A reliable supply of water is required everywhere on a cruise ship, not only for bathing and washing, but also for the ship's kitchens, where enormous feasts are created on a daily basis. Desalinated water on a cruise ship contains a very low salt content, measuring less than five parts per million.

No, the tap water and pool water on a modern cruise ship in 2026 is not salty; it is fresh, highly filtered, and perfectly safe to drink. Cruise ships use two primary methods to generate their freshwater supply: Multi-Stage Flash Distillation (which boils seawater and catches the steam) and Reverse Osmosis (which forces seawater through fine membranes to remove salt and impurities). The resulting water is so pure that minerals are often added back in to improve the taste. Interestingly, because this water is "made" on-board, it is often cleaner and more strictly monitored for quality than municipal tap water in many cities. The only exception you might find is some ships maintain a "saltwater pool" as an aesthetic choice, but even these are heavily filtered. For drinking, the water from your stateroom bathroom is the same high-quality water served in the restaurants, though many passengers still prefer bottled water for the convenience or the "familiar" brand taste.