Frequently Asked Cruise Questions By New Cruisers

Have you heard? Cruising is THE holiday to take in 2025. Many of us have known that it is incomparable when it comes to vacations, but it’s all very well us telling you, you really have to try it for yourself.

If you are considering your first cruise, or have already bitten the bullet and booked, then I am sure you will have lots of questions. I have articles covering most of them so I have included links to help you find them more quickly. Hopefully you will find the answers in this article or elsewhere on this site. If not, do leave me a comment or message me on social media and I will answer your burning questions.

1️⃣ How Safe is Sea Travel?

This is often the number one worry for new sailors: basically is the ship going to sink like a stone? Leo and Kate have a lot to answer for, but remember that Titanic was the catalyst for change in the maritime industry as you will see in my related post (click the title above to read more).

I know, it seems impossible that these great hunks of metal glide effortlessly across the water rather than dropping to the sea bed. However, (and this is a bit science-y), this is due to something called the Archimedes’ Principle. Basically, (and don’t quote me here) its to do with buoyancy and the displacement of water.

Cruising is big business, but not only that, it is also highly regulated. The safety of guests and crew is the highest priority of cruise lines and is fundamental to their operations. Crew receive ongoing robust training in safety, security and first aid to prevent and respond to potential emergency situations.

Also good to know is that whilst cruise capacity grew by more than 68% from 2009 to 2019, over that same period the number of operational incidents actually declined by 41%.

Finally, just to put your mind at rest, yes there are sufficient lifeboats on board to take all passengers and crew (plus room to spare).

2️⃣ Can you Easily Fall Overboard on a Cruise

It is virtually impossible to fall overboard unintentionally, unless you are extremely reckless or possibly roaring drunk. In fact alcohol or substance abuse has been shown to be a significant contributing factor in man-overboard incidents, as has climbing on or over railings to reconstruct THAT movie scene.

The three main causes of falling overboard are:

1. Reckless Behaviour (see above)

2. Foul Play

3. Intentional act

To ensure the safety of those onboard all public decks and balconies have high railings (in fact they are legally required to be a minimum of 42 inches tall, and there also has to be structural barriers in place). There are security cameras on deck to enable crew to pick up on any dangerous behaviour, plus outdoor decks are closed to guests during bad weather to ensure their safety.

In short, there is actually just 1 in 1.4 million chance of falling overboard on a cruise ship.

3️⃣ What Do I Wear on a Cruise?

Dress codes vary on each cruise line, and are also determined by itinerary. As a rule of thumb, casual resort wear is suitable during the day, warm clothes for colder climates, and smarter clothes in the evenings. Smart jeans are usually acceptable on most evenings (but check with your cruise line). Some ships still maintain some form of formal night (some less dressy than others). Check out this useful guide for more detail.

4️⃣ Will I Get Sea Sick?

I’ve been on over 50 cruises and never been sea sick, yet I get motion sickness on land. Most people never get sea sick, except in extreme circumstances. Discover what to avoid and how to prevent sea sickness in this useful article.

5️⃣Is Cruising Just For Old People?

This used to be the number one question I was asked, but as cruising has become more mainstream, the demographic has become considerably younger, and it’s no longer such a major concern. Find out more in my related article here.