Four Things Cruise Ship Housekeepers Wish You Knew

One of the benefits of cruise travel is that you don't have to stress over the logistics. There's a team to handle the cooking, of course, and often a big entertainment cast. And it goes without saying there's a massive number of housekeepers on board every ship to keep things clean.

Their work has only intensified as cruising continues to grow in popularity: more than 37 million people traveled by ship in 2025, according to the Cruise Lines International Association .

Few crew members have a closer view of passenger habits than the housekeeping staff who tidy and clean all those staterooms and suites. (Sometimes, they have only a few hours to refresh a massive ship as one group of passengers disembarks and another boards.)

While they don't expect guests to be supremely tidy, many of these workers say there are a few things that travelers could do to make cruise trips a bit easier for everyone.

Here's a look at what the cleaning team secretly hopes you think about prior to stepping on board.

Your Housekeeper's Schedule Is More Complicated Than You Might Think

Cabin housekeepers, who are often called cabin stewards by cruise lines, work on very tight schedules, say representatives interviewed by T+L. Putting in 10- or even 12-hour days is common; many cruise lines offer cleaning service twice a day. A steward will usually come after breakfast to make the bed, clear used dishes, restock towels, and refresh the bathroom. Often, they'll return for an evening turndown, delivering the next day's schedule, shore excursion tickets, and (on some lines) delivering sweet treats.

While this is the industry standard, it's also possible to ask for exactly what you want, says Andrew Salinas, Senior Manager of Housekeeping Operations for Holland America Line .

"If you know there is a period of time when you will be out of your room, feel free to share that with the stewards," Salinas tells T+L. "We also carry business cards with contact information on them to hand out to guests, so that they can easily contact us with special requests or schedule updates."

"Our team will work around your schedule," Salinas adds.

Small Requests Are A-OK

Indeed, cabin stewards generally encourage guests to speak up about their needs. After all, tailoring your cruise experience—whether that means providing a robe or arranging daily ice service—is part of what they're there for.

"If there is anything guests would like to make their stateroom feel more like home, chances are, we have it available," Salinas says. Through Holland America's Navigator mobile app (or a traditional paper checklist left in the cabin), passengers can access an extensive menu of amenities. "Guests can order practical items like extension cords, extra linens, or refreshments like daily ice service and mini-bar refills," Salinas notes.

The same is generally true of many cruise lines, particularly those that rank highly in the World's Best Awards .

"Some guests worry about being seen as demanding, but we genuinely want to know what will make their trip more enjoyable," says Polina Bulatetskaya, the fleet housekeeping manager at Uniworld Boutique River Cruises . "I always encourage guests to let us know their preferences, even if they seem minor. Whether it's a preference for extra towels or toiletries, refills on ice buckets, or a specific service time, sharing these details helps us personalize the experience. The more we know, the better we can take care of you."

While stateroom stewards aim to please—and most guests keep their asks within reason—there are occasionally requests that surprise even the most seasoned cabin attendants.

"We've really seen it all on board," Salinas says. "Two that come to mind are a request to ensure the linens in the room had never been washed with soap or detergent and another from a guest who requested storage for the 17 suitcases they had brought for their admittedly very long sailing." In both cases, Holland America housekeepers were able to accommodate the requests.

"For the guest with skin allergies, we made sure that not only did we handle the linen and towels carefully, but also provided special soap, shampoo, and conditioner in their stateroom," Salinas notes.

Being Mindful Can Have a Big Impact

There are also things that some guests do that don't make life easier. Cruise line insiders say that leaving a room excessively cluttered with clothes, souvenirs, and loose paperwork can slow down the cleaning schedule for everyone on board.

Likewise, leaving your "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door long after you've left the cabin can disrupt your steward's cleaning schedule.

A better way? Gathering used room service dishes in one area of the cabin, hanging wet towels if you plan to reuse them, and disposing of obvious trash before leaving your room are small gestures that can help streamline your cabin steward's work.

How to Show Appreciation—and Advice on Tipping

Many mainstream cruise lines now charge automatic gratuities that cover cabin steward service as well as other staff you might not interact with directly, such as kitchen and laundry workers. Carnival Cruise Line , Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line , MSC Cruises , Princess Cruises , and Royal Caribbean are among the brands that do—check your cruise line's policy when booking. The amount typically runs $16 to $21 per day, per passenger, though guests in high-end suites may pay more.

Of course, you may also want to give your specific cabin steward an extra cash tip for exceptional service. Many seasoned cruisers hand cash gratuities directly to their housekeeper as a way to say thank you. (While guests often do this at the end of their trip, it may actually be more convenient to do it the day or night before disembarkation, which tends to be a hectic day for housekeeping staff.)

A thoughtfully penned thank-you note and leaving specific, positive feedback about your cabin crew in a post-cruise survey are other non-monetary ways to show your appreciation. And don't overlook those surveys: cruise lines consider them to be extremely important and positive guest feedback on these post-trip questionnaires does factor into crew performance evaluations—and even bonuses and promotions for staff members.

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