Video footage was captured of the moment the Carnival Fantasy was beached in preparation for scrapping at Aliaga, Turkey.
Carnival Fantasy Beached
The Carnival Fantasy cruise ship which is the first in her class has officially reached the end as the vessel as been beached at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey. She joins the two former Royal Caribbean cruise ships of Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas.
The former Carnival cruise ship arrived just off the coast of Aliaga on Tuesday morning and was anchored until she was able to be beached today. The ship will be taken apart, and her metal will be sold off. The ship has already been stripped of all important items when she was docked in Curacao 15 days ago.
As you can see below, the cruise ship is now right next to the former Royal Caribbean and Pullmantur ships where they all await to be scrapped. They will soon be joined by the Carnival Inspiration cruise ship, which is already on its way towards Aliaga and currently in the Meditteranean.
More cruise ships could be beached and scrapped as the global health crises continue to impact the cruise industry around the world. The Carnival Imagination and Carnival Fascination are also going into a cold lay-up as the cruise line plans on a phased-in return to service.
Carnival Fantasy is the first ship in her class and entered service in 1990 at 70,367 gross tons. She helped grow to what it now the world’s largest cruise line. Carnival Cruise Line “did” have a total of eight Fantasy-class vessels.
Royal Caribbean-owned cruise lines are replacing the traditional safety drill and implementing a new virtual drill that reimagines the process.
New Virtual Royal Caribbean Safety Drill
Royal Caribbean Group has announced it’s ditching the traditional safety drill and moving forward with a new virtual drill which is the first of its kind and even patented. The new process is more personal and allows for improveds social distancing and higher levels of safety.
With Muster 2.0, the key elements of the safety drill – including reviewing what to expect and where to go in case of an emergency, and instructions on how to properly use a life jacket – will be accessible to guests on an individual basis instead of a group approach that has been followed historically. New technology, eMuster, will be used to help provide the information to guests via their mobile devices and interactive stateroom TVs.
Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said:
“The health and safety of our guests and crew are our number one priority, and the development of this new muster process is an elegant solution to an outdated, unpopular process.”
“The fact that this will also save guests time and allow the ship to operate without pause means that we can increase health, safety and guest satisfaction simultaneously.”
“Muster 2.0 represents a natural extension of our mission to improve our guests’ vacation experiences by removing points of friction,” said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean Group’s senior vice president of digital. “In this instance, what’s most convenient for our guests is also the safest option in light of needing to reimagine social spaces in the wake of COVID-19.”
Travelers will be able to review the information at their own time prior to setting sail, eliminating the need for the traditional large group assemblies. The new approach also enables everyone on board to maintain better spacing as guests move about the ship, and it allows guests to enjoy more of their vacation with no interruption.
Image Via: Royal Caribbean
After reviewing safety information individually, guests will complete the drill by visiting their assigned assembly station, where a crew member will verify that all steps have been completed and answer questions. Each of the steps will need to be completed prior to the ship’s departure, as required by international maritime law.
The cruise company has been working with the relevant authorities to make sure the new drill procedures comply. Muster 2.0 is being implemented across Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara. TUI Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line will be able to use the new patented safety drill.
When cruises start to resume from October guests will be using the new procedure which is part of a much larger change with new measures to keep guests and crew safe before, during and after a vacation at sea.
Two former Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been beached in Turkey ready to be scrapped, new video footage shows the moment.
Sovereign and Monarch Reach End of the Line
As seen in the above photo by Nautica Goods, two cruise ships that have been covered a lot recently since operator Pullmantur Cruises went out of business have now reached the end of the line at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey.
Monarch, which is formerly known as Monarch of the Seas, was beached yesterday at Aliaga, which is just north of Izmir in Turkey. The last remaining crew members, apart from the essentials, were already transferred to Celerity Infinity. The crew will be taken on by Royal Caribbean, which is some good news. Valuable items and equipment were already removed when the ship was docked in Naples recently.
