Luxury Cruising Editorial

Whether it’s new towels or fresh bed sheets, cabin stewards on a cruise ship stay busy making sure cruisers are comfortable and happy with their accommodations.

When a passenger wants fresh towels, they simply need to leave them on the bathroom floor and they will be replaced the next time the cabin is serviced.

But what about bed sheets?  How often are these linens replaced?

This morning, John Heald, Brand Ambassador for Carnival Cruise Line answered that question and asked for comments on the topic.

“I explained to somebody that our brilliant state room attendants will change the bedding in the cabin at least once every seven days, more if somebody requests it,” Heald wrote on his Facebook post. 

“This apparently “horrified “a few people who said that we should be changing it a minimum of 2 to 3 times a week.”

In the comments to the social media post, most cruisers were satisfied with having the sheets replaced every seven days. 

Some emphasized the environmental impact of having the sheets changed too often, and others simply wanted to make sure the sheets were clean on embarkation day.

Read more: Cruise cabin hacks: 25 tips for making your cabin more livable

Still, as Heald mentioned, there were several that wanted clean sheets more often simply because it was a vacation and not just another day at home.

One commenter stated, “Twice a week. Wasn’t so long ago that hotels would change your sheets everyday. I’m on vacation. I want new sheets more often than when I’m home. Sorry that’s how I feel about it.”

Since cruising is all about having a customized experience, those who want their sheets changed more often simply need to request it.

Heald asked how often people change their bed sheets at home, and most of the replies stated that once a week was the norm. 

Most cruise lines have cut back on cleaning staterooms twice a day as they did years ago.   This was to cut back on cost and also to better manage the time of the crew.

Cruise cabin stewards work incredibly hard to make sure passengers are happy.  Any extra work given to one of the crew should be accompanied by extra gratuity.

“If you are one of those people making your stateroom attendant change your sheets throughout your cruise, you should be tipping them [accordingly]! They already have so much to do in cleaning and making the beds,” one Facebook comment stated.

Princess Cruises has decided to double the Future Cruise Credit amount that guests will receive who were booked on the two canceled cruises on Regal Princess.

Regal Princess has been stuck in Galveston due to repairs that need to be made to the ship. The October 27 and November 3 cruises have been canceled.

The cruise line said that “essential technical repairs” are needed to the ship and the cancelations of the cruises were necessary.

Initially, Princess Cruises was giving all guests who were booked on these two cruises a full refund and a 25% credit towards a future cruise.

The cruise line is doubling that amount and guests will now receive a 50% credit of their cruise fare to use for a future cruise. This is in addition to the full refund.

The FCC (Future Cruise Credit) is good on all Princess sailings through May 31, 2026 as long as it’s booked by May 31, 2025.

Also, guests who booked one of the cruise line’s all-inclusive packages, Princess Plus and Premier Package, will still receive double cruise credits as part of the Captain’s Circle Loyalty Accelerator promotion. Guests staying in full suites will receive loyalty points x4.

Princess Cruises sent the following statement to Cruise Fever about the Future Cruise Credit guests on the canceled cruises will be receiving:

“Repairs on Regal Princess are progressing as planned in preparation for her scheduled November 10 departure from Galveston. We are actively communicating with guests booked on this voyage to keep them informed.

“Our team remains focused on ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience, and we look forward to welcoming guests aboard. Any further updates will be provided promptly.

“In addition, as a gesture of goodwill, guests who were affected by the cancellations of the October 27 and November 3 sailings will receive an increased Future Cruise Credit (FCC), raised from 25% to 50% of their original cruise fare.

“This enhanced FCC will be automatically applied to guest accounts and can be used for bookings made by May 31, 2025, and sailing by May 31, 2026.

“Guests who booked a Princess Plus or Premier Package for either of the cancelled voyages during the Captain’s Circle Loyalty Accelerator promotion will still receive double the cruise credits, with full suite guests receiving four times the loyalty points.”

Regal Princess homeports in Galveston offering six- to 11-night cruises to the Caribbean.

The majority of the ship’s cruises from Texas are six- to eight-nights in length and visit the Western Caribbean. Port stops include Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize and Roatan.

In the spring of 2025, the ship will reposition to Europe and offer cruises from Southampton.

I took my first cruise a little over 15 years ago, a four night cruise to The Bahamas on Norwegian Sky from PortMiami. I couldn’t say no to a four night cruise for $199 so I decided to take my first ever cruise and see what they were all about.

Fast forward to today and there are a number of things that the mainstream cruise lines have cut. Call them cheap, call it cost cutting or whatever you want, but many things that were included in cruises a few years ago are no longer offered.

Here are things that most mainstream cruise lines have cut over the past 15 years. Note, this doesn’t apply to premium or luxury lines as they haven’t made cuts like mainstream lines have.

Pre-Cruise Packet

Cruise lines used to mail you a packet before your cruise with an information booklet, your luggage tags, and other things you needed for your vacation.

I loved receiving it in the mail because it meant my cruise was just around the corner. I was so excited, I think I read the information book three times before my first cruise. It had a lot of good info for first time cruisers like me.

Now if you want things like your luggage tags, you have to print them yourself.

Welcome Aboard Drink

It didn’t matter how cheap of a cruise you booked or how short it was. When you boarded your ship, someone was standing there to hand you a free welcome aboard drink, a glass of champagne or orange juice for those who don’t drink.

The first few cruises I booked were insanely cheap, but this was offered on them.  Now, it’s a relic of the past.

Twice-a-Day Cabin Service

This is one thing that I really miss when sailing on the big lines now. Your room steward would clean your room in the morning and then again while you were at dinner for turndown service. It gave a feel of luxury and something special when taking a cruise.

Then one day, cruise lines figured out that if stewards only cleaned rooms once a day, they would only need half the staff.

Now, they ask you to choose between morning or evening service as you only get it once a day.

Lobster on Short Cruises

It didn’t matter if it was a three night cruise or a four night cruise, lobster was always on the menu in the main dining room at least one night of the voyage. It was usually the formal night.

“You want lobster? That will be $44.99!”

Technically you can still get lobster in the main dining room on short cruises, but you have to pay for it under the “steakhouse selections”.

Free Room Service

This is one of the things on my first cruise that really impressed me. There was no charge for room service. They had a room service menu and you could order anything off it that you liked and it was all complimentary.

Now, cruise lines either charge a delivery free or have a smaller complimentary menu and a menu where you pay for items you order.

Towel Animals

While not all the big cruise lines have cut this out, towel animals are slowly disappearing from cruise ships.

You used to have a towel animal waiting for you in your cabin every night when you came back from dinner. Norwegian was the first cruise line to cut this practice.

Chocolates on Pillows

Along with your towel animal, room stewards always put chocolate on your pillows. This has also disappeared from most of the big cruise lines.

But I have to say, even though cruise lines have made many cuts over the past few years, cruises still offer the best value for the buck when taking a vacation.

And while I miss many of these things, it doesn’t stop me from taking cruises.