What's up with the "No Top Sheet" thing, anyway?

[Nitemare]

Somehow I left this out of my "Just Back from the Ruby" thread, but in our prior 5 Princess cruises, we always got both a bottom AND top sheet. Noticed pretty quickly our first night in bed last week that there was a comforter (I hope they wash these!) and nothing else on top of us. Asked the steward for a top sheet when we saw him the next AM, and it was added to the bed.

 

Did a search here, and saw that folks now request a top sheet. When did this become necessary? In what "luxury world" do beds not have top sheets, and where do folks find this normal and acceptable?

 

Or am I just being fussy and difficult again?

 

Edit: Last cruise on Princess for us was Sept, 2008, so I guess there's been time for changes

[stoneharborlady]

No top sheet since they began using duvets, which is a comforter INSIDE a cover, which takes the place of the top sheet. I requested a top sheet anyway, as I found the comforter too warm for Caribbean climates. The duvet cover gets washed between change of cruisers, I seriously doubt that the comforter itself does.

 

Karen

[Pink-belle]

In the UK its found quite normal and acceptable.

 

As Karen has said, the duvet is inside the cover. The cover is taken off and washed. Think of it as a Top sheet made into an envelope to hold the comforter if that makes it less gross :)

[compozer]

I love the no top sheet with the duvet. I've been doing it at home forthe the last couple years. Most hotels do the duvet these days. I always hated having a blanket close to my face and tried to keep it under the sheet.

The sheets are washed every three days in cabins. Suites are changed daily.

[Tralynn]

As long as there is a duvet cover, it is completely common and acceptable. However, I always request to have a top sheet added. Mostly because if I get hot in the middle of the night it will be there for me.

[Toto2Kansas]

We have always had to request a top sheet, it has never been there when we arrived. Seems to be a European thing.

We have found that in warmer weather cruises, the duvet alone is just too warm for our sleeping comfort. But it only takes a word to the room steward to have one added when the bed is made up that first evening, so big deal to us.

[CenTexGal]

Don't like this idea at all. I too, would need to have a sheet because I get hot and rarely ever sleep under a quilt/bedspread. We stay in hotels all the time and I have never been in one that did not provide a top sheet, even with a duvet. I hope this is not a sign of things to come...I will be tracking down housekeeping/steward first thing, if that is the case.

[Nitemare]

No top sheet since they began using duvets, which is a comforter INSIDE a cover, which takes the place of the top sheet. I requested a top sheet anyway, as I found the comforter too warm for Caribbean climates. The duvet cover gets washed between change of cruisers, I seriously doubt that the comforter itself does.

 

Karen

 

Seemed to be one piece to me. And with an untucked cover, one of us rolls over, the other one is uncovered! I know, personal problem, but real to us! ;)

 

Agreed that it was too warm for us as well.

 

 

When did this change happen?

[Toto2Kansas]

Don't like this idea at all. I too, would need to have a sheet because I get hot and rarely ever sleep under a quilt/bedspread. We stay in hotels all the time and I have never been in one that did not provide a top sheet, even with a duvet. I hope this is not a sign of things to come...I will be tracking down housekeeping/steward first thing, if that is the case.

 

We have stayed in hotels in Europe, even back 25 years ago that only provided a duvet, no top sheet. This isn't anything new really, it is just the European way of providing just the duvet. All it takes is a request for a top sheet and all is right with the world again. lol

[CenTexGal]

We have stayed in hotels in Europe, even back 25 years ago that only provided a duvet, no top sheet. This isn't anything new really, it is just the European way of providing just the duvet. All it takes is a request for a top sheet and all is right with the world again. lol

 

Isn't it funny how we can put up a fuss over something that is "different"...even when it is not a big deal. My husband stays in hotels all over the world on a monthly basis and has never mentioned this. Of course, he wouldn't know the difference between a "duvet" and a bath towel. ;) We have only cruised on Carnival before. Our last cruise was two years ago and we had top sheets then...they may have changed that policy since then, too. Not a big deal, but now I know to request a top sheet as soon as we board. I learn so much for these boards.:)

[gooch47]

I agree, Susan.

