Cruise ships are constantly getting bigger and more lavish. Today, the biggest ships are twice as big as they were in 2000.
The world’s largest ship, the Icon of the Seas, is five times bigger than the Titanic and can carry more than 5,000 guests and 2,300 crew.
To keep them at the highest standard, all ships undergo periodic maintenance and safety inspections every five years, during which time the refurbishing of existing components typically also occurs.
It is very much a case of out with the old and in with the new, as space is limited, even on these mega-ships.
Those decisions can be tough because many cruisers like things to stay the same even if they no longer use parts of the ship as much as they once did.
Royal Caribbean, for example, decided to remove libraries from some ships as many people now choose to read books on their phones or other devices, so the small selection of books for passengers to borrow no longer fills a need.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line no longer offer internet lounges, where you can borrow a computer and buy internet by the minute or hour. Those spaces may have been converted into business centres or been repurposed entirely.
Cigar lounges on cruise ships are also long gone, while escape rooms, which barely existed 10 years ago, have become common.
However, these changes are not always welcome. However, Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald recently responded to an angry passenger about one area that has quietly been removed from most Carnival ships.
“I am shocked that Carnival Cruise Line has taken away the chapel from their ships,” an unidentified passenger wrote, The Street reported.
“You have taken away time spent with God and replaced it with games in the arcade. Every new ship you are building now should have a chapel.”
Heald did not directly respond to the question about chapels. Instead, he asked his followers to share their opinions. It revealed that most passengers don’t need a dedicated chapel.
“I’ve never used the chapel on a ship but I’d think there would be many places to find peace and pray. I have never used the game room, but my kids love it,” posted Lisa Beary Fuhremann.
However, some did say they missed a dedicated space: “I am not an overly religious person, but I liked the feel of the chapel, and I wished it was available to passengers,” wrote Jodi Tartick.
“A connection with God is, unfortunately, what’s missing in a lot of lives who could benefit greatly from that connection. They were never that large, so they really didn’t take up that much space.”
“Carnival respects our guests’ religious beliefs and invites them to practice on their own or with other members of their group,” the cruise line says on its website. “However, we do not place clergy on board our ships.”
However, it sometimes offers services if clergy are on board: “Clergy travelling as guests onboard our ships are welcome to volunteer to conduct services while sailing”.
