Why is there no self-laundry on board RC ships?

[mckeeganj2]

I think M&A makes a great point- Laundry on a ship doing 3-9 day cruises is something most of the ship would not need to use. Laundry on a ship doing 20+ day cruises... well, what are you supposed to do, bring every pair of matching socks you own?

 

While I understand that there is send-out service available, many people just don't feel comfortable having someone else do their wash. For example, someone who wears a very large or very small size who would be unable to buy in port/sundry shop if the clothes were damaged. Or someone like me, who is convinced everyone is laughing at my underwear.

I imagine there must be an enormous amount of space used for the laundry lines/room and an enormous amount of fresh water that must be filtered for the machines to use. Yet, I can't see why they couldn't shove the room somewhere people don't usually go, like near the sick bay. or, as suggested, make it a bar. I would totally drink and launder- everything might look a little "grateful dead concert" when I'm done, but I would smell pleasant....

 

Do the RCI spas have those swimsuit dryers spas at Disney have? I love those, when they work. Nothing more uncomfortable than putting on a wet swimsuit because it was too humid to dry.

[koterry]

Why are there no laundry facilities aboard RCI? Because you're on vacation...you are supposed to relax! Enjoy your cruise!

A voice of reason;)

[koterry]

What could be more relaxing than watching your clothes spin round and round? :)

 

Seriously, I agree that doing your laundry does not rank all that high on the list of things I want to do on vacation. But having clean clothes to wear, without having to pay sky-high prices either for the ship's laundry or for the airline baggage fees . . . well, I find that to be rather relaxing in its own right.

But again the dry cleaning onboard is less expensive than I pay and home and the bag of laundry is not a bad deal either;)

[Charles4515]

It's vacation! I don't do laundry while on vacation. Vacation is a change from the normal routines in life. It's meant to be a break from everyday life. I also have not used the laundry on board except the fill the bag specials on a 14 night cruise. We pack accordingly and plan to wear regular and dinner clothes more than once.

 

I use the laundry on long cruises. Many do. Since they don't have them I only do seven day cruises on Royal Caribbean. Longer cruises I do on HAL and Princess. There is also the issue of no irons. Since you can't take an iron I may not do laundry but I do use irons in the laundry room.

[Marian Paroo]

At least they provide laundry services, I don't recall too many land vacations where we've had coin laundry on the premises. Condos rentals, yes, most hotels & resorts, no.

 

 

True, but if you are in a large city, you can find a coin laundry pretty easily most of the time.

[Charles4515]

Why are there no laundry facilities aboard RCI? Because you're on vacation...you are supposed to relax! Enjoy your cruise!

 

There are no facilities because they want you to use their services and because they would have to spend money to maintain a laundry room. As a result I don't go on long Royal Caribbean cruises since other lines are customer friendly and provide laundry rooms.

[Charles4515]

At least they provide laundry services, I don't recall too many land vacations where we've had coin laundry on the premises. Condos rentals, yes, most hotels & resorts, no.

 

I bring along a few plastic bags for dirty clothes and on the second last day, I'll do the fill the paper bag with undies & socks & workout clothes for a few bucks - works for us.

 

They have them at Disney World. Also there are hotels that have them. You might not know without asking. Also hotels usually have irons in the rooms.

[bus man]

But again the dry cleaning onboard is less expensive than I pay and home and the bag of laundry is not a bad deal either;)

 

I'm not talking about dry cleaning. I'm talking about washers and dryers. I don't know about you, but I don't dry-clean my shirts, shorts, socks, and unmentionables; I shove 'em into a washer, followed by a spin in a dryer. I can guarantee you that doing it this way is MUCH cheaper than dry cleaning, in your town or in mine.

[bus man]

Skipping ahead - it seems that MSC doesn't have slef laundry either, but as it is a European company I understand that. Most people in Europe (and the Middle East) have a machine at home. Coin laundries in Israel are used mostly by young renters.

 

I don't mean to sound snarky, but what you said about Europeans, Middle Easterners, and young Israelis is true for Americans as well.

[koterry]

I'm not talking about dry cleaning. I'm talking about washers and dryers. I don't know about you, but I don't dry-clean my shirts, shorts, socks, and unmentionables; I shove 'em into a washer, followed by a spin in a dryer. I can guarantee you that doing it this way is MUCH cheaper than dry cleaning, in your town or in mine.

Ok on the washing agreed, not the dry cleaning though...Just can't be bothered with washing on a cruise vacation, just my preference;)

[koterry]

There are no facilities because they want you to use their services and because they would have to spend money to maintain a laundry room. As a result I don't go on long Royal Caribbean cruises since other lines are customer friendly and provide laundry rooms.

Had to laugh for a few when I read this>>>.RCI is not customer friendly because they don't have washers and dryers???? Come now a bit of a stretch there. And do you by any chance KNOW how many cruise lines DON't have laundry facilities???:rolleyes:

[Cruzin-K]

I took my first cruise on Princess last month and LOVED having a laundry room on board. I had already been in Florida for four days before getting on the ship so I started the cruise with a pile of dirty clothes, including running clothes I had run a half marathon in. Doing laundry was quite painless. I came back from my day on an island, threw clothes in the washer and then went to take a shower and put on dinner clothes. I went back and put the clothes in the dryer, then went to my cabin to do my hair and makeup. I retrieved my nice clean clothes, put them in my cabin and went out to enjoy my evening. The total time actually spent in the laundry room was less than 5 minutes :rolleyes:

 

One consideration when looking for a 12 night med cruise was the laundry. My Mom and I can't pack 16 days/nights of clothes in two suitcases and do not want to spend upwards of $100 on ships laundry service

 

I now have two favorite cruise lines.

