Midnight Buffets

[emcemt]

Does NCL have midnight buffets on the Dawn????

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;8;8;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Untill the honeymoon cruise!!!!

Thanksgiving on the Dawn!!!!
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Celebrity Horizon 9/93
Grandeur Of the Seas 9/96
Soverign Of The Seas 10/00
Disney WOnder 9/01
Sensation 2/02
Carnival Legend 5/03
Serenade of the Seas 9/03
Adventure of the Seas 8/04
NCL Dawn 11/04

[Big Al B.]

I don't remember any as such, however I think they did have snacks in the casino some evenings and the Blue Lagoon was open 24 hours a day for a number of things (great chili and fried rice) [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img].

Statendam-Alaska '97, Veendam-NE/Canada '98, RCCL-Bermuda, '99, Am. Queen, 2000, NCL Sky-Caribbean '03, NCL Dawn - Bahamas '03

NCL Sun Panama Canal
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[emcemt]

I dont know...I'm kinds getting scared of NCL. Seems as if there is a lot of "surcharges" in resteraunts and to not have any type of midnight buffet is kinda odd. I know most cruise lines have cut back on them but RCCI still has at lleast 1 midnight buffet as well as the chocolate buffet. Guess I'm gonna have to wait and sea...

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;8;8;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Untill the honeymoon cruise!!!!

Thanksgiving on the Dawn!!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;11;18;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Celebrity Horizon 9/93
Grandeur Of the Seas 9/96
Soverign Of The Seas 10/00
Disney WOnder 9/01
Sensation 2/02
Carnival Legend 5/03
Serenade of the Seas 9/03
Adventure of the Seas 8/04
NCL Dawn 11/04

[Hobbsey]

emcemt and others,

This is nothing personal, but there are lots of opportunities to eat on board, and most have no surcharge. Is the extravagance and waste of a full blown buffet really so important?

I am just off the HAL Maasdam where they had only the dessert buffet as a big production. However, eveynight they had the Lido open for some kind of snack buffet.

For me, I have always had some unease about these events. My make up makes me wonder how the crew feels seeing such excess and waste (which also adds about 3 hours to their already long day)given the realities of their situations at home.

1968 Lurline (Matson)
1969 Mariposa (Matson)
1998 Seabreeze (Premier)
1998 Century (Celebrity)
1999 Seabreeze (Premier)
1999 Norwegian Crown (NCL)
1999 Voyager of the Seas (RCL)
2000 Westerdam (HAL)
2000 Carnival Victory (CCL)
2000 Sensation (CCL)
2001 Mercury (Celebrity)
2001 Norwegian Majesty (NCL)
2001 Vision of the Seas (RCL)
2002 Norwegian Wind (NCL)
2004 Maasdam (HAL)

[johnql]

I agree with Hobbsey. The elimination of midnight buffets doesn't bother me in the least. I always felt it was excessive and mostly wasteful. This is particularly true now that NCL has instituted Freestyle dining, which allows you to dine as late as 10 pm or so. In an earlier thread, someone asked whether a cruiser could eat an early dinner in one restaurant and then another later in the evening. The answer, of course, is yes. So that would be a good solution for anybody who is craving a late-night meal. Add to that the availability of the 24-hr Blue Lagoon, room service, and the midnight snacks, and I don't miss the midnight buffets at all.

[emcemt]

Well hobbsey......thanx for your opinion. I myself agree with you in the fact that it is generally to hectic to even go to the midnight buffet...but we are traveling with new cruisers and I believe that the buffets are a nostalgic part of cruising. I feel that when your on vacation it is time for excess and the buffet is defenitely excess. I disagree with you about the crews dissatisfaction for it though. For the Galley crew and waitstaff (who do most of the work for the buffets) I believe it is a chance for them to show off their talents in presenting a beautiful display. I agrre there is some waste but once again this is peoples vacation and it is not an everyday event for them. I also enjoy a late night snack in a social atmosphere which the buffets provide. Just MHO

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;8;8;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Untill the honeymoon cruise!!!!

