A major cruise line is bucking the trend when it comes to new buffet rules
The self-serve buffet isn't disappearing completely from the cruise world.
A top spokesperson for cruise giant Carnival Cruise Line this week said passengers on its initial comeback sailings out of U.S. ports over the next two months would be able to serve themselves at ship buffets -- something that other lines restarting service are not allowing.
The policy, announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday by Carnival brand ambassador John Heald, comes despite a recommendation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that cruise lines eliminate self-service food and drink options, including self-service buffets from their ships as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
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Carnival will resume cruise operations this weekend for the first time in 15 months with sailings out of Galveston, Texas, and Miami.
The CDC recommendation on buffets, which can be found online in a detailed "operations manual" for cruise ships restarting service out of U.S. ports, is just that -- a recommendation -- in cases where a cruise ship sails with at least 95% of passengers vaccinated for COVID-19.
But it is a CDC requirement for ships that plan to sail out of U.S. ports with less than 95% of passengers vaccinated for COVID-19.
Carnival has said in recent weeks that all of its initial voyages out of U.S. ports this summer would be fully vaccinated sailings where all crew and more than 95% of passengers are vaccinated.
"Because the crew are all vaccinated and because 95% of guests are (vaccinated) as well, and after all the professional advice we have taken, the buffets … are going to be exactly as they were, meaning you will serve yourself," Heald said.
Heald said crew members will remind passengers on its ships to wash their hands before entering buffet lines.
"Put on the hand sanitizer, and then you can serve yourself from the buffet line," Heald said. "And that also includes the ice cream machines, coffee, everything else on the (pool) deck ... you will not see anything different."
Two of Carnival's biggest competitors, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, have restarted departures out of North American ports in recent weeks with new restrictions in their shipboard buffets.
As TPG writers have seen on three initial sailings of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships, passengers no longer are allowed to serve themselves in shipboard buffets. Instead, crew members ladle out food to passengers in buffet lines.
On Celebrity's first sailing out of a U.S. port in 15 months, which is taking place this week, the only major change onboard the ship is that the buffet is no longer self-serve.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees