Banquet Or Buffet Style???

[chipmaster]

3 hours ago, Earthworm Jim said:

Like Jimbo, I think they may have an interim solution. While we are awaiting a vaccine (hopefully), I think they'll sail with reduced capacity thus making the use of servers in the Lido viable. But once the vaccine is out and full capacity resumes, I don't think serving at the tables would be fast enough given the crowds.

 

At that point, the could conceivably go back to the old self serve buffet. But is suspect, at least initially, they will be serving you on the buffet.

 

Which brings up an interesting question: Assuming a vaccine becomes available, do you think Carnival might require proof of vaccination to permit you to board? It would make a lot of sense from their liability standpoint. But there are a lot of those anti-vax people around and no doubt some of them are cruisers. They would not be happy about such a development.

 

Vaccine yes, just right up there with the signs that say no shirt/ no shoes no service.  Then the US tried to to add no mask no service and people started showing up with guns.

 

I hope the cruise, airlines and such will be successful with no mask no fly just like they enforced clothing.  

 

Vaccines I hope they find that unicorn but think we'll be in the mitgation/containment stage for another year or more.   Even if a vaccine magically appears and get's tested and validated for efficacy it will take more than a year to get the required doses out.  Look at how we did with a low tech mask, think vaccine with needed dispensary will be easy and fast, nope.   

 

 

[jetsfan58]

My objective/perspective as the initiator of this commentary is for the content to be totally informational. I have had the God Blessed opportunity to speak with and learn from some of the most influential minds in our Country. The two things they all had in common were total transparency and total respect for God. I still today practice those whole-heartily.

 

Hopefully that puts everyone's mind at ease and our very educational and somewhat speculative commentary can continue.  

 

    

[naxer]

For our B2B on the Panorama that we got in under the wire, we ate at the Cucina del Capitano and Jiji's for lunch most days.  We liked checking off what we wanted and having it brought to us, and it was never crowded.  Perhaps more venues go to that model, and include the toppings and salsas and such.  We preferred the buffet for supper.  We used it to avoid the MDR hubbub.  If the supper buffet goes, I hope to find an in-and-out alternative to the MDR.

Edited May 22, 2020 by naxer

[Butterbean1000]

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

Thought I saw a post that a Carnival employee would be monitoring stations like self-serve ice cream and Guys toppings.

I know. But the topping are such a personal thing.  Like building your own masterpiece.   I just dont think that'll translate with someone else doing it 😆

[ninjacat123]

Just now, Butterbean1000 said:

I know. But the topping are such a personal thing.  Like building your own masterpiece.   I just dont think that'll translate with someone else doing it 😆

Maybe we will have extra-long tongs to access the toppings😜

[seaman11]

21 minutes ago, chipmaster said:

 

LOL dim sum style you say, push little carts.  Think there will still be a riot as they couldn't come fast enough or often enough with all the volume that they push thru the big eaters on the ship.

i agree it would be a challenge , , im hoping they just have the buffet but serve us. 

[Saint Greg]

I would be more likely to eat there if it were served by staff...Cafeteria style. I just can’t do the buffet when everyone is touching the tongs. Sometimes they lay the tongs down in the food. Last cruise I saw a kid sneeze into his hand and then pickup the tongs with that hand. A couple cruises ago I saw a guy with is stomach hanging out of his shirt really really close to the Mongolian wok noodles...can’t do it.

[Joe817]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

Def see this as a strong possibility

YES!

[mistycruiser]

I know others have mentioned having lunch availability in the MDR but maybe instead expand the brunch to port days as well as sea days. JMHO

[jperry2011]

10 hours ago, jetsfan58 said:

Cruise Critic members good morning. I read an article where another major Cruise company is contemplating changes to their food service structure. Would like to know everyone's outlook/insight/perspective on where Carnival might land? I know that we all have no "Crystal" ball and/or have not been invited to any Board Meetings. Just trying to see where you guys are with your mindsets?      

 

Let's pray that we get back to Cruising soon and whatever the Cruise Lines decide I am "Ready To Resume" 

Temporary changes for the initial "half capacity" cruising followed by some form of permanent changes... 