Thanksgiving on the Dawn!!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;11;18;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Celebrity Horizon 9/93
Grandeur Of the Seas 9/96
Soverign Of The Seas 10/00
Disney WOnder 9/01
Sensation 2/02
Carnival Legend 5/03
Serenade of the Seas 9/03
Adventure of the Seas 8/04
NCL Dawn 11/04

[Hobbsey]

emcemt,

I understand about the nostalgia factor. It runs rampant on the HAL board and I'm surprised by the lack of buffets on that line, being tradional style and all.

Congrats on the upcoming honeymoon. I wish you all the best in your future together.

1968 Lurline (Matson)
1969 Mariposa (Matson)
1998 Seabreeze (Premier)
1998 Century (Celebrity)
1999 Seabreeze (Premier)
1999 Norwegian Crown (NCL)
1999 Voyager of the Seas (RCL)
2000 Westerdam (HAL)
2000 Carnival Victory (CCL)
2000 Sensation (CCL)
2001 Mercury (Celebrity)
2001 Norwegian Majesty (NCL)
2001 Vision of the Seas (RCL)
2002 Norwegian Wind (NCL)
2004 Maasdam (HAL)

[emcemt]

Thank you Hobbsey...same to you. I myselfpretty much agree with you guy's. I'm just upset because we are bringing new cruisers with us and they were looking foward to it. Good day to all!!!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;8;8;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Untill the honeymoon cruise!!!!

Thanksgiving on the Dawn!!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;11;18;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Celebrity Horizon 9/93
Grandeur Of the Seas 9/96
Soverign Of The Seas 10/00
Disney WOnder 9/01
Sensation 2/02
Carnival Legend 5/03
Serenade of the Seas 9/03
Adventure of the Seas 8/04
NCL Dawn 11/04

[djmpj]

We will be going on our first cruise in Nobember and I am very excited about it. That being said, I did have a few misconceptions about crusing prior to signing on.

For one, I had always heard from everyone.. "Everythings included!!" Well, come to find out your excursions are separate (now I feel like.. duh), there is a charge for housekeeping, you pay for your liquor, softdrinks, "extra special restaurants", babysitting in the evening, should you so desire, newspapers, internet access, BINGO, pictures, what else, I know I'm missing things. Now some of you may jump on this an say "of coarse!" but let me tell you, we went to BEACHES all inclusive a couple of years ago and EVERYTHING was included.

Second, we pay a lot to cruise. For my family of four, say I'm paying $3500 (not including all the expenses above we might partake in). If you subtract $1400 from that (what you would spend a night on a decent hotel room), we are left with $1900. In my eyes, that is pretty much all food expenses. Over 7 days for 2 adults and 2 kids you are talking $90 a meal. Now, $90 is not bad for dinner for the 4 of us and we have certainly spent that, especially while away - but it would include the bar bill!). But $90 for Breakfast and Lunch is extravagent.

Therefore .... I want EXCESS!! It's my vacation :-)

DJ

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This is our FIRST Cruise

[tef43]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by djmpj:
there is a charge for housekeeping<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Huh?

I hope you do not mean the gratuity for your cabin steward.

[B]Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas[/B]
[img]http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v196/tef43/almamater.jpg[/img]
Eleven cruises so far. Up next:
Shhhh, it's a surprise!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;10;9;7;10;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
And then:
Carnival Spirit 12/10/05 Mexican Riviera
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2005;12;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
Perhaps something else as well. Watch this space.

[I]Dance like it hurts, love like you need money, and work when somebody's watching.[/I]

[sassycruiser]

I don't miss the midnight buffets at all! There were none (that I know of anyways) on the Star in February 04. In 7 cruises we made it one time to the midnight buffet and I was too tired to eat.

[sassycruiser]

I also wanted to say that I have spent far less on every cruise I have been on then I have for land vacations to the same areas. I think cruising is a great baragin. It was $152.00 pp per day for our Star cruise in February. I don't think we could have done Hawaii on a land based vacation for that.

[johnql]

I can understand missing the lavish display, especially the ice sculptures, vegetable carvings, etc. But you can see much of that type of creative work at the Chocoholic Buffet. The staff gets to show off its creative talents there.

