Ah, the joys of cruising. Sunsets at sea, endless buffets, and the unmistakable delight of returning to your cabin to find… a towel animal. A swan, perhaps, or maybe a monkey hanging from the ceiling. These adorable creations have been a Carnival Cruise Line staple for over 50 years, and while most passengers adore them, there’s a small but vocal group of curmudgeons (yes, I said it!) who want them banished in the name of environmentalism.
The Towel Animal Conundrum
You heard me right. Some people—presumably those who also enjoy ruining birthday parties and telling kids Santa isn’t real—are taking issue with towel animals. The argument? These whimsical creations waste water and energy because they require laundering after they’ve been displayed. Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald recently shared an email he received from one particularly grumpy guest who complained that towel animals are “only cute if you are a child or have no life.”
First off, kudos to you, dear grump, for throwing shade at thousands of passengers in a single sentence. Bravo. But as Heald—who readily admits to being an “old irrelevant sock puppet”—pointed out, towel animals have been part of Carnival’s charm for over five decades. He’s not about to let a handful of killjoys rain on this towel parade. I mean, who doesn’t want to come back to their cabin and find a tiny towel elephant wearing their sunglasses? Only a monster, that’s who.
Carnival’s Environmental Commitment: More Than Just Towels
Here’s where the debate gets tangled like a poorly folded towel swan. Carnival, like many other cruise lines, has been taking massive strides to reduce its environmental impact. So, it’s not like they’re clueless when it comes to sustainability. In fact, they’ve installed over 600 food waste biodigesters across their fleet. These machines break down food waste using microorganisms, processing everything from pizza crusts to uneaten broccoli 24/7. No, it’s not glamorous, but it’s vital for reducing landfill waste and Carnival aims to cut food waste by 50% by 2030.
They’ve also committed to increasing fleetwide coverage of Advanced Waste Water Treatment Systems to more than 75% by 2030. By 2050, they’re aspiring to have ships that don’t discharge to the ocean or air at all—yep, zero-emission ships. So yeah, Carnival is taking the whole “save the planet” thing seriously. Plastic straws? Gone. Fuel-efficient ships? On the way. But if you think they’re going to throw their towel animals overboard for you, think again.
Towel Animals: Beloved by Passengers (and Me)
In response to the growing controversy, Heald posed a simple question to his social media followers: “Do the towel animals bring you joy and make you smile?” The answer was an overwhelming 97% YES from over 7,000 votes. That’s right, 97%. How many issues in life get that level of agreement? Certainly not whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
One passenger, Cindy Smith Adams, captured the sentiment perfectly: “It’s a highlight of our cruise to see the smile on our grandson’s face each day. We keep them the whole time and take pictures.” Even childless adults, like Kayla Evans, shared their enthusiasm: “They are one of my favorite parts of cruising. I try to save them all week.”
I’m with Kayla. Sure, they’re not Michelangelo’s David, but there’s something magical about seeing how your cabin steward can turn a pile of terry cloth into a convincing alligator. And then there’s the sheer skill involved. Have you ever tried folding a towel into anything more than a rectangle? Good luck. So let’s give credit where it’s due: These towel animals take talent, patience, and imagination—qualities that are far too rare these days.
Environmentalist vs. The Towel Animal: A Fight No One Asked For
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room—no, not the one made of towels. The environmental argument. The cranky complainers claim that these towel animals contribute to unnecessary laundry, which means more soap, more water, and more manpower. And yeah, technically, they’re right. But let’s keep this in perspective. These aren’t giant bath sheets we’re talking about. Most towel animals are made from hand towels and washcloths. It’s not like you’re folding your entire laundry load into a giraffe.
And here’s an idea: How about we use the towel animals? Take your photo, then dry your hair with it. Problem solved! The water, soap, and manpower aren’t wasted if the towels get used. Plus, Carnival room stewards won’t make towel animals if you simply request not to have them. So if you’re really that worked up about it, just tell your steward you want a towel-free cabin. But good luck avoiding the judgmental glances from your fellow passengers.
Let’s be honest, the same people who gripe about towel animals are the ones who also complain about cruise line prices for bottled water. You know the type. They’ll fork over $15 for a specialty cocktail, but scream bloody murder when they have to pay $3 for a bottle of water. Meanwhile, they’re the ones insisting on bottled water because, heaven forbid, they drink the free stuff from the tap.
The Verdict: Keep the Towel Animals
Look, if saving the planet hinges on a few extra towels per cabin, we’re in bigger trouble than I thought. Carnival is doing a lot of great things to reduce its environmental impact, from bio-digesting food waste to working on zero-emission ships. The occasional towel animal isn’t going to single-handedly destroy the planet.
So let’s keep the towel animals, shall we? They’re harmless, they bring joy to most passengers, and they’re part of the quirky fun that makes cruising special. If you don’t like them, ask your steward not to make them. But for the love of all things terry cloth, let the rest of us enjoy our towel monkeys in peace.
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