27 Small Courtesies Cruise Crews Remember All Week From Guests Who Showed Them on Day One

Two guests on a seven-night Royal Caribbean sailing are charged $259 in gratuities before they have thanked anyone themselves.¹ That part is automatic, and the 27 courtesies below are the personal part, the one a steward or server actually notices.

Royal Caribbean adds $18.50 per person per day to a standard cabin, and Carnival’s automatic daily gratuity is $17 for standard staterooms as of April 2, 2026. The list counts down from a glance at a name tag to a single phone call, and the last few items have nothing to do with etiquette as you know it.

#27 – Your Cabin Steward’s Name on Day One

Your cabin steward will learn your name quickly and will usually greet you by it every time you meet. Returning the favor takes a glance at the name tag, and the first day is the easiest time to start.

Cruise Critic’s advice on keeping a steward friendly files this under common courtesy. You will pass the same person in the corridor many times in a week, and a name used early makes later requests, from extra towels to a burned-out bulb, sound like they come from a neighbor.

A name only goes so far without something said alongside it, and the corridor is where that gets said.

#26 – A Plain Good Morning in the Corridor

Cruise Critic’s steward tips include exchanging greetings: some stewards like a quick hello and a smile, or a chat about their families back home. The same piece says that kind of friendliness builds a natural rapport and can even result in extra chocolates on the pillow.²

A greeting takes five seconds, which makes it the cheapest courtesy on this list that still gets noticed. Keep it short when the steward is carrying a full load of linen.

Saying hello in the hall is easy, while telling a steward what you want done inside the room is the harder habit.

#25 – Room Preferences Told Early, Not Late

Cruise Critic suggests raising special requests at the start of the cruise. Its example is an ice bucket: if you don’t want it filled in the mornings, tell your steward, and you shave a minute or two off the work.²

Another cruise guide recommends mentioning preferences on day one, in a friendly way, not like a complaint. That lets the steward build a routine for your cabin, and the rest of the week runs more smoothly.³

Towels are the usual example. Say once whether you want fresh ones daily or are happy to reuse them, rather than leaving a different instruction every morning.

At a Glance

• When: day one, before the routine sets in
• Tone: friendly, not like a complaint
• Ice bucket: say so if you don’t want it filled in the mornings
• Towels: fresh daily, or reuse, stated once

#24 – A Note a Second-Language Reader Can Follow

Stewards are often working while you are out, so a short, polite note is the easiest way to get a message across. Cruise Critic adds that the note should be clear and legible, because English is often the shared language onboard but may not be the steward’s first.²

Print in capital letters, one request per line, with the time you need it. A note that reads “two extra pillows, tonight” leaves nothing to interpret.

A note says what you want, and the sign on the door says when you want it, which is where signals tend to get crossed.

#23 – The Do Not Disturb Sign Used With Care

Mixed signals, or forgetting to use the sign at all, can leave a steward guessing and throw their routine out of sync. One cruise guide points out that keeping the sign up all morning and then removing it at the busiest time may make it impossible to clean the cabin.³

A predictable window works better, with the sign up only when you really need it. If you are having a lazy morning or napping, keep it on “Do Not Disturb”, then take it down when you head out. Leaving it hanging as a default all week is the habit to avoid.

Even with the sign sorted, the best timing for a clean is when you are not in the room at all.

#22 – Stepping Out While the Room Is Cleaned

Step out for a few minutes when the steward is doing the main clean. Done that way, it is faster for the steward, and the cabin usually gets done better.

A coffee or a lap on deck does the job. If walking is slow for you, a seat in a nearby lounge works as well, since the point is only to leave the room clear.

If you cannot leave, because of a nap or a health reason, tell the steward and agree on a different time. A cabin cleaned around a guest takes longer and tends to be done less thoroughly.

#21 – Keeping the Cabin Reasonably Tidy

You are on vacation and no one is asking you to clean, but try to keep the cabin reasonably tidy. Former Carnival cruise director Matt Mitcham told The Points Guy that an organized cabin makes it easier to find what you need and earns major points with your steward.

His other tip applies before you leave home. Cruise ships have no luggage restrictions, but the question is whether it will all fit in your cabin.

Tidy covers the floor and the surfaces, though the closet and the bathroom counter have their own small rules.

#20 – Clothes in the Wardrobe, Toiletries Off the Counter

One cabin-courtesy guide asks guests to hang their clothes and put them in the wardrobe before leaving to explore the deck. It also suggests sweeping the bathroom for your articles, since a stranger should not have to pick up your personal toiletries.⁴

A pile of clothes on the bed is the habit to drop first, because the bed is the first thing a steward has to make.

If you take daily medications, keep them in one pouch that stays in the same place all week. Nobody has to move them, and you never have to hunt for them.

That covers the cabin, and the money side of the week is where guests have the most questions.

#19 – Small Bills in Your Pocket

The Points Guy advises bringing small-denomination bills if you think you might hand out tips during your cruise. Ones and fives mean you are never choosing between handing over a twenty and skipping the thank-you.⁵

Automatic gratuities do not cover every crew member or travel service provider you will meet. A few small bills in an envelope at the start of the trip make the occasional extra thank-you simple.

