Be a Good Passenger!

[Captain Cosmo]

Hi - Fresh from our 12/3/06 cruise on Infinity I thought I'd start a list of rules for being a good passenger. I'm sure many of you have your own suggestions as well. Here's ours:

 

1. When you use the restroom, wash your hands. Always. And don't think people don't notice when you come out of the stall and head straight for the door without stopping to wash up - we do.

 

2. When you enter the dining areas, use the sanitizers. Don't argue with the staff or say things like "it dries out my skin". Your decision not to sanitize (or wash up after using the restroom) will have a negative impact on the entire cruise when norovirus hits.

 

3. Don't push or crowd onboard or on tours; people don't like to have their personal space invaded. This applies even if you're a senior citizen. Also, when you walk up to the guest relations/bank desks and see a long line, that is NOT your cue to walk up directly to the counter because "I just have a question" - Show some class and wait your turn.

 

4. When the life boat drill is completed you are told to walk back to your cabin and NOT to take off your lifejacket until you reach it. The woman next to me - who was talking the whole time throughout the drill (see rule #6) - took off her jacket immediately following the drill's conclusion, jabbing her elbows into people in doing so. A few seconds later I was tripping over the belt from her lifejacket...

 

5. If you are a person who tends to be cold (like the woman on one of our Buenos Aires tours who was wearing a down vest in 96 degree weather) than bring a sweater or coat and wear it. DON'T ask the tour bus driver to turn down the air conditioning - many of your fellow passengers are hot and they can't take off any more clothing so you'll just have to add some. And by the way, the website has plenty of information about the weather on cruises. Showing up and being amazed that "its cold near Antartica" or "hot near the equator" tells us that you did not research your trip and are probably clueless about where you are.

 

6. Once in a while, shut up and listen when the tour guide is speaking and/or there are announcements being made onboard so the rest of the group can hear what is being said. A couple on one tour just talked louder when the guide would speak, and inevitably would be asking questions later that the guide had already addressed. Also, see if your questions can follow the same rules that apply to most conversations with strangers. Asking the tour guide about his or her country's political problems is not appropriate.

 

7. Speaking of talking, try doing it in a normal tone of voice. Yelling to people who are 50 feet away from you shows contempt for everyone else in the room. Talking in a loud voice to people who are next to you shows that you may have the money to be on a cruise but not the sophistication to enjoy it.

 

8. The ship's staff are NOT your personal servants. Like most of us, you don't have servants at home so don't act like you own the waiters or shop clerks onboard. Treat them with respect and tip generously. One couple in a line for a shore excursion was lamenting the fact that they had to go to dinner on the last night because that was when you give the waiters their tips for the entire cruise, or as the husband put it, "So those people can get their extortion". Cruising is NOT for tightwads.

 

9. When you are in line to leave or return to the ship, you will be asked to insert your Sea Pass card into the security machine. Everytime. Learn to use it properly and don't be amazed when you're asked for it and then start digging in your purse to find it. Its not a surprise - you're just showing that you don't care about how your actions affect others in line behind you.

 

10. Don't ask the buffet servers about the ingredients in the food. They don't cook the food, they are not aware of the numerous food allergies that we Americans have invented over the years, and the people in line behind you are wondering when your preoccupation with your own imaginary health conditions will give way to consideration of the fact that you are holding up the line. Eat things that you know won't give you a reaction - if you're into risks, there's a casino onboard.

 

11. Hey you with the book - I'm sorry that the ocean is boring you but could you please not take all the best view tables on Deck 10 at lunchtime? Other people need those tables to eat and look out at the ocean or the birds or the dolphins, and since you have your nose buried in "The DaVinci Code" you hardly need to take up a spot that was intended for people who are actually enjoying the cruise and want to see the scenery. Also, don't read while in line, getting on or off tenders (I'm not making this up - one woman almost went over the side while reading and disembarking from the tender), or getting on and off the tour buses. There are a million places to read on board, but doing it in lines, restaurants or bars (when open) is just rude.

 

12. Use courtesy in the elevators. Move towards the back or side when people are entering the elevator, and wait for people to leave the elevator before you try to muscle in. If you're close enough, hold the door open for people who may need more time to get in and out of the elevator, like the elderly, disabled, or someone with their hands full. Under no circumstances should you hold an elevator while your friends "catch up with you". I saw one woman hold an elevator for two minutes during the dinner rush while her friends were finishing a loud conversation with some other passengers.

