Boxes Are Us?

[Butterbean1000]

41 minutes ago, jperry2011 said:

No

I keep thinking that Carnival would really be considered the Walmart of the seas. 😃

[jetsfan58]

It was mentioned that Carnival is not a luxury cruise line. Please help me understand how a cruise line that offers Grand, Junior, Ocean and Spa suites is not classified as a "Luxury" liner? Aren't those higher priced, exclusive and relatively pampered offerings?

 

Any place that we can eliminate our daily dish washing, cooking and cleaning chores for a week is "Luxury" to me.  I still believe that all the above is offered on Carnival Cruise ships.

 

Maybe it's my modest upbringing that keeps me humble and grounded.   

[Saint Greg]

10 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

It was mentioned that Carnival is not a luxury cruise line. Please help me understand how a cruise line that offers Grand, Junior, Ocean and Spa suites is not classified as a "Luxury" liner? Aren't those higher priced, exclusive and relatively pampered offerings?

 

Any place that we can eliminate our daily dish washing, cooking and cleaning chores for a week is "Luxury" to me.  I still believe that all the above is offered on Carnival Cruise ships.

 

Maybe it's my modest upbringing that keeps me humble and grounded.   

Haha yeah.. Most of my vacations as a kid were like in a trailer at a Toledo bend. “Go catch some fish we can eat next week.” The only beach I knew was Galveston. Carnival is luxury to me.

 

Edited May 31, 2020 by Saint Greg

[jetsfan58]

As a piggyback to my earlier message. What if Carnival's biggest "Competitor" decided to initiate  meal boxes on their cruises? Since (I guess because of their outrageous pricing) they are considered "Luxury" would that make the "box meals" acceptance more tolerable? I pray not because that would lead us to wonder about Carnival's loyal community?    

 

Boxes Are Us!!!

[samiam0403]

While I appreciate the OP suggesting new ideas, I'd definitely pass on boxed meals. After a whole lot of deployments where I was fed MREs and 'boxed nasties,' the mental association is there always. Hard pass.

[sanger727]

There is no way I would accept a boxed meal on a cruise ship. Boxed meals are  typically prepared ahead of time with a set menu to serve many people quickly. So, sure, maybe you could choose a turkey sandwich or ham sandwich but you are still getting American cheese instead of swiss. To make it efficient they would have to premake all the sandwiches and just choose which sandwich went your lunch.Because they were pre-making all the sandwiches it would be even slightly fresh when it came to you. No, a soggy turkey sandwich with American cheese and a bag of chips and apple holds no appeal to me if I could go into the MDR and order a freshly made hamburger with crispy fries.

[sanmarcosman]

Boxed lunches sounds like an ameliorating measure at best. We don't want to feel like refugees on our cruises so we're hopeful for better times soon for all. 

[SRQbeachgirl]

Bleh. I have to endure enough boxed lunches during business meetings and conferences as it is. I certainly wouldn't consider the standard cold sandwich (with one wilted lettuce leaf and soggy bread), bag of chips, and cookie acceptable on a cruise. 

 

What I would appreciate is an expanded room service menu with more items included at no additional charge. We have an aft-wrap balcony for our next cruise and I anticipate we will want to have some of our meals out there, even if we have to schlep food down from the Lido deck. 

[canes20]

Not for us. Could go with the expanded and free room service maybe once a day.

[joeyancho]

I have always thought to myself,  "if only I could get a Red Cross package on this ship",  said no one ever.

[tattoos]

Boxed lunches??  First of all, Carnival removed granulated sugar packets from all food venues, buffet areas, etc., because the paper increased the waste that needed to be disposed of.  Also, Carnival removed all butter pats that were available on the ship because the wrappers became a big headache to dispose of.  The sugar is now available in a community sugar container in the buffet and whipped, faux butter is only available in community crocks at the buffet which is a breeding ground for cross contamination.  On our last cruise, people would take the crock to their table and all family members would stick their individual utensil into the crock of faux butter and return it to the buffet when they were finished digging into it.

 

Now you are suggesting boxed lunches?  Disposing of all those boxes would propose a huge recycling headache for Carnival.  If they didn't want to recycle paper from the sugar packets or be bothered with disposing of all the foil wrap on the butter pats, why would they want to create an even bigger problem.  Not to mention the challenge of adhering to everyone's dietary restrictions and personal likes and dislikes.

