why no trays at the buffet?

[Bisous3]

I feel like people are taking this personally??

[cruizinwithkids]

On the Gem two night cruise, there were servers in the food area standing with trays for those passengers who wanted them. They also carried the food to the table for those who wanted it.

 

Personally, I prefer no tray and find it easier for the kids to hold their plate and I'll put food on it for them. Really any school age child can handle this task and as I have no coordination it works better.

[greywillow]

If I do go to a nice Sunday brunch, there is staff there to help me get what I need and avoid having to make numerous trips.

Whoosh, once again! The whole point is NOT to put everything you intend to eat in the course of the "nice Sunday brunch" in front of your face at the same time--just like at a classy sit-down restaurant.

 

If you think a cruise ship buffet is a high school cafeteria, then, of course, that would explain it.

[greywillow]

Really any school age child can handle this task and as I have no coordination it works better.

Apparently not Bisous3's kids.

[Plant]

I just got off the Norwegian Gem inagural and experienced the action Station restaurant (buffet) without trays. Andy Stewart explained it - atmosphere. (although sanitation and cost are certainly untold factors). This is meant to be another venue for dining, but not a cafeteria. Therefore if you are standing in line long enough for the food to get cold, you don't understand the concept. Go get your salad or soup or entree, but don't start at the front and stand through the entire line (s). The stations are meant for you to go to in any order that suits you. So, I walk around and look at everything, then go directly to the station that has the food I want. I don't try to bring dessert to the table with the meal.

It was very crowded, but the lines at each station were very short. And there were multiple stations for each type of food. In the futute they plan to add to the ambiance at night with table clothes and more table service.

 

Oh Say Can You Sea Cruises

 

We've understood this concept for a long time, BUT other's haven't :eek: . We've been accused of "breaking in line" (umm, what line?) and trying to "push" our way in to get one thing. Maybe the cruise line's that use the stations concept should post someone at each entrance to explain how it works!

[Bisous3]

Apparently not Bisous3's kids.

 

right.....especially if their handicapped....

[Bisous3]

Wow, grey willow- I just went and read through your posts here.....there are maybe only 2 or 3 where you aren't rude and/or belittling. It appears that you scope out this board for anything that appears to be a complaint about NCL and then you pounce. Are you on the payroll?

 

You know what- don't answer that. I prefer not to exchange with you any further.

 

Have a nice evening.

[runnerandme]

I need a tray and I will ask for a tray. Some of the rude responses on this thread are just plain uncalled for. The sad thing is that probably the posters who are the most offensive will never see themselves as such.:(

Bicous3, I too am going to leave this thread, it no longer has any information that I care to read about.

[theshireshihtzu]

I guess I just don't understand this fascination with carrying trays around at a buffet. I haven't used a tray since the cafeteria in college.

 

We have a local restaurant that offers a beautiful Brazilian buffet at lunch and dinner every day. Several classy restaurants in the area serve wonderful Sunday brunch buffets. There's even a very well done Chinese buffet featuring all kinds of seafood--including lobster on Sundays. We just returned from the spectacular five-star-plus Westin Hotel and Spa in Puerto Vallarta where a champagne breakfast buffet is served every day along with other theme buffets at dinner (Saturday night at the Tex-Mex buffet, they were grilling-to-order New York sirloins, rib-eyes, and skirt steaks in addition to a wide array of interesting Tex-Mex items). Not one of these nice restaurants would stoop to making its patrons walk around carrying trays. I couldn't imagine patrons in these restaurants wandering around with trays in their hands. How inappropriate to the setting and the food offerings.

 

 

I could not agree with you more!:D

[theshireshihtzu]

I'm in Ellensburg. My brother worked in Hood River during that time. We also have relatives in Portland and will sometimes pull the trailer when we go to visit them and camp in those parks in the gorge in the area around Multnomah Falls.

 

I can't get enough of the Columbia Gorge!

I'm in Cle Elum!

[Cosmopolitan]

Cosmo....my avatar shows me relaxing in a hot tub while cruising.

Yours shows a glass of alcohol. Oh that's right! A Cosmopolitan is a glass of alcohol.

But I guess getting sloshed drunk is a lot classier than enjoying a hot tub.

 

:D

 

You don't have to get "sloshed drunk" to enjoy a cosmopolitan:)

 

Oh, by the way, a cosmo is not ALL alcohol.

 

Posting a picture of yourself in a hot tub...really classy...at your age:eek: :D

[deepnite10]

when did NCL do away with the tray s?..

 

this past jan. the wife could nt even remember if we had tray s or not:confused:

 

then we debate d whether we had tray s on RCCL this aug..i could nt remember but the wife said we just had plate s..so it must be a industry

wide move to cut cost or making it a sanitation issue..