 

Well, I'm sure I've missed some areas that need to be addressed, and equally sure that some posters will begin pointing out all the exceptions to the rules or giving their statements of entitlement ("I paid for this cruise so if I want to read a book on the aft deck during lunch I'm going to do it!"). But if you have more rules then let's hear them!

[Drew B]

Here are some that are good for all areas of life, not just a cruise ship...

 

 

13. It is not necessary to ALWAYS walk side-by-side with your travelling companion. If you are someplace narrow (like a corridor on a ship, for example) and you are 140 years old and walk at approximately the same rate as a Galapagos tortoise, it wouldn't kill you to briefly fall in BEHIND your companion from time to time to allow others to pass!

 

14. If you are walking and find that you are going to need to stop (either for a moment or longer), it is much more considerate to step OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC where you will not impede every other person. If you decide, for example, to see if the weather is to your liking, don't just step into a doorway and stand there mulling it over while others wish to get in/out. Instead, you should step all the way outside and a few feet from the entrance to the door. Once you are no longer impeding everybody's movement, take as much time as you like to make up your mind as to what you would like to do...

 

 

 

 

As for the book thing, I think it is possible to go back and forth from a book to scenery. I know in Alaska, I sat near a window while reading, but when I heard rumblings that whales were seen, I looked out at them, then went back to my book when nothing much was going on (oh, and there were plenty of places for others to see -- my using this space was not preventing anybody else from seeing as well).

[FinelyCruising]

Hello Captain...

 

With regard to number 4...I have never head this, ever. Not to say you did not, but I am taking my life jacket off so I can see what I am doing since I am relegated to take the stairs after the drill due to volume. My elbows may inadvertendly poke you, for which I will apologize, but I am not going to injure myself because I can't see wehat the heck I am doing on the stairs.

 

With regard to number 12, if my floor is the next one or two, I am not moving to the back to the elevator and make it hard for every other person in the car who just got on. I am staying put and getting off cleanly. Trust me, its a good thing even if it seems obtuse.

 

Here is mine though, say hello to everyone in the elevator, or everyone you pass in the hallway to your cabin. It is such a nice gesture. :)

[boop3]

I so agree with #12 the elevator. I have been on 4 cruises and have been plowed into numerous times trying to get off the elevators. People should realize their is more room when people get out of the elevator :)

[raymac46]

Well said. It is amazing to note that if one can check attitude, sense of entitlement and ego at the gangway and then treat other passengers and crew with respect and politeness, one is practically guaranteed a great time as far as it's humanly possible to provide it.

[CelebrityMan]

4. When the life boat drill is completed you are told to walk back to your cabin and NOT to take off your lifejacket until you reach it. The woman next to me - who was talking the whole time throughout the drill (see rule #6) - took off her jacket immediately following the drill's conclusion, jabbing her elbows into people in doing so. A few seconds later I was tripping over the belt from her lifejacket...

 

Hi,

 

Regarding #4: I couldn't agree more!! No rant, just a few suggestions to encourage leaving it on.

 

I have seen SO many instances of those removing their life vests, then subsequently causing danger to other passengers, i.e., dragging the belts which is a trip/fall waiting to happen; hitting other people (inadvertently) with their life vest, often causing others to stumble; etc., etc.

 

And the best one of all: one man obliviously dragging his life vest belt, then allowing the belt to remain OUTSIDE the closing doors of the elevator, causing a major stall of the elevator car as it descended and jerked the life vest out of the hand of the now surprised soul whose wrist and elbow probably felt the effect for several days into that cruise.

 

The life vest may be warm, it may be cumbersome, it may be uncomfortable, but PLEASE wear it back to your stateroom. The cruise line makes this request for your safety as well as that of your traveling companions. Unbuckle it, and open it if you need to, but do leave it on.

 

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, cruise-filled 2007!!

 

 

 

 

CM

[carlyshenk]

Captain Cosmo,

I so totally agree with everything you said. Thank you!!!

[BIG DAVE]

BRAVO

:) I was at a third grade open house last week.....I am sure I saw most of theese on a good citizen poster.

