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Had this experience at the table in the buffet on our last cruise. Hubby and I were at a table for four. Beside the empty seats of our table was another table where four people sat down. There was a short space between the tables. A woman immediately reached over and took the cutlery from one of the empty seats at our table. She didn’t bother asking if there would be people joining us who would use the cutlery. She didn’t want to have to take five steps to get her own or, God forbid, wait a few minutes for a waiter to bring her some. We found that annoying but ignored it since we knew no one would be using it at our table. It was what she did next that really got under my skin. We had finished our meals and were enjoying a cup of coffee. They had finished eating and the woman stacked all their plates up and reached over and put their dirty dishes on our table. I couldn’t believe my eyes! She didn’t want the dirty dishes under hers nose but was only too happy to put them under ours. Rude, disgusting behaviour. We just got up and left. I wanted to tell her how rude and inappropriate her actions were but I couldn’t be bothered. She had obviously been raised by wolves and if she hadn’t learned proper manners by her age, she wasn’t going to learn anything I had to teach her. I hope she is reading this post and blushing.
Wow. I've never been on a cruise. Going on a cruise is on my bucket list. But that would really annoy me, the moving of their dirty dishes to the table I would be sitting at. I doubt I would have had the calmness that you had to not say anything. I am impressed that you walked away without yelling at them. In fact that is one of the things that keeps me from going on a cruise, I am afraid I will get irritated with people in such close quarters.
@@kriscampbell2327 The ships are big enough that you can always move on when someone annoys you. I admit that I’m very easily annoyed. It’s a character fault I’m not proud of. I’m most bothered by by people who speak louder than they have to. My husband and I are quiet and we do our best not to share our conversations with others. We don’t mind moving somewhere else and sometimes go to our cabin if we can’t find a peaceful and quiet spot. It stands to reason that if you are sharing a space with a couple thousand people that you will, at some point, encounter someone who rubs you the wrong way. Don’t let that stop you from cruising though. It happens on land too so you might as well enjoy being pampered and having wonderful views from a ship. You won’t regret it.
The problem I've seen at the buffet is adults letting very young children be unsupervised. They may spill, be unsanitary, and interrupt the flow of the entire buffet area. I guess this is hand-in-hand with adults not adequately supervising their children on a cruise.
We only do Disney cruises, and this is a HUGE and I mean HUGE issue on their cruises. Heaven forbid if a cast member corrects their behavior,... the "parents" jump down their throat. How about you, parent your child? Is that so incredibly hard??
I'm a big fan of grabbing food (especially breakfast) at the buffet and then taking it back to my room to enjoy it on the balcony. As long as it isn't a SUPER windy day, it's a wonderful way to enjoy your breakfast with a view and no need to endlessly search for a table, plus you can have a peaceful conversation or sit in silence to start your day.
My Mom and I were alone, two empty chairs.. we noticed a lady looking for a seat. We offered her one of ours. She was a solo cruiser from Indiana. Turns out, she was also staying across the hall from our stateroom. It was nice getting to know other passengers. She was super friendly. Funny thing, I don't think we saw her (again) but maybe once.
That's nice. I do the same thing. Also, as a solo cruiser, if I have a plate of food, I'm not going to spend much time looking for a seat if I see a larger table with empties. I don't hesitate to ask if a seat is occupied.
Important to stay in touch with people you hit it off with, these days that’s rare. Meeting people on cruises is one of the best parts, you don’t get opportunities like that at a resorts.
Was vacationing in Mexico. Saw an elderly couple searching for shade. Invited them to sit under our umbrella as there were two extra lounges. They were ridiculously grateful to find a place out of the sun. In chatting, we discovered that he was a retired doctor/professor at a huge hospital near home. I was scheduled for a first visit with a specialist who had trained under him. He gave me his name and told me to use his name to say Dr So&So said to say hello. I was treated especially well by the specialist!! who knew it would end up to be my blessing! ♥️
Do not eat items while standing at the buffet, even if you put it on your plate first. It is not a grazing bar. Get your food, get out of the way, go sit down. Use your utensils and serviette/napkin.
We do eat at the buffet. Not every meal but some meals.. The one thing we do is we walk the entire Buffet before we even pick up our plate. Looking everything over before you start adding food items to your plate is the best way to know ahead of time what you would like to eat and or try.
Yes look first so that you don’t get something you don’t want and waste it cause you saw something else as your getting your last item on your plate to only leave food on your plate to get something else you saw. Let’s be thankful to God and not waste what he has given us. It’s a blessing to be able to be where we go.
@retiredinnameonly8429 I like to do the same thing, but in reverse. Enjoy a nice glass of wine on my balcony,🍷and watch the sun set. Then back out to a show or to The Club. The only time I 'd see the sun rise is if I stayed up all night in the casino.😂 Our differences are what make the world go round! Happy Sailing.🐳🛳 🌊
Totally agree checking out the buffet options before starting a plate. When trying a dish new to me I only get a small amount, sometimes just a tablespoon! I really don't like to waste food.
That wasn’t easy to do when I went. You just have to get in line and wait for the line to move. Unless you are going to invade other peoples personal space to look over their shoulder. Just grab a bite of everything and go back for what you liked the best.
I harken back to my mother's policy at table. Try 1 small spoonful of each item available then ask for more of your favorites. Mother did this to broaden our taste palates ...and to remind us to not waste what others would love to have but can't afford.
The one place where the buffet outshines all the other dining venues is the made to order omelet station at breakfast. I like mine to be piping hot and sometimes the MDR or even the suite restaurant, the omelet sits a bit before being served and gets lukewarm. There's nothing better to start a day than a piping hot omelet made right there for you in the buffet.
We also enjoy the fresh made omelettes. But one thing really grinded my gears on the last cruise. Groups would send one or two people to omelette line, while the others ravaged the buffett of suasages or bacon. The people in the omelette line would then order two or three omelettes, stopping the process for ten minutes. EAch time the chef apologized fot the delay he had no control over. If you want an omelette, get in line like others!
On my latest cruise I saw a passenger dip his finger into a sauce to see how it tasted. Gross! He then carried on down the line. I told a nearby server who immediately removed the sauce. Since our cruise had Covid spreading after the second day ship’s wait staff began to serve all of us with the utensils being out of touch for us to use. I felt so much better. 😊
When I was on Norwegian Jewel in May, each lunch at the buffet seemed to have a theme. One day it was Asian food, then the next it was German. I thought it was kinda neat. That black forest cake was to die for.
Yes check out the options. Take a 'lap' around the buffet before you decide. Please don't bring used or dirty plates to the buffet to put more food on. People do this for a good reason as they think it'll be one less plate someone has to wash but it's not good to do.
I took me years of cruising to learn to avoid the buffet on embarkation day because it's just pure chaos. It's hard to find seats, long lines to get food, people dragging their carry on suitcases everywhere and running into you or over your feet and they don't know where they are going. These days I only go the main dining room or 24/7 snack bar for lunch.
As an RN, I would also add that after sitting down, pulling your chair in, use hand sanitizer on your utensil handles and glass, then again on your hands, then eat & enjoy!
Years ago, my brother and I took a Carnival inaugural Cruise in the Baltic Sea. It was amazing, we did not have a single problem, this was a 21-day cruise. One of the many times we ate at our dinner table one guest at our table was eating some delicious ribs, and she told us guys you must try this, well our amazing hostess heard her, and we were already halfway eating but then she came over she said she would be back soon with a surprise. Well, she brought me and my brother half a serving each of those delicious riibs. It does pay back a lot when you are always kind and appreciate who is your hostess or whomever is looking after you. One of the guest's younger kids was sick one night she had her phone and she left before her meal was over, well our hostess made sure she had a meal sent to her cabin while looking at her sick son. Now that was amazing, and of course, at the end of the cruise, everyone was extremely pleased with our hostess.
Love your channel, keep up the great content!!!! Ok here's my biggest pet peeve when cruising and I mention this in EVERY post-cruise survey. You can wash your hands all you want, sanitize all you want but if you don't want to contaminate everything you touch, DO NOT EAT OFF YOUR PLATE IN THE BUFFET LINE!!!! That is the single fastest way to spread germs from your mouth to your hands to every utensil you touch. Want the extra minute until you sit down. Cruise lines spend so much time talking about safety, telling you to wash your hands, sanitize, etc but never take the extra minute to talk about food safety. That's how you really prevent sickness at buffets. I step off my soap box now.
Another thing is to wash your hands before and after you fix your plate in the buffet. Cause remember you're all touching the same utensils to grab the food....I bet too many people don't think about this. If you touch something somebody else has touched, wash your hands afterward before you eat anything and touch your face.
@@queenmoreau2098 If I go to the buffet, I always wash my hands or at the very least use hand wipes or sanitizer before eating my food because some people are gross
Don't fill your water bottle directly from the water dispenser. Use a cup to fill your bottle. You don't want the edge of your bottle where you sip to touch where others will be drinking.
Something that goes along with etiquette and hygiene is watching your kids carefully in the buffet. My 4 year old has a habit of touching food with her hands, so that’s something for parents to consider too. We’ll be having a talk with her about not touching everything before we embark.
It sounds like since COVID is “over” (at least in people’s minds) that ships aren’t having staff serve customers at the buffet anymore. I think certain COVID protocols should have always stayed in place going forward as they’re good practices for controlling spread of ANY disease, let alone those on a ship!
@@altairolp1557 How does that stop a child touching things? Backpack leashes are made to stop children running away from their parents, especially in crowded places.
A child of 4 yrs,is far too young to be serving themselves or even being allowed to touch anything in the buffet line. Perhaps, parents should take the child around the child friendly part of the buffet during the less busy periods and describe the food to them or give them a couple of options such as do you want spaghetti, hamburger or pizza. Perhaps, I am making a donkey out of myself, but I am assuming the parent is not taking the child/children by themselves and can leave them with another adult in their party while the first parent gets their food and takes it back to the table.
@@hume6900 I never said I allowed her to serve herself. I take her with me and sometimes she reaches for what she wants. Once I get her plate I usually take her back to the table with my husband so I can go back and get my food. And also my child eats just about everything, not just pizza and hamburgers. She's been asking if there will be broccoli on the cruise lol. I merely made the comment to bring attention to other parents with little ones.
One thing about buffets (and maybe this doesn't apply to cruise lines) is they put the most expensive dishes at the back of the serving area. I do a quick look at that section first. I look from out of the line, then I go back and start the line like a good little passenger -- I know what to save room for! Another thing: I have only one useful hand, so carrying is an issue. You can use a tray that fits your walker. Or use a basket with a flat bottom, it keeps the plates from spilling. You can find collapsible baskets online so it's easier to pack.
