Casinos? Buffets?

[2flacruisers]

Not sure what changes will take place in regard to the changes that may or may not occur in the buffet...it's just not the buffet where many people congregate...what about the casino?  People coming and going...walking thru to get to a theater, people hanging around the bar, and what about the people who stand directly behind you, smoking that cigarette and blowing the smoke in your back to make you get off of their favorite machine?  It has happened more times than not..have someone standing at the entrance with a clicker limiting the amount of people, or limit the time you can play?  I really don't think that anything drastic will be done at this point...not really sure if anything can be done in either case... jus' saying...

[Joebucks]

Casinos are huge money makers. If it requires crews sanitizing a slot machine before someone can use it, handing out gloves, roping off every other machine, etc they'll do it. I just don't see a future where they shut down the casino.

[cruisequeen4ever]

1 hour ago, 2flacruisers said:

Not sure what changes will take place in regard to the changes that may or may not occur in the buffet...it's just not the buffet where many people congregate...what about the casino?  People coming and going...walking thru to get to a theater, people hanging around the bar, and what about the people who stand directly behind you, smoking that cigarette and blowing the smoke in your back to make you get off of their favorite machine?  It has happened more times than not..have someone standing at the entrance with a clicker limiting the amount of people, or limit the time you can play?  I really don't think that anything drastic will be done at this point...not really sure if anything can be done in either case... jus' saying...

I love using the casino onboard, so I’d hate for it to go away. It seems like it’d be easy to have one person’s job be to wipe the buttons of each slot machine after someone leaves. You could maybe press the “call attendant” when you leave to alert them the machine needs to be sanitized. 

[shippmates]

It seems the buffet will be removed when the ships first begin to sail.  They are looking to making it a restaurant.  Anxious to see what other changes being looked at to make cruising safe.  Can not wait to get back on the deck of a ship.

[lenquixote66]

25 minutes ago, shippmates said:

It seems the buffet will be removed when the ships first begin to sail.  They are looking to making it a restaurant.  Anxious to see what other changes being looked at to make cruising safe.  Can not wait to get back on the deck of a ship.

Perhaps slot machines in cabins instead of in a room called a casino.

[zekekelso]

3 hours ago, 2flacruisers said:

Not sure what changes will take place in regard to the changes that may or may not occur in the buffet...it's just not the buffet where many people congregate...what about the casino

 

It's a ship filled with thousands of people. Pretty much everyplace gets crowded. Gonna be interesting what solutions are proposed if they think they can sail while practicing social distancing.

[cb at sea]

By the time cruises start up again, they will have relaxed the "social distancing" thing...it can't continue forever.

 

[later]

That is probably what masks will be for.

[Sunshine3601]

3 hours ago, Joebucks said:

Casinos are huge money makers. If it requires crews sanitizing a slot machine before someone can use it, handing out gloves, roping off every other machine, etc they'll do it. I just don't see a future where they shut down the casino.

100% agree.   There are ways to make the casino remain open with social distancing.   

Just have to re-route people that cut thru the casino to get to theater or centrum on some of the ships.   

just like there are ways to social distance at the pool and sun decks.   will definitely be different than as we know it pre-coronavirus.   Just like at home nothing is what it used to be and we will all deal with it if we want to cruise again. 

[jakeT]

Think about the life boat drill at the beginning of the cruise.  How are they going to move that many people with social distancing.  Or elevators?   Are you going to spend three hours taking a elevator with only three or four people on it. 
just boarding the ship or leaving after the cruise how long will that take ? 

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, shippmates said:

It seems the buffet will be removed when the ships first begin to sail.  They are looking to making it a restaurant.  Anxious to see what other changes being looked at to make cruising safe.  Can not wait to get back on the deck of a ship.

Think changes will have servers and limit Capacity but dont think WJ going anywhere. When I first started Cruising Royal was always servers in there and at Dinner WJ also had Waiters and Table Cloths. Also with Refillable Soda Cups see not using them and only having Crew fill one use Cups. Royal ships I've been going on dont have Freestyle Soda machines so wont effect me anyway

[livingonthebeach]

The Hard Rock Casino opens this Thursday in Tampa with new regulations - these might be adopted by other casinos, either on land or at sea.  

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/hard-rock-hotel-casino-tampa-reopens/67-1122a0bb-9c3b-4622-bdad-032e94ea491f

 

• Mandatory temperature checks for all guests and team members
• All guests must wear masks – no exceptions. Masks will be provided as needed.
• Thousands of slot machines will be turned off to increase social distancing
• Plexiglass barriers will divide players at gaming and poker tables and in customer service areas
• 850 Signs promoting social distancing will be posted around the complex
• More than 100 team members will be assigned to a “Safe and Sound Clean Team” to focus on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces
• Hand-sanitizing stations will be set up at entrances, on the casino floor and throughout the resort
• An ionization system will constantly disinfect the air
• Guest capacity will be reduced by 50 percent at all times

As for the buffet, there are several threads with lots of speculation, but the major consensus is they will more than likely eliminate self-serve and implement a cafeteria-style model where servers hand you plates. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

7 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

The Hard Rock Casino opens this Thursday in Tampa with new regulations - these might be adopted by other casinos, either on land or at sea.  