[Cracker Ken]

This is great. I've experienced all of them at one time or another, on every cruise. All of your points are important (not the least of which is 1 and 2).

 

Item 4 - Frequent, and dangerous. I've heard the admonishments about this on every Celebrity ship I've been on. I've stepped on life jacket straps before. Some people take off the vests within a minute of being told not too. Also, in this regard, people should take the life boat drill serioiusly and pay attention. They don't hold these drills for recreational purposes. If you look around you, by the time you leave the life boat drill, you will know who will probably survive, and who will surely perish if things go bad.

 

Item 11 - This is one of my biggest gripes. During normal grazing times in the buffet area, sit down, eat, and get the heck out of there! Especially on sea days, the seating in the buffet area can get crowded. I've had occassions that I've spent a lot of time circling the buffet area looking for a place to eat, while lots of people are holding up tables reading, playing cards, visiting, you name it. On my last cruise, a family was plaing Monopoly in the buffet area, successfully monopolizing that table for a long while. On a previous cruise on Mercury, on two occassions, we ate along the tiled pool wall at the back of the aft pool due to various card games, reading, etc. On the other hand, if it's between meals, and there are lots of empty tables, play cards, talk, play Monopoly, sleep, whatever, and enjoy it.

 

Item 12 - Another of my favorites. If you are planning to get off on the next floor, stand aside near the front, not in the middle. No problem doing that. ALSO - Don't you just love it when the elevator is already comfortably full, you stop, the door opens, and 4 to 6 people say, Oh, I'm sure there's room for us! Wrong. Catch the next one, bye bye!

 

Here's a new one:

 

#15 (I think): Be conservative with your "fragrances." Better yet, take a little bitty dab of the fragrance, and rub it up nside one of your nostrils. That way, you can "think" you smell strongly of loud perfume, without the rest of the passengers within 50-100 ft smelling it. Seriously, when you get several people with so much cologne on that there is a cloud trailing behind them, the stinch gets awful. Several different fragrances of this strength at one time, and it's a real mess. Also, ever notice those people with oxygen tanks? These smells can seriously aggravate their conditions. I have lived with asthma all my life, it's controlled, but my lungs get clogged when I get around these people. I don't make a scene about it, I just move.

 

#16 - Photo ops. Something near and dear to my heart. If you are in a situation where the rails are crowded, like going through the Panama Canal, viewing glaciers in Alaska, or whatever, give others a chance at the rail and let them get a clean shot of the scenery too. Is it really going to hurt you to step aside and be courteous? Take turns. It isn't hard, and someone might appreciate it. I've also noticed "rail hogs" without camera's. No problem, but share the rail a little. If you offer, most people will take their photo, thank you, and step back.

 

I could go on and on, but the bottom line here, and something common to all of these issues, is: Be considerate of your fellow passengers. Obey the "Golden Rule." Try being nice for a change.

 

Ken

[flag fan]

Great post. I agree with everything you wrote (although I tend to read in strange places).

[Rev22:17]

FinelyCruising,

 

With regard to number 4...I have never head this, ever. Not to say you did not, but I am taking my life jacket off so I can see what I am doing since I am relegated to take the stairs after the drill due to volume. My elbows may inadvertendly poke you, for which I will apologize, but I am not going to injure myself because I can't see wehat the heck I am doing on the stairs.

 

Then eiither (1) you have never cruised with Celebrity or (2) you have not actually listened to the briefing, as you ought, during Celebrity's muster drill. The final direction in every muster drill on every Celebrity cruise is to keep your life jacket on and securely fastened until you return to your cabin so that other passengers won't trip over the straps.

 

With regard to number 12, if my floor is the next one or two, I am not moving to the back to the elevator and make it hard for every other person in the car who just got on. I am staying put and getting off cleanly. Trust me, its a good thing even if it seems obtuse.

 

The point is to allow other people onto the elevator. If you are getting off at on the next deck (there are NO floors on a ship!), it's okay either (1) to step to the side rather than to the back, room permitting, as the original poster suggested, or (2) to step off the elevator and clear of the doorway, let others on, and then get back on after them. To stand in the middle of hte door, where you are in the way of those trying to get on, would be extremely rude.

