Cruise Ship Pools: Everything You Want To Know

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Going on a cruise and wanting to know all the details and rules about cruise ship pools? Look no further! This post will answer every question you have.

Cruise pools are a wildly popular place to hang out while on your vacation.

The pool deck is full of fun music, dancing, contests, delicious drinks and more. If you’re a first time cruiser this post is going to answer all of the most asked questions.

This post is all about cruise ship pools.

Common Questions About Cruise Ship Pools

What should I expect?

If you’re going on a cruise and wondering what the pools will be like then this is the post for you! First and foremost, you should expect the pools on a cruise to be packed with people most of the time.

Pools are a super common place to hang out, especially if you’re going on a warm weather vacation!

You should also expect the cruise ship pools to be pretty small in size. Some people don’t end up using this amenity because of these two factors, or they might think they’re too dirty.

Why are the pools so small?

Cruise ship pools are small for a few suspected reasons.

Safety and balance

The most important one is the free surface effect. Water is pretty heavy so in rough seas it could become a stabilty issue. Any stablity issues are obviously a safety concern.

Therefore it is thought that the pools are smaller to have less water aka less risk. You’ll also commonly see pools drained during rough seas for this reason.

More room for pool chairs

Some crusiers think that the cruise lines make the pools a small size so that they can fit more loungers on the pool deck. For your days at sea it is common to see almost every chair taken up by someone trying to soak up the sun.

If the pool was able to be larger, they might not be able to accommodate the thousands of people on board as well as they do with more space for chairs with the current set up.

How many pools do cruise ships have?

Every cruise ship will have at least one pool and a couple hot tubs. However, on most ships you will normally find 2-4 pools and several hot tubs across different floors.

Can I have a drink in the pool or hot tub?

Most cruise lines will allow you to have drinks off of the side of the pool and/or hot tub. Some don’t care if you’re even holding the drink in the pool but there are some that don’t allow it.

An example of a cruise line that doesn’t allow drinks to be held in the water is MSC Cruises. This can be a bummer if you have the drink package and are trying to relax in a hot tub with a drink or want to hang out with friends in the pool.

How often do cruise lines change the water in the pool?

Cruise lines will change the water in the pool at least once a day. Depending on which line and how big the ship is, they may change the water more than once a day.

Cruises need to keep the chemicals in order as well as they can.

Are there indoor pools?

Not every cruise ship will have an indoor pool but some do have them! It’s a great way to be able to enjoy the pool if you’re cruising over the winter or to a cold climate.

Another great perk is if you want to enjoy the pool but want to avoid a sunburn.

There are also some hot tubs that will be covered away from the sun, these are my personal favorite.

Are there adult only pools on a cruise?

Yes!

There should be one adult only pool on most every cruise ship! This is a great way to escape the noise of the main pool or if you do not want to be around kids.

I’ve noticed the adults only pool on some ships can be even smaller than the main pool, but it’s still an option.

Cruises also most of the time will have seperate hot tubs for adults only as well.

Are pools open 24/7 on a cruise?

No!

Cruise ship pools will close at some point at night. This is commonly between 8pm and midnight and will open up in the morning usually between 8am-10am.

If you’re wanting to go on a late night swim to avoid the crowds unfortunately this is not an option for most. Cruises have to take into consideration the safety factor of letting people swim at night because most do not have lifeguards.

They also need time to clean the pools each day.

Can you reserve a chair on the pool deck?

No!

Trying to reserve a chair that you may or may not use is a big no no on a cruise.

Do people techincally get up early on some cruises and put their towels out “claiming” the chair? Yes. Is it right to do that if you aren’t going to be actively using the chair? No.

No one on a cruise ship likes a chair hog so don’t be that person. Cruise lines technically have rules that if you have not been in your chair for 30 minutes they can move your stuff, but it is not well enforced.

If you’re going to take up a chair in a prime spot, be sure to use it and then move your things when you’re no longer going to be occupying the space.

Can kids get in the pools on a cruise?

Yes!

If your child is potty trained then they are able to get in the pools (except the adult only ones of course).

Children in swim diapers are not allowed in the pool on most ships. There are ships on Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean that allow kids to be in a splash pad type area with a swim diaper on.

If this is a concern for your cruise be sure to check what the rules are for the ship you are sailing on or are looking at booking.

Can you smoke by the pool?

This is going to depend on the cruise line. Some do not allow smoking in most of the public areas besides the designated areas and the casino.

MSC Cruises usually allows smoking by one of their pools on their ships.

Cruise Ship Pool Accessories

Here are some tried and tested popular products bought for cruises that you might be interested in.

They do supply towels on a cruise but they aren’t the best quality. If you’re wanting one that is a bit larger, can be customized with your name and dries SO much faster, this is the one for you!

This visor is the perfect option if you’re looking to have some sun coverage but also an easy hat that can roll up to be easily stored in your beach bag!

If you prefer the floppy hat look, this option from amazon is super popular and comes in several different colors.

Sunscreen is so so important when you’re going to be out in the sun for hours. This is one of my favorites for cruises.

Looking for a comfy shoe to wear around the ship or out on a shore excursion? These are the slides for you! I have seen them countless times on a cruise, my husband and I both have a pair and absolutely love them!

I’ve worn them on several cruises and have never haad a blister or had my feet hurt after wearing these all day.

If you’re hanging out on the pool deck you might want a cute cover up to walk around in. This option comes in several colors.

I like to bring a beach bag with me on a cruise not only for shore excursion days but also for the pool deck. These hold my cover ups, sunscreen, drinks, phones, etc.

It can be pretty windy on the pool deck or out in port so I would recommend getting some of these towle clips or bands to keep your towel in place.

This product is a cruise BEST SELLER. It is so convenient! Not only is it a fan for those hot days but also a phone charger and a flashlight. It’s small and compact, perfect for any beach bag.

You might want a waterproof phone case for your cruise if you want to have your phone by the pool and/or hot tub or you are going on a shore excursion that has water involved.

This post was all about cruise ship pools.