Do all ships encourage everyone to get up and sing and dance in the main dining rooms?

[MrMarc]

First, I have never been a fan of the "shows" in the main dining rooms, I mean I don't go to a production show and ask them to serve me food.  But in any event, I was on Dream last week. There was clearly no distancing of the tables or passengers, and no separation of families with children from those without.  While I was waiting for desert, they made the announcement for the obligatory show. No big deal there, the staff are all wearing masks.  However, they then encourage everyone, who have their masks off because they are eating, to standup and dance and sing.  Who thought this was a good idea?  Why take all the other precautions when you plan to put large portions of the passengers together and encourage them to ignore them?  I spoke both with the  maitre d' and customer service do based on their replies to me.   Not to mention that after the initial boarding, I did not see one single staff member say anything to the people who were not wearing masks properly or at all, which grew over the course of the week as people realized no one was going to make them follow the rules.  They need to make up their minds as to whether they are going to actually take this seriously or not.  I had a great time anyway, I just avoided the main dining rooms and either didn't get on or got off elevators when people were not wearing masks.  It is just frustrating to see another place where rules only apply to those of us who choose to follow them.

[TravelGirlinDallas]

I was on this same sailing. There were hardly any kids on board. I thought that the mask-wearing was pretty consistent except during the shows in the main theater. They had crew stationed at every door of the buffet area wearing string backpacks full of masks that they gave to anyone not already wearing one.

[MrMarc]

8 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

I was on this same sailing. There were hardly any kids on board. I thought that the mask-wearing was pretty consistent except during the shows in the main theater. They had crew stationed at every door of the buffet area wearing string backpacks full of masks that they gave to anyone not already wearing one.

Yes, I agree about the buffet, but that was the only place I ever saw that happen.  None of the "Heide Ho, Gotta Go" parties (I liked him, but not his catch phrase) or anywhere else.  Understand, it was very easy for me to avoid situations that made me uncomfortable, and I never said a word to anyone about what they were doing, but I did get a number of "stink eyes" when I got off elevators.  Actually I thought that was funny because I was changing what I did, not asking them to change what they were doing.  The lack of enforcement did not surprise me, then encouragement did.

[TravelGirlinDallas]

Masks weren’t required outside on deck.

[Purvis1231]

To be honest if you are expecting social distancing- a cruise may not be the vaction for you. 

[tallnthensome]

That would be annoying to expect anyone to stand up in the MDR to sing and dance. Not why I am there and I'd be irritated if expected to do so. 

[MrMarc]

24 minutes ago, Purvis1231 said:

To be honest if you are expecting social distancing- a cruise may not be the vaction for you. 

Then perhaps the cruise lines should not claim they are following it.

[MrMarc]

26 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

Masks weren’t required outside on deck.

Except in large groups.  These are their rules, not mine.  I am just saying either enforce them or get rid of them.

[TravelGirlinDallas]

[TravelGirlinDallas]

Look, we wore our masks at all times indoors except when eating, and often outdoors because we forgot to take them off. My perception was that compliance was pretty good overall. Perfect? No. Did I feel safe onboard? Definitely yes.

[Virga]

I was also surprised that they encouraged people to get up and move around dancing and singing maskless during dinner - I was not concerned, but surprised.  We knew we were taking on some amount of risk cruising now, and took additional tests upon our return to ensure our continued negative status, but it felt strange to see such 'risky behavior' being prompted by the crew.

 

Especially because in the casino, I could literally have an ecig IN MY MOUTH and be approached by a staff member offering me a mask (with much lower protection than the n95 I keep on my wrist while puffing) and reminding me that masks were required in the casino between sips and when not smoking.  I was a bit snippy about it the third time it happened - because I was REALLY good about masking when I wasn't puffing or taking a sip - and suggested that if using an ecig didn't qualify as smoking, perhaps I should be able to use my ecig anywhere onboard.  I felt badly afterwards - that had to be the most thankless job on the ship - but it was still irritating.  Especially considering the minimal enforcement we saw elsewhere on the ship, and things like encouraging others to dance past my table maskless.  

 

Again, we were not personally concerned with the added/unnecessary risks - we were without a doubt safer with 100% vaccinated adults around us on a ship than would be eating out here in Florida.  It just felt contradictory to ask for sip and cover in venues while encouraging a conga line to merrily sing its way past my table.  

[AHS123]

In 22 Carnival cruises I've never heard the MDR maitre d' announce: " Everyone stand up and dance and sing along with the waiters in the aisles, come on! Get up it's YOUR show time too!! " 

[MrMarc]

22 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

I was wrong, I didn't see that.  However, I can tell you that they were not distancing children or their families in the dining rooms or anywhere else.  It's honestly not strictly about safety though for me. 

[MrMarc]

1 minute ago, AHS123 said:

In 22 Carnival cruises I've never heard the MDR maitre d' announce: " Everyone stand up and dance and sing along with the waiters in the aisles, come on! Get up it's YOUR show time too!! " 

Then you were not on the Dream last week, at least at the one meal I ate at, because those were almost his exact words.

[MrMarc]

23 minutes ago, Virga said:

I was also surprised that they encouraged people to get up and move around dancing and singing maskless during dinner - I was not concerned, but surprised.  We knew we were taking on some amount of risk cruising now, and took additional tests upon our return to ensure our continued negative status, but it felt strange to see such 'risky behavior' being prompted by the crew.