 

The only food item I would consider eating out of a cardboard box is a hot 3 lb. Maine lobster with a stick of real melted butter to slather it in.  That's never going to happen and neither will box lunches.  

[joeyancho]

2 hours ago, tattoos said:

The only food item I would consider eating out of a cardboard box is a hot 3 lb. Maine lobster with a stick of real melted butter to slather it in.  That's never going to happen and neither will box lunches.  

That sounds really messy. They would have to include a very large napkin and a cholesterol pill.

Edited June 1, 2020 by joeyancho

[Moviela]

Since the year 1100 people have been eating their meals in restaurants on boats. The "singing waiters" of the Song Dynasty in China served either Northern or Southern style food along river trade routes. See any comparison to modern times? 

 

Why should we settle for a box lunch when on the water? Seems like a drastic solution to a short term problem. This virus with all the destruction it has done to the world is thankfully weakening. Italian researchers are saying that the viral load in new cases is far lower than that in earlier cases. This is great news. The chances of a "second wave" threatened if we restart living too soon are greatly diminished. Now you can bet two hot dogs against a ribeye steak that I will still get a vaccine, but I am not at all interested in a box lunch during my Halloween cruise this fall. 

 

I have had enough of take out food. In my experience even five star food, like from The Ivy or Lawry's suffers when carried home in styrofoam. 

Edited June 1, 2020 by Moviela

[SNJCruisers]

11 hours ago, jetsfan58 said:

 What's the difference of walking out of a 5 Star establishment with a "box" vs. Cruising on a Carnival luxury ship and walking a "box" to your cabin? 

 

Walking out of a 5 star establishment with leftovers for the following day can not be compared to walking a box back to your cabin at all.  You can't compare leftovers with your complete dinner.  And you certainly can't compare anything you would get at a buffet on Carnival, including Guy's Burgers or Blue Iguana Cafe with anything remotely associated with 5 star dining.

 

7 hours ago, jetsfan58 said:

It was mentioned that Carnival is not a luxury cruise line. Please help me understand how a cruise line that offers Grand, Junior, Ocean and Spa suites is not classified as a "Luxury" liner? Aren't those higher priced, exclusive and relatively pampered offerings?

 

Any place that we can eliminate our daily dish washing, cooking and cleaning chores for a week is "Luxury" to me.  I still believe that all the above is offered on Carnival Cruise ships.

 

Carnival is not a luxury cruise line, far from it.  Carnival is a mainstream cruise line on a par with NCL and MSC.  They're a step below RCI, Princess and Celebrity.  Just because a cruise line offers suites does not classify them as luxury.  Would you say that Quality Inn & Suites or something comparable was luxury just because they offered suites?

It's all a matter of perspective.  Anything that gets you away from the daily chores of cooking, cleaning and washing dishes is considered luxury to you.  That's your level and you're fully entitled to it.  But the bar that is luxury is not Carnival, nor any of the other mainstream lines I mentioned above.  I will never cruise on a true luxury line because I could cruise for multiple weeks on a mainstream one and have a better time and a higher perceived value to me.

[deadmoney]

Boxed meals?

Are we being punished for something?

[RWolver672]

14 hours ago, jetsfan58 said:

Guys I have had the opportunity to dine at restaurants throughout this and other countries. Many of the so called "high-class" establishments provide you with a "take home" box at the end of your unfinished meal. What's the difference of walking out of a 5 Star establishment with a "box" vs. Cruising on a Carnival luxury ship and walking a "box" to your cabin? 

 

I remain very humble and just very grateful to be able to have the opportunity to enjoy cruising with family and friends.   

 

May I remind you that those take home boxes are made from either plastic  (#5)  or Styrofoam.  Neither are recyclable.  This would just add to more landfill waste.  You can't put a lobster dinner with melted butter in a cardboard box.

 

I still remember all of the flack with the Triumph "Poop Cruise" where people were fed basically boxed lunches.  Nobody was asking for seconds.

 

Where would you eat these boxed lunches?  To my knowledge, none of the inside cabins have any place to sit other than on the beds.  Cruisers now complain about a few trays sitting out in the passageways.  Can you imagine the complaints  about a passageway filled with empty food containers that may sit there for hours.  That now adds more work for the cabin stewards.

