Get rid of the buffets already!...

[cruizergal70]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

I would just add that apparently when it comes to the cruise lines the CDC is not saying anything except "No cruise."!  It has been reported that cruise lines are developing their own mediation efforts without much (or any) CDC support.  There have been many times (with this virus) when the CDC does not seem to have it's act together.  What they say today may be changed tomorrow and again the next day, etc etc.  

 

Hank

The CDC has bigger things to worry about that cruising and cruise ships. I understand why the cruise industry would be on the bottom of their list. 

[clo]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

I would just add that apparently when it comes to the cruise lines the CDC is not saying anything except "No cruise."!  It has been reported that cruise lines are developing their own mediation efforts without much (or any) CDC support.  There have been many times (with this virus) when the CDC does not seem to have it's act together.  What they say today may be changed tomorrow and again the next day, etc etc.  

 

Hank

I've been aware and very disappointed in their behavior - or lack thereof. My first job out of school was in a lab there and I've always held them in high esteem.

 

I wonder what will happen when the cruise lines present their proposed new policies. What if CDC says "no"? How far does that set the whole thing back? If the cruise lines are going to have to remove dining and other furniture, ??? What changes to the cabins? What about spacing for the crew? What about masks?

[getting older slowly]

4 hours ago, Aquahound said:

Thanks  Aquahound........   LOL   

 

Cheers Don

[RonOhio]

5 hours ago, clo said:

I've been aware and very disappointed in their behavior - or lack thereof. My first job out of school was in a lab there and I've always held them in high esteem.

 

I wonder what will happen when the cruise lines present their proposed new policies. What if CDC says "no"? How far does that set the whole thing back? If the cruise lines are going to have to remove dining and other furniture, ??? What changes to the cabins? What about spacing for the crew? What about masks?

I don’t know the hierarchy of precedence of the CDC but I would be intensely disappointed if “Cruise industry” wasn’t very low.  The Public Health Service, not the CDC, is responsible for cruise ship health regulations and enforcement for ships calling at US ports. Writing regulations at US government agencies is labor intensive and, since the science is likely to change between now and the resumption of cruising, any regs drafted now will probably be toilet paper by then. 

[ldubs]

7 hours ago, Hlitner said:

I would just add that apparently when it comes to the cruise lines the CDC is not saying anything except "No cruise."!  It has been reported that cruise lines are developing their own mediation efforts without much (or any) CDC support.  There have been many times (with this virus) when the CDC does not seem to have it's act together.  What they say today may be changed tomorrow and again the next day, etc etc.  

 

Hank

 

CDC has guidance for cruise ships during the no sail period for crew, including among other things no self serve, distancing, masks, and how to handle crew/passengers who catch CV.  I think the cruise lines will likely build on those.    

[ldubs]

On 6/28/2020 at 8:00 AM, clo said:

I agree. Like many things, a combo of things to do and not do is usually what winds up working.

 

I'm betting that buffets on land will not or are no longer self-serve.

 

What are the casinos doing with buffets in Nevada?  

 

I see that over the last couple of weeks Nevada's rate of positive tests has increased over 300%.  The rate of positive tests is currently just over 15%.  

 

This afternoon I saw an advertisement on TV inviting tourists to Reno.  

 

What the heck is happening over there.   

 

 

[clo]

22 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

What are the casinos doing with buffets in Nevada?  

 

I see that over the last couple of weeks Nevada's rate of positive tests has increased over 300%.  The rate of positive tests is currently just over 15%.  

 

This afternoon I saw an advertisement on TV inviting tourists to Reno.  

 

What the heck is happening over there.   

 

 

As far as casino buffets I honestly don't know and a quick Google didn't help me. Our governor is now requiring masks everywhere. One casino where we "make our donation to the local economy" occasionally looks from their website that the buffet is gone with different cuisines being served as a meal. Restaurants seem to be doing a good job. And I saw a piece on our local news of a woman pitching a fit - as well as her whole cart of groceries on the floor - because she was required to wear a mask. I've become a real witch over the subject. I saw a bumper sticker long ago that said "Jesus is coming and, boy, is he pissed." That's me these days.

