More Late Night Food Cuts

[cruizergal70]

We've only been doing journey cruise.  There's usually a late night buffet. 

[mek]

On 8/27/2019 at 8:12 PM, bplazo said:

Geez, who eats that late, anyway.

My husband and I are light eaters - occasionally I only have a couple of appetizers and salad for dinner and many times we skip dessert so it's nice to have a snack later in the evening.

[DebJ14]

On 8/26/2019 at 6:37 PM, lottiegreen56 said:

 

We must have sailed different lines. Other than the booze, pictures and gambling Carnival didn't have food that wasn't included. I don't even think they charged for any of the activities. I tried asking my hubby if they charged for the golf balls or skeet shooting but he said he couldn't remember

No, they didn't charge for the golf balls or skeet shooting.  My husband did it on many, many cruises back in the old days.  If there had been a charge, he would not have done it since he is so cheap!

[Cruise Cynic]

Count me in as a late night eater.

 

I work nights. So I tend to eat late as a rule. Never eat breakfast (asleep). And get hungry later too. As a result, I pick cruises that actually have late-night food availability, keeping for-fee room service as a backup. I have ZERO problem paying for decent hot food after-hours. There is NOTHING like a fresh-grilled hotdog (with fried onions) after a few late-night drinks/beers.

 

Some of my peeves are/were:

- burger grill closing at 6pm (why?) This happens on many lines. On my first cruise on RCL, the grill was open until 3am... and I was on first-name basis with the staff there by the 4th night.

- Only cold sandwiches with stale chips on room service menu (until CCL came out with the new "Revenue Menu")

- as some have mentioned, huge lineups for late-night pizza (with one employee to serve) - I have experienced this.

- when the employees start closing up food stations earlier than advertised (to get a head start on their duties?)

 

Two years ago, I sailed on MSC Seaside with 6000 other pax. They closed up EVERYTHING at 9:45pm, so for me, the cruise absolutely sucked. Nothing to eat late, not even popcorn at the Pool Movie.

 

I would be ecstatic if Carnival kept the Deli open 24 hours.... but then room service revenue will drop, so I doubt that one's gonna fly.

 

As I stated earlier, my cruise fare over 21 cruises, and 22 years, has remained pretty much the same, so I have no problem with upselling the late-night food. It just better be good.

[sanmarcosman]

7 hours ago, DebJ14 said:

No, they didn't charge for the golf balls or skeet shooting.  My husband did it on many, many cruises back in the old days.  If there had been a charge, he would not have done it since he is so cheap!

We always paid for skeet shooting on Carnival and on Holland America. Perhaps you're thinking of another cruise line? 

OP, the late night snacks were served by the casino on the Holiday and Jubilee. Anyone could partake but the proximity to the casino made it convenient for the gambling crowd. 

Edited October 12, 2019 by sanmarcosman

[Crusin Hogs]

We were on The Dream last week , The back buffet / 1 side was open late every night , pre made sandwich's , pasta ,potato salad ,  cole slaw  ,cookies , soup ,salad  ,ect    This was  on starboard side ,rear buffet  , Port side rear was closed  though  ,, 

[glrounds]

On 8/26/2019 at 5:37 PM, lottiegreen56 said:

 

We must have sailed different lines. Other than the booze, pictures and gambling Carnival didn't have food that wasn't included. I don't even think they charged for any of the activities. I tried asking my hubby if they charged for the golf balls or skeet shooting but he said he couldn't remember

 

I quite agree, even though the upside to all this "nickel'n'diming" is cabin rates that have pretty much remained about the same. I'm not a drinker, but I can't see why anyone would pay for the Cheers Program on Carnival when NCL (if you purchase a suite) will INCLUDE drinks, specialty dining, excursions and tips on many of their cruises ! It's not for me. I like the reasonable cabin rates. And thank God, I don't have to eat around the clock ! 🙂

[pusywillow]

On 10/12/2019 at 1:46 AM, Cruise Cynic said:

Count me in as a late night eater.

