Luxury Cruising Editorial

Did you know that the ventilation system on a cruise ship is the second biggest drain on fuel?  It’s second only to the power required to actually move the ship.  So, it’s no small feat to try to get the temperature where most passengers are comfortable.

A recent update from Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador highlighted a story in which a couple requested unrealistic temperatures that are unlikely to be reached on any ship.

A common cruise passenger concern—cabin air conditioning—recently landed in the inbox of Carnival’s John Heald. A couple, who prefer a very cold environment, recently reported experiencing “night sweats” during their cruise on Carnival Jubilee, claiming their cabin’s 69-degree Fahrenheit temperature was “far too hot.”

The guests, who typically keep their home between 60 and 65 degrees, expressed their disappointment with the ship’s temperature.  (60 degrees Fahrenheit is about 15.5 Celsius)

Their message to Heald began,

“I’m sure you will get me John because like me and my hubby we are all fatties, we need the air conditioning cold.”

They continued, sharing their experience on Carnival Jubilee: “It was not cold enough. We both spent the cruise with night sweats. The workers…checked our cabin temperature and it was 69°. We run our house at between 60 and 65; our cabin at 69 was far too hot.”

They stated they would not book another sailing unless a colder cabin could be guaranteed.

John Heald, acknowledging his own preference for cooler temperatures and jokingly referring to himself as a “big old boy,” quickly addressed the request for a 60-degree cabin.

 “60°? Never going to happen,” Heald stated emphatically during his Facebook Live video.

Read more: 8 Steps for Finding the Perfect Cruise Cabin

Why Cruise Ships Feel Warmer on Embarkation Days

Heald then provided a broader explanation of ship temperatures, particularly as the busy summer cruising season gets closer. He noted that public spaces might feel “a little warm” at times, and new cruisers sometimes “panic a little bit on embarkation day,” finding their cabin not as cold as desired.

He clarified that cabin attendants “always have the air conditioning set to the lowest” before guests even enter their rooms. He explained that there are specific reasons for the temporary warmth often felt on embarkation day.

“First of all, a lot of the ships are running off the shore side power,” Heald explained. Additionally, he noted that various “gateways that are open with the hot air coming in,” including the area where luggage and supplies are loaded, contribute to the heat. “Those big doors are open and the heat is coming in,” he said.

However, Heald assured viewers that “once those doors are closed, once the ship is sailing, it is of course better and things will cool down.”

He believes “most people are absolutely fine with the cabin temperatures” once the ship is underway. He also reminded guests that in public areas, doors are constantly opening and closing, allowing humidity to enter and occasionally making spaces feel warmer.

What to Do If Your Cabin is Too Warm

A common request from Heald is for Carnival guests to make their complaints known to crew members during the cruise and not wait until the end to complain.  After all, at that point nothing can be done to fix the problem.

Heald offered this advice for passengers who face temperature issues in their cabin:

“Please I beg you if you have a problem if you’re too hot in your cabin please don’t write to me afterwards and say it was too hot. Speak to somebody, call the guest services desk, tell your cabin attendant, do something so that the crew can do all they can to make it better for you during the cruise rather than shout at me after the cruise.”

Realistic Expectations for Cabin Temps

As for the specific demand for a 60-degree cabin, Heald was pretty straightforward. “I’m going to be honest, if you want it to be 60°, don’t book,” he advised.

“I don’t think you can book any ship where it’s going to be 60°.” He confirmed that temperatures in the range of “65, 66, 67, 68 those are all within normal parameters and you can adjust it of course as well.”

There are many ways to make your stateroom more livable and make it more like home.  Some cruise ships have portable fans that can be requested if you still can’t get comfortable with the temperatures.  But I recommend packing your own portable fan.

In 2028, an epic cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and visit everywhere from Bora Bora to Italy to Thailand before returning to Florida 150 nights later.

The cruise will take place on Crystal Symphony and visit 84 ports in 39 countries on six continents. The ship will depart from Ft. Lauderdale on January 11, 2028 and return to the same port on June 10, 2028.

Itinerary

Once the ship leaves Florida, it will visit a few ports in the Caribbean before a trip through the Panama Canal.

The cruise will then head to the South Pacific to visit bucket list destinations like Tahiti, Bora Bora and Fiji.

In March, the cruise ship will make its way over to New Zealand, Australia and Bali before heading to Asia.

Once in Asia, guests will have the change to visit Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India and Sir Lanka. However, the incredible destinations don’t end there.

Crystal Symphony will sail through the Red Sea and offer visits to Petra and Egypt (to visit Luxor) before passing through the Suez Canal.

Once in the Mediterranean, visits to Italy, Spain, Malta, Greece and even Tunisia are on the schedule.

The final leg of this incredible cruise is crossing the Atlantic Ocean, with stops in the Azores and Bermuda, before arriving back in Ft. Lauderdale 150 days later.

