Baked Alaska Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Was considering purchasing the refreshment package for my son and his buddy for an upcoming cruise. I wonder if the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines will be a thing of the past. RCIfan1912 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USFFrank Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Why would they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baked Alaska Posted May 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 23 minutes ago, USFFrank said: Why would they? Three words: Single. Use. Cups. The freestyle machines only work with the chip imbedded multi-use plastic cups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaredhamburg Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 My guess is that there will be a card to scan and an attendant to get a beverage. This will also make sharing the cups with the non-beverage package person even harder.... RBRSKI and RCIfan1912 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pima1988 Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Yes, but remember it is self serve which means it is limited interaction with staff. If you get rid of it, imagine how many more people will be lining up at the pool bars for sodas instead of hitting the free style machine in the WJ or Promenade/Esplanade before going to the pool They are going to have to change, but I would think that will be on the bottom of the pile compared to the ice cream machines on the pool deck if you worry about spreading germs. ~ Never went to it, never will, because even before Co Vid, I saw how unsanitary it was. Kids grabbing cones and putting them back. Dads making multiple cones with ice cream on his hand as he makes the next. Lines out the ying yang. RWDW1204 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pima1988 Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 Just now, jaredhamburg said: My guess is that there will be a card to scan and an attendant to get a beverage. Yes, but you can do that now. My hubby takes his freestyle cup to the pool bc he likes Powerade or cherry coke zero. I just take my sea pass card because I am fine with diet coke. The problem the attendant issue is financial. It is all about $$$. Replacing the free style machine will mean they will need more attendants to be roaming certain areas, WJ, and pool decks quickly come to mind. 2nd. It will mean reinvestment in things like more glasses and those favorite paper straws. You are talking about ships, such as Anthem with 4K+ passengers. If 1500 of them had the free style, that is a lot less glasses to be purchased and washed. Hence, financially it is cheaper in the long run. RWDW1204 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 22 minutes ago, Pima1988 said: Yes, but you can do that now. My hubby takes his freestyle cup to the pool bc he likes Powerade or cherry coke zero. I just take my sea pass card because I am fine with diet coke. The problem the attendant issue is financial. It is all about $$$. Replacing the free style machine will mean they will need more attendants to be roaming certain areas, WJ, and pool decks quickly come to mind. 2nd. It will mean reinvestment in things like more glasses and those favorite paper straws. You are talking about ships, such as Anthem with 4K+ passengers. If 1500 of them had the free style, that is a lot less glasses to be purchased and washed. Hence, financially it is cheaper in the long run. The real clue that labor is the biggest problem is that they put freestyle machines in in the first place. Those machines take cartridges that are orders of magnitude more expensive that the traditional BIB (bag-in-box) package that you see under traditional soda fountains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof4crazytocruise Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 I would be more concerned about the touch pad and the drink selection. Put a washy-washy right next to it, good to go. USFFrank 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USFFrank Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 5 hours ago, Baked Alaska said: Three words: Single. Use. Cups. The freestyle machines only work with the chip imbedded multi-use plastic cups. If I missed it somewhere I'm sorry. Where did it say Royal was doing away with the freestyle cups? 3 hours ago, Momof4crazytocruise said: I would be more concerned about the touch pad and the drink selection. Put a washy-washy right next to it, good to go. That's all you need. Some kind of disinfectant wipe dispenser near the machine to wipe down the touchscreen if you like and/or a hand sanitizer dispenser you could use after you've made your selection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedNoodles Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 5 hours ago, Pima1988 said: They are going to have to change, but I would think that will be on the bottom of the pile compared to the ice cream machines on the pool deck if you worry about spreading germs. ~ Never went to it, never will, because even before Co Vid, I saw how unsanitary it was. Kids grabbing cones and putting them back. Dads making multiple cones with ice cream on his hand as he makes the next. Lines out the ying yang. The ice cream machines had attendants on the last two cruises I was on (last June on Ovation and last Feb on Symphony). You were not allowed to get your own. I imagine they'll change to this on all ships. whenismynextcruise 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruzOnBye Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 12 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said: The ice cream machines had attendants on the last two cruises I was on (last June on Ovation and last Feb on Symphony). You were not allowed to get your own. I imagine they'll change to this on all ships. We were on Mariner in December and we had attendants as well for the icecream, which was fine with us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pima1988 Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 22 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said: The ice cream machines had attendants on the last two cruises I was on (last June on Ovation and last Feb on Symphony). You were not allowed to get your own I think that is also a problem with RCL. I am loyal to Royal, but every ship is different. They did not do that on my Anthem or Adventure that we took within 9 months of each other. I sailed Adventure 2018. