Are You a Specialty Restaurant Enthusiast Because of Poor Food Quality in the MDR?

[Flatbush Flyer]

We sailed Regal Princess last October and were told we could not take anything back to the cabin from the MDR. We were presented with a cake for our anniversary but had to leave most of it behind since we (including the other two couples at the table) were all too full.

 

 

Whether you like it or not, not removing food from a dining venue (for possible redistribution/reuse - including later enjoyment in your cabin) is a significant food safety issue in a closed environment like a cruise ship. It is the responsibility of the ship's food service department to maintain that "safety," which is one of the reasons why there is "room service."

[Cruise a holic]

Whether you like it or not, not removing food from a dining venue (for possible redistribution/reuse - including later enjoyment in your cabin) is a significant food safety issue in a closed environment like a cruise ship. It is the responsibility of the ship's food service department to maintain that "safety," which is one of the reasons why there is "room service."

 

You can easily get coffee with a coffee card, and donuts and other items from the buffet and bring them to your stateroom.

 

What "safety issue" are you referring to if the ship bakes the cake?

[Flatbush Flyer]

You can easily get coffee with a coffee card, and donuts and other items from the buffet and bring them to your stateroom.

 

 

 

What "safety issue" are you referring to if the ship bakes the cake?

 

 

 

Food Handling is the issue.

 

Theoretically, personal consumption "take out" items like coffee and even a donut-to-go are packaged as such and meant NOT to be "shared," which is where the Food Handling concern then enters the picture.

 

In essence, one of the easiest routes for contamination is when you share some food item by handling it.

 

In the ideal cruise industry Food Safety scenario, the only person to touch the food before you do would be galley/wait staff. And that is the reason why some cruise lines prohibit self-service in buffet and other casual venues (as well as not removing food from the table and serving it to someone else [including yourself] later).

 

BTW, have you ever noticed that one of the first things that happens when there's concern for Noro, is that Salt & Pepper shakers are removed from tables?

 

Food Safety is extremely important and it's what you don't see that can hurt you.

[worldtraveller99]

Thank you all - I had not thought about taking anything away. I guess the meals are all big so I probably wouldn't need to!

[Velvetwater]

I've never had any problems on taking food back. The waiters on Carnival once even offered to provide me with a cover when I wanted to take my cheese plate to our cabin. We usually do it as a late night snack option if we do not fancy pizza. On Royal we took our MDR burgers to go as we wanted to be out on deck...no problems.

 

Never tried it though on NCL.

[K32682]

Whether you like it or not, not removing food from a dining venue (for possible redistribution/reuse - including later enjoyment in your cabin) is a significant food safety issue in a closed environment like a cruise ship. It is the responsibility of the ship's food service department to maintain that "safety," which is one of the reasons why there is "room service."

If it were a "significant safety issue" there wouldn't be room service or takeaway service in hotels or resorts.

 

In a specialty restaurant I've paid for the food and will take it back to my cabin should I so choose. Same with the buffet.

[Hlitner]

Food Handling is the issue.

 

Theoretically, personal consumption "take out" items like coffee and even a donut-to-go are packaged as such and meant NOT to be "shared," which is where the Food Handling concern then enters the picture.

 

In essence, one of the easiest routes for contamination is when you share some food item by handling it.

 

In the ideal cruise industry Food Safety scenario, the only person to touch the food before you do would be galley/wait staff. And that is the reason why some cruise lines prohibit self-service in buffet and other casual venues (as well as not removing food from the table and serving it to someone else [including yourself] later).

 

BTW, have you ever noticed that one of the first things that happens when there's concern for Noro, is that Salt & Pepper shakers are removed from tables?

 

Food Safety is extremely important and it's what you don't see that can hurt you.

 

I guess some folks hear what fits their agenda. So lets look at a few facts. We have never been on any cruise line (14 of them) that prohibited passengers from taking food out of the buffet area. In fact, on many lines there are overflow places to eat that are located outside the immediate buffet area. In addition, quite a few cruise lines actually serve food at take-a-way venues such as the International Cafe on most Princess ships. We have never seen any kind of notice at the International Cafes that says "Danger...do not Share."

 

As to limiting self-service at buffets, some cruise lines such as HAL have been implementing procedures to do just this....although some are suspicious that its more a ploy to discourage passengers from taking too much food. A look at the CDC reports on reportable Noro and other outbreaks does not seem to show that HAL is doing any better then some other lines (such as Princess) which do not limit self service.

