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Farewell to the Grand Gala Buffets

DGP1111

By DGP1111,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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deborah grimes

deborah grimes

Posted
Posted

That is so sad! I liked the midnight buffet. My last cruise last year we was at the end of the line and they had run out of food!:confused: So I don't understand. I like going to meet new people. When you sit down at a table of good folks you don't know was something I looked forward to. Know really! I remember one of my cruises, staying up to 3:00am just having a good old time talking. We all did not realize what time it was. I wont the good old days back, PLEASE!

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andnickali

andnickali

Posted
Posted
Can you tell me when they discontinued theirs?

 

thanks

 

 

We were on RCI Explorer in April and the Gala Buffet was done away with then. In place of it they are having a chocolate/desert buffet that is much, much smaller in scale but still very impressive to view. Also, after dinner I am not up for eating more "food" but can always go for a piece of cheese cake or chocolate covered strawberries. It appeared that many people were eating (and taking covered plates back to their rooms) and what was not eaten could probably be frozen or stored for the next sailing.

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bgetter

bgetter

Posted
Posted
Cruising is changing for the worst. I would pay more to get more.

 

As a repeat cruiser but not a cruise enthusiast, I'd have to agree.

 

Two things:

1) The idea from the poster of above about moving it to noon-time is a great idea. It was too late for many to enjoy, much less eat from.

2) Even if there is some waste, I think it is good 'publicity' for the cruise. It adds to the feeling of opulence on a cruise (who eats steak and lobster everynight?!?) and is much talked about with casual cruisers.

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happy cruzin

happy cruzin

Posted
Posted
I think that's the problem. People would line up deep to take pictures, but wouldn't stick around to eat, and much of the food would go to waste. I know I have never eaten off the gala buffet, but I did go take photos (I always get the late seating, so I'm too full). It's a shame, but I understand why they made the decision.

 

 

I am guilty :o of the same......

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gkrnjlr

gkrnjlr

Posted
Posted

We attended the Grand Gala Buffet once.....it was neat but we've never attended one since then.

 

We do always seem to miss the Midnight Mexican Buffet. I WANT to go to that but never seem to make it! What all do they have on that buffet? I could live off of Mexican food!:p

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faith31617

faith31617

Posted
Posted

NO NO SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!! PLEASE!!!!!

I have went before, but this is my DH and son's first cruise and it was one of the things I wanted them to experience. When I went before I had early supper so I did eat a little bit off of it, just a dessert or two and fruit.

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G'ma

G'ma

Posted
Posted

Well, I personally don't mourn it's passing.

 

I always enjoyed seeing the beauty of it; the time and work that went into it but rarely ate anything. Those who have the late dinner seating seem to be too full to indulge in anymore food....

 

I'd love to see them replace it with something smaller and more desirable.....like a sandwich bar or ice cream bar...or dessert bar with maybe brownies, pies, cakes, etc. Just something simple and not so much of it...

 

Sometimes, I'd like to have a "little something sweet" before heading off to bed or to the casino.

 

Back in the day (1970's-early 80's) they had a "midnight buffet" which, while pretty and well laid out, was lighter foods, some nice bite-size snacks, small sandwiches, finger food, 1 or 2 salads and 1 or 2 desserts. The "Grand Buffet" was only served one night and it was truly magnificent with a selection of hot and cold items, huge ice sculptures down the tables, lots of fresh fruit. Of course, there was only one seating for dinner in most cases or a much earlier "late seating".

 

I'm sure they'll bring something to the fore to replace this.

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dclark

dclark

Posted
Posted

I was o the Liberty last June and they had it- I guess that is the last one I'll ever see!

Yeah, the food is mostly nasty, but it is always nice to take pictures and video plus they alway have nice desserts. I always like to get the white chocolate decorations on the tops of cakes. Plus, last time, I found some french made butter at the gala.

The Gala was a nice excuse to not go to bed, but to have a snack, and take a stroll and gaze at the stars. Every one that I have been to has always been packed. It is just another tradition lost to us, like rum swizzle parties and the baked alaska parade.

