In many ways, cruising today is not the same as it was in the past.
Although many would argue that cruising has evolved for the better with more innovative ships and improved amenities, others would say some cruising standards have gone downhill. Some passengers miss the days of formal dining dress codes, stricter schedules and less technology.
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Even though upgraded onboard internet services and cruise line mobile apps have made it easier for passengers to stay connected and access important cruise information on their cellphones, some passengers still want to disconnect during their voyages.
For those passengers, having a printed version of their cruise ship’s daily activity schedule remains essential. On Carnival Cruise Line ships, passengers can find this schedule and details on everything happening around the ship in the Fun Times, a daily newsletter delivered nightly to passengers’ staterooms.
These days, the Fun Times and all its vital cruise information is easy to access in the cruise line’s Carnival HUB mobile app too. To many, this makes having a printed version distributed to all passengers seem like a waste of time and paper.
Retiring the printed version of the Fun Times has proved problematic, however.
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The daily “Fun Times” schedule is in the Carnival Hub app.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line stopped paper delivery
When Carnival Cruise Line resumed operations post-pandemic, it opted not to continue its nightly practice of delivering the printed Fun Times newsletter to passengers’ staterooms. Although a printed version was still available for passengers to pick up at the Guest Services desk if they wished, passengers were encouraged to use the cruise line’s Carnival Hub app to access their ship’s onboard schedule.
However, for some passengers, using an electronic version of the schedule wasn’t an ideal way to plan their day. Many who preferred the printed newsletter wrote to Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald requesting that the cruise line bring back the nightly delivery of the printed newsletter.
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To those passengers’ delight, Carnival listened and resumed the printed newsletter delivery in 2023. But, as paper-based communication becomes more and more outdated, a discussion about the old-school cruise ship practice has popped up again on Heald’s popular Facebook page.
Recently, a photo of the printed Fun Times newsletter that Heald posted back in 2023 resurfaced on Facebook.
“Did you miss them?” Heald had asked fans when the cruise line brought the Fun Times back to staterooms.
Carnival passengers still want their cruise schedule in print
More than 3,000 people shared their opinions on the printed newsletter in the comments on the photo. When the photo reappeared now in 2025, more chimed in.
It turns out, some passengers still want to disconnect and leave their phones behind during their cruise. For those passengers, having a printed schedule of cruise ship activities and entertainment is a big help.
“Yes, I don’t like carrying my phone at all times on the ship!” wrote B.J. Kelley.
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Other passengers still prefer reading in print over reading on a screen.
“Yes! Look forward every night to perusing them,” commented Cheryl Jean Weltman. “They are easier to read than my phone.”
For other passengers, accessing the onboard schedule in the cruise line’s mobile app is sufficient. As one passenger pointed out, it’s also the best way to get the most accurate, up-to-date information since schedule changes can happen throughout the day.
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“I’m fine using the Hub. In fact, something changed so it was best to use the Hub,” wrote Jackie N Daniel Ringer. “We didn’t miss anything since the hub is able to be updated. Happy to use the hub app.”
And for some passengers, the paper newsletter does seem unnecessary and wasteful.
“Nope too much paper in the room already,” wrote Sonnie Nicole.
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