7 Rules Cruise Crew Members Break When Nobody’s Watching

Cruise ships run like floating cities, with strict rules designed to keep everything safe, professional and picture-perfect.

But behind the smiles and uniforms, crew life is a world of long hours, cramped cabins, and the occasional bit of quiet rebellion.

How do we know this? Well, Lucy Southerton is a popular YouTuber who shares stories of life at sea on her channel ‘Cruising as Crew’, and she was interviewed by Dan and Jay of Sail Away Magazine on some of the rules that crew members break.

From secret romances to sneaky phone breaks, here are seven of the most common rules crew members break when they think no one’s looking – and why you might find them strangely understandable.

1. Crew–Passenger Relationships

One of the biggest no-nos in cruise ship life is any kind of romantic or sexual relationship between crew and passengers.

It’s strictly forbidden, and for good reason: cruise lines have to protect both their staff and their guests from awkward situations or worse.

And by worse, imagine those guests who regret their consensual encounters and decide to sue the cruise line big for sexual assault or worse. That’s why it’s so serious – it has happened.

Still, the rule doesn’t stop everyone. Crew/guest encounters happen – sometimes ending in tears, sometimes in trouble, and occasionally in serious accusations when things go wrong.

It’s risky territory, but when people work long hours far from home, emotions can blur. Crew and passengers share small spaces, the same social events, and a constant sense of adventure – which makes it tempting.

For those caught, the best-case scenario is being sent home. The worst-case scenario can involve police and legal trouble. It’s one rule that’s broken often enough that everyone onboard knows it goes on – even if no one admits it out loud.

However, and let me be absolutely clear on this, that doesn’t mean it’s happening with every crew member. Far from it. It might be well-known, but it is still only a small minority that are involved.

So do not, under any circumstances, assume that the crew are up for a bit of fun at sea if you’re single and cruising. Be respectful and don’t chase them.

2. Crew–Crew Hookups

You’d think crew members would at least be allowed to date each other freely – and it’s sort of true, but not quite.

Officially, romantic relationships between crew are discouraged, especially between staff from different departments or ranks. It’s meant to keep things professional and avoid drama in tight quarters.

After all, you might be cooped up on the ship with the same people for six months or more. Do you want to get into a relationship with someone only for it to end badly after a month, with another five months to go?

Still, in reality, shipboard romances are common.

One particularly memorable tale from Lucy involves a crewmate being found handcuffed to her bunk after a “game” gone wrong – proof that even at sea, love (or lust) finds a way.

Cabins are tiny, privacy is non-existent, and emotions can run high. Crew work, eat, socialise and often live within arm’s reach of one another for months. It’s a pressure cooker environment where friendships and flirtations naturally cross the line.

While the rules say no, the sea has a funny way of ignoring them – especially after a few drinks in the crew bar.

3. Breaking the Alcohol Limit

Crew members are allowed to drink, but only a little.

The legal onboard limit is usually 0.05% – roughly one beer – and it’s enforced because staff must always be ready for an emergency. If something happens, passengers rely on the crew to stay sober and in control.

Still, it’s an open secret that many push their luck.

Drinks in the crew bar are cheap, stress levels are high, and off-duty socialising almost always involves alcohol.

As Lucy said, the real problem isn’t having a drink – it’s getting caught. Random breath tests can happen, and if you’re over the limit, you’ll likely be disembarked at the next port.

Some captains are known to schedule tests late in the day so crew have a fair chance to sober up, while others prefer to “catch them out” early in the morning.

Either way, most crew quickly learn how much they can get away with – and when it’s safe to have “just one more.”

4. Petty Theft at Sea

Just like on land, not everyone can resist temptation.

Lucy revealed stories of crew quietly helping themselves to goods from the onboard shops – anything from expensive face cream to chairs and even a painting from the ship’s art gallery.

Most cruise staff are hardworking and honest, but small acts of theft do happen. It’s easy to see why: they work surrounded by luxury items that passengers can buy, but that they themselves can’t afford.

Sometimes it’s boredom, sometimes greed, and sometimes it’s just the thrill of seeing if they can get away with it.

Security teams usually handle these cases quietly to avoid scandal, but when someone is caught, the consequences are immediate – dismissal and repatriation.

Still, stories like the one Lucy tells (of a crew member caught with three chairs and a painting) show that a few people at sea are every bit as daring as the ocean itself.

5. Happy Endings In The Spa

It’s not something cruise lines ever want to acknowledge, but it does happen.

Lucy admitted that during her years working in the onboard spa, some therapists offered “extras” for a cash tip.

As with everything on this list, it’s not common, and certainly not every therapist would dream of it, but it’s a well-known secret in the industry.

The mix of privacy, tips, and lonely passengers can lead to blurred lines.

For some crew, it’s a way to make fast money – a “side hustle” that can earn more than their regular wage. For others, it’s purely rumour. Either way, the rule is clear: any kind of sexual service, paid or not, is grounds for instant dismissal.

It’s one of those uncomfortable realities of ship life – a reminder that when people live and work in such intense, isolated conditions, the normal rules of behaviour can start to drift.

6. Using Mobile Phones on Duty

Most cruise lines have strict policies banning phone use during work hours. Crew are meant to stay professional, focused, and available to guests.

But just like anywhere else, temptation wins.

Phones are lifelines for crew far from home. They’re a way to message family, scroll through social media, or simply escape for a moment of normality.

It’s possible you might see cleaners or maintenance staff “taking a break” somewhere quiet, pretending to scrub a surface while really checking their messages.

One of the most amusing sights is a cleaner standing in a toilet cubicle with a mop in hand, apparently polishing the same spot for ten minutes – when in reality, they’re catching up on WhatsApp.

It’s against the rules, yes, but when you’re working twelve-hour shifts with little downtime, it’s hard to blame them for wanting a few minutes of connection.

7. Cabin Rules and Crew Misbehaviour

Crew cabins are private spaces, but they’re also strictly controlled. Crew are only allowed in their own or authorised cabins, and visitors are usually banned.

Still, it can happen that crew members can either enter a cabin that they shouldn’t be in, or they may linger unnecessarily when they have the authority to be there.

If that sounds ominous, don’t worry. I’ve my own story to share here and it’s really not too bad.

I once walked into my cabin to find two of the cabin attendants in there playing a little game of football using my son’s ball!

Some of you might be mortified but I honestly found it really funny, and didn’t mind at all. Even the most professional workers need a bit of fun sometimes.

Of course, many crew enter cabins as part of their cleaning or maintenance duties – that’s completely normal.

What’s not allowed is lingering, socialising, or playing games inside. Still, moments like that show that at sea, even the staff can feel like mischievous kids now and then.

Final Word

Life at sea isn’t as polished as the brochures make it look. Behind the uniforms and rehearsed smiles are real people trying to balance discipline with a sense of normality.

Cruise crew work incredibly long hours, live in cramped conditions, and spend months away from home – so it’s hardly surprising that some rules get quietly bent along the way.

From sneaky phone breaks to secret romances, these stories aren’t about bad behaviour as much as they are about being human. For most crew, the small rule-breaking moments are what keep them sane in a world where work and life blur together.

So next time you’re on a cruise, spare a thought for the crew who make your holiday effortless. They’re not just part of the ship – they’re the heartbeat of it, doing their best to follow the rules… and sometimes breaking them a little.

Here’s Lucy’s interview with Dan and Jay in full, if you want to see more:

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