No Trays-why Why Why?

[swimsimcoe]

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE REASON-READ IT ON CRUISE CRITIC REVIEW-WHY NCL HAS DISCONTINUED USING TRAYS AT THE BUFFET?DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ALL SHIPS?

i AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO JUGGLING MY DRINK,SALAD,HOT DISH.WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

READ THAT ONE LADY BROUGHT HER OWN.NOW DO I HAVE TO PACK A TRAY AND CARRY IT AROUND ALL DAY.

I KNOW I HAVE TO PACK A BATHING SUIT BUT THIS IS GOING A BIT FAR.

[earl_m]

Probably the reason for no trays is that you will take less food beacause there no way to carry it.

[earl_m]

Probably the reason for no trays is that you will take less food beacause there no way to carry it.

[sunsetme]

saves $, time not washing trays, carries germs.

[Cosmopolitan]

We did see drink carts going around the buffet. I assume that means that you do not have to carry your drinks.

 

Trays may (?) have been eliminated due to waste of food. I don't eat at the buffet (I'm on vacation) but we have passed through seeing plates upon plates of food piled on trays:eek:

[swimsimcoe]

saves $, time not washing trays, carries germs.

Carries no more germs than plates.Wash the suckers.I can jsut see some older people trying to balance hot food and drinks.Just mad enough to cancel my first ever cruise with them.

[Cosmopolitan]

Carries no more germs than plates.Wash the suckers.I can jsut see some older people trying to balance hot food and drinks.Just mad enough to cancel my first ever cruise with them.

 

I believe others have posted that staff members will help the elderly carry their plates.

[mikedw]

Was on RCCL Grandeur Of The Seas last month and no trays either at the buffet.

[Ephraim]

Trays have been discontinued because they actually slow down the buffet line. Almost all cruise lines have removed them. It also presents one more item to wash.

 

It doesn't really cut down on how much food you over eat as far as I know. If they wanted to do that they wouldn't serve items that contain high fructose corn syrup, like Coke. And cut down on the amount of refined and enriched flour while increasing fibre so you felt full faster.

[Toyz711]

no trays on my cruise, last sept. no biggie!! i don't get my salad at the same time as my hot entree...don't want it to get cold as i eat my salad.

there were staff around to help if you need it. never plan to eat there every meal on my cruises, any way. too many other dining venues to try:D no trays at the local casinos either. they don't expect you to get all your food at one time. plates near the salad bar, plates near the entrees and more plates near the dessert...but no trays.

i assume that it's because they have to be washed after every use, even though they are only used for 2 mins. if you go back for more food, you have to use another tray.

[swimsimcoe]

Hal and Rcc stillhad them last winter.this winter am going hal,Carnival,Celebrity and NCl.We'll see how it goes.Maybe will just pack a lunch and bring it.(yeah,right!)

and Ephraim,I actually do bring Bran buds to add to cereal.I'm so ashamed!

[jannandjohn]

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE REASON-READ IT ON CRUISE CRITIC REVIEW-WHY NCL HAS DISCONTINUED USING TRAYS AT THE BUFFET?DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ALL SHIPS?

i AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO JUGGLING MY DRINK,SALAD,HOT DISH.WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

READ THAT ONE LADY BROUGHT HER OWN.NOW DO I HAVE TO PACK A TRAY AND CARRY IT AROUND ALL DAY.

I KNOW I HAVE TO PACK A BATHING SUIT BUT THIS IS GOING A BIT FAR.

why not just eat at the restaurants???

You don't have to go to the ones that charge, the main dining room and the other freebies have much better food than the buffets anyway,

you get served, don't have to juggle anything..just relax and be waited on....and get to meet new people at your table each day.

It's a much more pleasurable experience and WAY LESS CHANCE OF CATCHING NORO VIRUS!!!

We only ever eat in the restaurants, the buffet is more of a trough after all...just a mish mash of leftovers.

[swimsimcoe]

Love the troughs.Used to be a horse.

[BruceMuzz]

The elimination of buffet trays has several good ideas behind it:

 

People often take more than they can eat and then it is thrown away. This gets very expensive for the cruise line when you multiply it by thousands every day of the year. With no tray, you are forced to take less and then go back of you want more.

 

Trays are a source of contamination for illnesses like NLV. Removing them is one small step to keeping more people healthy.

