The end of the buffet - Especially the Windjammer

[davekathy]

7 minutes ago, island lady said:

And my favorite actually IS the MDR on sea days.  Tutti Salad bar...yumms! 

Agree. What cracks me up is every time I tell the server a little of this and a little of that it appears the server is hearing, a little more of this and a little more of that. 😲 Always good. 🥗 

[island lady]

7 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Agree. What cracks me up is every time I tell the server a little of this and a little of that it appears the server is hearing, a little more of this and a little more of that. 😲 Always good. 🥗 

 

LOL!!!  So funny...and so very true.  It's tough to keep them from piling the stuff up!  I always say the same thing, "just a little please"...but still end up with a bowl full.  😄 

[davekathy]

9 minutes ago, island lady said:

but still end up with a bowl full.  😄 

I know what you mean. That can easily feed two. But I give it my best shot. 😉

[Wyomingred]

There are ways to keep the buffets and we believe they should.  How about providing tongs for everyone, just like silverware, so that no one else is touching it?  You pick what you want and the tongs get washed just like the silverware.  Buffets are important for most cruisers because of their convenience and availability.  The MDR is so difficult to get into and takes too much time!  Plus, we like the convenience and choice to make your own salads, fruit and cheese selections.  Will they move a buffet salad bar in the MDR?  That makes a lot of sense...

[davekathy]

34 minutes ago, Wyomingred said:

There are ways to keep the buffets and we believe they should.  How about providing tongs for everyone, just like silverware, so that no one else is touching it?  You pick what you want and the tongs get washed just like the silverware.  Buffets are important for most cruisers because of their convenience and availability.  The MDR is so difficult to get into and takes too much time!  Plus, we like the convenience and choice to make your own salads, fruit and cheese selections.  Will they move a buffet salad bar in the MDR?  That makes a lot of sense...

The WJ will still be there with all the  different selections but with servers plating your selection(s) as you walk the line. Cafeteria style. This is how the cruise lines handle the buffets during a norovirus outbreak during a cruise. The MDR on sea days has a salad bar. It's called the Tutti salad bar with servers building your salad for you from the selections you make. I believe the ships that have the self severe breakfast buffets in the MDR in the morning will be no longer there. Just the menu offerings. 

Edited May 21, 2020 by davekathy

[goldfish65]

52 minutes ago, Wyomingred said:

There are ways to keep the buffets and we believe they should.  How about providing tongs for everyone, just like silverware, so that no one else is touching it? 

 

I am not sure that would work, and some foods use serving spoons and you can't dip your paella-covered serving spoon into the pan of ratatouille. With people's sensitive allergies and all and transferring one food to the other using the same tongs.

 

Edited May 21, 2020 by goldfish65

[Wyomingred]

I didn't think of that goldfish 65.  You're right.  I wouldn't want someone else's choices on their tongs mixed in with other dishes.  😜

[villager70]

We  eat in the windjammer  for lunch usually only when we have to on port days. Breakfast in the dinning room and lunch. I can remember when some offered lunch in dinning room at embarkation. Do a  open seating lunch and Breakfast  in all three dinning rooms starting at 700 to 1000  & lunch  1100 and run to 200 or so. Just put a few more offerings on menu.  Can  do a  served by crew evening  as not the demand in windjammer at night as lunch and breakfast.    Bob & Nancy

[sunonfire]

They are having a change of heart.

 

https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-changes-its-no-buffets-stance/

[TheMastodon]

On 5/20/2020 at 10:05 AM, RCLDIAMONDIAM said:

https://allears.net/2020/05/18/news-royal-caribbean-cruise-line-announces-they-may-eliminate-buffets-when-they-resume-sailings/

 

read a couple of stories on this on Monday.  Not a good sign.  Not the end of the windjammer as a place, but the end of the buffet style.  It will be open, but you will have to be served, which is harder to picture - really big menu?  I want some of this, and a pile of that, please??  Hard to picture

 

 I only really used the Windjammer for breakfast, but I liked that aspect.  Occasionally used smaller aft buffets for a quick lunch.  so I will miss them.  My kids pretty much ate at the Windjammer exclusively (they couldn't be bothered with the dining rooms except upon request).  Also the Windjammer took a lot of pressure off the main dining rooms by eliminating those that don't actually want to clean up, put on decent clothes, and sit down to a meal with others.  So I guess the dining rooms will become more crowded again especially with the advent of anytime-type dining.  Unclear if this change will be permanent or not.  More changes coming I'm sure according to a number of youtube cruise bloggers

 

Once this is all over why can't the buffet still exist?! 

[lucymorgan]

I will be happy if they make changes to the buffet by putting everything behind screens and having staff serve the food.  Since being diagnosed with coeliac disease last year, I have to visit the buffet just as it opens for lunch in order to avoid eating food contaminated accidentally by cruisers who touch the serving implements to non-gluten free food on their plates.  At least staff can be trained how to serve the food without doing this whereas many fellow cruisers have no idea it could be an issue for some of us. 

  

Other cruise lines already have the staff serving all food in their buffets successfully.  It is just as quick and much much more hygienic than cruisers using serving implements that 20 or more people have already touched (yuk).  I think it might also mean less food wastage and doesn't need to mean less variety.  

   

Edited May 22, 2020 by lucymorgan

[taglovestocruise]

7 hours ago, sunonfire said:

They are having a change of heart.

 

https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-changes-its-no-buffets-stance/

The more things change the more they stay the same.  We have a 85 year old MIL who lives in Las Vegas.  Top of her list after reopening is a trip to Red Rock Casino Buffet for her and her gaggle of friends.  Second on her list is to get the bingo lounges open. A year from now cruising will be same as last year. 

[davsen]

18 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

. A year from now cruising will be same as last year. 

Yes and there will still be those people who think it is a victory to sneak past washy-washy man,, pretend to rub the had sanitizer on their hands even though the unit failed to dispense,,,or object to using the sink station on Anthem because they 'already' washed their hands today... and who enter coughing into their hands then reach for the serving tools...  I've seen all of these..

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, davsen said:

Yes and there will still be those people who think it is a victory to sneak past washy-washy man,, pretend to rub the had sanitizer on their hands even though the unit failed to dispense,,,or object to using the sink station on Anthem because they 'already' washed their hands today... and who enter coughing into their hands then reach for the serving tools...  I've seen all of these..

I have too.I posted this previously.My wife said something to a guy and he said to her “You are not my mother,do not tell me what to do.”