Walk into your cruise cabin to start your trip, and the first thing you’ll likely notice is a perfectly made bed. With crisp white sheets and a soft, fluffy comforter, the bed looks so inviting. But have you ever wondered exactly what you’re sleeping on?
After all, dozens of people will sleep in that same bed over the course of a year. Meanwhile, if you’re particular about bedding, how do you know if the bed will be comfy or if it will be hard as a rock with scratchy sheets?
If you’re wondering more about what exactly you’ll be sleeping on during your cruise, then we have you covered.
The Bed You Sleep on When Cruising
The first thing to keep in mind is that while cruise lines are different, in general they offer similar bedding. If you sail a high-end line or in a fancy room like a suite, then there are often upgrades to where you sleep. Otherwise, you can reasonably expect the same style of accommodations across lines.
That said, if you’re expecting the sort of mattress and bed that you’d find at a five-star hotel, then you should temper your expectations.
Cruise ship beds are designed more for utility than comfort. With thousands of passengers coming in and out each week, beds see a lot of turnover and need to hold up well.
That means cruise line beds need to be able to be configured as one king-sized bed or two smaller beds. They also need to be able to be moved quickly by a single room steward instead of being a heavy mattress that requires multiple people to move.
Therefore, the entire beds are thinner and lighter than what you might find in a traditional hotel. For instance, the bed frame is a simple metal frame with a wire mesh to support the bed. The mattress simply sits right on top of the metal.
The mattress is utilitarian as well. Don’t expect to see pillow-top mattresses on your cruise. And also don’t expect a bed that you sink in to or feels like a cloud.
In our experience the mattress are comfortable enough if you don’t mind a firm bed. What is an issue is mattress wear. Often you will find the middle of the mattress (where people position themselves at night) to be more compressed than the edges. So you end up sleeping in a small bowl. If your mattresses are pushed together to form a king-sized bed, don’t be surprised if there is a definite “ridge” where the two beds connect, with dips on either side.
Bedding on the Cruise
Like the mattress and frame, expect the bedding, sheets, and pillows to be commercial grade. It’s all serviceable, but you likely won’t be writing home about the amazing comfort.
Pillows are typically a nice medium when it comes to comfort. They are not paper thin, nor are they extremely fluffy. Stomach sleepers will appreciate that they offer plenty of support without being too suffocating.
We found sheets are often a blend of 60% polyester and 40% cotton when we’ve checked. They certainly aren’t the softest, but the repeated washings do soften them somewhat.
Pulling back the top sheet, cruise ship beds have a bottom sheet along with mattress covers. That means there are at least two layers between the mattress and your body as you sleep.
Pillow are similar. The pillow itself is often encased in a fitted cloth pillowcase, which is all then wrapped in a regular pillowcase. There are two layers between your head and the actual pillow.
Cleanliness of the Cruise Ship Bed
If you think about it, staying in any hotel bed is a little strange. Different people sleep there every night. Even if you’re not a germaphobe, sleeping in the same bed as a stranger — even if everything has been washed — is a little unsettling.
In our experience, cruise lines do a good job of keeping things clean. All sheets have been clean and free of stains. They are all changed out before you arrive for your cruise (this is one reason it takes until later in the afternoon to have access to your cabin). As well, even when we’ve taken off the sheets to look, the mattresses are clean and stain-free.
Final Thoughts
All in all, cruise ship beds are best described as adequate. You likely won’t go home wishing you could bring the cabin bed back with you, however, you also likely won’t tossing and turning all night. The beds serve their purpose to hold up day after day without being too extravagant. The only real drawback we’ve found is the “sinking” in the middle of the mattress that certainly lets you know others have slept there before!
Sheets are clean but how about the blankets? Are they washed in-between guests also?
I’ve alwyas heard hotels don’t wash their top bedding but once a year.
Royal Caribbean has the hardest beds on the planet so if you like a firm mattress you are in luck.
Just took my first cruise on Carnival Liberty and was concerned about being able to sleep well, since bed seemed too soft when I sat on it… OMG – I absolutely loved it. The bed – pillows – down comforter… Perfect. Had zero issues.
Same, just got back from the Carnival Conquest and all I can talk about is that dang bed. I had the best sleep that I very much needed. White crisp comforter and soft mattress didn’t seem that firm like the article making it to be, I have been looking for mattresses similar to that one at home that’s how cozy and comfortable it was.
Where can I purchase the Blue Blanket used on Dream Cruise ship.
Where can you purchase the single beds used in cruise industry?
We have no idea. Might contact the cruise line itself.
I would like to know about mattress I am in for buying a new firm queen one and I like the small twin pillows and the sheets, all felt good, didn’t think about until I came home to look at name.sheets…very soft and feel good sheets.
@Carole, after some research, I found the brand on the Carnival and Disney Cruises to be Harbor Linen.
https://hotelsuppliesgroup.com/new-generation-pillows-by-harbor-linen.html