When I asked our Facebook community what they’d most love to see on cruise ships in the coming year, the responses came flooding in. Nearly 1,000 people weighed in with their cruise wishlist, and the results are fascinating.
Some suggestions are ambitious dreams, while others are totally achievable improvements that could genuinely enhance the cruising experience.
In this post, I’m sharing a 1-through-10 list of the things cruisers actually want to see on ships in 2026.
10 Things Pro Cruisers Want to See on Cruise Ships in 2026
1. A Lazy River on Every Ship
Let’s start with a genuine wishlist item that might seem impossible. A lazy river on a cruise ship sounds like pure fantasy, right? Many cruisers would absolutely love to see this feature added to ships.
When I think about how unlikely this seems, I’m reminded that I was recently docked next to a Carnival cruise ship with a roller coaster on it. Who would have thought that was possible a few years ago? If cruise lines can install roller coasters at sea, maybe lazy rivers aren’t so far-fetched after all.
2. Actually Enforced Adult-Only Pool Areas
This is a genuine gripe among many cruise passengers, particularly regarding hot tubs. People want to see adult-only spaces that are truly for adults and, more crucially, actually enforced.
The same issue applies to pool areas. While some ships do have designated adult-only spaces, enforcement isn’t always consistent. Cruisers aren’t asking for new facilities here, they’re asking for cruise lines to follow through on the policies already in place.
3. Hand Sanitizer Stations Everywhere
Many people agree that hand sanitizer wipes or stations should be available at every elevator, stairway, and even at tables in the dining room. This one makes a lot of sense from a health perspective.
I’ve been on plenty of cruises where I do see hand sanitizers outside elevator banks and before you enter the dining room. On my recent Princess Cruises sailing on Star Princess, there were handwashing stations throughout the ship.
When it comes to having sanitizer at individual tables, I think we might need to bring our own. If you want your own hand sanitizer or wipes at your table, consider packing a small bottle or a few wipes in your handbag. It’s a simple solution that puts you in control.
4. Smart Technology Across All Ships
Cruisers are increasingly asking for smart technology to make their experience smoother. In particular, medallion technology or sailor band technology lets you use your device to get into your cabin, board and disembark the ship, and make purchases.
Many cruise lines have really improved their technology with apps over recent years. The Ocean Medallion technology on Princess Cruises has genuinely improved over the years, and I do think it enhances the cruise experience. If you’ve sailed on a Princess cruise with medallion technology, you know how convenient it can be.
5. Smart Elevators on More Ships
Now that we’re getting to the top half of the countdown, these items are getting more important to cruisers. People would love to see smart elevators like MSC has, like Princess Cruises has, and like a couple of Carnival ships have implemented during refits or new builds.
I’ve seen these even at a couple of hotels, and they really do improve waiting times at elevators. They eliminate some of those frustrations with so many people trying to cram into one elevator at a time. Now that people are getting used to this technology, they’re asking for it everywhere.
6. Pool Cubbies and Lockers
This is one of my personal favorites that I’d love to see on many cruise ships. Having cubbies, lockers, or pool valets next to the main pool area just makes sense.
This concept was actually mentioned on our channel about three years ago, and I’m sure it’s been discussed elsewhere too. Especially on family-style cruise ships, it would be helpful to have cubbies for storing flip-flops, towels, and personal items. This would prevent people from taking up a chair just to put their belongings on, which is what happens now.
We do have one cruise line that’s leading the way here. Celebrity Cruise Line’s ship Celebrity XL apparently has cubbies or little lockers available next to the pool. I’ve also heard that Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas might have this feature. If you’ve experienced this on a cruise, it would be great to know whether you think more ships should implement it.
7. Laundry and Ironing Rooms on All Ships
All cruise ships should have a laundry room or at least an ironing room. I definitely think so, especially for people doing longer cruises. Even on short cruises, it’s such a convenience to be able to iron a few items in a safe ironing room.
I’ve seen this on Princess cruise ships, on Carnival cruise ships, and on some older Holland America ships. For cruisers who pack light or travel for extended periods, having access to laundry facilities can make a huge difference in their onboard experience.
8. Water Refill Stations Beyond the Buffet
These days, cruise lines aren’t really allowing you to bring water bottles on board anymore, and many are trying to discourage the use of disposable plastic water bottles. This makes water refill stations even more essential.
