Alex O'Brien
Cruising

10 things you should never do on a cruise balcony

Not too long ago we brought you news of a Perth man who had been thrown off a P&O cruise ship for clicking a cigarette butt over the side. In this story emphasised anything, it’s the importance of observing the right etiquette on cruise ship balconies.

Here are 10 things you must never do when enjoying a cruise ship balcony. Follow these all important rules and you’ll never be forced to walk the plank.

1. Smoke

Smoking on cruise balconies is a real no-no. Not only is the wafting smoke an unpleasant smell, but a half-burning cigarette blown back aboard can potentially be a fire hazard.

2. Make too much noise

One think that’s often forgotten is the fact that when we’re standing on our cruise ship balconies we’re well within earshot of our neighbours, so keep the volume down.

3. Go nude

The thing people sun bathing in one their cruise ship balcony in their birthday suit don’t realise is many balconies are tiered, so you may actually be in view of others.

4. Stand or climb on railings

Now this should be obvious, but you should never stand on the railings or the verandah furniture can significantly increase your risk of being thrown overboard.

5. Throw items overboard

It might be tempting to toss a message in a beer bottle overseas, but there are strict regulations. Not only is this dangerous, it’s also not environmentally friendly.

6. Dry clothes  

It can be quite difficult to dry your swimmers when you’re off a cruise, but one strong gust of wind could mean you could go the rest of your cruise without bathers.

7. Leave the balcony door open

On a hot and humid day, leaving the balcony door ajar might seem like a good idea, but the gusty sea breeze can wreak havoc with any loose items in your cabin.

8. Light a candle

It might seem like it’s a good way to enhance the mood, but any open flame on a cruise ship is a fire hazard, and lighting a candle is almost always against regulations.

9. Leave the balcony light on

If your cruise balcony has outdoor lighting, make sure you turn if off when you’re not actually using it, to save electricity and not disturb your neighbours.

10. Amorous behaviour

Cruises are inherently romantic holidays, but you might need to avoid overt displays of affection. As mentioned above, balconies are not be as private as you think.

Have you ever performed one of these cruise balcony behaviours to avoid?

Let us know in the comments.

Image credit: Twitter / @heathercruises

Related links:

7 secrets to enjoying food on a cruise

14 candid photos show what a mega-cruise is really like

Travellers reveal the strangest things they've ever seen on a cruise

Tags:
travel, holiday, cruise, cruising, Balcony