The cruise industry 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 and 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
All cruise lines are doing a lot to reduce their environmental impact, and one thing that many 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 some cruise ships (especially in Europe).
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.”
As Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald said, it’s fine if you do it on your private balcony while enjoying your morning coffee and your neighbors can’t see you. However, remember that the officers on the bridge can see it all.
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, some 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 that and ordered an exorbitant amount of food (often even wasting it).
For that reason, cruise lines are now much more stringent, and they 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.
CRUISE PRO: Royal Caribbean started charging for extra lobster tails in January 2023. You are definitely lucky if you went on a cruise before that date!
4. Consult a Paper Daily Planner
One thing I really didn’t like was the removal of the paper daily planner. A few years ago, you’d find it waiting in your cabin each night, listing all the activities, excursions, and schedules for the next day.
Now everything has gone digital, and you no longer receive paper copies. 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.
CRUISE PRO: Currently, Costa Cruises is the only major cruise line that still allows smoking on private balconies.
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 you have special permission.
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 water bottles that are made from recyclable paper cartons with a sugarcane-based plastic cap.
2025 UPDATE: As you can see from the photo below now, NCL has also started using metal bottles. I don’t know by what criteria and on which ships, but it seems that they are testing different alternatives.
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 monitored to ensure the best possible efficiency in the event of an emergency.
One of the biggest changes in recent years has been the shift 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 go to your muster station to familiarize yourself with the location and confirm your participation (they usually scan your cruise card). It’s a much quicker and more convenient process compared to the old-school drills.
In addition, you can check the specific articles with the 7 Big Changes Coming to Carnival in 2025 and the 7 Big Changes Coming to Royal Caribbean in 2025.
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 it is now 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 that 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’s 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: The Midnight Buffet
How many of you remember the midnight buffet? It used to be a common feature on many cruise ships just a few years ago.
But lately, it seems to have quietly disappeared from most cruise lines. No official reason was ever given, but I have a pretty good guess—it likely comes down to cost-cutting and reducing food waste.
As we mentioned in the article about things you should never do at a cruise buffet, many passengers used to fill their plates and then barely eat half of what they took.
In addition, it looks like many passengers now prefer smaller, more intimate dining experiences. We will probably never see the midnight buffet again, but have you checked the 7 Things Cruise Lines Don’t Want You to Know?
I have tried several of them but these are the most durable and sturdy.
