15 Cruise Buffet Mistakes You’ll Regret Making

The cruise buffet is one of the places I spend a surprising amount of time when I’m on a cruise.

It’s convenient, there’s usually a huge selection, and I like being able to try a little bit of everything without committing to a full meal.

But after more than 25 cruises, I’ve also learned that there are definitely better and worse ways to eat at a cruise buffet.

Some mistakes can leave you wandering around looking for a table with a plate of rapidly cooling food. Others mean waiting in unnecessarily long lines, missing some of the best dishes, or eating so much at lunch that you don’t even want dinner.

And then there are the little buffet etiquette mistakes that can make the experience unpleasant for everyone around you.

Here are the cruise buffet mistakes I try to avoid.

1. Going to the Buffet at the Busiest Possible Time

Timing can make a big difference at a cruise buffet.

One of the worst times to show up is when everyone else has the exact same idea. Embarkation day lunch is a perfect example. Thousands of passengers may be boarding hungry, and many of them head straight for the buffet.

Breakfast before an early port day and lunch when passengers return from shore can also get extremely busy. If my schedule is flexible, I try to eat slightly earlier or later than the crowd.

Even shifting your meal by 30 minutes can mean shorter lines and a much easier time finding a table.

Some cruise lines even tell passengers when the buffet will be busiest. On my recent MSC cruise to Norway, there was a sign outside the buffet warning passengers that peak breakfast hours were from 7 to 9 a.m. and suggesting that we avoid those times if possible.

I took the hint. If the cruise line is telling you when the buffet will be packed, it’s probably worth adjusting your breakfast time!

2. Hogging a Table After You’re Done Eating

When the cruise buffet is busy, don’t hang onto a table long after you’ve finished eating.

I’ve seen people finish their meal and then sit at a buffet table reading a book, playing cards or just relaxing while other passengers are walking around with full plates looking for somewhere to sit.

Once you’re finished eating, especially during peak hours, give up the table so someone else can use it. There are usually plenty of other places around the ship where you can sit, relax, read or play a game without taking up valuable buffet seating.

Some ships have nice alternatives. On Norwegian Aqua, for example, the Observation Lounge is a great place to sit and relax. There’s even a light snack buffet and drink station nearby, so you’re never far from something to eat or drink.

Save the buffet tables for people who are actually eating and move to one of the ship’s lounges when you’re ready to linger.

3. Getting Your Food Before Finding a Table

I’ve made this mistake many times.

You fill your plate, grab a drink and then start walking around the buffet looking for somewhere to sit.

Meanwhile, your hot food is getting cold.

When the buffet is crowded, I prefer to find a table first, especially when I’m cruising with my family. One person can stay at the table while the others get food, and then we switch.

It’s much less stressful than having everyone walking around carrying full plates while searching for four empty seats together.

4. Using the Same Serving Utensils for Different Dishes

I’ve seen this happen enough times at cruise buffets over the years that I have to include it.

Don’t take a serving utensil from one dish and use it to serve yourself from another. It may seem harmless, but for someone with a food allergy, that simple mistake can cause cross contamination and potentially trigger an allergic reaction.

As a mom of a son with a nut allergy, my heart stops whenever I see someone move a serving utensil from one buffet dish to another.

What looks like a small amount of food left on a spoon or pair of tongs can be a serious problem for someone with a food allergy.

Always use the serving utensil designated for that particular dish, and put it back where you found it. It’s such a simple thing to do, but it can make the buffet safer for everyone.

5. Not Talking to the Buffet Staff If You Have Food Allergies

If you or someone you’re traveling with has a food allergy, don’t just look at the buffet and try to figure out what’s safe on your own. Ask.

Buffet staff will direct you to a manager or chef who can help you figure out which foods are safe to eat. They may also be able to tell you which dishes were made onboard and which items arrived on the ship already prepared or packaged.

This is especially important because ingredients aren’t always obvious just by looking at a dish, and there is also the possibility of cross contamination at a buffet.

My son has a nut allergy, and he has safely eaten at cruise buffets with us on many cruises. We don’t feel like we have to eat every meal in a sit-down restaurant just because of his allergy.

We ask questions, talk to the appropriate staff and find out what options are available for him.

Of course, everyone’s allergy and comfort level are different, so you should make the decision that’s appropriate for your situation. But if you have a food allergy, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The buffet staff are usually trained to help passengers with food allergies.

6. Filling Your Plate Before Seeing Everything

Cruise buffets are big, especially on larger ships, and one thing I’ve learned is that you can’t assume both sides of the buffet serve the same food. Often, there are dishes on one side that you won’t find on the other.

That’s why I always take a quick walk around the entire buffet before I start filling my plate.

I’ve made the mistake of grabbing something that looks good at the first station, only to walk a little farther and discover something I’d much rather eat. By then, my plate is already full.

There may also be specialty stations that are easy to miss, such as a carving station, made-to-order pasta, pizza, international dishes or other foods tucked around a corner or in a separate section.

