Self-service in Cabanas

[Dug720]

It was my first time on a classic ship. They've always had those washing stations right outside Cabanas?

Up until that cruise, I'd only been on the Dream/Fantasy, and (at least through 2017) those ships never had washing stations - just CMs handing out wipes.

Not sure where they would put washing stations with the Dream-class layout.....

As long as I've been on the classic ships (granted not until like 2016 or 17) there has been the handwashing station. It may have been retrofitted on during dry dock, I don't know.

I wish they would retrofit it onto the Dream and Fantasy - and hope they're building it into the Wish. I trust soap and water FAR more than wipes.

 

[karen4546]

That's exactly how I remember it...awkward and uncomfortable. At times I felt like I was ordering them around too, like I was standing there and could easily grab whatever, yet I had to ask them to get it for me. I felt like I was treating them as servants and I didn't like that. In fact I was so flustered coming back from dessert and I was saying something to DH, that my heel caught on the upper step where the tables away from the windows are, and I ended up falling, shattered plate and desert went everywhere. I wanted to die!

Our first and only cruise was DCL in 2017. On our Palo day, we ordered the chicken parm and the server said she would escort us to the buffet. Then she and another server proceeded to get plates and ask what we would like. Yeah, that was awkward. Of course if there was anything else we wanted she said she would happily get it for us. My husband asked if that how it was at this restaurant. I had no clue that it worked any differently and I supposed it was just how it was done at Palo. I would go back and didn't mind the "extra" service but I didn't expect to tell the server what I wanted in line at the buffet. I truthfully didn't even know Palo had the buffet portion of the meal.

I am also fine with the Cabanas having them serve the plates. I don't like normal buffets either. Norovirus, coronavirus, or whatever - the mess at the buffet is off-putting. Again, our cruise was in 2017. I was surprised at how many hand sanitizing stations were outside the restaurants. My favorite part of Cabanas was the icecream-the scoops not the soft serve.

 

[squirk]

We were on the Fantasy in 2019 and 2020 and they definitely had hand washing stations already on both of those sailings, and you were highly encouraged to stop there on your way in, but not forced to.

Where did they install them? Outside the doors on both sides of the pool deck?

Where did they put them for the entrances off the aft stairwell? I'm having a hard time visualizing a "good" place back there that could accommodate enough hand-washing during the breakfast or lunch crush.

 

[Whisker]

One has to wonder why DCL would not have instituted this change years and years ago, if they knew it would curb flu/noro outbreaks.

I can only guess that self-serve is cheaper for DCL because you (probably?) need less staff when people are serving themselves. Perhaps the lines move quicker when people serve themselves as well.

our last cruise quite a few years ago was when Noro virus was running rampant. They had hand sanitizer everywhere, were constantly wiping things down and had changed the buffet to be where they would put the food you wanted on your plate for you. I am assuming that is what the "new way" is also. I am surprised to hear that it wasn't a permanent change from back then.... maybe it was the cost? Either way, this was one thing I was happy with and would still be happy with if it's that way now for covid. I grew up outside Las Vegas and have been to more buffets than I can count.... I am always squeamish about who touched the utensils and put back food they had already touched.... I am more than happy to ask for a small or large portion or something and know that my food wasn't handled by 30 little licked fingers.

I would say do not feel bad about asking for just a small bit of something or extra of something else. The servers would rather you have the food you want than see a bunch getting wasted because you were afraid to speak up.

 

[squirk]

I am surprised to hear that it wasn't a permanent change from back then.... maybe it was the cost?

Yes, that’s kind of my point. It’s not “new news” that having the staff serve the food is more hygienic than thousands of people handling the utensils. Yet, DCL (and, to be fair, virtually every other mass-market cruise line) let passengers handle the utensils for decades.

Did self-serve save time or save money? Maybe both, but if I had to pick just one, I’d go with “money” all day long.

 

[Cheburashka]

Yes, that’s kind of my point. It’s not “new news” that having the staff serve the food is more hygienic than thousands of people handling the utensils. Yet, DCL (and, to be fair, virtually every other mass-market cruise line) let passengers handle the utensils for decades.

Did self-serve save time or save money? Maybe both, but if I had to pick just one, I’d go with “money” all day long.

It likely also has a lot to do with the fact that most people prefer to serve themselves at a buffet. It's faster, and it allows people to get exactly what & how much they want.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Did self-serve save time or save money? Maybe both, but if I had to pick just one, I’d go with “money” all day long.

I'm thinking self-serve buffets saved money in the cost of requiring few CMs to oversee and replenish the food units. If DCL goes to a mess hall system, the lines will go faster, and (hopefully) cut-in will be eliminated.

 

[Cheburashka]

(hopefully) cut-in will be eliminated.

The ability to enter the line at any section of the Cabanas buffet was actually one of its strengths...You didn't have to start at the back and wait through the items you weren't interested in. That improved efficiency overall: fewer people in the line because they could quickly get what they wanted and then leave.

