Dining question... Buffet or Dining room, which nights to go for Buffet?

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

Thanks everyone!   We usually do go to the dining room for full service, and have booked traditional seating.  Same waitstaff and everything.  But, it might be a good idea to just book Anytime if we do plan to do the other restaurants and maybe the buffet.  I think we want to be more open and casual this time!

[Wishing on a star]

After our last cruise, I am wondering what entrees in the MDR would really make it better than what is offered in the buffet.  I would wish it were easier to eat at the buffet, with additional service!  While I am sure that the buffet is way better than Golden Corral,  I can def see that the atmosphere and experience could compare!!! 

I have read here before that Italian night and American night seem to be the least favorite menus.

[Go-Bucks!]

Right now I'm having dinner in the buffet on the Regal...it's formal night and I'm having filet mignon with glazed carrots and a salad. The filet is delicious! No need to spend 2 hrs in a dining room.

[Lucky TGO]

On 11/7/2019 at 12:00 PM, Lady Arwen said:

We avoid the buffets on cruiseships in general.  So many other options available.  I've seen too many folks with their hands in the food to last a lifetime. 

I totally agree with you. 👍

Tony

[geoherb]

7 hours ago, Doug R. said:

I can see that if you are going to eat all or even more than half of your meals outside of the MDR. But for the the occasional night to enjoy the specialty restaurants this is an unreasonable demand. Just inform the waitstaff and/or your table mates that you will not be there the following evening. 

 

Yes, it's OK to have traditional dining if you will miss one or two nights. No if you'll miss nearly half or more. On my southbound Alaskan cruise this summer, I ended up eating alone two nights because the other five people assigned to my table did not show up. And they did not bother to tell me or the waiters that they would not be there. (We had open seating the first night and another night, so only five nights of being at our assigned table.) The single woman was there just two nights. She had let us know that she would not be there the last night because she was going to Sabatini's, but no one saw her again after the second night she was there. I did run into the two couples in the afternoon before they decided not to go to the dining room the first time. Neither mentioned plans to eat somewhere else that night. 

 

I'm going solo again next month and have asked for a larger table, hoping that I don't end up eating alone again. I will switch over to anytime dining if I can't get assigned to a table for eight.

 

The chutzpah award goes to a couple who were assigned to our table on a 10-day Holland America cruise. They did not show up until the 10th night. By that time, we had filled the table with fun people (with our head waiter's permission). He moved them to another table.

Edited November 9, 2019 by geoherb

[MissP22]

10 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

Right now I'm having dinner in the buffet on the Regal...it's formal night and I'm having filet mignon with glazed carrots and a salad. The filet is delicious! No need to spend 2 hrs in a dining room.

It's been unusual in the past that they offer filet mignon in the Horizon buffet.

I hope they keep up this trend and they would let the people know ahead of time what the main items will be.

[PoohUnderstands]

On 11/8/2019 at 10:32 AM, MissP22 said:

Wow. I know it's only a buffet but comparing it to the "Golden Corral" is really a low blow. 

 

 

No, just accurate......😁😉

[PoohUnderstands]

22 hours ago, MissP22 said:

It's probably the best buffet Princess has ever put together. Something for everyone, every night.

They've dedicated enough room to allow for so many dishes that I doubt if an individual could even sample a little of each one at one sitting. 

And that is part of the problem.  When one looks over the options over the entire buffet area, it takes forever, and by the time one sits down to eat, the food that started out not very hot is not hot.  I am not one to eat piecemeal, so the buffet is just too huge an area for me to enjoy.

 

Pooh

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

Thank you GoBucks!

 

[MissP22]

1 hour ago, PoohUnderstands said:

And that is part of the problem.  When one looks over the options over the entire buffet area, it takes forever, and by the time one sits down to eat, the food that started out not very hot is not hot.  I am not one to eat piecemeal, so the buffet is just too huge an area for me to enjoy.

 

Pooh

I've solved the problem of having to many items. First lock down the table, then just breeze down the line taking a small portion of anything that looks good that you may want. 

After finishing everything you'll know what tastes good & return for a second helping of just those items. 

[MissP22]

1 hour ago, PoohUnderstands said:

No, just accurate......😁😉

Not even close.

