The good news? Most of these issues are easy to handle with the right preparation.
In this guide, we’ll explore 10 cruise travel challenges and share practical tips to tackle them, so you can enjoy a smooth and stress-free adventure at sea.
Drawing from my experience as a former Shore Excursions staff, I’ll share real situations I encountered during my years working on cruise ships in both Europe and the Caribbean.
Before diving in, please note that this list is entirely based on my personal experiences as a former crew member and reflects situations I directly dealt with during my contracts in these regions.
10 Cruise Travel Challenges (and How to Tackle Them)
1. Cruise Port Cancellations
Cruise port cancellations are a common occurrence and can happen before or during your cruise. Before embarkation, cruise lines typically offer alternatives like refunds, rebooking, or other options based on their policies.
Cancellations during the cruise are more challenging for both passengers and crew. Guests must adapt to the change and make the most of their day, while crew members work hard to minimize frustration and manage the situation.
Ports may be canceled for reasons like bad weather, docking issues, pier incidents, mechanical problems, or medical emergencies. In the Caribbean, for instance, strong winds and storms in winter often lead to cancellations, prioritizing the safety of guests and crew.
If a port is canceled, passengers are usually informed in advance through announcements, letters, and updates. Cruise lines may adjust the itinerary or organize onboard activities, and refunds for shore excursions and port fees are processed automatically.
Last-minute cancellations, however, can be particularly stressful, requiring quick decisions and improvisation by the crew.
While cancellations can be frustrating—especially for guests who were excited about a specific port—they are sometimes unavoidable. Mutual understanding and a positive outlook can go a long way in handling these situations.
2. Itinerary Changes
Itinerary changes are another frustrating situation that can arise on a cruise, often as a result of port cancellations due to weather, technical issues, or emergencies. These last-minute decisions are made by ship management, and guests are informed as soon as possible.
During my time working on a cruise ship, I experienced numerous occasions where delays or onboard emergencies caused the ship to miss its scheduled docking time, requiring an itinerary adjustment. While these changes are beyond anyone’s control, the health and safety of guests and crew always take priority.
Reactions to itinerary changes vary widely. Some guests express anger, feeling their vacation is ruined, while others adapt, focusing on making the most of the new destinations.
Crew members do their best to stay positive, delivering exceptional service to ensure guests still have a memorable experience.
In the Caribbean, I saw frequent itinerary changes due to poor weather conditions. While I understood the frustration, I always encouraged guests to look on the bright side and embrace the opportunity to explore unexpected destinations waiting to be discovered.
3. Shore Excursion Cancellations
One of the most exciting parts of a cruise is exploring unique destinations, experiencing top attractions, discovering new cultures, and embracing adventures. The best way to do this is by booking a shore excursion, either through the cruise line or an independent tour agency, depending on your preferences.
However, shore excursions can sometimes be canceled. Tour operators reserve the right to cancel tours, and in such cases, guests are issued a full refund.
Cancellations can occur for various reasons: poor weather conditions, venue closures, equipment issues, mechanical problems, or even a shortage of tour guides.
For example, in the Caribbean, water-based activities like snorkeling, diving, kayaking, or sailing are often canceled due to strong winds. In Europe, I once experienced a tour cancellation because the operator couldn’t secure a licensed tour guide.
These situations are part of the cruising experience, and guests should be prepared for them. As someone who worked in the Shore Excursions department, my advice is to always have a backup plan.
Research your port of call in advance and identify two or three alternative activities or places to visit. This way, if your excursion is canceled, you can still make the most of your time at the destination and avoid disappointment.
4. Dealing with Fully Booked Onboard Venues
If you’ve been on a few cruises, you know how exciting life onboard can be—endless activities, lively venues, events, and people from all over the world. But what if you plan to celebrate a special occasion, like a birthday or anniversary, at your favorite specialty restaurant, only to find it fully booked?
This can happen, especially on busy holiday cruises like Christmas or New Year. To avoid this disappointment, make sure to pre-book your favorite restaurant, shore excursion, or activity online before your cruise begins.
By doing so, you’ll secure your spot and often pay a lower price, as pre-booking typically offers better rates.
5. Sold Out Shore Excursions
As a former Shore Excursions staff member, I can tell you this happens often. Regardless of how busy the cruise is, there are always limited spots for each tour, as allotments are set by the tour operators.
If a tour sells out, there’s little the Shore Excursions department can do. To avoid this, book your tour before your cruise starts—it’s often cheaper and guarantees your spot.
If you change your mind, most cruise lines allow you to swap tours after boarding but make sure to do so on embarkation day or at least two days before the port of call, as cancellation policies vary.
Insider tip: tours involving activities like ziplining, jeep and ATV rides, horseback riding, snorkeling, and diving are the first to sell out, so book these early!
6. Onboard Prices Go Up!
During busy holiday cruises, onboard prices can skyrocket! Expect to pay more for specialty restaurant dinners, spa treatments, onboard activities, shop items, artwork, and shore excursions—especially in December, the busiest and most profitable month for cruise lines and their staff.
To save money, consider pre-booking, as prices are often lower, and discounts are available. It’s the safest way to lock in a better deal!
