When you think about it, cruise ships really are the most unique of vacation environments possible.  No other vacation option confines you in a defined space with people whom you have absolutely no connection.  Sure, when at a hotel or all-inclusive resort you are sharing space with strangers but with both of those options there isn’t anything keeping you from leaving at any time you choose.  When on a cruise once you leave the dock, unless you are one hell of a swimmer you have no choice but to coexist with strangers, both perfect and imperfect.

While these recommendations on how to conduct yourself while at the buffet are pretty detailed they are far from comprehensive.  There are so many other rules of cruise buffet etiquette that it would be Due to this need to “get-along” with your fellow passengers certain rules of etiquette need to be observed.  These rules I speak of are quite numerous and could probably fill a book, one that I am not qualified to author.  However, there are certain rules of etiquette that I feel perfectly comfortable speaking about.  Most of the breaches of etiquette basically come down to common sense being displaced by feelings of entitlement mixed with lapses of judgment.  After all, you paid for the vacation so you can do whatever you want, right?  Wrong!  Unfortunately many people do feel that their, right to do as they wish, supersede the best interests of everyone else on board the cruise ship.  For this reason I will occasionally be writing an article reminding everyone of their manners.

Conducting Yourself at the Lido Deck Buffet

If a scientific poll was conducted asking “what is the number 1 activity to do on a cruise ship”, eating would win in a landslide.  While many don’t consider eating an activity, judging by the way it happens on cruise ships, I beg to differ.  In fact, over the course of my many cruises I would say some passengers have managed to elevate eating well past the “activity” level, to full blown competition status.  Now I won’t begrudge anyone for doing what makes them happy especially since I myself have a weakness for well-prepared fish and chips, my motto is if it’s not affecting anyone else, knock yourself out.  The problem is all too often at the buffet, one passengers behavior is affecting the other cruise ship passengers.

To be as frank as possible, far too many of us have no idea how to conduct ourselves at the buffet.  So, I have decided to make a list of “rules” we all should follow when dining at a cruise ship buffet:

Preparation for the Cruise Ship Buffet

Always without fail wash your hands before arriving at the buffet.  It is not only your responsibility, but also your duty to scrub your hands as thoroughly as humanly possible.  When standing at the sink you should pretend to be a surgeon prepping.

Grab the first plate and silverware you touch.  Even though your hands should be clean no one wants to use eating utensils that you just got done fondling.  Even if you aren’t showing any signs of being sick it doesn’t  mean you aren’t carrying some bug.

When entering a buffet line it is rarely acceptable to save someone a spot.  If you are with a large group make a choice to go together or separately, but make the choice and stick to it.  The rare exception to this rule can be made when traveling with someone elderly or disabled.  When I say disabled I mean actually disabled not like the people that park in the front spaces at my grocery store.

When in a group one person should volunteer to hold the table while the others go grab the food.  You are on a moving ship not at a Grateful Dead concert. Although most ships don’t rock very much it’s still not a good idea to circle around the buffet area carrying hot food, possibly creating a slip and fall situation if something spills.  Not to mention the traffic flow problems created by that group of 10 circling against the traffic flow looking for a “good” spot.

Many buffets have hand sanitizer at the entrance, use it.  Even if you have washed your hands it still is a good idea to use the sanitizer provided.

Once in the Cruise Ship Buffet line

Never touch anything with your hands.  Although we all applaud your efforts at cleaning your hands as thoroughly possible before entering the buffet line, using your hands to serve food is just gross.  Not mention unless you boiled them you probably are carrying some germ that no one else wants.

At the buffet every item has one or more utensils designated for use with that particular item, don’t cross contaminate.  Never use the utensils from one item to pick up a different type of item.  For all you know, the next person in line could be allergic to the dish those tongs were actually meant to serve.  Always put the serving utensils back in its correct place.

Never eat at the buffet line. If you can’t decide whether or not want a particular item take a small portion to see if it’s something you want. While I hate wasting food I’d rather you throw some away than taste it while standing in the buffet line.  Believe it or not I have actually seen someone taste something right out of the serving tray.

Don’t pick through the food.  If there is lobster paella on the menu don’t stand there for five minutes hoarding as many pieces of lobster as possible.  Its rude, clogs the line and throws off the balance for everyone else, you end up with 2 pounds of lobster and everyone else gets rice.

Although there is no way to un-grossify this next suggestion, let’s give it a shot.  If you have to sneeze or cough while in line for the buffet please, please turn away from not only the food but the other passengers in line.  If you feel it coming early enough feel free to leave your tray on the counter and step out of line to sneeze.  Also remember to sneeze into the crook of your arm and not your hands.

Once you select something, it is yours.  Never claim something and then put it back if you decided against it later.

Of course, one of the main draws of the buffet is the ability to go back for seconds, thirds and nineteenths if you choose, it’s the all you can eat portion of the equation.  Just remember when you go back for subsequent servings, never use the same plate.  Just leave the empty one at the table and get a fresh one to use.  The same goes for cups at the drink station, never refill the same one.

Never stop, wait or linger, choose fast and keep it moving. There are passengers behind you that are trying to get something to eat.  It’s great that you just spotted your dining room waiter doing his “day job” but the middle of a buffet line is not the place to talk about what you did in port today.

When Finished Eating at the Buffet

Get up and leave when you are done, don’t linger.  While the buffet area does seat a lot of passengers, they are not designed to handle the full capacity of the ship.  At peak times during the day seating does become scarce, it’s unavoidable.  If you decide to hang around the buffet area to read or play around on your laptop you should at least move to an area that wouldn’t be considered prime real estate, such as a back-corner or second level table.

So as you can see most if not all of these etiquette violations are the result of a temporary lack of common sense more so than any deliberate behavior.  I don’t think anyone would stand in a buffet line and sneeze on food or deliberately cause a traffic jam during the dinner rush, but sometimes we all need a reminder.  Everything I listed was something I had seen within the last year so even though they are just common sense they are still happening.  What violations of  Cruise Ship Buffet Etiquette have you noticed on your cruises?