We always use the hand sanitizer when entering the buffet. We also use our sanitizing towelettes at the table before we begin to eat, that way we're cleansing our hands after touching all of the serving utensils
Check out the names of the chemicals on the back label in that sanitizer you’re slathering on your skin Those cancer causing chemicals are being absorbed into your body Do your research on the internet if you don’t believe me - you’ll never use liquid or wipes sanitizer again
Ilana, the things not to eat: I would add eggs Benedict In the MDR. I love it, but after getting sick twice on one cruise, I no longer order it. Forgive me for posting on the wrong video, it it just switched so fast! Love your posts.
One thing we did on one of my first cruises, we ONLY ate at the buffet which I don't recommend. We had a child that was 18 months with us and we were afraid the more formal dining experiences were going to be too long/much for him. We were also afraid we would ruin others experiences if he started getting cranky. Although the cruise staff loved him (and he was a hit the all the people working in the buffet - seriously, he was the staff's favorite guest), the last meal we did decide to do in the formal setting and he did great. Don't think the buffet is your only option.
After 14 cruises, I think there are times when it's OK to move ahead of the person in front of you who is waiting for the attendant to do something . The food beyond the person waiting will virtually never run out, so it's not like you're taking the last piece of bacon by jumping ahead.
I go to the buffet several times during a cruise, but usually eat in the MDR if available. I wish all cruise lines would go to having servers dish up the food. That would help with contamination. Especially an ice cream machine, that we had on Carnival. It was always a mess and the children were just always helping themselves and dropping ice cream on the floor and all over the machine. Not all parents watch their children at the buffet and they tend to touch everything!
We only eat at the buffet if we have to. The lines and finding a place to sit are sometimes almost impossible. The rude passengers seem to be the ones at the buffet.
@@thefox47545 It's not always and does highly depend on the other cruisers as to whether things are chaotic or not. If you happen to be on a ship with the Rude Jerks Convention, check for the 24-hour restaurant, which may also have some offerings early for breakfast. Or go at the very start of the buffet hours to avoid the rush.
@@thefox47545 Seasoned cruisers often have lots of opinions. You’ll be fine in the buffet. Take your time, look at the options first and if it seems busy, have one person in your party hold a table while you get your food and then they can go get theirs. The experience is what you make of it, not what others think.
I enjoy eating at the buffet for breakfast and lunch most days. I especially enjoy the made to order omelettes because the chefs usually do a good job cooking omelets.
Yes on not piling your plate! I like to "window shop" first and then take only a spoonful. If I like something or want to try something new, then I can always go back. I really, really hate all the food waste!
I like the people that have a plate of bacon for breakfast! I mean the entire plate is stacked with bacon. Maybe they don’t have it where they come from? Lol
@@deesjourney213 I had to laugh at your comment as on our first cruise my then 13 yr old grandson did that. We didn't find as he does not eat a lot of meats and he needs the protein . He is a very picky eater but usualy prefers most any type of beans. But with an option if all the bacon he wanted that breakfast made his vacation! That and all the different salads abd pastas!
We've cruised as a family 3 times, and on embarkation day we save our appetite for once we are on board. I love to walk around the buffet and check all the options. I usually eat lightly with small portions of many different items. One time on embarkation day there were several delays and by the time we were eating I was nearing the "hangry" mood. Sometimes there seems to be a line, others you can just step up to what you want. I've also noticed that people hop in line right at the beginning and there is less traffic down the line and usually the same offerings. There are so many options, I love that there are tiny servings-allows for more tasting of new foods and still have room for dessert. I've loved building a great salad too. When our children were younger we went with them to ensure they learned and practiced appropriate buffet etiquette and didn't contaminate foods.
My wife and I recently completed a 19-day Transatlantic on Norwegian. We ate plenty and good and drink plenty and good. But we gained NO weight. We stay very active, went to the gym, we walked the stairs and did not make pigs of ourselves at the buffet or at the dining rooms. We are senior citizens ..... We did indulge ourselves at the specialty restaurants a bit though.😢
Good to hear. We use the stairs ( up ) all the time and we eat well but eat salads first and use the fitness center and the Zumba classes etc and we are in our 60's. It can be done. Specialty dining is the best food and service.Its fine to indulge but it can be walked off, try several laps of the promenade deck before breakfast.
I never take the elevator on a ship and will continue my high level fitness regimen on the ship. Also, I eat healthy and do not drink alcohol. Will not gain an ounce on my upcoming 12 day cruise.
Thank you for the video. One thing I would suggest to add to the list is: Thinking that you will not see the buffet staff again. Even if you will not go to the buffet anymore, you will probably see them again somewhere else on the ship. That's because they switch their work places on the ship. E. g. we met our waiter from the main dining room for dinner in the buffet restaurant during breakfast on our last cruise. And on another cruise, we met our waiter at the pool bar. So they definitely don't stay at one place for the whole day. And of course you should always be nice to service staff, no matter if you will meet them again or not!
I always eat the buffet! There are so many choices with main dish and desserts that aren't on the menu's in the main dining area. I usually grab a small salad, small main dish and then a small dessert or fresh fruit. So many choices! You can get a well-balanced diet 3 times a day and not overdo it by eating too much and gaining weight.
Buffet story ! Although not on a cruise ship buffet, but Buffet non the less. Was a watch 2 kids at the dessert bar with a chocolate fountain that you could dip various things in. The kids where scooping chocolate with there hands and and drinking it and scooping more. And the best part was an employee was watching as well and did nothing. So never eat from the chocolate fountain or anything that kids like..
Great tips and advice as always. I always put small portions on my plate to finish and go back for more later. I hate wasting food especially since others are going hungry. Got back from Vegas not too long ago and gave away my leftovers to the homeless.
My parents grew up during the Great Depression. Growing up, throwing away food was unthinkable. One of the house rules was 'take all you want, but eat all you take, and you can always go back for seconds if you're still hungry'. I remember as an adult learning to do BBQ meals for 700+ for an annual church fundraiser. I noted that we assembled the meals versus it being a buffett. I was told people routinely pile high the food, eat what they want, and throw the remaining half away. That's a lot of money in the trash. And then people wonder why meals are so expensive - they just can not figure it out!
You took food items away from Las Vegas and brought to your home state to feed homeless? There’s all kind of safety wrongs in that. Not to mention you basically used others money to pay for the homeless.
Thank you for the great video. The main problem I experience is that some people still assume that there is one line for the entire buffet instead of recognizing the unique, separate stations. They get irritated by people moving beyond their own line. Luckily, on my recent Princess Cruise, the buffet staff constantly made announcements that there were many more areas to check out and that there was no longer one strict line starting from the buffet entrance. It prevented a lot of misunderstandings between the guests.
Not all ships have different stations. The bulk of the food is in the same line. The only separate stations were for pizza, burgers,hot dogs, tacos and desserts.
My wife and I have been in a few cruses and this is good advice. We were always shocked at the amount of food people ate. There is also a lot of alcohol consumption.
Only been on one cruise, back when I was middle school aged or around then (45 now). It might as well have been Willy Wonka's cruise because I was in awe at the food and how I could just go grab something 😂 At any time! Going to the pizza parlor and being the only one there and ordering a "free" pizza blew my little mind haha
@@colormetakenaback lol! The pastries are always my weak spot! I plan to wear my stretchy pants for our Alaska cruise . Don’t need a summer body for this vacation anyways 🤣😆
You mentioned delaying at a particular part of the buffet. That is my main pet peeve. So many times I had to stand behind someone while they made their minds up or had discussions with their friends asking, "What do you think I should try?" OMG! I always window shop first, decide what I want, and dive into it so I can sit down quickly and eat. More people should try that technique...
people who are exaggerating in their snail pace, I'll just overtake them without a second thought. That does NOT apply to a person who is having difficulty in moving or holding plates and getting food too. It is strictly targeted against the obvious narcissist who believe the world revolves around them. I'm big enough and ugly enough that only a fool goes after me
On the other hand, having an impatient person breathing down your neck, and even jostling you physically because they are impatient is equally bad, people are on holiday, it’s not a race! People who need to be watch what they eat for a variety of medical reasons and even for personal reasons may take a little longer. There is no requirement to have chosen every item before you join the line.
and there is NO requirement to stand behind someone, like I mean, in a buffet line, exactly WHERE is behind anyway? while just past them there is open access. Not like they are gonna run out of your favorite. Just walk around them and continue on your merry way. No harm, no foul. These fake rules and people getting all uptight over a contrived issue is beyond bizarre. Says more about those getting worked up about it. Someone who is concentrating so intently on their food choice is not going to pay attention to you going past them. Being sheeple is what got us the situation in society that we have ! @@Hildred6
I agree about checking both sides of the buffet. On a recent Viking Ocean cruise, we found many differences between the different sides of the buffet. I love sushi and it was only offered on one side of the buffet, so I missed out on it the first two times that I ate at the buffet.
I went on a 10 day cruise, ate at the buffet every day, sometimes past bed time and lost 3 lbs. All I did was walk on the track every day, went to the gym some days, took the stairs to my cabin sometimes, aside from walking into town on port days. In my opinion, if you gain that much weight in such a little time, you're doing something very wrong.
Like you, I eat at the buffet for all my meals and usually lose 10 lbs.. When I eat in the MDR (or any of the other restaurants) I gain weight. Love the buffet as I can get just what I want and really try not to waste food.
On a Cruise We usually eat there at least once if not Twice. A Day ..The Buffet is a good place to try New Foods But just take small amounts You can always go BACK ..Judy & I always do a walk around Before deciding on what We want. As usually GREAT TIPS, Thanks...
I always bring disposable gloves and wear one on the hand I use when handling the buffet serving utensils....the ones that many other people are using. Sure, I wash/sanitize before serving myself, but I can't trust that everyone else did, too. "Not the cruise buffet police." Loved that one. I love your channel. I hope your Alaska cruise was amazing and fun! Your skin looks fabulous, Ilana! Thanks for all the wonderful vids!
I can only remember one incident at the buffet after 8 cruises and that was when one little old lady just stood there and took virtually every shrimp out of the seafood paella. I stared at her and all she did was smile at me and walk away. Still can’t believe it.
@@johnphelps9788 Ask her? I would have literally reached out and pulled some of those shrimp right off of her plate. Rude, inconsiderate people deserve the same in return, and I never hesitate to give it to them.
As someone with Celiac disease, I can say with certainty that the concern with utensil cross contamination is absolutely real. When in the buffet, I need to closely watch the serving stations for possible evidence that this. I think most folks try their best, but it does happen, and I hope people can appreciate it as a real issue. On occasions, I've had to go so far as to avoid the buffet completely, because becoming sick for the remainder of the day is not something I can chance.
@@jpjp3873 Unfortunately, yes. Any utensil that has food stuck to it is suspect. I had it happen to me at a family buffet, when the same spoon was inadvertently used between regular and gluten free mac & cheese. Fortunatelty, I became only mildly nauseous during the hour drive home (would have been ugly).
