A cruise ship worker has revealed the 10 most common mistakes first-time passengers make on board.
Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, has worked on cruise ships for nine years and regularly shares tips on how passengers and crew members can make the most of their experience.
In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sailing as a crewwhere he has accumulated more than 67,000 subscribers, he delved into the most common mistakes that new cruisers usually encounter and how to prevent them.
Read on for the expert’s full list of dos and don’ts, detailing everything from the importance of arriving at departure ports on time to preventing seasickness and packing efficiently.
Cruise worker Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, has highlighted nine blunders you should avoid during your next trip.
1. Treat a cruise as if it were all-inclusive
Lucy began by revealing that the first mistake she sees new cruisers make is “treating a cruise like an all-inclusive holiday” and therefore not budgeting properly.
She explained: ‘If some people have only taken all-inclusive holidays, they make the mistake of thinking that a cruise holiday is very similar to that.
“Therefore, many people don’t budget for additional expenses while on board because they have the misconception that most things will be free.”
The cruise worker added: “While some of this is true, and most of the food is included in the buffet and dining room,” there will be activities and restaurants that will cost extra money.
He admitted that “it can really ruin people’s vacations” when they realize they need extra funds for everything they want to do.
Lucy also reminded viewers of the tip bill which first-time travelers may not be aware of – it’s important to set aside a sum to cover this so you don’t have to scramble for cash at the end of your holiday.
She said, “On a lot of cruises, you end up paying the tip, which is something I’ve also seen a lot of people not budget for.”
Lucy Southerton, 28, from Birmingham, has worked on cruise ships for nine years and regularly shares tips on how passengers and crew members can make the most of their experience.
2. Lack of boat departure time
Secondly, many tourists who are new to the world of cruises do not manage their time efficiently enough and even fall behind after missing the ship’s departure time.
Lucy said: “When it happens, it’s usually first-time cruisers because they disembark in port, go out and explore for themselves, which is part of the fun, but what they don’t leave is time to come back.” .’
He gave the example of the Bahamas, which is “known for having horrendous traffic,” so you may not factor in enough time to take a taxi back to the port.
The YouTuber concluded: “Obviously this makes things very difficult for the cruise line and is an overall disaster.” So when you’re on a cruise ship, it’s very different than a hotel that’s going to remain stationary.
“It is absolutely necessary to make it a priority to get back to the ship on time and ask crew members what the traffic is like at each port if taking a taxi to a certain destination.”
3. Skip travel insurance
Lucy’s next warning is that you should “never skip travel insurance, whether you’re going on a land vacation or a cruise, but especially a cruise.”
She continued: ‘The reason is that your cruise might be canceled due to weather changes. You or a family member could get sick, or flights to the destination where you are joining your cruise could be canceled or delayed.
‘Unlike a land holiday, where if your flight is eight hours late and the hotel stays where it is, the cruise moves, so if your flight is eight hours late it will mean you miss it.
“It is absolutely necessary to take out travel insurance as soon as the cruise is booked.”
In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cruising as Crew, where he has earned more than 67,000 subscribers, he delved into the most common mistakes that new cruisers usually encounter and how to prevent them.
4. Overbooked excursions
Next, the cruise pro warns against “click happy” when booking excursions.
She recommends booking just three for a one-week cruise and a maximum of six for a two-week cruise.
Lucy explained: “Most tours start around seven or eight in the morning, which is fine if you’re a morning person, but a lot of people on holiday like to get a bit of a rest.”
“I’ve definitely seen cases where people book a tour for every day and say, ‘Oh my God, I’m knackered, I can’t do this, I can’t keep up.’
‘They are incredibly exciting, but they drain your energy and everyone spends their holidays differently.
She advised: “If you are like most people and want to spend exciting but also relaxing days, keep this in mind when booking your excursions and don’t book one for every day.”
5. Ignore safety instructions
Number five on cruise ship workers’ list of common passenger mistakes is ignoring safety instructions.
She confessed: “I think we can all have the attitude that this will never happen to me, I will never be on a cruise ship in case of emergency.”
‘Though I hope to God that’s true for you, you never know.
“As crew members, what we don’t want in an emergency is everyone running around in a panic because they didn’t pay attention at the initial safety briefing and don’t know where their emergency station is.”
The YouTuber pleaded: “If you get nothing else out of this, please just know where you have to go in case of an emergency.”
Lucy recommends booking just three for a one-week cruise and a maximum of six for a two-week cruise.
6. Not investigating ports
Moving on to the next point, Lucy comments: “One mistake I see first-time cruisers make is not researching the ports their cruise will go to, and it really pays to do this before booking your excursions.”
‘For example, in Nassau in the Bahamas, there is a straw market right in front of the boat. There was an excursion available on board the cruise ship to take you to the straw market.
“So naturally, the people who had booked this tour were a little pissed when they got there. You don’t want to book a tour that you could do on your own.’
Instead, the travel fanatic suggested saving the excursions for when you go “a fairly significant distance from the cruise ship.”
Important factors to consider are the currency you will need, the language spoken, whether it is easy to get around and whether it is considered safe.
7. Do not carry medication
When booking a holiday, the last thing you usually think about is getting sick and needing medication, but it could happen and it’s best to be prepared.
Lucy said: ‘It’s always good to carry a small pharmacy with you. Bring a bandage, bring a band-aid, bring some ibuprofen.
—Some details so that, if you catch a cold or get dizzy, you don’t have to go to the medical center and wait years for treatment.
He adds that it also means you don’t have to buy medications while on board, which can be quite expensive compared to on land.
8. Activities not previously reserved
Mistake number eight on the Birmingham native’s list is not booking activities and restaurants in advance.
She told viewers: “If you research the ship before you get on board and see a restaurant you really want to go to, most of these cruise lines now have apps and you can book everything in advance before you even get on the cruise.” .
‘Book it in advance. Even if you end up canceling your reservation, book it in advance, because once it’s fully booked, that’s it.’
He warned: “Bookings fill up very quickly, so you want to make sure you get there and get what you want.”
Lucy began by revealing that the first mistake she sees new cruisers make is “treating a cruise like an all-inclusive holiday” and therefore not budgeting properly.
Lucy warned that “travel insurance should never be skipped, whether you are going on a land holiday or on a cruise, but especially on a cruise.”
9. Not carrying the essentials in your hand luggage
Next, something travelers on their first cruise may not know is the fact that they often don’t see their luggage until the afternoon of the first day.
Lucy recalled: ‘When you go on board a cruise ship you usually leave your large luggage with the crew members and it will arrive in your cabin later in the day.
“But sometimes this can happen much later because crew members may have between 3,000 and 10,000 bags to sort.
“So, make sure you have the essentials or things that you’re going to need in your backpack as soon as you get on board the cruise, so you have it there so you can continue with your day.”
Items like phone chargers, shower essentials, and clean clothes are common culprits left in your main luggage.
10. Overlooking the location of your cabin
Finally, newbie “cruisers” may not realize the importance of booking the right cabin, and Lucy has offered her tips for getting the best ones with the least risk of seasickness.
She revealed: ‘If it’s your first cruise, I’m sure seasickness has crossed your mind. The location of the cabin will play a huge role in this, so you’ll want to be in the center of the boat.
“You don’t want to be in the back, you definitely don’t want to be in the front because that’s where you’ll feel the movement the most.”
‘That’s why when you book a cabin, you should make sure it’s in the middle of the ship. Also, you should make sure that the cabin you book is surrounded by other cabins.’
Adding: “The cheapest cabins will have a restaurant above them or a gym above them because there will be a lot of noise, so the location of the cabin is really important.”