 

What county are you in and what's happening? A friend shared something from Alameda County but I couldn't read it. I think we need to shut everything like bars and restaurants down again. You can go to work if they require masks, social distance desks, etc.

[ldubs]

27 minutes ago, clo said:

As far as casino buffets I honestly don't know and a quick Google didn't help me. Our governor is now requiring masks everywhere. One casino where we "make our donation to the local economy" occasionally looks from their website that the buffet is gone with different cuisines being served as a meal. Restaurants seem to be doing a good job. And I saw a piece on our local news of a woman pitching a fit - as well as her whole cart of groceries on the floor - because she was required to wear a mask. I've become a real witch over the subject. I saw a bumper sticker long ago that said "Jesus is coming and, boy, is he pissed." That's me these days.

 

What county are you in and what's happening? A friend shared something from Alameda County but I couldn't read it. I think we need to shut everything like bars and restaurants down again. You can go to work if they require masks, social distance desks, etc.

 

Well, it doesn't sound like the restaurants or anyone else is doing a doing a very good job with the increase to positives to 15%.  I don't understand why the state would actively promote tourism under those conditions.  I've always wondered how much sway the gaming industry has with your politicians.   

 

I'm in Contra Costa County.  We still don't have inside restaurant seating.  Our numbers as a percent of population are pretty good, but our % of positives went up to almost 6%.  As a result the planned July 1 opening of inside dining has been postponed.  

 

PS:  Just to add, Public Health in my county says younger folks are now contributing more to the increased rate of positives.  I guess I would have expected that.  

 

PPS: I don't blame you -- I'm pretty pissed at the increase here too.  

 

 

Edited June 30, 2020 by ldubs

[clo]

14 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 I've always wondered how much sway the gaming industry has with your politicians.   

Something I think about regularly. I've never checked this but have little to no doubt that it's the biggest industry in Las Vegas. Reno is going in seemingly at least a little different direction. We currently have at least two ne yw hotels that are non-smoking and non-gaming, with two or more in the works. We have Tesla, Amazon and others here.  Ten years ago I felt like I was the youngest person here...now I feel like one of the oldest 🙂

[Ride-The-Waves]

On 6/25/2020 at 7:31 AM, pacruise804 said:

I'm not advocating removal of the buffet (or cafeteria if it matters).  I'm also not advocating not allowing those who enjoy one venue for their evening meal be limited only to that venue.

 

It is unfortunate that you have been treated poorly by those leaving the MDR.  I suspect those same people would be rude in the morning hours if you were at the buffet the same time they were.

 

 

"I suspect those same people would be rude in the morning hours if you were at the buffet the same time they were."

 

Proverbial anilin the head.  Those who seems to have distain for the evening buffet are the first  to push and shove their way through buffet breakfasts and lunches.  Rude and crude.  

 

Evening buffets are great with all those folks spending their hours in the MDR.  Blissful, even.  I doubt this breakfast and lunch hogs would support eliminating the buffets for those meals  just the evening, right?  The evening offers great choices, a quiet atmosphere and friendly servers who can and do take the time to chat.  Great venue in the evenings...

Edited July 2, 2020 by Ride-The-Waves

[Ride-The-Waves]

On 6/27/2020 at 4:49 PM, RonOhio said:

Say an average size cruise size displaces 150,000 tons empty and holds 2,000 passengers. Assuming the average passenger weights 200lbs (probably error on the heavy side) that is 200 tons of passenger or 0.13% of the weight of the ship. They could all stand on one side and jump up and down in unison without rolling her, although they might rock her a bit which would only make the captain wish he never left container ships where the cargo being unbalanced didn't mean crazy.

