Diplomacy

A cruise ship is a place for relaxation, a haven to get rid of your worries and simply…well, flush them away.

But hold on a minute! There’s one thing Carnival Cruise Line would really prefer if you didn’t send down the cabin toilet: wet wipes.

This includes wet wipes that are advertised as “flushable” and safe for septic tanks.

John Heald Addresses Plumbing Issue

John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, recently shared a creative and informative social media post to highlight this danger to cruise ship plumbing.

He describes a fellow passenger who meticulously wiped down every surface on the airplane.  This reminded him of a message about this handy household item: 

“Anyway, this lady has reminded me to talk to you once again about wet wipes,” Heald writes.

While convenient, flushable wipes pose a significant challenge for shipboard plumbing systems.

Despite clear warnings in the bathroom and on the stateroom TV, passengers continue to flush wipes, leading to blockages that require unpleasant intervention. 

Heald avoids graphic details but highlights the inconvenience caused.  He states that the blockage “results in Luigi having to put on the long glove and shoving his arm up a pipe full of the devil’s dumplings so that the toilets in that cabin section will start flushing again.”

Heald’s post cleverly contrasts the current popularity of wipes with simpler times. 

“Of course, back when many of you reading this were children you never had wet sodding wipes,” Heald reflects, adding some colorful commentary on using spit to make homemade wipes.

However, the key message remains: wet wipes and shipboard plumbing don’t play well together.  Heald concludes with a polite but firm request: 

“On behalf of Luigi the Plumber,” he advises, “can I ask you not to put these into the toilet and flush. If you use them for any reason, drop them in the sanitary bags and let your stateroom attendant know and they will dispose of them.”

I’ve been on behind-the-scenes cruise ship tours where the guide will talk about the water treatment process and how wet wipes are one of the biggest issues they deal with. 

The problem is that toilets back home are perfectly capable of dealing with wet wipes and regular toilet paper.   So, some travelers are just used to using them everywhere they go.

But cruise ships are built differently, and wet wipes can cause major problems and headaches for the crew.

No one wants to have plumbing issues on a cruise, never mind a stopped-up toilet when there are no other cabins available on the ship. 

The toilet paper on a cruise ship is indeed thin.   But if everyone follows the rules with what they should avoid flushing down the toilet, it will ensure everyone can have a great getaway at sea.

Other Items to Avoid Flushing

A few other things you should not flush down a cruise ship toilet (some of these should not even have to be mentioned but here we are):

• Feminine hygiene products
• Diapers
• Cotton swabs
• Hair
• Bandaids
• Food scraps
• Cigarette butts
• Coffee grounds
• Dental floss
• Contact lenses
• Anything not toilet paper or human waste

I am currently on a seven night cruise to Alaska on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam. Although I have previously sailed on cruise ship, this is my first time cruising to Alaska with Holland America Line. I have visited Alaska with other cruise lines.

Note: All photos in this article were taken during my cruise to Alaska with Holland America.

I am sailing with my wife and three year old son on this trip. We are sailing as guests of the cruise line with a group of media on board. You can read my previous review of Koningsdam here when I sailed on the ship a few years ago.

After spending nearly a week on the ship, here are 10 reasons why I think that your next cruise to Alaska should be on Holland America Line.

Cruising to Alaska Longer Than Any Other Cruise Line

Holland America Line has been cruising to Alaska longer than any other cruise line in the world.  Because of all of this experience, they are able to provide the best possible cruise to the 49th state.

Holland America Line has been cruising to Alaska since 1947, longer than most of us have been alive.

Better Docking Locations

At every port that we visited, Holland America Line ships had the best docking locations out of all of cruise lines. We were often in port with one or two other of HAL’s ships.

A better docking location means less walking to get into town, and this comes in really handy since it will likely rain on one or more days of your cruise. Hey, that’s just the weather in Alaska.  It can be 70 and sunny or 40 and raining, more likely the latter.

While we were docked right in town, other ships were a good 15-20 minute walk away.

On our day in Juneau, it rained just about the entire day so having the best docking location was really nice.

Fresh Fish Program

While I was onboard the ship, I had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Stendebach, VP of Food and Beverage, and John Mulvaney, Director of Culinary Operations for Holland America Line.

