Are the mugs back?

[Pugdog007]

Hoping this wasn't a permanent change. Anyone know if they're back?

What about buffet's?

Just wondering if things are getting back to normal... or will we have to accept a "new normal?"

 

[InsanelyMickey]

I'm not sure about the Magic, but I was on the 12-19 Wonder and we did get our AAA mugs and I saw lots of other people with mugs also. At some locations (such as Castaway Cay for example) when we went for refills they would fill a separate cup and then use that cup to pour the refill into the mug. However, at other places they would just take the mug and fill it directly into that.

As for the buffets, I'm not sure what the "norm" was since this was my first cruise but here are some observations:

We were handed hand wipes at the beginning of each of the buffets, then usually were handed our trays/plates, then could serve ourselves the food items. I vaguely remember reading a post before our cruise that said the food was being served by the cm's but this was not the case in our experience. The only time food was served to us in a buffet line was for the burgers at Cookie's on Castaway Cay. (maybe that was always the procedure, though?)

I hope this helps, sorry I can't comment on the Magic.

 

[rae519]

Wow! The cruise before Wonder 12/15-19 - we had the CM's serve us from the buffet and at the coffee bar and no mugs in sight.

Was the coffee bar open 24/7 or did it close midnight to 6AM as it did on our cruise?

Rae

 

[InsanelyMickey]

rae519-
I was surprised we were able to serve ourselves also as I remembered a previous post about the cm's serving at the buffets. I remember at the first buffet I would carefully and slowly reach for the tongs to get something to make sure I wasn't doing anything I wasn't supposed to be doing. No one ever stopped me and I noticed everyone else in line doing the same thing so I continued to serve myself at the rest of the buffets we went to.

As for the coffee bar, I'm sorry I really didn't notice what hours it was open. We weren't really out and about during those hours so I'm not sure if they were open. Is this something I could find out by referencing the navigators for the cruise because I still have them? Or perhaps someone else on the 12-19 Wonder would know.

 

[chucknrita]

That's one of the things I didn't like about our 12/15 Wonder cruise: The CMs serving you at the buffets. It took too long because there was one server for a whole section of the buffet (such as the salad bar), and one server making a salad for one person at a time took forever! Also, there was only one server at the drink station, so that could take a while too if they had to make cocoa for people (it was a bit chilly during our trip). I guess we just cruised at a bad time.

 

[rae519]

I agree completely with chucknrita - there were VERY long lines at the coffee bar and with only one person there, it took forever to just get a drink. Also, the buffet lines should have had more staff because it seemed like you were being "rushed" past one server only to find that there was no one else to serve you.

I can completely agree with the precautions but they need more servers if they want to continue this, which it seems they aren't.

Yes, it was a bit chilly on that cruise - I think I drank a shareholder's portion of tea myself!

Rae

 

[slindamood]

There were no mugs on the 12/14 Magic.

The drink station on deck 9 opened at 6:30 AM. There were two CMs working it throughout the day and never a wait.

The buffets were served by CMs until Friday (Dec. 20) when it went back to self serve. Either DCL figured that having a CM serve does not reduce disease, or that with a 24 hour incubation, we would be off the boat if we caught anything.

 

[BearFan]

We were on the Dec 1st Wonder cruise. After our "Magic" mug was swiped on board, we went to purchase a "Wonder" one. We were told that the cast was notified prior to that cruise that my cruise was the last to use the mugs and unless we had sentimental value attached to the mug it wouldn't be worth buying a new one because we weren't going to be able to use it on board again. They were going to go back to the sticker system. The cast member said that the Magic Dec 7 cruise was their first one back with stickers, too. I appreciated the castmember being so honest with me. He thought that it was a money issue and not a sanitary one.

Lisa Marie Smith

 

[magiroux]

Just got back from the 12/21 Magic. All the buffets, Scoops and basically anywhere serving food was served by CM's. Any condiments were either put on by the CM's behind the counter or they were given in sealed pkg's were available. Also the mugs were everywhere. I didn't purchase one so I don't know how they took care of filling them.

Other things I noticed is the pools were sprayed down with disenfectant every night by the guys dressed like "the Orkin Man" and just constant cleaning going on everywhere. The rule of "No Diapered Children in the Pool" is not enforced AT ALL. That didn't make a whole lot of sense to me taking all the precautions in serving the food. One leaky diarrea accident with the virus could have infected the 150+ kids in the pool on sea day.

By the way, WHAT A BLAST!!!!!!

 

[tinybubbles]

We went on the 12/14 Magic cruise. It was a relief not to have those stupid mugs everywhere. I think they should make the elimination of them permanent. Of course, I also believe that soft drinks should be included in the cruise price, but that is beside the point.

I did notice that the juice/lemonade bar was more consistently available during this cruise than during previous cruises. A welcome change.

 

[eml]

I am wondering if the juice and lemonade are available all day, certain hours or just at meals? What about bottled water? Is there a charge for this?

 

[Pugdog007]

I believe juice and lemonade are available all day on deck 9. There is a charge for bottled water, but it is also available at Pinnochio's, Scoops, ESPN, Signals, room service.

 

[ladybugs]

is bottled water on the "magic"

 

[slindamood]

Bottled water was $1.50 per bottle.

Lemonade, ice tea, coffee, and water were available at the deck 9 drink station from 6:30 AM until very late - about midnight.

We found that the water at the drink station was very good. Ice was available. Although we drink bottled water at home, we drank the free stuff on board.

 

[kasar]

12/26 Wonder - Mugs are back, Coffee station open - self serve, self-serve buffets. Only difference was they hand out wipes before each buffet.