[Charles4515]

Had to laugh for a few when I read this>>>.RCI is not customer friendly because they don't have washers and dryers???? Come now a bit of a stretch there. And do you by any chance KNOW how many cruise lines DON't have laundry facilities???:rolleyes:

 

I have been on 37 cruises on Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, NCL, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Only the Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ships did not have a self service laundry. I think the NCL ship was a rare exception and most of the NCL ships don't have laundry rooms. Since I did not like the line I only tried one cruise on NCL. Quite a large number of ships I have been on have had self service laundries including the QM2.

 

Since Celebrity gives me free laundry I will go on their ships for longer cruises despite the absence of self service laundries.......

[ehfl]

Who wants to do laundry on vacation?

 

The giant laundry machines they use when you send your laundry out really are much more efficient in terms of water and energy usage.

[Debde]

Who wants to do laundry on vacation?

 

As you can see-looks like lots would do laundry or at least like to have the option to.

 

I really don't know why some care if others want to do laundry. I have to laugh at some posts when they seem to be attacking or be-littling those who do.:(

[Schplinky]

As you can see-looks like lots would do laundry or at least like to have the option to.

 

I really don't know why some care if others want to do laundry. I have to laugh at some posts when they seem to be attacking or be-littling those who do.:(

 

 

It's called a conversation. If you were only allowed to post if you agreed with the person or were expected to stay silent if you didn't, this would be a different sort of board.

[Debde]

It's called a conversation. If you were only allowed to post if you agreed with the person or were expected to stay silent if you didn't, this would be a different sort of board.

 

LOL

Nice word for describing the way some threads can turn around here. A conversation!!!;):p

[Schplinky]

LOL

Nice word for describing the way some threads can turn around here. A conversation!!!;):p

 

 

True enough. Still, some people act as though the ships were a democracy and if enough people want this or that, they get it. It's not a democracy, it's a business and I'm sure RCL weighs people wanting laundry against whether they'll leave if they don't get it and what RCL would lose in revenue from laundry. They might make some quarters on laundry but I bet many who are so frugal as to want coin-op over just sending out their laundry would be the first to post here that you should bring your soap from home instead of buying it in the laundry rooms.

[Paul65]

LOL

Nice word for describing the way some threads can turn around here. A conversation!!!;):p

 

Some people do have a way of twisting things - like turning "Who wants to do laundry?" into attacking and belittling. :p

[Debde]

Some people do have a way of twisting things - like turning "Who wants to do laundry?" into attacking and belittling. :p

 

OK-I'll give you 10 points for that!!!;):D

[rim2rimhiker]

but I bet many who are so frugal as to want coin-op over just sending out their laundry

 

I like to use the laundry facilities on 12 day Med. cruises, but no one who knows me would ever say I was frugal.

[daisy-mae]

At least they provide laundry services, I don't recall too many land vacations where we've had coin laundry on the premises. Condos rentals, yes, most hotels & resorts, no....

 

We tend to streamline our packing when on land vacations, particularly self-supported cycling trips. There is no problem rinsing out a few undies and cycle jerseys at the end of a day's ride.

 

However, there is a certain standard to meet when cruising; formal wear and proper dinner attire (along with footwear) tend to take up space, and with luggage restrictions (mentioned by more than one poster), the opportunity to launder and iron a few items would be most welcome. Not a necessity, but possibly one of the many factors to consider when choosing a cruise line.

[Marian Paroo]

i've always found doing a a laundry either in my own machine one of the simplest and least offensive of housekeeping tasks. I wouldn't think twice about taking a hour to do my own while I was spending the money I saved in the shops!

[Cruzaholic41]

My opinion on laundry is the same as on booze, tips, etc. When I go on vacation, I spend money and saving a nickel here and a dime there does not interest me - because that's really all it is. I want a break from as many household chores as possible. That's why I cruise and that's why I vacation.

[traveling1969]

My opinion on laundry is the same as on booze, tips, etc. When I go on vacation, I spend money and saving a nickel here and a dime there does not interest me - because that's really all it is. I want a break from as many household chores as possible. That's why I cruise and that's why I vacation.

 

I appreciate that opinion and applaud it. My way of doing things is just a bit different. My wife likes to call me cheap. I prefer the sobriquet FRUGAL MAN! Every decision I make regarding how to spend our limited resources is guided by a desire to maximize pleasure while limiting expenditure. My wife and I love to gamble in the casino; we do it for pleasure not profit. We love to shop but know our limits. We love to cruise (just look at my signature) but I'm always on the lookout for the best fares and discounts. Because of my dedicated stewardship, we cruise more often than perhaps we might if I wasn't so frugal. That often means doing for ourselves things that others hire out. Good for you if you can do that. We don't mind doing a bit of wash (usually while reading a good book on our balcony). As I said previously, a little work means more cruising later. I for one would like to see laundry rooms on RCCL as we have used on Princess. A penny saved! Bon Voyage to all!