And getting seconds of one item, naturally, is a lot easier if you don't have to walk through the entire line to do so. Particularly for families with kids, I don't think a "mess hall" system would be as customer friendly.

 

[squirk]

It likely also has a lot to do with the fact that most people prefer to serve themselves at a buffet. It's faster, and it allows people to get exactly what & how much they want.

I'm thinking self-serve buffets saved money in the cost of requiring few CMs to oversee and replenish the food units. If DCL goes to a mess hall system, the lines will go faster, and (hopefully) cut-in will be eliminated.

Yep, that is what I meant by saving time and money.

Self-service has always been the less-hygienic route, long before COVID reared its ugly head. Yet cruise lines opted for it anyway.

That’s why I am not at all convinced that cafeteria-style is here to stay.

 

[Cheburashka]

Yep, that is what I meant by saving time and money.

But I was referring to the guests' time, not the cruise lines'. Buffet self-service increases most guests' satisfaction and the lines are aware of that.

 

[squirk]

But I was referring to the guests' time, not the cruise lines'. Buffet self-service increases most guests' satisfaction and the lines are aware of that.

I was responding to your comment about time, and @CruisingEngineer's comment about cost.

I guess saving time, in this regard, serves both masters.

 

[mmouse37]

First time I’d experienced it, so I assumed the washing stations were a recent install.

I am guessing, but I think hand washing stations were put in about 2018 or so, so pretty recent.

MJ

 

[Lilsia]

The way I see it is, if people did what they were supposed to do, like washing your hands before you touched the stuff, then they would not have to do this. So many times I have seen grown people go into Cabanas and go straight for the line without washing their hands. I was talking to one of the cast members by the door about this and she said it is common and as we were talking, a guy comes in and she reminded him to wash his hands. He said "it's OK, I took a shower this morning". No joke, this is the mentality of people like it is so hard to wash your hand regularly.

 

[Lilsia]

I kinda like the idea of picking out what I want and the CM serving it on my plate. Hopefully, this will eliminate people and kids cutting the lines - in both directions - just to grab an item I am standing in front of at that moment.

Actually, that is how it is supposed to be, every section for itself. It was not meant to be you starting on one end and going all the way down. Numerous times cast members tell people to just go to the section that they want. It's been like that for the 20 years that I have cruised with DCL. But everyone wants to line up for some reason.

 

[Cheburashka]

The way I see it is, if people did what they were supposed to do, like washing your hands before you touched the stuff, then they would not have to do this.

Washing your hands after setting down your plates on your table (as well as before lining up) is a good strategy to stay hygenic when eating from a buffet. Washed hands or not, a hundred hands on a set of utensils is not ideal, so we always wanted to clean up before eating, after we got our food.

 

[Cheburashka]

Actually, that is how it is supposed to be, every section for itself. It was not meant to be you starting on one end and going all the way down. Numerous times cast members tell people to just go to the section that they want. It's been like that for the 20 years that I have cruised with DCL. But everyone wants to line up for some reason.

Even if they have servers dishing out the food for us, they can still maintain the previous system of cutting in and out of the line. The efficiency of the cut in and out system is that it reduces the number of people in line. It's more hygenic for Covid, actually, which is primarily spread not by touch but by breath, because the line will be less crowded and people will be less packed together.

 

[Lilsia]

Washing your hands after setting down your plates on your table (as well as before lining up) is a good strategy to stay hygenic when eating from a buffet. Washed hands or not, a hundred hands on a set of utensils is not ideal, so we always wanted to clean up before eating, after we got our food.

They really should change out the serving utensils more often. Or have a single use one by every dish. We were just in Hawaii and one of the restaurants that had some self serve items did that. They had a tub of clean tongs, and a place to put the used ones.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Actually, that is how it is supposed to be, every section for itself. It was not meant to be you starting on one end and going all the way down. Numerous times cast members tell people to just go to the section that they want. It's been like that for the 20 years that I have cruised with DCL. But everyone wants to line up for some reason.

Yes, I understand maneuvering between sections in the buffet area. I was referring to adults (or kids), pushing their way into the area and grabbing the utensil right in front of where I am standing. A polite "pardon me" would alert me they are going in to get something. Once I had a mother cut in and proceed to give the entire section menu to a child ... "do you want hash browns, or do you want french fries, or do you want ...... ".

 

[mevelandry]

Actually, that is how it is supposed to be, every section for itself. It was not meant to be you starting on one end and going all the way down. Numerous times cast members tell people to just go to the section that they want. It's been like that for the 20 years that I have cruised with DCL. But everyone wants to line up for some reason.

That’s how it’s supposed to be but IMO a lot of people don´t know that and I had a guy (who was at the opposite side of the station, utensils in hand, still serving himself another item) snap at me once because of that.

 

[mevelandry]

Separate portions (in little bowls) would be a nice way to slowly reintroduce buffet. (With gigantic plates, with lots of compartments).