Guests aboard Costa Cruises have been given a stern warning: keep the buffet food out of the cabins, or face a penalty. The cruise line has announced a potential charge of €60, roughly translating to $70, for those who decide to take buffet meals back to their rooms, as highlighted by the cruise blog Crew Center.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Costa Cruises, which operates under the larger umbrella of Carnival Corporation, emphasized that “guest safety and well-being are our top priority.” A spokesperson explained that this message was circulated during a few specific sailings. The aim was to serve as a preventive measure and to encourage guests to behave responsibly, aligning with Costa Cruises’ established policies.
Costa Cruises is dedicated to providing a high-quality, safe, and enjoyable experience for everyone on board. The company underscored the importance of maintaining hygiene standards by stipulating that only trained room service staff, skilled in sanitation procedures, are authorized to handle and deliver food to guest cabins, according to Crew Center.
“On a limited number of specific sailings, onboard communication was shared as a preventive and deterrent measure, in line with our existing policies, to encourage guests to [have] responsible behavior,” said a Costa Cruises spokesperson.
“Costa Cruises remains committed to ensuring a high-quality, safe and enjoyable experience for all guests on board.”
The letter said only room service staff trained in sanitation and hygiene procedures are permitted to transport and deliver food to guest cabins, Crew Center reported.
“All food must be consumed exclusively in designated dining areas,” the blog reported.
Costa Cruises, which is based in Genoa, Italy, offers sailings through the Mediterranean, Caribbean and South America.
Cruise passengers debated the policy in response to a post by the unrealcruises Instagram account.
“I don’t blame the cruise line for implementing certain rules. One thing I hate to see is plates [and] cups in the hallways by room doors. If you bring them there, [carry] them back or just eat in eating areas!” one commenter said.
“I don’t blame [the cruise line] … if you’re gonna go get food from the buffet, bring the dirty plates back to the buffet. I mean try to have some class,” another person said.
A third commenter disagreed, saying, “Zero chance I’d pay that fine. Make breakfast in bed for my wife every morning by bringing food back. Who cares where you eat the included food.”
“We love to take our food and coffee to enjoy on our quiet balcony,” another person said.
Yet another chimed in, “Cruise lines have enough problems without having more charges.”
