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Are buffets open on cruise ships?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 06, 2026

NCL Has Been Back in Buffet Action

Norwegian Cruise Line began bringing back buffets starting with select sailings over summer 2021.

Are cruise ships serving buffets?

Some cruise ships open the buffet only for meals and close in between. Others are open 24/7, or open from early breakfast through late-night snacks, only closing in the middle of the night. Some buffets keep their self-service drink stations open all night, even if no food is on offer.

Are buffets back on cruise ships?

Self-Service Buffets Are Now Back On Board

“On cruises departing on or after April 2, 2022, Royal Caribbean International will bring back self-service dining in guest-favorite venues on board, including the Windjammer Marketplace, Solarium Bistro, and at private destinations.”

Are cruise buffets open?

Since the restart of the cruise industry in June 2021, Royal Caribbean crew members have been serving guests at all buffets onboard its cruise ships. Cruisers on some Royal Caribbean ships this week have reported guests are now serving themselves at the buffet.

Are cruises still doing buffets?

Do Cruise Ships Still Have Buffets? Cruise ships do still have buffets. The function of buffets on cruise ships is the same as before the Coronavirus pandemic but the way that guests eat in the buffet has changed slightly. Food in cruise ship buffets is no longer self serve and will be served to guests by crew members.

35 related questions found

Will cruise ships have buffets after Covid?

Harmony Of The Seas Cabins - Video Tour - Cruise Critic

Fast-forward one year, and the CDC's revised guidance now says shipboard buffets are able to resume as they were pre-pandemic for vessels mandating the full vaccination of all passengers and crew.

Do you still have to wear mask on a cruise?

Travelers will still need to follow local mask mandates at public ports of call, and masks should be worn at the cruise terminal during boarding and screening and during disembarkation.

Do cruises still have midnight buffets?

Although cruise midnight buffets are nearly extinct, several lines still offer a spread of snacks that are available into the wee hours of the morning. Beyond the buffet options are other tidbits for those feeling peckish after a long night of dancing or watching alfresco movies.

Is Royal Caribbean getting rid of buffets?

They've now decided to go with the self-service buffet. Having crew members serve passengers instead of guests was one of the early changes cruise lines made during the Covid-19 pandemic in order to limit the spread from person to person.

Is Royal Caribbean having buffets?

Available across the Royal Caribbean fleet, Windjammer is the cruise line's main self-serve buffet offering. Additional buffet-style options vary by ship, an example is Solarium Bistro or Park Cafe.

Is Windjammer Open on Royal Caribbean?

Windjammer is closed for dinner. Royal Caribbean said that they will reopen it when ships start sailing with a 65% capacity (ballpark figure).

What time does Windjammer Open on Royal Caribbean?

Windjammer Cafe Hours:

Full-Buffet Breakfast: 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Lunch: Noon-2:00 p.m. Afternoon Tea and Snacks: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Dinner: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Which NCL ships have Margaritaville?

NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY

In all Breakaway has more than 25 dining experiences, including many seafood venues, and of course Margaritaville at Sea. Entertainment is spectacular onboard, including three Broadway Shows: Rock of Ages, Burn The Floor, and Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy.

What is cruise ship dining?

Most cruise ships have one or more main dining rooms. These are typically large, sit-down restaurants with waiter service, where multicourse meals are included in your cruise fare. (You will see them referred to as MDRs by past cruisers on Cruise Critic's message boards.)

How do you pronounce buffet?

The meal is pronounced "BOO-fay" or "BEW-fay" in British English, and "buh-FAY" or "buff-FAY" in American English (but now increasingly also "BOO-fay").

Are there snacks on cruise ships?

Yes, food can be delivered to your cabin 24/7 on most major cruise lines' ships. Typically, the room service menu features a Continental breakfast (some lines offer a few hot items, sometimes for an extra fee), plus an all-day menu of sandwiches, salads, pizza, perhaps a few hot items or appetizers, and dessert.

Does Carnival do a midnight buffet?

Carnival Cruise Line does not offer the midnight buffet as old-school cruisers once experienced, but on some ships, they do serve a Mexican buffet on one night, starting around 11:30 p.m. It's usually on a port day before a sea day. They also offer room service.

How many cruise lines is there?

Currently, there are 51 ocean cruise lines and 27 river cruise lines. However, this number may fluctuate, depending on the source, as some cruise lines are owned by larger parent companies.

What cruise line does not require masks?

Norwegian Cruise Line

No masks here. Because Norwegian Cruise Line is mandating that only 100 percent fully vaccinated passengers and crew will be allowed onboard through the fall, passengers on the company's summer sailings will not have to wear masks or socially distance while onboard.

Do you have to wear a mask on a cruise ship 2022?

Starting for voyages embarking on or after March 1, 2022, NCL will no longer require passengers to be masked for all voyages departing from U.S. homeports.

How long will masks be required on planes?

The federal transportation mask mandate in the United States has just been extended by a further two weeks, through May 3, 2022.

Is Johnny Rockets free on Royal Caribbean?

Though it's a specialty restaurant, Johnny Rockets serves a classic American breakfast free of charge on Oasis, Allure, Harmony and Symphony of the Seas.

Is bottled water free on Royal Caribbean?

For non-alcoholic beverages, the Refreshment Package is offered on a per guest, per day basis, and includes coffee, tea, sparkling or still bottled water, fresh-squeezed juices, non-alcoholic cocktails, fountain soda and a complimentary Coca-Cola® souvenir cup.

Are food in cruise ships free?

Is food on a cruise free? You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for free on a cruise. This includes access to all complimentary food venues onboard. Main dining restaurants feature versatile menus that cater to a variety of tastes and dietary preferences, which comes included in your cruise fare.