The cruise line’s new fresh fish program offers the freshest fish you will find on any cruise ships in the world.

How fresh it is? On my Alaska cruise, fresh fish was brought on board in Vancouver, Juneau, and Ketchikan. It is never frozen and goes from fished to plate within 48 hours.

In Juneau, the fishing boats bring the fish to the processing plant that is 50 meters from the ship.  The fish is then brought on board and it is so fresh, it is never more than a few hundred feet inland.  No other cruise line offers fish this fresh.

They are also in constant talks with the fisherman and so they can adjust the menu based on based on the fresh fish that is caught. The menus are based on the fresh fish that is available, not on frozen fish that was caught weeks or months before.

Crew

While the crew on most ships are fantastic, there is one particular thing that happened during my Koningsdam cruise that really stood out.

One night while I was enjoying Billboard Onboard with my family, I walked over to Rolling Stone bar and asked for a Red Bull. The man working behind the bar said,

“We are all out, but I remember you also asking for one yesterday. I’m going to get you one, let me go find one for you.”

He then left and came back a few minutes with an ice cold Red Bull. In my 15 years of cruising, I’ve never had that happen before. We went completely out of his way to serve me.

He wasn’t the only crew member to stand out. Song, who works in the spa, did such a great job on my haircut, that my son also got one and she styled my wife’s hair. She really is amazing.

The crew members in the World Cafe remembered my son’s name from day one and always greeted him by it.  

I really can’t say enough great things about the crew members on Koningsdam.

Glacier Guarantee

Holland America Line recently added a Glacier Guarantee on all cruises to Alaska. If your ship does not visit a glacier, you will receive a 15% credit towards a future cruise.

They are the only cruise line to offer this. Their ships visit Glacier Bay, College Fjord, Dawes Glacier, Hubbard Glacier and the Tracy Arm Fjord’s Twin Sawyer Glaciers.

Access to Glacier Bay

Speaking of glaciers, Holland America Line has more permits to visit Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line.

Visiting Glacier Bay was a highlight of our cruise and I can’t imagine taking a cruise to Alaska and not visiting this national park.

Not every cruise line can visit Glacier Bay. In 2024, only five cruise lines have approval to visit with Holland America offering the most sailings.

You’re doing yourself a disservice if you book a cruise to Alaska without a stop in Glacier Bay.

They opened the bow of the ship on the day we visited Glacier Bay to bring you as close as possible to the glaciers.

Onboard Programming

With Holland America Line, you aren’t just visiting Alaska, but they also bring Alaska to the ship. The onboard entertainment and programming will immerse you deep into Alaska so you can make the most out of your cruise.

In the World Stage (theater), the ship had the following programming during the cruise:

• Destination Alaska: The Route. The Ports. The Tours.
• When and When to Spot Wildlife
• Alaska Up Close: Pacific Giants
• How to Use Your Binoculars
• Alaska Up Close: The Iditarod
• Alaska Up Close: Ancestral Memories
• A Spectacular Day in Glacier Bay
• Movie: Mystery Alaska
• Glacier Bay Park Ranger Program
• Native Voices: Stories of the Tlingit People
• Salmon: Keystone Species

For specific Alaska related activities, they were marked with WE ❤️ ALASKA in The Daily so you could easily find them.

Ships Have Pool With Retractable Roof

All of Holland America Line’s cruise ships that are currently sailing in Alaska have a main pool with a retractable roof over it. This greatly enhances cruises for two reasons.

First, it allows this area to be used no matter what the weather is. As I mentioned earlier, the weather isn’t always the best in Alaska so the pool can be used for the entire cruise.

Secondly, it creates more area where you look out the windows and enjoy the incredible views in Alaska. On most ships, you’ll be cold or wet when the weather isn’t the greatest. On Holland America Line, they just close the roof and you have a more enjoyable experience.

As an added bonus, the covered area by the aft pool on Koningsdam had heaters so you could enjoy the views and not be so cold.

Observation Lounges

All Holland America Line ships that visit Alaska have an observation lounge, aka the Crow’s Nest. This provides a climate controlled area where you can see both the port and starboard side of the ship.

