Lido deck buffet

[jusilva]

Is it worth it to pay for the Lido Deck buffet for non sailing guests?

 

We are on the fence. We don't want to be "cheap" but at the same time we can't see there being much time for guests to eat between boarding and the ceremony.

 

What say you all?

 

 

 

 

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[slord12]

I was a wedding guest (I was sailing) but the wedding coordinators told the non-sailing guests to just take off their badges and no one would know the difference. Even though I was sailing I didn't want to eat. The bride and groom are paying all of this money for the reception food so I wanted to enjoy that instead. I'm glad I did, the reception food was delicious!

[ImaginationCruiseBride]

We are paying for it for our guests. We feel they are coming all this way and spending this much money, the least we can do is spend less than $10 to feed them....but then again, we are having less than 30 guests so the price isn't too bad for us.

[jusilva]

I spoke with Carnival yesterday about the buffet. What happen is if we don't pay for the buffet, the guests will be escorted to the venue, where the ceremony will take place and can be waiting for 1 hour and half. They don't even allowed the guest to explore the ship. I am not sure how true that is. I saw on this board guests having no problem walking around the ship. Any thoughts?

 

 

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[slord12]

I spoke with Carnival yesterday about the buffet. What happen is if we don't pay for the buffet, the guests will be escorted to the venue, where the ceremony will take place and can be waiting for 1 hour and half. They don't even allowed the guest to explore the ship. I am not sure how true that is. I saw on this board guests having no problem walking around the ship. Any thoughts?

 

 

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This wasn't our experience with the wedding coordinators in Port Canaveral. They did show everyone where the ceremony was going to be held and made sure people knew what time to be there, but they were encouraged to explore the ship. They told them they couldn't purchase drinks obviously, but they could go up to the buffet and grab something to eat if they'd like. They just told the non-sailing guests to hide their guest badges! All of the non-sailing guests were very upset with themselves after exploring the ship, they were all saying "WE SHOULD'VE JUST BOOKED THE CRUISE!!" haha!

[6rugrats]

I never understand why the wedding coordinator would encourage your guests to steal food.

[slord12]

I never understand why the wedding coordinator would encourage your guests to steal food.

 

Can't answer that question, that was just our experience! Didn't matter to me either way since I was actually sailing. Like I said earlier, I almost wish they wouldn't encourage people to eat because those that did didn't even touch the reception food. Such a waste!

[Carnival_Brides]

I never understand why the wedding coordinator would encourage your guests to steal food.

 

All I can figure is they are being "hospitable" and they don't work for the actual cruise line. This was also our experience on our pre-wedding tour--it's exactly what they told that day's wedding guests after we boarded in Baltimore.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Carnival_Brides

[jusilva]

We are paying almost 600 just for lido buffet. We are thinking it is a lit bit much once the food at the reception should be delicious.

I just can't believe they will "lock" the guests in an room ( in our case, main theater) because we are not paying for the buffet.

I have no problem in telling my guest not to eat before the reception.

I never heard a such a thing...about not been able to tour the ship! I am 25 days out and getting a little bit nervous about it.

 

 

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[mrstriceasnice]

I never understand why the wedding coordinator would encourage your guests to steal food.

 

When you get down to it, it's actually probably better publicity for Carnival than what it costs them. As another poster said, her non-sailing guests regretted not sailing after exploring and experiencing the ship a bit. What does that mean in the long run? Potential converted cruisers. Many more than locking them in a room for an hour or more could convert.

[6rugrats]

When you get down to it, it's actually probably better publicity for Carnival than what it costs them. As another poster said, her non-sailing guests regretted not sailing after exploring and experiencing the ship a bit. What does that mean in the long run? Potential converted cruisers. Many more than locking them in a room for an hour or more could convert.

 

It costs Carnival nothing. The cost of this food is being paid for by all the other guests on Carnival ships who are going to have to subsidize such costs by paying higher fares.

[mrstriceasnice]

No more than it costs for the number of unsupervised children making huge plates and not eating them. As a marketing person I would see this as a chance to make new cruisers out of a few potential wedding attendees. It would be interesting to see how many guests don't sail who attend elaboration day weddings. These would be the only potential people to have the lido buffet without paying and trust me, Carnival tries to make sure you pay for it. Also only people who find sites like this would even think it was possible without the wedding planners telling them.

Since we are paying for a four course meal I intend to make sure my guests don't partake in the Buffet.