The Golden Corral has about the worst food I've ever seen in my life. Then then hire people for minimum wage who have no idea how to cook & turn them loose in the kitchen to prepare what they believe to be OK. 

They shouldn't be allowed to run their commercials on TV since their depictions of the food has no resemblance to what it serven at any of their locations. 

What a joke to compare that to Princess's buffet. 😄 LOL

 

[getting older slowly]

The Buffett question          do you eat or dine ??

 

Only time use the Buffett is port days... to get food to go to our cabin.....

 

Otherwise since I am the cook at home..... I love to be waited on.... and love dining

 

Sea Days in MDR   very relaxing....

 

Cheers Don

[MrSchwump]

Everyone is different and one of the best things about a cruise is the abundance of choices. For us, the MDR just takes too long.  It’s hard to take in the show in the theater if you dedicate 2 hours to dinner.

We’re very happy with the selection and quality of food in the buffet. Lots more bread and salad choices and a variety of entrees and sides. You can be in and out in 30 to 45 minutes, leaving lots of time for other evening activities. Plus you don’t have to get dressed up. Wearing a jacket and tie or a suit in the Caribbean just doesn’t seem right!

[Potstech]

3 hours ago, PoohUnderstands said:

No, just accurate......😁😉

NOT.

[rlk2018]

So how formal is formal? In many countries a guayabera is considered just like wearing a blazer. So, I never had any problem wearing either a guayabera or a bush/safari jacket or a blue blazer. Usually without a tie but certainly a suitable sport or dress shirt. We've never been on the Island Princess so what are 'their' standards? I'm sure they frown on shorts/flip-flops/swim suits, etc. in the MDR but what is sanity. Just watch people trying to figure out "smart casual" in Sri Lanka to describe darn near ever occasion.

[MissP22]

12 hours ago, rlk2018 said:

So how formal is formal? In many countries a guayabera is considered just like wearing a blazer. So, I never had any problem wearing either a guayabera or a bush/safari jacket or a blue blazer. Usually without a tie but certainly a suitable sport or dress shirt. We've never been on the Island Princess so what are 'their' standards? I'm sure they frown on shorts/flip-flops/swim suits, etc. in the MDR but what is sanity. Just watch people trying to figure out "smart casual" in Sri Lanka to describe darn near ever occasion.

My DH began to bring his guayabera shirt for formal nights a few years ago to replace his long sleeve dress shirt and was never questions on any of the various Princess ships. He still brings it but will now just wear a Polo as they seem to accept those type of shirts as well.

We haven't been on the Island in many years but I doubt if their restrictions as much different then any of the other Princess ships. 

[keithm]

On ‎11‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 11:29 AM, PRINCESS Sweet Pea said:

It has been a while since we cruised, and I am thinking of breaking with the usual and trying the variety in the Buffet, instead of always the dining room.  We will also do Crown Grill and maybe Sabatini's too.  We will be on a seven day Caribbean.  So, I think the nightly menus will be the usual menus.    I like to be seated and waited on, but also love to try the different variety of things on a good buffet too.  Which nights would be best for the Buffet, and not the favorites for the dining room?   I know people have different favorites, but I wanted to get some ideas!

Not sure of your ship. The Regal 3 years ago had the most varied buffet we saw on ANY ship. The buffet on the Oceania Riviera had the same gourmet food as the GDR, but for variety the Regal was tops in choices. 

[keithm]

14 hours ago, rlk2018 said:

So how formal is formal? In many countries a guayabera is considered just like wearing a blazer. So, I never had any problem wearing either a guayabera or a bush/safari jacket or a blue blazer. Usually without a tie but certainly a suitable sport or dress shirt. We've never been on the Island Princess so what are 'their' standards? I'm sure they frown on shorts/flip-flops/swim suits, etc. in the MDR but what is sanity. Just watch people trying to figure out "smart casual" in Sri Lanka to describe darn near ever occasion.

Guayabera should be fine. A nice pair of pants should be fine as well. If it's jeans, please make sure they're nice ones. No shorts/ball caps/flip flops at night. A light sport coat/vest/nice collared shirt/optional tie should suffice for formal. Tux is your choice. We only do those on Cunard. Check out Youtube videos of your ship to get an idea how pax dress.

