What NOT to do on a Cruise

I have been reading everything I can on cruises. I don’t know what to expect, so it makes me a tad unsure. If you were to tell me I was going to get on a plane and fly to Florida for a week…I could handle that just fine. But I’ve never been on a cruise ship. In all of my web searches, I have pulled up a lot of things that you SHOULD do on a cruise, but not many lists specifically say what not to do. Until now!

What NOT to do on a Cruise!

Don’t Forget about the Staff

These are the people that clean your rooms, serve you food, basically these are THE people that go out of their way to make sure you have a fabulous trip. Now I’m not talking about tipping. I would hope that everyone is up to speed about tipping and whatnot. I’m talking about the little things. Did you bring a book on the ship and finish it? Leave it in your room for the staff to read on their down time. I bet they would really enjoy something new. Bringing candy on board for yourself? Why not leave a little (wrapped) treat for the staff? But above all, just smile. When you see a staff member, look them in the eye and smile. Say hello or thank you. These acts of kindness really do go a long way.

Don’t Gorge Yourself

I mean, you can if you want to, but why? Would you do that at home? If the answer is no, then why do it on vacation? If the answer is yes, then make sure to pack some stretchy clothes for the end of your trip because you will, for sure, gain weight during the week! No, but seriously, just because you can order meal after meal, doesn’t mean you should. Also, remember…you’re on a boat. It rocks back and forth. Do you really want to be stuffed and ready to pop, while rocking back and forth? I wouldn’t!

Don’t Forget about the Sun

Now I’m from Michigan, so the idea of being in WARM and SUNNY weather is exciting, but as exciting as it sounds, you cannot forget to slather on the sunscreen…and do it often. Being that you are on the water, you will get sunburned like nothing else. I don’t know if you’ve ever been burnt to the point that you’re blistering, but I have and it hurts…BAD.

 Don’t be Lazy, Use the Stairs

Have you ever been to the mall on Black Friday and tried to use the elevator? How long did you have to weight? Probably much longer than it would if you had taken the stairs. The same holds true on a cruise ship. Use the stairs. Not only will you be working on some of that yummy dessert you ate the night before, but you’ll get to where you’re going a lot quicker than everyone standing in line for the elevator!

Don’t Forget a Homemade First Aid Kit

You never know what will happen when you’re on vacation and when you are on a ship with that many people, searching things out you may need (like a band-aid) may be more difficult than it’s worth. But if you’re like me, you’ll need a band-aid. I get blisters from my shoes, all the time. You’ll also want to put:

• Headache medication
• Dramamine
• Decongestant medicines
• Antiseptic cream
• Hair ties
• Chapstick with SPF
• Tums

If you’re going on a cruise and you’ve never been on one before, make sure you do your research. This, at least from what I’ve gathered, is not like any other vacation. The quarters are on the small size, so you want to make sure you maximize the space you have. So bringing an over the door shoe organizer will help you to organize your miscellaneous things like sunscreen, sunglasses, hair brush, etc. Oh and one more tip I read…bring a few hangers to hang your clothes up. There will be a few in the room, but you’ll definitely need more. And, when you’re done with the hangers, leave them for the next person…

What are some things you would add to the list?

*Thank you to pickURgift.com for being my sponsor for Brandcation, #SeasTheDay!

**This list was formed from all of the websites I’ve looked at and also the book, Tips From The Cruise Addict’s Wife.