Video footage has been captured of the moment the Monarch was beached and the final time the engine will be used as she’ll be taken apart bit by bit. A sad ending for a vessel that has such a long history, which those who love cruise ships will appreciate.
This morning sister ship Sovereign which is also formally known as Sovereign of the Seas was beached too. The ship will now await scrapping after already being stripped of important items in Naples, Italy recently. The crew were already transferred to the Celebrity Constellation cruise ship on July 20.
Another vessel which was part of the Pullmantur fleet named Horizon is just one step behind and also set to be scrapped. The ship is current off the Greek coast after being stripped of all important items. The ship will soon join Monarch and Sovereign on the beach at Aliaga.
Pullmantur was forced to close its business due to the impact of the suspension of operations. The Spanish cruise line was no longer able to continue and Royal Caribbean partly owned the operator and took back control of the fleet before selling the ships for scrap.
A lot of memories for many cruisers on these ships. Sovereign of the Seas was first in her class and at the time she entered service in 1987 was the new mega-ship of the industry. The vessel was constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France and is over 73,500 gross tons with a passenger capacity of over over 2,800 at double occupancy
Monarch of the Seas was the second in the Sovereign-class for Royal Caribbean and was also built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. The ship debuted in 1991 and is over 73,900 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 2,700.
Is it possible to speed up your refund from a cancelled cruise vacation? Yes, if you are prepared for the refund process and use easy tricks to make the refund more efficient.
Why Refunds Take So Long
With the global COVID-19 pandemic continuing and more cruises being cancelled as case numbers grow, ports of call implement travel restrictions, and new cruise ships get delayed, you may be wondering where your cruise refund is and how you can speed up the refund process.
It can take several weeks or months to fully process a cruise travel refund, particularly if the refund involves multiple passengers, several cabins, or complicated booking with add-on drink packages, pre-booked tours, spa appointments, airfare, and airport transfers.
This is an unprecedented time for the cruise industry as sailings are cancelled around the world, and cruise lines are working diligently to refund fares as efficiently as possible. When a refund may involve multiple time zones, different currencies, different banking regulations, and other complications, however, it can be a tricky and time-consuming process. Fortunately, you can speed up your refund.
Do You Need Your Refund?
Many cruise lines are offering passengers incentives to pass up a refund. Special deals like future cruise credits with bonus amounts, often up to 125% of the initial fare, can be a great bargain for cruise travelers in lieu of straight refunds.
While the exact offers vary for different cruise lines and impacted sailings, other deals may include onboard credit based on the cabin type, cabin upgrades, or other incentives for rebooking or postponing a cruise instead of requesting a refund.
These incentive offers are typically the default choice when a cruise is cancelled at this time, so passengers who want to take advantage of the special bonuses do not need to take any extra steps to receive them. These offers will process automatically and be available for passengers to use on future sailings.
It is important to note that these bonus offers only apply to the cruise fare itself. Extra charges, including taxes and port fees, will still be refunded to all passengers.
Many passengers, however, may prefer to request a refund instead of using these incentive offers. This may be true for guests who simply prefer not to sail because of the uncertainty in the industry, or whose cruise plans may have been dramatically altered because of ship repositionings, altered itineraries, or personal economics that mean a cruise vacation is no longer possible.
No matter what the reason, every passenger is entitled to request a full refund of their cruise fare.
Speeding Up Your Cruise Refund
The first step to speeding up your cruise refund is to request a full refund immediately, as soon as your cruise is cancelled. This will start the process right away so you can get your money back more quickly.
There are several ways you can request a refund, depending on the cruise line. Some cruise lines have set up dedicated online forms for refund requests, or you can call customer service hotlines to submit your request to a representative. If you booked your cruise through a travel agent, you should check with your agent for the best procedure for requesting a full refund.
If you call to speak with a representative, try calling outside peak hours to shorten wait times. Calling earlier in the day or later in the evening will generally mean less time spent on hold, so you can speak with a representative more quickly.
Note, however, that different cruise lines have different hours of operation for service calls, and you will need to call during those available hours.