Nice video :) good point about healthy food being available on a cruise. When I went I had mostly healthy oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and a salad with a side for lunch. Eating less junk actually helps you enjoy it more when you eat it 😂
Your buffet hygiene section should be tagged on to the Muster Drill. I mean, we're talking safety, right? If only everyone would simply follow the guidelines you mentioned, I think we could all have a better time cruising. Thanks!
We do not cruise with Carnival any longer, however I would see people stationed in the Buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have also seen people with 8 Guys burgers piled on their plate. I also witnessed women in T-Backs and no cover ups, men with no shirts, and small children left unsupervised in the buffet area. I am loyal to Royal and Princess cruises, and I am glad to be through with Carnival. You get what you pay for!
Whenever I got to a buffet, before I get in line I make a "first pass" as it were and scope out everything and kind of decide what I want to try and what I don't so I don't get in line, fill up a plate and then come to something else and lo and behold, no more room.
Hygiene tip: If you go to a self-serve buffet, always wash your hands AFTER you have filled your plate with food but before you eat it. Most people don't do this and their hands are covered with germs from all the serving utensils. Then they use their hands to eat their finger food, of course, thereby consuming the germs.
It is always a good tip to keep a couple of those pre-moistened alcohol wipes for just such a situation. Also, I use them at the grocery store to open cooler doors, bread bins, etc.
We just got back from our first cruise. We did the main dining hall the first 2 nights but ended up just going to the buffet the rest of the cruise. They ended up having the same food as the main dining hall plus a whole lot of additional options. (Except for the food that was an extra charge at the main dining hall) we never had a problem finding a table and lines weren’t bad. The only downside was it was a little hard to maneuver a stroller and a wheelchair scooter through the tables
Just got back from Alaska and the Buffett had designated area for people with disabilities. That saved me, because trying to get wheelchair around those tables usually meant having to apologize 100 times for bumping into people.
@@darrinrein7235 we were on Royal Caribbean and we went to the Bahamas. Thankfully my MIL could walk a short distance with her cane so we parked her scooter on the outskirts of the tables and she walked to the table.
Welcome to cruising!!! One thing--cruise ships don't have dining halls. You may have noticed that it looks like a large dining room. It's known as the main dining room or MDR. Most first timers get hooked, so Bon Voyage!
We usually have breakfast and lunch at the buffet. Few years ago, we were in the Mediterranean and my friend picked up the spoon to serve himself. A lady put her arm between my friend's arm and his chest to grab something. We couldn't believe our eyes, we were shocked! 😲
Yes I always check both sides. I am also a preview eater. I check what’s available first. I often check out the lunch in the MDR and if I fancy what’s on offer will do that instead of buffet lunch.
Just recovered from an Alaskan cruise (Holland America; May, 2023)… the buffet has the best cooked food, but the worst hygiene! The Norovirus outbreak got to the point that crew were stationed at the Perell stations (and STILL people either said they were “allergic”, or immediately dumped the perell! But the worst was the LACK OF TABLE WIPING. People searching for tables would sit at the cleared tables, but they weren’t wiped down yet (and the silverware hadn’t been placed on the table)… The poolside dining was worse… i mentioned this lack to crew members 3 different times, and on the day my husband was quarantined, I became a “Karen”, warning people not to sit at unwiped tables! I even admonished a crew member (young man) who put silverware on an unwiped table (that he cleared about 15 minutes previously, except for a dirty glass)! I loved the cruise, except for this particular point. And yes, I contracted Noro 3 days after debarking… I believe my husband was cleared too soon.
I do wish they wouldn't leave silverware or glasses on tables. You don't know how long it's been there or who might have touched it. I'd rather they hand it out at the end of the buffet line. I know it's a tad inconvenient, but norovirus spreads too easily.
Sorry to hear of your bad experience on your Alaska trip. One of my favorite destinations - cruised there 5 times so far and am ready to plan trip #6. Beginning in 2010, have cruised almost exclusively on Celebrity (with Royal Caribbean and a Disney mixed in). In the buffet the silverware is wrapped in cloth napkins and available at different food stations. I don't recall ever seeing it on the tables. And Celebrity's dining staff, no matter what restaurant, practices excellent hygiene. Dirty dishes don't sit on tables, everything is wiped & cleaned as soon as the dishes are cleared, and the new large sinks and washing area (upon entry to the buffet on Edge class ships) is utilized by a majority of passengers. Fortunately, we've never gotten sick on any of our cruises, Alaska or otherwise.😊🛳🌊🐳🦅
!. Have breakfast before embarkation so you're not starving for lunch. 2. Don't fill your plate with one type of food. Someone else might want some too. 3. I like to do a walk-through of the buffet before I start loading the plate. Sometimes I discover something I wasn't expecting. 4. I like going to the buffet during the breakfast lunch switchover. That way I can get items from each for a personalized meal, like fresh bacon on my salad.
@davedove67: The food in the trays is not limited. The crew constantly replenishes the food if it gets low. Therefore, travelers should feel free to eat as much as they want without worrying whether others will miss out because “you ate it all”. That just doesn’t happen.
On one of our cruises, there was a woman who broke several of these rules all at once. She cut in line at the buffet, right in front of me, she was wearing a teeny tiny bikini, no coverup, no shoes, dripping wet, clearly drunk as a skunk, as she was swaying, holding a beer, taking food out of the buffet with her fingers, and standing still while she ate it, moved along the buffet line, doing the same thing over and over. She finally had her fill, and stumbled out of line and went on her way.😳
@@teresacahlik6887 I wanted to say something to her, but she was so drunk I didn’t know how she would react. I just steered clear of every dish she touched!
Great advice. I always sanitize my hands after putting my plate on the table before eating. Think about how many people touched the same tongs you just did
We always use the Buffet. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Get what you want when you want. We did use the dining room on our first cruise but we prefer the Buffet. We did see a person pick up a biscuit with their fingers, have a look at it and then put it back, I notified the crew member who removed the whole plate.
If there are two of you at a table for four or more and you notice the buffet is getting crowded, offer to share your table with those who are searching for a seat. Also, never get rude with the crew working in the buffet. It’s a rapid pace, high stress environment. If you have a major issue, save your private comment (s) for the officer in charge at the buffet; otherwise, if it’s a trivial problem try to relax so to enjoy your vacation.
@@johnl56 Hi John, ha ha, I only cruise with RCCL. Whenever, we go to the buffet the wait staff has our old plates cleared away by the time I go up for a third trip. We also usually look for for our usual servers from the main dining room when we go to the buffet. If we find them, we sit in their area and say hello to them - when we do this the table service is impeccable. Good luck, Cheers!
As a buffet-a-holic, I agree with everything you say here. And yes, I've seen every single one of those faux-pas. Thanks for the reminders. For my part, I eat a healthy salad on embarkation day at the buffet as it just works best for me, and I tend to LOSE weight on a cruise! LOL. Looking forward to our January '24 cruise on the brand new Carnival Jubilee!!! Think I'll need to check ahead of our cruise to see what other offerings might be worthwhile on cruise day.
I've never been on a cruise, but I like buffet restaurants because of the variety and freedom to select what I want, and eat it immediately. I like to "scout" the serving tables so I can decide what I want to eat, so I don't waste "stomach-space" on something I wouldn't enjoy as much.
Great video as always, Ilana, thanks for sharing. Please allow me to add my two cents (not sure whether Canadians talk like that): 1. If you are on your own on a table, do not leave your plate unattended to get more food or drink, lest having the waiters remove it under the assumption that you are done with it. I have learned this one the hard way. When asked about it at the time, one of the waiters apologised and suggested that next time I let them know I will be back; 2. Solo travelers who happen to be the first person to take a table might end up losing it to big parties unaware of the situation. If possible leave some cheap personal belonging such as a hat or umbrella to "mark" your place while you are away. This will tell people someone already took a seat on that table and will be returning soon. Best regards!
One thing I sometimes do at the buffet at lunch. I love poutine, but it's not something available. But french fries are available where the hamburgers are....gravy is available at the carvery many days....and cheese is available (though you might have to cut it up into small pieces). But, if I want poutine, I get poutine.
I do like the fact that it's easy to make healthy choice's at the buffet,because their is so many option's. I usually window shop first to make the best choice's.
Suggest to sanitize your hands again AFTER getting your food. Here's why. On our week long cruise last week, I saw adults do this each time at the buffet- eating food out of their plates with their fingers while in line for other foods or walking around. Saw a mom feed her kids Indian food with her fingers from her plate and get more after the kids nodded their heads. It reminded me why I avoid buffets on land.
Good review and suggestions. I love cruising and never really have any problems with the buffets. There is always that guy that stands there and picks out all the shrimp out of a dish, or picks out all of the beef out of the mongolian dish, but overall people are courteous. You just made me want to go on another one. 😁
My last three cruises have been with Royal Caribbean. Each cruise was very nice and the offerings at the Windjammer were very great. My only concern is that cold items are not really kept cold. The individual serving cups are sitting on a chilled table, but it really doesn't keep the items cold. I do wish that parents would assist their young children at the buffet rather than letting them run free. Wearing swimwear with coverups is great. I am not a fan of pajamas with slippers at the buffet.
As someone that has grown up with buffets (I live in the South, Land of Golden Corral). I would rethink number 8 , Always go just before the crowds its a bad mistake go after the crowds if you wait till 1:30 or later the food sets and is not as fresh. And one thing to add is avoid starchy foods or breads at the buffet. They will fill you up fast and you wont have room for the good stuff like meats and cheeses. Just my two cent.
I only go when I get hungry especially if I only had a coffee and a croissant for breakfast. Sometimes I would prefer to go early like 11:00 am - 11:30 am because I like to get first picks so I get to get them freshly cooked and served.
Yes love the buffet. My husband uses a disposable glove on the hand he uses at the buffet. I laughed originally but have taken up this habit as I watched some of the people at the buffet. Better safe than sorry!!!!
I have thought about doing that! Wouldn't it be great if they had those at the "washy washy" stations! Although I wash my hands at those stations, I always think it is almost a waste because if even one person doesn't wash and then touches a serving utensil I think it is all for naught. I try to remember to have Purell wipes in my purse to clean my hands again before starting to eat.
Something I remember was my sister and I were waiting in line we had our plates and silverware and noticed the woman in front of us was getting a salad made and that no one was really in front of her so we decided to just go ahead of her we really didn’t want a salad and because at most buffets this isn’t considered rude it just speeds up the line. The woman looks over at us and says that we had to wait our turn and that we were cutting the line. We looked at her confused and even the people behind us were confused and said that there was no one there and that that was a normal thing at buffets plus if they hadn’t wanted salads too they would have done the same thing.
