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Cruise ship buffets are a popular dining option for many passengers, offering various food choices and convenience. Even though there are sit-down restaurants on board, many cruisers really enjoy the variety and convenient of the casual lido buffet.
However, even experienced cruisers may not know all the tips and tricks to make the most out of the this casual cruise food experience. From experimenting with new styles of food to taking food to go, this cruise ship buffet advice can enhance your overall cruise buffet experience.
In this post, I share 11 cruise buffet tips you’ll want to know before your cruise.
Cruise Ship Buffet Tips Cruisers Need to Know
1. Explore All the Food Options
One of the best aspects of the cruise ship buffet is the sheer variety of food options available. With so many different dishes to choose from, you don’t want to miss out on hidden gems.
To ensure you get the best food options available, take your time to walk around the entire buffet before you start filling up your plate. This lets you see all the food choices and decide what you want to try.
Often, the buffet has two sides. While there are many stations that may be duplicated, there are often some items that are unique to each side. Check out the pasta station, as well as a sushi and stir-fry station that might be available on your cruise ship.
Don’t get me wrong—it can be a real challenge not to grab food as soon as you see it, especially when you’re hungry. However, if you take the time to see what else is being served, you won’t regret it when you find a special dish!
2. Avoid Going During the Busiest Times
The cruise ship buffet can get extremely busy, especially during prime dining times at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Going during the busiest times can lead to long lines, trouble finding a seat, and an unenjoyable dining experience.
If you want to avoid crowds, going during the off-peak hours is a good idea. This is a great way to avoid long lines, explore all the dining options, and have an enjoyable dining experience.
You can also plan to go as soon as the new mealtime opens. For example, if the lunch buffet opens at 11:30 am, go then rather than between 12:00 and 1:00 pm.
Cruise Buffet Alternatives
Eating at a casual restaurant or the main dining room is an alternative way to avoid crowds during busy dining times. Typically, these alternative dining venues will be way less busy than the buffet, especially during peak dining hours.
3. Consider Healthy Options
Cruise ship buffets have a reputation for being unhealthy and serving lots of “junk food”. In most cases, this isn’t true. These days you’ll find many healthy and quality options at this casual venue.
Sure, there will be burgers, pizza, and high calorie pasta dishes. However, you can find amazing healthy and fresh choices like salads, fruits, and grilled meats.
Not only are these options good for your health, but they can also be very tasty. Don’t be afraid to mix some of the healthy options with more decadent favorites to create a balanced plate.
Nowadays, many cruise lines offer healthier dining options and menus for guests who want to maintain healthy eating habits while at sea, as well as those that have dietary restrictions. If you’re vegan or gluten free, look for specially made dishes in the buffet and ask the crew for assistance.
Furthermore, cruise lines offer fitness classes and wellness seminars for those seeking to maintain a healthy lifestyle at sea.
4. Experiment With Different Styles of Food
Don’t be afraid to try new things when you’re eating in the cruise ship buffet. Cruise ship buffets often offer international cuisine, allowing you to try food you may never find at home.
Limiting yourself to dishes you already like is a huge mistake, as you may miss out on some delicious food. A great part of cruising is trying new foods, so keep an open mind when you’re at the buffet.
Tip – When the buffet offers regional foods, it often tastes pretty authentic since the crew members often come from the Philippines, India, and Indonesia.
Related: 10 Ways to Get Treated Like a VIP on a Cruise Ship
5. Know the Opening and Closing Hours
A common misconception that many have is that the buffet is open 24 hours a day. However, this isn’t the case on most cruise ships these days.
If you plan on eating at the buffet regularly, knowing the opening and closing hours is important. Since the buffet has turnover periods, there will be times when you can’t get food as they set up for the next meal.
It’s important to know when breakfast, lunch, and dinner ends so you won’t get stuck not being able to eat in the buffet. If the buffet is closed and you are still hungry, many cruise lines offer casual dining restaurants that are open throughout the day.
Room service is also available, but depending on the cruise line, may have an additional charge.
6. Get Freshly Made Scrambled Eggs at the Omelet Station
Are you a breakfast fan? The omelet station might be the best part of the buffet.
