Cruise Room Cleaning: What to Expect From Your Stateroom Attendant

Cruise ship staterooms stay surprisingly tidy throughout your sailing, thanks to the incredible work of your stateroom attendant. They’re the quiet heroes of your cruise—refreshing your room, keeping things organized, and making sure you always return to a clean, comfortable space. If you’ve never cruised before, the cruise room cleaning schedule can feel a little different from a hotel, so knowing what to expect helps you settle in quickly.

How Often Your Room Is Cleaned

Most cruise lines clean your room once or twice a day, depending on the ship and your preferences. Understanding the basics of cruise room cleaning helps you choose the routine that fits your day.

• Daily Service: Every stateroom receives at least one full cleaning per day.
• Twice‑Daily Service (where offered): Morning cleaning plus an evening turndown with fresh towels and trash removal.
• Opt‑Out Options: Many ships now let you choose once‑daily service if you prefer fewer interruptions.

A helpful example is Royal Caribbean, which currently provides once‑per‑day cleaning for standard staterooms. Your attendant will stop by each afternoon to refresh the room, replace towels, empty trash, and tidy the bathroom. Suites may receive additional service depending on the ship and category.

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Cleaning Time

Your attendant will ask whether you prefer morning, afternoon, or flexible service. A few small considerations can help you pick the time that fits your routine:

• Morning service works best if you’re an early riser and plan to leave the room for breakfast, excursions, or pool time. You’ll come back to a fully refreshed space before lunch.
• Afternoon service is ideal if you like slow mornings, enjoy coffee on the balcony, or need extra time to get ready. Your room will be cleaned while you’re out exploring the ship.
• Excursion days may shift your preference. If you have early port mornings, afternoon cleaning keeps things simple.
• Families often prefer afternoon service so little ones can nap or take their time getting ready without interruptions.
• Suite guests with expanded service may want to coordinate cleaning around concierge lounge hours, dining times, or show schedules.
• Remote workers or mid‑day resters should choose a time when they know they’ll be out of the room for at least 30 minutes.

Choosing a time that matches your daily rhythm makes the whole cruise feel smoother—and it helps your attendant plan their day efficiently.

Changing Your Cleaning Time Mid‑Cruise

If your routine shifts during the sailing, you can adjust your cleaning time at any point. Just let your stateroom attendant know, and they’ll update their schedule for the rest of the cruise. This is especially helpful if your excursion times change, you start sleeping in later, or you find yourself out of the room at different times than you expected.

What Your Stateroom Attendant Does During Service

A typical cleaning includes:

• Making the beds
• Replacing towels
• Emptying trash and recycling
• Wiping counters and bathroom surfaces
• Restocking toiletries
• Tidying the bathroom
• Refreshing ice (if you request it)
• Straightening items left on counters
• Delivering daily schedules or notices

Evening turndown (if offered) may include:

• Pulling down the bed
• Closing curtains
• Soft lighting
• Fresh towels
• A quick tidy of the bathroom
• Removing room‑service dishes if placed outside

What They Don’t Do

Cruise housekeeping is thorough, but there are a few things they don’t handle:

• Washing personal laundry (unless you request paid laundry service)
• Organizing inside drawers or closets
• Handling valuables
• Moving large amounts of clutter
• Cleaning up spills involving food or drinks left for long periods

They’ll respect your personal space and won’t open closed bags, drawers, or suitcases.

How You Can Make Cleaning Easier (and Faster)

You don’t need to deep‑clean your room—your attendant handles that. But a few small habits make their job smoother and help them clean more efficiently.

• Pick items up off the floor so they can vacuum quickly
• Keep counters loosely organized so they can wipe surfaces
• Hang wet swimsuits instead of leaving them on furniture
• Place trash in bins rather than leaving it scattered
• Use the “Room Ready” sign when you’re heading out
• Step out during service so they can clean without working around you

These small things go a long way, especially since attendants care for many rooms each day.

How to Communicate Preferences

Your stateroom attendant wants your cruise to feel comfortable, so don’t hesitate to ask for what you need. Common requests include:

• Extra towels
• Extra pillows
• Ice twice a day
• Blanket instead of a duvet
• No evening turndown
• Specific cleaning times
• Removal of the coffee table or sofa bed setup

They’re incredibly accommodating—just let them know early in the sailing.

Tipping Your Stateroom Attendant

Most cruise lines automatically add daily gratuities to your onboard account, and a portion of that goes directly to your stateroom attendant. Some guests choose to leave an additional cash tip, and the timing varies based on personal preference.

• Tipping at the beginning sets a warm tone and shows appreciation right away.
• Tipping at the end is the most common approach and often reflects the service received.
• Not tipping extra is also normal since automatic gratuities are already included.

A simple envelope with a short thank‑you note is always appreciated.

Final Thoughts

Your stateroom attendant plays a huge role in making your cruise feel relaxing and effortless. Understanding the cruise room cleaning schedule, knowing what’s included, and keeping communication open ensures your room stays fresh, comfortable, and ready for every part of your vacation. With a little courtesy and awareness of how cruise room cleaning works behind the scenes, you’ll enjoy a smoother, more enjoyable stay onboard.