Single cruiser buffet issue..

[coastcat]

I usually wear a drawstring backpack around the ship and always wear it to the buffet. I'll get a beverage and leave both it and the backpack on my selected table. So far so good.

 

I do scout out the buffet first to minimize how much time I'm away from the table.

[oakridger]

[Ilovesailaway]

I carry my plate and my drink to my table of choice at the same time

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, Ilovesailaway said:

I carry my plate and my drink to my table of choice at the same time

 

Some of us are better coordinated than others.  There are those of us who, once upon a time, it would not have been a challenge to do so.  Please, enjoy the ability to do so now and may it always be so for you.  

[Ilovesailaway]

5 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Please, enjoy the ability to do so now and may it always be so for you.  

Thank you rkacruiser. 

 

[gmerick]

I save my tray from Room Service breakfast, and take it to the buffet.  I can get drinks, entree, desert, salad, cutlery, condiments....  and I still have room for my book and sunglasses.  If I don't find a pleasing table with great ocean view, I carry the tray back to the solarium tables.

 

Sure do wish the buffets had a stack of trays.

[boulders]

On 5/16/2022 at 9:21 PM, gmerick said:

I save my tray from Room Service breakfast, and take it to the buffet.  I can get drinks, entree, desert, salad, cutlery, condiments....  and I still have room for my book and sunglasses.  If I don't find a pleasing table with great ocean view, I carry the tray back to the solarium tables.

 

Sure do wish the buffets had a stack of trays.

Do you keep the tray for the rest of the cruise or do you nab the tray from each morning's breakfast?

[Cruise Kay]

I bring an empty tote bag and a baseball hat with me when I’m eating at the buffet alone.

 

I walk in and get my drinks and then find a table. I put down my drinks and spread out my bag and my hat on top of the table to make it clear someone is sitting here. If there happens to be an employee in the area I will mention to them then I’ll be right back. Then I go get my food. I find that leaving personal objects (of no real value) on the table helps.

[gmerick]

On 5/18/2022 at 2:17 PM, boulders said:

Do you keep the tray for the rest of the cruise or do you nab the tray from each morning's breakfast?

Yes, I keep the tray.  I also keep the coffee pot.  The coffee stays hot till 10AM, then I rinse it out and fill it with ice water (my steward very faithfully fills my ice bucket, and in the evening even replenishes the ice water so it's cold after dinner).  I also keep cutlery and a clean plate, so things are ready for the fruit I carry back to the room.

[latebuyer]

I think i'd just skip the drink. Couldn't you get a drink later and just take it somewhere else to drink like by the pool?

[LandlockedCruiser01]

What about tilting the chair in against the table?  It's a nearly universal sign in the US that a place is occupied.  It's done in bars, in casinos (like at slot machines), at in some casual restaurants.  I don't know how widely recognized it is outside of North America, though, as most crew members are from European and Asian countries.

[Mike1948]

Breakfast in the buffet at 7am or shortly after that is a much more pleasant experience that at 9am.

[rkacruiser]

22 hours ago, Mike1948 said:

Breakfast in the buffet at 7am or shortly after that is a much more pleasant experience that at 9am.

 

But, breakfast in the MDR is even better regardless of the time.  😀

[wdw1972]

4 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

But, breakfast in the MDR is even better regardless of the time.  😀

Not for everyone.  The idea of sitting in the MDR for a period of time, eating a pre-plated meal has zero appeal.  I'm an early riser so by the time the Lido opens I've been up a couple hours already.  I can get exactly what I want, with no wait, and be in & out within about 20 minutes - off to do something else.  As an alternative, if I wait another couple hours I'll order breakfast via our cabana stewards and enjoy it in my Retreat cabana (along with a mimosa).  But MDR - no way, not for me.

 

Sue/WDW1972

[rkacruiser]

I have shared a breakfast table with many cruisers and have had interesting breakfast conversations.  During an Alaskan cruise on the Western, I had a table for two and was close to finishing my breakfast.  A lady was seated at a table for two near mine and, for some reason after she had ordered, she asked me if she could join me.  Even though I was near ready to leave, I agreed.  We enjoyed a pleasant conversation throughout her breakfast and my coffee refills.  (Her Steward was a different person than mine and that did provide some "blips" until the Stewards could work it out.)