On our cruise this last January, we ended up eating dinner at the buffet quite often because the main dining room was taking 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The buffet was delicious and the area was so uncrowded that often we had a whole section to ourselves and it was nice and quiet. The buffet had items like steaks, shrimp, lobster just like the main dining room. I think some of the dishes were even better. And it has the exact same desserts. So we went to the buffet many times but we ended up going to the dining room around 8 a few times and that time period was fast with only a few people seated in each section.
I prefer the buffet on days that I have excursions scheduled. It allows me to grab enough food to take my medications, without weighing me down for the days activities. I try to avoid potatoes and other heavier breakfast items. I do love the omelette station, as it allows me to have what I enjoy. I do prefer the MDR for dinner and the elegance that comes with it.
I like cruise ship buffets, and buffets in all inclusive hotels . it always interesting in all inclusive when parents/guardians allowed their children to help themselves at buffets, putting their hands all over the food . I prefer crew members serving us, on cruises we have the crew serving the meat of the day, and ice cream , and at the pasta station. I am glad the crew sorts out the toast, saves a long queue with doing our own.
I was on Allure of the Seas a few years back and watched as a lady picked up nacho chips with her hand. I was horrified and mentioned to her that was not sanitary to do. She didn’t care. I went to a staff member to reported it and he right away asked me to show him where this happened. He removed the bowl and thanked me for saying something. I was happy to know this bowl was not going to sit out knowing what just happened. I’m a firm believer, if you see it happen then say something. I take and use a napkin to handle the serving tools since I picked up a strep infection in my finger from a resort buffet. Not a cruise buffet. It landed me in hospital. So I am very cautious about washing my hands after touching serving tools.
One mistake that is done is almost any self serve restaurant (cruise or otherwise) is where do you you put the tongs after you have used them to transfer food to your plate. Most people casually place them back on the edge of the serving tray where the food is. In doing that part that has been held by your hands may, and often does, touch the food that remains on the tray, contaminating it. Instead, insist that the restaurant have a separate open container where the tongs can be placed, open tongs end. In this way, the hand held end will never touch the food. A video of this procedure should be seen by all cruise passengers along with the emergency drill. I think it is important enough.
The two cases of *food poisoning* in my recent memory on cruises... did not come from buffet dining, but from *full service restaurants.* One came from a specialty restaurant, and the other from the main dining room. So, misfortunes do not only come from the buffet. But yes, I wish the excuses-for-parent would keep their little ill-disciplined tyrants under control.
On a recent Royal cruise my son and I showed up a few minutes before the Buffet opened (I think it was 5:00 PM). When it opened we washed our hands, headed straight for the Indian Food and a fabulous early dinner. Food was hot and fresh and best of all we didn't have to walk around looking for an empty table while our food got cold!
A few additional suggestions for the buffet that I discovered on my last cruise. I've put a couple of these comments on a different video, but in case you didn't see that one: 1 - To repeat one of the points here: do *not* overeat! Especially on the first day or on "at sea" days. It *will* make your time miserable. I learned this one the hard way. 2 - Along a similar line: be careful with breads and bread items. This is for all the food areas of the ship, but the buffet and main dining will offer a lot of different, tasty breads that you haven't eaten ever or in a while. Bread fills you up quickly, so just be careful with that. Also, take note of which, if any, breads are gluten free if this is a requirement for you. 3 - Ask your stateroom attendant *and* the buffet host early on if it's okay to take a plate with you back to your room. If allowed, this is great when the buffet is crowded, or if you are looking to avoid large gatherings for whatever reason. This will also help you limit the amount of food you take, and will further allow you to eat at your own pace. If you find yourself at the buffet during peak hours and you'd rather not, and you can take a plate back to your room, I found this option to be fantastic! Yes, it's harder to get seconds, but seconds is the place, for myself, where the overeating occurs. 4 - Royal Caribbean had themed days for both buffet and main dining; You will read about this in the app or, at worse, on entering the buffet. If your ship is doing something similar, and to reinforce one of the points in this video, walk around the buffet and see what is being offered and where it's being offered before getting into any line. It will help you decide what to pick, and what can wait till later on in the trip. The RCL buffet had a few places where items were "doubled up", that is, two sets of stations serving the exact same thing; mostly salad, fruit, and bread options. By walking the entire buffet before getting into any line, you can see which stations are filled with food items, and which stations are running out at the moment, so you can get the food you want without an unnecessary wait. It's running out for a reason, too, so if you have to wait for an item, likely there are others waiting for that same thing as well. Thank you for the great content on this channel. I haven't said that anywhere nearly enough.
@@johnp139 In addition to the extra carbs, eating bread fills you up quickly and you can't take advantage of the rest of the buffet properly. Also, a reason why you may not b allowed to bring food back to your room is because the cruise wants you to order from the room service menu in order to charge the fees.
At any buffet, land or sea I have always brought my own disposable gloves. There is nothing worse than seeing someone eat, lick their fingers and go back to the buffet and serve themselves again. Chicken Wings my friend. Be safe out there.
I eat primarily at the buffet. I like trying new things, so I get one bite of many different items. I place them carefully on my plate so they remain separate. If something is extra good, I'll go back for more of that item. I love soups and get a few spoonsful of each soup. I'm a slow eater, and I enjoy savoring each bite. The buffet is one of the main features of any cruise for me.
I am handicapped and I don't like it when people take the reserved handicapped seating that are not handicapped I hate it the same thing happens on land with people taking the parking spaces
My Wife and I returned yesterday from a 14 day cruise to the Baltic so I am catching up on my You Tube videos . I prefer the buffet for breakfast on the Britiana the buffet is split hot on side cold on the other and on the hot side the eggs bacon sausages black pudding toast omelettes scrambled eggs is triplicated so if one part is busy you just move further down the line same for the cold choices then there is fruit yogurts and various pastries plus free tea and coffee a great way to start the day
Yes, I washed my hands when I entered the buffet area. I still wore disposable gloves before I used tongs to take food because I saw some people licked their fingers when they sat at the tables. If they went back to the buffet counters again after licking their fingers, it was so disgusting.
One of the grossest things I’ve ever seen (and I’m a retired EMT) is a narcissistic rectum that pawed through an entire display of apples and oranges, walking away with nothing. Princess, January, 2022. THANK YOU for telling the slow pokes to step it up! I literally snickered as an avowed crowd hater. Definitely avoid the “bad” times. There were prevalent signs for shirts and shoes required. I interpreted this to mean pants optional. Apparently I was wrong. And there’s no Room Service in the brig. Thanks, Ilana, as always, for an insightful video.
We just got off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico and it was fabulous, significantly better than pre-Covid in terms of choices and courtesy of the staff kudos. Since were diamonds, we could’ve gone to the diamond club or other areas but again the Windjammer was excellent.
We looked at the dining options as a shore excursion, we wanted to see and sample them all. We did make it like a quest to try all of the restaurants, yes doing this caused our clothes to shrink, I think sea air does that, but we had fun.
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Good evening. I am going on a cruise July 2nd. What's the earliest I can board to avoid the crowds
Children at the buffet, unsupervised
@Desman228 l the cruise line provide everyone with a boarding time
@nealjones84 thanks much 🙏
Is it ok to take a plate of food to your cabin?
Had this experience at the table in the buffet on our last cruise. Hubby and I were at a table for four. Beside the empty seats of our table was another table where four people sat down. There was a short space between the tables. A woman immediately reached over and took the cutlery from one of the empty seats at our table. She didn’t bother asking if there would be people joining us who would use the cutlery. She didn’t want to have to take five steps to get her own or, God forbid, wait a few minutes for a waiter to bring her some. We found that annoying but ignored it since we knew no one would be using it at our table. It was what she did next that really got under my skin. We had finished our meals and were enjoying a cup of coffee. They had finished eating and the woman stacked all their plates up and reached over and put their dirty dishes on our table. I couldn’t believe my eyes! She didn’t want the dirty dishes under hers nose but was only too happy to put them under ours. Rude, disgusting behaviour. We just got up and left. I wanted to tell her how rude and inappropriate her actions were but I couldn’t be bothered. She had obviously been raised by wolves and if she hadn’t learned proper manners by her age, she wasn’t going to learn anything I had to teach her. I hope she is reading this post and blushing.
Wow. I've never been on a cruise. Going on a cruise is on my bucket list. But that would really annoy me, the moving of their dirty dishes to the table I would be sitting at. I doubt I would have had the calmness that you had to not say anything. I am impressed that you walked away without yelling at them. In fact that is one of the things that keeps me from going on a cruise, I am afraid I will get irritated with people in such close quarters.
Those people are NEVER self-aware. If they were, they wouldn’t do this to begin with.
I would have immediately put the dirty dishes back on their table.
Oh my!! 😬
@@kriscampbell2327 The ships are big enough that you can always move on when someone annoys you. I admit that I’m very easily annoyed. It’s a character fault I’m not proud of. I’m most bothered by by people who speak louder than they have to. My husband and I are quiet and we do our best not to share our conversations with others. We don’t mind moving somewhere else and sometimes go to our cabin if we can’t find a peaceful and quiet spot. It stands to reason that if you are sharing a space with a couple thousand people that you will, at some point, encounter someone who rubs you the wrong way. Don’t let that stop you from cruising though. It happens on land too so you might as well enjoy being pampered and having wonderful views from a ship. You won’t regret it.
The problem I've seen at the buffet is adults letting very young children be unsupervised. They may spill, be unsanitary, and interrupt the flow of the entire buffet area. I guess this is hand-in-hand with adults not adequately supervising their children on a cruise.
The problem I've sene on cruises is adults leaving young children unsupervised. Yes that is it.
True at any buffet doesn't matter where it is
EXACTLY!!!!
Same here. New Year's.
We only do Disney cruises, and this is a HUGE and I mean HUGE issue on their cruises. Heaven forbid if a cast member corrects their behavior,... the "parents" jump down their throat. How about you, parent your child? Is that so incredibly hard??
I'm a big fan of grabbing food (especially breakfast) at the buffet and then taking it back to my room to enjoy it on the balcony. As long as it isn't a SUPER windy day, it's a wonderful way to enjoy your breakfast with a view and no need to endlessly search for a table, plus you can have a peaceful conversation or sit in silence to start your day.
I would have placed those plates back on her table
@@jacquelinegrayden4706 And I would have added my own dirty dishes to the stack as well.
I enjoy taking a midnight dessert back to my cabin.
I love this idea!
I would definitely do that. 👍
My Mom and I were alone, two empty chairs.. we noticed a lady looking for a seat. We offered her one of ours. She was a solo cruiser from Indiana. Turns out, she was also staying across the hall from our stateroom. It was nice getting to know other passengers. She was super friendly. Funny thing, I don't think we saw her (again) but maybe once.
Nice story.
That's nice. I do the same thing. Also, as a solo cruiser, if I have a plate of food, I'm not going to spend much time looking for a seat if I see a larger table with empties. I don't hesitate to ask if a seat is occupied.