Prices for this epic cruise start at $69,000 per person, based on double occupancy.

What’s Included?

The following is included in all cruise fares for this 150-night cruise:

• Business Class Airfare allowance or credit
• $1,500 ‘As You Wish’ shipboard credit
• Unlimited dining at Osteria d ‘Ovidio, Beefbar and Umi Uma (reservations required)
• Themed onboard events
• Private transfers and Luggage Valet service
• Complimentary laundry and pressing (second-day service)
• Exclusive shoreside events for full World Cruise guests
• Complimentary initial onboard medical visit

Select shore excursions will be curated in partnership with Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal’s sister company and a global leader in immersive travel experiences.

Crystal Chairman and Brand Ambassador Fernando Barroso de Oliveira, gave the following statement about this cruise:

“The 2028 World Cruise will be unlike anything we’ve done before—not just in the destinations we’ll be visiting, but in the way we’re curating every moment onboard and ashore. From overnight stays in the world’s most iconic ports to new immersive experiences designed exclusively for Crystal guests, we’re setting a new standard for luxury exploration.”

Crystal is one of the finest luxury cruise lines in the world and they currently have two ships in service.

We call it Cruise Fever.  It’s that unstoppable desire to be on a cruise and the 24/7 daydreaming of being back on a cruise once you’re back on land.

For many, once they start cruising, they are hooked.  So, what makes this type of vacation so addicting?

A recent social media post asked this very question, and cruisers were quick to chime in with their reasons for wanting to be at sea so much with dozens of comments and opinions.

A cruise related subreddit asked “Why is cruising so addicting?”.  The user who posted it was even thinking about booking another cruise just to hit loyalty status – classic sign of Cruise Fever.

Here are some of the most common answers cruisers gave for this amazing addiction:

Seriously Easy to Plan

Planning a big trip can be a headache. Flights, hotels, getting around, finding places to eat every single night – it’s a lot. Cruising, though? Much simpler.

As user LeonardoDecafrio put it, “I think one of the easiest vacations to plan. Like once you select your ship and route that’s 90% of your planning done.” Boom. Most of the big stuff is sorted from the get-go. You pick your ship and where it’s going, and a huge chunk of the work is already done for you.

A Real Break from Everything

Life is busy. We’ve all got schedules, to-do lists, and worries. Cruising offers a chance to actually escape all that. One commenter described this feeling: “To me it’s the getting away from it all. No time schedule, nothing to do, nothing to worry about.” Imagine waking up and the only decision is what kind of fun you want to have (or not have).

You can be as connected or as purposely out of touch as you want. 

This was slightly easier when Wi-Fi packages weren’t so accessible and you actually had to completely unplug, but it’s still an amazing break.

Everything’s Right There (and You Only Unpack Once)

The hassle of packing and unpacking at every stop on a multi-city trip is exhausting just to think about. Cruising fixes that.

You get on board, unpack, and that’s it.

Your floating hotel takes you from place to place. Plus, not having to stress about where to eat for every single meal is a game-changer for many.

User No_Owl_7380 mentioned this ease, saying, “For me it’s the ease of it and not having to worry about accommodations and what to eat every day plus unpacking once.” It’s like an all-inclusive resort that moves.

Your Own Little Walkable City (That Travels)

A cruise ship is kind of like its own little town. You can walk to restaurants, cafes, pools, shows, and shops. It’s incredibly convenient and depending on the cruise line, mostly all paid for.

Another comment on the post pointed out the uniqueness of this: “I think part of it is that it’s the only time some of us ever get to live in a totally walkable community.”

And then, bam, you wake up in a whole new place or even a new country. It’s an amazing way to see different places while sleeping in the same bed each night.

The feeling of waking up, looking out the window and being in a totally new place from the day before it something I still get giddy about.

They Just Want You to Be Happy (and Fed and Entertained)

At the end of the day, a cruise ship’s main goal is pretty simple: make sure you have a good time. The staff are generally focused on making your trip enjoyable, and there are always options for food and fun.

It’s the service, the fact that someone else is handling the cooking and cleaning, and that the crew is there to make your vacation smooth. As user BrainDad-208 commented, it’s “ultimately satisfying when you get great service, something decent you didn’t have to cook or clean up, and then a show you don’t have to drive home from.”

That experience of having the details handled allows you to actually relax on your vacation.  We’ve all been on vacations where it felt like we needed another week off just to recover, right?  With most cruises, it’s different.

Bottom Line

So, while the idea of being “addicted” might make it seem like something for which we need therapy, the reasons behind why people love cruising and keep coming back are pretty clear.

It’s the mix of easy planning, genuine relaxation, all-in-one convenience, the unique onboard experience, and the feeling that the whole trip is designed for your enjoyment.

Cruise Fever was started for these reasons, and we hope to continue to inspire and offer helpful insights for all our readers.

Read more: Cruisers Give Top 10 Reasons Cruising is the Best Vacation