12 Things NOT Found on Cruises Anymore... That We Want Back!

[@LifeWellCruised]

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[@NicholasPyers]

The biggest thing I miss are a Smaller to Medium Ships that had no more than 3,000 passengers... the mega ships are just far to big!

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I know what you mean. The pool deck on any of Royal’s Oasis class ships during sea days is utter chaos. You’re crammed in so tight it’s insane.

[@amandaregis313]

We began cruising last June on Holland America's MS Volendam. It was a most relaxing and enjoyable first-timer's experience.

[@MiaHessMusic]

Me too

[@chrisandsoforth319]

Mega ships aren't quite yet the norm. They're still the exception. Which is not to say that appetites aren't clearly skewing more toward the ship being the destination and bigger generally being considered better (writing this reply aboard Wonder of the Seas at the moment) 🛳. However, Royal Caribbean obviously realizes the limitations presented by oversized vessels and that their smaller inventory are now the oldest in the fleet. So, they're currently designing a new class of vessels supposedly known as the "Discovery" which would help fill the gap left once their older, sub-100 ton fleet is finally retired... or sold off to Margaritaville at Sea, God rest their souls.

[@stacysworld2020]

I like the dining room experience on the ship but not every night. Usually just go for elegant night. We just got off of Carnival Jubilee, and the options were dining room and two specialty restaurants included over the 7 days. Loved all the choices, plus the buffet had a lot of the same choices as dining room most nights.

[@susanazana535]

I'm old school and love paper planners! Highlighters too! 😊

[@brileygabriel4949]

I used to collect them for my personal cruise scrap book.. Miss em..

[@CherylLierow]

The best part of cruising is coffee and fruit at 6:00 AM. My husband sleeps in and I am awake. Cruise line robe, soft knock on the door, coffee tray to the balcony and a book.

[@lauramathys2131]

Chocolate buffet, YES! A cruise is a luxury indulgence and nothing says indulgence like chocolate.

[@RoselynGoulet]

@@lauramathys2131 good but a killer and much waste ! People take then don’t eat! Wasteful!

[@loribarber4526]

I read the paper planner every night.

[@LifeWellCruised]

We sound the same 😊

[@cherylhaynes9045]

I do the same

[@VickiDean-md4ku]

Same and I bring a highlighter to highlight everything we want to do the next day so we don’t miss any of the excitement!

[@creativeinfusion6570]

Oceania still puts the paper daily plan in your room every night.

[@georgiam7723]

I highlight while I also use the app. I feel like we will miss something if I don’t do both. lol

[@RC-bv7hw]

I miss the ice sculptures, when I was young I remember my dad making such a big deal over them so not seeing them today robs me of reliving a memory with my dad.

[@LindaStone-y8q]

I miss the baked Alaska parades. In the main dining room, they would dim the lights and the servers would enter in a long line holding up the flaming baked Alaskas

[@cafsixtieslover]

Have they stopped doing these? I haven't come across them the last few years.

[@morgankWyatt]

They still did that on the Princess. It's been at least six year since we've been on the cruise.

[@emilyalcorn3547]

Totally LOVED the baked Alaska parade… haven’t seen it for years…❤ Yes, bring it back!

[@valatchison1126]

Now, they just serve it ready-to-eat. Was hard to describe how special the presentation used to be to first-time cruisers last week. They didn't get that experience.

[@bluemountain555]

On Princess, they still do that but only with a artificial light on the Baked Alaska and not a real flame.

[@dumajo6]

Paper planners are easy to use and enjoyable. It would be nice to have 1 midnight buffet on a 7 day cruise. Early riser, so Room Service is a must!!

[@belkiscatalfamo2916]

Paper planner is great as I don’t even want to look at a phone in a cruise

[@ijshapiro8385]

i always ask my room steward for one

[@chrismalkemus4893]

Paper planner!

[@Lovesapuzzle]

I hate that everything relies on a phone.

[@anitaclue9868]

@@Lovesapuzzle DITTO!!!! I espies having it on me for the chat function.lol 😅

[@sheritapressley1634]

I had the app and added things on there but still looked at the paper planner more.

[@ScreamingEagleSid]

When we cruise, we want to be pampered! This is one of the great reasons why we love cruises!