 

but, damn..we should get our lobster back with them saving so much money :mad:

 

i guess eventually someone will start a 5 page thread in the RCCL complaining about no tray s too..:D

[coffeebean]

RCCL has not uses trays as long as I have been cruising with them, a little more than five years. They do, however, have very large oval plates for the food. Does Norwegian have standard size plates or have they changed to the larger ones? The last time I cruised on NCL, they were still using the trays.

[Bisous3]

No, coffeebean they don't use those larger oval plates at the buffet- just standard size plates and bowls.....nor do they really have the wait staff to assist the passengers. At least this was the case on my Pearl cruise last month.....don't know about the other NCL ships.

[cruizinwithkids]

nor do they really have the wait staff to assist the passengers. At least this was the case on my Pearl cruise last month.....don't know about the other NCL ships.

 

They definately had wait staff to assist on the Gem. It really was a most impressive set up. It is set up with stations. The tables have the silverware and napkins in baskets. They are frequently replenished.

 

There was staff in the food area with empty trays and they more than willingly escorted you to a table while carrying your food. At breakfast they also walked around serving muffins, rolls, buns, etc.

 

It was a really, really nice set up. It would really be awesome if it went fleetwide.

[Toyz711]

they had watchful wait staff stationed around on the spirit's buffet area. saw them helping many people/families and escorting them to a table. even coming back to check on them.

when i was on the NCL star, last year, same thing...plus the NCL star was the little kid's buffet with their own small tables/chairs and the food they like. every kids/family friendly area.

[jt1120]

You think that is bad, on Princess we had NO towel animals to greet us at night in our stateroom.

 

NONE!

 

The nerve of that line... :mad:

[deepnite10]

THAT S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE !!:confused:

 

10 X 10 worse than having no tray s in the buffet..

[roboref]

I want to tell you that I can certainly understand your position and agree with you. Our experience on the 3rd Gem cruise was hit or miss on the help with a tray and wait staff at the garden cafe (BUFFET).

 

Unfortunately, if you say anything negative about the NCL experience, people will pounce, (GreyWillow and Cruizinwithkids).

 

I think you are owed an apology by both these posters as there comments regarding kids etc were beyond unkind. Obviously these people can't understand that just because their world's are perfect, others may have difficulty, (handicapped children,, illness, disabilities etc).

 

Bring back the trays!

[Cosmopolitan]

I want to tell you that I can certainly understand your position and agree with you. Our experience on the 3rd Gem cruise was hit or miss on the help with a tray and wait staff at the garden cafe (BUFFET).

 

Doesn't the Gem have the childrens buffet:confused:

[Bisous3]

Thank you roboref....

I have been reading and posting here on Cruise Critic for about 6 years now and have discovered that there are epeople like this on every board- they take it personally if anyone says anything negative about their experience.

Thanks for realizing that all I did was ask a question, not bash the cruise line or say I would never sail with them again.

 

Here's wishing you great cruises in '08!

[cruizinwithkids]

Unfortunately, if you say anything negative about the NCL experience, people will pounce, (GreyWillow and Cruizinwithkids).

 

Please quote and show me where I pounced.

 

I have been so excited sharing my recent Gem experiences, but I don't know where I have pounced on anyone.

 

Thank you

[cruizinwithkids]

On the Gem two night cruise, there were servers in the food area standing with trays for those passengers who wanted them. They also carried the food to the table for those who wanted it.

 

Personally, I prefer no tray and find it easier for the kids to hold their plate and I'll put food on it for them. Really any school age child can handle this task and as I have no coordination it works better.

 

 

I am so upset that my post was considered rude. I felt like a genius when I realized that I could hand my kids a plate and not have to balance the plates on trays and drop things, like I have. I really felt like this was some kind of divine inspiration and wanted to share it. You are right, I did not take into consideration someone who would be physically unable to do this.

 

I also was in awe of MY experience in the buffet on the Gem. I also said it would be great if they did it fleetwide. I'm sorry if my enthusiasm was taken as being offensive to someone.

 

The only time I post on these boards is when I am trying to be helpful or share my specific experience. That's all I was trying to do.

[Lachase]

You think that is bad, on Princess we had NO towel animals to greet us at night in our stateroom.

 

NONE!

 

The nerve of that line... :mad:

 

I love the towel animals; I know you were being sarcastic but the towel animals are part of the cute creative special nicieties on cruises that pamper you. When else in life does anyone take the time to greet you with them? Plus, the chocolates on pillows are good too!

[trip]

I just off the Gem, if you ask, as I did they will give you a tray.