This is definitely something cruise lines can and perhaps should implement. Some people even suggested having them on every deck or every two decks, sort of like hotels with ice stations. I’m not sure if that’s 100% possible, but when we were on Virgin Voyages, we did see a water refill station by the pool deck, and I thought that was a really smart idea.
9. More Flexibility with Drink Packages
This is very important to many people. The requirement that two people in a cabin must both purchase drink packages is a major pain point.
I definitely understand why cruise lines have this policy. Over the years, some people have taken advantage and shared packages when they shouldn’t. At the same time, there are legitimate reasons why one person in a cabin might not be able to drink. One person might be pregnant, one person might have medical reasons preventing them from drinking, or someone simply might not drink alcohol at all.
I’d definitely like to see cruise lines find ways to have more flexibility with this policy. People should be able to get the value of a drink package without being forced to overconsume just to get their money’s worth. A secondary suggestion here is that some people would love to see a beer-only package if that’s what they prefer drinking.
Bonus Pool Suggestions
Speaking of pools, we have a couple of other suggestions for ships being built. A covered main pool would be ideal, especially for ships sailing into cooler weather. Cruisers would love to see pools with a retractable roof.
Super important to many people is having main pools with stairs rather than ladders. I have to say I haven’t seen this recently, though I remember on some older ships, I definitely used to see ladders. Having stairs makes pools much more accessible for everyone.
10. Non-Smoking Casinos
What many people really would like to see is a non-smoking casino on every cruise ship. This is something I hear in person and see online constantly.
This is nothing against smokers, by the way. The ratio of people who smoke versus those who don’t smoke in general outside of cruise ships seems to be higher for non-smokers. Even on the ship I was recently on, there’s a non-smoking casino in addition to a smoking casino, but the non-smoking casino is significantly smaller.
Many people on that ship asked, “Why isn’t that reversed?” If cruise lines are going to have casinos, having a substantial non-smoking option or making the entire casino smoke-free would be welcomed by the majority of cruisers.
Honorable Mentions Worth Considering
Beyond the top 10, our community shared several other great ideas that deserve attention.
Luggage Scales at Elevator Banks
People would love to see scales available to weigh luggage at the end of the cruise before going on a flight. This could simply be placed at the elevator banks. We’ve actually seen this on Holland America cruises, and I think it’s absolutely brilliant. It saves people from potential overweight baggage fees.
Enhanced Security Measures
More security on cruise ships, potentially roaming the hallways, was suggested. I didn’t put this in the main list because I don’t think it’s an issue on every cruise line or every ship. I’ve experienced this myself, though there are some ships that seem to have more issues with disturbances. We don’t want to see fights or brawls, so security on certain cruise ships and cruise lines could definitely be addressed.
Family Dining Sections
Some people suggested having dining room areas just for families. The people who say this are those who don’t want to sit near families with young children. They’d like to see some separation between areas where kids are eating in the main dining room and adults-only sections.
Special Dining Additions
Lobster on one night of the cruise was a popular request. While many ships do offer lobster during the sailing, making it a guaranteed feature on one specific night would be appreciated.
Pet-Themed Souvenir Store
Hear me out on this one. I’d love to see items in the main souvenir store like leashes, collars, and even dog plush toys with sounds in them that are cruise line-branded. I have a little dog and love to buy her items when she’s on vacation, and many people agreed this would be a fun addition.
Coded Fitness Classes
Fitness classes should be coded by level. My kids actually went to a Pilates class on a recent cruise, and they said they would have liked to know if it was beginner, intermediate, or advanced. This simple addition would help people choose the right class for their fitness level.
Walking the Plank for Certain Behaviors
Last but not least, a walk the plank for anyone speaking on speakerphone, whether on FaceTime or phone calls in public areas, and for anyone playing games on their iPad with the sound on in the dining room. The walk the plank is obviously a joke, but the sentiment behind it is real. Common courtesy in shared spaces matters.
What Changes Would You Like to See?
Do you agree with this list? What else would you like to see cruise lines implement in 2026 and beyond? The cruise industry continues to evolve based on passenger feedback, and these suggestions show that cruisers are thinking carefully about how to improve the experience for everyone.
From practical improvements like water stations and laundry facilities to larger asks like lazy rivers and advanced technology, these ideas reflect what matters most to people who cruise regularly. Some might be implemented soon, while others might remain on the wishlist for years to come.
What’s at the top of your cruise wishlist? Please let me know in the comments below.