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedNoodles Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 55 minutes ago, Pima1988 said: I think that is also a problem with RCL. I am loyal to Royal, but every ship is different. I don’t think they’ll make self serve an option on any ship going forward. WAAAYTOOO, USCG Teacher, RWDW1204 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pima1988 Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 I agree @SpeedNoodles. I think self serve will be an issue on every ship. That now begs the question will WJ have desserts in a cup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted May 13, 2020 Report Share Posted May 13, 2020 3 hours ago, CruzOnBye said: We were on Mariner in December and we had attendants as well for the icecream, which was fine with us! We were on Mariner in February, no attendants. Ice cream was self serve. CruzOnBye 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 One thing I’d be careful with is making anything a “forever change” this world is cyclical as are diseases. During the Spanish flu crowds were often in masks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danv3 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Wish they'd expand the Freestyle machines, not get rid of them or make them less convenient to use. Love the options and the soft drinks from the bars have always tasted "off" to me on cruises. RWDW1204 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 17 hours ago, USFFrank said: If I missed it somewhere I'm sorry. Where did it say Royal was doing away with the freestyle cups? I don't think you are missing anything. I think the poster was just making a suggestion for one way to get around several hundred/thousand people re-using the cups they have been drinking from on a single machine. Okgladgal and Baked Alaska 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 2 minutes ago, melmar02 said: I don't think you missing anything. I think the poster was just making a suggestion for one way to get around several hundred/thousand people re-using the cups they have been drinking from on a single machine. Would be an interesting comparison to test the bacteria counts between the cup only I’ve touched and the ones the bartender has. On more than one occasion I’ve gotten a cup from the bar that looks dirty. What would be interesting would be if Coca-Cola’s vending division could create a machine that in between uses closed a lid to run through a cleaning (with water or UV) picture those old coffee machines in the 80s with the sliding door. RWDW1204 and Baked Alaska 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branderson610 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 11 hours ago, Baked Alaska said: Was considering purchasing the refreshment package for my son and his buddy for an upcoming cruise. I wonder if the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines will be a thing of the past. I see what you are saying. A lot of fast food restaurants near me don't allow self serve refills anymore post covid. It will be interesting to see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Va4fam Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Empress in late February had an attendant for the ice cream machine at all times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whenismynextcruise Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 5 hours ago, Pima1988 said: I think that is also a problem with RCL. I am loyal to Royal, but every ship is different. They did not do that on my Anthem or Adventure that we took within 9 months of each other. I sailed Adventure 2018. Been on anthem a lot. Most times there has been some sort of ice cream attendant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehw51 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Last 2 cruises on Anthem they have had attendants most of the time at the ice cream machines. They also had gloves on. It will be very interesting to see what they will Freestyle machines, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadster Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 12 hours ago, Branderson610 said: I see what you are saying. A lot of fast food restaurants near me don't allow self serve refills anymore post covid. It will be interesting to see what happens. I've been seeing this here in Maryland, and there are press reports of it happening all across the country. As for Freestyle machines specifically, I'll let you know in the next couple of days, when I go get a burger from the place near me that has a Freestyle machine. Once more, doing the dirty work for you fine folks. As for the ice cream machines, I'd welcome the attendants. Years of work in fast-food establishments in my younger days have made me loathe those machines...plus, watching people get their own ice cream just puts me off getting it. USCG Teacher, Baked Alaska and SpeedNoodles 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baked Alaska Posted May 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 I think RCCL will ditch ALL self-service and any service ware that remains in possession of the customer past one use (e.g., re-usable cups like the chip embedded cups with the drink packages). This is kind of a fluffy article on RCCL, but I think it is the beginning: https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-considers-ditching-traditional-buffet/ USCG Teacher and Neesa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Ogre Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 14 hours ago, Andrew72681 said: Would be an interesting comparison to test the bacteria counts between the cup only I’ve touched and the ones the bartender has. On more than one occasion I’ve gotten a cup from the bar that looks dirty. What would be interesting would be if Coca-Cola’s vending division could create a machine that in between uses closed a lid to run through a cleaning (with water or UV) picture those old coffee machines in the 80s with the sliding door. This is not the same as Covid-19. Covid is a virus not bacteria. Completely different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 16 