WJ open past 9pm - Would this be a draw for you?

[Toddcan]

One of the things that keeps coming back to me is how some other lines have their buffets open late into the night.  Typically, the WJ closes at 9pm.  I've found a few times (not many, to be honest) where I would have enjoyed heading to the WJ late at night (10-11pm) to enjoy even a limited food selection, or perhaps just some light snacks and a glass of ice water - and sit and relax - it's quite a nice area on most ships, and late at night it would likely be much less crowded.  

 

Would this be a draw for anyone else?  It would be for me. I wonder if ppl have made a choice to sail other lines (Princess?) who have late buffets?

 

Perhaps grab a plate of cookies, and play cards

Perhaps grab a burger and chat with friends around a large table

etc 

etc

[lovesthebeach2]

We’ve gone up a few times just before 9 to get water or a cookie and there’s hardly anyone in there and so much food is wasted. They have to throw out everything that’s leftover. Over time it probably costs them more than it’s worth, plus they would need extra staff there.  Theres usually always a place to get water, and pizza or other snacks. We sometimes bring cookies or breadsticks to our cabin for late night snacks, so for us, we don’t need it open late.

[Toddcan]

1 minute ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

We’ve gone up a few times just before 9 to get water or a cookie and there’s hardly anyone in there and so much food is wasted. They have to throw out everything that’s leftover. Over time it probably costs them more than it’s worth, plus they would need extra staff there.  Theres usually always a place to get water, and pizza or other snacks. We sometimes bring cookies or breadsticks to our cabin for late night snacks, so for us, we don’t need it open late.

 

I agree there are places to get snacks and such, but those other areas tend to be very busy.    

 

And, of course the WJ would be near-empty "just before 9" when it's advertised to close at 9pm.  

 

I'm sure the brilliant minds could devise a plan to have foods that don't waste as quickly (packaged foods, etc).   Other lines have figured it out.  

[TwoMisfits]

I would love a single size snack section open on Windjammer.  

Whole piece fruit, cookies, pretzels and potato chips, baby carrot or celery sticks, single package cheese, biscuits or bread or even crackers, single serve peanut butter and jelly packets, applesauce packs, jello cups, etc.  Things that wouldn't go bad all night, but would be nice late for kids or adults. All of this could sit out hours with almost no issue (one employee would just need to be around to keep it up)...

Edited January 8 by TwoMisfits

[Ocean Boy]

Even if it stayed open until 10 it would be an improvement. Especially on port days I find it a bit of a rush to enjoy sailaway, then shower and relax a bit, and then get to the Windjammer in time to enjoy dinner and not have to rush.

[NateUpNorth]

55 minutes ago, TwoMisfits said:

I would love a single size snack section open on Windjammer.  

Whole piece fruit, cookies, pretzels and potato chips, baby carrot or celery sticks, single package cheese, biscuits or bread or even crackers, single serve peanut butter and jelly packets, applesauce packs, jello cups, etc.  Things that wouldn't go bad all night, but would be nice late for kids or adults. All of this could sit out hours with almost no issue (one employee would just need to be around to keep it up)...

100% this.
Keep a soda freestyle machine and even a soft serve "fozen dessert" machine available in there too.
Now I think about it some of the MDR dessert options could be single serve available too if they had 1 employee there to facilitate pulling a slice of cheesecake or apple pie outta the cooler.

Small warming station to do some decent sadwiches.

It could be done easily, as mentioned other lines have figured it out, but you'll never get the idea past the cost cutters.

[cruiseguy1016]

I would love to have options for a late-night snack. A slice of (lousy) pizza or a cookie just don't cut it for me sometimes. 

[Toddcan]

3 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

I would love to have options for a late-night snack. A slice of (lousy) pizza or a cookie just don't cut it for me sometimes. 

I actually love the late night pizza and ranger cookie options - but Sorrento's  is normally just a zoo after 9pm. 

[orville99]

3 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

I would love to have options for a late-night snack. A slice of (lousy) pizza or a cookie just don't cut it for me sometimes.

Two words...Room Service😉

[Ocean Boy]

1 minute ago, orville99 said:

Two words...Room Service😉

But then you have to wait for them to get around to delivering the order so you are confined to your cabin until they do when you might have other plans.

[TwoMisfits]

Just now, Ocean Boy said:

But then you have to wait for them to get around to delivering the order so you are confined to your cabin until they do when you might have other plans.

 

And who wants to order room service just for a PBJ or bag of chips or a piece of fruit?  You'd cut down on so much waste (people taking things back to the cabin "just in case" and then not eating them) and personnel time (huge burden of room service vs just one extra snack area) if you'd just keep a single serve snack section open at Windjammer all night (or at least til shut down of all night activities)...

[ZoeyVictoria]

1 hour ago, TwoMisfits said:

I would love a single size snack section open on Windjammer.  

Whole piece fruit, cookies, pretzels and potato chips, baby carrot or celery sticks, single package cheese, biscuits or bread or even crackers, single serve peanut butter and jelly packets, applesauce packs, jello cups, etc.  Things that wouldn't go bad all night, but would be nice late for kids or adults. All of this could sit out hours with almost no issue (one employee would just need to be around to keep it up)...

I believe that would immediately become the place to pick up snacks for excursions and the car trip or flight home. 

