Midnight buffet on the newer ships?

[custompcsys]

Which prompts this chicken-and-egg question:

 

Did the midnight buffet (or similar late-night indulgences) disappear because fewer people are wandering the ship in the wee hours--or are fewer people up that late in the disco/bars/casino because the midnight buffets have disappeared :confused:

 

Yes :D

 

I haven't seen an honest-to-god midnight buffet since the Oceanic.

[stoneharborlady]

Yes, but I decided the real reason is that we are mostly old and tired. ;)

 

Yes, I think you are correct!!!

[AlaskaGolden]

The International Cafe isn't something to sneeze at, particularly if you're looking for dessert late at night. There's plenty to tempt you.

 

As for the buffet, follow the money. It's not a "chicken and egg" situation. The all night buffet used a lot of ship resources, wasted a lot of food, and relatively few people used it. Staff was left standing around for hours doing little or nothing. Since the closing of the buffet overnight, Princess implemented set tables and tableside service in the buffet the entire time it's open. IMHO, I'd much rather have tableside service and set tables. On other lines, I find myself running around looking for silverware, iced tea, etc. while my food gets cold.

 

Pam, totally agree. I'd rather have a nicer experience earlier in the evening, every evening, than have a buffet open maybe once or twice a cruise when I'm awake and out and about past 11 PM or midnight!

 

As others have mentioned, we need to sleep so we can enjoy the next day's adventures!

[Cruisin' Chick]

On my first cruise in 1994, we do go to the midnight buffet. First, there was the line just to look (and photograph it). Then there was another line for getting the food itself. Long lines. So to indulge yourself, you were spending a long time in lines. Never went to another midnight buffet.

 

A few cruises ago at the Island Night party on our first Hawaiian cruise, there was an elaborate spread of carved items and elaborate desserts. On our last couple of cruises, there were lunchtime buffets outside the Horizon. It made more sense to offer the food at a more responsible time, and I'm guessing less waste. If you got there early enough, you can take some nice photos too.

 

Here's some photos from the poolside buffets:

[kcfoxy]

Within the past couple of years Princess realized it was a waste of resources & food to keep the buffet open 24 hours a day. If room service & the International Café isn't enough for you & is a dealbreaker then try NCL or Carnival instead.

 

It's your prerogative to believe that old review and to ignore the experience of others who are trying to answer your questions. Things change and reading reviews are not always current information. :rolleyes:

 

NCL stops serving between 9:30 and 10:00 PM. Available options then become limited menu Room Service for $6.95 or Pizza delivery for $5.00. Casinos may offer up some wimpy snacks around Midnight: stale finger sandwiches and leftover cookies from that night's buffet, so I don't see that as a viable option. :cool:

Edited August 9, 2015 by kcfoxy

[pablo222]

Midnight buffets were a waste of time and food as was the chocolate displays. They will not be missed.

 

It sounds like the original poster is missing them.

 

Princess saw an opportunity to cut costs, hoped for minimal customer

push-back, and went for it.

 

Same with dining room lunches on port days.

[caribill]

It sounds like the original poster is missing them.

 

Princess saw an opportunity to cut costs, hoped for minimal customer

push-back, and went for it.

 

Same with dining room lunches on port days.

 

More people have been upset about the lack of a dining room lunch on port days than have been upset about the lack of a big buffet at mid-night.

 

(OK, poll was not scientific.)

[Steelers0854]

We were on an NCL cruise about 5 years or so ago and they offered a midnight chocolate buffet. I have never met a chocolate dish I don't like but I left that buffet underwhelmed. Other than the sheer number of dishes offered there was nothing compelling and nothing too memorable. Certainly there wasn't anything that was better than the chocolate mousse at the international cafe [emoji3]

[Happy2cruise]

Pam, I'm really surprised at you! I cruise solo as you frequently do, and I worked out ages ago that the most efficient system in the HC is to first find a table, 'stake it out' with my book, silverware and water glass, then go get my food.

Exactly what we do and works great for us:D

[pablo222]

More people have been upset about the lack of a dining room lunch on port days than have been upset about the lack of a big buffet at mid-night.

 

(OK, poll was not scientific.)

 

I agree with the results.

 

Now, not even a 'tropical' buffet after island night deck party.

[freetocruise]

Which prompts this chicken-and-egg question:

 

Did the midnight buffet (or similar late-night indulgences) disappear because fewer people are wandering the ship in the wee hours--or are fewer people up that late in the disco/bars/casino because the midnight buffets have disappeared :confused:

 

I think they disappeared when ships started getting buffets (like Horizon Court) that were an alternate meal service and always available. In the "old" days (I can vouch for only after 1981), there was only fixed dining early or late and no where else to get food unless it was room service. If you had early dining, you had early fixed hours for breakfast. lunch and dinner. There was no open seating for breakfast or lunch. If you missed your dining time, you were stuck. It was a real treat when they had a buffet lunch/BBQ on the upper decks by the pool. Using this as a background, the midnight buffets were extravagant set ups that people lined up to photograph before it was served and then perhaps stayed to eat a little.

 

It is a slice of life from a long gone era alsong with streamers at sailaway, true formal nights, etc.