 

US Public Health Service does not like buffet trays. They are difficult to clean properly. Ships often lose points on USPH Inspections when unclean trays are discovered mixed with clean ones. Lost points decide which ship employees get bonuses and who gets fired.

 

Trays cost money. Eliminating 1000's of them saves money on replacement costs.

 

By the time you have loaded your cold appetizer, your hot main course, and your cold dessert onto your tray, then make a few laps of the buffet area to find a table, your cold appetizer is warm, your hot main course is cold, and your dessert is melted. Then you eat them and complain about the quality of the food in the buffet.

 

Forcing you to pick up and eat one course at a time substantially raises the food ratings that decide which employees get bonuses and who gets fired.

 

Have you ever gotten behind someone in the buffet line who has decided to spend the afternoon loading up their tray ??

It's ridiculous how long you have to wait behind them. Without trays, they can't do it to you. The process moves much faster. Passengers are generally happier.

 

Of course, the smarter cruise lines replaced trays and plates with oversized plates with handles and compartments so you can carry a few extra things on them.

[Don Haynes]

All of the cruise lines are attempting to follow the lead of Golden Corral buffet restaurants nationwide. There isn't as much waste, and lines move faster. People go to one or two tables at a time, getting their drinks either before or after they load their larger than normal plates. Remember its a bufffet, not a cafeteria. Good ridiance the trays are gone.

[Down-Unders]

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE REASON-READ IT ON CRUISE CRITIC REVIEW-WHY NCL HAS DISCONTINUED USING TRAYS AT THE BUFFET?DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ALL SHIPS?

i AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO JUGGLING MY DRINK,SALAD,HOT DISH.WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

READ THAT ONE LADY BROUGHT HER OWN.NOW DO I HAVE TO PACK A TRAY AND CARRY IT AROUND ALL DAY.

I KNOW I HAVE TO PACK A BATHING SUIT BUT THIS IS GOING A BIT FAR.

 

 

It may be to do with cutting out gluttony, and improve eating manners .

 

:) :)

[electricron]

Some interesting statistics from http://www.scrubclub.org/info/release090405.aspx

 

SF's startling findings include:

Drinking water fountain spigots had the highest amount of bacteria on the tested surfaces - 2.7 million bacterial cells/in2.

:eek: A cafeteria tray had more than ten times as many germs as a toilet seat (33,800 bacterial cells/in2 vs. 3,200 bacterial cells/in2). :eek:

A student's hand had 1,500 bacterial cells/in2.

Commonly cleaned areas, such as desks and doorknobs had fewer germs (19 bacterial cells/in2 and 5 bacterial cells/in2 respectively), while computer keyboards and ear phones had significantly more at 260 bacterial cells/in2 and 740 bacterial cells/in2 respectively.

 

While not all germs are harmful, their existence suggests the presence of viruses and bacteria that can lead to the common cold and flu, or even serious foodborne illnesses such as E. coli and Salmonella. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 164 million days of school are lost each year due to illness - up to half of which could be eliminated with proper handwashing.

 

How many times have we read about avoiding touching handrails, at 5 bacteria cells/in2, risking a nasty fall; afraid they might catch a norvirsus from them. Yet many of the same complain about the lack of cafeteria trays, at 33,800 bacterial cells/in2, in the buffet. :confused:

[cruisinkitten]

All the lines may be eliminating trays. On our caribbean Princess cruise there were no trays in the buffet. This didn't really bother me since I try not to take more than one plate of food at a time when in the buffet. My eyes tend to be bigger than my stomach and then a lot of food gets wasted. I did bring a tray with me from home though for when I wanted breakfast on the balcony. It is way to difficult to juggle coffee and breakfast for both me and my fiance without a tray.

[ValRober]

Just back from our NCL Jewel cruise...no trays...and didn't even miss them! Everyone, all ages, seemed to be getting along just fine. There were plenty of staff members of course to help! From what I could see, the lack of trays didn't slow down the consumption of food at all!!! And you do take only what you really want to eat...so definitely less waste!

[cruisin2000]

All of the cruise lines are attempting to follow the lead of Golden Corral buffet restaurants nationwide. There isn't as much waste, and lines move faster. People go to one or two tables at a time, getting their drinks either before or after they load their larger than normal plates. Remember its a bufffet, not a cafeteria. Good ridiance the trays are gone.