#18 – An Optional Early Tip for the Steward

Cruise Critic calls tipping at the start of a cruise controversial, noting that some cruisers give a room steward a pre-cruise sweetener of $20 or so. It adds that whether it signals extra demands or bigger rewards later, you will probably get the steward’s attention.²

Treat this one as optional. You do not have to tip early if it feels awkward, and a fair tip at the end is always appreciated.

If it would make you uncomfortable, skip it and spend the effort on the free items above. Cash is only one way to thank a steward, and the others are smaller and fit in a bag.

#17 – Fruit or a Cruise Duck, Handed Over Directly

Cabin stewards cannot take items unless you offer them directly, but many appreciate fruit because the fruit available to crew is often very ripe. A banana or an apple from a port market, handed over in person, is a small gesture.

The same logic applies to the toy ducks some cruisers hide around ships. Crew members say they cannot pick them up themselves, but can take them if a passenger hands them over.

Whatever you hand over, some stewards also enjoy a few words about where they come from.

#16 – Asking About Home, Briefly

One etiquette guide suggests you ask about a crew member’s home country or job during slower moments, but always be mindful of their time. Cruise Critic notes that some stewards enjoy a chat about their families back home.

A hallway at nine in the morning with a cart behind them is the wrong moment. Wait for a lull, listen more than you talk, and do not press for details about contracts or pay.

#15 – Cabin Requests to the Steward, the Rest Elsewhere

One cruise guide advises saving your steward for cabin-specific requests like extra pillows or replacing light bulbs, so you are not burdening them with extra things to remember. Questions about billing, excursions or restaurant bookings belong with guest services.

Guest services will sometimes be slow, and what you do with your impatience matters.

#14 – Patience When Something Takes Too Long

The same guide is blunt: never blame the steward for something that has gone wrong or taken too long to fix. It adds that if guest services are slow, you should not take it out on your cabin steward.

A steward does not control the repair queue or your bill. Say what is wrong, ask what the steward can do, and then follow up with guest services in person, early in the day.

Frustration sometimes reaches the wallet too, because the daily gratuity can be changed at guest services, and that step lands on people who were not at fault.

#13 – Letting the Daily Gratuity Stand

Royal Caribbean charges $18.50 per person per day in standard cabins and $21 in suites. Passengers can ask guest services to adjust the amount if service was unsatisfactory.¹

One guide notes that changing it is discouraged because crew rely on these tips. The charge also reaches beyond the people you see, since tips go to guest-facing staff as well as crew such as kitchen and laundry workers.

If the problem is one slow repair, fix the repair and leave the charge alone.

#12 – Drinks and Spa Percentages Already Added

On Royal Caribbean, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, minibars, room service and specialty dining, and 20% at salons and spas. Carnival also applies an additional automatic gratuity to bar drinks, specialty dining and spa services.

Quick Compare

• Daily charge, standard cabin: Royal Caribbean $18.50 per person; Carnival $17 (as of April 2, 2026)
• Bars and specialty dining: Royal Caribbean adds 18%; Carnival adds its own automatic gratuity
• Spa and salon: Royal Caribbean adds 20%; Carnival adds an automatic gratuity on spa services

So before you write an extra tip on a drink check, look at whether a percentage is already on it. Lines differ, and a quick read of the receipt tells you more than guessing.

The percentages cover the transaction, but they say nothing about the person who stood out, and the cruise line has a form for that.

#11 – The Post-Cruise Survey, Naming Names

The Points Guy suggests that if you choose not to tip above the included service charge, you complete the post-cruise survey and call out crew members who left an impression. If someone went out of their way, it also suggests considering a monetary thank-you.

Naming a crew member in writing costs nothing. Jot down the name on day three while you still have it, instead of trying to recall it on the last night.

Praise in writing arrives after the week is over, whereas punctuality at dinner is something the dining staff see from the first evening.

#10 – Showing Up for Your Dinner Reservation

Showing up on time for dinner, especially in the main dining room or specialty restaurants, helps your servers and fellow guests have a smooth experience. The same goes for excursions, theater shows and kids’ clubs.

If you will be more than a few minutes late, tell the host rather than arriving at a table that has been given away.

#9 – Leaving Loungers Free When You Walk Away

One etiquette guide puts it plainly: don’t be a chair saver, and if you are not actively using a lounger, leave it free for others. A towel left on a chair for hours is also a dispute waiting to happen, and deck crew can end up refereeing it.

If you need a break from the sun, take your things with you. If you will be back in ten minutes, tell the neighbor beside you.

Holding a chair costs other guests time in the sun, but holding up a gathering costs the whole ship time, and the safety briefing is where that shows first.

#8 – Arriving on Time to the Safety Drill

All passengers must attend a safety demonstration, called a muster drill, within their first few hours on board, and it takes place before the ship sails. More often than not, it will not start until every passenger is present at their muster station.

So one late guest can hold up a whole section of the ship. Everyone, even children, must attend, even if they have sailed on the same ship before.⁶

During the drill, stay quiet and follow instructions so everyone can hear the briefing. On some ships the drill has changed form, which leaves a timing choice to you.