 

We've been noticing the "no top sheet" at various casinos we visit, too.

 

I always ask for a top sheet on the cruise ships because I have age related heat issues :o and the duvet is too hot most of the time. Has nothing to do with how sophisticated a traveler I am.

[Pam in CA]

I didn't even notice or care that there was no top sheet. Just the covered duvet is fine with me. That's how I sleep at home.

[cleavesteam]

I do hope they wash the covers. The last thing I want to experience is the smell of someone's rotten feet when I get under the covers.:eek:

[cruzinchris]

DH and I don't request a top sheet, but we do ask our steward to remove the bedspread or bedscarf and the toss pillows for the duration of our voyage. We don't have to worry about allergens or germs, and steward doesn't have to make up our bed daily other than smoothing the duvet and fluffing the pillows :)

 

Onboard the Island Princess in 4 days.

Chris

[kruisey]

I always request a top sheet because I don't know when the actual duvet under its cover was cleaned.:)

[Toto2Kansas]

I do hope they wash the covers. The last thing I want to experience is the smell of someone's rotten feet when I get under the covers.:eek:

 

Yes, they wash the duvet covers. :rolleyes:

[compozer]

I do hope they wash the covers. The last thing I want to experience is the smell of someone's rotten feet when I get under the covers.:eek:

 

 

As I stated earlier, they wash the duvet covers every three days in all cabin but with suites, they was them daily. We did the ships tour and I asked how often they get laundered.

[uppitycats]

We discovered duvets on our bed on our Norwegian cruise early this spring, came home, used our top sheets to make duvet covers and have used them ever since. MUCH more comfortable (they don't get tucked in, just fluffed on top of the bed. The covers protect the blanket or quilt or coverlet underneath (we use a thin cotton blanket in the summer and a heavier quilt now), and get put in the wash whenever we change all the rest of the bed linens.

 

We have seen duvet covers with zippers, some with buttons, some with velcro closings, some with no closings at all. The closures..if there are any...are at the bottom.

 

You can find duvet covers all over now. When we first started looking here in the US, we could only find them in the high-end department stores. Now they're available at Shopko!

[caber]

The duvet cover is a sheet. The only difference is that it encloses the quilt. It has been changed regularly in cruises I have been on.

 

I have been using duvets in this way since 1970.

[jimpod]

Duvets were not designed to be used with a top sheet as they originally came from Northern Europe and were all down and/or feather filled. The idea was that the duvet would follow the countours of your body keeping you warm. The advent of polyester filled duvets has seen the use of top sheets increase as the polyester duvet won't mould to your shape. They tend to be more difficult to keep in place and let more draughts in. I have never used a top sheet and if faced with one in a hotel, straighten it out and use it as the bottom sheet.

[Saruman]

In what "luxury world" do beds not have top sheets, and where do folks find this normal and acceptable?

 

I remember the horror on the face of a friend in Yorkshire decades ago when I commented on the absence of public drinking fountains in the UK. :eek:

And yes, their house used duvets. We both learned something about each other's homeland and their respective attitudes about commonplace things.

[kruisey]

I always request a top sheet because I don't know when the actual duvet under its cover was cleaned.:)

Its not the duvet cover I worry about we know they are changed but the actual duvet itself . Thats why myself personally request a top sheet then there are two layers before it is actually at duvet level. I love duvets so nice and light on the body...:)

[cruisemom42]

From traveling I am familiar with duvets, but I do wish they'd at least fold up a top sheet and put it on a shelf in the closet (like they once did with extra blankets) for those who find the duvets too warm...

 

Not everyone likes to sleep with the thermostat set at 60 degrees!

[cruiseron36]

The first thing we discuss with the room steward is how we want the bed made up which includes a top sheet. My DW makes the bed every morning anyway. It's a matter of a simple request with a "please" and a "thank you" included.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Ditto. An extra sheet under the duvet is the very first thing I request when we meet the cabin steward. ;)