Midnight buffet?

Disney would do a midnight Chocolate Buffet/Art. But think the dinners are over. When we sailed Equinox in March they had the Pizza station in the Oceanview Cafe open at midnight.

I remember the midnight buffet, they were usually themed and looked amazing. I believed that they discontinued them because even tho people attended they mostly just took photos, not actually eat leaving lots of food being wasted. I love cheese and fresh fruit so I would take a plate of each back to the room.

THATS what I remember...tables and tables o goodies.....bake chefs in their tall hats...(((sniff))) those were the days. Amazing how many greyheads (who were all probably on diets per their cardiologists) attended and had a blast....I'd just pick...some o this, and this and this and this and that...then go back for more....and I wasn't alone, and didn't feel guilty either....and yes...the ice sculptures!!!

[quote=maryred]

The midnight buffet that you see many of us long time cruisers lament about were Gala Events done on true Formal Evenings (when the dress code had to be observed at the theater, lounges, and casino as well) on types of cruises that are long past. Every platter was a work of art to be more appreciated than eaten. Usually held in the MDR there would be ice and large fruit sculptures galore, trays of deli meats arranged to form scenes to be expected on the sailing, carved roasted meats to resemble important ship's officer or famous people, cut fruits in beautiful mosaics, and dessert cakes that would put those guys & gals on Food TV to shame. The normal flow of things would be a 1 hour free champagne reception to look over the gallery of food, take pictures, and meet the senior staff. Then the next 2 hours were open to anyone who wanted a bite to eat, with staff serving the portions as you went from station to station.

Stop with the chocolate buffet references yeh they have more chocolate stuff...more on some days than others...but thats a poor substitute for the choc-o-holic parties......between that and OSHEEHANS, I have this urge...calm down says me to meself...179 and counting....

So right. Many of the midnight buffets have been replaced by the 24 hour restaurant and other various late night eateries that are open. Add in the eating and dietary habits and changes over the past 30 years and it is easy to see why the demise of the midnight buffet.

I never was on a cruise with the midnight buffet but i very fondly remeber on my first 2 cruises in 2007 and 2012 the Chocolate Buffet that NCL would put on during one of the last sea days in the afternoon. Wow.

Well done MARYRED...O'SHEEHANS!...late late nite wings...aaah...you're making me crazy!!!! PS...they also serve a pretty good breakfast!!

The midnight buffet that you see many of us long time cruisers lament about were Gala Events done on true Formal Evenings (when the dress code had to be observed at the theater, lounges, and casino as well) on types of cruises that are long past. Every platter was a work of art to be more appreciated than eaten. Usually held in the MDR there would be ice and large fruit sculptures galore, trays of deli meats arranged to form scenes to be expected on the sailing, carved roasted meats to resemble important ship's officer or famous people, cut fruits in beautiful mosaics, and dessert cakes that would put those guys & gals on Food TV to shame. The normal flow of things would be a 1 hour free champagne reception to look over the gallery of food, take pictures, and meet the senior staff. Then the next 2 hours were open to anyone who wanted a bite to eat, with staff serving the portions as you went from station to station.

In those days a mega ship held just under 2,000 passengers with a crew of 800, and the age scales seemed to be at the 2 adult extremes, young newlyweds on their honeymoon and retirement aged on their trip of a lifetime. Families with young children on board were a rarity, and kid's camp and teen clubs did not exist. Sadly as ships have gotten bigger and started to appeal with all their bells and whistle doing shorter cruises, this Gala Buffet has become very impractical, though sometimes special sailings like Carnival's Journey cruises do this as a throwback celebration but not ot the full extent it was once done.

On the other hand if you're looking for some late night eats that are included in your fare, almost all cruise lines have something open if not 24 hours a day then at least till 30 minutes after the last lounge entertainer finishes . The 4 cruise lines I've sailed ...

Carnival - besides the 24 hour pizza counter and soft serve ice cream machine most ships do a late night snack buffet from 11:30pm till 1:30am. Usually available are things like burger and hot dogs, BBQ or Buffalo chicken sandwiches, nachos and cheese sauce, grilled cheese, cookies, and a few picnic style salads.

Celebrity - perhaps has the best "late" night buffet treatment, usually from 10:30pm till 12:30 am. Cold cuts and bread to make your own sandwiches, fixings for a simple salad, cubed cheese, fresh fruit, and olives, a small selection of already made pizza slices, a made to order pasta bar, a small variety international set-up, and some pastries and puddings.

Norwegian Cruise Line - No buffet selections but on ships with O'Sheehan Bar there is a late night complimentary menu plus an at fee pub food options available all night long.

Royal Caribbean - Has their Promenade Cafe, again not really a buffet but more of a deli and dessert counter but with a little something for everyone. If a ship does not have the Sorrento's pizza (open 11am-3am most days) slices of pizza can also be found there.

on 5-7 day Itineraries, RCI Ships(Excluding Empress) have Pizza available until 2-3am. Some have a cafe with salads and sandwiches until about 1am.

Cannot really remember what we did for late night food on Empress...perhaps the Windjammer was open later? I'll have to check with my Operations officer and see if she can remember.

I have not been on a cruise with nightly Midnight buffets in over a decade I think. When I was in my 30's I'd eat every night at the Midnight Buffet, Those were the days I could eat everything in sight and not gain an ounce.

Ships not have all night Pizza or a small cafe open all night.