[@qfjoeqfjoe]

Pamper = dollars. Maybe book a suite rather than just a balcony or interior room

[@detect7]

LOL my wife asked me if we should opt for the once a day cabin service. I replied no I want to be pampered when Im on a cruise.

[@meddyven]

If you can't get pampered in a balcony, sheesh. Give passengers the pomp and circumstance they expect.

[@tanikokishimoto1604]

I don't find a second housekeeping detail per day to be pampering. I simply consider it intrusive.

[@mattrost2574]

I'm elderly and remember the days when cruising was a very high-priced luxury. And you received 5-star service from everyone. Now, cruising is like being trapped in a floating Holiday Inn with groups of obnoxious, self-entitled "kids". I know there are cruise lines that offer upper-end luxury sailings for an adult crowd. But it very abbreviated from the services once offered. Remember heated blankets when flying first class? It was that sort of luxury.

[@schwan44]

@@mattrost2574 I like that it’s affordable for more people. Who needs a heated blanket? I’d rather everyone get a regular blanked for a reasonable price. Try cruise lines like Holland America. None of the kids you describe, only a few kids who appreciate the kind of laid back athmosphere.

[@wendio5437]

I’m a totally digital girl, but the paper planner is easier to read than the long list on your phone that requires continuous scrolling. I do use both, but if I had to choose, I would choose paper planners over digital. My cabin NEVER needs cleaning, but I do love the bathroom clean up once a day, but do like the bed turndown. It makes you feel like you are at a luxury hotel, something most of us never have anywhere else. My husband loved the sharing table, but I don’t.

[@DrixxMadison]

Fully agree but my LEAST favorite part is the bed turndown service. 😆 My feet get hot & now twice a day I have to undo the top sheet tucked in to what I assume surpasses military standards. I also don't like my room door being wide open while they work, I have pricey gear for work. I used to hate the shared Main Dining tables but they force me out of being anti-social so there's that & we always wave when we see our dinner-mates around the ship. 👍🏼

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@wendio5437 very relatable - do we have the same husband 😂

[@keyman6689]

I agree. I like the digital planner and being able to put events in "my calendar." But scrolling through everything to search and plan is cumbersome. It's much easier to glance at and peruse a paper planner. Both for me, too!

[@gloriabowie5629]

I agree with everything she said

[@deborahharris2247]

I like the paper planner over the digital

[@jaymcvey3471]

I wish that they would bring back SMALLER ships.

[@stuartlee6622]

I wouldn't consider going on those behemoths. Those monstrosity are horrible.

[@jasonblaise6786]

What’s your idea of a smaller ship. Give some examples

[@bethsimpson1916]

We're Celebrity cruisers. We still have paper planners in our cabin, cabin service twice daily and yes, chocolates on our pillows at night. There have certainly been other cutbacks just like other cruise lines but these remaining touches make cruising such a treat.

[@nikkismuhar9171]

A chocolate on the pillow in the evening is definitely missed

[@schwan44]

We asked our cabin stewards. They said they couldn’t promise, they’d have to check what was available, but we did have a chocolate on the pillow every night after that.

[@breadroomghost8764]

Holland America still does chocolates

[@nataliag5736]

Cunard and Celebrity do it too

[@schwan44]

@@nikkismuhar9171 Ask your cabin steward and see what they can do. Put in your evaluation at the end that you missied the chocolates a lot, or praise your cabin steward that they were able to get them for you.

[@alisonpayne5737]

Towel animals are a deal breaker. They warm my hart and make me smile. Brings out the child in me.

[@stalagnight]

I hate people messing with my towels. All that handling then used on my body. Yuk.

[@alisonpayne5737]

My cabin towels were never used for the animals. They are not meant to be used on your body.

[@bethdavis6863]

I miss robes in the cabin, chocolates on the pillows, and the days when it seemed like any crew member you saw remembered your name.

[@Patricia-zv5mj]

On Carnival you can ask for a robe if there isn’t one in your cabin.

[@morgankWyatt]

Smaller cruise ships and they can remember your name.

[@lilliantrujillo7019]

I prefer paper planners, and I miss the chocolate on the pillow every night.😔

[@ochay3232]

I still have a Carnival pillow chocolate from our first cruise in 2006, LOL.

