By ESTHER MARSHALL

Published: 11:57 BST, 27 May 2025 | Updated: 11:57 BST, 27 May 2025

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes on your cruise holiday? 

A cruise crew member has lifted the lid on what it’s like to work as a member of guest services. 

Posting on Reddit, the crew member revealed that their biggest pet peeve is when holidaymakers ‘demand’ to speak to the manager’. 

‘Most of these people I would be happy not to have to deal with, however what they fail to realise is that I might get in trouble if I immediately call a supervisor without trying to resolve the issue by myself first,’ they explained. 

‘If seeing the manager is warranted, I promise you won’t have to say it.’ 

And luckily it’s really pretty easy to keep cruise crew happy, according to the staff member. 

They said: ‘Be nice. That’s literally it. We deal with all sorts of entitled complainers. 

‘Now some, if not most, complaints are perfectly valid but if you’re not an a**hole about it, we’ll do everything we can. And we will appreciate you being nice to us.’

A cruise crew member has lifted the lid on what it's like to work as a member of guest services (stock image)

A cruise crew member has lifted the lid on what it’s like to work as a member of guest services (stock image) 

Posting on Reddit , the crew member revealed that their biggest pet peeve is when holidaymakers 'demand' to speak to the manager'

Posting on Reddit , the crew member revealed that their biggest pet peeve is when holidaymakers ‘demand’ to speak to the manager’ 

However, even really pleasant passengers will struggle to pick up any freebies or an upgrade onboard. 

The crew member claimed that there’s actually ‘no way’ for staff to upgrade passengers once they’re on the ship. 

They advised guests who want an upgrade to enter the room bid before the ship sets sail. 

They added: ‘You can get your room changed in extreme circumstances, but even then it’s most likely it’s going to be the same or lower tier.’ 

The staff member explained that while cruise ships will keep a few rooms spare, they’re for emergencies and won’t be used to upgrade passengers.  

And the guest services insider revealed there are also a ‘very limited amount of free amenities’ that they can send to a passenger’s room. 

‘Normally we’re only supposed to give these out to relieve a frustrated guest, but there have been instances where I would do it as kind of my own gratuity for someone being extra nice to me,’ said the crew member. 

While the anonymous crew member said they enjoyed their job, they warned that most Americans wouldn’t ‘be happy with the wages’. 

The staff member explained that while cruise ships will keep a few rooms spare, they're for emergencies and won't be used to upgrade passengers

The staff member explained that while cruise ships will keep a few rooms spare, they’re for emergencies and won’t be used to upgrade passengers

They revealed that entertainers are 'by far' the happiest members of staff onboard the ship - and get paid the best

They revealed that entertainers are ‘by far’ the happiest members of staff onboard the ship – and get paid the best

But if you are looking to hit the high seas as a crew member, there’s one job that’s the most desirable position onboard, according to the cruise worker. 

They revealed that entertainers are ‘by far’ the happiest members of staff onboard the ship. 

The crew member said: ‘They have the most time off and are very well paid.’ 

It comes after MailOnline exclusively spoke to Carli Fogel, from Florida, who studied university on a cruise ship in 2018, and described it as ‘the best four months’ of her life.

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I work on cruises – this is my biggest pet peeve… and these are the staff with the best pay

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk