Guests Complain Over Pullman Bed Issue (I Had The Opposite Problem!)

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A recent guest on a Princess Cruises ship was left frustrated by a policy surrounding the use of Pullman beds in their cabin.

Discovery Princess pullman bed issue

The guest took to social media to share their complaints after they tried to spend more time in their cabin during the day as a family.

Pullman beds – fold-down bunk-style beds that are tucked into the ceiling or wall – are a common feature in many standard cruise staterooms.

They allow families and groups to comfortably sleep up to four passengers in one cabin.

But the guest wasn’t happy after trying to use their stateroom during the daytime on their cruise. The family of four, sailing on Discovery Princess, discovered that their Pullman beds would only be set up during nightly turndown service.

The cabin steward reportedly refused to keep the beds down during the day, citing safety concerns.

This left the family – two adults and two children aged 12 and 9 – with only two twin beds to use during the day.

The guest said the arrangement made their cabin experience “miserable” and wished they had been informed of the policy before booking.

My Opposite Experience

While the steward reportedly cited safety concerns – including potential hazards during emergencies or turbulent sailing conditions – other guests have shared different experiences, stating their Pullman beds remained down for the duration of their voyages aboard the same ship or other Princess Cruises vessels.

I recently sailed on a P&O Cruises ship and I had the opposite problem to this Discovery Princess guest!

Our cabin layout meant that the Pullman beds made the room feel super cramped when they were down – and they often stayed down during the day.

We tried to return to the cabin to relax while the kids were at the kids’ club, and found that the beds were still taking up loads of space!

Kids are in the kids’ club, thought we would come back to the cabin to chill for a bit. Then remembered it looks like this

Of course, it’s a different cruise line, but P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises are both owned by the Carnival Group.

This discrepancy suggests the policy may be enforced differently across sailings or crews.

The situation has sparked broader discussion about the challenges of booking cabins for families, especially when cruise lines offer vague or inconsistent information about room layouts and sleeping arrangements.

Pullman beds and sofa beds are all common solutions for accommodating additional guests in cruise ship staterooms, but room setups can vary widely.

Some travellers suggest booking connecting cabins or suites with multiple sleeping areas to avoid surprises.

Cruise lines, including Princess Cruises and its sister brands like Carnival and Holland America Line, encourage guests to review deck plans and stateroom specifications in detail when booking.

Guests are also advised to confirm with customer service or a travel agent if they have specific needs, especially when traveling with children or in groups.

With hundreds or even thousands of staterooms per ship, small oversights in configuration or communication can quickly become pain points for guests.

While some policies – such as bed configurations and Pullman bed availability – may be driven by safety protocols, clearer communication from cruise lines may help manage expectations and avoid similar frustrations in the future.

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