[@breadroomghost8764]

Holland America still does chocolate

[@willasartin6658]

I miss the chocolates on my pillow, I love the tables for eight or ten. Room service was always a treat.

[@nataliag5736]

Cunard and Celebrity still do a chocolate on the pillow.

[@janelee1597]

Paper planner definitely

[@LifeWellCruised]

🙌🙌🙌

[@maryannbonaminio7273]

Towel animals! I want them! Paper planners yes! 🛳️🚢🌴🛫😂

[@LifeWellCruised]

lol a fun part of cruising

[@Nancy-w6f]

I miss the ice sculptures and fruit that was carved on the buffet.

[@lindar.5831]

1. Free room service 2. Midnight buffet 3. Table cloths on carnival cruises 4. Paper planner of daily activities 5. Unlimited lobster tails 6. Royal Caribbean classic menu 7. Twice a day cabin services 8. Towel animals 9. Better/more staffing 10. Big tables in the main dining room 11. All included restaurants, including specialty dining 12. Ice sculptures 13. Cold soups

[@user-yj3ob9kd3l]

Wrapped chocolate on the pillow. Also, back in the day, Royal Viking had full cooked breakfast room service included.

[@breadroomghost8764]

You can ask for twice daily room tidying, after all your room steward has nothing else to do

[@jimwisnieski6355]

Lobster 🦞 Lobster 🦞 Paper Planner

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@jimwisnieski6355 🦞👏🛳️

[@parzifalus]

My wife and I just completed our second cruise, 25 days on the Queen Elizabeth from San Francisco to Sydney Australia. We had free 24 hour room service, paper daily schedules, tablecloths, twice-daily cabin cleanup, and a choice of size table we wanted as our fixed evening dining staff and companions. Wanted to say thank you for your videos, lots of useful tips that helped make our voyage more enjoyable.

[@merissaclark]

I am going on Queen Elizabeth next weekend with my Mum for our first cruise. Looking forward to it.

[@angelikahoffer9865]

@parzifalus my 90 year old friend Dave was on the same cruise😂

[@nataliag5736]

Queen Elizabeth is beautiful ship!

[@lisabryant4157]

Paper planers! I loved the twice a day housekeeping. It just made it seem special.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Yes!!!

[@mandysellen1476]

I've just come back from a 7 day cruise on Carnival and I have to say we had everything we needed! We had paper planners each night, we also had a late night pizza bar until 3am! Towel animals every day, different ones every day, nothing was too much trouble for the staff....

[@danniedanielle8157]

Same - and I also could care less about having table cloths. They get dirty so easily and I find them gross.

[@tammywhiddon3088]

captians night. dressing up and seeing all the gorgeous dresses and dress coats. felt like a magical nite as we dont do that in our normal days

[@betsybaldwin4342]

Dress up nights when people so elegant

[@evangewho56]

Go to Kinard, if there is still the same, and you don’t dress up elegantly on formal night, they don’t let you use a lot of public rooms just the garden room

[@breadroomghost8764]

Formal night is ok but it’s so much more luggage to pack I’d rather not

[@cafsixtieslover]

Cunard - a lot of people dress up every night.

[@andreajacksonmccrimmon7224]

A big yes to the paper planner My highlighter is packed and ready!😊

[@janicestewart7546]

Love the paper planner---much easier to read then flipping lots of pages on your phone! Bring back old menus! Love towel animals!

[@melissaolsen2352]

We read the paper planner every night and highlight what we want to do the next day! More lobster please! Yes! I’d love to see a midnight buffet one night of the cruise!

[@RoselynGoulet]

@@melissaolsen2352 But people have to stop being gluttons and taking tons and leaving most for garbage/ disposable

[@DenisetonioSantos]

I love the paper planner. And I still use a marker.

[@andreaschiltz1915]

Paper planners, twice a day room service, ice and fruit carving, midnight buffet they were do beautiful and fun.

[@cdstark116]

On a practical level, free room service. On just a fun level, towel animals. I loved coming back to our cabin and seeing those!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Yes those were fun!