Important to stay in touch with people you hit it off with, these days that’s rare. Meeting people on cruises is one of the best parts, you don’t get opportunities like that at a resorts.
Was vacationing in Mexico. Saw an elderly couple searching for shade. Invited them to sit under our umbrella as there were two extra lounges. They were ridiculously grateful to find a place out of the sun. In chatting, we discovered that he was a retired doctor/professor at a huge hospital near home. I was scheduled for a first visit with a specialist who had trained under him. He gave me his name and told me to use his name to say Dr So&So said to say hello. I was treated especially well by the specialist!! who knew it would end up to be my blessing! ♥️
She was _Rose_ from Titanic
I'm just kidding 😅
Kinda bummed that some people have to be reminded not to dip their fingers in communal sauce bowls :(
Ewww!!
Sad but true!
nasty people
Best advice - Don’t cruise on the Wa Mart😮of cruise lines. Come on, we all know who they are. 😀
😂 but are you surprised? I mean we saw the nastiness during Covid!
Do not eat items while standing at the buffet, even if you put it on your plate first. It is not a grazing bar. Get your food, get out of the way, go sit down. Use your utensils and serviette/napkin.
We do eat at the buffet. Not every meal but some meals.. The one thing we do is we walk the entire Buffet before we even pick up our plate. Looking everything over before you start adding food items to your plate is the best way to know ahead of time what you would like to eat and or try.
Agree
Yes look first so that you don’t get something you don’t want and waste it cause you saw something else as your getting your last item on your plate to only leave food on your plate to get something else you saw. Let’s be thankful to God and not waste what he has given us. It’s a blessing to be able to be where we go.
I love to go up early. grab my coffee and perhaps some pastries and sit on my balcony as the sun comes up.
@retiredinnameonly8429 I like to do the same thing, but in reverse. Enjoy a nice glass of wine on my balcony,🍷and watch the sun set. Then back out to a show or to The Club.
The only time I 'd see the sun rise is if I stayed up all night in the casino.😂
Our differences are what make the world go round! Happy Sailing.🐳🛳 🌊
Totally agree checking out the buffet options before starting a plate. When trying a dish new to me I only get a small amount, sometimes just a tablespoon! I really don't like to waste food.
Exactly what I do🇦🇺
That wasn’t easy to do when I went. You just have to get in line and wait for the line to move. Unless you are going to invade other peoples personal space to look over their shoulder. Just grab a bite of everything and go back for what you liked the best.
Yes !! Agree
I harken back to my mother's policy at table. Try 1 small spoonful of each item available then ask for more of your favorites. Mother did this to broaden our taste palates ...and to remind us to not waste what others would love to have but can't afford.
The one place where the buffet outshines all the other dining venues is the made to order omelet station at breakfast. I like mine to be piping hot and sometimes the MDR or even the suite restaurant, the omelet sits a bit before being served and gets lukewarm. There's nothing better to start a day than a piping hot omelet made right there for you in the buffet.
Absolutely you are totally right!
So true 👏
Waffle bar too
Absolutely yes
We also enjoy the fresh made omelettes. But one thing really grinded my gears on the last cruise. Groups would send one or two people to omelette line, while the others ravaged the buffett of suasages or bacon. The people in the omelette line would then order two or three omelettes, stopping the process for ten minutes. EAch time the chef apologized fot the delay he had no control over. If you want an omelette, get in line like others!
On my latest cruise I saw a passenger dip his finger into a sauce to see how it tasted. Gross! He then carried on down the line. I told a nearby server who immediately removed the sauce. Since our cruise had Covid spreading after the second day ship’s wait staff began to serve all of us with the utensils being out of touch for us to use. I felt so much better. 😊
I wish all ships would serve the food in the buffet because some people are gross 🤢
Whoa.
@@kathya22 agreed! Catching a cold or worse on vacation is a miserable experience and people have proven over and over again how uncouth they can be.
When I was on Norwegian Jewel in May, each lunch at the buffet seemed to have a theme. One day it was Asian food, then the next it was German. I thought it was kinda neat. That black forest cake was to die for.
I always tell any first time Cruisers to watch as many videos Llana has made that they can. She has helped me many times with her advice.
Yes check out the options.
Take a 'lap' around the buffet before you decide.
Please don't bring used or dirty plates to the buffet to put more food on.
People do this for a good reason as they think it'll be one less plate someone has to wash but it's not good to do.
I would rather the crew serve at the buffet all the time. How clean are all of guests' hands?
100% THIS!
I took me years of cruising to learn to avoid the buffet on embarkation day because it's just pure chaos. It's hard to find seats, long lines to get food, people dragging their carry on suitcases everywhere and running into you or over your feet and they don't know where they are going. These days I only go the main dining room or 24/7 snack bar for lunch.
As an RN, I would also add that after sitting down, pulling your chair in, use hand sanitizer on your utensil handles and glass, then again on your hands, then eat & enjoy!
Good idea
Diarrhea too
❤yes
Great great idea
Obviously single.
Years ago, my brother and I took a Carnival inaugural Cruise in the Baltic Sea. It was amazing, we did not have a single problem, this was a 21-day cruise. One of the many times we ate at our dinner table one guest at our table was eating some delicious ribs, and she told us guys you must try this, well our amazing hostess heard her, and we were already halfway eating but then she came over she said she would be back soon with a surprise. Well, she brought me and my brother half a serving each of those delicious riibs. It does pay back a lot when you are always kind and appreciate who is your hostess or whomever is looking after you. One of the guest's younger kids was sick one night she had her phone and she left before her meal was over, well our hostess made sure she had a meal sent to her cabin while looking at her sick son. Now that was amazing, and of course, at the end of the cruise, everyone was extremely pleased with our hostess.
Love your channel, keep up the great content!!!! Ok here's my biggest pet peeve when cruising and I mention this in EVERY post-cruise survey. You can wash your hands all you want, sanitize all you want but if you don't want to contaminate everything you touch, DO NOT EAT OFF YOUR PLATE IN THE BUFFET LINE!!!! That is the single fastest way to spread germs from your mouth to your hands to every utensil you touch. Want the extra minute until you sit down. Cruise lines spend so much time talking about safety, telling you to wash your hands, sanitize, etc but never take the extra minute to talk about food safety. That's how you really prevent sickness at buffets. I step off my soap box now.
Ewww...so gross. 😱
Another thing is to wash your hands before and after you fix your plate in the buffet. Cause remember you're all touching the same utensils to grab the food....I bet too many people don't think about this. If you touch something somebody else has touched, wash your hands afterward before you eat anything and touch your face.
@@queenmoreau2098 If I go to the buffet, I always wash my hands or at the very least use hand wipes or sanitizer before eating my food because some people are gross
Don't fill your water bottle directly from the water dispenser. Use a cup to fill your bottle. You don't want the edge of your bottle where you sip to touch where others will be drinking.
Yes!! I feel like there may need to be a part 2 😬😂
I saw that too!
I was at a doctor's waiting room when a patient filled their water bottle from the water cooler.🤢🤮
And of course, run that water through another filter before you drink it. Can't be too careful.
@@casey4602 Were there many deaths?
Something that goes along with etiquette and hygiene is watching your kids carefully in the buffet. My 4 year old has a habit of touching food with her hands, so that’s something for parents to consider too. We’ll be having a talk with her about not touching everything before we embark.
It sounds like since COVID is “over” (at least in people’s minds) that ships aren’t having staff serve customers at the buffet anymore. I think certain COVID protocols should have always stayed in place going forward as they’re good practices for controlling spread of ANY disease, let alone those on a ship!
Need a leash
@@altairolp1557 How does that stop a child touching things? Backpack leashes are made to stop children running away from their parents, especially in crowded places.
A child of 4 yrs,is far too young to be serving themselves or even being allowed to touch anything in the buffet line. Perhaps, parents should take the child around the child friendly part of the buffet during the less busy periods and describe the food to them or give them a couple of options such as do you want spaghetti, hamburger or pizza. Perhaps, I am making a donkey out of myself, but I am assuming the parent is not taking the child/children by themselves and can leave them with another adult in their party while the first parent gets their food and takes it back to the table.
@@hume6900 I never said I allowed her to serve herself. I take her with me and sometimes she reaches for what she wants. Once I get her plate I usually take her back to the table with my husband so I can go back and get my food. And also my child eats just about everything, not just pizza and hamburgers. She's been asking if there will be broccoli on the cruise lol. I merely made the comment to bring attention to other parents with little ones.
One thing about buffets (and maybe this doesn't apply to cruise lines) is they put the most expensive dishes at the back of the serving area. I do a quick look at that section first. I look from out of the line, then I go back and start the line like a good little passenger -- I know what to save room for!
Another thing: I have only one useful hand, so carrying is an issue. You can use a tray that fits your walker. Or use a basket with a flat bottom, it keeps the plates from spilling. You can find collapsible baskets online so it's easier to pack.
We always use the hand sanitizer when entering the buffet. We also use our sanitizing towelettes at the table before we begin to eat, that way we're cleansing our hands after touching all of the serving utensils
Check out the names of the chemicals on the back label in that sanitizer you’re slathering on your skin
Those cancer causing chemicals are being absorbed into your body
Do your research on the internet if you don’t believe me - you’ll never use liquid or wipes sanitizer again
We do too! I have an auto-immune disease and my husband has leukopenia.
@@lawnerd67 I take precautions too but reality is God calls you home on his dime and in his time.
Unfortunately, norovirus isn’t killed by hand san, but it does kill many other pathogens.
Ilana, the things not to eat: I would add eggs Benedict
In the MDR. I love it, but after getting sick twice on one cruise, I no longer order it. Forgive me for
posting on the wrong video, it it just switched so fast! Love your posts.
I appreciate the ships that have added the hand washing stations. Antibac doesn't cut it because it can't get solids off your hands.
Yes...solid 💩
Why do you have solids on your hands . Did you not learn to wash your hands before you leave the bathroom !
I love your videos because you have the nicest, most positive attitude about everything.
You also give positive alternatives to the “not so fresh or tasty” dishes. Thanks!
Our two cruises last year were both crew served buffet! Loved it and you didn't hear about any norovirus then either.
I love that too…
What cruise lines?
@@nancyruckman5875 Princess and HAL
@@barbarashuster9029 Wonderful! Leaving on a Princess cruise in 3 weeks. I hope they are still doing that!
One thing we did on one of my first cruises, we ONLY ate at the buffet which I don't recommend. We had a child that was 18 months with us and we were afraid the more formal dining experiences were going to be too long/much for him. We were also afraid we would ruin others experiences if he started getting cranky. Although the cruise staff loved him (and he was a hit the all the people working in the buffet - seriously, he was the staff's favorite guest), the last meal we did decide to do in the formal setting and he did great. Don't think the buffet is your only option.
How lovely of you to consider both your child and other passengers!