If you enjoy eating scrambled eggs and don’t like the powdered eggs mixture typically served in the cruise ship buffet, you can always request fresh scrambled eggs at the omelet station. This expert cruise tip is a game-changer, as you can add omelet toppings to your scrambled eggs.
As a scrambled eggs lover, I do this on every cruise when I eat breakfast in the buffet.
7. Avoid the Buffet on Embarkation Day
A common mistake that cruisers make is rushing to the buffet on embarkation day. By going to the buffet on embarkation day, you’ll likely face long lines and crowded dining areas.
On embarkation day, many cruise passengers look to grab a quick meal at the buffet to begin their cruise vacation. However, it’s important to remember that alternative options to the cruise ship buffet exist.
Most cruise lines offer a variety of dining options, including the main dining room, poolside grills, cafes, and other casual dining venues, which typically have shorter wait times and fewer crowds.
Certain cruise lines like Royal Caribbean offer a welcome lunch designated for those who purchased The Key. This program is ideal for those who want a relaxing and tasty lunch on embarkation day.
It’s a good idea to have a plan for lunch on embarkation day so you can make the most of your day. This way, you can get lunch over with and start your cruise vacation immediately.
8. Take Food To Go!
Many cruisers don’t realize that when you’re at the buffet, you can take food to go. This means you can grab some snacks and enjoy them by the pool, in your cabin, or a lounge around the cruise ship.
During a sea day, I often find myself at the buffet, where I can choose from a variety of options. A plate of nacho chips, salsa, guacamole, and cheese, paired with a cold beer, is a great choice to enjoy by the pool.
When I have a balcony cabin, I’ll bring a plate of crackers, cheese, and fruit back to my stateroom so I can enjoy them on my balcony. Nothing is better than a glass of red wine and some snacks while staring into the ocean!
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9. Wear the Right Attire
You don’t need to stress out about a dress code. However there are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to what to wear when entering and eating at the buffet on a cruise.
While the atmosphere onboard a cruise ship tends to be relaxed, especially by the lido deck, it’s important to dress appropriately for the buffet.
When heading to the buffet, casual attire like shorts, T-shirts, cover-ups and sundresses are perfectly acceptable. However, if you enter with just a bathing suit or without footwear, you’ll likely be asked to cover up and put on some shoes.
Related: 63 Things Not to Do on a Cruise (rules, guidelines & cruise etiquette)
10. Keep an Eye Out for Special Themed Buffets and Events
Many cruise lines have special buffet events. These can range from a chocolate buffet to a steak night to a special dinner for the holidays. These themed buffets will usually be announced in the cruise daily planner as well as the cruise ship app.
On our recent Celebrity cruise, there was a seafood lunch on the last sea day. The buffet had many delicious seafood options, including towers with crab legs, oysters, and shrimp.
Last November, we spent Thanksgiving onboard Holland America’s Rotterdam. They had a special Thanksgiving dinner at the buffet, where they served turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie!
Oftentimes, these buffet events are super plentiful and definitely worth checking out.
11. Save Room for Dessert
Although the buffet has many delicious options, in my view, saving room for dessert is essential!
Cruise ship buffets always have amazing dessert options. These desserts can range from cakes to pastries to fresh crepes and churros! Often, you’ll find home made ice cream that is absolutely delicious!
As a sweet lover myself, I always make sure to save room for dessert and take advantage of the amazing dessert options offered in the buffet.
You may even want to take some delicious cookies to go!
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Final Thoughts on 11 Cruise Ship Buffet Tips You Need to Know
Buffet dining is a popular choice among cruise ship passengers, offering a wide variety of delicious food options. However, there are several common mistakes that can detract from the dining experience.
Dining in the buffet is a popular choice among cruise ship passengers, as it allows guests to grab a quick meal and indulge in various food options. By following the tips above, you can take full advantage of the buffet and enjoy your meals there.
Do you have any buffet tips? Please let me know your tips and questions in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Author Bio: Ethan Schattauer has been cruising with his family since he was four years old and has been on more than 30 cruises. As a frequent traveler, Ethan shares his unique perspective on what cruising is like from a young person’s perspective. Ethan also writes about men’s fashion, travel and college advice on the website WhatToWearMen.com.