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/hard-rock-hotel-casino-tampa-reopens/67-1122a0bb-9c3b-4622-bdad-032e94ea491f

 

• Mandatory temperature checks for all guests and team members
• All guests must wear masks – no exceptions. Masks will be provided as needed.
• Thousands of slot machines will be turned off to increase social distancing
• Plexiglass barriers will divide players at gaming and poker tables and in customer service areas
• 850 Signs promoting social distancing will be posted around the complex
• More than 100 team members will be assigned to a “Safe and Sound Clean Team” to focus on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces
• Hand-sanitizing stations will be set up at entrances, on the casino floor and throughout the resort
• An ionization system will constantly disinfect the air
• Guest capacity will be reduced by 50 percent at all times

As for the buffet, there are several threads with lots of speculation, but the major consensus is they will more than likely eliminate self-serve and implement a cafeteria-style model where servers hand you plates. 

Thanks for posting this!  As a frequent casino visitor when on board, it does give a few hints.  However, I expect that many of these measures will relax as we progress through the summer.  Not sure I want to wear a mask at any point on a cruise so if that's in play, we will likely wait it out.

[livingonthebeach]

8 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Thanks for posting this!  As a frequent casino visitor when on board, it does give a few hints.  However, I expect that many of these measures will relax as we progress through the summer.  Not sure I want to wear a mask at any point on a cruise so if that's in play, we will likely wait it out.

 

No problem.  I hear 'ya.  Doesn't seem like a very pleasant experience with all the regulations -- I'm with you. 

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, livingonthebeach said:

The Hard Rock Casino opens this Thursday in Tampa with new regulations - these might be adopted by other casinos, either on land or at sea.  

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/hard-rock-hotel-casino-tampa-reopens/67-1122a0bb-9c3b-4622-bdad-032e94ea491f

 

• Mandatory temperature checks for all guests and team members
• All guests must wear masks – no exceptions. Masks will be provided as needed.
• Thousands of slot machines will be turned off to increase social distancing
• Plexiglass barriers will divide players at gaming and poker tables and in customer service areas
• 850 Signs promoting social distancing will be posted around the complex
• More than 100 team members will be assigned to a “Safe and Sound Clean Team” to focus on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces
• Hand-sanitizing stations will be set up at entrances, on the casino floor and throughout the resort
• An ionization system will constantly disinfect the air
• Guest capacity will be reduced by 50 percent at all times

As for the buffet, there are several threads with lots of speculation, but the major consensus is they will more than likely eliminate self-serve and implement a cafeteria-style model where servers hand you plates. 

Similar with Casinos opening in Arizona and Louisiana, both also have Max 3 at the tables

Edited May 18, 2020 by ONECRUISER

[lenquixote66]

My wife and I love going to casinos ,especially on land .

We will never go back to a casino even after the pandemic ends.

[luvcruzing]

4 hours ago, livingonthebeach said:

All guests must wear masks – no exceptions. Masks will be provided as needed.

But no mention whether smoking will still be permitted?

[Iamcruzin]

3 hours ago, luvcruzing said:

But no mention whether smoking will still be permitted?

How do you smoke if you are wearing a mask?

[luvcruzing]

4 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

How do you smoke if you are wearing a mask?

I don’t know. I’m not a smoker.  That’s why I asked.

[livingonthebeach]

6 minutes ago, luvcruzing said:

I don’t know. I’m not a smoker.  That’s why I asked.

 

You can pretend.  Seriously, it's a good thing for us non-smokers. 

 

[Mapleleafforever]

1 hour ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

You can pretend.  Seriously, it's a good thing for us non-smokers. 

 

There's a good chance that there will no longer be smoking allowed. 

[sellwingri]

15 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Think changes will have servers and limit Capacity but dont think WJ going anywhere. When I first started Cruising Royal was always servers in there and at Dinner WJ also had Waiters and Table Cloths. Also with Refillable Soda Cups see not using them and only having Crew fill one use Cups. Royal ships I've been going on dont have Freestyle Soda machines so wont effect me anyway

Michael Bailey already announced that the Windjammer won’t be a buffet when they reopen.  It’ll be some type of restaurant.

[ramja96]

20 hours ago, 2flacruisers said:

and what about the people who stand directly behind you, smoking that cigarette and blowing the smoke in your back to make you get off of their favorite machine?

 

Anyone trying that with me will very quickly regret that decision. 😈

[ramja96]

19 hours ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

You could maybe press the “call attendant” when you leave to alert them the machine needs to be sanitized. 

 

The major flaw in this idea is that this assumes the person using the machine gives half-a-crap about the next person.  And if you've ever been on a cruise ship ... well .... we all know how that goes. 🙄

[ramja96]

After all is said and done with the buffet discussion, it seems to me the easiest solution is to maintain the Windjammer layout and just remove the ability for passengers to help themselves. Instead, they should have servers handing out servings that you point out to them. I've thought for years they should have already been doing that.