Buffets- Which line has the best....

[jamjam]

Which cruise line has the best buffets?

[lawofraven]

We are huge buffet lovers and am looking forward to trying Princess's version. But as of now I think NCL (with the exception of the Dream) has the best. When we were on NCL Sun I think we only ate in the dining room twice.
Angie

Carnival Ecstasy 1999
Norwegian Sea 2001
Norwegian Sun 2001
Norwegian Dawn 2003
Norwegian Dream 2004
Carribean Princess Sept. 2004

[Italy52]

We sailed HAL's Zuiderdam last May and thought their buffett was outstanding. I believe the extensive buffets are only on the Vista Class Ships. If I'm wrong, I'm sure a HAL loyalist will correct me on this. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[pg.]

We've only done Princess and Carnival , but Princess is far and aways the better!

[sue d. miller]

I have never met a buffet I didn't like!

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[meyerhaus]

Here, here Sue! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Golden Princess 7/11/04
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Big Red Boat-1993 (Amy)
Celebrity Zenith-1993 (Jon)

[sue d. miller]

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[GloriaF]

we've only sailed princess, and i thought the lunch buffet was greatly improved on the regal since our 2002 grand sailing.

Gloria

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001
Grand Princess, Western,April 2002
Regal to Hawaii, April 5-20, 2004

[BJS]

Haven't been on HAL since 2001, going in 3 weeks again so will see, but hands down their buffet was better than Princess. At that time they had a sandwich station, great array of salads, and a huge dessert selection. They seemed to vary the selections from day to day which was very nice when onboard for 34 days.

Did note on the Dawn 3/28 & 4/4 Princess had greatly improved their buffet. They had several cakes and pies daily with a server in addition to the small tart type desserts but sadly no sandwich station nor great array of salads. Very little variety from day to day except for one section.

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[cruiserforlife]

having only cruised Princess (4X)and RCCL,I can tell you the food was certainly better on Princess but the layout in the Windjammer is terribly,people are always bumping into you and reaching in front of you.There is no logical direction.

RCCL's buffet had a much better "flow" to it but the food was seriously lacking and the selection was non existant.The food was exactly the same everyday.

"a bad day at sea is better than a great day at work and a lousy day at sea is still pretty damn good!"

[MTS]

The Windjammer is on RCCL. I think maybe you meant Horizon Court which is Princess.

I agree with a previous poster......haven't met a buffet that I didn't like either. ;-)

MTS

[bostongal]

HAL #1, Princess #2, NCL #3 and RCCL wins 4th place.

Meg

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do then by the ones you did. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

[GloriaF]

Replying to the sandwich station: we found that in mid afternoon Regal offered pre-made sandwiches (about 2:30 or 3:00) and labeled them from different countries.

Also about 3:30 there was an ice cream station (2 flavors) with various toppings and cookies were available in the buffet line.

Also the lunch buffet had a lot more choices: the usual buffet line and then a separate area that offered theme foods different each day, seafoods, Mexican, etc. As well as a lavish dessert station with servers.

Gloria

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001
Grand Princess, Western,April 2002
Regal to Hawaii, April 5-20, 2004

[aquatic]

Princess is #1 for lunch, their sushi was pretty and delicious, and the quality of the salads was supurb! NCL wins for breakfast with their omlette stations and waffle bar, set up outside and in the fresh sea air! Costa has at midnight, a Homemade Gelato wagon that is the best midnight snack I've ever had. I WISH I WAS ON A CRUISE NOW!

[cruiserforlife]

MTS,

Whoops,my mistake!My blood sugar level must be low,I'm not thinking straight!

I better go have a cookie...

"a bad day at sea is better than a great day at work and a lousy day at sea is still pretty damn good!"

[isujim]

I have been on 7 RC cruises and our first Princess cruise is November so I don't have anything to compare to........however, even being a RC loyalist to date....I think the buffet food in the windjammer is average at best!! Can';t wait to try Princess.

Jim

Nordic Prince 8/88
Viking Serenade 3/93
Enchantment 3/01
Rhapsody 9/02
Splendour 4/03
Rhapsody, 9/03
Brilliance, 4/04

Until our Caribbean Princess cruise
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Until Hawaii on Inifinity
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[BJS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Replying to the sandwich station: we found that in mid afternoon Regal offered pre-made sandwiches (about 2:30 or 3:00) and labeled them from different countries. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>HAL has "made to order" not pre-made sandwiches.

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[Inel31]

Just returned from our 1st cruise (on Princess) and w/exception of one dinner of tough steak, ate all meals at buffet and enjoyed them very much. Were very satisfied to stay there the whole week. Never got tired of them as there was always something different.

[Jacqueline]

Princess is very good, lots of variety, Celebrity hasnt as much selection. RCI was only okay. I hear HAL is tops.

Jacqueline
Constellation 3/20/04
HAL Westerdam 7/30/04
Tahitian Princess August 2003
Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003
Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002
Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001
Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001
Grand Princess Med 2000

[Roadpossum]

I know most of you aren't big fans of Carnival, but I was impressed with the buffets on the Carnival Pride. Made to order Deli sandwiches (they were delicious), another buffet that serves Asian food every day (including sushi), a buffet station that is a different international cuisine every day (Mexican, Italian, French, Indian, etc...), as well as the standard hot buffet and salad bars. Add to that a pizza kitchen that is open 24 hours serving delicious pizza, calzone, and Ceasar salad, and their buffet is hard to beat. I think most, if not all of the new Carnival ships are offering these buffets.

It's been years since I have sailed Princess, but we are booked on the Sapphire to Alaska this July, and I am anxious to see how that buffet compares. Hey, who am I kidding... I haven't found a buffet yet that I don't like...!!!

Roadpossum

"Old" Star Princess (now the Ocean Village)- 11/90
Viking Serenade (now the Island Escape)- 05/93
Elation - 06/98
Carnival Pride (Eastern Caribbean)- 10/19/02
Carnival Pride (Mexican Riviera) - 12/28/03
Sapphire Princess - 07/18/04



Sapphire Princess
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[mkend]

Only been on Carnival- but I look forward to trying Princess in March!

The Star Princess!!!
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Carnival Glory 4/17/04