[Iamcruzin]

Last time I sailed Princess was 2010. Our kids were teens and would go to the buffet with friends they met after the teen club closed. My son enjoyed the rolls which in my opinion were day old bread at that point. All I ever saw at that late hour were water logged hotdogs, rock hard french fries and hockey puck hamburgers. The kids didn't mind but I passed on the offerings. I could have gone for a cookie and a cup of coffee but there wasn't anything left but crumbs mixed with a few fallen raisins and chocolate chips. I think the IC is a much better idea.

[Loonbeam]

Bear in mind that working with shore sourcing, the CD/EC/MD/HD do have the option of additional dining if the itinerary warrants it. They can't do it on the fly, but if the CD doing a run in Alaska realizes they are having a lot of late night roamers, they can adapt a little. I went looking for it but couldn't find someone who said that in the midsummer, they had an ice cream bar set up around midnight when the sun was still up as a special fun event..

[lovevacadays]

I think they disappeared when ships started getting buffets (like Horizon Court) that were an alternate meal service and always available. In the "old" days (I can vouch for only after 1981), there was only fixed dining early or late and no where else to get food unless it was room service. If you had early dining, you had early fixed hours for breakfast. lunch and dinner. There was no open seating for breakfast or lunch. If you missed your dining time, you were stuck. It was a real treat when they had a buffet lunch/BBQ on the upper decks by the pool. Using this as a background, the midnight buffets were extravagant set ups that people lined up to photograph before it was served and then perhaps stayed to eat a little.

 

It is a slice of life from a long gone era alsong with streamers at sailaway, true formal nights, etc.

 

I agree with you. The two midnight buffets I remember doing were back in 1987 and 1989. There was not Anytime Dining or as many venues to get food if you were so inclined.

 

I will say, we went primarily to see the display and not so much because we were hungry at midnight.:eek::eek::eek:

 

We did enjoy attending but I really don't miss the Midnight Buffets at all.

[hollydog]

On ships with no International Cafe (such as Island Princess), is room service the only option after midnight?

[Astro Flyer]

I agree with you. The two midnight buffets I remember doing were back in 1987 and 1989. There was not Anytime Dining or as many venues to get food if you were so inclined.

 

I will say, we went primarily to see the display and not so much because we were hungry at midnight.:eek::eek::eek:

 

We did enjoy attending but I really don't miss the Midnight Buffets at all.

 

Our first cruise was in '86 and if I recall correctly the buffet was not open all day long. I've also read that some cruise lines still close their buffet sometimes during the day & are not open like Princess from 0500 to 2300 (or some to midnight).

Edited August 10, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[Astro Flyer]

On ships with no International Cafe (such as Island Princess), is room service the only option after midnight?

 

Room service is the only option on ships without an IC or you could use the cabin fridge to store a few cold items. If you want pizza delivered to your cabin there is a $3 delivery fee at any time of the day no matter how many pizzas you order.

Edited August 10, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[ccruisequeen]

The International Cafe isn't something to sneeze at, particularly if you're looking for dessert late at night. There's plenty to tempt you.

 

As for the buffet, follow the money. It's not a "chicken and egg" situation. The all night buffet used a lot of ship resources, wasted a lot of food, and relatively few people used it. Staff was left standing around for hours doing little or nothing. Since the closing of the buffet overnight, Princess implemented set tables and tableside service in the buffet the entire time it's open. IMHO, I'd much rather have tableside service and set tables. On other lines, I find myself running around looking for silverware, iced tea, etc. while my food gets cold.

 

What is offered at the international cafe? Is this the place to get chocolate croissants?

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

[Pam in CA]

What is offered at the international cafe? Is this the place to get chocolate croissants?

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

They have freshly baked chocolate bear claws to die for. Yum. In the morning, they have a variety of pastries, muffins, donuts, breakfast sandwich (similar to McD's), yogurt cup, etc. It's a great place to have a quick breakfast before going on tour.

 

At lunch and for the rest of the day, they have a variety of sandwiches, paninis, pastries, salads (the chicken Waldorf is delicious), etc.

 

Princess doesn't have the melting cake but they do have the Love Boat Dream which is a sinful chocolate mousse cake.

 

 

[Pam in CA]

[AKman2495]

We loved the Bistro on Princess when they had it.

 

Nothing like a nice NY steak at 2:30 in the morning. :)

 

At this stage of my life...a nice soft, warm bed beats that out every time!:)

[pablo222]

At this stage of my life...a nice soft, warm bed beats that out every time!:)

 

I think you have described Princess' target demographic.

[Astro Flyer]

Princess doesn't have the melting cake but they do have the Love Boat Dream which is a sinful chocolate mousse cake.

At the Crown Grill they have something similar:

 

Molten Dutch Chocolate Fudge Obsession

Rich and Warm with a Soft Center Double Chocolate & Ice Cream

 

Plus in the dining room all of the Norman Love 50th Anniversary chocolate desserts which will hopefully continue beyond this year. :D

Edited August 10, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[puttersolive]

Two chocolate croissants every morning for breakfast :D

[Colo Cruiser]

At this stage of my life...a nice soft, warm bed beats that out every time!:)

 

 

Greasy steak soothes the tummy and aides in sleeping.