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At the bare minimum however, you will always have the buffet as an option. On a Celebrity Cruises thread there was hope expressed that that line does not follow its sister line, Royal, in going back to self-serve buffets. On the Cruise Critic message boards, a surprising number of cruisers voiced their disappointment at the change to back to self-serve.
Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime
If a travel companion cannot assist you, simply ask a server or other crewmember for assistance, and someone will be able to carry a plate for you. If you are unable to move around to the different food stations on your own or would just like help in general a crew member will be able to help you make your selections. I HIGHLY suggest emailing guest services beforehand to make sure you will always have options to eat on the cruise. That will be the best way to become aware of what you can and can’t have on your vacation.
Celebrity Cruises
Breakfast could include early- and late-morning continental breakfast, plus eggs, pancakes, waffles, breakfast pastries and breads, breakfast meats, cereal, yogurt and fresh fruit. Lunch will typically have hot entrees, a deli or sandwich area, pizza station and often some sort of international or themed menu, as well as an array of desserts. Dinner will also feature hot entrees (often similar to the main dining room's offerings), possibly international offerings (like sushi or tandoori), a pasta station, a meat carvery and desserts. Some might have a special ice cream section or soft-serve dispenser.
Oceania Cruises' Terrace Cafe
The food in the buffet will have some items that will be there every day and others that will change day to day. The layout of buffets varies depending on your ship and cruise line. Some will be a mirror image meaning they will have the same selections on each side of the buffet.
It's easy to load up a plate with every dish that looks delish, but you tend to waste food when you take this approach. Plus, all the flavors run into each other, and you can't tell which dish you're eating. Yes, this policy does create more dirty dishes, which might not be the best practice from a water conservation standpoint. However, it's important as a health protocol, so swallow your grumbles and take a clean plate.
Cruisers React
Milk and chocolate milk are usually available at breakfast, either from a dispenser or in cartons on the buffet. Buffets tend to have bars and waiter-based drink service, so you can order soda, wine, beer, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, usually for an extra fee. The buffet on some ships is also the place to go for a late night snack as only one option is usually open. They will ask you what you would like to drink and also will clean up the tables after you’re finished.
Royal Caribbean International
No matter what you do, never use your hands instead of the provided utensils to pick up a bread roll, cookie or other food item. It's unsanitary, and you will get some well-earned glares from other passengers. Again, most of the food will be already prepared, and you can help yourself to (or request) servings. The made-to-order stations typically have longer lines. I have even heard of some lines going above and beyond and having a chef walk around with some cruisers with specific allergies pointing out what is safe for them to eat.
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. You'll often find made-to-order options, such as an omelet or waffle station at breakfast and a pasta or noodle station, carvery or deli counter at lunch or dinner. While you may have to wait to order or for your meal to be prepared, the results are often fresher and made more to your liking than the steam table choices. A lot of people like to go to the buffet during breakfast hours, grab a cup of coffee, a small plate of food like muffins and fruit then go back to their room to enjoy the food on their balcony.
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The buffet restaurant on a cruise ship is typically one of two primary onboard dining venues that are included in the cost of a cruise. (The other is the main dining room.) It's a casual setting where mostly pre-prepared food is served at different stations and passengers get in line to take the food they want before sitting down. Most major cruise lines offer a buffet restaurant, nearly always on the same deck as the pool. Passengers can help themselves to food, salad-bar style, or -- in some cases -- the food will be laid out, but servers behind the counter will dish out food per a passenger's instructions. Some food stations do offer made-to-order menu items; these may include a deli sandwich counter or wok, pasta or omelet station and vary by cruise ship. While some cruise ships employ trays, so you can carry multiple dishes at once, others have gotten rid of trays, so you might need to make several trips to get all the food you want.
Like it or not, buffet food is prepared in bulk and sits on a steam table until the tray is empty before being replaced with a fresh one. Some dishes hold up better to this treatment than others. Staff might also be able to bring you special food items from the galley that are reserved for folks with dietary restrictions and not set out for everyone to take.
And one thing to note is that we’ve tried buffets across all the major lines. Some may be better than others, but in general we actually find the quality similar. Frankly, the basic staples are hard to get wrong and whether you want an omelet, pancakes, cereal, fruit, French toast, or any other classic breakfast dish, you’ll find it available.
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You are able to get your own drink most of the time or grab one out of a stack if they have some already done for you. Just know if you’re taking food back that usually staterooms will not have microwaves so you will not be able to heat your food back up if that matters to you. Breakfast is the meal you will most likely see the same offerings every day but this could still vary slightly.
There was a time shortly post covid where cruise lines had servers behind the different food stations and were the only ones who would touch the serving utensils. You can ask for a dining room manager to show you the available options, but if you're very concerned, it's often best to dine elsewhere. The Oceanview Cafe onboard Celebrity's Solstice- and Millennium-class ships, as well as Celebrity Edge, boasts some of the best international food at sea. This spacious buffet utilizes islands and active stations to serve a variety of cuisines, including stir-fry, sushi, pasta and pizza. It also has an exceptional salad bar, meat-carving station and dessert station. On some Celebrity ships with a high volume of Brits, there's even a British "comfort-food" area with different teas and fish and chips.
Typically there are three different opening times (one for each meal). In between, the restaurant closes for an hour or two to prepare for the next mealtime. When you think of a buffet, you might assume that all of the dishes are premade. Some ships also have outdoor buffet seating that you can take advantage of. It’s a great way to enjoy your breakfast while looking at the beautiful ocean. If you would like to eat all of your meals in the buffet and skip the other venues all together there is nothing stopping you and that is actually a common choice among cruisers.
As of April 1, Disney was moving back to self-service on all ships. As cruise veterans that have been on dozens of trips, we’ve eaten countless meals in the ship’s buffet. From what’s served to etiquette, we have everything you need to know. This spot is a staple no matter which cruise line you sail or which ship you choose. (The one exception is Virgin Voyages, which doesn’t have a buffet.) Yet for the amount of meals that you eat here, it’s actually discussed relatively little.
Follow these 10 things you should never do at a cruise ship buffet if you want to have an optimal onboard smorgasbord experience. Most mainstream cruise ships will have high chairs available; ask a crewmember if you can't locate one. Free-of-charge drinks are available from dispensing machines. They include water, juice (maybe an iced tea or lemonade), coffee, tea (hot and iced) and hot chocolate.
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