Cruising has evolved significantly over the years. There are certain features and activities that were once common on cruise ships but are now a thing of the past.

If you are a seasoned cruiser, you might recall some of these past cruise traditions. However, even if you are a newbie to cruising, you might have noticed some changes since the pandemic. In some instances, you might find things that are currently phasing out on cruise ships.

Cruise ships have undergone a lot of transformations over the years. From old practices to recent amendments, here are some things that you may have appreciated but will likely not experience on a cruise again.

Things that have disappeared from Cruise Ships

There was a time when cruise passengers enjoyed playing golf off the back of the ship. This was a popular activity a couple of decades ago. However, it has been banned since 1990 due to environmental and marine life considerations.

Skeet shooting was another popular activity on cruise ships until the early 1990s. However, for a variety of valid reasons, this is no longer permitted on cruises.

Topless sunbathing was allowed on the top deck of many ships until the late eighties, but this is now rare on most major cruise lines. There are a few exceptions, though, like Virgin Voyages, which allows topless sunbathing on their sun deck.

In-person muster drills have largely disappeared from most cruise lines as they restarted following the pandemic. Many cruise lines have now adopted an electronic muster, where passengers watch a safety video on their cell phone or stateroom and check-in at their muster station with a crew member.

Cruises used to be a very elegant means of travel, often featuring beautiful ice sculptures displayed at the buffet, dining room and on the deck for special events. While ice sculpture demonstrations still occur on some cruise lines, seeing these beautiful creations on a daily basis is much less common now.

The midnight buffet was a staple on cruise vacations for many years but has since faded into oblivion. Changes in tastes and a desire to reduce food waste and crew effort led to its demise.

Plastic straws have been phased out of cruise ships due to environmental reasons. Many cruise lines have replaced plastic with paper, candy, or biodegradable straws.

Smoking was permitted in many areas on a cruise ship in the past. However, it's now only allowed in designated smoking areas, often found outdoors. Some cruise ships also permit smoking in casinos.

Cruises to nowhere—one- or two-night cruises that didn't stop anywhere—are no longer allowed from US cruise ports. This change came about in 2016 due to a law stipulating that cruise ships departing from the US must stop in foreign territory before returning.

Things that are gradually disappearing

Formal nights, walls of photos, free room service, chocolates on pillows, twice-a-day housekeeping, towel animals, and ships not sailing at full capacity are all slowly becoming things of the past on cruise ships.

In conclusion, while many of these changes may bring about a sense of nostalgia for the "good old days" of cruising, it's important to remember that change is inevitable. Most cruise passengers would likely prefer the amenities and features of today's cruise ships over those of the past. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see what changes will be next.

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