Housekeeping

Would it bother you to see a used room service tray in the hallway outside another guest's room? Would it bother you a great deal?

If not, you are in good company - most people do not notice or care. Frankly, virtually all cruise ships are kept to a standard of cleanliness and maintenance most hotels would envy. (Most hotels don't have the staff that cruises do.)

However, if you would care about an errant room service tray, then you should look for a cruise line that shares your standards. Fortunately for you, there are quite a few. (You may wish to refer to our cruise line cleanliness and maintenance ratings.)

In general, the more expensive the cruise, the cleaner it is. Also, ships on longer cruises where guests spend more time onboard tend to be well looked after. Ships catering to a weekend party crowd are the least tidy.

In addition to the above guidelines, Oceania, Holland America Line, and Royal Caribbean are particularly fastidious for their price categories.

On the flip-side, Celebrity and Azamara can be surprisingly sloppy.