Alright crew… let’s talk about the real struggle onboard that nobody puts in the recruitment videos: cabin roommates. 
After a long day at work, all you want is to go back to your cabin, watch a movie, listen to music, or just sleep. Easy, right? Not really—because most of us are sharing with a roommate… sometimes even two or three. And since everyone has different habits, personalities, and hygiene standards (lol), cabin life can get messy fast.
The worst part? You usually don’t get to choose. When you board, the crew purser assigns you wherever there’s space, and most of the time you’ll end up with people from the same department.
So if you’re new onboard (or just unlucky), here are a few classic roommate “types” you might run into—and what you can do to survive.
This one comes back from work and goes straight to bed without showering—sometimes still smelling like galley/engine room/restaurant shift. Within minutes the cabin turns into a gym bag.
Reality check: telling them “you smell” rarely works.
Survival tip: keep cabin spray, open the door for air, and if you can get an ozoner, even better. Worst case? Go chill at the crew bar for a bit and come back when it’s less intense.
Survival tip: set boundaries early (politely, not aggressively), and protect your stuff. If they start crossing lines (mess, disrespect, damage), document it and report it the right way.
This one can be a blessing or a nightmare. If they spend time in their lover’s cabin—great, you get peace. But if they bring someone into your cabin, suddenly your tiny space turns into a three-person situation… plus “night sounds” nobody asked for.
Survival tip: make a simple cabin rule: no guests in the cabin when the roommate is resting. And yeah—always knock before entering. Always.
Some people want total darkness and silence like they’re hibernating. No lights, no music, no noise. You enter the cabin like you’re sneaking into a museum.
Survival tip: compromise. Use a small reading light, headphones, and keep your routine quiet. But also: silence can’t be a dictatorship. Respect goes both ways.
The one who blasts metal/techno like the cabin is a nightclub. Bonus points if their alarm is connected to speakers and wakes up half the deck.
Survival tip: talk to them early and calmly. Most people actually don’t realize how loud they are until someone tells them. Suggest headphones and a normal alarm tone.
Honestly? There’s only so much you can fix yourself. Complaining to a supervisor usually doesn’t do much unless it’s a serious issue.
Best practical move:
As soon as you hear someone is signing off soon, go straight to the crew purser and submit a cabin change request. Timing is everything onboard—vacant cabins don’t stay vacant for long.
If you’ve dealt with a “legendary” roommate type (or you have a better survival hack), drop it below. Let’s help the new joiners out.
After a long day at work, all you want is to go back to your cabin, watch a movie, listen to music, or just sleep. Easy, right? Not really—because most of us are sharing with a roommate… sometimes even two or three. And since everyone has different habits, personalities, and hygiene standards (lol), cabin life can get messy fast.
The worst part? You usually don’t get to choose. When you board, the crew purser assigns you wherever there’s space, and most of the time you’ll end up with people from the same department.
So if you’re new onboard (or just unlucky), here are a few classic roommate “types” you might run into—and what you can do to survive.
1) The Smelly Roommate
This one comes back from work and goes straight to bed without showering—sometimes still smelling like galley/engine room/restaurant shift. Within minutes the cabin turns into a gym bag.
Reality check: telling them “you smell” rarely works.
Survival tip: keep cabin spray, open the door for air, and if you can get an ozoner, even better. Worst case? Go chill at the crew bar for a bit and come back when it’s less intense.
Survival tip: set boundaries early (politely, not aggressively), and protect your stuff. If they start crossing lines (mess, disrespect, damage), document it and report it the right way.
3) The Casanova Roommate
This one can be a blessing or a nightmare. If they spend time in their lover’s cabin—great, you get peace. But if they bring someone into your cabin, suddenly your tiny space turns into a three-person situation… plus “night sounds” nobody asked for.
Survival tip: make a simple cabin rule: no guests in the cabin when the roommate is resting. And yeah—always knock before entering. Always.
4) The Silent “Bear” Roommate
Some people want total darkness and silence like they’re hibernating. No lights, no music, no noise. You enter the cabin like you’re sneaking into a museum.
Survival tip: compromise. Use a small reading light, headphones, and keep your routine quiet. But also: silence can’t be a dictatorship. Respect goes both ways.
5) The Noisy Roommate
The one who blasts metal/techno like the cabin is a nightclub. Bonus points if their alarm is connected to speakers and wakes up half the deck.
Survival tip: talk to them early and calmly. Most people actually don’t realize how loud they are until someone tells them. Suggest headphones and a normal alarm tone.
So what do you do if your roommate is nasty/annoying/bitchy?
Honestly? There’s only so much you can fix yourself. Complaining to a supervisor usually doesn’t do much unless it’s a serious issue.
Best practical move:
As soon as you hear someone is signing off soon, go straight to the crew purser and submit a cabin change request. Timing is everything onboard—vacant cabins don’t stay vacant for long.
If you’ve dealt with a “legendary” roommate type (or you have a better survival hack), drop it below. Let’s help the new joiners out.