7. Crowded Cruise Port Terminals
It’s common for several cruise ships to dock at the same pier on the same day, creating confusion and crowds at the terminal. How well this is managed depends on the port of call and the port authorities.
In large European cities like Barcelona or Civitavecchia (Rome’s cruise port), ships are often spread across multiple terminals, making the process smoother for passengers.
However, in the Caribbean, many ports share a single terminal between multiple ships, leading to chaos. Guests can miss their shore excursions or struggle to navigate the terminal.
For example, Grand Cayman is a tendering port, where ships anchor offshore, and tender boats transfer passengers to land. Once ashore, passengers from different ships often mix up their meeting spots, and long lines for the return trip can take over 45 minutes.
In many Caribbean ports, busy terminals and long queues are the norm, so be prepared for potential delays and allow extra time for boarding and excursions.
8. Dealing with Pushy Local Vendors
This is important to mention, as I often received complaints from guests about overly persistent local vendors during my time working on ships.
While this isn’t common in large European ports, it happens frequently in the Caribbean, especially in smaller islands where cruise ships are a primary source of income.
Many of these islands have limited industries, relying heavily on cruise passengers and crew for their livelihood. As a result, you’ll often encounter vendors outside cruise terminals selling tours, local crafts, clothes, and other items. While it can be frustrating, try to understand their situation—they’re simply trying to make a living.
Give them a chance, as you might find authentic products at reasonable prices. Just remember to bargain first, as initial prices are often higher than elsewhere in the area!
9. Steep Costs at Cruise Terminals and Ports
It’s no surprise that prices at cruise terminals and ports of call are often higher, especially in regions like the Caribbean, where many ports rely heavily on cruise ship passengers for profit. The areas around cruise terminals can have inflated prices on everything from souvenirs to food.
I’ll never forget my first visit to Nassau (Bahamas) and seeing hoodies with “Bahamas” printed on them priced at $50–$60 each! The same items can often be found online for much less.
Food prices are also high, with steep taxes, so don’t expect the Caribbean to be cheaper than Europe or the US—it’s quite the opposite in many cases.
In Europe, while prices in cruise terminal shops are higher than in city centers, they’re generally more reasonable compared to the Caribbean, depending on the destination. Always shop around and compare before buying!
10. Long Distances Between Cruise Terminals and Cities
Some ports of call require significant travel to reach major cities, which can affect your experience. For example, ships dock in Civitavecchia or La Spezia for visits to Rome or Florence, both an hour or more away.
Cruise lines typically don’t provide shuttles for distant cities, so your options are booking a shore excursion, arranging private transport, or using public transportation. However, public transit can be risky due to potential delays, which might cause you to miss your ship.
Many guests find the additional cost of transportation frustrating, but it’s best to plan ahead. Booking excursions early, either through the cruise line or a trusted independent operator, can secure your spot at a lower price. Be aware that popular excursions often sell out, leaving you to make alternative arrangements.
For guests with walking difficulties, some cruise terminals are lengthy and can take up to 15 minutes to exit, such as in Lisbon. Shore Excursions teams usually assign escorts to assist, but it can still be a challenging experience.
These are common frustrations I’ve seen repeatedly and are worth considering when planning your trip.
Wrapping Up
A cruise vacation is a unique experience, and it’s easy to get hooked. Both passengers and crew members often fall in love with life at sea from the very first time they step onboard. As many crew members say, “Once you experience life at sea, life on land is never the same!”
Of course, life at sea isn’t without its challenges, and I hope this article has helped you prepare for what to expect on your cruise. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences—feel free to share them in the comments below!
Related articles:
- Cruise Packing List: 25 Must-Have Items for Shore Excursions
- Pros and Cons of Booking Cruise Ship Shore Excursions
- What to Pack For a Cruise in 2025 – Top 55 Cruise Essentials
You may also like our cruise port guides to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Western Europe, Baltic & Scandinavia, USA & Canada, Australia & New Zealand
This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see my disclaimer here.
After Dominica was devastated by a hurricane and closed to ships our cruise instead went to Martinique… on Fat Tuesday, the day of their Carnival. Nothing was open, those that went on excursions found that the restaurants and bathrooms at beaches, etc. were all locked up. We returned again the next week instead of St. Lucia and went ashore to find the people in the stores in town were very rude if you didn’t know French. One shop had all their prices in Euro’s and when a fellow passenger asked the price of an item the shopkeeper gave them a US price three times more than the exchange. Luckily I knew the exchange rate and was able to tell them they were being cheated. I wish I knew French because I am sure I was called quite a few names by the shopkeeper.
Hi, good beginner’s article. I would love to know more about ports with long walks from the ship to the excursion meeting points that is very valuable information when your trying to get to a place on time. The same can be said about leaving the ship for an excursion you need to disembark and be at the meeting site for the excursion on time which usually means leaving the ship a good half hour to 45 minutes before the activity, especially in those ports with a long walk, and/or tendering to shore.
Cruise to Alaska in a week and just notified that the ship can’t go fast enough so ALL shore excursions are cancelled! Any recourse?