As for nostalgia, I also can understand how traditionalists and veteran cruisers might mourn the passing of the midnight buffet tradition. But how would a new cruiser get nostalgic about something that they've never experienced?

As for excess, you can still have excess without a midnight buffet. For example, you could eat in one dining room at 5:30, eat at an alternative restaurant at 7:30, and then go to the buffet at 9:30. But don't forget to leave room for the midnight snacks.

DJ, your calculations leave out the fact that all the entertainment onboard is included (several production shows, comedians, singers, bands, pianists, etc.). I'm not sure how much that is worth but it's not miniscule. Also, the ship serves as your mode of transportation for getting from port to port. When you're staying at an all-inclusives resort, there is no transportation cost. That cost needs to be taken into account, too.

That said, DJ's point is well taken. Too many new cruisers need to be better informed. That is the job of a good travel agent, one who doesn't mislead in order to make a sale. It's also the responsibility of prospective cruisers to research the product. One surefire path to disappointment and dissatisfaction is unrealistic and false expectations.

Cruising has never been all-inclusive. It's true that there is more "nickel and diming" going on nowadays, but mainstream cruising has always had additional charges (e.g., excursions, alcohol, tips, spa treatments). In the recent past, additional charges (alternative dining, specialty ice cream, specialty coffee, internet access, etc.) have been instituted by cruise lines in order to generate additional revenue, allowing them to keep base fares low. Many people do not like that strategy and would prefer an all-inclusive vacation. I doubt if these consumers will ever be happy with the current state of affairs. For me, I like NCL's approach. Much of the product is included and a number of items are offered a la carte. It's up to me to decide whether the base product is worthwhile and which a la carte items are worth spending extra on. I don't feel that's too high a price to pay for keeping fares low.

Again, I think it was a good decision to eliminate the midnight buffets. There's still plenty of excess for those looking for such.

[emcemt]

Well johnql...i'm not sure what you mean by saying a new cruiser can't be nostalgic. I'm only 31 and went on my first cruise at about 18 and can clearly remember themed midnight buffets on my first about 3-4 cruises. So is there a chocolate buffet one night?

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;8;8;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Untill the honeymoon cruise!!!!

Thanksgiving on the Dawn!!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;11;18;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Celebrity Horizon 9/93
Grandeur Of the Seas 9/96
Soverign Of The Seas 10/00
Disney WOnder 9/01
Sensation 2/02
Carnival Legend 5/03
Serenade of the Seas 9/03
Adventure of the Seas 8/04
NCL Dawn 11/04

[zimmerjulie]

On the N. Sun, Western Caribbean, there was a late night buffet on Caribbean night, I believe 10pm-midnight. There were carved fruits and vegetables, elaborately decorated tortes, and a good variety of Caribbean-themed dishes. It was accompanied by drinks served in fresh pineapples and live Caribbean music under the stars. Priceless.

On my earlier cruises I went to the midnight buffets (usually one offered per cruise) because I didn't want to miss out on anything [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]. I realized I didn't have much use for mounds of rich foods at midnight. Also with food service available around the clock now, instead of just at set meal times, there is always something available if I need fuel to keep me going.

[ron46936]

I remember when you had a midnigght buffet every night. BUT there was no buffet after about 2 PM until the midnight buffet started at midnight. You ate your meals in the dining room at your assigned time.

As far as I'm concerned there is a midnight buffet every day now. It starts about 6:00 AM and run until 4:00 AM. Moving the Chocoholic Buffet to the afternoon was a great move. It's actually at a time you can enjoy the treats!

[Big Al B.]

emcemt, there are the traditional buffets for at least breakfast and lunch (I'm not sure about supper since we ate in the other places). We enjoyed all our meals and didn't go to one of the extra cost places once. Salsa and LaTrattoria were included. I did sneak down to the Blue Lagoon once at 3am just for the sake of saying I had fried rice at that time [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]. There menu is large enough and it too is included.