If you’ve booked your cruise travel through a travel agent, your agent may have access to different customer service phone numbers or representative extensions. Using those numbers can make your call a higher priority and you may be able to speak to someone sooner than by calling a general number.
Likewise, if you are a priority past passenger with the cruise line, calling a number dedicated to your passenger status can be helpful to get in touch with a representative more quickly.
When you call to speed up your refund, it is helpful if you have all the numbers associated with your cruise immediately available. This includes:
Reservation or confirmation number of the booking
The date you booked or paid for the cruise
Sailing date for the cancelled cruise
Past passenger program numbers, if applicable
Credit card or banking numbers for how you paid for the cruise
Identification numbers for all passengers, such as birthdates
Additionally, you should know the cruise fare breakdown for each passenger’s fare. For example, some cruise lines offer deals where the second, third, or fourth passengers in the same cabin receive dramatically reduced fares, so the amount of refund in each passenger’s name may be different.
Also knowing the amount of the total cost that is attributed to taxes and port fees can help you be certain that your refund is processed completely, as different parts of the refund may be processed at different times.
Once you are on the phone waiting to speak with a representative, be patient. Hold times can be extensive when hundreds or thousands of cruise passengers are calling for refund assistance, booking questions, and other concerns.
If you have a speakerphone option, you can use that to avoid holding your phone to your ear for long periods as you wait to connect with a representative.
When you connect with a customer service representative, remain calm and polite with them at all times. Many representatives are working remotely rather than in their offices, and their connections may not be as clear or their computers could lag more than if all office operations were fully open. Make sure you speak clearly and stay patient with further holds as they look up your information and investigate the status of your refund.
As you speak with a cruise line representative, take notes about their progress. Be sure to get their name and employee number if possible, as well as a direct phone extension, so you can reconnect with them immediately if the call is accidentally disconnected.
This can also help if you need to make multiple calls regarding the same refund, as you’ll have notes on what progress has already been made and what the result was of each call. Note the dates and times you’ve called, how long each call lasted, and any reference numbers regarding the call so your records can be accessed quickly in future calls.
It will take time to get a cruise refund fully processed, and you may need to call again in a few days or weeks if your refund does not seem to be moving forward. Be in touch with your credit card company or bank to check on any in-progress refunds or charge reversals, and be prepared to call the cruise line again for an update on the refund’s progress. After your first call, note when they recommend you call again, and respect that timeline for further contact.
Be Patient
It can be difficult to wait on a cruise vacation refund when economic times have shifted and it can be difficult to meet other bills or you may have lost a job or significant income due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It can take 90 days or more to process a cruise refund, but if you call customer service and work with them politely, it is possible to resolve your refund more quickly. Remaining patient is essential, and eventually, all the parts of your refund will be successfully accounted for.
Carnival Inspiration is currently heading towards the scrapyard in Turkey after already being stripped of important items and equipment.
Is Carnival Inspiration Being Scrapped?
Even though Carnival Cruise Line has not yet announced anything, it’s pretty much confirmed that Carnival Inspiration will become the second ship in the fleet to be scrapped.
After spending several days docked at the Brion Wharf in Willemstad, Curacao the ship has now departed the southern Caribbean island and her heading is Izmir, Turkey. Just north is the large ship breaking facility at Aliaga, a place which is often the final destination for cruise ships.
According to the Cruise Ship Tracker, her destination is showing Izmir, Turkey, which is following in the footsteps of other recent cruise ships that are being scrapped. She’s already been stripped of all the important things at the cargo dock in Curacao which the port recently confirmed.
Carnival Inspiration is following sister ship Carnival Fantasy which has also been sold and scrapped. Carnival Fantasy already departed the Caribbean island and currently heading across the Atlantic to Turkey.
It’s a sad ending for Carnival Inspiration as one of the oldest in the fleet but due to the suspension of cruise operations, it was to be expected. Parent company Carnival Corp already announced that a total of 13 vessels across its cruise brands would be disposed of and nine of them in 90 days.
