Are the NCL buffets really as dirty and crowded as people claim?

[Joe7cri]

We booked our first cruise about a month ago, and we're very excited. I spend at least a few hours every week reading reviews of our ship, and trying to find other information/tips about our cruise. The one thing I see a lot of is people complaining that the buffet is always crowed, with too few seats, and dirty plates everywhere. Although I don't plan to eat at the buffet all the time, I'm sure there will be times when it will be nice just to grab a plate, and get a quick bite to eat. So I guess my question is this, are the buffets really that bad or are they comparable to the average casino buffet? I'm hoping these negative reviews are from people who are use to sit down dinners, and aren't familiar with buffets. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[cb at sea]

At prime eating times, all buffets will be crowded....if you can eat at an "off" time...a bit before or after the "rush", you'll be fine! That said, I'm not a huge fan of buffets, either on a ship, or in Vegas or anywhere! The MDR is my choice for breakfast and dinner...lunch is fine in the buffet for a quick bite.

[Medtech2]

We booked our first cruise about a month ago, and we're very excited. I spend at least a few hours every week reading reviews of our ship, and trying to find other information/tips about our cruise. The one thing I see a lot of is people complaining that the buffet is always crowed, with too few seats, and dirty plates everywhere. Although I don't plan to eat at the buffet all the time, I'm sure there will be times when it will be nice just to grab a plate, and get a quick bite to eat. So I guess my question is this, are the buffets really that bad or are they comparable to the average casino buffet? I'm hoping these negative reviews are from people who are use to sit down dinners, and aren't familiar with buffets. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

I have never found the buffet to be dirty, although I have found it crowded. In fact, the employees are so eager to clean they will whisk away your plate or fork, etc, before you have finished swallowing...

[ddakrt]

Short answer is no and no.

 

It can get busy during breakfast and lunch on sea days I suppose, but "dirty" isn't a word that comes to mind when I think of the buffet, at any times, at all.

[shark with a laser]

I agree with the previous posters. I've seen the buffet very crowded at peak breakfast or lunch times, but I can't say anything about dinner since I've never done the buffet for dinner. I've never seen it dirty though.

[valleyvillage]

OP, I would say the comparison to the casino buffet is apt. And some casino buffets are nicer than others! When they get crowded, they are crowded! When a big group jumps up leaving their dirty plates, there are dirty plates!

[Pokeraddict]

Well if your familiar with casino buffets then I'm sure y'll be more than happy with ship buffet. Enjoy!

[MeHeartCruising]

I'm a specialist in buffet dining. And for the most part, I would rate the buffet experiences on NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity (the cruise lines that I have sailed on) to be far more similar than different. NCL is no better or worse than any other mainstream cruise line. I wouldn't consider any of them dirty. Busy, at times, yes. Occasional leftover dishes on tables for a few minutes until staff gets to them, yes. But all that is to be expected in a buffet at busy times.

[bakerintn]

One of the things that makes the buffet tables not so plentiful is that many passengers sit there for hours....not eating, but reading, playing cards, etc.

 

If it is crowded, don't hesitate to ask people to join them at a table who are eating but have un used seats available.

[mommyto2girls]

We booked our first cruise about a month ago, and we're very excited. I spend at least a few hours every week reading reviews of our ship, and trying to find other information/tips about our cruise. The one thing I see a lot of is people complaining that the buffet is always crowed, with too few seats, and dirty plates everywhere. Although I don't plan to eat at the buffet all the time, I'm sure there will be times when it will be nice just to grab a plate, and get a quick bite to eat. So I guess my question is this, are the buffets really that bad or are they comparable to the average casino buffet? I'm hoping these negative reviews are from people who are use to sit down dinners, and aren't familiar with buffets. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

In my opinion the Jewel has one of the best buffet set ups I have ever seen, it is never really that crowded because there are different islands set up instead of the dreaded one line. As for dirty, absolutely not.

[RIvacationgirl]

I agree with the previous post. On the Jewel we only ate at the buffet once for breakfast and once for dinner and it was very clean. We walked through several times on the way to other places, and it was always clean and organized.

Small tip: If seating is tight at breakfast, go to the Italian restaurant for seating, they are open for additional seating, and it is quite quiet in there!;)

[3rdtimecruising]

I have never found the buffet to be dirty, although I have found it crowded. In fact, the employees are so eager to clean they will whisk away your plate or fork, etc, before you have finished swallowing...

 

 

You were reading my mind....turn around and the plate is gone...Crowded buffet at mealtime means not crowded dining rooms.....:cool:

[roger001]

I agree with all of the above. But dirty.....NO. As someone said, a crew member is always within a minute or two of cleaning up as persons get up to leave. If you sit down immediately behind someone leaving, yes, you will have their dirty plates on the table for a few moments....until the very active crew members get to them. We use the buffets frequently and think they are just fine...especially the Jewel's...and Pearl's....