 

Especially because in the casino, I could literally have an ecig IN MY MOUTH and be approached by a staff member offering me a mask (with much lower protection than the n95 I keep on my wrist while puffing) and reminding me that masks were required in the casino between sips and when not smoking.  I was a bit snippy about it the third time it happened - because I was REALLY good about masking when I wasn't puffing or taking a sip - and suggested that if using an ecig didn't qualify as smoking, perhaps I should be able to use my ecig anywhere onboard.  I felt badly afterwards - that had to be the most thankless job on the ship - but it was still irritating.  Especially considering the minimal enforcement we saw elsewhere on the ship, and things like encouraging others to dance past my table maskless.  

 

Again, we were not personally concerned with the added/unnecessary risks - we were without a doubt safer with 100% vaccinated adults around us on a ship than would be eating out here in Florida.  It just felt contradictory to ask for sip and cover in venues while encouraging a conga line to merrily sing its way past my table.  

Exactly.

[AHS123]

3 minutes ago, MrMarc said:

Then you were not on the Dream last week, at least at the one meal I ate at, because those were almost his exact words.

I answered your question. In case you've forgotten you asked: Do all ships encourage everyone to get up and sing and dance in the main dining rooms?

[MrMarc]

Just now, AHS123 said:

I answered your question. In case you've forgotten you asked: Do all ships encourage everyone to get up and sing and dance in the main dining rooms?

Good point.  I thought you were implying that they did not on my cruise.  You absolutely did not say that, I misread it into your answer.  That makes what was done even stranger.

[MrMarc]

31 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

Look, we wore our masks at all times indoors except when eating, and often outdoors because we forgot to take them off. My perception was that compliance was pretty good overall. Perfect? No. Did I feel safe onboard? Definitely yes.

It goes to show how people on the same cruise can have totally different experiences.  I bet a lot of that has to do with the times and locations we were at.  What I really noticed was that as the cruise went on, I saw more and more people without masks in the halls and elevators.

[Virga]

1 minute ago, AHS123 said:

I answered your question. In case you've forgotten you asked: Do all ships encourage everyone to get up and sing and dance in the main dining rooms?

 

Even when it's not something anyone says over the microphone - that is hit or miss - I have NEVER been on a Carnival cruise where some staff members aren't gesturing wildly at the groups who appear to be entertained, trying to get them in on the action. This last one was no different.  Again, didn't have a personal concern about it, it just felt out of place and contradictory with a 'this is a sip and cover venue' sign at the piano bar.  And I can understand anyone who was spending most of their unmasked time alone on their balcony being peeved that this particular MDR practice was business as usual.  

[Old Fart Cruisers]

2 hours ago, MrMarc said:

First, I have never been a fan of the "shows" in the main dining rooms, I mean I don't go to a production show and ask them to serve me food.  But in any event, I was on Dream last week. There was clearly no distancing of the tables or passengers, and no separation of families with children from those without.  While I was waiting for desert, they made the announcement for the obligatory show. No big deal there, the staff are all wearing masks.  However, they then encourage everyone, who have their masks off because they are eating, to standup and dance and sing.  Who thought this was a good idea?  Why take all the other precautions when you plan to put large portions of the passengers together and encourage them to ignore them?  I spoke both with the  maitre d' and customer service do based on their replies to me.   Not to mention that after the initial boarding, I did not see one single staff member say anything to the people who were not wearing masks properly or at all, which grew over the course of the week as people realized no one was going to make them follow the rules.  They need to make up their minds as to whether they are going to actually take this seriously or not.  I had a great time anyway, I just avoided the main dining rooms and either didn't get on or got off elevators when people were not wearing masks.  It is just frustrating to see another place where rules only apply to those of us who choose to follow them.

We always do 'your time dining' and try to arrive in the MDR after "it's Ssssssshhhhowtime!" is over so we can enjoy our meal without having to wait for the servers to finish the ridiculous dance routine and get back to serving the meal.

[outdoors27]

2 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

That would be annoying to expect anyone to stand up in the MDR to sing and dance. Not why I am there and I'd be irritated if expected to do so. 

Your never expected to stand up and participate but I always encourage my daughters to do so and have some fun.

[TravelGirlinDallas]

I saw 3 Showtimes while we were on board. They no longer asked people to twirl their napkins, although a few did anyway. They did encourage people to dance along, but I only saw one lady get up and do it. The section she was in had mostly empty tables.

[outdoors27]

So what's the big deal about the dinner entertainment anyways, it's what Carnival does. It's fun and maybe if people don't like it, move on and sail on another line rather than complain, Carnival won't miss you.  

[MrMarc]

2 hours ago, outdoors27 said:

So what's the big deal about the dinner entertainment anyways, it's what Carnival does. It's fun and maybe if people don't like it, move on and sail on another line rather than complain, Carnival won't miss you.  

I don't think you understand what I am saying, and they do those shows on every line.  Just because I don't personally like them doesn't mean I think they should stop them.  A lot of people enjoy them.  It's just that encouraging audience participation with no masks right now is just not a good idea right now, and is totally inconsistent with\. and possibly negates, all of the other precautions they are taking.  I never threaten to cancel my cruise or never cruise on a particular cruise line because I know that it would make absolutely no difference.  I'm not that important. I find it humorous when people think they are.

[MrMarc]

2 hours ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

I saw 3 Showtimes while we were on board. They no longer asked people to twirl their napkins, although a few did anyway. They did encourage people to dance along, but I only saw one lady get up and do it. The section she was in had mostly empty tables.

Having the shows is not the issue to me, it was encouraging the audience participation.  If anything, they need to discourage it, or at least remind people to put their masks back on before they join in.  That would be supportive of their other protocols rather than negating them..