 

Here is mine though, say hello to everyone in the elevator, or everyone you pass in the hallway to your cabin. It is such a nice gesture. :)

 

Yes, or better still, say "Good morning!" or "Good afternoon!" or "Good evening!" as appropriate to the time of day! And, in any case, say the greeting with a smile and some enthusiasm, like you really do mean it!

 

Norm.

[Rev22:17]

Drew B,

 

As for the book thing, I think it is possible to go back and forth from a book to scenery. I know in Alaska, I sat near a window while reading, but when I heard rumblings that whales were seen, I looked out at them, then went back to my book when nothing much was going on (oh, and there were plenty of places for others to see -- my using this space was not preventing anybody else from seeing as well).

 

I agree with you. Fundamenatly, though, I think that the OP's point was about passengers who are "just" reading books hogging tables in the buffet area when it's so busy that other passengers are mulling around looking for tables.

 

Of course, the same can be said for those who are sitting around shooting the bull but not eating. More generally, the rule is to get out of the buffet area if it's moderately crowded, as is typical at normal mealtimes, and you are neither eating nor talking with somebody who is eating.

 

Norm.

[Rev22:17]

Everybody,

 

Hi - Fresh from our 12/3/06 cruise on Infinity I thought I'd start a list of rules for being a good passenger. I'm sure many of you have your own suggestions as well. Here's ours:

 

1. When you use the restroom, wash your hands. Always. And don't think people don't notice when you come out of the stall and head straight for the door without stopping to wash up - we do.

 

2. When you enter the dining areas, use the sanitizers. Don't argue with the staff or say things like "it dries out my skin". Your decision not to sanitize (or wash up after using the restroom) will have a negative impact on the entire cruise when norovirus hits.

 

3. Don't push or crowd onboard or on tours; people don't like to have their personal space invaded. This applies even if you're a senior citizen. Also, when you walk up to the guest relations/bank desks and see a long line, that is NOT your cue to walk up directly to the counter because "I just have a question" - Show some class and wait your turn.

 

4. When the life boat drill is completed you are told to walk back to your cabin and NOT to take off your lifejacket until you reach it. The woman next to me - who was talking the whole time throughout the drill (see rule #6) - took off her jacket immediately following the drill's conclusion, jabbing her elbows into people in doing so. A few seconds later I was tripping over the belt from her lifejacket...

 

5. If you are a person who tends to be cold (like the woman on one of our Buenos Aires tours who was wearing a down vest in 96 degree weather) than bring a sweater or coat and wear it. DON'T ask the tour bus driver to turn down the air conditioning - many of your fellow passengers are hot and they can't take off any more clothing so you'll just have to add some. And by the way, the website has plenty of information about the weather on cruises. Showing up and being amazed that "its cold near Antartica" or "hot near the equator" tells us that you did not research your trip and are probably clueless about where you are.

 

6. Once in a while, shut up and listen when the tour guide is speaking and/or there are announcements being made onboard so the rest of the group can hear what is being said. A couple on one tour just talked louder when the guide would speak, and inevitably would be asking questions later that the guide had already addressed. Also, see if your questions can follow the same rules that apply to most conversations with strangers. Asking the tour guide about his or her country's political problems is not appropriate.

 

7. Speaking of talking, try doing it in a normal tone of voice. Yelling to people who are 50 feet away from you shows contempt for everyone else in the room. Talking in a loud voice to people who are next to you shows that you may have the money to be on a cruise but not the sophistication to enjoy it.

 

8. The ship's staff are NOT your personal servants. Like most of us, you don't have servants at home so don't act like you own the waiters or shop clerks onboard. Treat them with respect and tip generously. One couple in a line for a shore excursion was lamenting the fact that they had to go to dinner on the last night because that was when you give the waiters their tips for the entire cruise, or as the husband put it, "So those people can get their extortion". Cruising is NOT for tightwads.

 

9. When you are in line to leave or return to the ship, you will be asked to insert your Sea Pass card into the security machine. Everytime. Learn to use it properly and don't be amazed when you're asked for it and then start digging in your purse to find it. Its not a surprise - you're just showing that you don't care about how your actions affect others in line behind you.

 

10. Don't ask the buffet servers about the ingredients in the food. They don't cook the food, they are not aware of the numerous food allergies that we Americans have invented over the years, and the people in line behind you are wondering when your preoccupation with your own imaginary health conditions will give way to consideration of the fact that you are holding up the line. Eat things that you know won't give you a reaction - if you're into risks, there's a casino onboard.

