Midnight Buffet

[familycruiser01]

Ok, so on my last cruise, which was in 2008, they still had the amazing midnight chocolate buffet - with foods carved into the coolest shapes and figures. So do they still have this on cruises? I have pictures from the previous cruises and the carvings were fantastic. Have they done away with this?

[Ourusualbeach]

The actual midnight buffets have all but disappeared. Some ships still host a late night poolside buffet though. Very scaled back and usually starts about 11:30.

[dplusd]

Ok, so on my last cruise, which was in 2008, they still had the amazing midnight chocolate buffet - with foods carved into the coolest shapes and figures. So do they still have this on cruises? I have pictures from the previous cruises and the carvings were fantastic. Have they done away with this?

 

Yes...those extravagant midnight buffets have been gone for quite a while now. There will usually be one late-night poolside buffet, but it's casual and nothing like the buffet you remember!

[Ashland]

Loved those midnight buffets along with many things that were a cruise tradition...gone but not forgotten :(

[Ourusualbeach]

Loved those midnight buffets along with many things that were a cruise tradition...gone but not forgotten :(

 

Us too. On our honeymoon cruise in 1998 we had late seating so finished dinner at 10:30 or 11:00 then somehow managed to find our way to the midnight buffet and be served by the same waiter we had for dinner.:)

[yarlenna]

I remember the midnight buffets as great - but now there are so many places to get something to eat.

[Ashland]

I remember the midnight buffets as great - but now there are so many places to get something to eat.

To us it was "more" than just somewhere to get something to eat.

[wales4ever]

Another cost cutting exercise.

[Brossy]

Radiance still had the late night chocolate buffet on our cruise in April. It was amazing! We also had a late night deck party with buffet.

[A&L_Ont]

To us it was "more" than just somewhere to get something to eat.

 

I only made it to one before they came to an end, around 2006. You are correct it was defiantly more than just a place to eat. I am glad that I got to see it at least once.

[BillOh]

Yes...those extravagant midnight buffets have been gone for quite a while now. There will usually be one late-night poolside buffet, but it's casual and nothing like the buffet you remember!

 

2006 was the last one I saw.

[leaveitallbehind]

Another cost cutting exercise.

 

One, unfortunately, that makes sense however as the vast majority of the food prepared was not consumed and mostly wound up simply as camera material with the majority of people who passed through the line just looking at it.

 

However, we too remember those days fondly and always enjoyed at least sampling some of the food.

[cb at sea]

The midnight buffets were gorgeous....but what a waste! We always do late seating, and there wasn't room for a single strawberry in our tummies....let alone anything else! pretty to look at, but was unable to ever partake!

[Aunt Sue]

our first cruises had midnight buffets every nite - what fun. then they had only the Gala buffets once/week where they would open the doors for viewing/pictures for a long line of people and it was fantastic! ice sculptures, food carvings, and remember the pates and terrines? they looked so pretty but were really like dog food! it was the desserts that were more appealing.

[Tam Tam]

To us it was "more" than just somewhere to get something to eat.

I agree with you. We would always travel with my husband's parents who enjoyed the earliest dining available. Since we dined so early, we could always take in a show or two in the evening or spend some time in the Schooner bar and would always have enough room by midnight to take advantage of the buffet. I remember always going in thinking I would just take a peak to see what was on the buffet but always came away with more than my share. We all enjoyed those buffets and the extra time we got out of our evenings. I miss them.