 

You are correct that when there is a Noro outbreak every ship will put certain procedures into place in an attempt to limit the spread. But whether using those procedures as a preventive method does any good is questionable. If you look at the CDC's actual report, for the most recent complete year (2017) there were 9 reportable Noro outbreaks on cruise ships of which 5 were on HAL! And the problems on HAL seemed to increase around the time they put major limitations on self-service. Go figure. Oh, here is the link if you are interested:

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm#2018

 

Actually, if one wanted to spend some time to use real statistical analysis they would discover that there seems to be a high correlation between the age of a ship and outbreaks. Newer ships seem to do quite well.

 

 

Hank

[navybankerteacher]

 

...

 

And that is the reason why some cruise lines prohibit self-service in buffet and other casual venues (as well as not removing food from the table and serving it to someone else [including yourself] later).

 

...

quote]

 

Can you name any line which so prohibits removing food from the table for later consumption? Surely not Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, HAL, NCL, or Royal Caribbean.

[Flatbush Flyer]

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

And that is the reason why some cruise lines prohibit self-service in buffet and other casual venues (as well as not removing food from the table and serving it to someone else [including yourself] later).

 

 

 

...

 

quote]

 

 

 

Can you name any line which so prohibits removing food from the table for later consumption? Surely not Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, HAL, NCL, or Royal Caribbean.

 

 

Perhaps it may be on a case-by-case basis (dependent in part on the staff in question) but, I have witnessed denials of an individual request for doggie-bags and/or "to go" orders in Oceania specialty restaurants (but never denied "all you care to eat" in situ). Likewise, food prepared by guests in the cooking school can never leave the lab (however, you can invite someone to come in at the end to taste the products).

That said, there are surely persuasive passengers and staff desiring to please in any dining venue. Hence, rules are sometimes broken.

Nonetheless, multiple folks touching food will always be a food safety issue.

[sloopsailor]

Whether you like it or not, not removing food from a dining venue (for possible redistribution/reuse - including later enjoyment in your cabin) is a significant food safety issue in a closed environment like a cruise ship. It is the responsibility of the ship's food service department to maintain that "safety," which is one of the reasons why there is "room service."

 

Total BS. This is not about significant about food safety. It's just a way of controlling how much food people consume. Any cruise line that puts limitations on how much a person can eat is not focused on the passenger, but only on the bottom line.

 

Perhaps it may be on a case-by-case basis (dependent in part on the staff in question) but, I have witnessed denials of an individual request for doggie-bags and/or "to go" orders in Oceania specialty restaurants (but never denied "all you care to eat" in situ). Likewise, food prepared by guests in the cooking school can never leave the lab (however, you can invite someone to come in at the end to taste the products).

 

And I had heard that Oceania was supposed to be such a superior cruise line. Who would have imagined that after paying all that money, they would then tell you you can't even eat the food that you ordered at your own convenience?

 

Nonetheless, multiple folks touching food will always be a food safety issue.

 

How will "multiple people touching food" be a food safety issue if it is you who is touching your own food that you brought back to your room? It's not like you are leaving it out in the hallway until you need it, and only then bring it inside your stateroom after dozen of people have stepped over it.

Edited July 17, 2018 by sloopsailor

[K32682]

Nonetheless, multiple folks touching food will always be a food safety issue.

Even accepting that is so it is not a food issue that is exclusive to cruise ships and not a reason for cruise ships to deny someone a "doggie bag" or allow them to bring food back to their cabin.

[Cruseforme]

 

 

Perhaps it may be on a case-by-case basis (dependent in part on the staff in question) but, I have witnessed denials of an individual request for doggie-bags and/or "to go" orders in Oceania specialty restaurants (but never denied "all you care to eat" in situ). Likewise, food prepared by guests in the cooking school can never leave the lab (however, you can invite someone to come in at the end to taste the products).

That said, there are surely persuasive passengers and staff desiring to please in any dining venue. Hence, rules are sometimes broken.

Nonetheless, multiple folks touching food will always be a food safety issue.

That is strange...in the past 5 years on Oceania, with DH being disabled, we have asked for food to be wrapped for consumption in cabin, and have never been refused. That includes, soup, salad, side dishes and dessert. We have also had wait staff deliver the food to our cabin directly. We call down for them to pick up dishes, just like you would for room service. This is how it worked this past spring. I would be very disappointed to find that DH could not stay downstairs for meal, and could not take back to cabin. I guess I’m curious also how you would explain sharing a room service meal, or in suite dining meal?

 

We have also asked on Regent Mariner, and on our last Crystal cruise, and have received the same answer.