Early one morning, they had a whale watching party here as this area provides 270 degree views from the top, front of the ship.

Wildlife and Wilderness Opportunities

A cruise to Alaska is unlike any other cruise and Holland America Line offers more wildlife and wilderness viewing opportunities than any other cruise line.  This includes nearly 180 different shore excursions that can take you on a wildlife or wilderness encounter. 

They have a wildlife expert on board to help you spot humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, sea otters and black bears. Their daily program tells you what time you can meet the expert so you can see wildlife in their natural habitat.

Vancouver or Seattle?

When taking a cruise to Alaska, you have the option of sailing from Seattle or Vancouver. While many of the ports that you visit are the same, sailing from Vancouver has two distinct advantages.

The first is that you get to sail through the Inside Passage twice. As I am writing this, we are sailing through the Inside Passage and just a few hundred feet offshore. The views are spectacular as we cruise through this pristine wilderness.

The second advantage is that you don’t have to make a port stop in Canada. All round-trip cruises from Seattle to Alaska have to make one stop in Canada and that is usually a short visit in Victoria. It can be as short as three to four hours, which makes it pointless to even visit. However, it is required due to the Passenger Services Vessel Act of 1886.

When packing for a cruise, it can be tempting to throw everything into your suitcase.  I’ve been guilty of the “just in case” mentality too.

But ending up with a bunch of stuff you either don’t need or will never actually use while on your cruise just means more luggage and more headaches.

This article serves as an “unpacking” list, reminding you what you will not need.  It will contain items either the cruise line already offers or are simply unnecessary.

There are also banned items you should never bring on a cruise.  You can find a list of prohibited items here.

The items in the list below are not prohibited or banned by cruise lines, just to be clear.  

But just because you can bring something doesn’t mean you should.

1. Towels

Not only do towels take up a ton of room in your suitcase, they are also completely unnecessary to take with you.  Sure, cruise ships are not exactly notorious for having the most absorbent towels — I will grant you that.

But to make up for that, you can request as many towels as you would like for your cabin.  And when you’re done with them you can just throw them onto the bathroom floor like an adolescent slob.

For a beach day in a port of call you can “check out” a few towels for your group.

Just make sure you return any pool towels to the towel stations before the cruise is over or you will find yourself the owner of that fine piece of cloth, even if you don’t know where it is.  It happens more than you might think.

2. A pillow

I’ll probably get some flack for this one.  I know some of our readers are very particular about their pillows.  And after years of finding the perfect cushion for that dome of yours you might feel the need to cram that piece of fluffy goodness into your carry-on.

Just know that most cruise lines keep a few spare pillows in a “magic back room” somewhere.  You can request more pillows or different kinds of pillows from your cabin steward.

Who knows? Maybe you will be able to get a pillow that reminds you of your own back home.  If not, you will be so relaxed from your cruise it might not even matter.

By the way, you can often request mattress toppers if you find the mattress is a bit too firm.  You can ask your cabin steward if there are any extra, but there are a finite number of these on board.

3. Snacks

I get the reasoning that people like to bring snacks with them on a cruise.  And if you have kids traveling with you, it makes even more sense.

But this is a floating buffet we are talking about here.  There’s enough food on board to make your local grocery store jealous.  You can literally snack any time and all the time.

That said, kids can ask for snacks on short notice, and onboard room service can be slow. So, if you are traveling with little ones might be a good idea to pack a few resealable bags to stock up on refreshments when you are at the buffet.

When you are at lunch or dinner, your kids can fill up these baggies with fruit, cheerios, or cookies and bring them back to the room for later.

Just don’t try to take any food that is not in a sealed container off the ship as this can land you in some hot water.

4. Exercise equipment

Some of the nicest gyms I’ve ever seen were on cruise ships.  Modern vessels have the latest and most innovative equipment.

Most of the time when I walk into a cruise ship gym I don’t even know how the machines work.  I have to analyze the little pictures on the side of the machine as if I’m an archeologist reading hieroglyphics. 

Whether it’s Peloton bikes or HydroRows that are more your flavor, you can certainly find enough equipment to make you wonder why you ever wanted to bring those resistance bands with you. 