 

DITTO....we were on the Jewel with no trays and was much better. Plenty of staff to help if needed and flow was much smoother. Felt more like a buffet in a nice restaurant than a cafeteria. I too am glad to see them gone!

[GoNCruisnFamily]

When we go through the line, I can fix my plate of food, along with my 2 boys, at the same time. Now I guess I will do one at a time (and then the kids can be alone at the table while I am fixing my food) or I can have them help me hold their plates and hope they don't get dropped! Love my choices here.

We were on Princess last month and they still have trays.

I see the pros of getting rid of the trays (sanitation and food waste) but some of us have a real need for them. Oh well. I am not going to let it ruin my trip!:rolleyes:

[DaisyL]

The NCL ships have a really nifty fenced in children's buffet area with pint sized serving, table, and kid friendly foods. Many families ate there but it was never over crowded... just a thought.

 

Get your food first with them in tow, and then you can overlook them getting their own in the kiddie area, or put your plate down to help them... It should work well.

 

The PoAm did not have trays last Oct. and it was fine. We only ate breakfast in the buffet, (had to make it quick -- much to do!). Got a plate or large oval plate with food, and carried that with a juice or coffee. Or carried plate to table and got coffee when someone else sat down, no problem.

 

Celebrity did not have trays either, got plate of food and drink at lunch and went back for dessert which was on a separate table, no problem.

 

Plenty of crew members to help, on both, if you needed it.

[almtyrob]

Good bye trays! Never knew what to do with them after I sat down anyway. Used to use them as a snow board in college.:D

[gsc500]

sigh...

 

Having a tray is convenient sometimes as pointed out to get food for the kids, etc. Sometimes, they don't like the food in the kiddie section and we get them food from the adult section. Towing them along is asking for trouble and will add to the long lines.

 

Also many times, I will be settling the kids down at the table with food from the kiddie section and ask DH to get something for me and/or the kids while he gets his own food.

 

I guess if the lines become non-existent without the trays, it won't be so bad to go up multiple times instead of getting everything at one time. But if takes 5 minutes each time we have to go up to get something (such as soup for kid#1, dinner rolls for kid#2, salad for DH and some fruit for me) then that will be a real pain. The reason to get everything at once currently IS because of the long lines at the buffet.

 

Also a great use for trays is for breakfast in the cabin. We did order room service for breakfast many mornings on our cruise. We did this because DH would enjoy coffee on the balcony in the mornings when he woke up before everyone else. Later on because we would let the kids sleep as late as possible because they were go-go-go during the day and really needed the sleep. We would all eat in and let the youngest sleep for those precious extra minutes while we got ready.

 

But since we only stayed in an AF cabin it was a continental bkfast only. We would order the muffins or pastries but many times no one liked the selection that they sent (wasted food) and I soon learned to specify what types of muffins or pastries to send on the card. They do try to accomodate our preferences but many times they would write on the card that such and such wasn't available and send something else. Also the juice selection was different from what was available at the buffet. My kids will only drink cranberry mixed with apple juice.

 

Our cabin was literally right underneath the buffet. By the end of the cruise, we would only order coffee and buttered toast from room service. I would then run up to the buffet and bring back bacon (the kids LOVE bacon), eggs, juice and a few muffins that I knew my family would like. No way I could bring those back without the tray. My husband stayed in the cabin to watch the kids.

 

On the way out of the cabin, we would drop the tray off at the buffet again. I don't like to leave dirty dishes and food remnants outside the cabin door much less in the cabin.

 

But since our next cruise is without the kids :D , I don't think we will need to do this again. Coffee from room service and breakfast in the dining room. But for families, trays are convenient.

 

In the future when travelling with kids, I guess if we order coffee from room service, we can unload the tray and use that in at the buffet to bring a few hot items back to the room so that the little kids could sleep longer while we alll get ready.

 

It's not the end of the world and if doing away with trays really actually cuts down the lines, it may be a good thing.

 

I think it also depends on the set up of the buffets. Station buffets actually work better without trays. While cafeteria style setups like on the Dawn aren't as easy without the trays.

[ddoll]

They had trays on the buffet on the Crown, but they always had a crew member with gloves standing there handing them out. No one reached into the pile to get their tray, dish or flatware. They were handed to you all put together.

 

My impression was that it was reducing the amount of contact germs spread.