 

11. Hey you with the book - I'm sorry that the ocean is boring you but could you please not take all the best view tables on Deck 10 at lunchtime? Other people need those tables to eat and look out at the ocean or the birds or the dolphins, and since you have your nose buried in "The DaVinci Code" you hardly need to take up a spot that was intended for people who are actually enjoying the cruise and want to see the scenery. Also, don't read while in line, getting on or off tenders (I'm not making this up - one woman almost went over the side while reading and disembarking from the tender), or getting on and off the tour buses. There are a million places to read on board, but doing it in lines, restaurants or bars (when open) is just rude.

 

12. Use courtesy in the elevators. Move towards the back or side when people are entering the elevator, and wait for people to leave the elevator before you try to muscle in. If you're close enough, hold the door open for people who may need more time to get in and out of the elevator, like the elderly, disabled, or someone with their hands full. Under no circumstances should you hold an elevator while your friends "catch up with you". I saw one woman hold an elevator for two minutes during the dinner rush while her friends were finishing a loud conversation with some other passengers.

 

13. It is not necessary to ALWAYS walk side-by-side with your travelling companion. If you are someplace narrow (like a corridor on a ship, for example) and you are 140 years old and walk at approximately the same rate as a Galapagos tortoise, it wouldn't kill you to briefly fall in BEHIND your companion from time to time to allow others to pass!

 

14. If you are walking and find that you are going to need to stop (either for a moment or longer), it is much more considerate to step OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC where you will not impede every other person. If you decide, for example, to see if the weather is to your liking, don't just step into a doorway and stand there mulling it over while others wish to get in/out. Instead, you should step all the way outside and a few feet from the entrance to the door. Once you are no longer impeding everybody's movement, take as much time as you like to make up your mind as to what you would like to do...

 

#15 (I think): Be conservative with your "fragrances." Better yet, take a little bitty dab of the fragrance, and rub it up nside one of your nostrils. That way, you can "think" you smell strongly of loud perfume, without the rest of the passengers within 50-100 ft smelling it. Seriously, when you get several people with so much cologne on that there is a cloud trailing behind them, the stinch gets awful. Several different fragrances of this strength at one time, and it's a real mess. Also, ever notice those people with oxygen tanks? These smells can seriously aggravate their conditions. I have lived with asthma all my life, it's controlled, but my lungs get clogged when I get around these people. I don't make a scene about it, I just move.

 

#16 - Photo ops. Something near and dear to my heart. If you are in a situation where the rails are crowded, like going through the Panama Canal, viewing glaciers in Alaska, or whatever, give others a chance at the rail and let them get a clean shot of the scenery too. Is it really going to hurt you to step aside and be courteous? Take turns. It isn't hard, and someone might appreciate it. I've also noticed "rail hogs" without camera's. No problem, but share the rail a little. If you offer, most people will take their photo, thank you, and step back.

 

Well said! Very, very well said, by everybody who posted rules! Now, I have just one more (sorry, but it is a bit long).

 

17. Be a good tablemate!

 

>> A. Come to the dining room on time, wearing the attire prescribed by the host -- that is, the master of the vessel, though the daily program -- each evening. It's proper for members of the armed forces to wear the uniform that's equivalent to the prescribed attire. (On "formal" evenings, the proper uniform is the so-called "mess dress" or "dinner dress jacket" uniform or, for members not required to own that uniform, the substitute prescribed in the service's uniform regulations.) It's also proper for persons from other countries to wear the equivalent attire of their culture. If you are not coming to dinner for any reason, communicate that fact to your waiter, if possible, or at least to a tablemate in advance so the rest of the table does not have to wait the customary fifteen minutes for a late guest before starting the meal.

 

>> B. When couples arrive at the table, the lady should sit to the right of the gentleman because.... well, because a gentleman always shows respect for a lady by giving the place of honor, which is to his right, to her. The only exception is if the gentleman holds an office of higher rank, which would entitle him to greater honor, but it's acceptable for the gentleman to defer to the lady even in this case.

