Things have changed a lot in the cruise industry over the last ten years – some would say for the better, others would say for the worse!
Some changes are improvements, whilst others seem to be simply about cost-cutting. Some are around safety, technology and crowd control.
Repeat cruisers will notice these things most – new cruises will probably assume things have always been this way!
#1. Muster drills are much quicker now
I remember being on my first cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line, lining up with my life jacket on the Promenade deck in the hot sun.
Having our cabin numbers checked off against a paper list, and trying to listen to the crew’s instructions.
I was only eleven when I took my first cruise – I just stood around, did as I was told – but couldn’t wait for it to be over so that I could get on with having some fun!
What has changed:
- Old-style muster drills are less and less common:
- They meant everyone gathered together at a set time.
- Muster stations could be lounges/theatres or outdoor decks
- Musters were often crowded and slow.
- There was a lot of waiting around for latecomers, or passengers who didn’t seem to think that muster rules applied to them!
- Things changed (for the better, in my opinion) after the Covid pandemic, when meeting up in big crowds became something to be discouraged.
- New digital / e-musters are usually the norm:
- Safety info can now be watched digitally on an app or on the cabin TV.
- Guests now check in at the muster station to prove they know where it is situated, in case of emergency.
- It is unusual to stand around in large groups, waiting for others to arrive, as you once did!
An Example – Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian initially returned to traditional muster drills after the pandemic, but following passenger feedback, they reverted to the E-muster system in April 2023.
This e-muster system is widely regarded by most passengers as far more convenient, making embarkation day much smoother.
You can watch the video and report to your muster station when it suits you (within reason) on embarkation day, rather than having to be somewhere at a set time.
I much prefer the e-muster system.
The exact muster process varies from one cruise line to another, but a safety drill is still mandatory for everyone taking a cruise.
Moving to the e-muster system is not an excuse to skip the muster; it is an important part of any cruise.
Find out everything you need to know about mustering here:
Newer cruisers don’t know how good they have it!
It was no fun to be hanging around in hot weather with crowds of people – and trying to get back to your cabin with your life jacket after the muster is over. Everyone was on the stairs or in the corridors – it was so crowded!
#2. Arrival times matter much more than they used to
What has changed:
- Cruise check-ins used to feel more flexible.
- People often arrived when it suited them.
- Now, timed arrival appointments are common.
- It could be that the more loyalty status you have with the cruise line – or the better the cabin you have booked, the earlier your check-in time will be.
- Online check-in is often required before sailing.
- This speeds things up in the cruise terminal.
- Guests may be told to arrive within their assigned time window.
- They are warned that if they arrive earlier, they may have to wait outside the terminal building.
Example cruise line – Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival requires guests to choose an arrival appointment during the online check-in.
Carnival says guests should arrive promptly within that appointment time to reduce waiting times.
This is about crowd control and smoother boarding. Of course, this doesn’t always work – when I arrived punctually to board Carnival Miracle in Lisbon, the whole system seemed to have broken down.
There were huge queues, with people waiting in the hot sun for hours.
That wasn’t the only thing I was disappointed about on this cruise.
To find out why I didn’t enjoy that cruise as much as I had hoped, watch this video next.
Enforcement of boarding times can vary by port, cruise line or sailing.
Some guests with a higher loyalty status or suite guests may have priority boarding and will not be made to wait around.
Not all cruise lines handle embarkation times in the same way.
“I’ll just arrive whenever” is less safe advice now. I would advise you to arrive at your correct check-in time.
Turning up early does not always mean getting onboard earlier. It might just mean more hanging about.
#3. Bringing drinks onboard is more restricted on some lines
Example cruise line – Norwegian Cruise Line
What has changed:
- Some cruisers remember bringing water/soda or soft drinks onboard.
- NCL changed its beverage policy in July 2016.
- Guests are now generally prohibited from bringing beverages onboard.