Statendam-Alaska '97, Veendam-NE/Canada '98, RCCL-Bermuda, '99, Am. Queen, 2000, NCL Sky-Caribbean '03, NCL Dawn - Bahamas '03

NCL Sun Panama Canal
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;4;16;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]

[johnql]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by emcemt:
Well johnql...i'm not sure what you mean by saying a new cruiser can't be nostalgic. I'm only 31 and went on my first cruise at about 18 and can clearly remember themed midnight buffets on my first about 3-4 cruises. So is there a chocolate buffet one night?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
It's my opinion that a person can't be nostalgic about something that he/she has never experienced. To me, nostalgia has a built-in sentimental aspect to it, which causes the person to yearn for it and/or miss it when it's gone. That doesn't mean a new cruiser can't desire a midnight buffet based on cruise stories related by veteran cruisers. But I don't think that's the same as nostalgia. Since you've been on numerous cruises and can clearly remember the midnight buffets, you can absolutely wax nostalgic about them. And, after sailing the Dawn, you may decide that you would rather re-institute the tradition. Personally, I think that once you've experienced the flexibility and diverse cruisine that the Dawn's Freestyle dining allows you, you will conclude that the present set-up actually represents an improvement.

Yes, there is a chocoholic buffet on the Dawn, but it's usually scheduled for the afternoon of a sea day. It was on Monday afternoon on my sailing back in February. I don't know if they've stuck to that schedule. They hold the chocoholic buffet in one of the main dining rooms and there is a huge selection of desserts. Also, as I noted previously, there are numerous creative sculptures on display made of butter, sugar, chocolate and ice.

[djmpj]

Quite honestly, I really don't about the missing midnight buffet, I probably would have never made it to midnight anyway. Just tired of the nickel and diming - and at the same time, taking away services/perks to boot. That is the part of the conversation I was commenting on. NCL is not the only one guilty of this! I got the same feeling when we went to Disney last time too. They know you are paying $200+ for hotel a day, $200+ for park tix for the day.. and still they do things like have employees hawking a disposable children's glowing neclace for $8-$12 a piece every night. Come on - charge $2 for it - or better yet, give it away - one per child. These neclaces sell for about $0.50 each wholesale.

DJ

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;10;31;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
This is our FIRST Cruise

[emcemt]

I disagree with your view on nostalgia johnql but I can also say that I dont thinks it's possible to go back to those times. Like djmpj brought up ALL lines are nickel and diming ya. Out of all the lines I sailed I don't think one still has midnight buffets every night. But they all had one "GALA" midnight buffet as a throwback to older times. I very rarely ever attend them anymore though because there is only so many ways you can carve a fruit or sculpt butter. The lines for these events is usually very long and I have already seen them numerous times. I just wanted the new cruisers to see it once. As for the nickel and diming all lines are doing that as well. Some have said that lower cost of cruising makes it justifiable for line to do this. I dont know what the answer is...but fortunately I am experienced enough to go to the bar for the drink of the day rather than buying them from the hawkers who sell them in souvenier cups....or wait for the port days or last days of the cruise for spa specials. I do think that cruisng is an excellent value (I got a GREAT deal on my thanksgiving cruise :-))and is my familly's favorite vacation. But anyway this thread was about buffets so that said.....good day to all

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;8;8;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Untill the honeymoon cruise!!!!

Thanksgiving on the Dawn!!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;11;18;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Celebrity Horizon 9/93
Grandeur Of the Seas 9/96
Soverign Of The Seas 10/00
Disney WOnder 9/01
Sensation 2/02
Carnival Legend 5/03
Serenade of the Seas 9/03
Adventure of the Seas 8/04
NCL Dawn 11/04

[davy jones]

The midnight buffet is an artifact of traditional cruising and doesn't seem well suited to freestyle.

IMHO, I won't miss it. I wasn't very hungry anyway after a late dinner and they were very crowded. It wasn't a good way to have a relaxing late night snack. If I can stay awake that late, [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img] I can grab a snack at Blue Lagoon or just get something from room service. Much more relaxing, perhaps even romantic. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[NJScrapper]

I won't miss the midnight buffet. Half of the time, on previous cruises, I was exhausted and found it hard to stay up until then.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;10;3;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]&