Great point! Especially at the early dining, the staff are great with kids & other passengers don’t mind :)
After 14 cruises, I think there are times when it's OK to move ahead of the person in front of you who is waiting for the attendant to do something . The food beyond the person waiting will virtually never run out, so it's not like you're taking the last piece of bacon by jumping ahead.
I go to the buffet several times during a cruise, but usually eat in the MDR if available. I wish all cruise lines would go to having servers dish up the food. That would help with contamination. Especially an ice cream machine, that we had on Carnival. It was always a mess and the children were just always helping themselves and dropping ice cream on the floor and all over the machine. Not all parents watch their children at the buffet and they tend to touch everything!
nasty kids, actually bad parenting
We only eat at the buffet if we have to. The lines and finding a place to sit are sometimes almost impossible. The rude passengers seem to be the ones at the buffet.
It can be difficult
You're scaring me for my first cruise. I love buffets but if it's gonna be a cluster f*** I think I may reconsider.
@@thefox47545 It's not always and does highly depend on the other cruisers as to whether things are chaotic or not. If you happen to be on a ship with the Rude Jerks Convention, check for the 24-hour restaurant, which may also have some offerings early for breakfast. Or go at the very start of the buffet hours to avoid the rush.
What you say is probably true, but this is Celebrity. A totally different experience.
@@thefox47545 Seasoned cruisers often have lots of opinions. You’ll be fine in the buffet. Take your time, look at the options first and if it seems busy, have one person in your party hold a table while you get your food and then they can go get theirs. The experience is what you make of it, not what others think.
I enjoy eating at the buffet for breakfast and lunch most days. I especially enjoy the made to order omelettes because the chefs usually do a good job cooking omelets.
Yes on not piling your plate! I like to "window shop" first and then take only a spoonful. If I like something or want to try something new, then I can always go back. I really, really hate all the food waste!
I like the people that have a plate of bacon for breakfast! I mean the entire plate is stacked with bacon. Maybe they don’t have it where they come from? Lol
@@deesjourney213 I had to laugh at your comment as on our first cruise my then 13 yr old grandson did that. We didn't find as he does not eat a lot of meats and he needs the protein . He is a very picky eater but usualy prefers most any type of beans. But with an option if all the bacon he wanted that breakfast made his vacation! That and all the different salads abd pastas!
We've cruised as a family 3 times, and on embarkation day we save our appetite for once we are on board. I love to walk around the buffet and check all the options. I usually eat lightly with small portions of many different items. One time on embarkation day there were several delays and by the time we were eating I was nearing the "hangry" mood. Sometimes there seems to be a line, others you can just step up to what you want. I've also noticed that people hop in line right at the beginning and there is less traffic down the line and usually the same offerings. There are so many options, I love that there are tiny servings-allows for more tasting of new foods and still have room for dessert. I've loved building a great salad too. When our children were younger we went with them to ensure they learned and practiced appropriate buffet etiquette and didn't contaminate foods.
My wife and I recently completed a 19-day Transatlantic on Norwegian. We ate plenty and good and drink plenty and good. But we gained NO weight. We stay very active, went to the gym, we walked the stairs and did not make pigs of ourselves at the buffet or at the dining rooms. We are senior citizens ..... We did indulge ourselves at the specialty restaurants a bit though.😢
I’m impressed bc I gained 8.1 pounds in our Panama ocean to ocean. I guess I don’t have any control 😅
Good to hear. We use the stairs ( up ) all the time and we eat well but eat salads first and use the fitness center and the Zumba classes etc and we are in our 60's. It can be done. Specialty dining is the best food and service.Its fine to indulge but it can be walked off, try several laps of the promenade deck before breakfast.
I never take the elevator on a ship and will continue my high level fitness regimen on the ship. Also, I eat healthy and do not drink alcohol. Will not gain an ounce on my upcoming 12 day cruise.
Thank you for the video. One thing I would suggest to add to the list is: Thinking that you will not see the buffet staff again. Even if you will not go to the buffet anymore, you will probably see them again somewhere else on the ship. That's because they switch their work places on the ship. E. g. we met our waiter from the main dining room for dinner in the buffet restaurant during breakfast on our last cruise. And on another cruise, we met our waiter at the pool bar. So they definitely don't stay at one place for the whole day.
And of course you should always be nice to service staff, no matter if you will meet them again or not!
I've found the best time to eat at the buffet is right after you get back from an excursion (but before you leave the port)!
100% agree with you!!!!
I always eat the buffet! There are so many choices with main dish and desserts that aren't on the menu's in the main dining area. I usually grab a small salad, small main dish and then a small dessert or fresh fruit. So many choices! You can get a well-balanced diet 3 times a day and not overdo it by eating too much and gaining weight.
Buffet story ! Although not on a cruise ship buffet, but Buffet non the less. Was a watch 2 kids at the dessert bar with a chocolate fountain that you could dip various things in. The kids where scooping chocolate with there hands and and drinking it and scooping more. And the best part was an employee was watching as well and did nothing. So never eat from the chocolate fountain or anything that kids like..
Great tips and advice as always. I always put small portions on my plate to finish and go back for more later. I hate wasting food especially since others are going hungry. Got back from Vegas not too long ago and gave away my leftovers to the homeless.
My parents grew up during the Great Depression. Growing up, throwing away food was unthinkable. One of the house rules was 'take all you want, but eat all you take, and you can always go back for seconds if you're still hungry'. I remember as an adult learning to do BBQ meals for 700+ for an annual church fundraiser. I noted that we assembled the meals versus it being a buffett. I was told people routinely pile high the food, eat what they want, and throw the remaining half away. That's a lot of money in the trash. And then people wonder why meals are so expensive - they just can not figure it out!
You took food items away from Las Vegas and brought to your home state to feed homeless?
There’s all kind of safety wrongs in that. Not to mention you basically used others money to pay for the homeless.
@@michellequinn2160
I fed the homeless in Vegas dear
You are unbelievable!!! That is not what she said!!!???@@michellequinn2160
Thank you for the great video. The main problem I experience is that some people still assume that there is one line for the entire buffet instead of recognizing the unique, separate stations. They get irritated by people moving beyond their own line. Luckily, on my recent Princess Cruise, the buffet staff constantly made announcements that there were many more areas to check out and that there was no longer one strict line starting from the buffet entrance. It prevented a lot of misunderstandings between the guests.
Not all ships have different stations. The bulk of the food is in the same line. The only separate stations were for pizza, burgers,hot dogs, tacos and desserts.
My wife and I have been in a few cruses and this is good advice. We were always shocked at the amount of food people ate. There is also a lot of alcohol consumption.
That’s WHY PEOPLE CRUISE!!!!
Only been on one cruise, back when I was middle school aged or around then (45 now). It might as well have been Willy Wonka's cruise because I was in awe at the food and how I could just go grab something 😂 At any time! Going to the pizza parlor and being the only one there and ordering a "free" pizza blew my little mind haha
Haha, I still love cruise ship pizza 🍕😂
@@LifeWellCruised Yes girl! I hope I can go on another one and I'll be like mz pac man 😂 with my Pepto in my purse of course hahaha
I’m 48 and going on my first cruise in August. I will most likely be like a kid running from station to station 😂
@@foreverlovesophie Do it do it!! Hit up the pastries then come tell me all about them 😍😍😂
@@colormetakenaback lol! The pastries are always my weak spot! I plan to wear my stretchy pants for our Alaska cruise . Don’t need a summer body for this vacation anyways 🤣😆
You mentioned delaying at a particular part of the buffet. That is my main pet peeve. So many times I had to stand behind someone while they made their minds up or had discussions with their friends asking, "What do you think I should try?" OMG! I always window shop first, decide what I want, and dive into it so I can sit down quickly and eat. More people should try that technique...
people who are exaggerating in their snail pace, I'll just overtake them without a second thought. That does NOT apply to a person who is having difficulty in moving or holding plates and getting food too. It is strictly targeted against the obvious narcissist who believe the world revolves around them. I'm big enough and ugly enough that only a fool goes after me
On the other hand, having an impatient person breathing down your neck, and even jostling you physically because they are impatient is equally bad, people are on holiday, it’s not a race! People who need to be watch what they eat for a variety of medical reasons and even for personal reasons may take a little longer. There is no requirement to have chosen every item before you join the line.
and there is NO requirement to stand behind someone, like I mean, in a buffet line, exactly WHERE is behind anyway? while just past them there is open access. Not like they are gonna run out of your favorite. Just walk around them and continue on your merry way. No harm, no foul. These fake rules and people getting all uptight over a contrived issue is beyond bizarre. Says more about those getting worked up about it. Someone who is concentrating so intently on their food choice is not going to pay attention to you going past them. Being sheeple is what got us the situation in society that we have ! @@Hildred6
Walk around them. It is fine.
@@Hildred6so it is fine for others to pass the dietary concerned to study the food
I agree about checking both sides of the buffet. On a recent Viking Ocean cruise, we found many differences between the different sides of the buffet. I love sushi and it was only offered on one side of the buffet, so I missed out on it the first two times that I ate at the buffet.
So true!! Thanks for sharing that specific cruise line tip
@@LifeWellCruised 🤨
I went on a 10 day cruise, ate at the buffet every day, sometimes past bed time and lost 3 lbs. All I did was walk on the track every day, went to the gym some days, took the stairs to my cabin sometimes, aside from walking into town on port days. In my opinion, if you gain that much weight in such a little time, you're doing something very wrong.
Like you, I eat at the buffet for all my meals and usually lose 10 lbs.. When I eat in the MDR (or any of the other restaurants) I gain weight. Love the buffet as I can get just what I want and really try not to waste food.
That is inspiring.
How much do you lose each week while on shore?
@@bugwar5545 about 3lbs entry week since then. I've lost so much weight already
@@bugwar5545 Don't I wish. Not an ounce.
yes, I lost 5 lbs on my first cruise. I did so much walking.
On a Cruise We usually eat there at least once if not Twice. A Day ..The Buffet is a good
place to try New Foods But just take small amounts You can always go BACK ..Judy & I
always do a walk around Before deciding on what We want. As usually GREAT TIPS, Thanks...
I agree - lots of good choices
Buffet-NOT my first choice!
The buffet is the last resort for me. I much prefer the dining room or other options. I really only choose the buffet if I have an early excursion.
Totally understand, it’s good that there are options
I always bring disposable gloves and wear one on the hand I use when handling the buffet serving utensils....the ones that many other people are using. Sure, I wash/sanitize before serving myself, but I can't trust that everyone else did, too.
"Not the cruise buffet police." Loved that one.
I love your channel. I hope your Alaska cruise was amazing and fun! Your skin looks fabulous, Ilana!
Thanks for all the wonderful vids!
That’s a great idea! Thanks I’ll do the same.
Yes ! Gloves
Or they should just issue the guests with separate tongs.