Cruises also offer workout classes and health seminars, often partnering with better-known fitness studios such as Zumba and PureBarre. Some of these classes are included with the standard cruise fare, and others will be an additional charge, but access to the gym is always free.

While you don’t need to bring your exercise equipment you can definitely should bring your workout clothes.  Just make sure you pack some shoes that are not open-toed as most gyms on cruise ships will not allow you to enter with flip-flops.

5. Valuables

Call me paranoid, but I’m not a fan of people bringing their grandmother’s priceless emerald necklace on a cruise.  Why have that extra worry that something could happen to that heirloom?

Instead, why not pack some cheap imitations?  Ok, well-made imitations.  That’s better.

There’s a growing trend of travel jewelry, and cheaper versions of many popular engagement rings and statement pieces can be purchased online.

These “valuables” would be much easier to part ways with if an earring were to slip overboard.

If you absolutely must bring your expensive jewelry with you, be sure to use the in-cabin safe for peace of mind.

6. Excessive electronics

This one hits close to home for me.  I love my tech. 

But if the point of a cruise is to get away for a while and relax, it’s important to limit just how many chargeable devices get thrown into the suitcase.

If we were in the pre-cell phone era, I would, of course, recommend that you pack a camera to capture all your onboard memories and perhaps a laptop if you need to keep up with work.

I’d even suggest that you pack your Walkman to listen to your favorite cassette as you sit poolside and soak up the sun.

But nowadays a smartphone can do all of that and more. 

I would recommend limiting your devices to save space and keep you focused on the point of your cruise: relaxation.

7. Hairdryer

There’s already a hairdryer in your cabin.  Sure, it might not put out enough heat to defrost a frozen burrito.  And yes, the fan is so weak that you couldn’t blow out a birthday candle on a cupcake.

But it will do the job.  With enough time and patience, your hair will dry.  It will make you run back home and embrace the hairdryer in your bathroom after the cruise is over, but you don’t need to add it to your packing list.

Most cruise lines will allow you to pack a curling iron or flat iron, but double-check as these rules are always changing. 

You definitely cannot bring a clothes iron, however.  This is on the ban list we mentioned before.

Some ships will provide launderettes which have irons inside so you can complete your elegant evening sans wrinkles.

Related:  Cabin Rules: 10 things you should never do in your cabin

8. Shampoo/Conditioner

Most cruise lines will provide shampoo and body wash in the cabins for guests; however conditioner is not always provided on mainstream lines.

But that doesn’t mean you’re going to like the soap that’s provided.  I’ve heard a lot of cruisers complain about the quality of the shower soap/shampoo on some lower budget cruise lines.

The all-in-one approach to this mystery liquid can leave a lot to be desired.

So, if you’re going to break the rules on my “unpacking” list maybe this is where you do it.

Sometimes a ship will have a 3-in-1 soap with conditioner included.  I don’t know what kind of sorcery goes into making a magical cleaning solution like that.  I’ve never had problems with it.

But if you have skin sensitivity issues, maybe you will want to pack some soap and shampoo after all.

Just know that your cruise ship will provide these items if you would like to use them.

9. Dirty clothes bag

This one is not as consequential as some other items on the list.  After all, a laundry bag doesn’t take up much room in your suitcase. 

But you should know that almost every cruise cabin has a laundry bag in the closet.  It’s main purpose is for you to fill it up and pay the cruise line to wash your clothes for you, but many will use this same bag to separate their dirty clothes until the end of the trip.

Just make sure you don’t forget your clothes are there when it’s time to pack up to go home.  And definitely don’t take the bag home with you or you will find a nice little charge added to your account.

Some cruisers like to use one of their suitcases for dirty clothes and keep it under the bed.  This is helpful if you brought more than one suitcase.

I always like to hang up all my clothes as soon as I walk into my ready cabin.  Living out of a suitcase is not ideal, after all.  So, after a certain article of clothing is dirty I can throw it into an empty suitcase that will be the designated hamper for the rest of the trip.

10.  Extra Hangers

You already know your cruise cabin will have hangers, but you have packed so many clothes that you want to make sure you have enough?