[@deedeemeares-elliott5859]

My first cruise was 50 years ago and i miss everything you’ve mentioned. I love having a paper planner and request one every time. I ask for a towel animal every day on a cruise; i miss sitting at a big table with other people…i have requested it my last 3 cruises and we just don’t get it. I miss cold soup and i miss turn down service. In the old days they would have one midnight buffet that was all desserts and was so elaborate, they would let the crowd in to take pictures before anyone could eat anything. It was beautiful and worth staying up for! I miss the “getting soiled rotten” experience of the old days. We still cruise but it was better before. Not a fan of the specialty restaurants either!

[@RoslynMoore-c3q]

I so agree. I think we were spoiled, and l so miss the experience.

[@barbarawhitecotton9548]

Yes, Miss all the things that made cruising so special. We’ve been cruising since 1982 and loved being treated special. Main thing I miss most is tablecloths. Loved the midnight buffet but understand why it ended because there was so much waste of food. We love large tables and meeting new people in the dining room and getting to know them.

[@ellenchristian6602]

I just spent 10 days on NCL. I missed the cabin Stewart good service, being able to get food after 9:30. The towel animals. And most of all good service in the dining room and not feel like you are being rushed to eat your food. Great Customer service is truly missing on the ships, now.

[@jennyslavis375]

We spent 10 days on NCL , the disabled room so dirty , dirty air circulating .I was sick for almost 2 months. Miss the towel animals.

[@deborahrachwal8340]

Our last NCL was a 12 day and although our steward was great, he was in charge of 22 cabins!! That is a lot to ask of 1 person 👎🏼

[@meddyven]

I have to say, my MDR crew was fabulous on my May cruise on Royal Caribbean. The Head and Asst. Waiters were veterans of several RCL ships, and it showed. They knew what I wanted, without asking; were super fast in delivering food to my table, and never was I rushed.

[@theresasearight200]

@@jennyslavis375 we did 10 days on NCL the food was awful service terrible. Was sick for 3 weeks when i got home. Will never cruise with them again.

[@tammypitarch]

Love turn down service!

[@scubadave48]

Absolutely the paper planner

[@raisafrancisco7323]

I LOVE my paper planners! I always request them because it helps me plan better, mark what I want to do with a pen or highlighter. I take them with me everywhere. I also love towel animals and I even collect them in a corner of my cabin. When organizing my pictures havin 1, 2, or 3 of them helps me differentiate the days on my cruise.

[@meddyven]

I've never heard another cruiser say that, about keeping the towel animals, like that each day. This is why cruising is so much fun, hearing the myriad of ways each of us find joy. Bravo!

[@KarenFresh-n4j]

There used to be tickets for participating in ship activities. At the end you could turn them in for cruise swag.

[@DrixxMadison]

They still had that on the older ship Celebrity Eclipse last Dec. 👍🏼

[@brendaevans9981]

Paper planners, YES

[@jeannettehill6155]

You mentioned many of the things I miss - ice sculptures, daily towel animals, included lobster tails - but the one I miss the most is live classical music! 🎶

[@deborahely3274]

Paper planners are very welcome

[@lucretialaviacheatham1115]

I love the paper planner. It makes me feel special when I have my bed turned down for me. We usually have several of us and we do late night dining and all sit together. That way we can share our excursions and what we did through the day.

[@richardfamily1324]

We love the paper planner. We each mark activities that we'd love to do. We can then go together or on our own. Always know how to find each other.

[@NicholasPyers]

Never been on a cruise that served a Midnight Buffet... but I love the sound of it been a special event one evening... especially on longer cruises... maybe the night BEFORE a Sea Day or if you have 2 or more Sea Days in a row, make a huge event of the Midnight Buffet (even if it starts at say 10:00pm or 11:00pm and finishes at 12:30pm)... put on an extra late show finishes just as the "Midnight Buffet" opens or have entertainment in the main Piazza that plays during the Buffet. And yes a massive Chocolate/Dessert Buffet would also be a highlight once on a cruise

[@darylfarmer5411]

YOU ARE MISSING OUT AND THE ICE SCULPTURES they would cut the ice on pool deck as a show pic then later use it at one of the food places very talented people im sorry you never seen that it was a sight to see

[@catherineklein1808]

Definitely the paper planners

[@trinahunt9179]

I prefer the paper planners. Surprisingly, I found that it had more information than the app. Once a day housekeeping is fine with me. Free room service is a must, especially in the morning. I want towel animals! I can understand limiting lobster tails, but a limit of 2 would be great. Definitely more staff, they work very hard

[@meddyven]

I agree with your take on up to two lobster tails. With all the other delish food and entrees, it's already having a 4/5 course meal. Indulge in all the flavors. The best of everything!

