Towel animals: Everything you need to know about this treasured cotton tradition

For many travelers, the adorable menagerie that appears in your cabin each night is a highlight.

That’s certainly true for me. I’ve been an avid towel animal fan for as long as I can remember – from family trips when our daughters were little, squealing with delight at each character. new animals, until our recent “empty nest” cruises when I came ashore with thousands of photos of each towel animal.

How did bandana animals become such a fixture in the world of cruises? Are people really more bananas than monkeys like me? Read on for the answer and everything else you might not know about those adorable towel-wrapped animals.

What is a cruise towel animal?

Also known as origami towels, towel animals are a long-standing tradition on cruise ships. Flight attendants fold towels into animal shapes and leave them in your room during housekeeping.

They create everything from floppy-eared elephants and stingrays that sit on your bed to monkeys and bats that hang from the closet railing. The characters are usually decorated with paper eyes and button noses but may also wear a few accessories. Your elephant can hold the next day’s activity planner or a few pieces of chocolate while you wear sunglasses or a baseball cap.

Despite their name, travel towel animals are not always made from towels. Sometimes they’re made from a blanket, washcloth, or the T-shirt you left in bed that morning.

When did bandana animals become a tradition on cruise ships?

Although the origin story of cruise ship towel animals is murky, Festival cruise line is often credited with starting this trend. According to the story, members of the Carnival hotel team began making bandana animals for guests in 1991. Passengers loved them so much that the bandana animals became a staple of the cruise ship experience. calendar.

“It has been amazing to witness the evolution of the towel animals, the immense creativity of their group members,” said Stefan Christoffersson, vice president of housekeeping at Carnival. me and the wonderful reception from our guests over the decades.”

Towel animals remain extremely popular with passengers and have become somewhat associated with cruise ship culture. You will find countless magnets, t-shirts, keychains, tourist cabin door decoration and stickers for bandana animals on sites like Amazon and Etsy. I even discovered a miniature painting”How to make a scarf animal” your Elf on a Shelf doll kit on Etsy, can be ideal for families Traveling during Christmas.

I even came across it by chance Festival scarf animals fan page on Facebook, followed by people who wanted to share their love of towel-wrapped animals on cruise ships with like-minded people.

Which cruise lines offer towel animals?

Carnival may be the undisputed leader in over-the-top cruise ship towel animal experiences. However, Dutch America, Disney Cruise Line And Royal Caribbean also created animal-shaped scarves for passengers.

In addition to the nightly bandana animal surprises, the Festival goes all out with a bandana animal takeover one morning per ride. Passengers wake up to hundreds of toweled animals all over the ship’s top decks – lining the swimming pools and relaxing on sun loungers. It was one of my favorite mornings on a Carnival cruise. Festival passengers can even take photos with the line’s life-sized towel animal mascots.

Holland America flight attendants leave towels for guests as part of the turndown service. Additionally, “zoos” of towel animals often appear throughout the ship on longer voyages. Going on a cruise vacation with Holland America? Along the lines, expect a special twist on scarfed animals – something new for 2024. Look for holiday-inspired scarf creations, including Santa Claus and his reindeer.

Passengers sailing with Disney can expect daily towel animal surprises in their cabins, along with the line’s chocolate truffles. You can also buy towel animal plush toys – an elephant and a monkey – at the ship’s shops.

Royal Caribbean also handles animal shenanigans with daily towels.

Will shipping lines ban animals wearing towels?

Rumors of bandaged animals being completely banned on cruise ships still spread from time to time. (Apparently, Carnival animals wearing scarves are in no danger of being lightly phased out, as evidenced in the photo above.) It’s true that some lines no longer offer them.

2019, Norwegian Cruise Line has eliminated bandana animals on its ships as part of its efforts to become more environmentally sustainable. The line cited water waste and the costs associated with extra laundry and housekeeping as reasons for shutting down operations. However, if you are traveling with children 12 years old or younger, you can request a towel visit. Just call housekeeping or chat with the room manager once you’re on board.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney and Holland America currently have no plans to remove the beloved tradition from cruisers.

“When we started this fun tradition, with guests finding whimsical dogs and elephants in their living rooms, we could never have imagined that it would start a tradition,” says Christoffersson. is now loved throughout the industry.” “Customers love our bandana animals and so we intend to continue to warmly embrace this tradition.”

How to make animal shaped towels

If you’re sailing with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Disney, you can take a towel animal-making class on board, offered at least once during the cruise (and usually on a cruise day). . Look for towel animal activities in your cruise ship’s daily schedule.

Carnival’s “Towel Creations” book contains step-by-step instructions for creating a variety of animals. You can purchase it on board (for $14.95) during the towel folding class or from the onboard Fun Shop. It is also available from Amazon. The line donates a portion of book sales to St. Louis Children’s Research Hospital. Jude.

Royal Caribbean passengers can take an “Art of Paper Folding” class to hone their napkin and towel folding skills. The line also offers a free download Towel folding booklet (PDF) provides easy-to-follow steps for making lobsters, elephants, monkeys, swans, and other animals.

You’ll also find plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to make your own bandana menagerie when you get home from your cruise vacation.

Bottom line

Although only a few cruise lines offer it, those adorable terrycloth creations are synonymous with the cruise experience.

You’re never too old to appreciate the creativity and whimsy of towel animals. For me, a cute new towel character waiting for me in my cabin is the perfect greeting after a long day by the pool or exploring the harbor.

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