Gary Bembridge author of "The Cruise Traveler's Handbook" provides another 60-Second Cruise Tip. For more visit http://www.60secondcruisetips.com and subscribe free to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio and TuneIn Radio
Beach towels
You do not need to pack beach towels when you go cruising. Cruise lines will supply them but deal with how they give them to you differently.
Value cruise lines, like MSC Cruises, require you to sign out beach towels against your cruise card from a booth on the pool deck or when you get off the ship in destinations with beaches or water parks. If you do not return the towels you will be charged for them. It is important to make sure when you return towels that your account has been cleared.
Premium cruise lines, like Cunard, usually have a beach towels in your stateroom that they will replenish after you have used them, as they do for your bath towels. They also have them available around the swimming pools without requiring you to sign them out.
As with all linen, cruise lines are trying to reduce unnecessary use of detergents and water and encourage you to reuse beach towels and bath towels. On value lines you can retain the towel for your entire cruise and on luxury lines they will only be replaced if left on the floor or in the bathtub.
