credits to MSC
👋 It’s All About the People
A cruise ship is more than pools, shows and pretty ports — it’s a small floating village. And just like any village, it’s full of different people, each bringing a little colour (and sometimes a bit of chaos) to your days at sea.
What struck me most on my first cruise? Not just the peaceful sunbathers with a good book, but the buffet lovers stacking their plates as if this meal might be their last meal — and the big Italian families, travelling all together, from grandparents to toddlers, filling whole sections of the restaurant with cheerful noise.
This guide gives you a gentle peek at the kinds of people you might share your cruise with — plus a look at the friendly crew who quietly make sure it all works — and why, in the end, it’s the people who turn a big ship into a comfortable, moving home.
What’s in this guide:
🍽️ The Buffet Lover
Always near the food — but rarely finishes it all.
The Buffet Lover doesn’t believe in “just enough”. A small scoop of potatoes? No, better pile it high. One dessert? Better take three, just in case. It’s not really hunger — it’s more the thrill of endless choice.
You’ll spot them balancing more than they can carry, leaving half behind when they’re full. And then doing it all again an hour later. For some travellers, this is freedom. For me? Honestly… they’re my least favourite people on board.
💀 TravelGlaze Horror
Watching whole plates of untouched food go back to the kitchen — just because someone’s eyes were bigger than their stomach. On a ship where everything is well-planned, this feels like a small tragedy on every table.
🧠 Fun fact
Did you know cruise ships can bake over 7,000 pizzas per week—that’s about 1,000 pizzas a day? And they use 170,000 lbs of fresh fruit per week —that’s enough to fill a small supermarket.
Enough to keep thousands of hungry travellers happy, from breakfast to midnight snack.
👨👩👧👦The Family Tribe
The Family Tribe doesn’t travel light — they travel together. Grandparents, parents, toddlers, teenagers, maybe even an uncle or two. They fill cabins side by side, reserve half a row of deck chairs, and somehow always find each other at the buffet (loudly, lovingly).
You’ll hear their laughter before you see them: kids splashing in the pool, parents calling everyone back for lunch, and grandma telling stories no one asked for but everyone loves to hear again.
On a cruise, this type shines: safe ship, easy meals, and endless ice cream to keep the youngest ones happy while the oldest ones enjoy sport games or teenage disco’s.
🌿 TravelGlaze Tip
Travelling with a family tribe yourself? Bring colour-coded hats or shirts for busy ports — it makes headcounts a lot easier (and cuts down on accidental strangers in your group photos).
🧠 Fun fact
Some cruise ships carry over 1,500 kids during holiday weeks — that’s more than a small town’s worth of swimming, ice cream, and big family hugs at sea.
🌞The Sun Worshipper
The Sun Worshipper claims their favourite deck chair at sunrise — and guards it like treasure. Towel? Planted. Hat? Ready. Sunscreen? Sometimes. Moving? Only if the sun moves.
You’ll spot them in the same spot all day: reading a bit, napping a bit, watching the sea — and never quite joining the crowds inside. Meals are a quick mission: grab a plate, pile up some snacks, and hurry back to “their” sunbed to eat in peace under the warm sky.
They know the perfect balance between shade and sun — and sometimes quietly judge the newcomers who haven’t figured it out yet.
🌿 TravelGlaze Tip
If you want a good sunbed too, go early — but don’t “reserve” it with a towel for hours. It’s kinder (and more fun) to share the sunny spots as the day goes on.
🧠 Fun fact
Some cruise lines use staff called Deck Patrols to watch for “chair hogging” — so leaving your towel for hours while you vanish for lunch can get your spot cleared for someone else to enjoy!
🎉The Activity Joiner
The Activity Joiner is easy to spot: they know the daily program by heart — and the entertainment team knows their name by day two. Trivia at 10? There. Salsa by the pool at 12? Already dancing. Bingo at 3? Two cards ready, lucky pen in hand.
They love to join every quiz, game, or deck contest, sometimes dragging a reluctant partner along “just for fun”. If you hear sudden cheering on deck, look for them in the middle — collecting another keychain or T-shirt prize with a proud grin.
🌿 TravelGlaze Tip
Not an Activity Joiner yourself? It’s still fun to watch from the sidelines with a drink in hand. Sometimes, people-watching is the best onboard entertainment.
🧠 Fun fact
Cruise ships often run dozens of free activities daily — from dance classes to cooking demos. Some guests collect cruise-branded souvenirs just by playing!
🗺️The Excursion Pro
The Excursion Pro treats every port like a personal mission. Long before breakfast, they’ve checked the weather, memorised the shuttle schedule, and packed a day bag with water, snacks, and just-in-case rain gear.
They’re first in line to leave the ship — waving at sleepy sunbathers who haven’t even found coffee yet. Backpacks on, map ready, camera charged: today’s goal is to see everything, taste something local, and still be back at the gangway with time to spare.