My advice is simple: don’t grab a plate as soon as you walk in. Take a lap first. See what’s available, decide what’s actually worth eating, and then go back and fill your plate with the things you really want.

7. Ignoring the Made-to-Order Stations

If I see an omelet station at breakfast or another made-to-order station, I usually stop and order.

Because the food is usually better because it’s fresh. It’s being prepared for you instead of sitting on a buffet line.

The line may look longer, but it can be worth waiting a few extra minutes for something freshly cooked.

Depending on the ship, you may find made-to-order eggs, omelets, pasta, stir-fries, noodles or other dishes.

These stations are also easy to miss when you’re rushing through the buffet.

8. Taking Huge Portions of Everything You Want to Try

One of the best things about a cruise buffet is that you can sample foods you normally wouldn’t order.

But you don’t need a full serving of everything.

If I’m curious about something, I take a small amount first. If it’s delicious, I can always go back.

This is especially useful on cruises because there are so many meals and snacks throughout the day. There’s no reason to treat every trip to the buffet like it’s your last chance to eat.

Plus, taking smaller portions means less food gets wasted if you discover you don’t actually like something.

9. Eating So Much at Lunch That You Ruin Dinner

This one is surprisingly easy to do.

You have breakfast, stop for a snack, eat a huge buffet lunch, grab something by the pool and suddenly it’s time for dinner—and you’re not hungry.

I especially try to avoid doing this when I have a dinner reservation or when there’s something on the main dining room menu that I really want.

On a cruise, there is always more food coming.

You don’t need to eat everything you see just because it’s included in your cruise fare.

10. Assuming the Buffet Is the Only Place to Get a Quick Meal

Before automatically heading to the buffet, check the cruise daily planner or the cruise app to see what other complimentary restaurants are open.

Depending on the ship, you might have pizza, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, cafés, poolside grills or other casual restaurants included in your fare.

Most ships also have excellent complimentary sit-down dining.

The buffet is convenient, but sometimes another included restaurant is quieter and the food is made closer to the time you order it.

I always like knowing my free dining options before the cruise so I don’t automatically end up at the buffet every time I’m hungry.

11. Reusing Your Dirty Plate

When you go back for more food, get a clean plate.

Don’t bring your used plate back to the buffet and start serving another round onto it.

There are plenty of clean plates available, and crew members are constantly collecting the used ones.

The same idea applies to serving utensils: try not to let them touch food you’ve already been eating.

12. Forgetting to Wash Your Hands

Cruise ships make it pretty hard to forget about cleaning your hands before entering the buffet—and for good reason.

Some ships have actual handwashing stations right at the buffet entrance.

Almost all ships have hand sanitizer dispensers, and many cruises have a dedicated crew member standing at the entrance offering everyone a squirt of hand sanitizer as they walk in.

Use them.

Think about everything you’ve touched around the ship before getting to the buffet: elevator buttons, railings, door handles and countless other high-touch surfaces that thousands of passengers may be touching throughout the day.

I also try to avoid touching my face while I’m walking around the buffet and make a habit of washing my hands regularly throughout the cruise.

It only takes a few seconds, and getting sick is definitely not how I want to spend my cruise vacation.

13. Letting Young Kids Run Around the Buffet Alone

Cruise buffets can be chaotic.

People are carrying hot coffee, soup and plates piled with food while walking in different directions.

When my kids were younger, I didn’t want them weaving through crowded buffet stations by themselves.

Aside from the possibility of spills or collisions, younger kids may have trouble reaching food and serving utensils without touching things they shouldn’t.

It’s much easier to help younger children make their plates and then get everyone seated.

14. Missing the Less Obvious Buffet Stations

Don’t assume the first section you see is the entire buffet, especially on a large cruise ship.

Some of the best or most interesting food can be tucked away in a corner or at a separate station that you might completely miss if you don’t explore.

Depending on the ship and itinerary, you might find international specialties, regional dishes, carving stations, desserts or even duplicate stations with much shorter lines farther away from the main entrance.

I learned this lesson on a Princess cruise. Late in the cruise, I discovered a little section of the buffet that I hadn’t noticed before. They had fresh guacamole and chips there every day—and I had been missing it!

I remember thinking, if I had just explored the entire buffet on the first day, I could have been eating guacamole and chips all week.

Now, one of the first things I do is walk around and see what the entire buffet has to offer. You never know what might be hiding around the corner.

15. Assuming Every Buffet Dish Is Worth Eating

There is usually so much food available that I don’t waste stomach space on something mediocre.

If something looks like it has been sitting for a while or doesn’t look particularly appealing, I skip it.

I’d rather choose foods that tend to be better fresh or try something from a made-to-order station.

I’ve also learned over the years that there are certain buffet foods I’m much more selective about.

Related: 10 Worst Foods You Should Never Eat at a Cruise Buffet

That doesn’t mean you should be afraid of the buffet. I eat at cruise buffets on practically every cruise. I’m simply selective because there are so many other choices available.