Carnival Cruise Line takes on dining controversy
Trying to solve this cruise dining dilemma could create another problem for the cruise line.
Most cruise lines manage their dining rooms a little differently than land-based restaurants.
While land-based restaurants don’t often assign multiple parties to one table, traditional cruise ships often do, at least in the main dining room.
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And while staff at a land-based buffet restaurant will typically show guests to a table and take their drink orders before sending them off to get food at the buffet, most cruise ships leave buffet seating arrangements up to their passengers.
To at least one passenger, this is not appropriate etiquette, however.
“We have been on 4 cruises and we as a family [think] Carnival does it all wrong,” an unidentified passenger wrote in a message that Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald shared in a Facebook post. “You should instruct passengers in the same way — does. You should get a table first and then go to the buffet line not the other way round. This is the correct appropriate etiquette.”
The passenger noted that another cruise line uses flags to indicate that a table is taken.
“Passengers should get a table first, reserve that table and THEN go to the buffet line,” the passenger insisted. “Why is this not done on Carnival ships John? It is not acceptable the way Carnival does this.”
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Carnival brand ambassador asks for feedback on cruise buffet approach
In the post, Heald also shared his own musings on the matter.
“Thank you, fascinating indeed, I never thought of this to be honest,” Heald noted. “In a hotel you do get shown to your table and then as you sit down you think ‘oh FFS’ it’s a buffet and then you have to get [out] of your chair and then head to the buffet. But hold on, here comes the waiter with coffee so ummmm, you have to sit down again and then when the coffee is poured up you get again to head to the food.”
Heald explained how Carnival follows a different approach that leaves the cruise buffet procedure up to passengers.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line passengers reject Royal Caribbean feature
“Anyway, on a ship it is different because you do not get shown to your table on Lido," Heald continued. “As for what to do, food or table first? Well, I guess if you have others in your family or friends who can save the table while everyone else [gets] their food you can do this but if you’re a solo cruiser then [that’s] not possible.”
Heald invited Carnival passengers to share their buffet preferences in the comments on the post.
“I think it is safe to say that most of you get food first, right?” Heald asked. “Thoughts please.”
Most cruise passengers save a table before getting food at the buffet
From the comments on the post, it’s clear that most passengers don’t want to worry about searching for an open table while carrying a plate of food. Most secure a table first.
“We always get our table first. Who wants to walk around with a plate of food in their hand looking for a table? Not me,” wrote Stephanie Semple Provo. “That said, we always leave something on the table signifying that it’s taken or one of us stays while the other gets food.”
Some passengers noted that saving a table first also helps your dining party find each other after getting food. Most passengers, however, disagree that the cruise line should establish a buffet procedure to reserve tables for them.
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“Why do people need to be “instructed” on something that is personal preference?” Anne Tubbs asserted. “What difference does it make if one person wants to get their food first or get their table first?? And, why is this even a concern for others…being “not acceptable as Carnival does it”…?”
One passenger pointed out that if the cruise line provided flags to reserve tables, it might lead to another problem.
“We always get a table first and take turns getting our food. It’s just common sense for us,” commented Trish White. “IMO flags aren’t needed. Then you would have people holding tables all day like they do the seats at the pool.”
“I’d rather they address the ‘chair holders’ than tables at the buffet,” Michelle Gray replied.