- This includes water, soda, juice, beer and alcohol
- Exceptions exist for things like wine/champagne (under certain conditions) and water for medical needs/baby formula
- If you bring your own bottle of champagne onboard for a celebration, you will be charged a “corkage fee” – even if you drink it in your own cabin.
- Many lines only charge a corkage fee if you drink your own wine in one of the bars or restaurants.
- If you bring your own bottle of champagne onboard for a celebration, you will be charged a “corkage fee” – even if you drink it in your own cabin.
This is a major disadvantage for people who prefer a specific soft drink.
This rule change is especially relevant for people who used to bring a case of water or soda onboard.
When I cruise with Norwegian, I get a certain number of cans of water as part of my Latitudes loyalty status.
Last time I sailed, I still purchased more onboard. I had free onboard credit to spend, and I was able to share the cans with my family and friends who were sailing with me. It was a really hot cruise!
Not all cruise lines have the same rules on this.
Many allow you to take a certain number of cans of soft drinks on to the ship on the day of embarkation, in your hand luggage.
Others allow you to bring on a bottle of wine or champagne (again, in your hand luggage) and won’t charge you a corkage fee if you drink it in your cabin.
Always check the rules of the cruise line you are sailing with. Things vary a lot between cruise lines.
It is no surprise that alcohol is one of the most regularly confiscated items by cruise lines. Find out what the rest are here:
These Are The 5 Items Most Regularly Confiscated by Cruise Lines
#4. Smoking rules are much tighter
Ships have far tighter rules on smoking now.
What has changed:
- Smoking used to be more common around cruise ships.
- Now, smoking is limited to specific designated areas.
- Casino smoking rules are often more limited than people expect.
- For example, Carnival’s current wording says casino smoking is not allowed unless seated and playing in designated casino smoking areas
- Smoking is not allowed at the casino bar or when the casino is closed
I regularly notice smoking areas on the top decks of the ship, but as smoking has generally decreased and there are fewer smokers onboard, rules about smoking have tightened.
At one time, it was perfectly acceptable for guests to smoke on their own private balconies, very few allow this now.
One place you may still find smokers inside the ship is in the casino.
I have seen many complaints from cruisers about the smell of smoke coming from the casino area, and it was certainly an issue on my last Carnival cruise.
Understandably, cruise lines are keen to keep guests gambling, so many allow smoking – some even provide snacks and free drinks so you have no need to leave the casino at all!
When I recently sailed on Norwegian Epic, I noticed there was a separate area in the casino, behind closed doors, where smoking was allowed.
Some lines still have dedicated “cigar lounges”.
Cunard, for example, styles its cigar lounges with old-world maritime charm to give guests a classic, opulent ocean-liner voyage experience.
Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian also have cigar lounges. I never saw anyone in the cigar lounge on the Norwegian Epic when I recently sailed on her. Maybe it is something cruise lines will get rid of totally in the future.
Find out which cruise lines still allow smoking on private balconies here:
Cruise Line Balcony Smoking Policies – On These Three Lines You Can Still Smoke On The Balcony
One of the reasons that the cruise industry has clamped down on smoking was because of a fire on board the Star Princess in 2006. That was thought to have been started by a discarded cigarette from someone’s balcony.
Find out more about that here:
Example cruise line – Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean used to allow balcony smoking, but since Oct. 2014, it has been banned.
The line had already banned smoking inside cabins.
If a guest violates this stateroom policy, a cleaning fee of $250 USD will be applied to their account and may be subject to further action pursuant to the “Consequences Section” of the Guest Conduct Policy.”
Royal Caribbean International
This basically means guests can be disembarked from the cruise for smoking in their cabin if Royal Caribbean see fit.
Royal Caribbean still allows smoking in designated open-deck areas, nightclubs, and certain areas within the casino and casino bar.
#5. Cabin service rules have changed
Example cruise line – P&O
What has changed:
- Twice-daily cabin service was standard on many mainstream cruises
- This meant a morning clean and an evening turndown – sometimes with chocolates left on the pillow.
