The buffet is among the most popular areas of the cruise ship. All passengers love to go there to taste the many different dishes that are prepared every day.
Among meat, fish, pasta, burgers, hotdogs, and pizza, there is truly an abundance of choices!
However, what we will focus on in this article is not the food but the behaviors to observe at the buffet.
Are there some things you shouldn’t do? Actually, yes, there are 10 things you should absolutely avoid. Let’s see what they are.
1. Entering without washing hands
The first very wrong behavior is to enter the buffet without washing your hands.
On many cruise ships, you will notice that there are several sinks at the entrance. Remember that they are there to be used!
But why is it so important to do this before entering? You should know that on a cruise, stomach viruses are quite common, precisely because there are so many people in a fairly small environment.
Therefore, washing your hands well before eating is essential if you don’t want to risk ruining your vacation.
2. Touch the food with your hands
Again as a matter of hygiene, you should never touch the food displayed at the buffet with your hands.
You will always find tongs or spoons to pick up food and put it on your plate.
Remember to also use them to pick up food that we often pick with bare hands, such as bread and fruit.
3. Overfilling the plate
Another thing you should never do is overfill your plate with food you won’t be able to eat.
When we arrive at the buffet, and we are very hungry, we tend to put much more food on the plate than we will eat.
So remember to take just a few things at first, and you can always get back to get more food later.
In addition, I recommend that you do not take an excessive amount if there’s something new, and you do not know if you like it. Take a small amount to try it; if you like it, you can go back to take a larger amount.
4. Skip the lines
It can often happen, especially during peak season, that there are queues at the buffet.
Try to adhere to them as much as possible and avoid jumping the queue, even though it might be tempting.
I know waiting in line can be stressful, especially when you are hungry, but following these rules is crucial when there are so many people.
If you want a tip for not waiting too long, don’t stop at the first few stations at the buffet entrance.
Usually, if you head toward the end you will find less crowded stations and more free seats.
5. Eating in a bathing suit
Most cruise lines have a policy that prohibits passengers from eating with only their swimsuits on.
If you go to the pool, remember to bring a cover-up or shorts and a T-shirt, so that you can wear them when you go to eat.
Obviously, you also need to wear a pair of shoes, so remember to pack slippers.
6. Leave children unsupervised
Many parents let their children roam freely around the ship since there’s no risk of them going too far.
However, if you let them go to the buffet on their own, make sure they follow the rules as well.
If you haven’t done so yet, or if it’s their first time at a buffet, explain to them that they need to respect the lines and that there might be other people waiting before them.
Tell them not to touch the food with their hands and to take only what they can eat.
7. Don’t check for allergies and intolerances
Cruise ships prepare many meals a day and use many different ingredients.
If you have intolerances and allergies, check the allergen tag before you take anything at the buffet.
If you have any doubts and are not sure, you can also ask the staff if any ingredient was added to the preparation.
Also remember, if you have allergies, to notify the cruise line before departure. They will try to make arrangements to meet your special needs.
8. Changing ideas about the food to eat
Once you put food on your plate, you cannot change your mind by putting it back.
This is why I always recommend that you take a full tour of the buffet before you start filling your plate.
Look at what you like and what you would like to eat, only after you have looked at everything start filling your plate with the things you like best.
9. Leaving the table dirty or the dishes around the ship
Even though there is always someone ready to clean up after you on a cruise, try to leave the table fairly clean.
Avoid dropping food off the plate or on the floor.
Similarly, do not leave dirty plates around the ship or on the ground. Especially by the pool, I’ve often seen dirty plates on the ground or on lounge chairs.
If you have finished eating, place the plate on a table or hand it to a staff member who will take it away.
10. Ignore signs and rules
The buffets on cruise ships are very large, with several thousand people passing through each day.
For this reason, it is important to follow the signs and the instructions of the staff.
For example, some doors may be used only for entrance or exit, and some areas may be one-way.
Following these rules will allow the buffet to operate efficiently and prevent crowds and queues.
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