Trays at the buffet

[Lysingers]

I find that even the trays aren't big enough. Now I always cruise with a wheelbarrow. It sure helps when stocking up on all food I might want to taste. I just fill it up, wheel it to my table, and I'm set. If I want more food, I just wheel my barrow up to the line again and start heaping more food in. I get dirty looks from the other passengers, but I don't care, it's MY vacation and I'll do what I want. At the beginning of the cruise I slip a $2 bill to my steward as a tip and tell him to hose down the barrow every evening so it'll be dry and ready the next morning for another day's eating extravaganza.

 

Works great.

 

 

OMG! This is one of the funniest things I've ever seen on Cruise Critic in all the years I've been a member! I laughed until I cried.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Lysingers

[PoppyandNana]

I may be showing my age here but when we sailed on the Celebrity Zenith a waiter took your tray and escorted you to a table. On one occasion a waiter approached me to take my tray but not knowing where DH was I said " no thank you, I need to find my husband". He said " i know where he is and brought me and my tray to him.

 

 

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Remember this very well. In fact, I remember staff lining up at the end of the buffet with white napkins on their arms waiting to help passengers find a table. This was in addition to trays. I also remember a coffee cart going between tables with regular and decafe coffee, milk, sugar etc. Some of my family's fondest memories were trips to Bermuda on the Zenith or the Century. Alas, never could get my girls on a cruise ship since.

 

Didn't X also escort you to your cabin on embarkation day or am I thinking of HAL?

[antsnanny]

I don't recall being escorted to our cabins, should be interesting to see if others do.

 

 

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[cle-guy]

I also remember a coffee cart going between tables with regular and decafe coffee, milk, sugar etc. Some of my family's fondest memories were trips to Bermuda on the Zenith or the Century. Alas, never could get my girls on a cruise ship since.

 

They were doing this during breakfast service at Ocena View Cafe on my May 25th summit sailing for breakfast. Also had OJ on offer on the cart. The server was bright and cheery and we all enjoyed the service for sure.

 

Didn't X also escort you to your cabin on embarkation day or am I thinking of HAL?

 

At this point only for Suites, perhaps only those suites eligible for Michael's lounge access. Not sure about the good old days.

[gold1953]

I don't know how a person can hold a loaded tray in one hand while they scoop food with the other hand. There is no place on S class to rest a tray while self serving.

 

We take personal items and place them on our table with our beverages. Always works!

[Orator]

We were on Constellation in January and I had no offers of assistance while juggling plates in the Buffet. Sure would have liked it a couple of times!!!

 

 

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Did you ask for help? It's inexcusable if someone really needs help and can't get it.

[cle-guy]

I don't know how a person can hold a loaded tray in one hand while they scoop food with the other hand. There is no place on S class to rest a tray while self serving.

 

We take personal items and place them on our table with our beverages. Always works!

 

I have to say that although there are no proper tray sliders on S class, there are ledges del enough to rest a tray on pif needed. I et my plates down while waiting on pizza or toast for example. May not be 100% designed to hold a tray, but it can rest there.

 

But I do as you, take stuff to a table and go get more and come back. Actually I often take 1 plate, go raft it, then just leave the table to be cleared and go get a second batch if needed and seek a new table or take my old one back pif it's already cleared. Just means I have to grab new silverware each trip in case is all.

[antsnanny]

Just off the summit on Sunday. Trays are available, but are very small. I think the purpose of smaller trays is to make several trips to buffets and get baskets or portions and not mix on one plate and make it a dining experience not a buffet experience. That is what they trying.

 

I thought trays were too small, liked the basket idea.

 

 

On our cruise, which was the rollout the F&B guy told us they would be bringing in small trays sort of like a rectangular plate. Is that what the trays were like? How many baskets, bowls, plates etc. would you say fit on one tray. Thanks were sailing again in Sept. It should be interesting to see the changes that have happened since day 1 of the new buffet rollout.

 

 

 

 

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[antsnanny]

Did you ask for help? It's inexcusable if someone really needs help and can't get it.

 

 

I feel the staff would always help, problem is there not always there. I still think it would be helpful if they started serving coffee, tea, water,,juices etc. and had place settings on the tables, 2 less things to juggle. NCL places the silverware in a napkin om each table as soon as it's cleaned...

 

 

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[cle-guy]

I feel the staff would always help, problem is there not always there. I still think it would be helpful if they started serving coffee, tea, water,,juices etc. and had place settings on the tables, 2 less things to juggle. NCL places the silverware in a napkin om each table as soon as it's cleaned...

 

 

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They did serve the complimentary coffee tea and juice at breakfast on carts table side on May 25th Summit sailing during peak breakfast periods.

 

I do like idea of silverware at tables wonder if it would "dissuade" people from using them as card tables and game tables during peak meal periods. Probably not, celebrity only requests, it, they don't require it. People just don't get it. But the down side, is there is really only a limited time when the cafeteria is overwhelmed by people, like 9:30-10:30 am, noon to 1:30, and I never see it full at dinner time, outside these times the tables would have lots of silverware getting germmy as people move it around to relax rather than eat.

 

On my last 2 sailings, they actually had to place a placard in the drink menu reminding people to leave during meal times when done eating...not that anyone actually read the message or if they did, chose to ignore it.

[GOLDENBONNY]

I am so disappointed X eliminated trays in the buffet. It is such a hassle to try and manage a couple of plates and a beverage, particularly when you are alone. How ridiculous would I look if I brought a tray from home? They are only a couple of bucks at the dollar store. Figure they don't weigh much and lay flat in the suitcase.

 

Who knows, might be the start of something big.

 

 

Most of the cruise lines did it long time ago .

[antsnanny]

Most of the cruise lines did it long time ago .

 

Yes, they did! My issue is only with the Summit, since the rollout of the new buffet where everything comes pre plated, thats another story..

[Fun4Two69]

Some of the people here must have never had my experience...which has happened at least on 3 occasions.

I set my flatware with napkin down, along with my juice and coffee. I then go back to get my breakfast. When I get back, my place has been cleared and there are others sitting there.

When I reverse it, putting my breakfast down and then going to get coffee and juice, (leaving my eggs to get cold) the same thing has happened.

If you are not occupying a seat, any food at the table is considered fair game to get cleared.

 

I agree! We find the only way to ensure that we keep a table is for one of us to sit there and try to snag a waiter to pour us coffee. Then let the other one go and get the food. I usually have my husband sit and I get his food etc. Then go back for mine while eats starts, so his isn't cold. I think they should give out numbers, as many restaurants who have counter ordering do, and you could place the number on the table with silverware and napkins. When you get your food and finish, the number could be returned to a designated place at the entrance to used again. Sure someone could move the number, but it would be more obvious than just clearing plates.

[Lsimon]

... I think they should give out numbers, as many restaurants who have counter ordering do, and you could place the number on the table with silverware and napkins. When you get your food and finish, the number could be returned to a designated place at the entrance to used again. Sure someone could move the number, but it would be more obvious than just clearing plates.

 

I've also seen cards at buffet restaurants that say you are still occupying the table on one side and the other side says you are done so they know when to clear the table.

 

I imagine the problem is the huge number of inconsiderate cruisers who would most likely leave the cards on the wrong side when they left the table. You know the ones: They cut lines, hog the chairs and leave their towels lying on the chairs around the pool rather than tossing them in the bins on the way out, among other things. Things would probably be worse, not better, if they implemented such as system because of such people. I wouldn't be surprised if they've already tried this in the past.

Edited July 9, 2014 by Lsimon