The ship follows other vessels that have been confirmed to leave Carnival Corporation, including MS Maasdam, MS Veendam, MS Amsterdam, MS Rotterdam, Oceana, Costa Victoria, and Costa neoRomantica. Carnival Fantasy is also leaving but the cruise line has not yet announced it.
Carnival Inspiration was delivered to Carnival Cruise Line in 1996 is part of the popular Fantasy-class. She has a gross tonnage of 70,367 and has a guest capacity of 2,697 at double occupancy, along with 920 crew members. The ship’s last refurbishment was in 2018 and another dry dock was scheduled for 2021.
Heavy equipment is being unloaded from two Fantasy class cruise ships operated by Carnival Cruise Line, possibly a hint that they could be about to leave the fleet.
Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration Leaving?
There have been some rumors over the past few days of two Carnival cruise ships that might become the first to leave the fleet. It seems that the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration could be the first to go as work has already started on preparing the ships.
According to the Curacao Ports Authority, both ships are currently docked in Brion Wharf in Willemstad and apparently heavy equipment is being unloaded. This is often a sign that a ship will be scrapped and possibly sold off.
Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration moored at the container terminal for unloading heavy equipment.
For Carnival Fantasy it is looking like she will be scrapped as according to cruise ship trackers, her next destination after Curacao will be Izmir, Turkey. Just north of Izmir is the Aliaga scrapyard which is where many cruise ships sadly go to be scrapped.
It comes as no surprise for the Carnival Fantasy as she is currently the oldest ship in the fleet and parent company Carnival Corp has already announced that a total of 13 cruise ships across its nine brands will be disposed of.
Before Carnival Cruise Line suspended operations in March 2020, the Carnival Fantasy was based out of the Port of Mobile in Alabama. The ship was originally scheduled to continue sailing from there until Carnival Fascination was to take over in 2022 but now it seems the vessel will be disposed of much earlier.
Carnival Inspiration is usually based out of Long Beach sailing short Mexican Riveria cruises. Both vessels have also been featured on ship brokerage sites with Carnival Fantasy already being listed for a while before the health crisis hit.
The cruise line has not yet confirmed which ships will be leaving the fleet but hopefully soon an announcement will be made. Some concerned cruisers have already asked Carnival Cruise Line Ambassador John Heald about the two vessels but he does not yet know any details.
Carnival Fantasy was the first in her class and was delivered in 1990 taking the cruise line into a new era of cruise design. The ship’s most recent dry dock took place in January 2019. She’s 70,367 gross tons and has a guest capacity of 2,056 at double occupancy along with 920 crew members.
Carnival Inspiration entered service in 1996 and continues the Fantasy-class design. The ship last underwent a dry dock in November 2018 and that could have been the final one. The ship is 70,367 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 2,054 at double occupancy. The vessel also has a capacity of 920 crew members.
Carnival Cruise Line has currently suspended cruises from the United States through September 2020. The first sailings are set to commence in October and will be phased in. Carnival is also working with the relevant authorities to introduce new health measures for when cruises resume.
Carnival Cruise Line has revealed that the new Mardi Gras cruise ship won’t be arriving until February 2021, and all of the ship’s cruises until then are cancelled.
Carnival Mardi Gras Cruises Cancelled
The Miami-based cruise line has revealed and confirmed much speculation that the new Mardi Gras cruise ship has been delayed. The largest-ever cruise ship to be constructed for Carnival now won’t be arriving until February 2021.
The ship, which is the first in the fleet powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), will debut out of Port Canaveral on February 6, 2021. That means all previously planned cruises from November 14, 2020 to January 30, 2021 are cancelled.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said:
“While we had hoped to make up construction time on Mardi Gras over the summer, it’s clear we will need extra time to complete this magnificent ship. We share our guests’ disappointment and appreciate their patience as we work through this unprecedented time in our business and the lives of so many people. We remain committed to working with government, public health and industry officials to support the response to the pandemic and to return to operations when the time is right.”
