wondering what NCL is doing

[ohioNCLcruiser]

I was told they got rid of the trays because its less to clean, and mainly they are big germ spreaders. If you refuse to walk 20 feet to get another plate I'm sure one of the buffet workers will be more then happy to help you!

[muwarr90]

If you think having a tray is High School stuff -I disagree-and to those that think it is classy not to have trays I would agree -if they had staff to serve you drinks-like you see at a buffet in Las Vegas etc.

I ,for one, would rather pay $100-200 more and feel like I am on vacation -and not be aggravated with silliness--

But that is what makes the world go around--

 

To be honest, I disagree about the drink servers with the buffet. I've been to a number of the Vegas buffets, and my biggest problem with all of them is that typically the drink doesn't catch up to me until I'm halfway done with the meal. The timing with the server never seems to quite work right.

 

I think, in practice, getting the drink as part of the buffet works better. We did experience the occasional shortage of cups/glasses on our previous NCL cruise, so I know it too is a less than perfect system.

[ZoneHPH]

how is a buffet any different on the ship compared to a land buffet? i guess the only difference is that on land you have someone refilling your glasses.

 

of all the good things on a ship. i can't imagine that the buffet is going to be the highlight of many people's experience. if that's the case, then those of you truly missed the years when the buffet was really a showcase of elegance and creative skill by the chefs.

 

over time we all had to adjust. i can't tell you how i miss those days. *shrugs* oh well...no point in complaining.

[PattyW]

Having trays at the buffet is high school cafeteria all over again. Go to any classy restaurant for Sunday brunch buffet and you will see NO trays. Sorry. NCL is dead right on this decision.

 

If someone wants a tray, go to McDonald's or Burger King or Wendy's. They have plenty of 'em. They don't belong on a cruise ship.

 

 

At classy Sunday brunches they have napkins and flatwear at your table when you arrive and your drinks are brought to you. Since that's not the case for cruise buffets the trays would come in handy.

[mbisson]

Are you all saying that NCL doesn't have trays in the buffet? Is this a recent change? ;)

[ZoneHPH]

Are you all saying that NCL doesn't have trays in the buffet? Is this a recent change? ;)

 

dude...thought you were gonna play off my "pillow menu" comment. sheesh

 

 

 

 

*mumbles*

you try to set up a good one-liner and look what happens. nothin...*sigh*.

[lambs2]

We were on the Jewel in the Southern Caribbean the week before Easter. Even with the towels in the cabins and a $25. charge for any towel you lost it still was hard to get a lounge chair by the pool! There is supposed to be a 1 hour limit on saving chairs, but never saw this enforced. Watched a couple prime chairs for well over an hour and noone ever came and claimed them. I was tempted to just remove the towels and plop down, but suppressed the urge. At $25. a pop for lost towels people are really taking a chance just leaving them out on the pool deck for hours at a time with no one to wtch them. Wonder how NCL is doing enforcing this charge? I know we kept close tabs on our two beach towels.

[mbisson]

dude...thought you were gonna play off my "pillow menu" comment. sheesh

 

 

 

 

*mumbles*

you try to set up a good one-liner and look what happens. nothin...*sigh*.

 

I considered it but all the comments I could come up with were (shall we say) not for mixed company!

[ZoneHPH]

I considered it but all the comments I could come up with were (shall we say) not for mixed company!

 

as for the towels. yeah kinda stinks about the $25.

 

hehehehee...true on the mixed company.

[mbisson]

If we ever take our act on the road I GET TO BE THE "STRAIGHT" MAN!

[newmexicoNita]

If you think having a tray is High School stuff -I disagree-and to those that think it is classy not to have trays I would agree -if they had staff to serve you drinks-like you see at a buffet in Las Vegas etc.

I ,for one, would rather pay $100-200 more and feel like I am on vacation -and not be aggravated with silliness--

But that is what makes the world go around--

Worrying about having or not having a tray is a bit of sillliness I would say.

 

Nita

[chayisun]

They don't have trays???? I mean, That's why we go "cruising!" They have to have trays!!!

 

How in the world can I carry ALL my plates and cups WITHOUT a tray?

 

Why I remember, on my previous cruise, they had trays....I think it was the S.S. Nina..Or was it the Pinta....Well, anyway, I think there were trays...

 

OK..I am going to CANCEL my upcoming cruise, which takes place on April 20th, unless there are trays....Wait a sec..I'll bring my OWN tray! I'll show 'em...

[mbisson]

Just when we thought we've seen it all----

 

TRAY SMUGGLING! ;)

[muwarr90]

They don't have trays???? I mean, That's why we go "cruising!" They have to have trays!!!

 

How in the world can I carry ALL my plates and cups WITHOUT a tray?

 

Why I remember, on my previous cruise, they had trays....I think it was the S.S. Nina..Or was it the Pinta....Well, anyway, I think there were trays...