@@johnp139
No then what did each guest do with their tongs BEFORE they got to the station to use it?
We brought gloves and will continue to use them. We've heard too many horror stories about unsanitary practices by fellow cruisers.
I can only remember one incident at the buffet after 8 cruises and that was when one little old lady just stood there and took virtually every shrimp out of the seafood paella. I stared at her and all she did was smile at me and walk away. Still can’t believe it.
Crazy!
Haha not nice
Staring achieves nothing, the sort of people that do this are stare proof. If I were following her I would ask her to leave some for me.
@@johnphelps9788 Ask her? I would have literally reached out and pulled some of those shrimp right off of her plate. Rude, inconsiderate people deserve the same in return, and I never hesitate to give it to them.
@@turboboost99 yep, right off her plate, take that shrimp!! I like you
As someone with Celiac disease, I can say with certainty that the concern with utensil cross contamination is absolutely real. When in the buffet, I need to closely watch the serving stations for possible evidence that this. I think most folks try their best, but it does happen, and I hope people can appreciate it as a real issue. On occasions, I've had to go so far as to avoid the buffet completely, because becoming sick for the remainder of the day is not something I can chance.
Poor you!! Very important
Is that really a thing that gluten can tranfer between a pair of tongs or a spoon?
@@jpjp3873 Unfortunately, yes. Any utensil that has food stuck to it is suspect. I had it happen to me at a family buffet, when the same spoon was inadvertently used between regular and gluten free mac & cheese. Fortunatelty, I became only mildly nauseous during the hour drive home (would have been ugly).
That’s why it’s better to just grab the food with your hands.
Nice video :) good point about healthy food being available on a cruise. When I went I had mostly healthy oatmeal and fruit for breakfast and a salad with a side for lunch. Eating less junk actually helps you enjoy it more when you eat it 😂
Your buffet hygiene section should be tagged on to the Muster Drill. I mean, we're talking safety, right? If only everyone would simply follow the guidelines you mentioned, I think we could all have a better time cruising. Thanks!
We do not cruise with Carnival any longer, however I would see people stationed in the Buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have also seen people with 8 Guys burgers piled on their plate. I also witnessed women in T-Backs and no cover ups, men with no shirts, and small children left unsupervised in the buffet area. I am loyal to Royal and Princess cruises, and I am glad to be through with Carnival. You get what you pay for!
Whenever I got to a buffet, before I get in line I make a "first pass" as it were and scope out everything and kind of decide what I want to try and what I don't so I don't get in line, fill up a plate and then come to something else and lo and behold, no more room.
Hygiene tip: If you go to a self-serve buffet, always wash your hands AFTER you have filled your plate with food but before you eat it. Most people don't do this and their hands are covered with germs from all the serving utensils. Then they use their hands to eat their finger food, of course, thereby consuming the germs.
It is always a good tip to keep a couple of those pre-moistened alcohol wipes for just such a situation. Also, I use them at the grocery store to open cooler doors, bread bins, etc.
We just got back from our first cruise. We did the main dining hall the first 2 nights but ended up just going to the buffet the rest of the cruise. They ended up having the same food as the main dining hall plus a whole lot of additional options. (Except for the food that was an extra charge at the main dining hall) we never had a problem finding a table and lines weren’t bad. The only downside was it was a little hard to maneuver a stroller and a wheelchair scooter through the tables
That’s great! Thanks for sharing the pros & cons
Just got back from Alaska and the Buffett had designated area for people with disabilities. That saved me, because trying to get wheelchair around those tables usually meant having to apologize 100 times for bumping into people.
@@darrinrein7235 we were on Royal Caribbean and we went to the Bahamas. Thankfully my MIL could walk a short distance with her cane so we parked her scooter on the outskirts of the tables and she walked to the table.
Welcome to cruising!!! One thing--cruise ships don't have dining halls. You may have noticed that it looks like a large dining room. It's known as the main dining room or MDR. Most first timers get hooked, so Bon Voyage!
sounds like a drive thru is needed
Take the little cereal boxes as a snack for excursions
You can’t do that anymore as the cruise lines now have cereal in the bin tubes!
@@richsack
Exactly! Too many were taking the boxes of cereal … 😳
Thanks to people like you, no more!
Oh yes since I am diabetic it is one of my go to’s. Also try to put a little sandwich together if possible.
We usually have breakfast and lunch at the buffet. Few years ago, we were in the Mediterranean and my friend picked up the spoon to serve himself. A lady put her arm between my friend's arm and his chest to grab something. We couldn't believe our eyes, we were shocked! 😲
Eek!!
That is nuts!
@@j.m.7056 We laugh about it now but then it was "what the hell?" Some people have no sense of boundaries.
Shoulda smacked her with the spoon! lol!!!
@@nancyruckman5875 lolll
Yes I always check both sides. I am also a preview eater. I check what’s available first. I often check out the lunch in the MDR and if I fancy what’s on offer will do that instead of buffet lunch.
👏👏
Just recovered from an Alaskan cruise (Holland America; May, 2023)… the buffet has the best cooked food, but the worst hygiene! The Norovirus outbreak got to the point that crew were stationed at the Perell stations (and STILL people either said they were “allergic”, or immediately dumped the perell! But the worst was the LACK OF TABLE WIPING. People searching for tables would sit at the cleared tables, but they weren’t wiped down yet (and the silverware hadn’t been placed on the table)… The poolside dining was worse… i mentioned this lack to crew members 3 different times, and on the day my husband was quarantined, I became a “Karen”, warning people not to sit at unwiped tables! I even admonished a crew member (young man) who put silverware on an unwiped table (that he cleared about 15 minutes previously, except for a dirty glass)!
I loved the cruise, except for this particular point. And yes, I contracted Noro 3 days after debarking…
I believe my husband was cleared too soon.
I do wish they wouldn't leave silverware or glasses on tables. You don't know how long it's been there or who might have touched it. I'd rather they hand it out at the end of the buffet line. I know it's a tad inconvenient, but norovirus spreads too easily.
Sorry to hear of your bad experience on your Alaska trip. One of my favorite destinations - cruised there 5 times so far and am ready to plan trip #6.
Beginning in 2010, have cruised almost exclusively on Celebrity (with Royal Caribbean and a Disney mixed in). In the buffet the silverware is wrapped in cloth napkins and available at different food stations. I don't recall ever seeing it on the tables. And Celebrity's dining staff, no matter what restaurant, practices excellent hygiene. Dirty dishes don't sit on tables, everything is wiped & cleaned as soon as the dishes are cleared, and the new large sinks and washing area (upon entry to the buffet on Edge class ships) is utilized by a majority of passengers.
Fortunately, we've never gotten sick on any of our cruises, Alaska or otherwise.😊🛳🌊🐳🦅
!. Have breakfast before embarkation so you're not starving for lunch.
2. Don't fill your plate with one type of food. Someone else might want some too.
3. I like to do a walk-through of the buffet before I start loading the plate. Sometimes I discover something I wasn't expecting.
4. I like going to the buffet during the breakfast lunch switchover. That way I can get items from each for a personalized meal, like fresh bacon on my salad.
It’s not my responsibility to ensure that there is adequate food for the rest of the passengers.
@davedove67: The food in the trays is not limited. The crew constantly replenishes the food if it gets low. Therefore, travelers should feel free to eat as much as they want without worrying whether others will miss out because “you ate it all”. That just doesn’t happen.
On one of our cruises, there was a woman who broke several of these rules all at once. She cut in line at the buffet, right in front of me, she was wearing a teeny tiny bikini, no coverup, no shoes, dripping wet, clearly drunk as a skunk, as she was swaying, holding a beer, taking food out of the buffet with her fingers, and standing still while she ate it, moved along the buffet line, doing the same thing over and over. She finally had her fill, and stumbled out of line and went on her way.😳
Yuck! She should have been politely redirected
@@teresacahlik6887 I wanted to say something to her, but she was so drunk I didn’t know how she would react. I just steered clear of every dish she touched!
Great advice. I always sanitize my hands after putting my plate on the table before eating. Think about how many people touched the same tongs you just did
I never understood why people pile their food at a buffet. You can go back as many times as you want .
I guess we all know the answer but I gave up to believe people are still able to learn when they are grown up.
Before I use any buffet I look before I get into line. I also look for cleanliness of the actual buffet and serving staff! Great advice, thanks!
We always use the Buffet. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Get what you want when you want. We did use the dining room on our first cruise but we prefer the Buffet. We did see a person pick up a biscuit with their fingers, have a look at it and then put it back, I notified the crew member who removed the whole plate.
If there are two of you at a table for four or more and you notice the buffet is getting crowded, offer to share your table with those who are searching for a seat. Also, never get rude with the crew working in the buffet. It’s a rapid pace, high stress environment. If you have a major issue, save your private comment (s) for the officer in charge at the buffet; otherwise, if it’s a trivial problem try to relax so to enjoy your vacation.
Great idea
Where would I put my 3rd and 4th plate?
@@johnl56 Hi John, ha ha, I only cruise with RCCL. Whenever, we go to the buffet the wait staff has our old plates cleared away by the time I go up for a third trip. We also usually look for for our usual servers from the main dining room when we go to the buffet. If we find them, we sit in their area and say hello to them - when we do this the table service is impeccable. Good luck, Cheers!
As a buffet-a-holic, I agree with everything you say here. And yes, I've seen every single one of those faux-pas. Thanks for the reminders. For my part, I eat a healthy salad on embarkation day at the buffet as it just works best for me, and I tend to LOSE weight on a cruise! LOL. Looking forward to our January '24 cruise on the brand new Carnival Jubilee!!! Think I'll need to check ahead of our cruise to see what other offerings might be worthwhile on cruise day.
I've never been on a cruise, but I like buffet restaurants because of the variety and freedom to select what I want, and eat it immediately. I like to "scout" the serving tables so I can decide what I want to eat, so I don't waste "stomach-space" on something I wouldn't enjoy as much.
Great video as always, Ilana, thanks for sharing. Please allow me to add my two cents (not sure whether Canadians talk like that):
1. If you are on your own on a table, do not leave your plate unattended to get more food or drink, lest having the waiters remove it under the assumption that you are done with it. I have learned this one the hard way. When asked about it at the time, one of the waiters apologised and suggested that next time I let them know I will be back;
2. Solo travelers who happen to be the first person to take a table might end up losing it to big parties unaware of the situation. If possible leave some cheap personal belonging such as a hat or umbrella to "mark" your place while you are away. This will tell people someone already took a seat on that table and will be returning soon.
Best regards!
Great points & ideas
I was advised to tip a chair up against the table. The staff understands that to mean that it's occupied.
One thing I sometimes do at the buffet at lunch. I love poutine, but it's not something available. But french fries are available where the hamburgers are....gravy is available at the carvery many days....and cheese is available (though you might have to cut it up into small pieces). But, if I want poutine, I get poutine.
