Ex-cruise worker reveals 6 things she’d never do on ships

Journey

By Tracy Swartz

Bow on his watch!

Tammy Barr, who says she worked on cruises for three years, reveals in a new Insider essay the six things she would never do on board.

Barr’s Nauti list includes spending on dining upgrades or a beverage package; touch certain surfaces with bare hands; wear a room key as a necklace; using inappropriate maritime grammar; and risk not returning to the ship in time.

She doesn’t want to be a joy of life, but she strongly advises against “extra” dishes for dinner.

“I know $12 might not seem like a lot for a steak or lobster tail for dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food,” Barr wrote for Insider. “So while I enjoy lobster, I stick to the items at no extra cost.”

Data from late 2023 revealed that a five-night Caribbean cruise cost around $736 per person, a whopping 43% increase from the same period in 2019, as demand for cruise vacations increased following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barr keeps costs in mind while advising against unlimited drink packages, especially for passengers who plan to leave the ship’s bars to disembark for the day.

And third, Barr suggests touching common surfaces such as elevator buttons with your knuckles or elbows.

“This strategy worked for me because I never contracted norovirus, even when it was rampant on a ship I was on,” Barr explained. “It’s quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer. I definitely prefer prevention to cure.

13 outbreaks of norovirus – a stomach illness that spreads easily – have been reported on cruises in 2023, the most since 2012, when 16 outbreaks were confirmed.

The first cruise norovirus outbreak of 2024 was recorded in January, on a Celebrity Cruises ship.

Also to stay safe, Barr recommends not wearing your room key around your neck, as it seems “pretentious” and “like an invitation to get robbed.”

Speaking of con-sea-ted, Barr is particular about how she identifies ships.

“Ships have proper nouns and therefore do not need a definite article. For example, “Tomorrow I’m boarding the Discovery Princess” or “I enjoyed the panoramic cruise on the MS Westerdam,” she tells the Insider audience.

And finally, make sure you return to the ship on time, so as not to spoil your vacation.

Last month, Norwegian Cruise Line left eight passengers stranded on a small African island after their private tour was delayed.