 

I work nights. So I tend to eat late as a rule. Never eat breakfast (asleep). And get hungry later too. As a result, I pick cruises that actually have late-night food availability, keeping for-fee room service as a backup. I have ZERO problem paying for decent hot food after-hours. There is NOTHING like a fresh-grilled hotdog (with fried onions) after a few late-night drinks/beers.

 

Some of my peeves are/were:

- burger grill closing at 6pm (why?) This happens on many lines. On my first cruise on RCL, the grill was open until 3am... and I was on first-name basis with the staff there by the 4th night.

- Only cold sandwiches with stale chips on room service menu (until CCL came out with the new "Revenue Menu")

- as some have mentioned, huge lineups for late-night pizza (with one employee to serve) - I have experienced this.

- when the employees start closing up food stations earlier than advertised (to get a head start on their duties?)

 

Two years ago, I sailed on MSC Seaside with 6000 other pax. They closed up EVERYTHING at 9:45pm, so for me, the cruise absolutely sucked. Nothing to eat late, not even popcorn at the Pool Movie.

 

I would be ecstatic if Carnival kept the Deli open 24 hours.... but then room service revenue will drop, so I doubt that one's gonna fly.

 

As I stated earlier, my cruise fare over 21 cruises, and 22 years, has remained pretty much the same, so I have no problem with upselling the late-night food. It just better be good.

Why don't you get some food earlier, put it in the fridge, then have it when you get back at night?

 

[pusywillow]

1 minute ago, fyree39 said:

Cold Guy's burger, cold pizza, wilted salad, stale cake.

 

Do you see a trend here?

Picky, Picky LOL

[DebJ14]

On 10/12/2019 at 6:26 AM, sanmarcosman said:

We always paid for skeet shooting on Carnival and on Holland America. Perhaps you're thinking of another cruise line? 

OP, the late night snacks were served by the casino on the Holiday and Jubilee. Anyone could partake but the proximity to the casino made it convenient for the gambling crowd. 

I am talking about in the 1980's- early 90's.  Were you sailing Carnival then?  I have some 32 year old Caper Papers and there is no fee associated with hitting golf balls off the ship, nor the skeet shooting.  It was also free on NCL in the old days.

[Treyatl2006]

They haven't done the full late night buffet in years...

[sanmarcosman]

5 hours ago, Treyatl2006 said:

They haven't done the full late night buffet in years...

With the exception of Carnival Journey cruises where the old days of the buffet return for one memorable evening each voyage.

[coevan]

I spoke with our Chef at the Chef's Table. He told me it was a huge waste of money and had more lookers than eaters. 

[jimbo5544]

19 hours ago, coevan said:

I spoke with our Chef at the Chef's Table. He told me it was a huge waste of money and had more lookers than eaters. 

It is not tenable for every cruise. 

[cdm289]

On 8/25/2019 at 5:41 PM, DallasGuy75219 said:

I'm not referring to the gala midnight buffets in the MDR that Carnival cut years ago (and brought back on the Journeys cruises). 

 

I'm referring to late night snacks served at the Lido buffet.  This menu is from the last incarnation I'm aware of.

 

This is the same menu we had for a late night snack starting at 11:30pm on the Magic.  I stayed up just for that chicken noodle soup...it was so good!  

 

 

[cdm289]

On 10/14/2019 at 10:45 AM, coevan said:

I spoke with our Chef at the Chef's Table. He told me it was a huge waste of money and had more lookers than eaters. 

I can see that.  Years ago when they had the big gala buffet at night, I took many photos as it was beautiful but never went back to eat.  

[Gallivanting Souls]

I would just like to see some dessert bar after about 9:30 PM. After the shows and piano bar, my hubby and I like dessert. We are not much of late owls for regular food. I can't stand the Pizza. Now if they just had the Pizza from Alfredo's there's another story! As long as Carnival doesn't get rid of 24 hour soft serve, I guess my hubby will survive. 

