It didn’t used to be this way. Just a few years ago, politics kept to their lane and most of us didn’t even think twice about them in day-to-day life.
Today, it seems that politics consumes many people. Even if you want to ignore it all, that can be seemingly impossible. From TVs blaring the latest headlines to people making political statements with everything from flags to t-shirts to some just being open about bringing up politics, it can feel like no matter where you turn, there’s politics in your face.
Since election season has ramped up, however, the political fever is increasing even more. So what do you need to know about politics while on a cruise?
The Overall Political Vibe on a Cruise
A piece of good news — overall the political vibe is relatively low-key on a cruise. People are there to vacation, have a good time, and largely forget about normal life back home. So most of the time the politics is not in your face.
Cruises can have some people that want to talk or make comments of a political nature, just as you might find on land. We do see occasional people wearing political t-shirts and clothing, however, it’s relatively rare. (Closer to the election there may be more seen around the ship.)
Unless you’re looking for a vacation that’s hyper political (and who is?), you’ll likely find it refreshing that most people simply keep to themselves with their political opinions. The vast majority of passengers simply want to have a good time.
How to Follow the Political News on a Cruise
Like to keep tabs on what’s going on in the political scene? In that case, even if you’re hundreds of miles from land you don’t have to be in the dark if you’re a political junkie.
First, wi-fi access is available on any cruise you sail, though it is pricey. The cost can run $20-$30 per day, depending on your line. But with online access you can read all the political news you want, just like you would back home. This includes social media access as well if that’s how you follow politics.
Prefer to get your news from TV? Cruise ship cabins all come with TVs, and while the channel options are limited, news stations are universal. They can vary from line to line, but you’ll almost always find Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. There are also occasional other news channels available like BBC.
Newspapers or magazines? Those aren’t available on cruises unless you bring your own from home.
Political Etiquette While Sailing
If you’re wondering about etiquette when it comes to talking politics while cruising, the best answer is to keep it non-existent unless prompted (and you feel like discussing the topic).
There are literally thousands of passengers on the ship from every sort of background you can imagine. Not everyone thinks the same about anything, much less politics. We’d venture that the vast majority of people on the ship just want a break from it all. Therefore, bringing politics up unprompted is generally frowned upon.
Even if it is brought up and you want to talk about it, keep in mind that others within earshot may not want to listen. Of course, you’re allowed to have a private conversation, but it’s polite to keep others around you in mind if in a public spot.
As well, outward displays of political affiliation — such as t-shirts that are “pro” or “anti” a specific candidate — are in poor taste. Yes, they are allowed, but to many it’s the equivalent of shouting your opinion out loud.
Bottom line: The best rule of thumb is to use the cruise as a good time to take a break from politics for a few days.
Relax. It will all be waiting for you when you get back home.
Casting a Vote While Cruising
What happens if you’re sailing during actual election day? Well, you’ll want to take care of that before your trip or risk missing out. Typically you can take advantage of early voting to cast a vote in advance of the cruise. So you can vote, go on vacation, and then follow the results on the ship if you wish.
If you vote by mail there is mail service in foreign countries, but be aware that there can be significant delays in mailing a ballot from abroad. It would make much more sense to drop your vote in the mail before you set sail.
Some states also allow absentee voting if you are away during the actual election day. Each state will have its own rules, so you’ll want to research them and check any deadlines for registering well in advance of the cruise.