- Fresh towels are provided if necessary, and the beds are remade.
- Paperwork and the daily schedule were left in the cabin
- Tea and coffee making facilities were restocked daily.
- P&O moved most non-suite cabins to once-daily service in 2022.
- Guests now only get a morning service – and you might spot your cabin steward working elsewhere on the ship in the evenings.
This is basically just a reduction in included service. Repeat cruisers may notice it, but newer cruisers would never know any different!
I miss the chocolates from the turn-down service the most!
Suites and higher cabin categories may still get twice-daily service.
#6. Dining flexibility is becoming more controlled
Example cruise line – Norwegian Cruise Line
What has changed:
- Cruisers used to expect lots of flexibility in the main dining rooms
- Ordering more than one main course was common
- Norwegian introduced a charge for additional main dining room entrées
- You may be charged $5 for each additional entrées (main course).
- The first entrée is still included
- Extra entrées are now chargeable. Extra starters or desserts/puddings remain free of charge.
This is not the same as main dining room meals becoming chargeable, it is an additional charge if you want extra.
Cruise lines would argue that it is about reducing waste, but it’s also about controlling costs and making savings.
This somehow changes the “try whatever you want” feeling that cruising used to have.
Many other cruise lines haven’t implemented these extra charges – it will be interesting to see whether they follow suit.
Repeat cruisers may have strong opinions on this, but I never order extra courses, so it doesn’t worry me.
I find that Norwegians portion sizes are much bigger than most lines and more than I need, especially for lunch.
I find there is more than enough food for me in the main dining room, and I can always pop to the buffet for a snack later if necessary!
Other changes you might have noticed:
- Cruise line apps now control more of the holiday
- You may be encouraged to use an app for check-in, planning, reservations, and excursions.
- It is not a “rule” but a major procedural change.
- It saves the cruise line time and money if you can organise things online yourselves!
- Dining is more package-based
- Lines such as Norwegian or Princess encourage you to buy a package that includes a certain number of “speciality restaurants” that would otherwise cost extra.
- Think “Free at Sea” on Norwegian or “Princess Plus” on Princess cruises.
- Lines such as Norwegian or Princess encourage you to buy a package that includes a certain number of “speciality restaurants” that would otherwise cost extra.
- Whether Port shuttle buses are included can depend on your fare type
- For example: P&O Select Price vs Early Saver – if you paid the cheaper early saver fare, shuttle buses cost extra. If you paid more for the Select fare, they are included.
- Room service rules have changed
- Many lines offered free room service as standard, but no longer do.
- Even Cunard, which prides itself on providing a luxury cruise experience, now charges for room service after breakfast.
- This change caused outrage among loyal Cunard cruisers!
- Many lines offered free room service as standard, but no longer do.
Find out more about that here:
Cunard Now Charges For Room Service After Breakfast – Price Lists & More
Cruise rules change over time.
Some changes seem to be driven by cost-cutting by the cruise lines. This can make cruising feel less like an “all-inclusive” experience.
Luxury cruise lines like Viking, Oceania, Emerald and to a lesser extent, Azamara have filled the gap for those who would rather pay extra upfront and have everything included.
Other changes, such as the use of apps and e-muster systems, make life easier for cruisers and the cruise line alike.
Many new cruisers are used to using apps and technology in their everyday lives, so using them on cruises is not a problem. Traditional or older cruisers may have more issues with this.
Before You Go
One thing I was sad to see go was the midnight chocolate buffets! I have great childhood memories of staying up late – and eating far too much! Find out more about midnight chocolate buffets here:
Remember Cruise Ship Midnight Chocolate Buffets? Here’s Why They Disappeared
Find out about cruise ship tours that you can take to see behind-the-scenes areas of your ship here:
Cruise Ship Tours That Take You To Areas Most Passengers Never See
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