Buffets

[corytravel]

Does anyone know if there will buffets on cruise ships or AI and if not how do they plan on serving everybody

[Aquahound]

18 minutes ago, corytravel said:

Does anyone know if there will buffets on cruise ships or AI and if not how do they plan on serving everybody

 

My guess is they will be staff served buffets, like the procedures they follow when there is a norovirus outbreak.  No more self serve for a while. 

[lenquixote66]

I would like to know when is it when it will be safe to cruise again. So many people seem to believe that somebody will wave a magic want and everything will be fine again.

[Essiesmom]

They managed to feed people for more than a century before anyone had a buffet.  And noone went hungry.  EM

[ldubs]

32 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

I would like to know when is it when it will be safe to cruise again. So many people seem to believe that somebody will wave a magic want and everything will be fine again.

 

I don't think anyone knows the answer to that question.  It will happen, of that I'm sure.   

[clo]

57 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

My guess is they will be staff served buffets, like the procedures they follow when there is a norovirus outbreak.  No more self serve for a while. 

Some already do that and it works fine.

[njhorseman]

35 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

They managed to feed people for more than a century before anyone had a buffet.  And noone went hungry.  EM

But the ship's dining rooms were designed to hold sufficient passengers, often in two sittings, to feed everyone.

 

Today's ships don't have that seating capacity in their dining rooms and specialty restaurants and it's assumed a significant percentage of passengers will eat in the buffet. 

 

It's likely for early cruises after a restart the ships will not be filled to anywhere near capacity so use of the buffets won't be critical, but eventually they will be again.

Edited September 21, 2020 by njhorseman

[rkacruiser]

It might be pleasant to have civilized dining for all 3 meals return again without having buffets.  First seating; second seating:  and how to "guarantee" the one that you prefer might become important "issues" on CC in the future.

 

A grille or a pizza station for those "between the meals" snacks:  Yes, some provision ought to be made for such.  

 

Maybe an an expanded room service menu available for all would be attractive in the "new day of cruising" that will be coming.  I hope.    

[davekathy]

1 hour ago, Aquahound said:

 

My guess is they will be staff served buffets, like the procedures they follow when there is a norovirus outbreak.  No more self serve for a while. 

Long overdue. 

[Mary229]

HAL has used staff served buffets for years.  It works ok.   In this podcast/video Princess cruise’s president says they are working on a concept of food delivered to any location on the ship.   I imagine you would order through the app?

 

Porthole interview

[getting older slowly]

The bottom line is...... you will not go hungry on a cruise ship.....

 

I do not think it is possible..........  You will get food

 

Cheers Don

 

[Sue Do-Over]

Apologies for not having the link, but I recently watched a YouTube video filmed by a guy on one of the European cruises.  It sailed out of Germany, and he said all the passengers were German residents.  They simply sailed for several days, making no port stops.

 

All that background set, he shared his experience at the buffet. 

Each pax/couple is paired with a staff helper (wearing mask & gloves) who escorts them down the whole line, and is the only one handling scoops or spatulas.  Guy said it was strange to have to point to 'the' potato, chicken or slice of cake he wanted, and to describe the ratio of each topping on his green salad.  (Uh, two slices of cucumber, and uh, olives, yeah, and uh...)

Utensils were in a plastic sleeve with the napkin, and provided by the same helper. 

 

I've always thought it was a good idea to have staff serve some items - after seeing a Carnival guest carry the entire bin of fried chicken back to his family, and another take all the bacon (the nerve!) - but this really individual service seems quite extreme.

[corytravel]

2 cold egg's done there way with toast and underdone bacon scares the hell out of me everyday? lunch could be a challenge too if you don't want burgers etc. I know dinner will be good.  or room service. a fixed menu. 

[George C]

2 hours ago, corytravel said:

Does anyone know if there will buffets on cruise ships or AI and if not how do they plan on serving everybody

I would imagine that they might have them but no self serve, we went to a nice restaurant that had a buffet last week, they listed all the items and you checked what you want then wait staff filled it, I know on Holland America first day or so they have staff dishing out food on buffet.

[Cruzaholic41]

2 minutes ago, George C said:

I know on Holland America first day or so they have staff dishing out food on buffet.

It’s a permanent thing now on HAL. Not sure when it started, but it’s been that way on my last few cruises with them. 

[Cruzaholic41]

2 hours ago, Aquahound said:

 

My guess is they will be staff served buffets, like the procedures they follow when there is a norovirus outbreak.  No more self serve for a while. 

That’s my guess as well. I also suspect the lines with room service fees will suspend the fees. 

[clo]

1 hour ago, Sue Do-Over said:

Each pax/couple is paired with a staff helper

On Oceania PC, there were multiple stations and some were duplicates. Breakfast, dinner meats vegetables. You went to each and asked for what and how much you wanted. It was super easy. Crispy bacon? You bet. Few/more scrambled eggs? No problem. Etc. We loved it.

[pris993]

6 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

They managed to feed people for more than a century before anyone had a buffet.  And noone went hungry.  EM

It was less fun, i.e., needing to be in the MDR at a set time for breakfast, lunch and dinner; today people are more flexible and want more options.   Most of early cruisers were set dining. 

[clo]

1 minute ago, pris993 said:

It was less fun, i.e., needing to be in the MDR at a set time for breakfast, lunch and dinner; today people are more flexible and want more options.   Most of early cruisers were set dining. 

So do you understand that you can have an alternative to MDR? You ask for what you want, go to the next station and do the same, etc.

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, Sue Do-Over said:

 

Each pax/couple is paired with a staff helper (wearing mask & gloves) who escorts them down the whole line, and is the only one handling scoops or spatulas. 

 

Hmmm, I wonder if they will cut in line if asked!  😄😄😄

[ldubs]

IDK, Is how the food is served a primary concern for covid.  Perhaps there should be more concern about a crowd of people sharing the same space.   

[bigrednole]

I am thinking cafeteria style. Some things will be pre-plated and others will have a server that will slop it on your plate.

[Cruzaholic41]

6 hours ago, pris993 said:

It was less fun, i.e., needing to be in the MDR at a set time for breakfast, lunch and dinner; today people are more flexible and want more options.   Most of early cruisers were set dining. 

Agreed, unlike someone else who didn’t understand your post. 🙄  People are much more flexible these days, which is why anytime dining and buffets are more and more popular. 

[clo]

5 hours ago, bigrednole said:

a server that will slop it on your plate.

We never had any food SLOPPED on our plate. Why would you think that?

[clo]

9 hours ago, ldubs said:

IDK, Is how the food is served a primary concern for covid.  Perhaps there should be more concern about a crowd of people sharing the same space.   

It's one of a number of issues.