 

>> C. Always greet your tablemates and your waitstaff with a smile and a chearful "Good evening!" This gets the evening off to a good start! Also, be sure to complement the ladies at the table on their appearance -- especially on "formal" evenings! Try to keep the conversation pleasant and cheerful. If somebody says something that you find disagreeable, you can smile and say, something like "I really don't agree, but let's not spoil the evening by arguing about it..." and segway to a completely different subject as cheerfully and smoothly as you possibly can. It's also best to avoid discussion of the three taboos -- women, politics, and religion -- as these topics frequently lead to heated arguments.

 

>> D. As soon as you sit down, pick up your serviette ("napkin"), open it so it remains folded in half, and put it on your lap. Don't wait for the waiter to pick it up and hand it to you. If you leave the table before the end of the meal for any reason, place your serviette on your chair -- NOT on the table -- until you return. At the end of the meal, and only at the end of the meal, gather your serviette along a line about midway between your legs, double it over your thumb, and place it on the table (but not on a plate).

 

>> E. Decide what you are going to order as soon as your waiter brings you a rmenu so that you are ready, and thus don't hold up the table, when the waiter comes to take your order. (Tip: Most ships post the menu for dinner outside the dining room during the day, so you can review the menu and make your selections in advance. That way, you don't have to divide your attention between the conversation at the table and your menu when you arrive at teh table.)

 

>> F. Each place is set with the forks to the left of the main plate and knives and spoons to the right, in the reverse of the order needed, up to the main course. Thus, it's proper to use the outermost utinsils first. If you skip a course, skip the corresponding utinsils if the waiter fails to remove them. The utinsils "above" the main plate are for courses after the main course -- that is, for coffee or tea and dessert.

 

>> G. The bread and butter plate is always to the left of the forks. This seems to be the one that somebody invariably messes up, and invariably several people to the right of the initial offender follow suit because they don't want to embarass the person who messed up. Thus, it propagates around the table to the other side where somebody gets caught between those who get it right and those who get it wrong, and has the choice of making a scene or doing without. Also, one's beverage is always "above" one's knives and spoons to the right side of one's plate.

 

>> H. Wait until the waiter finishes serving each course before starting to eat. If some passengers skip a preliminary course, the waiter may bring the next preliminary course (but never the main course) to them while the others are eating the coures before it to achieve better synchronization of the whole meal. In such situations, wait until the waiter serves that course to all who are in the same situatoin.

 

>> I. If somebody else at the table shares a bottle of wine and you accept, reciprocate when the bottle runs out. If there are several people who accept, share with all of them in anticipation that the rest also will reciprocate.

 

>> J. If you have any sort of difficulty with your tablemates or your waitstaff, be civil for the rest of the evening, then see the maitre d' as discretely as possible and ask him (or her) move you to another table for the next evening. (On Celebrity's ships, you can call the maitre di' during the day to request a change of table for that evening.)

 

>> K. When eating, obverve the best of table manners. Break off a bite-sized piece fo bread, butter it if you wish, and eat it before breaking off another piece. Cut meat one bite-sized piece of meat, or whatever, at a time and eat it before cutting something else. Do not slurp soup. Chew with your mouth closed. Don't ever put the "business end" of used utinsils on the table. Dab your lips with your serviette before sipping your beverage. Etc. And so forth. Ad nauseum. Make Mom proud!

 

>> L. If your tablemates decide to go to one alternative restaurant or another as a gruup, go along. You just might enjoy the change of pace.

 

>> M. Above all else, be polite to your waitstaff. Simple courtesies like "please" and "thank you" and addressing them by name, rather than "hey, you!," mean a lot, and invariably motivate them to go the extra mile for you. On the last evening, make sure that your waitstaff get the proper gratuities, calculated based on the length of the cruise rather than the number of evenings that you actually eat in the main dining room. They are there for you even if you shun them, and they do a great job!

 

Norm.

[Tinwoman]

It's also proper for persons from other countries to wear the equivalent attire of their culture.

Well I am Cherokee Indian, so I guess I can wear my Pow Wow gear next time, wouldn't look any worst then some of the get ups I've seen.

[Leela]

Hey Shirley, I say go for it!

