Towel Animals on Cruise Ships: Are They Still a Thing?
I have been on several cruise lines where your towel animal was waiting in your cabin after the evening turndown. These creative creations, made by the cabin attendants, were always a fun surprise. When my kids were younger, they were especially excited to see what kind of animal would be waiting for them each evening. A swan, an elephant, or something completely unexpected, it became a small but memorable part of our cruise experience.
And sometimes, the towel animals even came with a little extra creativity. Sunglasses, the TV remote, or other items from the cabin might become part of the display, making each creation even more entertaining.
But with changing cruise experiences and traditions, it got me wondering: are towel animals still a thing on cruise ships today?
How Towel Animals Became a Cruise Tradition
Over the years, towel animals have become an iconic and heartwarming part of the cruise experience, particularly on major cruise lines where cabin attendants add a touch of magic during evening turndown service. Guests returning to their cabin are often greeted by a playfully folded swan, elephant, or monkey, frequently styled with sunglasses or other personal items left around the room.
For families, these delightful creations quickly turn into a daily highlight, with children eagerly racing back to the cabin each evening to discover what has been left for them. While never an official guarantee on every itinerary, this gesture has evolved into a beloved tradition that cruisers look back on.
Towel Animals Today: A Tradition in Transition
In recent years, the tradition of daily towel animals has seen some changes across the cruise industry. As part of broader sustainability initiatives and efforts to reduce water and energy consumption from unnecessary laundry, several cruise lines have scaled back daily turndown creations or shifted cabin servicing from twice daily to once a day. On lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Holland America, you’ll often still find these whimsical creations waiting on your bed or hanging playfully from the ceiling. On other ships or luxury lines, towel animals may now be reserved for special occasions or provided upon request. While the frequency may vary depending on the rederij and itinerary, the charm of discovering a towel animal remains a delight whenever it appears.
Which major cruise liners still do towel animals?
If you are hoping to find a towel animal waiting in your cabin, there are still several major cruise lines where the tradition lives on. However, how often you receive one can vary by cruise line, ship, and cabin attendant.
Carnival Cruise Line – Towel animals remain a well-known part of the Carnival experience and have long been associated with the evening turndown service.
Disney Cruise Line – Towel animals are still a popular part of the experience, with cabin attendants often creating different animals for guests to discover.
Royal Caribbean – Towel animals are still made, although they are not necessarily an every-night tradition. Much can depend on the individual cabin attendant, and children may sometimes receive extra attention.
Holland America Line – Towel animals continue to be part of the onboard experience, although their frequency can vary.
So, while you may not be guaranteed a towel animal on every cruise, the tradition is certainly not gone. In many cases, it has simply become a little less predictable, which can make finding one waiting in your cabin even more special.
Which Major Cruise Lines Stopped Making Towel Animals?
Norwegian Cruise Line – NCL took a different approach. In 2019, the cruise line stopped automatically making towel animals as part of its sustainability efforts, helping to reduce unnecessary laundry and water use. Guests can still request them in certain circumstances, particularly when traveling with children.
What Kinds of Towel Animals Do Cruise Ships Make?
Cruise ship cabin attendants can turn ordinary towels into all kinds of animals. Some of the most common (and a few more unusual ones) include:
🦢 Swan
🐘 Elephant
🐒 Monkey
🐕 Dog
🐰 Bunny
🐢 Turtle
🦀 Crab
🦇 Bat
🐱 Cat
🦁 Lion
And sometimes, the fun doesn't stop with the towels. Sunglasses, hats, or even the TV remote can become part of the creation.
My Experience
I have always admired the creativity of the cabin attendants, and every evening we were amazed to see what they had created. For me, towel animals went hand in hand with the little chocolate left on your pillow at turndown. Some cruise lines still offer the chocolates, and on occasion, a towel animal as well.
I also have a personal connection to this kind of creativity. When I worked as cruise staff on Royal Caribbean, sea days offered plenty of activities for guests, including a special towel-folding class taught by one of the cabin attendants for those who wanted to learn how to make their own towel creations. I taught napkin-folding and origami classes myself, so I always appreciated the creativity and patience that go into turning something as simple as a towel or napkin into something fun and memorable.
All the pictures in this blog were taken by me, and most of the towel animals we have seen were on Royal Caribbean. My kids would often keep their favorite towel animal in the cabin for the rest of the cruise, either sitting proudly on a chair or hanging somewhere in the room. It was such a small gesture, but it became one of those little things that made our cruises extra memorable.
Want to read more blogs? How about: The I-95: The Crew's Highway on a Cruise Ship
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