[xDisconnections]

On 8/25/2019 at 7:41 PM, DallasGuy75219 said:

I'm not referring to the gala midnight buffets in the MDR that Carnival cut years ago (and brought back on the Journeys cruises). 

 

I'm referring to late night snacks served at the Lido buffet.  This menu is from the last incarnation I'm aware of.

Very disappointing.

[MasterMason]

On 8/26/2019 at 7:55 PM, Amadawn1 said:

There was nothing better than cruising down to the Pizzeria Del Capitano/Pizza Pirate (or whatever it was called on the Freedom last Oct) at 1AM.  Small line that moved fast.  Brought my Quattro Formaggio back to the cabin.  I don't think pizza has ever tasted so good for some reason.  Maybe it was my Cheers pkg?  I don't need a late night buffet. There's also always room service.  Don't usually ever eat that late.  Not usually up that late.  But that pizza was pure heaven sitting on the balcony, while my husband was snoozing!

That's been my wife and I's experience as well. That Cheers Package is killer, so is the late night pizza! Never had to wait long in line, and it always tasted like Heaven when back in the cabin. That's how we ended every night, and in 4 days, we'll be on the Magic doing it allllllll again!

[coevan]

is that menu served with Tums?

[sanmarcosman]

17 minutes ago, coevan said:

is that menu served with Tums?

No need. Late nights Carnival substitutes the frozen yogurt and ice cream with frozen Maalox and Mylanta. 

[ed01106]

On 8/26/2019 at 9:23 AM, Joebucks said:

 

I tried the philly a few cruise ago, and it was soooo good. People will spend $3000 on a vacation and LOSE THEIR MIND over a $6 charge. If the fare was $50 higher, they wouldn't care.

 

Still, I would be a bit disappointed if the late snacks went. The actual "buffet" definitely closes early. The snacks reopen later.

It isn’t the $6 per say, but rather the feeling you are being abused when the cruise line advertise meals are included but then understaff to the point the line is 45 mins long and a “friendly cruise staff” tells you can avoid the line by spending extra.  

 

 

[TNcruising02]

13 hours ago, familyoutdoors said:

I would just like to see some dessert bar after about 9:30 PM. After the shows and piano bar, my hubby and I like dessert. We are not much of late owls for regular food. I can't stand the Pizza. Now if they just had the Pizza from Alfredo's there's another story! As long as Carnival doesn't get rid of 24 hour soft serve, I guess my hubby will survive. 

Often my husband and I are not hungry for dessert after eating dinner, so we choose a dessert at the buffet and put it in the refrigerator in our cabin to save for later.

[Joebucks]

4 hours ago, ed01106 said:

It isn’t the $6 per say, but rather the feeling you are being abused when the cruise line advertise meals are included but then understaff to the point the line is 45 mins long and a “friendly cruise staff” tells you can avoid the line by spending extra. 

 

I'd say feeling abused is a stretch. It's fairly accepted in the world that delivering food to you is a premium "service" over getting it yourself. However you want to spin it, Carnival makes no claim that you get food 24/7 when and how you want it. 45 minute line is also a stretch.

 

With that said, I don't feel it is unreasonable to ask for some more options at night, such as the ones on the room service menu as a possibility you can get yourself.

[ed01106]

6 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

 

I'd say feeling abused is a stretch. It's fairly accepted in the world that delivering food to you is a premium "service" over getting it yourself. However you want to spin it, Carnival makes no claim that you get food 24/7 when and how you want it. 45 minute line is also a stretch.

 

With that said, I don't feel it is unreasonable to ask for some more options at night, such as the ones on the room service menu as a possibility you can get yourself.

Why is it they always have enough staff at places that cost extra (such as the seafood shack) but not at the places where the food is included in the fare?  Could it be they want people who already paid for meals to pay extra to avoid standing in line?