They’ll probably tell you over dinner how many steps they clocked that day. (Hint: always more than you.)
🌿 TravelGlaze Tip
Want to be an Excursion Pro too? Read Cruise Excursions: Plan Ahead or Go with the Flow? — it’s packed with real tips and stories.
🧠 Fun fact
In 2024, around 34.6 million people took a cruise — and that number is expected to grow to 37.7 million in 2025. Globally, cruising creates an economic impact of over $138 billion and supports more than 1.2 million jobs. In total, cruises make up about 2% of all tourist overnight stays worldwide — making it a small but powerful part of global travel.
💎The Luxury Lover
The Luxury Lover cruises in style — or at least tries to. They love browsing the onboard shops “just for fun”, but always leave with a new watch, a fancy scarf, or that perfume that smells like holiday memories.
By day, they wander the boutiques. By night, they appear at dinner in a sharp suit or glittering dress — sometimes with a special pin on their lapel showing they belong to the cruise line’s loyalty club. If there’s a gala night, they’ll be there first, ready for photos under the chandeliers.
They know the good wine list by heart and might give you a wink if you join them for a quiet nightcap in the piano bar later.
🌿 TravelGlaze Tip
Want a bit of luxury too? Many ships have daily shop specials — watch the newsletter for discounts on jewellery or souvenirs. And don’t stress about dressing up: one elegant outfit is more than enough for a gala night.
🧠 Fun fact
Frequent cruisers love their perks: most big cruise lines have loyalty clubs with special names — like MSC Voyagers Club, Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor, or Norwegian Latitudes Rewards. The more you sail, the more benefits you unlock: free laundry, priority boarding, discounts in the shops, and even invite-only cocktail parties. Some guests even reach lifetime status — meaning free cruises or cabin upgrades for years to come.
✨ TravelGlaze Moment: Expectation vs. Comfort
When I think about all these cruiser types, I realise… There was one more type: 
The First Timer.
First Timers see everything with fresh eyes. They snap photos of the cabin, the sunset, the hallway that seems to go on forever. They sit at dinner wide-eyed, quietly watching the buffet pros, the big family tables, the loyal luxury guests in their sparkling outfits.
That was me — curious, amazed, and secretly wondering: What kind of cruiser will I be next time?
🧑✈️ Crew: Who Keeps It All Afloat
The Captain & Officers
They steer the ship, handle the big decisions, and must appear (by law and tradition) at welcome shows and gala nights — smiling for photos and waving politely.
rights to MSC
The Spa Team
Massages, facials, a quick hair trim — they do it all. On quiet days, they often help at reception or check-in to keep things moving smoothly.
The Stewards
Your quiet cabin heroes. They freshen up your room, sometimes up to three times a day, and somehow know exactly where you left your sunglasses.
The Cooks
Baking bread at sunrise, grilling steaks at midnight — behind every buffet and fancy dinner is a busy team feeding thousands without fuss.
Technical Crew
You rarely see them, but they keep the engines humming and use dock days to repaint scratches, polish railings, or fix small surprises before anyone notices.
Security
Always at the gangway when you step off and back on, checking cards with calm smiles and making sure the ship stays safe day and night.
Guest Services
The calm voices at the front desk: they solve missing luggage, wake-up calls, booking questions — and listen patiently when you just want to chat.
The Bar & Dining Team
They remember your name, your favourite drink, and maybe even your dessert weakness by day three. A friendly word and a quick refill, always with a smile.
Shop Staff
They help you pick out that new hat, sunglasses, or a last-minute gift — and somehow convince you that yes, you do need that new perfume after all.
Entertainment & Show Team
The ones who dance, sing, host the quizzes, and fill the ship with energy every day. From morning Zumba to evening musicals, they keep everyone smiling.
The Pool Guards
Always patient, always watching — making sure the splashing stays fun and safe, even when the deck is busy.
And honestly? There are probably dozens more kind faces behind the scenes, working quietly so you can float along in comfort.
🌿 TravelGlaze Tip:
Most cruise lines add daily tips (gratuities) to your cabin bill automatically — it’s the standard way to thank the crew you don’t see every day. But a smile and a kind word mean just as much. And if someone made your cruise extra special, a small extra tip in person is always a warm gesture.
🌙 Final Thought
A cruise ship is a small world at sea, filled with so many different people — from buffet lovers to loyal luxury guests, from wide-eyed first timers (like me) to the hardworking crew who make it all feel easy and safe.
You don’t have to remember every name or see every show. But noticing the little smiles, kind gestures and funny habits around you? That’s what makes cruise life feel warm — and surprisingly human — even in the middle of the ocean.
Want to learn more about daily life at sea? Read my entertainment guide next!
Which cruiser type are you — or which one would you like to be on your next trip? Share below, I’d love to know!
