10 Worst Types of People You’ll Meet on Every Cruise

I personally believe that cruises are a fantastic way to relax and have fun, but sooner or later every cruiser encounters a few fellow passengers who test the limits of patience.

If you have already been on a cruise, you have probably encountered quite a few, but if this is your first time, consider this your warning.

In the spirit of humor (and a bit of caution), here are ten of the worst types of people you’ll meet on every cruise.

We will also see what they do, why it’s a problem, and how to deal with them in a friendly way.

1. The Chair Hog

One of the most common and also one of the most hated is the early-morning “chair hog” who reserves poolside loungers with towels and books and then disappears for hours.

This passenger gets up at the crack of dawn to drape towels, flip-flops, clothes, and every other item you can think of over multiple poolside lounge chairs, effectively claiming them without actually being there.

The Chair Hog is very problematic because on a crowded ship day, their “reserved” empty chairs leave other cruisers wandering the deck with nowhere to sit.

It’s one of the top pet peeves cited by cruisers (some folks go so far as to call chair hogs “evil“.

Luckily, in recent times, many cruise lines have implemented a 30-minute rule, so if a chair is left unattended for more than half an hour, you’re usually safe to ask a crew member to clear the items and free it up.

I always recommend politely involving staff rather than confronting the hog directly; you’ll avoid drama and useless debates. In addition, I suggest you check out the 7 smart strategies to outwit chair hogs on any cruise ship.

2. The Obnoxious Drunk

This is the passenger who treats the unlimited drink package like a personal challenge.

By midday (or sooner), they’re slurring, stumbling, and singing off-key karaoke for all to hear.

The Obnoxious Drunk can be loud and messy, and on a cruise, where everyone shares common spaces, an inebriated guest can really dampen the fun (and quiet) for those around them.

The best strategy is to keep your distance and steer clear if someone is visibly very drunk.

Cruise lines have very strict rules about fighting, and if you get involved (even unintentionally), you risk being banned from the ship.

If an obnoxious drunk is disrupting your experience, just move to another area, and for persistent or dangerous behavior, don’t hesitate to alert a crew member.

Have a look at the 7 reasons why you can get banned from a cruise ship.

3. The Chronic Complainer

Nothing is ever good enough for the Chronic Complainer. You’ll hear them griping that the food is “terrible,” the cabin is “too small,” the weather isn’t perfect, the entertainment is lame, everything is wrong in their eyes.

This constant negativity is a real downer on a cruise, where most people are trying to chill out and have fun. It can create an awkward or gloomy atmosphere around them, and it might even make first-time cruisers nervous that they’re missing something.

Don’t let a whiner ruin your positive vibes. If you encounter one, respond with a lighthearted comment or simply nod and excuse yourself: “I’m off to the trivia quiz, catch you later!” It’s best not to get pulled into their complaining spiral.

If they’re in your group, gently remind them that no cruise is perfect and encourage them to find the fun in the moment. Often, a little empathy and a change of subject can help.

4. The Know-It-All

Ah yes, the Know-It-All Cruiser, the person who has sailed a dozen times (and will make sure you know it).

Whatever you’ve done, they’ve done it more often, more extravagantly, and for a better price.

They love to interrupt and regale anyone within earshot with unsolicited “expert” advice on everything: the best hidden deck on the ship, the correct way to navigate the buffet, the only excursions worth doing.

Why is this an issue? Aside from being plain annoying, the know-it-all can make new cruisers feel belittled or ruin the discovery of new experiences by spoiling them with their tales.

I started my cruise blog 12 years ago, so I know a thing or two, yet there’s always someone who wants to teach you how it works.

What to do? Just smile, nod, and remember you don’t have to take their advice if you don’t want it. It’s usually easiest to let them have their moment and then politely excuse yourself.

5. The Penny Pincher

This cruiser is on a mission to spend as little as humanly possible on board. The Penny Pincher (or cheapskate) will avoid any activity or item that costs extra and might loudly complain that everything on the ship is an upsell.

They’re known to skimp on tips or even line up at guest services on the last night to remove the auto-gratuities from their bill.

They may brag about sneaking food out of the buffet to avoid paying for a specialty restaurant, or roll their eyes at others ordering a drink.

Let me be clear, there’s nothing wrong with budgeting, but the penny pincher’s attitude often comes off as miserly and disrespectful, especially if they’re vocal about not tipping the hardworking crew.

I just wanna say that I know that extra charges have increased on cruises in recent years, but always remember that you are on vacation and enjoy the moment!

Don’t feel guilty about catching a paid show or ordering dessert just because someone else wants to save 10$.

If they pressure you to join their zero-cost battle, a friendly “Thanks, but this is worth it for me – you go ahead if you’d rather not,” sets a boundary.

In addition, to arrive prepared, you can always check in advance the list of the things that are never included in the cruise price and the 7 cruise ship extras that are totally worth the money.

