Don't ask the captain to shake your hand and if you're too young you might be blocked from
cruising. We're talking about the seven weird rules on cruise ships and why they exist.
Ahoy cruisers. Before we begin don't forget to hit that subscribe button. Coming up we've got seven
weird rules you'll find on a cruise ship and why they exist. Let's get started with rule
number one. So number one. Don't be offended by this first rule if the captain or crew member
does not oblige. You are not allowed to shake hands with the captain or crew members. Now,
this might seem obvious in the era but this rule dates back to 2015. Back in 2015, a few cruise
lines added a rule that passengers are not allowed to shake hands with the crew members and captains
due to the possible spreading of unwanted and dangerous viruses. So this makes perfect sense
now. Not every cruise line has this rule but it's something to keep in mind if you put your hand out
and are refused. This rule exists to keep you and the crew members safe. The next rule is all about
age. So we know you need to be over 18 or 21 to drink alcohol depending on where you are.
But did you know with some cruise lines if you're not old enough you might not be allowed to cruise
at all? Yes even if you're in your 30s or 40s. Some cruise lines will not allow you to sail
with them. Some vacations are intended solely for adults. Even older ones. For example saga cruises.
You have to be over the age of 50 to travel with them. Windstar cruises do not permit children
under the age of 8 to board ships and any guest under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a guest
who is 25 years or older. Virgin Voyages are an adult-only cruise line too. Not allowing children
at all. This rule exists as some people don't want to travel on cruises with kids and families. They
want relaxation away from the noise and the sight of kids. Number three. This one involves food and
drink. You are not allowed to take any food from the ship into port. You might be used to taking
a piece of fruit, a muffin or some other snack for later when staying in a land-based hotel. Grabbing
it from the buffet or from the restaurant. Now, this is perfectly acceptable on land
but it is not allowed on cruise ships if you are about to exit the ship to explore a nearby port.
Taking food with you is strictly prohibited. This isn't because a ship is stingy on food or doesn't
want you to take it off. It's because of the local agricultural laws in every country and they're
usually actively enforced. You could introduce some type of bacteria or bugs from fruits and
vegetables into other countries which could cause havoc on local farms and produce. Sneaking food
on or off the ship can lead to a big fine or even trouble with the law. Honestly, we have seen such
big scenes in port over a single banana. They really take this seriously. Pre-packaged foods
such as chocolate bars and bags of crisps or chips are usually fine to take off. So you're okay with
them. Number four did you know that some cruise lines have strict policies against wearing hats
and flip-flops? Whilst these are fine to wear outside they're not allowed in restaurants and
dining venues of some cruise lines. And we agree with this rule. Some cruise lines won't even allow
jeans in the main dining rooms as they are seen as too casual. Especially cruise lines like Disney,
Cunard, and most of the luxury cruise lines. The general rule is bare feet,
tank tops, baseball caps, bathing suits, shorts and jeans are not allowed in the main dining rooms
or whilst eating in speciality restaurants. When inside shirts and shoes are required
at all times. So no bare feet and guys. Put a top on. And it's not just whilst on the cruise.
Some ports have dress codes too. You'll want to avoid packing camouflage clothing, especially
whilst in the Caribbean. Countries such as Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia reserve the print
for the military. So it will be frowned upon. Some countries, especially in the middle east,
require longer trousers instead of shorts and require arms to be covered. It's always worthwhile
checking before you leave so you're respectful and don't offend the locals by breaking the rules.
These rules exist to make everybody comfortable and keep things as respectful as possible.
Number five. Now, this is a controversial one. It's all about tipping. Unlike real life where
you tip waiters and bar staff every time you get a drink or leave a restaurant. Well, cruise is quite
different. It's usually all automatic. There is no need to leave any cash tip behind or slip the
waiter a cheeky dollar bill for better service. I mean you can but it's not necessary. The general
rule is you just do nothing. I know it sounds a little bit wrong but it's true. Each day you are
automatically billed for gratuities for the wait staff, drinks, housekeeping, all behind the scenes
stuff. So it's actually super simple. Some cruise lines are even doing away with tips and including
them in the price of your cruise. What happens if you get bad service though? Sometimes it can be
hard to remove your tips. Some cruise lines such as carnival cruise lines don't even allow it. But
please don't be stingy. The crew work long hours and are often at sea for eight-month stretches.
Sending the bulk of their cash wages back home to their family. The tipping rule exists to make
things as easy as possible for you whilst on the cruise. So take advantage of it. Just don't
do anything. Just pay your tips right at the end. You are sorted. Rule number six is about alcohol.
Sneaking alcohol onboard ships is prohibited. Some cruise lines do allow you to bring on a bottle of
wine each but others have a strict "No carried on" alcohol policy. Make sure you stick within
these rules. Unlike other forms of travel, such as hotel stays, you can't bring alcohol on board.
Some people try to get around these rules by filling up water bottles or hiding alcohol in
shampoo bottles. And we've seen some bizarre methods. But if you get caught you could be
denied boarding. Once onboard, if you want to drink your own bottle of wine in a restaurant
or a public area the cruise line will charge you a corkage fee. We've seen this as high as 25 dollars
per bottle. Just to drink your own bottle of wine. So it may be just as cheap to buy a bottle of wine
while you're onboard the ship. These alcohol rules exist so that people are not getting blind drunk
in their cabins. Which leads to anti-social behaviour. This is a moving vehicle and the
rules are there to keep you safe. Number seven. Finally, this is one of the most important rules
you may not be aware of. But if you skip this rule, you could be thrown off the ship. As it's
a legal requirement. The muster drill is a safety drill that takes place before every sailing. It's
much like the safety demonstration you see like on a plane where the flight attendants
point out the exits. It's an exercise everyone must master in case of an emergency. So please
don't miss this. Yes, we know they can be boring. Especially if you've sailed a thousand times.
But please still take notice and listen. Every cruise ship and every cruise line are different.
It's so important and one day it could save your life. The rule exists to protect you and others
around you. So please, please, please spend the 10 minutes it takes. And after anyway, it looks like
it's going to get easier. You might be doing it on your phone or on a stateroom tv. So just do it,
do it, do it, do it. That's it for this episode. We hope you enjoyed it. Have you heard of any
weird rules on cruise lines? Please let us know about them in the comment section below. And don't
forget to hit that subscribe button. It really helps us out. And a big thank you to all of our
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we're away. The captain of the week is Raymond so ahoy there Raymond. That's it till next time.