Carnival Sets the Record Straight on Guy’s Burger Joint Hours

If you know, you know – there’s nothing like a Guy’s Burger on a Carnival cruise ship, hot from the grill and dripping with SMC (super melty cheese, for those who don’t quite know yet). You make your way to the toppings bar to layer up with caramelized onions, shredded lettuce, pickles, and your other fixins of choice, ready for that first bite.

But if you really know, you know you can’t enjoy your favorite burger later in the evening. In fact, Guy’s Burger Joint onboard Carnival’s ships is typically open just from 12-6:30 p.m., though exact hours may vary from ship to ship.

One cruise “influencer” has claimed to have the answer to why Carnival Cruise Line keeps the venue’s hours so short.

“She pretty much wrote that the reason that we don’t have Guy’s Burgers open through the night is to save money,” John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, said. “And some people asked me to explain why we don’t have Guy’s Burgers open longer.”

This is not the first time Cruise Hive has reported on Guy’s Burger Joint hours and what goes on at the popular venue. Now, however, Heald has offered more behind-the-burgers insights.

In today’s cruise operations, crew members must keep very strict hours to comply with labor laws. In years past, work shifts may have seemed more flexible, but today’s crew members clock in and out digitally and all work hours are precisely recorded.

The time crew members are working at Guy’s Burgers must include not only the actual open hours for the venue, but also prep time before opening as well as cleanup and sanitization after the venue closes.

“They start the day, the morning preparing food, probably start around 9 o’clock, getting everything ready to serve anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 burgers, depending on the day and the ship,” Heald explained.

Heald notes that crew members do have breaks throughout their shifts, but the hours are still regulated and must be adhered to very strictly.

Why Not Add More Crew Members?

The “influencer” then addresses overall staffing, suggesting that Carnival Cruise Line should add more crew members in order to keep Guy’s Burger Joint open later.

While this would work for a land-based restaurant, it’s not quite so easy to add staff on a cruise ship.

“Every department has a budget, every department wants more people, every department will tell the Beards back at the Mother Ship that we need more crew,” Heald said. “Here’s the thing, we can only put the number of crew on each ship that we have beds for on board. On every ship, every cruise, pretty much every crew bed is taken.”

More beds can’t simply be added to a cruise ship. Occupancy limits, lifeboat capacities, crew services, and other factors are all part of staffing on ships.

If more crew members are needed for Guy’s Burger, where should other staffing potentially be cut? Fewer cabin attendants, bartenders, or performers? What about cutting staff at guest services, in the Fun Shops, or in the casino?

While every guest has their own preferences – I myself would enjoy Guy’s Burgers being open later, and as I don’t spend much time in the casino, that staff isn’t as useful to my personal vacation experience – Carnival Cruise Line needs to balance their staffing needs to serve all guests, not just what one guest might want.

Read Also: Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line – Menu, Which Ships, Details

Finally, the influencer notes that another cruise line has a burger place open later than Guy’s Burger Joint.

Heald does not name the cruise line (just as he does not name the influencer), and he firmly notes that every cruise line is different. He also comments that the specific cruise line the influencer mentions charges extra for burgers, as they are not included in the cruise fare.

I’ll keep my free Guy’s Burgers, thanks, and I’ll just remember to enjoy them a little earlier in the day.