Cruise lines want to operate as efficiently as possible.
In particular, they don't want to pay for anything people don't use. That's why side dishes on many meals are often rather small. Your waiter will bring you more vegetables or mashed potatoes (just to name two common ones), but the amount served at one time tends to be sparse to avoid waste.
Related: Carnival cruise forced to stay in port; Cruisers face new fee
That effort is based on experience: The cruise lines have seen passengers not eat anything aside from the main protein, forcing them to throw away large amounts of food.
In specialty restaurants, however, cruise passengers want to be able to choose their side dishes. That seems like a small thing — but in fact it's a perk that comes with the increased cost of eating in the specialty restaurants.
Norwegian Cruise Line tried to make a change in that area, and passengers pushed back, forcing the cruise line to revert.
Princess Cruises worker sentenced for assaulting teen
Transcript:
This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Tuesday, February 18.
A cruise ship chef has been sentenced to a year in prison for assaulting a young passenger aboard Sky Princess as the vessel returned to Southampton in the UK.
Vincent Lucas, 34, from India, attacked the girl in the ship's teen area late at night. Prosecutors described him as preying on the victim. Princess said that they terminated his employment.
A Princess spokesperson said this incident is deeply disturbing and does not reflect who we are as an organization.
The judge ordered Lucas to be deported and stated that he should never work on a cruise ship anywhere in the world again.
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Norwegian reverses a restaurant change; Royal gets new dog
And NCL is reversing a recent menu change at its specialty restaurants after strong guest feedback.
[Earlier] this month the cruise line limited side-dish options at venues like Cagney's, serving all entrees with the same side dishes.
However, cruise passengers voiced their opinions and NCL listened, which prompted them to reinstate the limited side dishes. They announced this on social media.
NCL Steakhouse Cagney's remains one of the most popular dining spots across NCL's 19-ship fleet.
And Royal Caribbean's newest crew member has arrived, a golden retriever pup named Sailor. The cruise line's CEO, Michael Bayley, announced her birth on Valentine's Day. Sailor will serve as the chief dog officer aboard Star of the Seas, which is set to debut in August.
She will first train though alongside Rover, her canine counterpart on Icon, before joining Star of the Seas full time. The Star will homeport from Port Canaveral, sailing Caribbean itineraries year-round. The ship is currently in the final stages of construction in Finland.
Tips@cruiseradio.net. Have yourself a great Tuesday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.
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