The time has come to once again go over the topic of cruise ship manners. Sometimes our fellow passengers frustrate us, I have blogged about it before. You always come across at least one person at some point that leaves you wishing there was an ejector button, or in the case of a cruise ship, a hole in the deck that would swallow up that particular passenger and then torpedo them out the back of the ship! Oh, did I say that out loud? 😉
One thing that really irritated a friend I met onboard MSC Opera was that although there was the language mix, you often found yourself holding the door open for someone and received not even so much as a smile in return. His said to me in conversation “I don’t care if we don’t speak the same language, just say something, anything, to acknowledge that I done something for you”. I think he had a fair point to be honest. Even eye contact and a nod would have done. It’s just basic manners.
I tried getting out of the lift one day to find an elderly woman and her husband more or less force me back in. The lift is not going to run away from you, just please relax and let people out first. I have noticed on MSC ships that although the lifts are quite large the actual space between the doors is fairly small and because the lady had a walking stick I physically could not get out without forcing my way past her, something I was not going to do. I couldn’t be bothered to force my way through everyone else either by the time they did get in, so I stayed in the lift and went a few decks down to then come back up. I stood silent as a mouse, did not utter a word or sigh. I think I deserve a medal for that! 😉
The best thing I have ever seen (and yes I am being sarcastic) happened at the pizza station. I still can’t believe it! There was a Margherita
pizza freshly served and maybe 6 or 7 people waiting for a slice. As everyone grabbed what they wanted it came down to a lady waiting and behind her a young boy, he was maybe 9 at the most. The woman knew he was waiting, picked up the pizza slice and went on to take the last 3 slices, leaving the little boy with nothing! How could you do that? I can still see the disappointment on his face as he went up for his turn to find nothing left but the tray. Yes another one was out within maybe 4 minutes at the very most, but that’s not the point. She could have left one slice for the kid! I thought to myself, OK don’t judge, maybe she has children too and that’s who the pizza is for, but no. I passed her in the buffet and there she was enjoying all three slices herself. I still feel sorry for the kid!
The things that get to me are fairly trivial in the grand scheme of things, but I do just wish people would have a little more thought for others. Especially when there is food involved! Some people seem to go all cave man (or woman) when there’s only FIVE pieces of meat left at the buffet station, because obviously there’s no more on the entire ship, that’s it! Once it’s gone it’s gone, you will have to starve for the rest of your cruise! OK I shall stop sassing and be quiet, but I know many of you will be nodding in agreement.
Rant over, have a nice day! 🙂
Author: Danielle
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Trying to explore each and every inch of this wonderful planet via cruise ship.
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just typical behaviour of some unmannersd people
I have been on 11 cruises and haven’t really had the type of problems you mention except for the elevator which is a common problem everywhere not just on ships. I seem to have more problems with bad waiters and have complained several times and even stopped going on NCL because there service was so bad. I have done 4 cruises with them and the last one I had a problem with service at least 5 times (all different restaurants) and that was it for me I will never go back and tell everyone what I think about them.
I can’t believe it about that lady with the pizza! Some people just don’t have any care or thought for anyone but themselves.
and why should she? She waited in line also. Just because that was a kid Too bad!
To lighten the mood during the elevator ride try these tactics. When you get on and someone is pushing buttons for all the floors being called ask for 13 and watch the confusion. And then when the elevator is going up and the doors open on the next floor and people start walking towards the elevator call out “Going Down”. Makes them stop in their tracks and look at the lights, Sometimes just long enough for the doors to close… Everyone else in the crowded elevator will laugh with you. You gotta have a lil fun guys you are on Vacation..
I had a cruise in July (first one in five years) and the behaviour of mostly British people was appalling. Teenagers left their litter on the helipad, graffiti in the lift, empty glasses in the lift. Would love to see inside some of their homes if this is how they behave on holiday!
Just has to be: failing to wash hands after using the toilet, failing to use hand sanitiser ,coughing/ sneezing over food at buffet, filling used waterbottles,mugs in buffet.
A guy sitting at dinner on a formal night with a Glasgow Celtic football jersey on. Classless idiots!
How about the people who see you waiting with someone in a wheelchair at the elevator and go right in front of you. I usually say in my “sweetest” voice it’s ok honey they must in more of a hurry than us.
I can relate to everything you have said there. And to add my biggest gripe, I’m 33 and I take my 90 year old Gran away every year for a couple of weeks and every time with out fail, there are is (thankfully) a very small minority who see her in a wheel chair and treat the both of us as third class pests…
I also find a well toned “you are very welcome ” adds, quite nicely, the right message after holding a door open for some rude ‘passenger’.
You’re pushing all the right buttons for me when it comes to lifts (elevators). My pet hate is people trying to push their way in before anyone can step out. If I’m in a good mood, I can partly forgive them by thinking they have probably lived all their lives in a small town where they don’t even have traffic lights, let alone lifts (elevators) and escalators. Then I think they must surely have stayed in hotels or visited department stores where they have used a lift (elevator) and my blood begins to boil again.
I too, can relate to most of these circumstances, but one thing that I noticed on my last cruise, it seemed like my friend and I were always having to step out of the way for some
non-Americans to get by. It didn’t matter if we were in a shop, on the boardwalk, anywhere…..and we even remarked about it. We are both in our early 60’s and would have these people much younger than us just almost step on us if we didn’t step out of their way first. Just rude!! I am blind in one eye, however, I don’t let that hold me back and to look at me, you would never know it, but I guess manners are a thing of the past. I don’t expect to be treated like an invalid because I’m not one, but don’t knock me over because you want to get to the food bar first!!! I’m quite certain there’s more food in the kitchen!