The cruise line has already started to send out communications to those guests impacted by the cancelled sailings. Compensation is being offered in the form of a 100% Future Cruise Credit along with $600 of onboard credit per stateroom if a new cruise is booked by May 31, 2021. Cruise Hive readers can read the full communication from Carnival below:
This news comes as no surprise as Carnival has already said in the last few weeks that new cruise ship deliveries will need to be delayed. This also applies to other new ships for sister brands, including the new P&O Iona for P&O Cruises in the UK.
Mardi Gras is currently in the final stages of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The yard has been hit by the global crisis, which has resulted in work being delayed on the vessel. The suspension of cruise operations has also not helped and cruise lines are struggling to come up with funds to keep the business going.
It’s pretty bad news for those guests who were looking forward to enjoying one of the most advanced and newest ships in the world. Mardi Gras features the world’s first roller coaster at sea, which has been much anticipated along with many new onboard spaces and experiences.
Some guests have been hit even harder after they re-booked the Mardi Gras for a second time before next year. This is because the ship has already been delayed once due to the complex construction of the ship.
She was originally scheduled to debut on August 31, 2020, out of Copenhagen. The date was then pushed back to debut out of Port Canaveral on November 14, 2020. Let’s hope the further delay will be the last and cruisers can enjoy the new mega-ship next year.
Mardi Gras will be 180,800 gross tons and have a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy, along with 1,735 crew members.
These are the Carnival cruise ships that might be sold soon due to the impact of the suspension of cruise operations.
Carnival Cruise Ships That Could Be Sold
Cruise Hive recently reported on parent company the Carnival Corporation, which had plans to dispose of cruise ships due to the impact on the business from the suspension of operations around the world. The company mentioned that six cruise ships across its nine cruise brands already have agreements in place to be sold or scrapped before the end of 2020.
The cruise company also hinted that even more cruise ships could go to help cruise brands ride out the suspension of sailings and keep the fleet maintained until cruises do eventually resume. When Carnival Corp revealed this information no specific ships were mentioned but recently a number of vessels have started to pop up on vessel brokerage sites. We also know some of the ships such as the Carnival Fantasy have already been open to purchase for sometime before the health crisis hit.
Before getting into which cruise ships might be sold off it is important to know that nothing has actually been confirmed by the cruise line and even though some ships have recently appeared on brokerage sites nothing is yet set in stone until an official announcement.
Carnival Fantasy
It comes as no surprise the Carnival Fantasy is listed to be sold off. The ship is currently the oldest in the fleet and joined the fleet all the way back in 1990. The vessel is currently listed here for $100 million.
The ship last underwent a refurbishment in 2019 but it wasn’t a major update and mainly just general maintenance and essentials. Carnival Fantasy was built in Finland and is 70,367 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 2,056 at double occupancy.
Before Carnival Cruise Line voluntary suspended cruise operations the vessel was sailing out of the Port of Mobile in Alabama. The vessel is set to stop sailing from the port once Carnival Fascination takes over in 2022. That could allow the ship to be disposed of much earlier if needed.
Carnival Ecstasy
The Carnival cruise ship is the second oldest in the fleet and entered service in 1991. The ship is currently listed for sale on the Ferry & Cruise Shipbrokers web site. Carnival Ecstasy was cruising out Jacksonville, Florida before the pause on cruises.
The ship is 70,367 gross tons and has a guest capacity of 2,056 at double occupancy. Her most recent upgrade was in October 2019 which was mainly general maintenance with the only real highlight of a new Bonsai Sushi Express being added.
Carnival Elation
The cruise ship is up for sale right here at Yacht World and the current price for the ship is $250 million. The vessel joined the Carnival fleet in 1998 and is one of the newest in the Fantasy-class at 71,909 gross tons and a guest capacity of 2,190 at double occupancy. The ship is based out of Port Canaveral, Florida.
Carnival Inspiration
Carnival Inspiration is another of the Fantasy-class vessels but this ship is among the newest in the class and entered service in 1996. Just like her sister ships, she is starting to show her age and fall behind compared to the newer more advanced vessels now entering service.