6. The Entitled Cruiser

This person must have missed the memo that a cruise ship isn’t their private yacht. The Entitled Cruiser is rude or demanding with the staff and expects VIP treatment at all times.

You’ll spot them berating a crew member because the pool towel station ran out of fresh towels, or snapping fingers at a waiter if their drink isn’t served fast enough.

They treat crew like personal servants rather than hardworking professionals, a behavior that most passengers find cringeworthy and completely unnecessary.

On a cruise, this attitude is especially troublesome because the crew works incredibly hard (often away from family for months) to keep everyone happy, and seeing someone demean them can sour the mood for everyone around.

If you witness someone being rude to staff, you can show support in subtle ways: give the crew member a sympathetic smile or even mention to them later that you appreciate their effort.

Complaining about the complainer to others might just spread negativity, so it’s better to kill the vibe with kindness, be extra polite and grateful in your own interactions.

ALSO READ: 10 Tipping Mistakes Not to Make on a Cruise

7. The “Vacation Parent” (with Wild Kids)

Also known as the Unsupervised Kids scenario, this is when parents onboard basically take a vacation from parenting.

They’re lounging with a cocktail or off doing their own thing while their pack of wild children runs amok.

You might see these kids playing elevator tag (pressing all the buttons, of course), running and shouting through hallways at all hours, splashing in the adults-only pool, or treating the buffet like a playground.

Of course, kids will always be kids, and parents deserve to enjoy their vacation too, but a little more supervision and attention wouldn’t hurt.

Dealing with this kind of situation can be a bit trickier because telling someone how to parent (or telling someone’s child what to do) can lead to conflict.

The best approach if a child is truly causing a problem in the moment (say, unsafe behavior like climbing on railings or a meltdown in a quiet area) is to politely involve a crew member; staff are usually trained to handle these situations diplomatically.

Otherwise, if you just need a break from the chaos, seek out adults-only zones on the ship (many ships have 18+ pools, bars, or lounges where kids won’t be around).

Recently, some cruise lines have also tightened their rules on these situations. For example, Carnival has updated 7 rules that all passengers must now follow.

8. The Buffet Glutton

You’ll know the Buffet Glutton when you see them: they’re the one balancing two or three heaping plates of food at once, piling on that extra slice of pizza on top of a mountain of fries and desserts.

They race around the buffet as if the ship might run out of food any second, often bumping into others in their rush and leaving a trail of spilled sauce behind.

These are also the folks who must grab the last donut or crab cake, even if they already have seven on their plate.

Why is it an issue? Well, aside from the mess and longer lines, it’s a bit frustrating (and baffling) to watch someone waste food or hog all the popular items.

There’s usually plenty of food on cruise ships, and the kitchen is always ready to replenish the trays.

PRO TIP: Visit the buffet at off-peak times and always go to the back area, which is less crowded.

Of course, don’t forget to follow all the other buffet rules while you’re on a cruise.

9. The Clingy Chatterbox

Some people go on cruises to meet new friends…and some people really take that to the extreme.

The Clingy Chatterbox is the overly friendly passenger who can’t take a hint that you’d like a little alone time.

You chat once in the hot tub, and next thing you know, they’re following you to the buffet, plopping down next to you at shows, and popping up every time you turn around.

They’ll ask deeply personal questions by day one and might already be talking about exchanging phone numbers or email addresses.

What makes this problematic on a cruise is that it’s a closed environment, and it can be hard to fully avoid someone without feeling rude, especially on small ships.

Let me underline that these chatterboxes often mean well, but their inability to read obvious social cues can grind your relaxation down, especially if you are on a couple’s vacation and want to spend time with your partner.

Polite and direct communication works well in this case. Thank them for the lovely chat, and say something like, “I’m going to spend some time with my partner/family now – enjoy your day!”.

If they persist in latching on, don’t be afraid to set boundaries: for example, if you’re part of a group, you can say the group has other plans, and most people will get the message.

Just handle it with kindness and gratitude for their friendliness. Some people go on cruises by themselves and therefore want to make friends, but you deserve a little peace and quiet when you want it.

10. The Line Cutter (and Elevator Offender)

Lines are a fact of cruise life, whether it’s waiting to get on board, disembark at port, hit the buffet, or catch a show.

Yet the Line Cutter believes their time is more important than everyone else’s. This is the person who slinks in front of you in the theater line, or the couple that ignores the clearly formed queue for the tender boat and tries to muscle their way on first.

A close cousin is the Elevator Offender: the folks who barge into an elevator as soon as the doors open without letting others off, or those who take an elevator up or down one floor when they could easily use the stairs.

On a cruise ship, these behaviors cause congestion, especially on larger ships where the number of passengers is very high.

Often, a polite but firm “Sorry, there’s a line here” will work, but again, it might not be worth raising your blood pressure while on vacation.

If you really want to save time and avoid lines, learn the genius cruise hacks every cruiser should know, and the 10 ridiculous time wasters all cruisers must avoid