Vacationers who choose Costa Cruises for their next adventure could face fines of up to $70 for bringing buffet food back to their cabins under a new onboard policy.
Going forward, guests on some of these cruises will not be permitted to bring buffet food back to their rooms and will instead be asked to consume all meals in designated areas, per the cruise-focused blog Crew Center. This does not include meals that are delivered by Costa Cruise employees.
A statement regarding the update said, “guest safety and well-being are our top priority.”
“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,” the Costa Cruises spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
“Costa Cruises remains committed to ensuring a high-quality, safe and enjoyable experience for all guests on board.”
The Genoa, Italy-based cruise line, which is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, operates routes throughout the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South America.
The policy change sparked an online debate after being highlighted by the Instagram account unrealcruises.
One Instagram user mentioned that another cruise line tried something similar and said, “it did not end well for them,” and that they “had to end it.”
“Let people eat where they want. Collect the dishes. It’s a cost. Bear it and pass it on to the cruiser. But these kinds of policies with policing never end well for the company,” the commenter wrote.
Others complained that eating breakfast or drinking coffee on private balconies is part of the cruise experience.
“We love to take our food and coffee to enjoy on our quiet balcony,” another person complained.
“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,” echoed a third.
Others supported the measure, saying passengers often leave dirty dishes and half-eaten food scattered throughout hallways and decks.
“Umm, I say good, nothing worse than plates and cups lining the hallways, its not a good look. Never ever in 47 cruises needed to take food to my cabin…,” one supporter chimed in.
“Only the ones that do deck clearance know the struggle. Yall take everything from the buffet and toss the plates full on the hallways. Is it that hard to eat close to other people?” another agreed.