 

Breakfast at home:  my Butler/Chef is ME.  It's pleasant to be seated in the MDR and be served with a Breakfast that is superior to whatever Chef RKA could prepare.  

[squadron]

On 7/19/2022 at 1:42 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

But, breakfast in the MDR is even better regardless of the time.  😀

Staff seem to push solo diners into a table with others whether you want to share or not. I don't want to join family groups for breakfast as I am sure they want to have family only also.  This happens at breakfast more than at lunch time.

[rkacruiser]

15 hours ago, squadron said:

Staff seem to push solo diners into a table with others whether you want to share or not. I don't want to join family groups for breakfast as I am sure they want to have family only also.  This happens at breakfast more than at lunch time.

 

On HAL and Princess, that has not been my experience.  Arriving at the Maitre d's stand, I am asked if I want to share a table or not.  If I want to have breakfast alone, I am placed at a table for two.  What I have needed to be on the look-out for is its location.  Once, my table was in an  area that was quite out of the main flow and I nearly had to fire a flare to attract the attention of a steward.  

[coastcat]

On 7/24/2022 at 9:04 PM, squadron said:

Staff seem to push solo diners into a table with others whether you want to share or not. I don't want to join family groups for breakfast as I am sure they want to have family only also.  This happens at breakfast more than at lunch time.

Maybe that depends on the cruise line? I've been on NCL, Princess, and RCI - on all three I've been seated at a table alone with no pressure to join other tables. 

 

Generally I wake up between 5:30 and 6, regardless of time zone. The cats have conditioned me to do this! MDRs don't open early enough for first breakfast, so I'll often go somewhere to grab a coffee & pastry and then have a proper second breakfast in the MDR or buffet.

[SummerBeee]

I have a Yeti tumbler with my CC name. I leave that on the table along with silverware. This has always worked for me (so far)

Always get a table first, walking around with a plate of food looking for a spot to land reminds me of not so great school experiences 

[rkacruiser]

22 hours ago, SummerBeee said:

Always get a table first, walking around with a plate of food looking for a spot to land

 

It makes no sense to me to do this.  Get a place "reserved", get whatever beverage one wants, then, get the food.  Wandering around looking for a place results in hot/warm food not being at those temperatures and cold food not being a cold as it might be.  

[MSH from Norway]

Evry ship has 10 dollar sales... 

Through the years I've bought a lot of big ugly pink, green, multi color 10 dollar bags... 

 

I put one of those in the middle of the table along with some silverware and a sodacan. 

 

Most people will than understand that the table are taken. 

[Elaine5715]

I have never had an issue keeping a table.  I get my food, set my plate and silverware in place, sit my current book I am reading next to my plate then get a beverage.  

[Tmc1512]

There are usually waitstaff type personnel that come rushing over to ask if I need anything. I usually give a drink order to them avoiding the issue for the most part. I also leave a sweatshirt or such over the chair, if I want dessert or such. 

[canuckcruzingirl]

On 8/29/2022 at 8:22 PM, MSH from Norway said:

Evry ship has 10 dollar sales... 

Through the years I've bought a lot of big ugly pink, green, multi color 10 dollar bags... 

 

I put one of those in the middle of the table along with some silverware and a sodacan. 

 

Most people will than understand that the table are taken. 

I think I have bought the "matching" pink/green/purple/etc $10 scarf, which I put over the chair to hold my spot - so bright, you can't miss it.....😁 (It takes up very little room in the luggage, too)

[carlmm]

58 minutes ago, canuckcruzingirl said:

I think I have bought the "matching" pink/green/purple/etc $10 scarf, which I put over the chair to hold my spot - so bright, you can't miss it.....😁 (It takes up very little room in the luggage, too)

... ans while these colouful items might works best for the ladies, any kind of sweater, jacket or book will do equally well for the gentlemen.