[BIG DAVE]

Well done:)

Well ...with REV:22 post we have now have made it to sixth grade. Keep going...we just may graduate.:):)

[skyview851]

12. Use courtesy in the elevators. Move towards the back or side when people are entering the elevator, and wait for people to leave the elevator before you try to muscle in. If you're close enough, hold the door open for people who may need more time to get in and out of the elevator, like the elderly, disabled, or someone with their hands full. Under no circumstances should you hold an elevator while your friends "catch up with you". I saw one woman hold an elevator for two minutes during the dinner rush while her friends were finishing a loud conversation with some other passengers.

 

In reference to the above, please realize that folks in wheelchairs HAVE to use the elevators. If an elevator is practically full, and there is no room for a chair, please go ahead & board. If an empty elevator arrives (or one with room for a chair) please allow the wheelchair on the elevator. I had the misfortune of breaking my leg on a cruise, and it was not uncommon for me to be waiting in front of the elevator, have the doors open, and not be able to board because of the other guests "rushing" the elevator before I could get on. Many times, I would end up missing 5 or 6 elevators because people would not allow me on. Believe me, if I could have taken the steps I would have!

[uktog]

Good thread

No 16 During lunchtime, do not use the Aquaspa area as a Card room or place to play scrabble. Some passengers would like to have lunch at the Aquaspa, but without a table it is tricky!

[Ine]

If only all passengers would read and remember this!!

Maybe make prints and put it in all cabins???

It would make cruising even better.

[FinelyCruising]

Rev - You are too funny! I guess you think I am a dumbell. (sigh) Here's what I think...the majority of the ships population is already dragging the belts on the way to the drill, or maybe you haven't noticed? :rolleyes: And if the real event were to occur, plan on the belts getting dragged!

 

On the other hand, experienced cruisers like myself, know about safety at sea and proper storage of the vest. By the way, I also own a boat and know what to do with my guests and how to keep them safe.

 

Lastly, hello is quite acceptable to most, and not offensive.You have my permission to feel free to use Good Morning or Good Afternoon if that is your preference. :p

[Stock Cop]

Wow, with all those great rules,and they are very good. If only more people would consider their fellow guests it would add a graet deal to the cruise.

 

If you meet the occasional jerk instead of "good morning. etc." you can make new friends by saying "you could lose 5 pounds", that will surely get you a new cruise buddy! I am joking of course, but wouldn't you like to say that to some of the "whales" who hang out in the buffet lines?

 

Rich :cool:

[karriec]

Everybody,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well said! Very, very well said, by everybody who posted rules! Now, I have just one more (sorry, but it is a bit long).

 

17. Be a good tablemate!

 

>> A. Come to the dining room on time, wearing the attire prescribed by the host -- that is, the master of the vessel, though the daily program -- each evening. It's proper for members of the armed forces to wear the uniform that's equivalent to the prescribed attire. (On "formal" evenings, the proper uniform is the so-called "mess dress" or "dinner dress jacket" uniform or, for members not required to own that uniform, the substitute prescribed in the service's uniform regulations.) It's also proper for persons from other countries to wear the equivalent attire of their culture. If you are not coming to dinner for any reason, communicate that fact to your waiter, if possible, or at least to a tablemate in advance so the rest of the table does not have to wait the customary fifteen minutes for a late guest before starting the meal.

 

>> B. When couples arrive at the table, the lady should sit to the right of the gentleman because.... well, because a gentleman always shows respect for a lady by giving the place of honor, which is to his right, to her. The only exception is if the gentleman holds an office of higher rank, which would entitle him to greater honor, but it's acceptable for the gentleman to defer to the lady even in this case.

 

>> C. Always greet your tablemates and your waitstaff with a smile and a chearful "Good evening!" This gets the evening off to a good start! Also, be sure to complement the ladies at the table on their appearance -- especially on "formal" evenings! Try to keep the conversation pleasant and cheerful. If somebody says something that you find disagreeable, you can smile and say, something like "I really don't agree, but let's not spoil the evening by arguing about it..." and segway to a completely different subject as cheerfully and smoothly as you possibly can. It's also best to avoid discussion of the three taboos -- women, politics, and religion -- as these topics frequently lead to heated arguments.

 

>> D. As soon as you sit down, pick up your serviette ("napkin"), open it so it remains folded in half, and put it on your lap. Don't wait for the waiter to pick it up and hand it to you. If you leave the table before the end of the meal for any reason, place your serviette on your chair -- NOT on the table -- until you return. At the end of the meal, and only at the end of the meal, gather your serviette along a line about midway between your legs, double it over your thumb, and place it on the table (but not on a plate).

