Cruise passengers know when their favorite cruise line cuts back on service, amenities, and onboard services. Both Royal Caribbean (RCL) and Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) , for example, cut back cabin service from twice a day to once, after the Covid pandemic.
That was seen as both companies taking away something that had been the standard for cruise passengers for decades. Many passengers saw the move as an insult, especially given that prices for cruises have been rising to levels above what they cost in 2019.
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Many cruise line passengers like to complain about things not being the way they used to be. That's true, but it's not happening because the industry has some grand plan to screw over passengers nor is it the companies trying to make up their losses from Covid.
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Cruise lines want to make money, but they also want to keep their passengers happy. Sometimes that means taking one thing away so they can spend money in another place.
In most cases, however, cruise lines won't tell you why they made a change. That's something Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald corrected when he addressed why his cruise line won't be bringing back something passengers keep asking for.
Image source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment
Carnival Cruise Line dropped a passenger favorite
Heald shared a message he received with his Facebook followers.
"Diamond/Platinum cruisers on ------- Facebook page want the chocolate pieces back on the pillows again. It was a nice memory of the cruise. I am always very disappointed to come home without them," he shared.
Carnival used to leave chocolate pieces on its pillows as a loyalty program perk, but it stopped doing that years ago. Heald shared a number of reasons for the change.
"Whenever I get asked if we will start putting pieces of chocolate on the cabin pillows again. I always answer with the same two responses," he shared.
One is a budget issue, the other is more about appearances.
"We stopped this many years ago, and the savings paid for the introduction of Guy’s Burgers across the fleet," Heald wrote. "Secondly, when guests would spill or crush a little bit of chocolate on the bed and the more they would try to explain that it was melted chocolate to the cabin attendants, the more it seemed to them that it was not chocolate."
Most passengers seem to understand why the cruise line made the move.
"I can (and do) bring my own dark chocolate on board. Being able to have a Guy’s Burger every day is well worth not having a piece of chocolate on my pillow," posted Betsy Robbins.
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These cruise lines offer chocolates
While neither Royal Caribbean nor Carnival's signature brands offer chocolates on your pillow each night, they do own brands that do.
Celebrity Cruises offers company-branded chocolate on passengers' pillows each night. It's not a loyalty perk, as it's offered to every person onboard.
Holland America, a Carnival-owned brand, has recently upped its nighttime chocolate game. The cruise line has partnered with Lindt & Sprüngli (USA), the makers of Lindor truffles and the No. 1 premium chocolate brand in the US.
The partnership will include chocolates being left on passenger's pillows on select occasions.
"With Holland America Line, every journey is an opportunity to create lasting memories. As night falls on Gala Night, guests can retreat to the comfort of their cabin and be greeted by the 'Sweet Dreams' turndown service, featuring the irresistibly smooth Lindt Lindor milk chocolate truffles or Sea Salt milk chocolate truffles once per cruise," according to a press release.
There will also be other opportunities for chocolate fans to indulge on their cruise.
"Guests can savor the journey on board and indulge in special moments with Lindt chocolate desserts, including a signature tulip-shaped Lindt chocolate mousse cake," the cruise line shared. "...Beginning summer 2024, guests will be able to enjoy a Lindt Sundae including vanilla ice cream topped with a custom-made Lindt chocolate sauce, as well as Lindt chocolate tulips one night per cruise in the dining room on the Dutch Day dinner menu."
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The partnership will also include a gluten-free option.
"In July 2024 – just in time for World Chocolate Day – Holland America Line will unveil a unique and irresistible Lindt Flourless Chocolate Cake collaborated in partnership with Lindt’s Master Chocolatier, Ann Czaja. The cake will be available on the Dining Room menu for cruises over seven days and will be featured during its indulgent ‘Cake Me Away’ program," the cruise line shared.
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