15 Things You Should Never Do On A Cruise

You just booked your cruise and you're extremely excited to finally get away from your everyday life and enjoy yourself on a much needed vacation.

The moment you step on the ship, you feel as if you are in another world. But don't let that feeling fool you – there are a few things you need to be aware of while you are onboard.

Don't make the mistake of skipping breakfast, getting your teeth whitened, forgetting to put on sunscreen or leaving your cabin door unlocked, these things could ruin your entire experience.

This list contains a few things that you should never do on a cruise. Remember these tips while onboard and you will have a stress-free, healthy, exciting and memorable experience.

The last thing you want is to be sick while on vacation. The CDC says to make sure you are up-to-date on your routine vaccines such as measles/mumps/rubella, seasonal flu and varicella. They explain that outbreaks of rubella (German measles) and chicken pox have been reported on cruise ships. Don't take the chance of coming down with an illness and make sure you get your shots.

Other than the fact that your cruise ship offers the most delicious breakfast buffet, eating breakfast is essential because it provides you with the energy you need for the day ahead. It also helps improve your concentration and aids in weight loss by boosting your metabolism.

Unless you want to wake up in the morning nauseous, with motion sickness, heartburn and acid reflux, it is strongly suggested not to eat too late at night on the ship. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable and sick on vacation.

So you're on vacation and you want pearly white teeth, but before you go ahead and sign up for that onboard tooth-whitening service, consider the pain and sensitivity you will have to undergo afterwards. Not to mention that for about three days you won't be able to eat certain foods and beverages.

Although elevators always seem like the easier option – they usually are – but on a cruise, waiting for the elevator can take forever. Plus, you're squished in there with tons of other people. Your best bet is to try and avoid them at all costs and take the stairs when you can.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to taking a cruise is not planning ahead. They think that after they book their trip, the cruise plans everything and they can just go with the flow. Although, the cruise ship does plan the activities, they don't plan your excursions and reservations at their specialty restaurants. Check the cruise line website before you depart and see if you can book your activities in advance.

Yes, they are comfy and they offer incredible views, but most ships only have a limited amount of deck chairs, and unless you want to make rivals onboard, it is strongly suggested to limit your time on the chairs. That being said, don't leave your belongings on your chair and disappear for hours. It's impolite to the other passengers on the ship.

Do not wait until you board the ship to book your spa treatment – the first day is always the busiest for the spa. Research the spa treatments on your ship and book your services prior to boarding. You will not only avoid a huge hassle but you will guarantee yourself placement.

If you worked hard to get onboard credits and discounts when you booked your cruise, don't forget to use them. Make sure you check your account when you are onboard to make sure you got them and check again toward the end of your trip to see if you have any credits remaining.

Unless motion sickness, nausea and seeing double are your thing, it is strongly suggested to refrain from consuming too much alcohol on a rough day at sea. It's also dangerous; the ship tends to get bumpy and sway around, and considering you are drunk, you're at a higher risk for injury.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be trusted. That being said, it's important to make sure your cabin door is locked at all times. Regardless to how long to plan on leaving your room, never leave your door even a pinch open. Also, make sure that you protect your valuables and take advantage of your cabin safe.

You have been dieting like crazy, trying to get in shape for your cruise vacation, and while that's great, it's silly to believe you will be able to stick to your diet 100 percent on the ship. The buffets are loaded with foods all day long, the specialty restaurants offer delicious meals and the cocktails onboard contain tons of calories. Don't restrict yourself, have fun and eat what you want – you're on vacation and you deserve it. Tip: If you want to keep up your fitness routine just head to the fitness center onboard and burn off some calories.

Just because you're on a ship and not home or at the beach doesn't give you an excuse to forget sunscreen. Too much sun can lead to sunburn and sun poisoning, which can cause dehydration, dizziness, chills, fever and pain. Sunscreen is also the best shield to protect the skin against wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

After you book your cruise, do some research and look to see if they allow you to check-in online in advance. If they offer early check-in, don't pass it up. It will save you a lot of time at the cruise ship terminal.

You are on vacation, don't let the stresses of life get to you and don't take yourself too seriously. Have fun, go on excursions, spend time with your loved ones, participate in onboard activities, and just simply relax and live in the moment.