Nope.

 

Cruise ships are commercial vessels and are measured in gross registered tonnes, NOT displacement.  GRT is calculated based on volume, not weight or displacement.  Volume equates to how mush a ship can carry and commercial ships are taxed on the figure.  In a very general way - there is no direct correlation - a cruise ship's displacement can be estimated to be about 40 percent of its GRT.  Military ships are measured in displacement and not volume.

[Hlitner]

We will soon be driving to South Carolina to spend a few weeks at a couple of beach destinations.  At one, there is an excellent churrasco steak house that has a terrific buffet that supplements all the meat (and a few sides) served at the tables.  We recently heard how they are managing to keep the huge buffet.  Folks go through an entrance area and are given gloves (and should also be wearing masks).  They then go through the normal buffet and fill their plates.  When they get back to their table they remove their gloves which are then picked-up and disposed of by the wait staff.  Sounds like a pretty good system.

 

Hank

[clo]

23 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We will soon be driving to South Carolina to spend a few weeks at a couple of beach destinations.  At one, there is an excellent churrasco steak house that has a terrific buffet that supplements all the meat (and a few sides) served at the tables.  We recently heard how they are managing to keep the huge buffet.  Folks go through an entrance area and are given gloves (and should also be wearing masks).  They then go through the normal buffet and fill their plates.  When they get back to their table they remove their gloves which are then picked-up and disposed of by the wait staff.  Sounds like a pretty good system.

 

Hank

Have fun and stay safe. I understand from a SC friend that COVID is raging there. Are they requiring masks?

[lenquixote66]

30 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We will soon be driving to South Carolina to spend a few weeks at a couple of beach destinations.  At one, there is an excellent churrasco steak house that has a terrific buffet that supplements all the meat (and a few sides) served at the tables.  We recently heard how they are managing to keep the huge buffet.  Folks go through an entrance area and are given gloves (and should also be wearing masks).  They then go through the normal buffet and fill their plates.  When they get back to their table they remove their gloves which are then picked-up and disposed of by the wait staff.  Sounds like a pretty good system.

 

Hank

What about the necessary pit stops .Do you expect them to be properly sanitized ?

[clo]

42 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

What about the necessary pit stops .Do you expect them to be properly sanitized ?

I was talking to someone today who pretty much has to fly across the country in a few weeks. With her adult daughter and grandson. She's going to take gloves for restroom trips and disinfectant wipes. I thought that sounds good.

[ldubs]

8 hours ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

Nope.

 

Cruise ships are commercial vessels and are measured in gross registered tonnes, NOT displacement.  GRT is calculated based on volume, not weight or displacement.  Volume equates to how mush a ship can carry and commercial ships are taxed on the figure.  In a very general way - there is no direct correlation - a cruise ship's displacement can be estimated to be about 40 percent of its GRT.  Military ships are measured in displacement and not volume.

 

Nope what?  RonOhio's example compared the total weight of passengers to the ship displacement .  It wasn't a comment about, or definition of,  how cruise ships are measured, categorized, or taxed.  

 

Then after scratching my head, I'm thinking if displacement is 40% of GT, then 150,000 was maybe not a realistic figure.   

 

Anyway, thanks for the definitions. I can never remember the distinctions.     

 

 

Edited July 3, 2020 by ldubs
"Evolution of thought" Lol

[lenquixote66]

26 minutes ago, clo said:

I was talking to someone today who pretty much has to fly across the country in a few weeks. With her adult daughter and grandson. She's going to take gloves for restroom trips and disinfectant wipes. I thought that sounds good.

I was referring to rest stops on a road where it is not likely that they are sanitized that often.You open the door wirh gloves then need to change gloves in the facility.Then you need another pair of gloves to wipe the toilet bowl.Do you even want to do that ?Then another pair to flush the toilet ,etc,etc.

