Traditionally, cruise line stateroom attendants serviced each cabin twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. They would make the beds, empty the trash, change towels, create towel animals and do whatever else was necessary to keep staterooms clean.
Since cruising re-started after the hiatus during the pandemic, Carnival and Norwegian have transitioned to a once-per-day housekeeping model. Now, according to Royal Caribbean Blog, another cruise giant has quietly reduced housekeeping to once per day in all non-suite cabins.
Is this a big deal?
Some of you may be wondering why once-a-day housekeeping is a bad thing anyway? Since the pandemic, and even before, many hotel brands have reduced housekeeping to less than once a day. They usually claim it’s for environmental reasons, but let’s be real. It’s mostly to save money. So from that standpoint, cruise cabins already get more housekeeping than most hotels.
But, cruise cabins are a bit of a different animal. They are much smaller than traditional hotel rooms. Some cabins sleep up to 5 people in a teeny, tiny space with ridiculously small trash cans. Passengers bring in wet towels from the pool and beach and frequently track in sand from the ports. Some cabins have no windows or balconies, so trash can stink up a cabin quickly.
Personally, I’ve always enjoyed twice daily housekeeping on cruises, and I missed it on my last Carnival cruise. I love coming back to a spotless, clean room. It’s one of the luxuries I adore about cruising. On Disney Cruise Line, the evening service always includes a towel animal and a chocolate on each pillow. Spoiled!
Bottom Line
Reduced housekeeping seems to be the “new normal” in cruising. I won’t be surprised if more cruise lines adapt this new policy. It’s not a deal-breaker for me or my family, but I will miss the twice-a-day service.
Cruisers, what do you think of these housekeeping changes?
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Which cruise lines are once a day now? Carnival, Royal? What about Princess and celebrity?
@Michele I’m only aware of Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.
We recently went on our first post-pandemic cruise on Carnival. The worst part about not having service twice a day was the bed situation. The bunk bed was permanantly up and the coach wasn’t made into a couch during the day. It made it kind of awkward in the room if we were hanging out.
@Wendy Yes, I agree! I never saw our cabin couch as a couch, it was made up as a bed 100% of the time.
Twice daily room service/ cabin cleaning is one of the things that makes cruising a luxury. Sone of us prefer to go on several cruises a year rather that one ultra expensive cruise! I would prefer having my bed turned down with a chocolate before I go to bed. It bespeaks of luxury the average person can’t afford.
@Michelle Perfectly said.
I always book a suite
@BloggerGeorge Nice! I’ve never stayed in a suite on a cruise ship.
I’m sure the savings on labor will “trickle down” to the consumers. /sarcasm.
This is cost cutting, nothing more.
@projectx The mandatory tips haven’t decreased, so yeah…I think the cruise lines are still struggling to hire enough workers.
This will be the First of many of the pampering amenities that Cruise ships offer. Another COVID excuse
@Deva I’m afraid you’re right. Cruise ships have been bleeding money, so they’ve got to make it up somehow.