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While it’s easy to forget (and some people don’t want to remember) the cruise industry has been devastated by the Covid pandemic. All cruises from US ports were halted for about 15 months, and when they returned, things were no longer the same.
Once cruise lines received permission to sail again, they were — at least initially — under severe restrictions from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Ships sailed with very limited capacity, social distancing was enforced, masks were required to be worn in indoor public spaces, and proof of vaccination was required.
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In addition to keeping people apart from each other, cruise lines have also beefed up their cleaning regime and tried to limit the amount of commonly touched services. For months, it seemed as if many crew members did nothing but sanitize the handrails, and tables could only be used after being properly cleaned.
Most cruise lines have also largely eliminated paper on their ships. This included the availability of menus and the daily schedule via QR codes, although paper menus were always provided to people who requested them.
Getting rid of printed daily schedules including Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Compass and Carnival’s Fun Times was a controversial decision. It makes sense for safety and environmental reasons, and it eliminates the cost for cruise lines.
However, passengers didn’t like it, and both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have made some changes.
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Image source&col; Royal Caribbean
Carnival brings the fun times paper pack
Royal Caribbean has largely continued to push passengers to use its app for its in-flight schedule. You can usually request a paper copy of the Cruise Compass and sometimes it is provided at Guest Services.
Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) It has completely reversed its pandemic ear policy, according to a recent post by brand ambassador John Heald.
“It’s interesting that some people didn’t realize that we now have the hard copy of Fun Times delivered to your booth, and as you can see from today’s cover photo, it’s available in the café as well,” he said.
Held then asked his followers how they would track activities on the plane, and gave them four options:
- A: I have read the paper version of Fun Times Plus, and downloaded it on the Hubb app.
- B: I only read the paperback version of Fun Times.
- A: I only read Fun Times from the Hubb app.
- D: I don’t read Fun Times.
More than 4,100 Heald followers voted and shared their opinions.
Most carnival riders want to have fun and have fun times
“On the last few cruises, I’ve learned how to use the Hubb app but I still enjoy coming back to the cabin at night and reading Fun Times in bed to see what I won’t miss the next day,” Susan Natale wrote. .
It seems like a lot of people use both.
“I love both! And I bring a highlighter to mark the paper version. It makes my little paper-loving heart happy,” Linda Leon shared.
Other passengers love the hard copy of Fun Times as a souvenir.
“I actually get them from guest services when I walk by not to use them on the ship but to keep a memory of all the fun events (one day I’ll put them together in a scrapbook…eventually),” Sarah Rose Carey added.
Others like to be able to leave their phones in the room.
“I like having the hard copy so I don’t always have to carry my phone or other device with me,” Linda Sargent Carraway wrote.
But while many people share these sentiments, others don’t think the printout should be left in every room.
“I’m sorry that the paper Fun Times has to be delivered to every booth. It’s a waste of paper for many people. It’s one thing to have it available to people who need it, going back to a paper copy for every booth creates a lot of waste,” Barbara J. Valentine posted.
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