Another line changes it's dinning program

[FLACRUISER99]

I see that P & O is ending it's buffet.:eek: Anyone think RCI will follow. http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6007

[Clarea]

I see that P & O is ending it's buffet.:eek: Anyone think RCI will follow. http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6007

Sure, if they think it will result in more people using pay venues, they will follow.

[Folk Singer]

Interesting article. I bet they will watch how P&O succeed or not in this endeavour then make a decision, esp. considering P&O are rolling this out in the Pacific.

[cb at sea]

I'm amazed...I still think the ONLY "included" dining venue will soon be the buffet....

[Clarea]

I'm amazed...I still think the ONLY "included" dining venue will soon be the buffet....

That will be difficult if the buffet is discontinued.

[leaveitallbehind]

that will be difficult if the buffet is discontinued.

 

Very true! :D

Edited October 1, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[QTPieTrader]

IMHO - I think all meals will be buffet soon, except for the specialty venues (which generate more profit for the cruise lines..)

 

QTPie :cool:

[aurelius180]

I'm amazed...I still think the ONLY "included" dining venue will soon be the buffet....

 

 

That's awesome. :rolleyes:

[Aquahound]

That will be difficult if the buffet is discontinued.

 

Thanks Bob. I chuckled over that one. :D

[FLACRUISER99]

Personalty I feel that the buffet generates a lot of waste as we all have bigger eyes then our stomach.

[Max Circus]

Personalty I feel that the buffet generates a lot of waste as we all have bigger eyes then our stomach.

 

Great point. Celebrity had an attempt at helping with that. On Summit they started putting out small plates with single portions instead of a steam tray of the items where you served yourself. I lliked it. Actually made it easier to get to items since you could just "grab and go". from recent reviews, that seems to have stopped.

[ehfl]

I see that P & O is ending it's buffet.:eek: Anyone think RCI will follow. http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6007

 

This makes economic sense. Buffets waste a lot of food, and much of it is thrown out. They're also likely responsible for many of the norovirus outbreaks that have been a stain on the industry.

 

I'd be happy if they replaced the buffet with one or more casual venues. Food that's been sitting under a heat-lamp or sitting in a steam tray is just not very appealing. I'd rather see quality made-to-order burgers, pizza, sandwiches, salads, and other casual fare.

 

Maybe a Caribbean or Florida Keys inspired venue with coconut shrimp, conch fritters, jerk chicken, etc. would make it feel more like a vacation in the islands instead of lunch at Sizzler.

[Peterbilt Driver]

As I have stated in the past and been ridiculed for!

IMOO within the next five years all complementary dining will disappear and you will pay dearly for all food eaten.

After all they have a captive cliental and its not like you can go down the street to eat somewhere else!

[smoosh21]

That will be difficult if the buffet is discontinued.

 

They tried that with EasyCruise where everything was charged and basically the ship was nothing more than a floating bus. Since it is no longer around, I am guessing that it won't happen on other cruise lines anytime soon

[Hypo]

IMHO - I think all meals will be buffet soon, except for the specialty venues (which generate more profit for the cruise lines..)

 

QTPie :cool:

IMHO, I think that all meals will be pay venue/ala carte, in the near future.

 

Remember when RCCL started putting Johnny Rocket's on the ships; and they then started to charge for them because the "kids were over running the restaurants"? When they put Portofino's on the ships they only charged a minimal amount to cover "gratuities" for the staff. Now pay restaurants are starting to go north of $50.00/pp.

Edited October 1, 2014 by Hypo

[John&LaLa]

As I have stated in the past and been ridiculed for!

IMOO within the next five years all complementary dining will disappear and you will pay dearly for all food eaten.

After all they have a captive cliental and its not like you can go down the street to eat somewhere else!

 

You can choose to not be a captive

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app

[ryano]

As I have stated in the past and been ridiculed for!

IMOO within the next five years all complementary dining will disappear and you will pay dearly for all food eaten.

After all they have a captive cliental and its not like you can go down the street to eat somewhere else!

 

And I bet you 100.00 that wouldn't happen and you wont take my bet :D:p

[Langley Cruisers]

Personalty I feel that the buffet generates a lot of waste as we all have bigger eyes then our stomach.

 

This is true but they do re-purpose where they can. For instance, this morning's left over French toast becomes this afternoon's bread pudding. Leftover fruit is cut up into a large fruit salad on the dessert station, and then further used in the morning Bircher muesli. Left over veggies are thrown into stews and pot pies.

 

But yes, I understand the comment. :)

 

.

[negc]

As I have stated in the past and been ridiculed for!

IMOO within the next five years all complementary dining will disappear and you will pay dearly for all food eaten.

After all they have a captive cliental and its not like you can go down the street to eat somewhere else!

 

And yet Dynamic Dining offers more (albeit smaller) complimentary dining options than the traditional Main Dining Room. If the food and service in those venues comes even close to matching their descriptions, there may be less reason to choose the pay restaurants.

[Peterbilt Driver]

And I bet you 100.00 that wouldn't happen and you wont take my bet :D:p

 

And as I stated before make it 100k held in escrow by a mutually agreed on bank and you got a bet!

[TC1957]

And yet Dynamic Dining offers more (albeit smaller) complimentary dining options than the traditional Main Dining Room. If the food and service in those venues comes even close to matching their descriptions, there may be less reason to choose the pay restaurants.

 

It also sets them up nicely to move to all becoming "additional fee" venues.

[Clarea]

And yet Dynamic Dining offers more (albeit smaller) complimentary dining options than the traditional Main Dining Room. If the food and service in those venues comes even close to matching their descriptions, there may be less reason to choose the pay restaurants.

That's a very positive way to look at it, and I hope this turns out to be the way it works in practice.:)

[OCruisers]

Buffets are such a huge waste of food. It makes total sense to eliminate them.

LuLu

[ryano]

Sounds to me like P&O is trying to improve. The buffet is going away and being replaced by new places to eat. Nowhere does it say for an upcharge :)

 

I honestly would not miss the Windjammer. Especially if they replaced it with good included alternatives.

[Ken at the beach]

This is true but they do re-purpose where they can. For instance, this morning's left over French toast becomes this afternoon's bread pudding. Leftover fruit is cut up into a large fruit salad on the dessert station, and then further used in the morning Bircher muesli. Left over veggies are thrown into stews and pot pies.

 

But yes, I understand the comment. :)

 

.

 

Only the food that has been prepared but not yet left the kitchen can be re purposed. Once it leaves the kitchen it cannot be re used in any way other than food for the fish.

 

The head chef on our behind the scenes tour on the Monarch showed us the imaginary line in the galley which they referred to as the point of no return.