Cruise staff say they've had some outrageous requests from passengers

10 November 2023 , 15:52

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Cruise staff have received a few bizarre requests from passengers (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Whether it's your first time booking a cruise holiday or you're a seasoned traveller trying a new itinerary, it's natural to have plenty of questions for your trip.

There are plenty of cruise tips out there from the buffet faux pas to avoid to the mistake that could leave you with a hefty bill, but when you're onboard the crew members are the best source for getting all the information you need. They're trained to deal with all sorts of questions but sometimes, some passengers can leave them stumped with bizarre requests.

Now, the team at Iglu Cruise have shared some of the funniest questions their staff have faced from 'turning on' the Northern Lights to double checking what time the 24-hour buffet is due to open. There's even one passenger who was clearly determined to get a decent night's sleep as they asked if they could bring their own mattress on board!

One person wanted to know when the Northern Lights would be switched on (Dr. Claus-Possberg)

Some of the funniest questions and requests included:

1. What time do the Northern Lights get turned on?

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2. What time does the 24-hour buffet close?

3. Can I take my own mattress?

4. Can I see fish from my window?

5. Do the lifts go from one end of the ship to the other, as well as up and down?

6. Is there any way off the ship on sea days?

7. Can I bring my cat on board, he isn’t too smelly and I’ll clean up after him?

8. Will the flight to my cruise port have children on it?

9. Can I have a discount if I bring my own drinks?

10. What animal will my steward turn my towel into?

One person who has probably dealt with his fair share of unusual requests is Isak Hals, who has been working on Hurtigruten's MS Nordkapp ship since 2017. In fact, almost every generation in his family has worked on cruises, so he knows a thing or two about life onboard!

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According to Isak, there's one packing mistake that you won't want to make, especially if you're heading to destinations in winter when the temperatures are lower. He recommended: "[Definitely pack] layers of clothing! It gets cold even in northern Norway during the winter season, and most guests assume a thick warm coat will do the trick. With layers, at least if you get hot you can just take them off. Luckily, we do have a shop onboard and we do call in at towns and villages on our sailings so if you do need more layers or a hat and scarf, there’s always a solution.

The good news is that if you are thinking of booking a cruise, experts have shared plenty of handy tips on how to get the best deals for 2024. Yasim Pekel, from Blue Cruise, warned that timing can be key. The travel expert explained: "Booking well in advance or at the last minute can sometimes help you to grab significant discounts. Cruise lines often offer early bird promotions and last-minute deals. Savings could range from around 20-30% or more for booking early to up to 50% or more for booking late, if you have the nerve to plan at the last minute. It is looking like 2024 is going to be a particularly busy one for cruise ships, so it may not be the year to gamble on lines not having sold all of their rooms."

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Julie Delahaye