Space on cruise ships is limited, so areas that once were popular are replaced when new ships are designed or current ships enter dry dock.
Areas that used to be standard, like libraries and gamerooms, have not been added to new ships and are being removed from some current ships.
Related: Carnival Cruise Lines shares new gift for loyal VIFP members
It's easy to see why libraries are less relevant. About half of all book reading now takes place via e-books. You still see plenty of physical books on ships, but many people are reading on their phones, tablets and other devices.
In the old days people would borrow a book from the shelves and leave behind one they have read. That became a less pleasant idea during the Covid pandemic and many cruise ships took the books out of their libraries.
That logic applies in gamerooms as well. Passengers used to play board games and card games left on the ship for communal use. Sharing items without sanitizing them is now known not to be a great idea, so some gamerooms have gone away, too.
Another one-time cruise-ship staple has also gone away and some passengers are unhappy.
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Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival no longer offers worship rooms
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald recently answered a question about something that used to be standard on cruise ships.
"Just deciding what ship to book for our anniversary and my wife who is a regular church goer asked if there was a church or prayer room on the ship. If not, why not?" an unidentified passenger asked Heald.
The brand ambassador answered the question honestly.
"Thank you. We do not have a chapel or prayer room on any ship," he wrote. "I think it is safe to say that most people who want to pray do so from the quiet of their own cabin, balcony, or perhaps on the open decks. Prayer accompanied by the sound of the ocean complement each other."
Heald, as is his style, also made a joke.
"Funny isn’t it that while I am answering this question I think of my church days with Mum and Dad and how the wooden pews we sat on were surely designed to maximize the shame of farting in church," he added.
Carnival does generally have events/services for major holidays, and some sailings will include guest-led services, which the cruise lines will accommodate.
Carnival passengers share thoughts on worship space
Many of the more than 300 comments left on Heald's post were pro-prayer but did not see the need for a dedicated space for it.
Sandy Webber was blunt in her assessment.
"Why do you need a chapel to pray? You don’t!" she wrote.
"When I’m out on the deck, I thank God for allowing me to see the beautiful sea," Ray Charlie Ray posted. "Around the quiet ship I constantly speak with the Lord; we do not need to have a organized service. If you want to, that’s up to you. Usually the library is empty. I’m sure they wouldn’t care."
"Funny how I've seen this asked so much about a prayer room on board," Robin Blazer Commins posted. "You do not have to be in church or a prayer room to pray. God is everywhere and he knows what is in your heart no matter where you are at that moment."
Sesaly Gean shared an idea many posters brought up:
"The Serenity deck or a cabin balcony early in the morning would both be exquisite places for prayer. There's something special about the ocean sunrise."
Kim Scott shared a different sentiment.
"I don’t need a prayer room, prayer is with me wherever," she wrote. "What I miss when on a cruise is a group of people gathered together to worship the Lord, to Bible study together, etc.
"But I also realize that with the vast array of denominations and beliefs, that would be pretty difficult to pull together without disagreement arising. Such a shame."
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Others noted that some cruises have exactly that.
"We just got off an 8-day cruise on the Dream," Jennifer Elo wrote. "A fellow passenger organized a church service for those of us who wanted to attend. It was nice, very informal, just a short message by a pastor on board. Great way to start off our week."
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