Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

what time is the midnight buffet?

DotingDale

By DotingDale,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

Recommended Posts

Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN

Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN

Posted
Posted
I heard it opened at 1130 for pictures, but you can not eat until 1215... why call it midnight buffet?

 

You are kidding right?:confused:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grits53

Grits53

Posted
Posted

I believe you're referring to the food gala, where everything on the buffet is food art....hence the time allowed for photographing their artwork. (which is, by the way, amazing!) This is only one night during the cruise. Although I never went to the midnight buffet, I'm sure it opens at midnight or earlier on all nights except that one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cruising89143

Cruising89143

Posted
Posted
I heard it opened at 1130 for pictures, but you can not eat until 1215... why call it midnight buffet?[/quote]

 

Dale to give you a little history lesson. Years ago the cruise lines did not offer the additional dining options that are available on today's cruise ships. They did not offer room service, evening lido casual dining, deli's, etc. One basically had three meals a day plus there was a buffet each night at midnight usually held in the ships main dining room and it did open at midnight. As the cruise lines have transitioned over the years to the additional dining options they have cut back on the number of nights for the midnight buffets. The gala buffet is the only midnight buffet that they actually do open for photos first and then allow everyone to come in and eat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN

Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN

Posted
Posted
I heard it opened at 1130 for pictures, but you can not eat until 1215... why call it midnight buffet?[/quote]

 

Dale to give you a little history lesson. Years ago the cruise lines did not offer the additional dining options that are available on today's cruise ships. They did not offer room service, evening lido casual dining, deli's, etc. One basically had three meals a day plus there was a buffet each night at midnight usually held in the ships main dining room and it did open at midnight. As the cruise lines have transitioned over the years to the additional dining options they have cut back on the number of nights for the midnight buffets. The gala buffet is the only midnight buffet that they actually do open for photos first and then allow everyone to come in and eat.

 

You are right. in 1999 I was on the Fantasy and I remember the ship setting up food every night right about midnight -- on the Promenade deck at that. I do not have a memory of what time the regular buffet operated or of how room service worked. I do remember them putting food out right outside of the casino/dance club though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
robtx100

robtx100

Posted
Posted
That is a tired old joke... they tell it on every cruise. It's like the "who is buried in Grant's tomb" question.

 

And really, does it matter what time it is? Is there a schedule to keep or something?

 

10) Do these steps go up or down?

 

9) What do you do with the beautiful ice carvings after they melt?

 

8) Which elevator do I take to get to the front of the ship?

 

7) Does the crew sleep on the ship?

 

6) Is this island completely surrounded by water?

 

5) Does the ship make its own electricity?

 

4) Is it salt water in the toliets?

 

3) What elevation are we at?

 

2) There's a photographer on board who takes photos and displays them the next day...the question asked...if the pictures aren't marked, how will I know which ones are mine?

 

1) What time is the Midnight Buffet being served?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DqALEX

DqALEX

Posted
Posted
10) Do these steps go up or down?

 

9) What do you do with the beautiful ice carvings after they melt?

 

8) Which elevator do I take to get to the front of the ship?

 

7) Does the crew sleep on the ship?

 

6) Is this island completely surrounded by water?

 

5) Does the ship make its own electricity?

 

4) Is it salt water in the toliets?

 

3) What elevation are we at?

 

2) There's a photographer on board who takes photos and displays them the next day...the question asked...if the pictures aren't marked, how will I know which ones are mine?

 

1) What time is the Midnight Buffet being served?

How would you like to be the poor C/D who has to tell those jokes week after week and make the look fresh. I was on the Celebration in Aug. and Big Tex was the C/D. he had new jokes. I laughed for the first time in a while from a C/D jokes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jeffreytg Great Review Rare

jeffreytg

Posted
Posted

Fresh off the Spirit and I am holding in my hands the Capers for December 23rd, 2006. There is a mention of a "Grand Gala "Festival of Foods" buffet" that is "open for partaking" in the Empire restaurant from 12:30 AM until 1:30 AM. I believe that this is what many commonly refer to as a "midnight buffet".

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ihhk2

ihhk2

Posted
Posted

Just check your Capers each day. They'll list the photo times and the eatin' times. I've heard getting through the photo line can take an hour or more.

 

HOWEVER, that said, there is food available literally all day long... if you make it to midnight and still need to be fed, there is something wrong.

 

Also, pizza/salad is open all night and there is 24 hour cabin service.

 

I remember a "midnight buffet" being only sweet treats... brownies, cookies, tarts and the like. Another I remember as being simple deli trays without alot of fanfare. Just something to nosh on for the night owls.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gator Bait

Gator Bait

Posted
Posted
Fresh off the Spirit and I am holding in my hands the Capers for December 23rd, 2006. There is a mention of a "Grand Gala "Festival of Foods" buffet" that is "open for partaking" in the Empire restaurant from 12:30 AM until 1:30 AM. I believe that this is what many commonly refer to as a "midnight buffet".

Just off the Legend this morning, same hours for the Grand Gala Buffett, with 11:30 PM - 12:15 PM Picture Taking Only

Sorry, I still call it the midnight buffet myself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...