why no trays at the buffet?

[Bisous3]

I had completely forgotten about this when I wrote my trip review of our Thanksgiving Pearl cruise. As a frequent Celebrity cruiser I always thought it was great that the waiters stand around the buffet area and help you find a table and carry your tray for you. Now I know NCL has many more restaurants and therefore not enough waiters to accomplish that and thats fine- but there are no trays at the buffet.

 

Each time we ate there it took several trips from each of us to get what we needed. Breakfast was so stressful because it was so crowded and having to navagate through the crowds with hot coffee and other items was NOT fun.

 

Now on the one hand I can see how it can eliminate waste- how many times have you seen people overload their trays at a buffet, you know its impossible to eat everything they take....

but on the other hand I really felt for the Moms who had several kids in tow and some of the elderly passengers.

 

I did ask a maitre d and his response was "people kept dropping them." Sorry but that sounded like an extremely lame excuse.

 

Anyone know the real story? It was our first NCL cruise- do they have trays on the other ships? Did they have them in the past?

[CTCruisers]

This has been discussed several times in previous threads.

 

The main reason seems to be that the lines move faster when people do not have trays.

 

It is a pain to have to make two trips (one for the food and then for a drink), but I tend to agree with that thought. The lines do move faster since you can only carry so much on a plate or two at a time.

[MrPete]

Carnival used to do this on their Destiny class ships. Thank God they listened to the complaints and brought them back. What a PITA.

[JRinBalt]

Just off the Pearl last week and I too thought not having a tray was a bit inconvenient. That being said, I also felt having a only a plate full meant that I didn't over eat when I was in the Garden Cafe. I did go back and get seconds if I wanted and didn't see that as all that bad of a thing as sometimes I found something that I didn't see the first time around.

 

I do agree with a previous poster that if you were a bit older or had kids in tow, that it would be better to have a tray.

[cruise4kicks]

I'm thinking that removing the trays from the cafeteria has more to do with infection control? Reference the following research: http://www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/press_release.asp?p_id=11321. Granted that this research was specifically conducted in school settings, it seems to be somewhat generalizeable.

[Druke I]

I asked about removal of trays on Princess ships, and was told they were removed primarily because of health/infection concerns.

 

That sounded reasonable to me, but then again, it might have just been a handy excuse!

[Druke I]

delete - dratted duplicate post.

[Toyz711]

all the buffets, land based near us, have quit putting out the trays. that includes all the casinos. i didn't miss them until it was asked on here, last year.

[Vyhanek]

Please someone explain why trays are a sanitation issue?

 

Trays are dishwasher safe just like plates. What's the difference in picking a tray from a stack or picking a plate from a stack? How are trays any different than picking up a plate?

 

I also have to question how the lack of trays makes the lines move faster. When someone has to make several trips back to their table and then back into line wouldn't that make the entire process less efficient? I'm no Industrial Engineer but I would like to see a time study done on that rationale.

 

This policy is so insensitive to a family with children. I have to make no less than 5 trips back and forth to the buffet line to get food for myself and my children. With trays I can pack the food all on, stacking one plate on top of another if I need to and I am in and out of the buffet.

 

Surely the line can't be moving too much quicker when there are people like me back and forth to the buffet lines 5 times to get the necessities for my family.

 

I'm going to have to start packing my own trays along with the duct tape I guess.

[Toyz711]

some people use the little tray under the coffee machine in their room.

some have said they bring 1 in their luggage. personally, i think is a space/time saver for them to NOT use them. instead of having a big table with the person passing out the plates and silverware, it's a small table.

we saw several crew members helping those who needed it. there is no win/win with this....but i have noticed that none of the 7 big casinos in our area have them, took them out about the same time NCL did. even the huge one at the horseshoe, which is a huge buffet area. if that many are taking them away, there must be a reason. yes, the tray do did washed, but they are a plastic/resin...how germ safe is that?

[Willard23]

Order room service breakfast the first morning with lots of items so they bring it on a tray. Insist that the steward leaves the tray in your cabin. You are now set for rest of cruise.

