6 Bygone Activities: What You Can No Longer Do on Cruise Ships
While the essence of cruising has largely stayed the same over the years, certain once-popular activities on cruise ships have been phased out for various reasons. Here are a couple of activities you can no longer enjoy while cruising.
1. Messages in a bottle – Traditionally, cruisers would write a note with their contact details, seal it in a bottle, and throw it into the sea, hoping someone distant would find it and respond. Though some did get responses, this practice was halted over two decades ago due to environmental regulations prohibiting any form of ocean littering.
2. Skeet shooting – There was a time when passengers could engage in skeet shooting from the ship’s rear at a cost of $1 per attempt. This activity was discontinued several decades ago.
View the video on YouTube to see a prohibited activity that occurred on Carnival Ecstasy in 1991.
3. Streamers at sailaway – This was a common sight in the 70’s and 80’s, where passengers celebrated the start of their voyage by throwing streamers and confetti from the ship, bidding farewell to loved ones on the shore.
This vibrant celebration was often depicted in numerous episodes of the popular TV series The Love Boat. While it was a cheerful tradition, discarding anything overboard is clearly forbidden today.
4. Hitting golf balls into the ocean – There was a time when passengers could enhance their golf swings by hitting balls into the sea from the deck of the ship.
The practice was halted in 1990 following the enactment of a law by the International Maritime Organization which banned the disposal of plastic waste into the ocean. To adapt, golf simulators were installed on some ships, while some luxury liners opted for eco-friendly golf balls made from fish food.
In 1985, during the filming of an episode of The A-Team (Season 4, Episode 2), on board the Carnival Cruise Line’s M.S. Tropicale, there is a scene showing a passenger driving golf balls off the back of the ship.
5. Smoking in the dining rooms and staterooms – Until recently, it was common for passengers to smoke not just on their balconies but also inside their staterooms. However, all cruise lines have since ceased this allowance, making every stateroom and balcony a smoke-free area.
The prohibition of smoking in the ship’s dining rooms has been in effect for a longer period, with some cruise lines banning it as early as the 1990s. Smoking is now forbidden in all enclosed dining areas on cruise ships.
6. Visits from friends and family on embarkation day – In the past, family and friends of passengers could board the ship on embarkation day to wish their loved ones a good journey and also to explore the cruise ship ambiance. However, increased security protocols terminated this habit over two decades ago.
In 2010, Princess Cruises introduced the “Bon Voyage Experience”, allowing friends and family to board the ship for about four hours on embarkation day. The experience, which cost $39 per participant, included a four-course meal, a ship tour, and a commemorative photo. Only 50 visitors were allowed per embarkation day, and the fee was creditable towards a future cruise booking with Princess.
This program concluded in 2019.
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