[Zeno]

We booked our first cruise about a month ago, and we're very excited. I spend at least a few hours every week reading reviews of our ship, and trying to find other information/tips about our cruise. The one thing I see a lot of is people complaining that the buffet is always crowed, with too few seats, and dirty plates everywhere. Although I don't plan to eat at the buffet all the time, I'm sure there will be times when it will be nice just to grab a plate, and get a quick bite to eat. So I guess my question is this, are the buffets really that bad or are they comparable to the average casino buffet? I'm hoping these negative reviews are from people who are use to sit down dinners, and aren't familiar with buffets. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Actually I have read very few reviews of buffets being "dirty". Of course the buffet will be crowded at prime times (main meal hours) but I have never had a problem finding a seat. In general dirty dishes seem to be cleared pretty promptly (even at prime times).

 

Tip: If your ship has an outdoor buffet eating area and the weather is nice - go there to eat - I have always found plenty of seating when inside areas are busy.

[Hikini]

Yes they are crowded during peak times, no they aren't dirty.

[Joe7cri]

Thanks for the replies! Kind of what I thought at first, but then I started to picture a large room with flies and food all over the place, lol.

[Hikini]

Thanks for the replies! Kind of what I thought at first, but then I started to picture a large room with flies and food all over the place, lol.

 

Joe, after we had cruised on NCL 2 times, we were so enthralled with them that my cousin and her husband wanted to go on a cruise with us.

 

We booked our cruise for several months out and then I started reading the forums. (I didn't discover Cruise Critic until well into this process.) I read all kinds of things about a dirty ship, broken down furniture, bad food, peeling paint and so on. We hadn't been on this particular ship before and I was getting very nervous because of the way we had built up NCL to my relatives and then reading this stuff - it wasn't making me very happy.

 

Well we got on board and I was scratching my head the whole time wondering what these people could have possibly been looking at, sitting on or eating that they would say such horrible things. We found the ship to be in perfect order, the food was good to great, the furniture was comfy and so on. Some people just love to find anything (true or not) to *itch about! :mad:

 

Have a great cruise! We LOVE NCL!!

[Arzeena]

Crowded, yes during peak times. Dirty, No, never.

[MikeyK1977]

If you enjoy your meals at the buffet during peak time, my wife and I always just went outside near the pool where there were plenty of tables on either side and were even under cover. I never experienced anything I would refer to as dirty though. Even in the outside dining area, the tables were cleaned promptly. Some people find find anything to complain about when the people right next to them are having the time of thier life thinking how wonderful everything is. Its all in your desire to enjoy your vacation. I don't go looking for what's wrong, I enjoy what's right and always have a good time on NCL.:cool:

[halos]

Thanks for the replies! Kind of what I thought at first, but then I started to picture a large room with flies and food all over the place, lol.

 

:confused: I don't think I have ever even seen a fly on a ship...

 

anyway, NO..never dirty!! :)

[nosekh]

We booked our first cruise about a month ago, and we're very excited. I spend at least a few hours every week reading reviews of our ship, and trying to find other information/tips about our cruise. The one thing I see a lot of is people complaining that the buffet is always crowed, with too few seats, and dirty plates everywhere. Although I don't plan to eat at the buffet all the time, I'm sure there will be times when it will be nice just to grab a plate, and get a quick bite to eat. So I guess my question is this, are the buffets really that bad or are they comparable to the average casino buffet? I'm hoping these negative reviews are from people who are use to sit down dinners, and aren't familiar with buffets. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

BAH HUMBUG!!!! all buffets are crowded at feeding time....like a frenzy:D

[larry_s_taco]

We have been on the Sun twice, the Spirit, the Star, and have booked the Dawn this year. We have been on multiple lines and have found the same experience at each buffet. They are all crowded at meal times. We have never seen one that was dirty. It is buffet dining, but I would have to say it is better than most land based buffets quality wise.

Larry

[Babygirl08]

Crowded - yes, during peak times. However, every ship and cruise line has an area that is less crowded. Find it. For example, most people fill their plate and then look immediately in that area to get a seat. If you are willing to walk 50 feet, there are usually open seats.

 

Dirty - no. The staff works pretty hard to clear plates and keep tables clean.

[luddite]

The buffets aren't dirty.

Some of the patrons could...errrrrr....,ummmm,....have better hygienic habits. Which isn't exclusive to pax on a NCL ship.

[deschoolie]

Dirty- definitrly not. Crowded- at times. With so many options, I have gone elsewhere (blue lagoon, great outdoors, MDR) for breakfast and lunch if I felt the buffet was crowed. For us, dinner has always been in one of the MDRs. I think your biggest worry will be which place to eat at, given the huge number of choices. Enjoy your cruise (and eat well)...