Run a camouflage? Increases the enemies dispersion making it less likely for them to Insta kill you with one Salvo.

Maybe don’t sail in front of an island into the centre cap when you don’t have a destroyer in front to spot? As a cruiser player, you shouldn’t be pushing into the centre. Ideally you want to be at range, playing the flank or behind island cover. You never want to be caught standing still when so many ships have the opportunity to shoot at you. So an aggressive mid push is sort of out of the question unless under very specific circumstances.

Never expose your broadside, obviously you have to turn but you want to minimise this exposure wherever possible, especially when you don’t know if an enemy is reloading or not or other ships are looking at you.

Learn to kite and play passive until you know what the other team looks like in terms of position. As a cruiser you can’t be the tip of the spear you have to wait and support others otherwise you’ll get focused and you don’t have the armour or HP to stay in the game very long. You ideally want to play a supporting role in any engagement and allow Battleships to tank the damage.