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said: This is not the same as Covid-19. Covid is a virus not bacteria. Completely different. Did I mention COVID-19 at all in my statement? No, I specifically mentioned bacterial counts and potentially lackluster cleaning at bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Ogre Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 17 minutes ago, Andrew72681 said: Did I mention COVID-19 at all in my statement? No, I specifically mentioned bacterial counts and potentially lackluster cleaning at bars. Sorry about that. I thought it was implied now that all this talk about how things will change will be due to covid-19. The bacteria issue has always been there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 3 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said: Sorry about that. I thought it was implied now that all this talk about how things will change will be due to covid-19. The bacteria issue has always been there. No problem. Yes, bacteria isn’t going anywhere. I just find it funny how some assume something done in a professional kitchen/bar makes it clean. They should check out some of those Gordon Ramsey shows. But we should still patent that auto-cleaning freestyle machine. stick you cup in, door closes in machine, UV between 200 and 400 NM kills any bacteria or virus. we just need to work on it being voice controlled rather than a touch screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 I already have an idea for an automated grocery cart sanitizing system...LOL. As with all of my ideas, it will be much too big and much too costly to be practical, but that never stopped me ! SpeedNoodles and USCG Teacher 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrznTxn Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Alexa, dispense me 16 ounces of Rum and Coke! Never mind make that just Rum. Will work for water out of the faucet in my home according to the commercials, why not there? RWDW1204, jaredhamburg, WAAAYTOOO and 2 others 1 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaredhamburg Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 8 minutes ago, CrznTxn said: Alexa, dispense me 16 ounces of Rum and Coke! Never mind make that just Rum. Will work for water out of the faucet in my home according to the commercials, why not there? We just need a replicator like in Star Trek: The Next Generation....... USFFrank 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBRSKI Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 On 5/13/2020 at 3:15 PM, SpeedNoodles said: The ice cream machines had attendants on the last two cruises I was on (last June on Ovation and last Feb on Symphony). You were not allowed to get your own. I imagine they'll change to this on all ships. I think they also moved to this process because some children have NO manners and yes many adults as well would make a mess. And most of these children should have had the parents helping them because they were to young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 44 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said: I already have an idea for an automated grocery cart sanitizing system...LOL. As with all of my ideas, it will be much too big and much too costly to be practical, but that never stopped me ! Is it to create a tunnel that they have to be pushed through? Because it would be the best way to kill any germs. My biggest concern is if we go around killing all the germs that normally touch us, we’ll eventually be screwed with no natural defenses. RBRSKI 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadster Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 40 minutes ago, CrznTxn said: Alexa, dispense me 16 ounces of Rum and Coke! Never mind make that just Rum. Will work for water out of the faucet in my home according to the commercials, why not there? Wait...is that 16 ounces of rum and 16 ounces of Coke, or 8 ounces of each for a total of 16 ounces? Either way...if I could train my Google Home Mini to do that, it'd at least feel like I was on a cruise -- in part because of all the swaying. --- Seriously, though, I'm not sure how much I'll use Freestyle machines on a cruise; I never had any issues getting a Coke Zero from a bartender while on my first cruise. A lot of times, I'd sit there for a bit and I'd tip extra; several of them recognized me by the end of the cruise and asked me if I wanted my standard Coke Zero. RBRSKI 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Andrew72681 said: Is it to create a tunnel that they have to be pushed through? Because it would be the best way to kill any germs. My biggest concern is if we go around killing all the germs that normally touch us, we’ll eventually be screwed with no natural defenses. Yes, that’s the plan. I guess it wasn’t so creative, huh ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said: Yes, that’s the plan. I guess it wasn’t so creative, huh ? Would be more fun if they would turn those escalators in the two story targets into sanitizers RWDW1204 and WAAAYTOOO 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 3 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: Yes, that’s the plan. I guess it wasn’t so creative, huh ? Having grown up in grocery stores (my dad was a store manager at GIant) I can just imagine the old folks at Leisure world accidentally walking through the tunnel. WAAAYTOOO and Chadster 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBRSKI Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 We all are being silly, What about the Bionic Bar! Duh! LOL SpeedNoodles 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 @WAAAYTOOO I am all for contact-less grocery shopping where I can go online and a real camera/droid picks my fresh fruits and veggies....plus other items. Then they all get scanned and I pick up my items in a designated area. I don't want to risk the loss of immunity by developing immunity to certain cleaning products and procedures. As far as freestyle goes they could put a reader on the machine to scan SeaPass cards. You can use a wipe after making your selections and get dispensed a recyclable paper cup. Doesn't cost as much as a machine to disinfect a reusable mug. Baked Alaska, Chadster and WAAAYTOOO 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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