[TwoMisfits]

2 minutes ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I believe that would immediately become the place to pick up snacks for excursions and the car trip or flight home. 

 

If you want to bring your own ziploc products on board to take a cookie or carrot for your airplane ride after spending probably $1K/person minimum for your trip on board - well, you can.  And it's not like you can't do it with morning breakfast, when the stuff would be a lot fresher...

[madiaka]

I would like to see the Windjammer open from maybe 10:30pm to 12:30am with a limited menu and limited stations open. People don’t come around 9pm because they already know that it’s closed. Royal doesn’t have to put a lot of food out, just put some and replenish it as needed. 
 

Cafe Promenade and Sorrento's Pizza aren’t really good options at times. We find that we are hungry at night on Royal a lot. We may grab something from the above spots, but aren’t really pleased that those are the only offerings open late. We just deal with it since we like cruising on Royal’s Oasis class ships.
 

We’re booked on Icon and I’m looking forward to seeing the new food offerings. But, if Icon doesn’t have decent late night options, I’ll be disappointed again. 

[Mum2Mercury]

1 hour ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

We’ve gone up a few times just before 9 to get water or a cookie and there’s hardly anyone in there and so much food is wasted. They have to throw out everything that’s leftover. Over time it probably costs them more than it’s worth, plus they would need extra staff there.  Theres usually always a place to get water, and pizza or other snacks. We sometimes bring cookies or breadsticks to our cabin for late night snacks, so for us, we don’t need it open late.

This sums up my mindset.  We sometimes pick up dessert at Windjammer (rather than having it with our actual dinner) and bring it to our room for later ... or we enjoy it while watching MUTS.  

And, yes, Sorrentos, Promenade Cafe or Park Cafe (maybe others, depending upon your ship) are available ... you might have to wait a few minutes, but you've got time.  

12 minutes ago, TwoMisfits said:

If you want to bring your own ziploc products on board to take a cookie or carrot for your airplane ride after spending probably $1K/person minimum for your trip on board - well, you can.  And it's not like you can't do it with morning breakfast, when the stuff would be a lot fresher...

That's dangerous!  Customs can fine you as much as 10K for something as small as an apple!  Eat a big breakfast before you leave, but taking food off the ship could potentially be a very expensive choice.  

[twangster]

Prior to the shutdown there was a test on select ships with a limited late night WJ spread.  It was sparsely attended whenever I checked it out.  Burgers, fries, some salads, etc. 

 

It creates scheduling challenges for the crew that have to be on hand.  More hours worked means more crew positions which means more labor expense.

 

To everything there is a cost and if it means increasing cruise fares then I don't see the need. 

[SUgwoz]

1 minute ago, madiaka said:

We’re booked on Icon and I’m looking forward to seeing the new food offerings. But, if Icon doesn’t have decent late night options, I’ll be disappointed again. 

It will be interesting to see what hours they do for Surfside bites, Aquadome Marketplace, Basecamp.  Looks like they will be open pretty much all day, but not sure on how late. 

[OCSC Mike]

Yes but I agree with many of the comments above regarding wasted food and it being empty.

 

Some sort of small snack section somewhere would be nice though.

[RFerrington]

One comment re: Room Service.  I have been on over 70 Royal Caribbean cruises over the past 18 years and never ONCE have I been able to get through to Room Service on the phone.  The line is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS busy.  The only times we have ever successfully gotten room service was when we asked the Suites Concierge to order it for us.  Granted, I have never tried to get room service in the late evening so maybe things slow down later on, but during normal daily hours, F'AGET ABOUT IT !

[kitkat343]

48 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Two words...Room Service😉

If you are traveling as a family, the problem with room service is that the younger kids go to sleep early.  On my NCL cruise there was a curfew so I wound up having to escort my 13 year old to their late night restaurant since we couldn't risk room service waking up the younger kids.

[cruiselvr04]

I don’t think it’s going to happen with all the cut backs.

 

 More offerings then just pizza would be great.  Not a whole buffet of food but more than pizza. They have room in Sorentos or Park Cafe to just add a few things.  

 

 

[Starry Eyes]

41 minutes ago, TwoMisfits said:

 

If you want to bring your own ziploc products on board to take a cookie or carrot for your airplane ride after spending probably $1K/person minimum for your trip on board - well, you can.  And it's not like you can't do it with morning breakfast, when the stuff would be a lot fresher...

If you do that could face a fine for bring those products from ship into the country in violation of agriculture laws.  The fines could be more than your cruise fare.  It would be the most expensive carrot you never ate.

Edited January 8 by Starry Eyes

[orville99]

If one doesn't want to drop $9 to get room service (BTW, we have never been on hold more than 1-2 minutes whenever we call), the Promenade cafe' is open 24/7. I'm always amazed at the cavalier attitude that would gladly add cost to everyone else's cruise so they can get their late night calorie fix.

 

Edited January 8 by orville99

[Tatka]

I don’t need to eat after 9 pm, and on rare occasions when I do, there are other venues. 

[Oceansaway17]

Well Celebrity keeps a section of the front open until late for folks to play games and just sit and talk. Same thing with mid day too. There is ice cream and beverages and pizza nearby.

that is the real draw being able to use tables for reading or games not necessarily for eating. I dislike RCI chasing everyone out of WJ at 3 pm when hot outside and no chairs in shade. Mahjong is popular among passengers and cards