The cruise world is constantly changing, especially to adapt to customer demands and social development.
From a certain point of view, this is also the beauty of cruise ships. I like that they are always modern, up-to-date and that they bring new things and innovations on board.
However, these changes also lead to things being removed and that you won’t be able to do on cruises anymore.
Let’s see what they are and why they were removed!
1. Drink With a Plastic Straw
The cruise industry is doing a lot to reduce its environmental impact, and one thing that many cruise lines have done is a total ban on plastic straws.
Obviously, this change is part of a larger initiative to cut down on single-use plastics, which also includes eliminating plastic bottles and other disposable items.
Cruise lines are now offering different alternatives such as paper, candy, silicone, or biodegradable straws, instead of the non-recyclable ones that could harm wildlife and ecosystems.
2. Topless Sunbathing
I don’t know if you knew this, but until a few years ago it was normal to sunbathe topless on cruise ships.
Not sure why many cruise lines have become so prudish, but it seems that this practice is now banned on most ships.
As far as I know, the only major cruise line that has a deck reserved for topless sunbathing is Virgin Voyages which allowed it on deck 17 in the area called “The Perch“.
3. Unlimited Lobster Tails
One of the notable changes in cruise dining experiences is the restriction on unlimited lobster tails.
Until a few years ago, a few cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, allowed guests to request additional lobster tails when that dish was on the menu.
Unfortunately, some passengers took excessive advantage of this possibility and ordered an exorbitant amount of them.
For that reason, now cruise lines are much more stringent, and charge extra for additional lobster tails beyond the first serving.
The goals of this change are two-fold: reduce food waste and control costs.
As always, due to the behavior of a few inconsiderate individuals, all passengers end up suffering the consequences.
Historical fact: Royal Caribbean started charging for extra lobster tails in January 2023.
4. Consult a paper daily planner
One thing I absolutely did not like was the elimination of the paper daily planner.
Until a few years ago, you could find the daily planner in the cabin the night before with all the activities, excursions, and schedules for the next day.
Now everything has gone digital and you no longer receive the paper copy. You can look up the daily planner via the app or via a QR code that you can find in the cabin.
One thing I discovered recently is that you can still request the hard copy on some cruise lines.
I always ask for it because I like to have it with me and I like to highlight all the activities I don’t want to miss.
That’s why a highlighter is always on my cruise essentials list!
5. Smoke Anywhere on Board
In the past, smoking was permitted in various locations on cruise ships, including cabins, private balconies, pool decks, and some indoor public areas.
As regulations tighten, smoking areas on cruise ships have been increasingly reduced, and nowadays you can generally only smoke in the casino and some specially marked outdoor areas.
There are two main reasons for this change:
- First to enhance passenger safety, since it was observed that smoking on balconies poses a significant fire risk due to the possibility of improperly discarded cigarette butts.
- Second to increase awareness of the health risks associated with secondhand smoke.
6. Use a Drone
Drones are fairly new electronic devices, and until a few years ago there were no clear rules regarding them.
However, now almost all cruise lines have banned their use unless special permission is granted.
This is due to several concerns that have emerged over the years. For example, the potential for drones to crash into people or ship structures, and privacy concerns because they are usually equipped with cameras.
7. Buy Single-use Plastic Bottles
Similarly to plastic straws, cruise lines are also eliminating single-use plastic bottles.
These steps aim to address the growing concern over plastic pollution in the oceans, which poses a severe threat to marine life and ecosystems.
Norwegian Cruise Line has eliminated them across the fleet, replacing them with JUST Water bottles that are made from recyclable paper cartons with a sugarcane-based plastic cap.
While Princess Cruises has also removed styrofoam and paper napkins.
ALSO READ: Do Cruise Ships Dump Their Waste Into the Ocean?
8. In-Person Emergency Drills
Cruise ship safety protocols are constantly changing. They are updated and verified to ensure the best possible efficiency in the event of an emergency.
Recently, there has been an important change when the cruise lines moved from traditional in-person emergency drills to e-muster drills.
How do they work? E-muster drills allow passengers to complete most of the safety briefing electronically, either through their smartphones or through stateroom TVs.
After completing the video, you simply go to your muster station to familiarize yourself with the location and confirm your participation (they usually scan your cruise card).
That’s it! Much simpler than the emergency drills in large groups.
9. Visit the Bridge
For safety reasons, the access to the bridge is much more limited than it used to be.
After the investigation of the Costa Concordia disaster, it has come to light that there were people on the bridge who were not supposed to be there.
As a result, regulations on this matter have been tightened and now it is very difficult to enter without a preventive permit.
Passengers can usually only enter through organized tours, such as Royal Caribbean’s “all-access” tour.
I recommend it if you want to understand how the ship works from the inside, it is definitely among the extras that are worth the money.
10. Socialize Freely with Crew Members
A while ago I was talking to a seasoned cruise passenger who told me how, many years ago, there was much more confidence and friendship between passengers and crew members.
This atmosphere no longer exists nowadays, and there is always a kind of wall between workers on cruise ships and passengers.
This is not due to changes in the way people socialize but to the actual rules imposed by cruise lines.
In the contract of cruise ship workers, it is expressly required that they maintain a professional attitude at all times and that there is no sentimental or overly friendly approach toward passengers.
BONUS POINT: Attend The Midnight Buffet
I don’t know how many of you remember the midnight buffet, it was a fairly common thing on many cruise ships until a few years ago.
It looks like it has largely been phased out on many cruise lines, and the actual reason for that was never clarified.
I suspect that it is no longer done to reduce costs, but also to reduce food waste.
Consider that, as we saw in the article on the things you should never do at a cruise buffet, many passengers used to fill their plates and then eat very little of what they took.
In addition, it looks like many passengers now prefer smaller, more intimate dining experiences, that’s why a lot of passengers are starting to prefer smaller ships over larger ones.
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