Garden Cafe Buffet Late Night Snacks?

[Kenlorz]

Was just perusing an old set of freestyle dailies trying to get an idea of what to expect on board the Breakaway later this month and noticed that the Garden Cafe Buffet is open from 9:30-11:30 pm for "any time snacks". I'm just curious what sorts of snacks they offer late night?

[lettienets]

Seems to me when I was on Jade and Epic there were little sandwiches and some dessert. Think there was some fruit. Not much but enough.

[Siora7777]

Not that much. Just a small area is open, pretty limited during the late hours. I saw pizza, sandwiches, French fries, one time there was nachos, soft serve ice cream. It's pretty small. But O'Sheehans is open all the time. It has burgers, sandwiches, wings, and cheese sticks.

[mking8288]

If you go early enough, you might see what's leftover from dinner, selectively, including some hot soup, pasta/salad, and I've taken wings, burgers, hot dogs & smoked sausages back down to our BA stateroom while she's in the shower.

 

Disclaimer: YMMV as what we experienced in 2014 and 2 months ago on the BA are subject to change ...

[Demonyte]

Late night snacks have been in steady decline for couple of years - nowadays the offerings are quite poor IMO. I remember couple of years ago when there were different kind of sandwiches and pastries every night (sandwiches and croissants were something we always got from there), on our last cruise on Jade it was pretty much only hot and greasy stuff like burgers, hot dogs, pizza, baked pasta and pretty much only baked goods were pound cake and some cookies.

 

I really missed the sandwiches - luckily those were still served at least on lunch.

[sfaaa]

Hardly anyone goes to late night snack. Why have a big selection and waste all the uneaten food?

[dexddd]

Not much during those hours, at least last year on BA. Hot dogs, greasy pizza - very small section on port side of buffet.

[DreamingBig1]

NCL does not have a Cafe' Promenade like Royal, so knowing there is an ability to grab a late night snack is nice to read. The Cafe Promenade is a nice feature that most royal ships have in some form. Excited to experience O'Sheehans. This really sets NCL apart.

[kahcarre]

Sorry for an off-topic post, but is a small section of the Garden Cafe open between lunch and dinner for snacks - cheese, fruit, etc? The dailies show it as closed between 3:30 and 5:30 or something like that.

[mking8288]

Sorry for an off-topic post, but is a small section of the Garden Cafe open between lunch and dinner for snacks - cheese, fruit, etc? The dailies show it as closed between 3:30 and 5:30 or something like that.

Well, don't believed in everything and anything you've read because ...

what was true last week and even this week, might be changed #cough #cough, urrrh, enhanced by the time you embark & sail on your cruise. Really, I do not mean to sound off badly about expectations.

Generally speaking, the broad answer given would be yes - nowadays, rumors flying - maybe is the (politically) "correct" answer to give. The beverage station will be open, free coffee, hot water & ice, ice tea can be expected. Just can't answer whether take-out will be permitted this weekend or next week or once you board, as passengers have been getting lots of surprises lately.

Just relax & enjoy your cruise - don't let the details ruin your sailing. :D

Edited May 4, 2015 by mking8288

[NLH Arizona]

Sorry for an off-topic post, but is a small section of the Garden Cafe open between lunch and dinner for snacks - cheese, fruit, etc? The dailies show it as closed between 3:30 and 5:30 or something like that.

 

Not sure about the Garden Café, but on the Pearl and the Jewell, there is a small buffet on the same deck as the garden buffet, at the back of the ship and it opens at 3:00 (not sure how long it stays open). There are food/snacks there. I usually go up and get some cookies or chips.

[Kenlorz]

Thanks for the responses :). I was specifically asking because I had noticed a few people in different threads mentioned taking cheese and crackers from the buffet at night back to their cabins and I didn't want to hijack the other posts to ask. Yet, I haven't seen anyone mention cheese and crackers... is that not available after 9:30? I enjoy a late night glass of wine on my balcony with cheese or something cheesy. I originally thought I would bring back the spinach dip from O's, but now that NCL has implemented no food taken from the restaurants other than the buffet, seems that's not an option any longer, so now I'm limited to the buffet options or RS (which I'm not paying $7.95 for...so I guess I'm actually limited to the buffet :rolleyes:). Cheese anyone?

[DreamingBig1]

Are we able to take food back to our room from the buffet?

[swedish weave]

Are we able to take food back to our room from the buffet?

 

We were on the Star 3/29 to 4/5 and had no problem taking food to the cabin.

 

They usually have an assortment of cheese at the buffet sometime during the day, and we take a plate of cheese and crackers to the cabin. The cheese goes in s plastic bag in the fridge so we have it when we want it.

[CruisinMaterial]

We were on the Star 3/29 to 4/5 and had no problem taking food to the cabin.

 

They usually have an assortment of cheese at the buffet sometime during the day, and we take a plate of cheese and crackers to the cabin. The cheese goes in s plastic bag in the fridge so we have it when we want it.

 

Not a bad idea! Thanks for sharing the tip! :)

[DreamingBig1]

Not a bad idea! Thanks for sharing the tip! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the responses :). I was specifically asking because I had noticed a few people in different threads mentioned taking cheese and crackers from the buffet at night back to their cabins and I didn't want to hijack the other posts to ask. Yet, I haven't seen anyone mention cheese and crackers... is that not available after 9:30? I enjoy a late night glass of wine on my balcony with cheese or something cheesy. I originally thought I would bring back the spinach dip from O's, but now that NCL has implemented no food taken from the restaurants other than the buffet, seems that's not an option any longer, so now I'm limited to the buffet options or RS (which I'm not paying $7.95 for...so I guess I'm actually limited to the buffet :rolleyes:). Cheese anyone?

[cruisewingman]

Sailed Getaway on April 11. The late night eats at Garden Cafe were WEAK. The crepe station closed shop at 9:30pm and the selection of food afterwards were the items that were already mentioned. None of which are worth the calories particualrly on a cruise ship given that you can eat so much better earlier in the day.

 

As far as its day time selection, I recall that the buffet went down to 25-50% capacity in between lunch and dinner but it was never shut down entirely. There was also the Flamingo Cafe which was open all afternoon. My gf loved the fried plantains there.

[Nola26]

Was just perusing an old set of freestyle dailies trying to get an idea of what to expect on board the Breakaway later this month and noticed that the Garden Cafe Buffet is open from 9:30-11:30 pm for "any time snacks". I'm just curious what sorts of snacks they offer late night?

 

You can also try the casino for late night snacks. Less sophisticated than a buffet, but trays of snacks should be set out.

 

People have downplayed the buffet, but hey at least something is available and O'Sheehan's is 24hrs. Of course there is always room service, lol. ;)

[RuthlessBoss]

We were on the Star 3/29 to 4/5 and had no problem taking food to the cabin.

 

They usually have an assortment of cheese at the buffet sometime during the day, and we take a plate of cheese and crackers to the cabin. The cheese goes in s plastic bag in the fridge so we have it when we want it.

 

Yes, how simply simple:D It's not beneath me to bring stuff back to my cabin and it's so convenient to do so.;) For those with no fridge, there is ice buckets to set a dish on.