I asked cruise fans what they would ban from cruise ships, and the answers came fast.
What started as a simple Facebook question quickly turned into a long list of frustrations that clearly struck a nerve with experienced cruisers. The replies were funny at times, but most of them pointed to the same larger truth: people still love cruising, yet there are a handful of onboard habits, policies, and recurring annoyances they are tired of dealing with.
That is what makes this topic work so well. It is not really about hating cruises. It is about the small things that can get in the way of a great vacation.
Complaint Theme
- Smoking: Smoke in shared or nearby public areas
- Kids in hot tubs: Family spaces spilling into quiet or adult-oriented expectations
- Chair saving: Empty loungers “reserved” for long periods
- Drink package rules: Expensive packages and rules requiring multiple adults to buy in
- Disembarkation day: Being forced off the ship just when vacation mode fully sets in
- Hygiene issues: People skipping hand washing in shared environments
Smoking Is Still One of the Biggest Cruise Complaints
One of the strongest reactions centered on smoking. A lot of commenters made it clear they are tired of dealing with smoke around areas that are supposed to feel open, breezy, and relaxing.
For many people, the issue is not whether smoking zones technically exist. The frustration is that smoke does not always stay contained. When someone is trying to enjoy the pool deck, walk through a public area, or simply get fresh ocean air, even a small amount of lingering smoke can become one of the most memorable negative parts of the trip.
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels
How to deal with it: Before booking, check whether your cruise line has clearly separated smoking areas and whether smoking is allowed in places like the casino. Once onboard, spend more time on non-smoking deck areas and choose outdoor seating carefully when possible. If smoke is a major issue for you, certain ships and lines tend to be a better fit than others.
Kids in Hot Tubs Spark the Same Debate Every Time
Another theme that came up repeatedly was kids in hot tubs and other spaces where adults expect a calmer atmosphere.
This complaint always reveals a split among cruisers. Some feel strongly that children taking over hot tubs ruins a relaxing part of the vacation. Others respond just as strongly that family cruise lines are built for exactly that kind of environment. That tension is part of why the topic drives so much engagement. People are not just voicing a preference. They are arguing over what a cruise experience is supposed to feel like.
How to deal with it: If quiet time matters to you, look for adult-only areas, adults-only solariums, or quieter times of day to use the hot tub. If you want a more peaceful onboard vibe overall, an adults-focused line or sailing may be a better match than a family-heavy itinerary.
Chair Hogs May Be the Most Universally Annoying Habit at Sea
If there is one complaint that almost everyone instantly recognizes, it is saving lounge chairs.
Cruisers get especially irritated when they see towels, clips, or personal items left behind for long stretches while nobody is actually using the seat. It turns a simple pool day into a competition, and it makes people feel like the most inconsiderate guests are the ones winning. Few cruise irritations are as small and as reliably infuriating as this one.
How to deal with it: Head to the pool deck earlier than peak hours or look for less obvious deck areas that fill more slowly. Some cruise lines do enforce time limits on unattended chairs, so it can also help to learn the ship’s policy and alert staff if a section is being tied up for hours with no one there.
Drink Package Rules Frustrate People More Than the Drinks Themselves
The comments were not just about expensive cocktails. They were about the structure of the packages themselves.
Several people complained that when one adult in a cabin buys an alcoholic drink package, another adult often has to buy one too. Others said there should be better options for people who only want one or two drinks a day instead of paying for an unlimited package they will never fully use.
That makes this a pricing issue and a fairness issue at the same time. People do not necessarily mind paying for what they use. They mind being forced into rules that feel disconnected from how they actually travel.
How to deal with it: Do the math before you sail. In some cases, buying drinks individually makes more sense than a package. It is also worth checking whether your line offers nonalcoholic packages, dining bundles, or occasional pre-cruise discounts that make the value better. The key is not assuming the package is automatically the smartest choice.
Disembarkation Day Might Be the Most Relatable Complaint of All
Some of the funniest comments focused on the fact that you eventually have to leave the ship.
On the surface, it is a joke. Of course the cruise has to end. But it is also one of the most relatable complaints in the entire conversation. After a few days of settling into vacation mode, waking up to a rushed final morning, luggage logistics, and a forced exit feels like one of the harshest transitions in travel.
People may laugh about it, but they mean it too.
How to deal with it: Make the last morning easier by packing most of the night before, keeping a small day bag for essentials, and not scheduling stressful travel plans too tightly. If your budget allows, staying one extra night near the port after the cruise can soften the crash back into real life.
Hygiene Still Matters More Than Ever on a Cruise
Among the lighter complaints, one issue stood out as genuinely serious: poor hand hygiene.
Commenters specifically called out people who leave the restroom without washing their hands. On land, that is unpleasant. On a cruise ship, where thousands of people are sharing railings, buffet utensils, elevator buttons, and close quarters, it feels even worse. It is the kind of behavior that can instantly make other passengers feel uncomfortable about the entire environment.
How to deal with it: You cannot control what everyone else does, but you can protect yourself by washing your hands often, using sanitizer before meals, and being mindful in high-touch areas. On a cruise, basic hygiene habits go a long way.
What These Complaints Actually Say About Cruisers
The interesting part is that none of these complaints suggest people want to stop cruising. In fact, the opposite is true.
These comments came from people who care enough about the cruise experience to have strong opinions about it. They like the convenience, the atmosphere, the destinations, and the feeling of being able to unpack once and let vacation happen around them. What they want is not a totally different kind of trip. They want fewer unnecessary frustrations in the middle of one they already love.
Photo by William Jacobs on Pexels
That is why the answers were so specific. They were not random complaints. They were the recurring details people remember when a vacation feels less relaxing than it should.
The Real Takeaway
Ask cruise fans what they would ban from cruise ships, and they will not be short on answers.
Smoking. Chair saving. Kids in hot tubs. Drink package rules that feel unfair. Bad hygiene. And, somehow, the basic fact that the cruise has to end.
Some of these are policy complaints. Some are passenger behavior complaints. Some are just funny truths that every cruiser understands. But together they reveal something useful: the biggest cruise frustrations are rarely the ocean, the ship, or the destination. They are usually the little things that keep people from fully relaxing once they are already onboard.