Former cruise worker reveals 6 things she would never do on ships

Trip

By Tracy Swartz

Knot on her 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 shelling after dining upgrades or a drink pack; touching certain surfaces with bare hands; wearing a room key as a necklace; use of incorrect maritime grammar; and risk not returning to the ship on time.

She doesn’t mean to be a cold-joy, but she strictly advises against “supplementary” dinner items.

“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 even though I enjoy lobster, I stick to the no-extra-cost stuff.”

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

Barr keeps costs in mind while advising against unlimited beverage packages, especially for passengers who plan to leave ship bars to go ashore for the day.

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

“This strategy has worked for me as I have never gotten norovirus, even when it was rampant on a ship I was on,” Barr shared. “It’s pretty contagious and can stick around on your fingertips even after you’ve used hand sanitizer. I’d definitely rather be safe than sorry.”

13 outbreaks of norovirus — an easily spread stomach bug — were reported on cruises in 2023, the most since 2012, when there were 16 confirmed outbreaks.

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

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

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

“Ships have proper names and therefore don’t require a definite article. For example, ‘Tomorrow I’m going on the Discovery Princess’ or ‘I enjoyed a scenic cruise on the MS Westerdam,'” she tells the Insider audience.

And finally, make sure you get back to the ship on time so you don’t ruin your vacation.

Last month, Norwegian Cruise Line left eight passengers stranded on a small island in Africa after their private tour ran late.