From Stern to Starboard

Top 10 Cruise Etiquette Rules

De: Barnaby Sorrens

Narrado por: Reece Bollen

From Stern to Starboard: Top 10 Cruise Etiquette Rules is your essential guide to being a considerate, confident, and well-prepared cruiser. Packed with practical advice, real-life scenarios, and thoughtful insights, this book shows you how small acts of courtesy can transform not only your own voyage but the experience of everyone around you.

Why Etiquette at Sea Matters

Stepping aboard a cruise ship is like entering a floating city. Thousands of passengers, hundreds of crew members, and dozens of nationalities come together in a unique community. Unlike at a resort on land, you can’t walk away when things get crowded or noisy. You’re sharing space, meals, entertainment, and resources for days or weeks. Cruise etiquette is not about rigid rules — it’s about respect, patience, and kindness. When practiced, it smooths the journey, prevents frustration, and creates harmony at sea.

What You’ll Learn Inside

1. The Deck Chair Dash: Sharing is Caring (and Crucial!): How to avoid the dreaded “chair hogging” problem and why fair use of poolside loungers sets the tone for shipboard relaxation.
2. Buffet Manners: No Pushing, No Piling, Please!: Discover how patience and portion sense make dining enjoyable for everyone, even at the busiest buffets.
3. Elevator Etiquette: Step Aside for Disembarking Passengers: Why allowing others to exit first prevents gridlock and shows courtesy in one of the ship’s busiest spaces.
4. Noise Levels: Keep the Volume Down, Especially at Night: Learn how sound travels through thin cabin walls and how to balance fun with respect for your neighbours’ rest.
5. Balcony Boundaries: Respecting Personal Space: Make the most of your private view while keeping noise, smoking, and strong smells from spoiling nearby balconies.
6. Children’s Conduct: Supervising Young Cruisers: Tips for parents and guardians to help children enjoy the ship responsibly, safely, and without disturbing others.
7. Dress Codes: Dressing Appropriately for the Occasion: Understand why cruise lines encourage different dress codes, from casual buffets to elegant gala nights, and how to prepare without stress.
8. Staff Interaction: Be Kind and Appreciative: Recognise the crew as the true heart of a cruise. Learn how simple gratitude, patience, and tipping traditions enhance everyone’s experience.
9. Embarkation & Disembarkation: Patience is a Virtue: From the first moments at the port to the bittersweet farewell, discover how patience turns long queues into smooth transitions.
10. Shore Excursions: Be Prompt and Respectful of Local Culture: How to show up on time, follow guides, and honour traditions ashore, leaving a positive impression wherever you go.

Practical Scenarios and Real Stories

Each chapter brings etiquette to life with examples of good and bad behaviour. From the family who became friends after sharing a pool chair to the noisy late-night hallway singers who learned about soundproofing the hard way, these stories illustrate how everyday choices impact hundreds of fellow travellers.

A Guide for Everyone

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser nervous about fitting in, a family trying to balance children’s energy with public courtesy, or a seasoned traveller looking to refine your habits, this book has something for you. It isn’t about memorising rules — it’s about adopting a mindset of respect, patience, and shared enjoyment.

©2025 Deep Vision Media t/a Zentara UK (P)2025 Deep Vision Media t/a Zentara UK

A Fun and Practical Etiquette Guide for the High S

This isn’t your typical etiquette book—it’s friendly, insightful, and full of stories that make the advice easy to remember. I appreciated how the author focused on real cruise situations, from crowded elevators to dress codes on gala nights. It’s the perfect balance of humor and practicality. After reading From Stern to Starboard, I feel more confident about my next cruise and more aware of how my actions affect others. Highly recommended!

A Must-Read Before Any Cruise Holiday

From Stern to Starboard should honestly be required reading before stepping onboard a ship. Cruising is such a unique experience, and this book captures that perfectly. The etiquette rules are practical, modern, and clearly explained. The anecdotes about both good and bad behavior make the lessons memorable and often entertaining. Whether you cruise once in a lifetime or every year, this guide helps you contribute to a more pleasant atmosphere for everyone.

Cruise Etiquette Made Simple and Enjoyable

This guide makes cruise etiquette easy to understand and even fun to learn. It’s not preachy—it’s friendly and filled with real-world wisdom. I loved how each chapter focuses on one key aspect of shipboard life, like buffet behaviour or embarkation patience, and ends with memorable stories that illustrate the lesson. It’s perfect for both new cruisers and veterans who want to refresh their manners. Reading it genuinely made me more aware of how small courtesies can make a big difference at sea.

Perfect Blend of Practical Tips and Real-Life Wisd

I found this book both informative and fun to read. It covers everything you didn’t know you needed to know about life onboard—from dining etiquette to dress codes and embarkation patience. The tone is warm and encouraging, making etiquette feel less like rules and more like respect. The real-life cruise stories make it engaging and easy to remember. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or seasoned traveler, you’ll definitely pick up valuable insights.

Travel Thoughtfully Always

A beautifully crafted audiobook that makes you a more mindful traveller. The ten etiquette rules are broken down with real examples that help you see why they matter. Balcony behaviour and children’s conduct are topics I rarely see covered so well. This is great listening for families and seasoned travellers alike.