Love cruising but can’t stand the crowds? You’re not alone. The trick to finding peace on a cruise ship is simple—do the opposite of what everyone else is doing.
Below, I’m sharing easy ways to escape the crowds and enjoy a calmer, more relaxing vacation at sea.
1. Avoid the Buffet on Embarkation Day
The second people get on the ship, they head straight to the buffet. Rooms aren’t ready yet, people have luggage with them, tables are crammed, and kids are running all over—it’s chaos, and half the time you can’t even find a place to sit.
Instead, ask a crew member which restaurant is open. There’s almost always a main dining room or a smaller lunch spot serving food, but the hours can be limited and most passengers don’t realize it’s an option. You’ll walk in, get a table immediately, and actually enjoy your first meal without the crowd!
2. Find a Quiet Corner
One of the easiest ways to escape the crowd is to find quiet spots on the ship. People naturally cluster around the lobby, casino, buffet, and pool deck, leaving plenty of empty spaces elsewhere.
Take a walk around the ship during the day, and you’ll start to discover empty lounges and closed-off nightclubs that open only in the evening. Card rooms and libraries can become your personal hideaway for reading, napping, or just zoning out. Check the outside decks for seating areas—perfect for sipping coffee while feeling like the ship is almost empty.
The best part is that once you discover a quiet spot that works for you, it can become your go-to place for the rest of the cruise—a little sanctuary you’ll return to again and again. The key is to explore, and you’ll find your quiet corner.
3. Get Access to the Thermal Spa
One of my favorite ways to escape the crowd is to buy a thermal spa pass. These passes usually give you access to adults-only areas filled with relaxation options like saunas, steam rooms, salt therapy rooms, heated loungers, and hot tubs. Unlike the pool deck, where everyone fights for a chair, the spa is calm and blissfully quiet.
You can spend time meditating in the salt room or relaxing in the jacuzzi. You will feel like the only person onboard. Even just an hour in the thermal suite can feel like a mini wellness retreat, giving you a break from the crowd.
4. Avoid Big Cruise Parties
Sail away parties and those massive themed nights sound fun until you’re packed in with a thousand people. White Party, Super Bowl watch parties, sail away parties —these events draw everyone onboard.
Skip the big cruise parties. Instead, enjoy quiet hot tubs, empty lounges, or grab a drink somewhere peaceful while everyone else is at the party.
5. Avoid the Theater Area after a Show
When a show ends, the hallways turn into a human traffic jam. Elevators are full, stairwells are clogged, and everyone’s moving in the same direction at once. Check the show times ahead of time. If a show ends at 9:30, don’t go wandering around that part of the ship at 9:31. Give it 10 or 15 minutes and you’ll have the elevators and hallways back to yourself.
6. Don’t Cruise During Peak Season
Timing your cruise is important if you want to avoid the crowd. School holidays—summer break, Spring Break, Christmas, and New Year’s—are notorious for crowded ships, packed dining rooms, long buffet lines, and full pools. Families with kids dominate these sailings, and everyone seems to converge on the same popular areas at the same time.
If you can be flexible, booking a cruise in the fall—like September, October, or early November—can transform your experience. The ship feels quieter, the pool deck is easier to navigate, and there’s less competition for tables at the buffet.
You’ll also find a calmer atmosphere in lounges, bars, and entertainment areas, making it much easier to relax and enjoy your time. Even traveling just a few weeks outside peak season can turn a hectic, crowded cruise into a smooth, peaceful vacation.
7. Stay on the Ship During Port Days
One of the easiest ways to escape the crowd is to stay onboard when the ship docks at a port. Most passengers rush off early to explore and don’t come back until late afternoon.
This is your chance to take full advantage of amenities that are normally crowded—hot tubs, pools, buffets, and even deck chairs. You can enjoy breakfast or lunch with hardly anyone around.
Some people even go to the spa to take advantage of the port day discounts on spa treatments. Staying on the ship during port days is a great strategy for anyone who wants to enjoy the ship without the crowd.
8. Request a Quiet Table in the Corner
In the main dining room, you don’t have to just accept whatever table you’re assigned. If you want something quieter, stop by in the afternoon before dinner and talk to the food and beverage staff.
Let them know you’d like to switch to a table off to the side or in a corner, away from the big family groups and heavy foot traffic. They handle these kinds of requests all the time, and making the change before dinner service starts gives you a much better shot at a quiet table.
9. Go on Long Cruises
An easy way to avoid crowds is to go on long cruises. Most people can’t take more than a week off, so any sailing longer than seven nights naturally has fewer passengers. If you have the flexibility to go longer, a 10, 12, or even 14-night cruise can make a huge difference in how crowded the ship feels.
Fewer people can commit to longer sailings, so by default, there are fewer families, fewer kids, and more space for you to spread out. Plus, the passengers who are on these long cruises tend to be older and quieter.
10. Be an Early Bird
If you’re up before 8 a.m., you basically own the ship. Early mornings are magical at sea—the buffet is empty, the elevators are quiet, and the pool deck hasn’t filled up yet.
This is the perfect time to grab a coffee and stroll around the decks, enjoy the sunrise over the water, or even hit the gym without waiting for machines. You can take your time in the buffet or dining room.
It’s a peaceful, almost private experience that most passengers miss because they’re still sleeping or sleeping in. Being an early bird means you get the ship almost to yourself during the calmest part of the day.
11. Avoid the Pool on Sea Days
The pool is the busiest place on the cruise ship on sea days. By 10 a.m., every lounger is claimed, and the hot tubs are packed shoulder to shoulder. If you want to actually enjoy the pool or the hot tubs without the crowd, go early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Before 8 a.m., you’ll have your pick of loungers and the pool to yourself. Late afternoon, usually around 4 to 6 p.m., is another sweet spot because everyone’s getting ready for dinner. That’s when the crowds thin out and you can finally swim and relax in peace.
12. Enjoy your Balcony
If you booked a balcony, use it to escape the crowd. Have room service breakfast, read outside, or watch the sunset. You’ll avoid the breakfast chaos, the pool crowds, and the buffet line—without ever fighting for a seat.
13. Dine at Specialty Restaurants on the First Day
Most people will not be dining at the specialty restaurants on their first day. They’ll be busy checking out the buffet or having dinner in the main dining room. That’s your chance. You can often walk right in and have amazing service with hardly anyone around.
14. Book a Suite
If you have the budget for it and prefer a more exclusive experience, booking a suite is an easy way to escape the crowd. Suites aren’t just about bigger rooms—you’re paying for fewer people around you.
You get perks like priority boarding, private lounges, exclusive dining rooms, and sometimes even your own pool area. If you hate crowds, it’s worth every penny.
Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise
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Travel Must-Haves
Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.
Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.
Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.
Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.
Cabin Comfort & Organization
Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).
Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!
Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.
Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.
Toiletries & Laundry
Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.
Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.
Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.
TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.
Health & Wellness
Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).
Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.
Packing & Storage
Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.
Packing cubes – I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.
Foldable duffel bag – I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space.
Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra.
Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.
Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.
Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.
Beach Essentials
Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.
Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.
Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.
Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials
Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.
Collapsible beach buckets and toys – You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.
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