Wine in the buffet?

[zitsky]

How does one order wine or beer in the buffet?  Is there anyone servicing your table?

[jelayne]

Yes, there are servers for wine and other drinks.  

[zitsky]

Ok thank you.  Sorry for the newbie question!!

[dkjretired]

There is also a bar within the buffet

[CHEZMARYLOU]

The Reflection had a small set up on the fan tail since the bar was on the next level.

[George C]

On infinity and summit there is a bar in aft with outside sitting right next to buffet. 

[gold1953]

We are always approached by drink servers to the point that it is best to flip the drink menu stand on it's side so they know not to ask us

[zitsky]

They need a drink indicator with green (more wine) and red (no more).

[afto]

When we were on the Constellation in May it was almost impossible to get a drink in the Ocean View, even if it was not very busy, unless we tried physically approaching a waiter. Waving was not successful; we seemed to be invisible.  Even after approaching a waiter it was sometimes a problem.  We ate one whole meal (including salad and dessert) while waiting for the drinks to arrive that we had managed to order when we sat down. The waiter never reappeared.  We had to go to the bar and ask the bartender to find out where our original waiter was; could not leave because he still had our cards. Ten minutes later, the cards appeared.  This is not the service that we had experienced on 10 previous Celebrity Cruises; we laughed it off at the time - the "drinks desert" in the OV - but it was surprising to us. Maybe just a staffing problem on that particular cruise, and hopefully not the sign of a new trend. (Yes, we know that the drinks card should be sitting vertically on the table; that was not the problem.)

[wpgcycler]

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

They need a drink indicator with green (more wine) and red (no more).

My wife likes to tell the story of my instructions to the waiter at the aft buffet bar on Eclipse on a lazy, sea day: "Chandon Mimosa - please bring them until I ask you not to".

[bobndee]

Our experience is that bar service in the buffet is hit and miss.  Some days you have to beat the servers off with a stick.  Other days there are none to be found, no matter how hard you try.

[Ginnyfyr]

Just off Summit on Sunday. Drink service was generally good in the buffet. The Sunset bar is right off the back of the buffet so they didn't have to go far, but on the last sea day they set up a bar right in the buffet with a small selection of beers, wines, and sangria (not sure if they'd done that throughout the week but that was the first time I'd noticed it).

[davekathy]

20 hours ago, zitsky said:

They need a drink indicator with green (more wine) and red (no more).

My drink indicator is if my wine glass is almost to completely empty. 

[Blazerboy]

We virtually always eat on the aft deck, even in less than ideal weather, and there have always been servers hovering about.  Or you can stand at the bar.  Often at embarcation or sea days, it gets really crowded, and service is slower, so we, like others, try to order the second glass when the first is delivered.  Only once has a server demurred, saying we could each only have one drink at a time.  Generally, as they get to know you, either with the CAL or PAL packages, they walk up when you first sit down and ask if you "want the Sauvignon Blanc, again?" Either I make a BIG impression, or they have great memories.

 

Andrew

[4Mast]

On 7/15/2019 at 8:30 PM, afto said:

When we were on the Constellation in May it was almost impossible to get a drink in the Ocean View, even if it was not very busy, unless we tried physically approaching a waiter. Waving was not successful; we seemed to be invisible.  Even after approaching a waiter it was sometimes a problem.  We ate one whole meal (including salad and dessert) while waiting for the drinks to arrive that we had managed to order when we sat down. The waiter never reappeared.  We had to go to the bar and ask the bartender to find out where our original waiter was; could not leave because he still had our cards. Ten minutes later, the cards appeared.  This is not the service that we had experienced on 10 previous Celebrity Cruises; we laughed it off at the time - the "drinks desert" in the OV - but it was surprising to us. Maybe just a staffing problem on that particular cruise, and hopefully not the sign of a new trend. (Yes, we know that the drinks card should be sitting vertically on the table; that was not the problem.)

Curious isn't it?  We were always approached by drinks waiters when in Connies buffet - but they did sometimes take a while to return the cards.  Perhaps they need handheld devices so they can swipe them?

[DENIE]

On Infinity and Silhouette, we have found drink service in OVC to be pretty good!  Usually they have checked back with us after our first drinks to see if we want another.  On the rare occasion when they haven't been by our table, we just walk up to the bar and order direct.  Good either way....