The vessel is listed on Yacht World and currently for sale for $155 million. The ship is also listed right here on the popular Ferry & Cruise Shipbroker site for a higher $200 Million. Carnival Inspiration is 70,367 gross tons and has a guest capacity of over 2,000 at double occupancy.
Carnival Sunrise
The most surprising Carnival ship now up for sale is the Carnival Sunrise. The ship is part of the Sunshine-class and underwent a huge transformation from the Carnival Triumph in Spring 2019. The ship which originally entered service for the cruise line in 1999 is up for sale at Ferry & Cruise Shipbrokers for $350 million. However, since the listing was first found it has been removed which could mean an agreement has been made or Carnival has decided to remove for another reason.
Carnival Sunrise is based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and hopefully, we’ll know soon if the ship will continue to sail from there. The ship which is almost identical to the Carnival Sunshine is 101,509 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of 2,984 at double occupancy.
Final Thoughts
We’ll just have to wait and see which Carnival cruise ships will actually be sold off if any at all! The Carnival Corporation owns nine cruise lines so we could see vessels from other fleets go first.
We could be seeing even more ships disposed of in early 2021 and it also depends on what buyers the cruise company can find. There is no doubt the suspension of cruise operations around the world is also severely impacting the smaller lines which were hoping to grow before the crisis hit.
Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled cruises from the United States through September 30 which follows the announcement by the Cruise Lines International Association late last week that its member lines will suspend cruises from U.S. ports through September 15, 2020.
A cruise can be a phenomenal vacation filled with excitement, luxury, and adventure, but only if you make the most of your oceangoing getaway without tripping over common pitfalls. Whether this is your first cruise or you are a seasoned cruiser, these 15 mistakes can quickly sink your vacation plans.
1. Skipping Your Pre-Cruise Research
Every cruise line has a different character and offers different experiences to its passengers. If you don’t research cruise lines before you book, you might end up on a party boat when you’d prefer a more sedate vacation, or your could find yourself on a minimalist ship when you wanted to try all the newest innovations at sea.
Investigate each cruise line, individual ships, types of staterooms, onboard options, and ports of call to be sure you’re planning a vacation that meets your needs and preferences.
2. Overpacking
Cruise ship cabins are smaller than typical hotel rooms, and storage space is at a premium. Instead of packing a multitude of options for your casual wear, poolside outfits, formal attire, and all the accessories that go with each ensemble, choose versatile items that won’t take up as much luggage space. Similarly, minimize other gear you pack, and be sure to save room in your luggage for must-have souvenirs.
Every cruise ship holds a mandatory safety drill before setting sail. This procedure is required by maritime law and familiarizes passengers with emergency situations such as alarm tones, where to evacuate to a lifeboat, and how to properly wear a life vest.
Lifeboat Drill
Passengers who skip this drill could delay the ship’s departure and may even be put off the ship for noncompliance. The drill only takes a half-hour or so, and is well worth the time to start your vacation safely.
4. Waiting to Book Shore Excursions
Popular tours in ports of call can sell out quickly, and if you wait until just a few hours before arriving at the port to reserve your space on an excursion, you may find yourself left behind while other passengers have a great time.
Shore tours for any port can be booked as soon as you board the ship, and many cruise lines even let you book tours online several days or weeks before embarkation, ensuring your reservation for those can’t-miss experiences.
5. Missing One-Time Opportunities
Just like missing out on shore tours, it is possible to miss out on one-time-only experiences on board the ship. Many popular shows, for example, may have just one or two performances and will not be repeated later in the trip.
Photo: Royal Caribbean
Similarly, themed events such as dance parties, specialized contests, and comedy performances are often offered just once. Check the ship’s daily schedule closely for details on each day’s options and use onboard apps to remind yourself not to miss those experiences.
6. Getting Drunk
It’s perfectly natural to want to imbibe on vacation, whether that means a morning mimosa, lounging by the pool with the drink-of-the-day, enjoying a cocktail before dinner, or tossing back a few beers in the sports bar.