[Ms belp]

There used to be a crew member posting on this website. I'd like his opinion. I'm just guessing that the trays took up too much room in the dishwasher. Because, you are right, you must wash the plates/utensils as well.

[FloridaRNMT]

Just returned from the Pearl's 5/9-5/14 cruise. By the time you go through the buffet lines to get your food, your utensils, your condiments, and your drinks - food is cold! A much better idea would be to have the crew who is standing guard to make sure your hands gets sanitized to also make people return their trays and NOT take them out of the Garden Cafe.

 

The other problem if we are talking about sanitation issues is that the tables were not cleaned adequately. People put their used utensils often times on the table - then the tables are not cleaned at all or are poorly cleaned.

 

Norwegian needs to do alot of work regarding their sanitization issues. They are going from the sublime to the ridiculous and in-between infection still spreads.

 

However, I will state that we did not get sick and I did not hear of any major outbreak on the 5/9-14 cruise.

[Ms belp]

Same as at every restaurant at home, right?

[salty dingo]

Trays encourage people to take more food per trip, and contribute to waste.

 

They are also VERY unsanitary, with people touching them and then other people touching them - a nice way to transmit disease just before eating. They would have to be sanitized, and the ship's staff has better things to do (like bussing tables, serving food.)

 

I won't miss the trays.

[Bisous3]

I am also inclined to think after reading these posts about the trays disappearing all over that some study came out in the food and beverage business proving people take less food without trays. I can actually buy that as a logical reason.....as I said there is nothing worse than when people waste food, but to say its too much work to sanitize them ... well that to me is not as logical. I cannot imagine that the cruiseline is saving a significant amount of money by eliminating the trays for that reason.

 

At the very least maybe they can keep a stack behind the counter to be used by a parent when getting food for their kids or an older person who really doesn't want to make 3 and 4 trips up to the buffet.

 

I am not about to schlep a tray from my room nor cart one from home either.....

 

All its going to take is someone who sues the cruiseline because they spilled their hot coffee on themselves when they were at the buffet....

[Toyz711]

i have the other problem, i can tip a tray so easy. i didn't use them when they were around...if anyone bumps me, my drink would spill. anyone with weak hands can tell you, it's hard to balance a tray with a plate and drink. i didn't notice i heard less plates crashing to the ground since they took away the trays. (just something else to think about?)

[Plant]

Order room service breakfast the first morning with lots of items so they bring it on a tray. Insist that the steward leaves the tray in your cabin. You are now set for rest of cruise.

 

You don't have to insist that the steward leave the tray, just put it in a drawer or the closet where they shouldn't be looking. I do have to admit that we did this on our last cruise and never used the tray :eek: ! I can see where a tray would definitely be helpful for family use or if one person goes to the breakfast buffet and brings back food for two :) .

[deepnite10]

it s not only a health issue but a issue of economic s..

 

by eliminating tray s already they re eliminating about a 1/3rd the

of the dish s needing cleaning..and i can t see them being reuse d

without being clean d again..

 

i remember the tremendous amouth of tray s being return d ..everytime

someone want d second s they took another tray..

[Cosmopolitan]

Skip the buffet and eat at a main restaurant.

 

You're on vacation...be waited on;)

[mbisson]

Skip the buffet and eat at a main restaurant.

 

You're on vacation...be waited on;)

 

Now Now. As much as you & I like the dining rooms, they're not everyones cup of tea (and besides, do we want the dining room crowded ;) )

[Cosmopolitan]

Now Now. As much as you & I like the dining rooms, they're not everyones cup of tea (and besides, do we want the dining room crowded ;) )

 

No...WE DO NOT want them crowded;)

[coka]

I still want to know where the 25,000 trays went to....

 

Coka

[Cosmopolitan]

I still want to know where the 25,000 trays went to....

 

Coka

 

Tray "heaven".

Amen:D

[DMRick]

After reading on this board the trays were gone, I was surprised to see them on the Crown when we went to Bermuda in September. I can't imagine holding onto a salad, my main food, my dessert, my drink and utensils, (if they aren't already on the table). Sometimes the line is long, I would not want to have to go back.