Do Cruise Ships Have Libraries?

Cruise ship libraries are designed to maximize available space, with comfortable seating areas and ample natural light. They are often found onboard ships, with volumes filling every nook and cranny of the ship, from the Viking Living Room atrium to the Carnival ships’ onboard libraries. Some cruise lines have completely abandoned libraries, while others have preserved them by making them hybrid spaces.

Carnival ships feature an onboard library where passengers can grab a book and take it to their favorite reading spot. However, smaller luxury ships without many onboard activities or entertainment often have larger libraries. Most cruise ships still have libraries, but the selection is limited. Some passengers prefer to read on tablets for convenience, while others prefer to leave books in the library for future passengers.

Some exceptions to the library include Cunard, Oceania, Silverseas, and American Steamboat Company. Holland America’s ships have decent libraries, with their newest ships boasting beautiful large libraries with fresh books. Royal Caribbean Cruises, for example, has a bookshelf in the game room library where passengers can take and leave books. Some ships boast more than 7,000 volumes and have full-time librarians.

Carnival ships also offer a respite from the loud and noisy atmosphere of cruise ships. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 has the largest library at sea, with about 10,000 volumes. The wide range of reading materials available from the library on board a Cunard cruise ship includes over 6,000 titles and the opportunity to join the Cunard Book Club as you sail.