The unlimited food at the cruise buffet is one of the best things about a cruise vacation. From the endless variety of food options as well as some of the buffet etiquette, here are things that surprise first-time cruisers when they step into their first cruise buffet.
Impressive Variety of Foods
Cruise buffets are impressive. You can get a wide range of food from all over the world. First-time cruisers are pleasantly surprised to find comfort foods, fresh salads, Asian cuisine, Mexican food, pizza, and pasta—everything you can imagine the cruise buffet will likely have it. It’s like having multiple restaurants combined into one massive dining area.
It’s Open All Day (Almost)
The cruise buffet is open all day long (it does close when they are setting up for the next meal)! You’ll never go hungry during your cruise. You can get breakfast, lunch, dinner, daytime snacks, and late-night snacks. It’s convenient for anyone who wants to eat whenever they want.
Good Quality Food
Many first-time cruisers expect cruise buffet food to be mediocre, cafeteria-quality food. But they are often pleasantly surprised with how fresh everything is. The salad bar features fresh food, there is freshly baked bread, you see the chef grilling meats in real-time, and you can get a carving from a roast. Food quality is definitely that of a gourmet food hall rather than a cafeteria.
It Can Get Crowded
The cruise buffet can get crowded and extremely busy—so crowded that finding a table is almost impossible. First-timers often don’t anticipate how stressful hunting for a table is. Many cruisers will scout out seats before grabbing their food. It’s common to see one person “reserve” a spot while the rest of the group gets their meals.
There are peak buffet hours that get extremely busy, such as breakfast right before shore excursions and lunch on sea days. Seasoned cruisers know to eat early or late to avoid the rush- or go to the main dining room to avoid the crowd. The cruise buffet on embarkation day is also notoriously busy. Check out 16 Cruise Ship Embarkation Hacks (How to Board the Ship Faster)
Special Dietary Accommodations
Just because you have a food allergy or a special dietary requirement doesn’t mean you can’t eat at the cruise buffet. Most cruise buffets have labels marked so you know if they are vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or have nuts. The buffet staff are usually helpful and available to answer questions about ingredients. If you find nothing suitable, you can always go to the made-to-order stations for a freshly cooked dish without cross-contamination.
Amazing Desserts
New cruisers are often impressed with the creativity and quality of the dessert section of a cruise buffet. There is usually an amazing spread of cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, jello, and sometimes even a chocolate fondue fountain. It’s nearly impossible to leave the buffet without indulging in at least one dessert item!
Outdoor Seating
Most cruise buffets have plenty of outdoor seats. First-time cruisers are often pleasantly surprised to find out that they can eat alfresco and enjoy the ocean views! It’s a luxurious and relaxing dining experience you can only get on cruise ships!
Hand Washing Stations
Hygiene is taken very seriously on cruise ships, especially at the buffet! First-time cruisers often find it surprising to see dedicated hand-washing stations at the buffet’s entrance. There are even cruise staff members whose sole job is to encourage passengers to wash their hands in the hand-washing stations or sanitize them with hand sanitizers. Some of the cruise staff even sing a creative “washy washy” song to get all guests to wash their hands! Check out 7 Reasons Why I’m Skipping the Hot Tub on My Next Cruise
Unlimited Ice Cream or Soft Serve
One of the most popular stations at the cruise buffet is the unlimited soft-serve or ice cream station. They usually have classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, but there can also be other flavors of the day. The best part is that there are unlimited toppings as well. Check out 9 Cruise Main Dining Room Mistakes You’ll Regret Making
Cooked-to-Order Stations
Many cruise buffets have cooked-to-order stations where chefs prepare food right before you. There are usually omelet stations, waffle stations, and eggs Benedict stations at the breakfast buffet. While at lunch and dinner, there are pasta stations and stir-fry stations. The quality of these food stations is often superior because they are freshly cooked and made to order. It’s great for passengers with food allergies because of the lower risk of cross-contamination. Here is a photo of the eggs benedict station at Celebrity Cruise. Check out my honest review: Is Celebrity Cruise Really More Upscale?
Buffet Themes
Cruise buffets have themed nights. These can include themes like Sushi Night, Italian Night, Oktoberfest, and more. First-time cruisers are usually pleasantly surprised to walk into the buffet with special decorations and themed food. Sometimes, the themes match up with your cruise port. For example, if you are visiting Germany, you might have an Oktoberfest theme night at the buffet. Check out 14 Best and Worst Foods to Eat on Cruises
Drink Stations
Many first-time cruisers are confused about exactly what drinks are included on a cruise. With all the beverage package solicitations that first-time cruisers get before boarding the ship, it makes them think they have to pay for drinks. However, they are usually pleasantly surprised to find that cruise buffets offer free drinks such as coffee, tea, hot cocoa water, juices, iced tea, and lemonade. It’s nice to have these drinks available all day long. Check out 8 Reasons Why Cruise Ship Beverage Packages are a Waste of Money
Buffet Etiquette Exists
While it may seem like a free-for-all, there’s an unspoken code of conduct at the cruise buffet. Basic etiquette applies, such as cutting in line or taking excessive portions of a single dish, which can lead to side-eye from other guests. Table hogging is also a no-no. Plus, there is proper buffet attire. Check out 12 Things You Should Never Do at a Cruise Buffet