Buffet seating questions

[mjonis]

OK, last time I was on Carnival was 2011. My last cruise was on RCI- FOS.

 

One thing that I liked about RCI was that they had seating assistance in the buffets (ie, a line and you would stand in line and they'd try to find you seats at tables, etc.)

 

Does anyone know if Carnival is now doing anything like this? In 2011 it was mass free for all (and hardly enough staff anyway to even clean the tables, I got to sit next to a table loaded up with dirty dishes that never got cleared).

 

There's only of us, so it's probably easy to grab a seat for 2 vs. a bunch, but I'm just curious. As you can see, our upcoming cruise is the Valor on 3/22/15.

 

Thank you.

[KevInPitt]

Everything on Carnival is still a free-for-all. Nowhere else is this evident than the buffet.

 

Unless there is a true disability involved, there is no buffet-to-table service assistance.

 

I have yet to experience uncleared tables or an inability to find a seat when in need of one.

[SMSACE6]

I have not seen any assistance with seating at the buffet ever with Carnival. The only time I experienced this was with Celebrity, but that one cruise with them was over ten years ago, so personally cannot say they still do this.

 

For Carnival, I have never had a problem finding a place/table to sit at the buffet. Granted, there have been times that it took a bit longer to find a table, and that has to do with what time you go to eat, but I always found a table, and in my experience, rarely if ever saw lots of uncleared tables/piles of dishes etc. In fact my experience is that, no sooner do you leave a table and a dirty dish/plate, then it is cleared and set up for the next diner.

Edited February 11, 2015 by SMSACE6

[rudechuck]

I've never been on Valor, but it's a Conquest Class ship, just like Freedom and Liberty. There will be seating upstairs where the fish and chips are. It's usually pretty open up there.

[mjonis]

I've never been on Valor, but it's a Conquest Class ship, just like Freedom and Liberty. There will be seating upstairs where the fish and chips are. It's usually pretty open up there.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll file that in my memory if I can remember. LOL!

 

 

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[Nic6318]

The best way to ensure finding a table easily...or for that matter no lines, fresh, hot food, is to get to the buffet soon after it opens.

 

If you wait for the crowds, the buffets will have long lines and often what is in the tray isn't as appealing as when it was first presented. It might take a few minutes to find a seat but you can always find your seat first and then get your food. It shouldn't present a significant problem.

 

Have a great trip

[cb at sea]

You do know that if there are 2 folks sitting at a table for 8, you CAN sit with them!?!!! Yes, indeed! Just say, "Mind if we join you?" and then sit down..there are no "private" tables in the buffet.

[dave_k58]

You do know that if there are 2 folks sitting at a table for 8, you CAN sit with them!?!!! Yes, indeed! Just say, "Mind if we join you?" and then sit down..there are no "private" tables in the buffet.

 

 

Good answer - many people don't know that.

[mjonis]

You do know that if there are 2 folks sitting at a table for 8, you CAN sit with them!?!!! Yes, indeed! Just say, "Mind if we join you?" and then sit down..there are no "private" tables in the buffet.

 

Of course, and certainly don't mind. Just recalling my 2011 Sensation cruise where there were NO seats at all until we found one table outside next to the dirty dishes table.

 

But that was a while ago and a smaller ship.

 

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[CorrieCJ]

I will say that - while I haven't been assisted in finding a seat - I have had Carnival crew take my tray and carry it for me, particularly if I am trying to manage a child or two while handling the tray. :)

[OCruisers]

We find a table before going through the buffet and sit down.

Then, DH goes for his food first because he always gets more than I do so it takes him longer to eat.

When he returns, I go for mine.

Works for us! ;)

LuLu

[LUVS2CRUZE]

We never have a hard time finding tables in the Buffet. :)

[MCFTJCH2V]

OK, last time I was on Carnival was 2011. My last cruise was on RCI- FOS.

 

One thing that I liked about RCI was that they had seating assistance in the buffets (ie, a line and you would stand in line and they'd try to find you seats at tables, etc.)

 

Does anyone know if Carnival is now doing anything like this? In 2011 it was mass free for all (and hardly enough staff anyway to even clean the tables, I got to sit next to a table loaded up with dirty dishes that never got cleared).

 

There's only of us, so it's probably easy to grab a seat for 2 vs. a bunch, but I'm just curious. As you can see, our upcoming cruise is the Valor on 3/22/15.

 

Thank you.

 

Its a free for all with so many more crammed people.

[TerReuv]

Our last cruise in 2013 my Mom had fallen and broken her pelvis. She could walk, but we used her wheelchair for most of the time. I found that on the Conquest that time there were staff always around to assist us in the buffett. With her wheelchair, there were certain tables that just were not accessible. In fact, it got where there was one person that watched for us each morning and came and pushed Mom through the buffett line and then assisted her to a table. Could not have asked for better service!

[wdnoble9999]

As others have noted, there is no 'assigned' seating, although help is available if you need it, such as with small children or someone in a wheelchair.

 

On a Princess cruise we took a year or so back, passengers were escorted to an open table after going through the buffet line. Drink orders (water, lemonade, whatever) were taken and delivered by a server, much as would happen in a restaurant. While at first, I thought this was 'classy', it didn't take long for me to fall out of love with it. First, we would have to wait in line, food tray in hand, until someone became available to seat us even though there were several open tables right in front of us. Second, in order to get refills on our drinks, we needed to flag down a server to bring it to us. On a couple of occasions, rather than wait, I took our glasses up to the servers's station and refilled them myself, but this was frowned on.

 

Just in case this sounds like a complaint, it isn't. The staff and servers were most friendly and responsive. But it's the 'nature of the beast' that it's sometimes faster and more convenient to serve yourself than wait for someone else to serve you.