The good news is you don’t need to pack any extra hangers.  Simply ask your stateroom attendant for more hangers and you will have plenty for every article of clothing you crammed into that suitcase.

There are some cruise travelers that like to bring their own hangers.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  Just know it’s not really necessary unless you have some kind of special hangers that automatically take wrinkles out or something.  In that case, we should talk.

Read more related articles and tips on cruising here:

Virgin Voyages, an adults only cruise line, has issued a stern warning to “First Mates” (travel agents) about certain activities that are happening on their cruise ships.

An email was sent out to travel agents earlier today warning them to knock it off with solicitation and rebating. 

The cruise line said that they reserve the right to cancel First Mate accounts and in extreme cases, ban them from sailing on their ships.

John Diorio, Vice President of North American Sales for Virgin Voyages, signed the email listing a number of key actions happening on their ships that the cruise line is actively working on stopping.

The email reminded First Mates that solicitation while on a Virgin cruise ships is strictly prohibited.  This includes leaving business cards, branded items, and flyers around cruise ships and ship terminals that promote travel agencies.

Also, some travel agents are meeting guests who are in line with the My Next Virgin Voyages team trying to get them to transfer their future bookings to them by the way of “helping them”.

Virgin also warned agents of soliciting guests in social media groups in an attempt to get them to transfer their bookings to them.

This includes sending messages in onboard social media groups asking them to purchase My Next Virgin Voyages placeholders for them.

Lastly, Virgin Voyages has a strict policy on offering part of an agent’s commission back to cruisers.  This gives guests a higher perceived value than booking through any one else, including the cruise line, and is prohibited.

The email went on to say the following about these actions taking place on their ships:

“We are actively monitoring these tactics and reserve the right to cancel your First Mate account and, in extreme cases, limit or cancel your ability to sail. We do not think the above actions are in the spirit of a good partnership or fair to your industry colleagues and we just can’t allow them to continue.”

“If you see any examples of the above, please share them with the Sales Team who will sort them out as quickly as possible. We know that no one wants this to happen to them given how hard everyone is working to grow their business.”

Carnival Cruise Line gave new details on Starfish Lagoon, an area for families at their new private port on Grand Bahama opening in 2025, Celebration Key.

Celebration Key is a new private port being built specifically for Carnival cruise ships. It will open in July 2025 and have five distinct portals. One of those will be Starfish Lagoon, an area just for families.

At the entrance to Starfish Lagoon will be the Guppy Grotto.  This splash pad is a coral-reed themed water play area for small children and toddlers. 

It will have a two-foot deep wading pool, water toys, dump bucket, a nearby ice cream shop and shaded seating for parents.

Floating AquaBanas will be floating cabanas that will be available to rent. They will have seating for eight guests and a solid table for drinks.

There will be 12 AquaBanas total and they will have a private bar. Also available will be traditional cabanas and daybeds.

The lagoon will have a swim-up bar so you don’t have to get out of the water to get a drink.

Next to the iconic Suncastle will be a number of hammocks so you can swing over the water and enjoy the views of the lagoon.

Starfish Lagoon will also have a beach with kayak and paddleboard rentals. There will also be loungers, umbrellas and beachside cabanas.

A sports court will be adjacent to the Game Pavilion and have basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts.

The Game Pavilion will have everything from foosball, ping pong and corn hole.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said the following about this family area on Celebration Key:

“At Carnival, we carry the more children than any other cruise line, so we’ve designed Starfish Lagoon specifically for family fun. Toddlers, teens and adults alike will find their own piece of paradise whether it be racing down one of the waterslides, playing a round of pickleball or relaxing on our floating AquaBanas.”

18 Carnival cruise ships are currently scheduled to visit Celebration Key. Right now, Carnival Cruise Line has opened for bookings over 500 cruises that will visit this new port destination.

Carnival Vista will be the first cruise ship to visit Celebration Key on July 19, 2025.  The port will have a pier that can accommodate up to two of Carnival’s largest cruise ships on the same day.

A future expansion to the pier will allow up to four Carnival ships to visit Celebration Key.

Once Celebration Key opens, Carnival will begin work on Phase 2 that includes a water park.