After the Covid-related cruise industry shutdown both Carnival and Royal Caribbean quietly ended twice-a-day cabin cleaning for interior, ocean-view, and balcony cabins. Suite passengers still get twice-daily housekeeping and guests in regular cabins can still ask for more towels, ice, or whatever they need.
It was a very controversial change as passengers saw it as the cruise line taking something away that had long been a tradition. Some blamed the Carnival (CCL) and Royal Caribbean's (RCL) debt from the shutdown period while others pointed to it as another sign of overall penny-pinching.
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In reality, twice-a-day service was excessive for most passengers. Unless you take a nap during the day and like a fresh be at night, one cleaning should suffice. Some people, of course, shower after their room has been cleaned, but, if they want fresh towels, they can simply ask for them.
Some passengers, however, simply like their cabins to be tidy at all times. That could just be a person who does not like disorder or it may be partly because of the size of the room. When you're sharing a roughly 185-square-foot space with one or more people, keeping it very neat has its advantages.
That idea has led to a controversy that Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald recently addressed on his popular Facebook page.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival passenger raises an interesting issue
Some Carnival passengers have taken matters into their own hands with one key part of cabin housekeeping. Heald shared a message he received from an aggrieved passenger.
"I was certain I was in the majority John but how many other bedmakers sail Carnival? My thinking is I pay good money for a nice stateroom so it should look nice at all times and I can never leave the room unless the bed is made. I am sure the room stewards appreciate us doing this," the passenger shared.
It turned out, that making your bed instead of waiting for the room attendant was actually fairly controversial.
"Yesterday I wrote this on [unnamed website]. I was laughed at and called a freak! Can you save my sanity, John? I have left that group but thought you could ask your fans if they make their bed before leaving the room," the poster added.
Heal shared the question with his followers while also trying to make the original writer feel better.
"Thank you and I am so sorry this happened to you. People can be thoughtless and cruel and you are not 'a freak.' I am sure some will do this, not everyone and it is certainly not expected that you do but let’s see what others have to say," he wrote.
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Carnival passengers share their bedmaking thoughts
Most of the 2,700 people who responded to Heald's post did not make their beds but were kind to people who chose to.
"I would never have even thought of making my bed in a hotel or on a ship. Crazy how different different people are," wrote Amanda Amy Burns Miller "I like the idea of being pampered every once in a while on a ship and letting them make my bed. If some other people don’t feel right with an unmade bed and want to make it, why ridicule them?"
Some passengers don't make the bed for a very different reason.
"Definitely not but I don't make mine every day at home either. But if it makes you happy, then do it, it's your cabin you paid for it. Enjoy," shared Melinda Cosstick.
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Many Carnival passengers did admit to cleaning up after themselves a bit.
"I'm not sure I'd call it making the bed. I pull the covers up and straighten it. The room steward always remakes it as they do a much better job than me," added Georgina Ridley.
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There were a few passengers who both make the bed and make a real effort to keep their cabins tidy.
"Yes, always, and also we put away our iPads, books, or anything else that may be lying about, we like to keep the room as neat as possible, we think it makes it easy to clean, also this is a small living space, so why would we want to look like a hurricane happened in there? We’ve walked by some staterooms and it looks like a disaster, we feel sorry for the room stewards who have to clean this mess," wrote Sharon Hagele.
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