[@kendrawhittaker193]

Prefer our own table

[@jaengen]

We insist on it.

[@karenjensen2345]

Absolutely

[@yvonneedun543]

I love the paper planners and towel animals!

[@Ms_StaceyLynn]

I miss room cleaning twice a day with turn-down service. Turn-down service is one of the things I enjoyed the most about cruising.

[@belkiscatalfamo2916]

Definitely tablecloth

[@michelletogher4058]

I miss them all! I love sitting in bed at night looking at the planner ,and the 🦞’s. Just make a cruise fella super special! What, I can get another lobster 🦞!! Loved it!

[@lyramidsummer5508]

Just been on Cunard's Queen Anne, I can confirm we had paper planners, free room service, nightly chocolate, robes and slippers, midnight buffet, twice a day housekeeping and kettle in room to make tea, coffee. This was an inside cabin too.

[@gregblair5139]

There should be a kettle in the cabin. They don't want you to bring your own, but one that they supply should not be an issue. They seem to have such a thing in most land based hotel rooms.

[@bob2cleo2]

Ordering 4, 5 or 6 lobsters is probably why people can't have nice things anymore.

[@karenjensen2345]

I have no issues with a 1 lobster limit but have good lobster.🦞

[@bob2cleo2]

@@karenjensen2345 agree, but quality isn't possible when greedy people overdo. Sad for the rest of us.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@bob2cleo2 lol maybe

[@morgankWyatt]

I was always surprised when people sitting at our table would order two or three entrees just to taste it, leaving most of the food.

[@josephjohnson8360]

Love the unlimited lobster tail and the paper planner also the classic menu

[@LifeWellCruised]

🙌🙌

[@SherryDavis-h8k]

I absolutely my paper planner! I always have to ask for one but usually from then on I do get one on my bed every night after that.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Oh, that’s nice! I’m glad they provide one!

[@Mstersh-f3o]

I’ve been cruising for 50+ years (yes, I started young) and I wish cruising now was the same as it was back then! The food was better, more like a 5* restaurant, passengers were dressed nicer and behaved better. The cruise lines wanted to bring the experience to the masses, and that’s what they got, the masses! There are still smaller ships sailing many routes that give you the 5* experience, although priced higher. But you get what you pay for, I suppose. I definitely use the paper planners! And my favorite spot to relax was the promenade deck sitting in the shade. Nowadays on most ships, that area is used for some sort of retail outlet. I guess I long for the good old days, but I’d still recommend cruising as a relaxing vacation.

[@DrixxMadison]

I miss the numerous soft serve machines in the buffet! Highlight of my childhood. Had to march out past the pool & stand in line with wet kids on my last cruise. 😭

[@rosshageman951]

Yes to the towel animals and yes to the paper planner. I keep the paper planners and make a scrapbook with them. But the biggest YES is to more staff. On our last cruise we saw a staffer at every meal and I asked her if she ever slept. Definitely need more staff and if the cruise fairs rise, so be it.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Yes, agree

[@GNida-bw2ti]

I enjoy paper planners, table for 2, included lobster dinners, bedtime turndown and free room service. I love the dark chocolates each night. More of that would be great!😂

[@TerriCarper]

Royal Caribbean Yes Bring Back The Classic!

[@roseannsmith9477]

1. I love a paper planner. 2.I'm good with once a day room cleaning 3. We always travel with a group and like our own dinner table, but at lunch when we eat in the dining room, I love eating with people I don't know and learn about them. 4. Don't need midnight biuffet, as long as there is a spot to get a snack at night.

[@dolphinbubs]

Loved the paper planners on Norwegian each evening to puruse for the next day!

[@michelehalliday2832]

I use both the digital and paper planner. The paper planner is easier to use to plan activities ahead. I like twice a day room service.

