It may now be 2026 with a new year of cruising fun to look forward to, but for some Carnival Cruise Line guests, old drama is resurfacing in a new way.

One guest who wants a return of old practices in the main dining room restaurants has reached out to John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, for assistance in creating the cruise experience they wish.

“If we bring our own tablecloth to use in the main dining hall would it be too much to ask that it is laundered ready for the next evening’s supper,” the guest asked. “I am Platinum and 71 years old.”

Carnival Cruise Line eliminated tablecloths from its main dining restaurants fleetwide several years ago, citing excessive laundry and environmental conservation measures.

The change was not necessarily well-received by some loyal cruisers, but this 71-year-old’s solution is certainly a novel one.

Heald, however, did note that using and laundering a guest’s personal tablecloth would not be possible.

“I did respectfully answer that we were not able to do this,” he confirmed.

This is not the first time that tablecloths have been subject to controversial suggestions. In May 2025, another guest proposed that Carnival Cruise Line offer tablecloths for a premium fee, with guests paying $10 for the privilege of a linen-topped-table.

Likewise, that suggestion was also not well received by other Carnival cruisers.

Other Guests Agree – The Service Is Not Reasonable

Heald went on to include the tablecloth issue in a poll of unusual guest questions, asking if he might not be correct in denying this unique service.

“Yes, you were wrong, you should have said yes, this is a small thing that Carnival could do,” the poll response noted.

Out of more than 16,200 votes in just a few hours, just 2% of voters (approximately 324 voters) agree that Carnival should launder guests’ personal tablecloths to use them for every dinner service.

In the meantime, a full 33% of voters (roughly 5,346 voters) agree that “no” was the correct response and Carnival should not offer this option.

“I cannot even imagine packing and messing with a tablecloth,” one commenter noted. “I liked them when they were there, but really don’t care that they are not. And, to expect the servers and laundry crew to add this extra work is nuts.”

“I cannot believe people would want Carnival to wash a tablecloth they bring from home for their dinner,” another guest added. “The staff has enough work to do without having to worry about unnecessary things like this.”

A number of guests do miss the elegance and atmosphere of linen tablecloths, but it is not a dealbreaker for a fun cruise vacation.

Why Can’t Carnival Offer This Service?

While Heald did not go into a detailed explanation about why crew members are not able to offer this service, there would be several logistical challenges.

A guest would not know the size or shape of their assigned dining table before boarding their cruise ship, and therefore, what tablecloth would be appropriate to bring?

Would Carnival Cruise Line be liable for damage to what may be a sentimental or heirloom tablecloth if it became irreparably stained or otherwise damaged?

What would be the cost of laundering a personal tablecloth, which undoubtedly would not fit within the allotted laundry bag for a guest’s wash-and-fold laundry service?

If the guest chose to eat at the Lido Marketplace buffet for dinner one evening, or had specialty dining reservations, would they expect their tablecloth to be moved from place to place?

Furthermore, if Carnival Cruise Line did accommodate this type of request, where would such service stop? As another guest rightly notes, there are similar issues that could be included with such requests.

“Next thing you know you’ll be expected to wash their private sheets and comforters too and have those fresh on the bed each day. And for free!” they said.

What about personal bath towels? Or a robe? How about preferred lounge chair cushions? Where might it end?

Do tablecloths make-or-break your cruise dining experience? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival Passenger’s Tablecloth Request Gets Clear Answer From Cruise Line