I do like the fact that it's easy to make healthy choice's at the buffet,because their is so many option's. I usually window shop first to make the best choice's.
Suggest to sanitize your hands again AFTER getting your food. Here's why. On our week long cruise last week, I saw adults do this each time at the buffet- eating food out of their plates with their fingers while in line for other foods or walking around. Saw a mom feed her kids Indian food with her fingers from her plate and get more after the kids nodded their heads. It reminded me why I avoid buffets on land.
Good review and suggestions. I love cruising and never really have any problems with the buffets. There is always that guy that stands there and picks out all the shrimp out of a dish, or picks out all of the beef out of the mongolian dish, but overall people are courteous. You just made me want to go on another one. 😁
My last three cruises have been with Royal Caribbean. Each cruise was very nice and the offerings at the Windjammer were very great. My only concern is that cold items are not really kept cold. The individual serving cups are sitting on a chilled table, but it really doesn't keep the items cold. I do wish that parents would assist their young children at the buffet rather than letting them run free. Wearing swimwear with coverups is great. I am not a fan of pajamas with slippers at the buffet.
You’d love my leopard travel slippers. They pass for cool shoes any day.
It’s a certain group that is guilty of pajamas and unsupervised kids!
Hello .Do you have any advice for a 1st time cruiser?..what not to do,and things to avoid.
@@johnlavery6116 Be open to new experiences. Have fun and go along with the flow. Enjoy!
@@gailmueller174 Thank you for your reply.....Ireland.
As someone that has grown up with buffets (I live in the South, Land of Golden Corral). I would rethink number 8 , Always go just before the crowds its a bad mistake go after the crowds if you wait till 1:30 or later the food sets and is not as fresh. And one thing to add is avoid starchy foods or breads at the buffet. They will fill you up fast and you wont have room for the good stuff like meats and cheeses. Just my two cent.
I only go when I get hungry especially if I only had a coffee and a croissant for breakfast. Sometimes I would prefer to go early like 11:00 am - 11:30 am because I like to get first picks so I get to get them freshly cooked and served.
The advice is be polite and appropriate at all times
Yes love the buffet. My husband uses a disposable glove on the hand he uses at the buffet. I laughed originally but have taken up this habit as I watched some of the people at the buffet. Better safe than sorry!!!!
I have thought about doing that! Wouldn't it be great if they had those at the "washy washy" stations! Although I wash my hands at those stations, I always think it is almost a waste because if even one person doesn't wash and then touches a serving utensil I think it is all for naught. I try to remember to have Purell wipes in my purse to clean my hands again before starting to eat.
Something I remember was my sister and I were waiting in line we had our plates and silverware and noticed the woman in front of us was getting a salad made and that no one was really in front of her so we decided to just go ahead of her we really didn’t want a salad and because at most buffets this isn’t considered rude it just speeds up the line. The woman looks over at us and says that we had to wait our turn and that we were cutting the line. We looked at her confused and even the people behind us were confused and said that there was no one there and that that was a normal thing at buffets plus if they hadn’t wanted salads too they would have done the same thing.
You were correct
Excellent advice on sanitation and etiquette that applies on both land and sea buffets!
On our cruise this last January, we ended up eating dinner at the buffet quite often because the main dining room was taking 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The buffet was delicious and the area was so uncrowded that often we had a whole section to ourselves and it was nice and quiet. The buffet had items like steaks, shrimp, lobster just like the main dining room. I think some of the dishes were even better. And it has the exact same desserts. So we went to the buffet many times but we ended up going to the dining room around 8 a few times and that time period was fast with only a few people seated in each section.
I prefer the buffet on days that I have excursions scheduled. It allows me to grab enough food to take my medications, without weighing me down for the days activities. I try to avoid potatoes and other heavier breakfast items. I do love the omelette station, as it allows me to have what I enjoy. I do prefer the MDR for dinner and the elegance that comes with it.
I like cruise ship buffets, and buffets in all inclusive hotels . it always interesting in all inclusive when parents/guardians allowed their children to help themselves at buffets, putting their hands all over the food . I prefer crew members serving us, on cruises we have the crew serving the meat of the day, and ice cream , and at the pasta station. I am glad the crew sorts out the toast, saves a long queue with doing our own.
I was on Allure of the Seas a few years back and watched as a lady picked up nacho chips with her hand. I was horrified and mentioned to her that was not sanitary to do. She didn’t care. I went to a staff member to reported it and he right away asked me to show him where this happened. He removed the bowl and thanked me for saying something. I was happy to know this bowl was not going to sit out knowing what just happened.
I’m a firm believer, if you see it happen then say something.
I take and use a napkin to handle the serving tools since I picked up a strep infection in my finger from a resort buffet. Not a cruise buffet. It landed me in hospital. So I am very cautious about washing my hands after touching serving tools.
One mistake that is done is almost any self serve restaurant (cruise or otherwise) is where do you you put the tongs after you have used them to transfer food to your plate. Most people casually place them back on the edge of the serving tray where the food is. In doing that part that has been held by your hands may, and often does, touch the food that remains on the tray, contaminating it. Instead, insist that the restaurant have a separate open container where the tongs can be placed, open tongs end. In this way, the hand held end will never touch the food. A video of this procedure should be seen by all cruise passengers along with the emergency drill. I think it is important enough.
The two cases of *food poisoning* in my recent memory on cruises... did not come from buffet dining, but from *full service restaurants.* One came from a specialty restaurant, and the other from the main dining room. So, misfortunes do not only come from the buffet. But yes, I wish the excuses-for-parent would keep their little ill-disciplined tyrants under control.
On a recent Royal cruise my son and I showed up a few minutes before the Buffet opened (I think it was 5:00 PM). When it opened we washed our hands, headed straight for the Indian Food and a fabulous early dinner. Food was hot and fresh and best of all we didn't have to walk around looking for an empty table while our food got cold!
A few additional suggestions for the buffet that I discovered on my last cruise. I've put a couple of these comments on a different video, but in case you didn't see that one:
1 - To repeat one of the points here: do *not* overeat! Especially on the first day or on "at sea" days. It *will* make your time miserable. I learned this one the hard way.
2 - Along a similar line: be careful with breads and bread items. This is for all the food areas of the ship, but the buffet and main dining will offer a lot of different, tasty breads that you haven't eaten ever or in a while. Bread fills you up quickly, so just be careful with that. Also, take note of which, if any, breads are gluten free if this is a requirement for you.
3 - Ask your stateroom attendant *and* the buffet host early on if it's okay to take a plate with you back to your room. If allowed, this is great when the buffet is crowded, or if you are looking to avoid large gatherings for whatever reason. This will also help you limit the amount of food you take, and will further allow you to eat at your own pace. If you find yourself at the buffet during peak hours and you'd rather not, and you can take a plate back to your room, I found this option to be fantastic! Yes, it's harder to get seconds, but seconds is the place, for myself, where the overeating occurs.
4 - Royal Caribbean had themed days for both buffet and main dining; You will read about this in the app or, at worse, on entering the buffet. If your ship is doing something similar, and to reinforce one of the points in this video, walk around the buffet and see what is being offered and where it's being offered before getting into any line. It will help you decide what to pick, and what can wait till later on in the trip. The RCL buffet had a few places where items were "doubled up", that is, two sets of stations serving the exact same thing; mostly salad, fruit, and bread options. By walking the entire buffet before getting into any line, you can see which stations are filled with food items, and which stations are running out at the moment, so you can get the food you want without an unnecessary wait. It's running out for a reason, too, so if you have to wait for an item, likely there are others waiting for that same thing as well.
Thank you for the great content on this channel. I haven't said that anywhere nearly enough.
End up in buffet st least a few times??! HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Hi Ilana! Apparently, your stomach is about as large as your fist! This means that I should start with dessert! Right! 🫣
Thanks for sharing! Great points & true you can usually take food away from the buffet
If people enjoy bread, then they should eat it. Why would you NOT be able to bring food back to your room?
@@johnp139 In addition to the extra carbs, eating bread fills you up quickly and you can't take advantage of the rest of the buffet properly. Also, a reason why you may not b allowed to bring food back to your room is because the cruise wants you to order from the room service menu in order to charge the fees.
Sounds like great advice for an on-land buffet!
At any buffet, land or sea I have always brought my own disposable gloves. There is nothing worse than seeing someone eat, lick their fingers and go back to the buffet and serve themselves again. Chicken Wings my friend. Be safe out there.
10 Foods Not To eat at Buffets
Scrambled Eggs
Hamburgers
Go To The Self Serve Ice Cream
Anything Spicy, you could get sick
Avoid Drinks of thee Day
I eat primarily at the buffet. I like trying new things, so I get one bite of many different items. I place them carefully on my plate so they remain separate. If something is extra good, I'll go back for more of that item. I love soups and get a few spoonsful of each soup. I'm a slow eater, and I enjoy savoring each bite. The buffet is one of the main features of any cruise for me.
I am handicapped and I don't like it when people take the reserved handicapped seating that are not handicapped I hate it the same thing happens on land with people taking the parking spaces
My Wife and I returned yesterday from a 14 day cruise to the Baltic so I am catching up on my You Tube videos . I prefer the buffet for breakfast on the Britiana the buffet is split hot on side cold on the other and on the hot side the eggs bacon sausages black pudding toast omelettes scrambled eggs is triplicated so if one part is busy you just move further down the line same for the cold choices then there is fruit yogurts and various pastries plus free tea and coffee a great way to start the day
Yes, I washed my hands when I entered the buffet area. I still wore disposable gloves before I used tongs to take food because I saw some people licked their fingers when they sat at the tables. If they went back to the buffet counters again after licking their fingers, it was so disgusting.
Even though we know better, we all get a little careless at times. Reminders are good. Thanks 😊
One of the grossest things I’ve ever seen (and I’m a retired EMT) is a narcissistic rectum that pawed through an entire display of apples and oranges, walking away with nothing. Princess, January, 2022.
THANK YOU for telling the slow pokes to step it up!
I literally snickered as an avowed crowd hater. Definitely avoid the “bad” times.
There were prevalent signs for shirts and shoes required. I interpreted this to mean pants optional. Apparently I was wrong. And there’s no Room Service in the brig.
Thanks, Ilana, as always, for an insightful video.
Haha 😂
We just got off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico and it was fabulous, significantly better than pre-Covid in terms of choices and courtesy of the staff kudos. Since were diamonds, we could’ve gone to the diamond club or other areas but again the Windjammer was excellent.
We looked at the dining options as a shore excursion, we wanted to see and sample them all. We did make it like a quest to try all of the restaurants, yes doing this caused our clothes to shrink, I think sea air does that, but we had fun.
Lol, the sea air is definitely bad for clothing. It always makes my clothing tighter too 😉😂