Are midnight buffets still a thing?

[atj1971]

I haven't cruised since 2005 but I remember one of the fun memories was a midnight buffet. Are they still a thing? More specifically, on the Elation? Thank you for any responses.

Happy Sailing!!

[KPfromCT]

Unfortunately, no. Unless you take a Journeys cruise.

They did away with those quite some time ago.

However, I believe the deli is still open late, and pizza and room service are 24 hours.

You definitely won't go hungry.;)

[SadieN]

There is a small buffet around 11:30pm. Things like hot dogs and fries. Along with 24 hour pizza.

The extravagant midnight buffets are a thing of the past, except on the longer Journeys cruises.

 

 

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[shof515]

check the funtimes..sometimes they have a late night mexican buffet instead.

[riffatsea]

It is hard to picture eating a ton at a midnight buffet after all the eating throughout the day!! Now a dessert buffet at midnight , I could handle!

[bobbismith]

I really look forward to the pizza at midnight.

 

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[cruizergal70]

My next cruise is a journey cruise. I'll have to look out for the late night buffet.

[kyboymom]

Our last cruise on the Fascination (2016) we had a midnight Mexican buffet.

[atj1971]

It is hard to picture eating a ton at a midnight buffet after all the eating throughout the day!! Now a dessert buffet at midnight , I could handle!

 

It was basically pretty much a snack and dessert buffet from what I can remember. The pictures are of cakes cookies etc. lol We ate then went to the casino!!

[Disneycruisers]

I remember a beautiful midnight buffet on our first Carnival cruise in 2005, (eastern Caribbean.) I could tell a LOT of effort went into it (I think I even remember seeing ice sculptures.) What I remember most though, is most people were only taking photos, and not very many were dining, including our family. We were way too full that time of night.

 

I can understand why most cruise lines have done away with them.

[kroozers]

They were throwing away so much food - we'd always take pictures, but never ate.

[crusinpsychRN]

I never did get a bite of the midnight buffet. Pictures went on too long.

[Shipbound]

They were throwing away so much food - we'd always take pictures, but never ate.

 

I've been on cruises when Carnival had the grand Buffet,you're right a waste of food and this was done for years with and all the people starving in the World let alone in the U.S I never thought the Grand Buffet made sense.

 

Gary

[sfaaa]

They were throwing away so much food - we'd always take pictures, but never ate.

 

Precisely. Who needs another buffet shortly after a full on dinner and just before bedtime?

[braveslake]

Just off the Sunshine...they did have a small buffet setup at 11:30pm. It consisted of hotdogs, grilled ham and cheese, buffalo chicken sandwiches, brownies, cookies and chips. That's all I can remember that was on it. The Deli is open until 11 and of course pizza 24 hours.

[maryred]

My next cruise is a journey cruise. I'll have to look out for the late night buffet.

It will happen on your 3rd Elegant Evening which is also the 80's Throwback Seaday.

[LMaxwell]

I wish they still did it once a cruise. Those poor souls (lol) who talk about the Mexican buffet one night in the Lido don't know what they were missing, it was magnificent, a real "cruise" tradition that has all but died out. I think it is great that they do one on the Journey's cruise.

[OCruisers]

The Midnight Buffets you remember are LONG GONE. :rolleyes:

[sammee]

I was on the Elation after Thanksgiving. They had something going on one night Fiesta or something late night, tacos, fruit, nachos, all the spicy stuff, it was good and some dancing entertainment to go with it.

[SMSACE6]

yes long gone by most if not all cruise lines. I am glad really that I got to experience them a few times, but also glad that the food waste no longer happens.

 

I think what most cruise lines now offer for late night food, ie pizza, other munchies etc is adequate along with room service for those with late night cravings.

 

I think most people dont have room for a ton of food at midnight, and if they do, they can do the pizza thing and even room service after. Not sorry to see those midnight buffets go away, but would be nice to have one of those in a dining room at lunch time once during a 7 day cruise.

[atj1971]

Thank you ALL for the responses. I agree with the massive amount of food going to waste being a shame, but the ice carvings desserts etc were exciting. It sounds like this question sparked a lot of good memories for some of you. It is definitely one of those "back in the day" events, it sounds like.

Happy Sailing!!

[riclop]

They are long gone.

[RWolver672]

Our first cruise was on the Destiny in 1999. We went to the picture taking session at 11 pm for the Grand Buffet. We went back at midnight when the buffet opened for dining. We were kind of surprised to see that the lunch meats that were set out were already getting shiny. Most people left without eating anything after they realized that the food had been setting out for over an hour already.

[SmoothFlying]

There is a small buffet around 11:30pm. Things like hot dogs and fries. Along with 24 hour pizza.

The extravagant midnight buffets are a thing of the past, except on the longer Journeys cruises.

 

 

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Yes, this was the case on a 7 day cruise on the CCL Valor my wife and I did a few years ago. But, I think it's for the younger folks, (the 20-30 gen). Us older folks, wayyyy over the BIG six 0, find it a bit difficult to sleep after eating spicy foods that late at night !! :) IMHO, of course ! lol ! So, when my wife told me there was a dance and a 'buffet' up on the Ledo deck I wandered up to check it out, the late teens were having a blast !! Dancing and eating heaping plates of Tex-Mex. I told my wife, 'Nooo way !! I'd be up all night, paying for that pleasure'!. Sure do miss the idea, though. I always figured that, with the dance clubs,bars and casino closing early in the wee hours, there'd be enough participation in a buffet of some type?

 

Mac