I can't imagine how a full buffet area around lunch time could work at all with even more cruise employees crowding that area attempting to bring multiple plates to each table over and over... sounds like a bigger mess than usual.

 

If I had to guess the buffets will return to normal maybe with mandatory hand washing or use of hand sanitizer before entering.. standing up at the line feeding yourself wont make a difference cruise ships arent spacious by any means. One way or another if someone is infected alot of other passengers will get the virus by the pool, elevators, casino, shows, gym, spa, shops, or at ports..

So what do we do?

Live with it. Don't ruin everything we have come to love about this country including cruising over a virus. Get out and enjoy yourself.... or stay locked inside forever and hide. Your choice.

[sgttami]

3 hours ago, ray98 said:

Well now that the CDC says surface transmission is unlikely I don't think it is something that needs change.  The person serving you the food could be a bigger danger than serving yourself.

I got really turned off on my last cruise in January.  I was in the MDR for dinner and my waiter sneezed, wiped his hands on his pants and then went to hand me my menu.  He then just placed the menu on the table and began telling me how he was "feeling sick all week."  Oh boy.....(LOL)

[Saint Greg]

26 minutes ago, mistycruiser said:

I know others have mentioned having lunch availability in the MDR but maybe instead expand the brunch to port days as well as sea days. JMHO

 

If they did that I wouldn't be able to get avocado toast or the broccoli and cheddar scramble on a port day....

[coevan]

2 hours ago, seaman11 said:

I kinda feel the carnival crowd would riot without a buffet. I think it will be like a served buffet. Maybe the food is not out but brought to the table like mini buffet style.  

 

 

not sure what mini buffet is , but simply the term buffet says it all. If there is no food out, it's called waiter service.

[Doggielover68]

I would be totally okay with a served buffet. It cuts down on both waste and germs. 

 

A paid hot breakfast option (not those weird breakfast sandwiches) via room service would be nice and may cut down on the lido crowds in the morning. 

 

I tend to eat very little of the self serve food items anyway.

[scpirate]

8 hours ago, solocruzin said:

Wherever possible, staff is serving guests at food stations, including the Lido buffet and ice cream machines. Where not possible due to layout restrictions or other locations such as condiment set-ups and salsa bars, dedicated personnel are posted to monitor these stations and service and ensure they are cleaned and sanitized in a timely manner. In any self-service areas that remain, serving utensils are replaced on a more frequent basis.

 

From Carnival's website....

That's basic food safety .should have been done all along.i think they should keep on like they been doing before the zombie appacolypse and not worry about it.if your scared stay home.when they let this die down something else will come up it always has and always will.

[scpirate]

42 minutes ago, Doggielover68 said:

I would be totally okay with a served buffet. It cuts down on both waste and germs. 

 

A paid hot breakfast option (not those weird breakfast sandwiches) via room service would be nice and may cut down on the lido crowds in the morning. 

 

I tend to eat very little of the self serve food items anyway.

There will always be food waste.people will not eat something they don't like.if it looks good but tastes bad people won't eat it.i was raised not to waste food and I didn't no matter but now that I'm old I'm not punishing myself like that if it's garbage it's garbage.in my opinion carnival food is garbage for the most part.last carnival Cruise 5 years ago I tossed a lot of food.it was just bad I was glad it was only a 5 day.we ate from the deli everyday and it wasn't that good either.

[scpirate]

3 hours ago, seaman11 said:

I kinda feel the carnival crowd would riot without a buffet. I think it will be like a served buffet. Maybe the food is not out but brought to the table like mini buffet style.  

Like going to a diner you stand in line they throw the meat and 2 veggies of your choice on a plate and you go huddle somewhere to eat.we actually had our best meals in those greasy spoons.they can do what they want but I'm pretty sure there aren't enough anti buffet people to keep the cruise lines in business if that's their passenger base.

[Joe817]

46 minutes ago, scpirate said:

There will always be food waste.people will not eat something they don't like.if it looks good but tastes bad people won't eat it.i was raised not to waste food and I didn't no matter but now that I'm old I'm not punishing myself like that if it's garbage it's garbage.in my opinion carnival food is garbage for the most part.last carnival Cruise 5 years ago I tossed a lot of food.it was just bad I was glad it was only a 5 day.we ate from the deli everyday and it wasn't that good either.