Take care not to get outlandishly drunk, however, which can have dire consequences on a cruise ship. Not only do you risk seasickness, but if you need most of the next day to recover from overindulging, you’ll miss out on everything the ship and ports offer while your hangover is in control.
7. Overeating
With food easily available from buffets, pizzerias, candy shops, ice cream machines, sushi bars, room service, and many other delicious options, you could quickly make yourself sick on too much deliciousness.
Furthermore, you might inadvertently gain a few pounds on your cruise, making that tight dress or snug dress slacks uncomfortable or even impossible to wear on formal night. Do feel free to taste, but know your dining limits just like you know your drinking limits.
8. Littering
Littering is no more acceptable on a cruise ship than it is on land. All trash and waste should be properly disposed of, and no materials should ever be tossed overboard.
In fact, tossing items overboard is illegal and could be cause to be removed from the ship at the closest opportunity, even left in an unfamiliar port of call for violating the ship’s littering laws. Pick up after yourself, and if you aren’t sure where to place trash, ask a nearby crew member and they’ll be happy to help.
9. Rudeness to the Crew
Every member of a cruise ship’s crew, from the officers to the bartenders to the stewards, works hard to offer guests a memorable and enjoyable vacation. There is no excuse for being rude to the crew, even inadvertently.
Take care to make life easier for your cabin steward, and always be polite to all crew members, even if you’re dealing with an unpleasant situation or need to register a complaint. Greet crew with a friendly smile, don’t interrupt their work, and be genuine with your thanks.
10. Letting Children Run Free
Even parents need time off on vacation, but it is never a good idea to let children run free on a cruise ship. There are many places on a ship where unsupervised children could get into trouble or even be in danger, and it’s easy for children to get frightened and lost on the very largest ships.
Quantum of the Seas Theater (Photo: Emrys Thakkar)
Furthermore, it’s rude to other passengers to allow children to take over inappropriate areas, such as designated adults-only areas, elevators, or hot tubs where supervision is required.
11. Overspending
Because most cruise ships operate on a cashless system where your ship ID card is also a charge card for onboard purchases, it can be easy to let your spending get out of control.
Shops Onboard Quantum of the Seas (Photo: Emrys Thakkar)
You don’t want that unpleasant surprise at the end of the cruise, however, so be aware of how much you may be spending at the bar, in souvenir shops, on shore tours, at the photo gallery, or on any other extras throughout the cruise. Savvy spending can ensure you enjoy your cruise while you stay on budget.
12. Cramming Too Much In
With so much to see and do on a cruise ship, it can be overwhelming and you may be tempted to try everything at once so you don’t miss out. If you do too much right away, however, you may find yourself too exhausted the next day to join in new activities, or you may be too sore to be part of shore tours, deck games, or dance parties.
Cruise Ship Deck
Know your limits each day, and enjoy trying new activities and having fun without pushing yourself to injury, illness, or exhaustion.
13. Breaking Rules or Guidelines
Cruise ships do have rules, and guests need to obey posted guidelines and restrictions as well as any orders from officers and crew members.
Photo By: Nick Corben
Stay out of restricted “crew only” areas, pay attention to crew directions, and avoid fights and other poor behavior, or you may find yourself in the ship’s brig, facing fines or other penalties, or even removed from the ship and banned from returning on future cruises.
14. Missing the Ship
You won’t have much fun on your cruise if you literally miss the boat, whether being late for embarkation or misjudging the time in a port of call. Cruise ships operate on precise schedules and will not wait for tardy passengers.
Book your travel plans to account for possible delays when you arrive, and when in port, be sure you stay on “ship time” to get back on board before departure.
15. Staying in Your Comfort Zone
One of the biggest mistakes you can make on any cruise vacation is staying completely in your comfort zone. Cruise ships and different ports of call offer a wide array of opportunities to try new foods, enjoy a new drink, take on an unusual adventure, discover a new culture, and more.
Make the most of your cruise vacation by setting sail with confidence and trying something new to make it a truly memorable and amazing getaway!