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jessemon

jessemon

Posted
Posted
So Mexican Buffet is GONE!!!

 

REALLY!

 

Oh...SMALL chance we will never cruise again!

 

(not kidding, my mom talks about the AMAZING mexican buffet WEEKS before a cruise!)

Don't jump to a conclusion here. The OP said the Grand Buffet...The one with all the carvings and sweets and that.

HAL and celebrity have given up midnight buffets also so a while now. At night waiters walk around with finger food.....I eat late seating so the late night buffets are of no interest to me. Now a slice of pizza or two at two or three in the morning works......

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NeptunesGoddess

NeptunesGoddess

Posted
Posted

Well it is just sad for me from a sentimental point of view. No more formal nights...no more grand gala buffets. The "old classic" way of cruising is slowly being eroded. Don't get me wrong...it is not going to turn me off cruising, but there are things in my life where I don't experience dressing up to the nines or seeing culinary works of art and so I really enjoyed that option on a cruise.

 

I do agree about the gala buffet being much more beautiful than it was delicious. I feel bad for all the food artists and do hope they do something in the buffet's place, so that we still get to enjoy their talents.

 

I don't really think a noon buffet would be feasible because of the work involved. I think the galley employees are probably too busy to get everything done for a noon buffet and still do their other duties to prepare for lunches and the dinners.

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dbookman1

dbookman1

Posted
Posted

Well that was my first reaction but then I thought about it. Yeah I went on almost every cruise, but I never really ate the food. It was too much of a hassle to get to and well not that good. Maybe they should spray what they can with perservatives and then just put that out on display.

 

David

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UpstateCruizer

UpstateCruizer

Posted
Posted
What about the chocolate buffet? :(

 

On our last 2 sailings the chocolate buffet was done at lunch time on one of the sea days. I also noticed on the Valor in July that they had an area set up (near the pizza and late night burger place) with a small display of fruits, cookies and such along with a couple of guys serving beverages. I hadn't seen it on any of the other ships so I'm not sure if it was something new or just something they had on the Valor. The display was set up and covered with tablecloths until 11pm when staff started serving beverages. It was a nice touch and many people were taking pieces of fruit.

 

Oh for the person interested in the Mexican buffet watch your capers the day after the buffet. We have found a Mexican lunch offering many of the same items the next day. :)

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fllady61

fllady61

Posted
Posted
I checked on the first six pages of threads and didn't see this mentioned (and I apologize if it was there and I overlooked it), but Carnival has definitely discontinued the Grand Gala buffets fleet-wide on all sailings departing after 9/11/08.

According to the memo, ship crew members are to advise passengers (who ask) that due to an increased variety of dining options throughout the sailings, and because of decreased passenger interest in the grand gala buffets, they are immediately being discontinued.

 

 

good Morning Don.

 

this just aint right..... so they have a few ships that people don't attend. But I know on Glory, people flock like birds to the GGB. Or at least they did have all the Glory cruises we have been on.

 

They should survey people and see what ships want it, and only have it on the ships that want the buffet.

 

BTW.. How are you? and Fraiser?

 

We have 33 days till we cruise on Glory again.

 

Can't wait.

 

OH AGAIN btw.............I am sorry I missed your BD. I just plum forgot with all the activities I have been going through.

 

Hope you had a wonderful cruise for you BD, and better than last year. NO accidents.

 

See ya soon.

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CruisingCarolina

CruisingCarolina

Posted
Posted
I checked on the first six pages of threads and didn't see this mentioned (and I apologize if it was there and I overlooked it), but Carnival has definitely discontinued the Grand Gala buffets fleet-wide on all sailings departing after 9/11/08.

According to the memo, ship crew members are to advise passengers (who ask) that due to an increased variety of dining options throughout the sailings, and because of decreased passenger interest in the grand gala buffets, they are immediately being discontinued.

 

so , they already did away with them ?

WOW

and I had first time cruisers going with me

next month

BIG BUMMER !!:(

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