Royal Caribbean has confirmed the return from the self-service buffet whatsoever vessels starting on April 2, the company announced on its official blog.
“On cruises departing on or after April 2, 2022, Royal Caribbean International will bring back self-service dining in guest-favorite venues aboard, such as the Windjammer Marketplace, Solarium Bistro, and also at private destinations,” their blog reads.
The cruise company continues to provide single-serve meals that do not require use of any serving utensils.
“Grab-and-go dishes and single-serving portions will continue as a permanent offering – they've become popular options, and keeping them is among the top requests from our guests.”
The announcement comes just 72 hours following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed its cruiseship risk advisory on March 27.
“While cruising will invariably pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers will make their very own risk assessment when choosing to visit on the cruise ship, much like they are doing in most other travel settings,” CDC spokesman Dave Daigle said within an email. CDC spokesman David Daigle said within an email.
A associated with the said it “demonstrates the industry's transition to pre-pandemic operations.”
According to the CDC, “food and beverage stations may be operated as self-service in the cruise operator's discretion.”
Distancing ought to be encouraged by cruise companies by using physical guides to handle passenger movement, providing signage for social distance, and achieving enough employees to monitor distancing.
Furthermore, cruise lines must provide hand sanitizers at entrances to food and beverage stations, “ensure an adequate way to obtain high-touch materials (serving spoons, tongs, etc.) to reduce sharing of utensils by many guests, limit seating capacity at buffets.”
