couples
- How to Deal With Annoying Cruisers
Entitled and Rude Passengers
We’ve all met that person who thinks they are better than everyone, and they are certainly at the top of my list for being the worst of the worst.
These are the people that are mean to the hard-working crew members. Instead of showing gratitude, they insist that the crew can’t do anything right and are constantly complaining, demanding compensation, and even insulting staff.
On one of my Disney Cruises, I once saw a woman verbally attack a waitress in the Animator’s Palate dining room over the consistency of the butter for her bread until the poor crew member scurried away with tears in her eyes.
Of course, they will also take their excessive complaints and rants to any and all other passengers in the vicinity who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and are forced to listen.
These are also the people who are most likely to skimp on gratuities because they have a plethora of complaints about why their cruise wasn’t perfect.
Checked-Out Parents and Their Out-of-Control Kids
This is a bit of a two-for-one, because you don’t usually get one without the other.
For whatever reason, some parents feel that their cruise vacation is also a vacation from their parenting responsibilities. Maybe they think their child can’t get into any trouble while confined to a cruise ship.
But at best, unsupervised children can become bratty or wild, which is understandably annoying to other guests.
I’ve personally had kids push all the elevator buttons, dump drinks over my head because they thought it would be funny, and have been caught in a surprise pool noodle “sword fight” on a private island.
At worst, the child might attempt stunts that are dangerous, such as climbing on railings or deck and balcony furniture that put them at risk of going overboard.
Chair Hogs and Seat Savers
Perhaps the most controversial people on this list are the chair hogs and seat savers.
These are the notorious cruisers that make their way up to the pool deck early to snag the best seats for their entire travel group, holding onto them for the entire day even when they aren’t actively in use.
Most cruisers do this by putting their towels or small personal belongings on the chairs, but some take things to the next level.
In September of 2025, for example, one group tied what looks like a bunch of towels or clothing items together to form a barrier and block off a whole row of prime loungers.
Chair hogs have become such a problem that cruise lines like Carnival have had to crack down on the act. In Carnival’s case, chairs and loungers that are left empty for 40 minutes will be “unreserved.”
Another place where seat savers love to strike is in the theater. Someone from the travel party will arrive early to grab the best seats and won’t let anyone else sit down.
It’s one thing if you’re saving a seat or two for a few minutes for one or two people, but I’ve seen it happen where someone saves six or more prime seats and the people never actually come to watch the show.
Latecomers
During my travels, I’ve noticed that some guests don’t seem to believe that the schedule applies to them.
This is also something I notice most commonly in the theaters, where someone arrives late to the show and causes a big disturbance as they try to step over people to get to their desired seats – which is rude to both the guests and the performers.
If you’re going to arrive late to a show, at least sit in the back and/or at the end of the row so you don’t have to bother others.
However, latecomers can also wreak havoc in other cases. I’ve seen latecomers delay dining service at shared tables and force shore excursions to start late or leave destinations on the tour late when guests couldn’t return to the bus on time.
Line Cutting and Refusing to Wait
I get it. No one likes to wait in lines and patience is a virtue.
However, there is nothing more annoying than thinking you’re near the front of the line, and then someone (or half a travel group) tries to cut or run to the front to join their travel party.
But unfortunately, I see this all the time at onboard buffets, quick service restaurants, waiting to board tenders at tender ports, and at rental stands at the cruise lines’ private islands.
Similar to seat saving, it’s best to keep your travel party together and get in line once everyone is ready.
Impatient Elevator Users
There is a reason I try to always take the stairs on cruise ships, and I say this as someone who has chronic joint issues and could benefit from an elevator ride here or there.
I’m talking about the people who aren’t willing to wait their turn to use the elevator, and will shove their way in even when there isn’t space – potentially cutting more respectful guests in the process.
These are usually the same people who act oblivious and refuse to move to let other guests out when the elevator stops at different floors on their way to their destination.
I’ve also seen a fair number of able-bodied cruisers shove past disabled guests who can’t move as quickly and do not have the option to take the stairs, forcing them to wait for another elevator.
Overindulgent Guests
Overindulgent guests fall into two categories: drinking way too much and gluttony in the buffet. And sometimes, the worst cruisers check both of these boxes.
Obnoxious drunks can be annoying, and sometimes dangerous, to other guests. They are often loud and unsteady, and for angry drunks, potentially aggressive.
But be warned: Overly intoxicated guests who become belligerent or show signs of becoming violent could risk confinement in the brig or their stateroom, or even removal from the ship.