[clo]

13 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

I was referring to rest stops on a road where it is not likely that they are sanitized that often.You open the door wirh gloves then need to change gloves in the facility.Then you need another pair of gloves to wipe the toilet bowl.Do you even want to do that ?Then another pair to flush the toilet ,etc,etc.

To protect only oneself, one pair that they got disposed of, should be enough.

[ontheweb]

8 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

I was referring to rest stops on a road where it is not likely that they are sanitized that often.You open the door wirh gloves then need to change gloves in the facility.Then you need another pair of gloves to wipe the toilet bowl.Do you even want to do that ?Then another pair to flush the toilet ,etc,etc.

Just wear the hazmat suit.

 

The things people come up with. If a policeman stops you, are you going to say, "I will not roll down my window unless you wear a face shield and a face mask."?

[Ride-The-Waves]

9 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

I was referring to rest stops on a road where it is not likely that they are sanitized that often.You open the door wirh gloves then need to change gloves in the facility.Then you need another pair of gloves to wipe the toilet bowl.Do you even want to do that ?Then another pair to flush the toilet ,etc,etc.

Sounds like new on board protocols at re-start...which with the spiking and after this weekend I wouldn't expect to see until sometime in 2021.

[Hlitner]

11 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

What about the necessary pit stops .Do you expect them to be properly sanitized ?

That is a great question.  Ask me when we get back :).  Actually a friend of ours (who is meeting us in SC) did do a little research and found that the rest stops where all open in both North and South Carolina.  I am not sure about fast food restaurants, and since States are changing their rules on a daily basis, we will just have to "hold it in" and see.   Or course gas stations are open.  My assumption would always be that no rest room is properly sanitized.  But that is not an issue as one simply makes sure not to touch their face until after they have washed their hands (a good rule anytime).

 

I do understand that the rules vary from State to State.  But along the East Coast States most things are open including restaurants for both indoor (sometimes limited), outdoor, and take-out dining.   In South Carolina at the sea resorts, everything is open (including restaurants for indoor dining) but with some social distancing restrictions.  DW had no problem getting reservations in all of our normal haunts.

 

Hank

[Ride-The-Waves]

Questions... 

 

- Are those of you advocating vociferously for the closing of buffets on cruise ships ready to eat breakfasts and lunch only in the MDR?

 

- Do you believe that cruise ships can handle everyone in the MDR who frequents buffets for breakfast and lunch?

 

- Do you believe that cruise ships can accommodate the added wait staff for closing the buffet and rerouting everyone to the MDR and providing table service to all?

 

- Lastly, to accomplish some of these things the MDR would need to operate 24/7 and use a time slot/reservation system.  Is that acceptable?

[clo]

3 hours ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

- Are those of you advocating vociferously for the closing of buffets on cruise ships ready to eat breakfasts and lunch only in the MDR?

 

It's probably way past time to lose the word "buffet" and say self-serve. The venue would still be there.

[Me by the Sea]

Wow this thread has taken on a life of its own!  I would like to offer two suggestions that I’m doing now.  
 

1) Hat with a built in oversized face Shield.  Baseball style cap for gents. For ladies I’ve tried both the cloth hat(not so good) and the straw hat (works great!) the brim keeps the face shield away from your mouth and nose, so you can eat comfortably with it on. The faceshield extends from ear to ear and down under your chin/jaw line. Both available from Amazon.

 

2) the Kooty Key eliminates the need for multiple pairs of gloves. I keep mine in a plastic snack bag and pull it out to open doors, throw locks, press elevator buttons etc. Also on Amazon.

Both are coming on my next cruise!

[lenquixote66]

17 hours ago, clo said:

To protect only oneself, one pair that they got disposed of, should be enough.

One pair to open the door.Then you have to clean the toilet seat if you are sitting down .Then you need to take off the glove to use the toilet tissue.Then another glove to flush the toilet,then take off the glove to wash your hands .Then put on another glove to open the door.