 

OK..I am going to CANCEL my upcoming cruise, which takes place on April 20th, unless there are trays....Wait a sec..I'll bring my OWN tray! I'll show 'em...

 

Ahh yes, the good ole' days on Columbus Cruise lines.

 

The only bad part was the shore excursions. They were all the same. Row ashore, ask the natives to tell us where the heck we were, and if they had any gold, plant a cross, and then row back to the ship.

 

The trays were nice though. Pewter, I think.

[WinterSky]

How about handicapped people? My husband uses a cane for balance... I was on the gem this past february), and it was difficult to find someone to help you in the buffet...

 

I was also on the Gem - this past March. I use a walker and found NCL staff extremely helpful throughout our cruise. Every time I entered the Garden Cafe and began to move through the buffet, an attendant with a tray would approach me and offer to help. They were pleasant and moved along at my pace, never rushing me, and offering to add my selections to the tray if I would like them to do so. The attendant then escorted me to find a table. This special needs service was appreciated and couldn't have been handled better by staff. When we dined in the specialty restaurants, the host or hostess who escorted us to our table always offered to find a spot for my walker out of the aisles but nearby.

 

It is unfortunate that you had a different experience. Hopefully, the cruise line that you indicate that you now prefer will meet your expectations.

 

WinterSky

[markf]

if you dont think that the only reason there are no trays is to save money--as people will take less food--then you are missing the point--

every buffet I have been to on land has staff serving drinks--

[JWestShuh]

Hehehehe...I can't believe that trays are still being talked about for three pages now. There were no trays on the Pearl when we went and the only thing that was annoying about it was that my husband, when I was just about to sit down and enjoy my food would say, "Honey, could you get me a drink. I didn't have enough hands."

[MikeandAmy]

Can I say something? WHO FREAKING CARES!!! You are on vacation enjoy it!

[ZoneHPH]

Ahh yes, the good ole' days on Columbus Cruise lines.

 

The only bad part was the shore excursions. They were all the same. Row ashore, ask the natives to tell us where the heck we were, and if they had any gold, plant a cross, and then row back to the ship.

 

The trays were nice though. Pewter, I think.

 

yeah well many of us still have our class action lawsuit against the SS Mayflower.

 

WE WERE FRICKEN ABANDONED! oh suuuuuuuure they told us that during our Plymouth Rock excursion there'd be another ship coming yadda yadda yadda. oh and get this...we paid full price for that excursion.

 

if only we had known Squanto at the time. alas...hindsight always 20/20. but the all you can drink ale clinics were great!

[JWestShuh]

MikeandAmy,

People will complain no matter what...it is a cruising board. At first it was discouraging, and now it just makes me giggle.

[MikeandAmy]

MikeandAmy,

People will complain no matter what...it is a cruising board. At first it was discouraging, and now it just makes me giggle.

 

 

Oh it makes me giggle to, but my god people there are other things in the world that we would complain about. So you have to make more than 1 trip to the buffet. Heck I need the exercise so why not LOL

[mbisson]

Ahh yes, the good ole' days on Columbus Cruise lines.

 

The only bad part was the shore excursions. They were all the same. Row ashore, ask the natives to tell us where the heck we were, and if they had any gold, plant a cross, and then row back to the ship.

 

The trays were nice though. Pewter, I think.

 

Can they get away with those Pewter trays? Isn't the lead content too high?

[JWestShuh]

Oh it makes me giggle to, but my god people there are other things in the world that we would complain about. So you have to make more than 1 trip to the buffet. Heck I need the exercise so why not LOL

Yeah, people complain about the strangest things. I didn't hear many complaints on my last cruise, but the one's I heard were funny. I heard people say that bingo was too expensive and then later they said that bingo wasn't played enough...I heard that the pool wasn't salt water and that it was such a horrible shame that the man was going to complain to customer service...I heard that the coffee "just wasn't cutting it" and that NCL can't seem to ever get the coffee right - "I guess it is just one more thing that we will have to bring with us since they can't make a good cup of coffee." Not big things but you would have thought that it was the end of the world. Some people just like to make others as miserable as they are...

[MikeandAmy]

Yeah, people complain about the strangest things. I didn't hear many complaints on my last cruise, but the one's I heard were funny. I heard people say that bingo was too expensive and then later they said that bingo wasn't played enough...I heard that the pool wasn't salt water and that it was such a horrible shame that the man was going to complain to customer service...I heard that the coffee "just wasn't cutting it" and that NCL can't seem to ever get the coffee right - "I guess it is just one more thing that we will have to bring with us since they can't make a good cup of coffee." Not big things but you would have thought that it was the end of the world. Some people just like to make others as miserable as they are...

 

 

You hit the nail right on the head. If they are miserable they want you to be miserable also.

[jeannep]

Maybe it is me, but I love the coffee on NCL. I can also carry a plate in one hand and a drink in the other.

 

Jeanne:)