[@kathleenbihn1814]

I also miss the paper planner. Lobster is a favorite meal. Stop cutting back! Staff, especially at bars are sooo busy. They don’t have enough time to think much less talk. I love coming back to our cabin seeing it all neat & clean with low lighting & maybe a cute towel or a chocolate on the bed waiting for us. That’s just deluxe! Little things add up & make the whole cruise more enjoyable & worth repeating

[@jonc3903]

Yes! I miss the midnight buffet!!!!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

🙌🙌

[@brendabott2863]

Just got off Icon of the seas like 3 weeks ago. We had two Royal nights and were invited to order as many lobster tails as we would like and every day there were fruit and or ice carvings in the buffet . Our cabin Stewart left us towel animals like 5 days but I did ask him for them ..I told him we don’t need fresh towels daily and he was welcome to reuse the towels..which is exactly what he did, gave us a huge smile every day.

[@BellevueBarkhouse]

I miss paper planners and towel animals. AND late night buffet!!!

[@Irish37]

Oh good; I'm not the only one who misses the cold soups. In the past, I've had wonderful cold soups like vichyssoise, cold English cucumber soup, cold pumpkin soup. I don't know why they discontinued them. Cold soups in general might be a food fad, but vichyssoise is a classic, like filet mignon, Chateaubriand, escargot, and caviar. They need to bring it back.

[@angiecarroll6489]

Definitely want free room service! Love cold soups!

[@jenelleprins5306]

I loved the shared tables. Even though there was a vast difference in the ages of the people at the table, but we had the best time. We laughed ourselves silly every night. I hope that never ends.

[@RichardBoortzMarx]

Yes to paper planner - on the fence turn down - table clothe yes. Shared table is nice. 😊

[@JanetTimberg]

Hi there - cruising has certainly changed I agree! I love the paper planner - can't do without it! I ask for 2 every day - 1 to leave in the room &1 2 use around the ship! I don't need towel animals - cute as they are - & I don't need the steward to do my cabin every day - they have enough 2do with all the other people who expect all that! I do every thing myself & just get fresh towels etc! Then all is safe inside & I have what I want there - not what they think I should have!! I think it's nice to have a small late night food pantry as I can often miss dinner at the usual times - especially if I want to see a show twice - then eat after that - &feeling a bit more relaxed! I think the cabin bathrooms are way way far too small so I often in the past used the public spaces in the spa area; much larger & more comfortable to use! Now I find these rarely exist & u hav2pay a daily fee - again way too expensive! On a recent cruise in Australia the cost was $189pd! How ridiculous!! Bring these areas back please!!! & And I also like smaller cruise ships that's for sure! All those added silly extras extravaganzas ships have now days - what for?? And NotForMe!! (Thanks for the videos though - love watch ing them)! Janet.xx

[@Jazoom2]

I would like both paper and app. I was looking foward to skeet learned it went away in 80s

[@mklein9657]

I always looked forward to coming into our stateroom at the end of the evening with the paper planner for the next day.

[@stevebyrne5048]

Love sharing tables with other people meeting people from all different places.

[@meddyven]

This is one of my favorite activities during the cruise. My cruise in May, I met 2 families and two couples, who I had great conversationns with, either during breakfast or at my table during dinner. Meeting new people is fascinating, and an enjoyable experience.

[@bigfamilyexpedition]

I remember the midnight chocolate buffet and ice sculptures! Fun times! ❤😊

[@ginnyanderson4892]

I love towel animals

[@Sailor3598]

I'll go way back to the 70's! I miss the masquerade parties, passenger talent contest, skeet shooting, and probably better gone (but I still miss it) the streamers & confetti at sail aways!!

[@mmmallory1649]

I miss everything that you mentioned with one exception, that of dining with others. We enjoy talking with others but only when our table is next to someone where we don't feel obligated to enter into a discussion or continue a discussion the entire meal. Thank you for your tips also.

[@LifeWellCruised]

@@mmmallory1649 that’s a great point :)

[@AlexP253]

Social grace/etiquette!!!! Please bring that back. Was on Navigator, large table is seasoned cruisers…we mentioned the old days of cold soups. We absolutely didn’t ask to have them, just wondered what happened. The next night - mango soup. The following night-strawberry soup! Only for our table. I’m definitely loyal to Royal.