#7 – Finishing an E-Muster Before the Bar

On some ships the drill is now digital. Passengers can complete the e-muster on their own time rather than sit in crowded lounges.

Some lines have passengers watch a safety video on the cruise line app or cabin TV, while others still run a full in-person drill.

Worth Knowing

• Some lines let you finish the briefing on your own schedule
• Others still run a full in-person drill, so check your ship’s instructions
• Some lines limit drink orders until the briefing is complete
• If you are asked to report to your station, crew will mark your attendance there

Do it early, because some cruise lines limit the number of drinks passengers can order until they complete the safety briefing. If your ship asks you to report to your station so a crew member can mark your attendance, you still have to go.

#6 – Knowing Your Assembly Station Beforehand

To avoid the ship waiting for you, know the time of the drill and the quickest route to your station. Your station is designated on the safety sign in your stateroom, though on mega-ships guests may gather in a larger space such as the theater.

During the drill, pay attention to every word the crew says and treat it as you would a real alarm. If stairs or distance slow you down, walk the route once while corridors are empty, and tell a crew member you may need help.

The drill is a one-time deadline, but another one waits at every port, and it is the one that does not forgive a late return.

#5 – Being Back Before the All-Aboard Time

Return to the ship before the all-aboard time, because the ship will leave without late passengers. Be early for tours as well.

A ship-sponsored excursion is generally built into the ship’s timetable, while a tour you arranged yourself carries no such cushion. Set a phone alarm with an hour’s margin, and check whether the ship runs on a different clock than the port.

Making the gangway is a matter of minutes, but what your hands carry back aboard is a matter of health.

#4 – Washing With Soap Before You Eat

The CDC advises that you wash your hands with soap and water before eating and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or touching things other people have touched, such as stair railings. It also says to avoid touching your face.

The reason is norovirus. On cruise ships, more than 90% of gastrointestinal outbreaks with a confirmed cause are due to norovirus.

Cruise Critic’s summary of the CDC advice puts the washing time at at least 20 seconds.

#3 – Why Hand Sanitizer Is Not the Answer

The CDC’s cruise FAQ tells passengers to wash their hands often and not rely on hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based sanitizer is less effective against norovirus.

The CDC’s travel page does say to wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer against respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and flu. So carry sanitizer for those, and use the restroom sink for stomach bugs.

Fast Facts

• Stomach bugs: soap and water, and the CDC says not to rely on sanitizer
• COVID-19 and flu: wash frequently or use hand sanitizer
• Wash time: at least 20 seconds, per Cruise Critic’s summary of CDC advice
• Norovirus share: more than 90% of confirmed-cause gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships

Norovirus is hard to stop because it has a low infective dose, can survive routine cleaning, and has no vaccine. Clean hands help, but they cannot help a ship once someone is already sick, and that is when the CDC asks for more from guests.

#2 – Staying in Your Cabin If the Medical Center Says So

The CDC’s cruise FAQ states that if the medical center advises you to isolate, it is important to do so.⁷ Vessel Sanitation Program standards require passengers and crew with certain symptoms to isolate for a short period.

Losing part of your vacation is a real cost. It helps prevent illnesses from escalating to outbreaks that affect the whole ship, and the CDC also advises passengers to leave the area if they see someone get sick.

Isolation only begins once the ship knows you are sick, and that depends on a phone call guests are tempted to put off.

#1 – Calling the Medical Center at the First Symptom

The CDC’s Yellow Book says that because outbreak risk is elevated on ships, travelers should call the ship’s medical center promptly, even for mild symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness, and strictly follow isolation and infection-control guidance.⁸ The call costs nothing, and it is the one courtesy on this list that protects the whole ship.

For international ships porting in the United States during 2006 to 2019, an average of 12 norovirus outbreaks occurred each year. The CDC also says passengers help keep illness from becoming an outbreak by notifying medical staff if they are sick and washing their hands.

The crew pays for a late call too. When an outbreak is declared, crew members clean more thoroughly than usual, with stronger solvents, and that work lands on the same stewards you greeted on the first morning.

Each habit above saves someone a little time, and a crew’s day is built from small blocks of it. A note, a hello or an early call keeps your own schedule from becoming someone else’s problem.

On the first day of your next trip, spend the first hour thinking about where you might slow someone down, and fix that before anything else. On your last trip, what was the first thing you said or did for the person who looked after your room?

Sources

• CDC Yellow Book: Cruise Ship Travel
• CDC: Cruise Ship Illness Frequently Asked Questions
• CDC Travelers’ Health: Cruise Ship Travel
• Cruise Critic: Tipping on a Cruise, Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide
• Cruise Critic: 6 Tips for Keeping Your Cabin Steward Friendly
• Cruise Critic: Cruise Muster Station and Muster Drill
• Cruise Critic: Norovirus on Cruise Ships
• The Points Guy: Tipping on a Cruise
• The Points Guy: 7 People You Should Always Tip on a Cruise
• The Points Guy: Ask the Cruise Director
• Royal Caribbean Blog: What Happens if You Miss the Cruise Ship Safety Drill