10 Food I'll Never Eat at a Cruise Buffet

Cruise buffets are very popular- unlimited food all day long- what’s not to love? However, there are some foods that are better off not eaten at a cruise buffet. Here are 10 foods that I’ll never eat at a cruise buffet.

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Food to Avoid at a Cruise Buffet

1. Spaghetti

You won’t find me eating spaghetti at a cruise buffet. I prefer my pasta al dente, and when spaghetti lingers on a steam table, it tends to turn soggy. If I do indulge in pasta at a cruise buffet, I head straight to the Pasta bar for a freshly made-to-order serving of spaghetti.

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2. Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled eggs are a definite no-go for me at cruise buffets. Typically, they’re not prepared with fresh eggs. Instead, large quantities of scrambled eggs are often made using powdered eggs, which I personally find unappetizing and downright gross.

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3. Eggs Benedict

While I love eggs benedict, I steer clear of them at cruise buffets. Why? Well, those poor eggs benedict tend to sit on the serving line longer than I’d prefer. The eggs end up more well-done than I’d like, and the worst part is, the hollandaise sauce has coagulated!

4. Fruits on Ice

I’m always wary of eating fruit that’s been sitting on ice at a cruise buffet. The ice can be a breeding ground for germs, and it just doesn’t feel sanitary. Take the strawberries in the photo below—they look extremely pale and unappetizing. I’d rather steer clear of fresh fruits that have been sitting on ice.

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5. Steak

I stay away from steak at cruise buffets. Steak that’s been sitting on a steam table is not appetizing at all! For steak, I’ll make sure I eat it at the Main Dining room or at a specialty restaurant- I want my steak freshly grilled!

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6. Squid

I once made the mistake of trying squid salad at a cruise buffet. Never again! The squid turned out rubbery and unappealing. I normally love squid, but that experience left me slightly traumatized, and had to stay away from squid dishes for a while!

7. Green Beans

I never eat the green beans at a cruise buffet. They fall into the same category as pasta—sitting on a steam table for too long, they turn into a soggy mess. I prefer my green beans crunchy, so the idea of munching on limp, overcooked ones just doesn’t sit well with me.

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8. Burgers

When it comes to burgers at a cruise buffet, I steer clear if they’ve been sitting on the steam table. For one, they lose that fresh appeal. Besides, I know I can get better burgers at the grill—made to order, just the way I like my hamburger! Take a look at the photo below, I saw these cheeseburgers topped with maraschino cherries at a recent cruise! Would you eat it?

9. Hotdogs

I also never eat hotdogs at a cruise buffet. I just find it really unappealing seeing the hotdogs sitting on the steam table next to the dry hot dog buns. Instead, I head straight to the grill, where they can cook hotdogs to order—juicy and fresh.

10. Dinner Rolls

I never eat dinner rolls and bread at a cruise buffet. It looks tempting but being on a cruise where food is unlimited, I know I can get better dinner rolls at the main dining room. It’s there that I indulge, where I know the dinner rolls will be fresh and warm. Why waste precious carb intake on lackluster dinner rolls?

Cruise Essentials

Cruise Lanyard

Bring cruise lanyards; to make your life easier so you are not constantly looking for your cruise card!

Towel Bands

Towel bands are great in keeping your beach towels in place! So, they are slipping off the pool lounge chairs!

Power Strip

Definitely bring a cruise-approved power strip so you have more outlets for charging your devices. Cruise cabins never have enough outlets!

Packing Cubes

Make cruise packing easier by using packing cubes. These cubes will help keep your clothes organized. And unpacking is easy because you just need to take them out of your luggage and put them in the drawers and shelves- so easy! Assign a color for each person in your cabin so you are not getting your cubes mixed up.

Luggage Tags

For safety, make sure every luggage and bags are labeled with a luggage tag. I like these custom luggage tags that you can order and personalize with your information.

Magnetic Hooks

Bring magnetic hooks to organize your cabin and keep it clutter-free. These hooks are for hanging baseball caps, cruise lanyards, goggles, bathing suits and towels.

Detergent Travel Packets

These detergent travel packets are great for handwashing bathing suits in the sink.

Anti-Seasickness

This anti-seasickness medicine is a go-to to combat seasickness on a cruise. If you have kids, make sure you bring the chewable version. If you are looking for a natural solution, try these acupressure bands.

Hanging Toiletry Bag

Cruise cabin sinks are notoriously small. Get a hanging toiletry bag to make it easier!

Cruise Travel Planner Printable

Get our 25 page cruise travel planner to stay organized before and during your cruise. It includes pre-cruise and post-cruise itineraries, a cruise port planner, sea days planner, packing lists, cruise budget tracker and more!

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Free Cruise Toiletry Bag and First Aid Kit Packing List

Get Your Free Cruise Toiletry Bag & First Aid Kit Packing List

Sign up once and you will get access to ALL exclusive content on this website. After unlocking the printable, just save the printable image and then print it. Use it as a checklist to pack your cruise toiletry bag and first aid kit so you don’t forget anything! I hope you like it!