Costa Cruises is drawing attention after warning passengers on select sailings that they could face a €60 ($70) cleaning fee if they take food from onboard buffet areas or restaurants to cabins, pool decks, lounges, or other spaces outside designated dining areas. The policy was reported by Fodor’s, which cited a passenger notice shared on board.
According to the notice, food served in buffet and restaurant areas must be consumed only in approved dining spaces. The warning has attracted attention because many cruise passengers are accustomed to taking small items, such as pastries, fruit, or snacks, from buffet areas back to their cabins.
Costa Cruises Says Room Service Staff Must Handle Cabin Food Delivery
Costa’s notice distinguishes between food eaten in public dining venues and food delivered to cabins through approved ship procedures. According to Crew Center, the onboard message said only room service staff trained in hygiene and sanitation procedures are authorized to transport food to guest cabins upon request.
The company said the communication appeared on a limited number of specific sailings as a preventive and deterrent measure, in line with existing policies, to encourage responsible behavior onboard. The cruise line did not describe the possible fee as a room service charge. Instead, the warning focuses on guests carrying food away from restaurants or buffet areas themselves, rather than using the ship’s approved delivery process.
What Passengers Should Know Before Taking Food From The Buffet
For passengers who prefer to eat privately or avoid crowded buffet seating, the policy is worth noting before assuming that the usual habits apply. Those wanting to eat in their cabins should plan to use Costa’s room service process instead.