[keithm]

19 hours ago, PoohUnderstands said:

No, just accurate......😁😉

Golden Corral is not a place we go to. Pretty substandard food overall. Then again what can you expect for the low price. Like, when was the last time you saw Filet Mignon at Micky D's? The Buffet on the Regal was like going to Las Vegas style buffets. An absolutely amazing selection!. Not everything was our choice, but the variety was second to none. Wish we had tried it more often. We'll be on the star in Jan. Since we're in Club Class, not so sure how often we'll do the buffet at night. Being a smaller ship, I doubt we'll see the selection like on the Royal class ships. I kind of get the idea you'll feel like you'll get pushed around at the buffet. Yes, there are some D/B who will cut you in line, just chew them out & move along.

[MissP22]

1 hour ago, keithm said:

 I kind of get the idea you'll feel like you'll get pushed around at the buffet. Yes, there are some D/B who will cut you in line, just chew them out & move along.

I tend to slip in the line every now and then when I see an opening, but only when I see people just staring at the food as if they've only seen it for the first time.

If you don't it just takes forever to get through the buffet line standing there for items you don't want. 

Sometimes people are just too polite. 

[PoohUnderstands]

19 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Not even close.

The Golden Corral has about the worst food I've ever seen in my life. Then then hire people for minimum wage who have no idea how to cook & turn them loose in the kitchen to prepare what they believe to be OK. 

They shouldn't be allowed to run their commercials on TV since their depictions of the food has no resemblance to what it serven at any of their locations. 

What a joke to compare that to Princess's buffet. 😄 LOL

 

Well, again, that is why there are many ways to eat on a cruise ship.  Well, then give me a name for another buffet chain and I will use that one!  Grin.  A buffet, is a buffet, is a buffet; and I just do not like them, I guess.

 

Pooh

[MissP22]

Just now, PoohUnderstands said:

Well, again, that is why there are many ways to eat on a cruise ship.  Well, then give me a name for another buffet chain and I will use that one!  Grin.  A buffet, is a buffet, is a buffet; and I just do not like them, I guess.

 

Pooh

If you really believe that then there's no further discussion necessary. 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

On 11/8/2019 at 8:42 AM, PoohUnderstands said:

This is, of course, my own opinion, worth just that(grin), but my answer to the question is NEVER.  There are so many other options that would put the buffet last on my list.  The only time I used is when my hubby was quarantined on our Baltic cruise for a couple of days due to flu outbreak and I ate there to make it quick and take something back to him.  I mean it is like going to the "Golden Corral" for dinner. 

 

To each his own. For dinner my response would be ALWAYS (almost). I HATE getting dressed for dinner (which includes even putting long pants on), HATE waiting for courses and I like to get what I want, when I want, and the amount I like. The only times I might deviate are a steak one night or getting pizza/burger from the pool side pizza/burger place. When I do put on a coat, etc and eat at the MDR it is to please SWMBO.

[Lady Arwen]

18 hours ago, MrSchwump said:

Everyone is different and one of the best things about a cruise is the abundance of choices. For us, the MDR just takes too long.  It’s hard to take in the show in the theater if you dedicate 2 hours to dinner.

We’re very happy with the selection and quality of food in the buffet. Lots more bread and salad choices and a variety of entrees and sides. You can be in and out in 30 to 45 minutes, leaving lots of time for other evening activities. Plus you don’t have to get dressed up. Wearing a jacket and tie or a suit in the Caribbean just doesn’t seem right!

And this is exactly why we always go the MDR for dinner.  Much more relaxed and certainly more elegant.  We like the tablecloths and napkins.  We like being served.  We like taking our time and enjoying our meal and we like to have a quiet conversation.  Buffet is fine for lunch, but we enjoy looking nice and treating it as "an evening out."  It's great that there is a venue for all tastes.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

On 11/8/2019 at 3:26 PM, Wishing on a star said:

While I am sure that the buffet is way better than Golden Corral,  I can def see that the atmosphere and experience could compare!

 

The buffets are not as extensive as, but about equivalent to Las Vegas buffets, not quite Wynn's buffet, but well above the Station casinos.