[@nancyruckman5875]

Yes, yes, yes on the fruit soups! So refreshing especially on a warm weather cruise! Yes also on a paper planner. I'll be on the Sun Princess in 3 days for a 2 week cruise and I sure hope they still have the Princess Patter! My highlighter is ready to go! As for ice sculptures, when I was a teenage, I recall the cruise ship lifting an iceberg from the Alaskan waters and the carver went to work. His masterpiece was on display at the midnight buffet! Ah, the memories.

[@betsy6046]

We had an amazing apricot soup on a HAL cruise several years ago and it was amazing. I even asked for and received the recipe

[@TechGirl84]

I’ve only been on one cruise (Royal Caribbean), but there were no ice sculptures. But what they did have were watermelon carvings! They were so elaborate, I loved them!

[@PeterRinn-x5h]

Love paper planner

[@writern5389]

Midnight buffet - and the chocolate one!!

[@catthompson1828]

Cold soups, paper planners, and turn down service = delightful keepers!

[@LifeWellCruised]

lol love that

[@pammillerhoward7785]

We have had all three in last three years on Princess... But i hope they don't change! Princess has MDR lobster one night( limit one)

[@jennifer_loves_8766]

I miss the robes in the rooms all rooms interior too use to have robes for each passenger 😢... I would prefer to eat dinner with just the people I am traveling with 😢...

[@harborspringsgirl]

I’ve been cruising a long time and I do miss a lot of things: paper daily planners, midnight buffet, and I’ve noticed lately that even the dining room isn’t the quality it used to be although they did have lobster for charge one night. A couple specialty restaurants and those were phenomenal so I think more and more we plan on doing that and yes, I do miss the big tables!!! I love to talk to people, and my husband is not much of a talker so it can get a little boring during meals. I love him to pieces, but I’d like other people to talk to sometimes. I think animals are cute. We had to during the week on our last cruise, but it’s not the most important thing to me and our kids are all grown. Thanks, Ilana.

[@margretkowalczyk4162]

Celebrity had an awesome brunch on a sea day... Amazing food with spectacular presentation ...

[@nataliag5736]

I found that Celebrities brunch buffet much much better than any buffet dinner. Unfortunately it not for me, as I didn’t like eat much during lunch time.

[@lynowen4733]

I’m with you on the paper daily planner!

[@dawnl4127]

On the paper planner, I think *both* should be made available, but I think it could be something that you could request in advance before the cruise or even on embarkation day (like those forms they give you that ask you for your daily preferences ...ice, turn-down service, etc.)

[@lauraoliver7238]

Sounds like a quick, easy fix to me 😉

[@scarstater]

Was on the Queen Mary in May. Was better than our first Celebrity cruise 25 years ago.

[@Kingdomgirllife]

I like the paper planner. It’s easier to use than an app.

[@AlienFrequency]

Cold soups and towel animals for the win. I was on Carnival a few months ago. We still got towel animals every day, but I do seem to recall fewer cold soup options. They were still there though.

[@pw-sz6ds]

I wouldn’t cruise as much if I had to sit with strangers during meal times. I enjoy spending time with the family I know, sharing like minded thoughts and creating memories of fun and relaxation.

[@annastory349]

I don't think I would cruise at all if I had to sit with strangers!

[@lauraoliver7238]

We chose on our last cruise to share a table. There were 6 in our party, and they sat us with a few ladies and one's teen daughter (we had a teen too), and it was really enjoyable. But again, I don't think we were required to share.

[@ChristineHS-vq5vh]

Interesting viewpoint. I actually like sharing a table as I've met so many interesting people from around the world. On my last cruise I talked to people from the UK, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Montenegro and more. I always learn something new from them and often get tips for my next trip if I'm going to their country.

[@karenjensen2345]

Agreed

[@TerryndonnaDanzer]

I would like more dining choices that are included in the price.

[@proundtree80]

I also miss the free room service and tablecloths. I love the towel animals and twice a day cabin service.

[@timmorris6615]

I miss setting with the same people in the Dining Room, you get to meet people from around the world

[@Kathy-et2jy]

I liked it, too. I used to cruise solo, and it was a chance to get to know new people. Royal Caribbean would me with other single women. I can understand, though, why many people would prefer more choices and flexibility with dining.

[@deborahbuchanan2995]

I am definitely old school, give me a paper schedule and a highlighter. Also this becomes part of my memory albums and a record of what we did.