So tell me, if your last Carnival cruise was 5 years ago, why do you keep coming back, continually complaining about the horrible experience you had with them? Don't you think it's time for you to move on to another cruise forum that's more suited to what you enjoy??

[siestakeys04]

My daughter was on the last sunshine sailing before the shut down they had hand sanitizer stations everywhere servers were at the buffet and there were single serving of condiments in the dining room and if you needed salt and pepper the servers did it for you. There were also people serving the ice cream. That’s all I could remember she said.

[TNcruising02]

2 hours ago, sgttami said:

I got really turned off on my last cruise in January.  I was in the MDR for dinner and my waiter sneezed, wiped his hands on his pants and then went to hand me my menu.  He then just placed the menu on the table and began telling me how he was "feeling sick all week."  Oh boy.....(LOL)

That is so gross.  On my last cruise, which was Harmony of the Seas, they had crew members staffed at the self serve ice cream.  They wore gloves, but I saw one guy take his hat off and slick back his hair with his gloved hand.  Then he touched the ice cream cones to serve to people.  Yuck.  I don't have a problem with crew members serving the ice cream, but I would much rather they used some type of tissue to hold each cone.  Just because someone is wearing gloves doesn't mean they haven't hand their hands all over their face.  I would rather get the ice cream myself with clean hands and use the hand that didn't touch the machine to hold it.

Same goes for the masks.  I went to the grocery store and the cashier was wearing gloves and a mask while ringing up my groceries.  Then she pulled her mask down so that her nose was exposed and wiped her hand over her nose several times before going back to handling my groceries.  It was so gross.

[Doggielover68]

1 hour ago, scpirate said:

There will always be food waste.people will not eat something they don't like.if it looks good but tastes bad people won't eat it.i was raised not to waste food and I didn't no matter but now that I'm old I'm not punishing myself like that if it's garbage it's garbage.in my opinion carnival food is garbage for the most part.last carnival Cruise 5 years ago I tossed a lot of food.it was just bad I was glad it was only a 5 day.we ate from the deli everyday and it wasn't that good either.

There is still less waste...there is always some waste. That's why when served, they serve smaller portions. You can always ask for more later.

[RWolver672]

12 hours ago, jetsfan58 said:

Also will the vaccine be available to all US Citizens at no cost or low cost? What about the millions of Americans that unfortunately don't have insurance coverage? Are they to be denied the right to Cruise just because they can't afford the vaccine? I will continue to take my concerns to God who in the end , really has the final say!! 

 

If they can afford to cruise, then they should be able to afford the vaccine.  Even without insurance.

[grandmarnnurse]

12 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Maybe we will have extra-long tongs to access the toppings😜

But the issue is TOUCHING the tongs. That is why the staff started serving at the buffet. But they did not do that at toppings area, and think that will also change. Who knows. We just have to wait and see. I’m glad I’m not on the first to sail, and I have several cruises going ahead of mine to see how it works out. By the time I cruise in January, I should feel confident (or not at all).

[grandmarnnurse]

1 hour ago, RWolver672 said:

 

If they can afford to cruise, then they should be able to afford the vaccine.  Even without insurance.

Please see my comment on page one. Having no insurance is a choice. If they are low income, it’s given to them while we pay for it. And if they are that low income, they can’t afford to cruise either. If they choose cruising over purchasing health insurance, well, they are just idiots. 

[jetsfan58]

Grandmannurse good morning. I really don't think it's a choice whether to have insurance or not. The choice is rather to feed, clothe and provide essentials for your family each month. Are we to assume that hard working poor people are not due a vacation? They have as much right to sail as the rest of us. However their current financial situation deems that they can't save enough to vacation, buy insurance and survive at the same time. I would bet given a choice they would choose to continue to work, desire a living wage for their work and take a well deserved vacation at least sometimes. Actually the majority of the major programs that assisted many of our less fortunate citizens have somehow lately magically disappeared.