Meanwhile, buffet gluttons are often known for having eyes bigger than their stomachs. They may take more food than they can actually eat, potentially taking the last of a dish that another guest may have also wanted to savor.
They tend to accumulate a large number of plates and utensils that makes more work for the crew members to clean and leaves little room for other guests in their travel party to dine at the same table.
Walking Noise Complaints
Some cruisers may forget to regulate their volume while at sea, or may just not realize that they are not the star of the show.
These are the people who talk through performances, scream their dinner conversations in the main dining room, and seemingly shout and stomp their way back to their cruise cabins in the wee hours of the morning when other guests are trying to sleep.
This also applies to people who blast their own music or content from speakers or their smartphones in their thinly-walled cruise cabins or in public spaces onboard.
Know-It-Alls
Some avid cruisers want everyone else onboard, from the guests to the crew, to know just how experienced they really are when it comes to ship life.
They have strong opinions about how even complete strangers should be spending their time onboard, and anything that you have done, they have obviously done better and likely for less money (*insert eye-roll here*).
While they may try to offer tips to who they deem as more novice cruisers, it can feel like they are beating you into submission with unsolicited information.
Know-It-Alls can often overlap with more elite members of the cruise line’s loyalty program, and they often like to brag about their status and rewards in between giving advice.
Rule-Breaking Smokers
Cruise ships have designated smoking areas for people who need to get their smoking fix.
There is usually a dedicated outdoor area for this purpose, and for cruise ships with casinos, there may be a smoking casino or a smoking section within the casino.
However, some cruisers love to sneak in a cigarette where they aren’t supposed to, which is often on their private balconies.
Not only does this create a dangerous fire hazard, but it’s extremely rude to other guests.
The smoke smell can ruin their enjoyment of their private balconies, and can linger in staterooms for the room stewards and potentially the next round of guests to deal with.
Anti-Germaphobes
Before you come for me, I am not saying that guests should constantly be wearing masks or anything too extreme.
However, having some concern for basic hygiene can help keep everyone healthy and having fun.
As someone who has been coughed on and sneezed on more times than I can count on cruises, I would like to issue a friendly reminder to cover your nose and mouth.
I also once saw a cruise passenger onboard a Princess Cruise Ship that shall remain nameless taste the mashed potatoes in the buffet with the serving spoon, and then put the serving spoon back and walk away like nothing had happened.
Luckily, a crew member saw the gross stunt and the dish was immediately removed and replaced.
I’ve also seen numerous passengers use the bathroom and leave without even glancing at the sink, which can lead to norovirus or gastrointestinal outbreaks if the wrong person pulls this stunt.
Social Media Obsessors & Amateur Documentarians
The point of a cruise vacation is to detach from the real world, relax, and unwind. However, some cruisers are simply addicted to their screens and can’t fight the urge to show off to their followers.
They are constantly scrolling and posting on social media instead of simply living in the moment.
I often find myself stuck behind these people as they stop or amble slowly down walkways because they are looking at their phone.
Constantly filming and taking pictures can also be annoying to other guests who would rather not be on camera or because they are always getting in the way to capture the perfect background or pose.
Personally, I have been hit in the face by a rapidly extended selfie stick and had an “influencer” stop talking to me mid-sentence because she saw an opportunity for content nearby. Like, really people?
Overly Romantic Couples
A cruise is an excellent romantic getaway to celebrate an anniversary, a honeymoon, or to simply spend time with your favorite person.
And while I’m not saying you shouldn’t show affection to your loved one, some personal displays of affection can be too much and should be saved for the privacy of your cruise cabin.
Not everyone wants to see excessive touching or an intense make-out session, and I’ve personally been driven out of public hot tubs by cruisers who couldn’t stop locking lips.
How to Deal With Annoying Cruisers
With potentially thousands of cruisers onboard, it’s inevitable that some personality types will clash.
But when you encounter one of the worst types of passengers, the best thing you can do is not to engage. Remove yourself from the situation and go back to enjoying your vacation, which is what you’re really there to do.
Read Also: 10 Worst Cruise Fails You Can Prepare For
That said, you also do not simply have to suck it up and take bad behavior.
In situations where guests are particularly obnoxious or exhibiting concerning behaviors, don’t be afraid to ask for help from crew members or security – it’s what they are there for.
Filing a noise complaint, calling security because someone seems dangerously intoxicated, or asking a waiter to not wait for late guests during dinner is all within the realm of reason.
However, we highly recommend that you do not personally confront unruly guests to avoid conflict or a physical altercation.
