Since the Covid pandemic, the cruise industry has focused on making smart choices to keep passengers safe.
Some of these are big changes in air filtration that passengers don't see. In other cases, the changes have been more subtle.
When the cruise industry first began its return to sailing from the U.S., in July 2021, protocols were very strict.
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Some of that was due to social distancing rules mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In most indoor locations people had to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
One of the biggest changes was that buffets and other food options that had once been self-serve were served by crew members. That made sense because multiple people touching a spoon, serving tongs, and other surfaces would lead to an increased spread of viruses.
At the time that change was first implemented on cruise ships, self-serve buffets seemed as if they wouldn't return. Many Las Vegas Strip buffets closed and were replaced by food halls, while many other land-based buffets were replaced by other types of restaurants.
In addition, Americans seemed to think for awhile that self-serve buffets were dangerous and would not make much of a comeback on land while crew-served buffets would stay the norm at sea.
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Cruise ship buffets are back
While most Las Vegas Strip buffets have been replaced, land-based chains like Golden Corral have made a comeback. Cruise lines also gave up the idea of having a crew-served buffet because crew costs money.
Once the CDC dropped its restrictions on cruise ships, buffets quickly went back to being self-serve. Most cruise lines, however, did keep another change. Soft-serve ice cream, a cruise ship staple, is still served by crew members. That was not the case before the pandemic.
Carnival (CCL) Brand Ambassador John Heald addressed the question of how his cruise line offers its soft serve in response to this recent question.
"Let's talk ice cream. Why is Carnival stuck in the past making their passengers pour their own ice cream? On all the other cruise lines it is poured for you. Just back from a Disney cruise and the cast members do it. There is no mess, no greed, and no chance of germs. This is the policy that would be applauded should you decide to change to what the upscale cruise lines have as policy," the unnamed poster wrote.
Disney Cruises and Royal Caribbean both have crew members making the cones at their soft-serve stations.
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Carnival responds to ice cream question
Heald openly questioned the letter writer.
"Now, of course, if needed and we have health reasons to do so we will do this but really, do people want this? I think that the joy of being able to fill your own cone, bowl, or bucket with ice cream is one of the reasons it is so popular. Yes, it can get messy but our brilliant crew are there to take care of this," he answered.
Over 3,400 people commented on the ice cream issue.
"I fill my own cone and do a pretty good job, even if I do say so myself. I have seen crew members cleaning the machines and the floors surrounding the machines often enough that I am not concerned about the cleanliness," said Jessica Murray.
Many posters thought that Carnival does a good job with its free ice cream.
"My husband and I have cruised many times, only with Carnival, and have never seen a messy ice cream station. I must say that the children onboard were very respectful when making their cones. There was always a team member monitoring the area in case a clean-up was needed," added Kim Denton Dzamko.
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Some respondents did want the cruise line to have crew members dispense the soft serve for health and safety reasons.
"If the crew does it, I am not getting germs from all of the people who have touched it before me. And I cannot wash my hands while holding a cone. It is a measure to keep gastrointestinal bugs from spreading," wrote Andrea Southern.
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