 

If you were to reduce the amount of passengers on a ship by 90%, you still would come in contact with the other 10% no matter how large the ship is.  The dining rooms is only one place.   Theater, ship's stores, bars, casino, even Guest Services lines will have you coming in close contact with other passengers.

 

Best thing to do if you are hesitant about the pandemic and cruising is to avoid cruising until this is hopefully over.

[sanmarcosman]

5 hours ago, joeyancho said:

That sounds really messy. They would have to include a very large napkin and a cholesterol pill.

Don't forget the bib! 🙂 

[Georgia_Peaches]

Ugh, this sounds miserable!  And what about the unintended consequences of having cardboard boxes everywhere?  Seems like a logistical nightmare having to collect, break down, store thousands of boxes.  Not to mention setting up new ones.

 

One of the first dine in restaurants we visited when the shut down restrictions began to lift served our meal in a box.  We accepted it because we know it's temporary and we were just happy to be out among people at a restaurant and wanted to show our support.  But the food experience was diminished.  If a boxed meal service on a cruise were to occur, then we'd just have to add it to the list with staying six feet apart and wearing a mask that would keep us from cruising.

[PhillyFan33579]

16 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I don’t know if the boxed lunches are going to take off but I have been thinking a one year moratorium  on room service charges would be a good way to promote social distancing on the ship. Free in room movies was another idea I had. 
 

These aren’t bad ideas, but I don’t go on a cruise to spend time in my cabin even considering we always book a balcony.  I have no issue with wearing a mask to help promote social distancing, but I would not go on a cruise that expected/required guests to spend more time in their cabins (I realize you didn’t specifically say that). 

[jetsfan58]

Good morning crew. I am really enjoying the excellent commentary.  Please keep it coming.

 

I realize that the jury is out regarding box meals. Some are worried about the additional "Cheapening" effect that it might have on the Carnival Cruise line. Others are suggesting that Carnival is not a "Luxury" liner. Here's my latest input.

 

I have been blessed to have dined at top rated restaurants, have stayed at Motel 6 to Hilton to Marriott, Currently Diamond/Platinum Honors status at both Marriott and Hilton and the list goes on. My childhood was very nice even though we were "poor" by today's standards. Both my parents worked very hard to ensure that we (siblings and I) had a college education and beyond. Thanks to them we all have two to three Degrees. We also have a sense of compassion and humbleness. I know that I had nothing to do with my Blessings; God is the reason!

 

I wasn't born with a silver spoon, a College trust fund or an entitlement mindset. So if Carnival decides to "box our meals" I will enjoy every one of them. I don't sail in Balcony Cabins or Suites; strictly inside cabins for me. So if Carnival does decide to serve us "boxes" I pray that my "Lobster Roll" is served warm with a bit of melted "Parkay" to drizzle on top.

 

Blessings To All!!    

[Saint Greg]

25 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

These aren’t bad ideas, but I don’t go on a cruise to spend time in my cabin even considering we always book a balcony.  I have no issue with wearing a mask to help promote social distancing, but I would not go on a cruise that expected/required guests to spend more time in their cabins (I realize you didn’t specifically say that). 

Of course it’s not for everyone. I wouldn’t do it. But I won’t watch a movie by the pool either. A lot of people do it. A lot of people want to hook up things to the TVs so they can watch movies or play games. If it keeps some people happy and reduces the number of people in the lounges it works for me.

[SNJCruisers]

11 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

So if Carnival does decide to serve us "boxes" I pray that my "Lobster Roll" is served warm with a bit of melted "Parkay" to drizzle on top.

The only time that you would ever get a lobster roll included in your cruise fare on Carnival  would be if the ship ever visited Fantasyland.

The Lobster Roll that you pay extra for at the Seafood Shack is drenched in mayo like many places serve them.  I for one would just get mine naked, with a few pieces of lemon squeezed over the top to not overpower the delicate flavor of the lobster.

[outdoors27]

Not for us, but if they have it great for those that do. My questions is, if your gonna hide in your cabin and eat, why bother cruising or vacationing at all. Again just a question?

[jetsfan58]

"Cabin Hiding"

 

Maybe My Next Topic!!!  

[Joe817]

19 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

"Cabin Hiding"

 

Maybe My Next Topic!!!  

That's funny!