 

>> E. Decide what you are going to order as soon as your waiter brings you a rmenu so that you are ready, and thus don't hold up the table, when the waiter comes to take your order. (Tip: Most ships post the menu for dinner outside the dining room during the day, so you can review the menu and make your selections in advance. That way, you don't have to divide your attention between the conversation at the table and your menu when you arrive at teh table.)

 

>> F. Each place is set with the forks to the left of the main plate and knives and spoons to the right, in the reverse of the order needed, up to the main course. Thus, it's proper to use the outermost utinsils first. If you skip a course, skip the corresponding utinsils if the waiter fails to remove them. The utinsils "above" the main plate are for courses after the main course -- that is, for coffee or tea and dessert.

 

>> G. The bread and butter plate is always to the left of the forks. This seems to be the one that somebody invariably messes up, and invariably several people to the right of the initial offender follow suit because they don't want to embarass the person who messed up. Thus, it propagates around the table to the other side where somebody gets caught between those who get it right and those who get it wrong, and has the choice of making a scene or doing without. Also, one's beverage is always "above" one's knives and spoons to the right side of one's plate.

 

>> H. Wait until the waiter finishes serving each course before starting to eat. If some passengers skip a preliminary course, the waiter may bring the next preliminary course (but never the main course) to them while the others are eating the coures before it to achieve better synchronization of the whole meal. In such situations, wait until the waiter serves that course to all who are in the same situatoin.

 

>> I. If somebody else at the table shares a bottle of wine and you accept, reciprocate when the bottle runs out. If there are several people who accept, share with all of them in anticipation that the rest also will reciprocate.

 

>> J. If you have any sort of difficulty with your tablemates or your waitstaff, be civil for the rest of the evening, then see the maitre d' as discretely as possible and ask him (or her) move you to another table for the next evening. (On Celebrity's ships, you can call the maitre di' during the day to request a change of table for that evening.)

 

>> K. When eating, obverve the best of table manners. Break off a bite-sized piece fo bread, butter it if you wish, and eat it before breaking off another piece. Cut meat one bite-sized piece of meat, or whatever, at a time and eat it before cutting something else. Do not slurp soup. Chew with your mouth closed. Don't ever put the "business end" of used utinsils on the table. Dab your lips with your serviette before sipping your beverage. Etc. And so forth. Ad nauseum. Make Mom proud!

 

>> L. If your tablemates decide to go to one alternative restaurant or another as a gruup, go along. You just might enjoy the change of pace.

 

>> M. Above all else, be polite to your waitstaff. Simple courtesies like "please" and "thank you" and addressing them by name, rather than "hey, you!," mean a lot, and invariably motivate them to go the extra mile for you. On the last evening, make sure that your waitstaff get the proper gratuities, calculated based on the length of the cruise rather than the number of evenings that you actually eat in the main dining room. They are there for you even if you shun them, and they do a great job!

 

Norm.

 

The first rule of being a good table mate is show up!!! On a very recent cruise we had no table mates for the 1st two nights, when we complained we had people who said they wanted 1st instead of 2nd seating then only showed up two nights because they liked the casual dining. We had several nights with noone. 3 at a table for 7, not fun. Then we had misc. people who wanted first seating but could not get it so they were seated at a variety of tables when available. If you request 1st seating then show up once and a while. IF you think you want to go to the casual or other venue then do 2nd seating and don't take up a 1st seating table that someone esle can enjoy and your table mates won't be left with noone.

Karrie

[Melissa at Mohair Meadows]

It's been a few years since my last cruise, but this used to be a big issue.

 

Please, don't pile your stuff on the chairs and go eat and expect your lounge to be still available when you return. 1/2 hour should be the max you need to hit the hot tub or take a swim, run to your room etc.

 

Also, no diapers in the pool - please!

[Captain Cosmo]

Well, with only one exception it appears that most posters agree that consideration of your fellow passengers is the key to a harmonious atmosphere onboard. Rev 22:17 - Great post!

[mapman_2004]

Great posts, thanks! Mostly all common sense, but for those of us first-time cruisers, there is some good points to keep in mind.

 

It is tough to argue with any of the above suggestions when they all infer a sense of courteousness that should be used at all times.