Cruise guests issued buffet warning as they’re told crucial time to avoid it

A cruise guest has warned passengers which day they should stay away from the ship's buffet restaurant.

By Esther Marshall, Senior Travel Reporter

Cruise ship buffet

The cruise ship buffet might be best avoided on the first day (Image: Getty)

Cruise ship buffets are usually one of the most popular places to eat onboard as they’re always included.

However, a guest has taken to Reddit to warn other passengers when they should avoid the buffet restaurant.

‘TrevorMcPhee’ wrote: “Don’t go to the buffet for lunch on embarkation day, there are usually a couple of other options that are far less crowded. If you don’t know what’s available ahead of time, ask a crew member onboard.”

Large cruise ships will usually have a huge range of restaurants onboard. While some may incur an additional charge, others will be included in the price of the cruise.

Guests can ask crew members which venues are open on the first day and choose somewhere a little quieter than the buffet.

Couple having drinks on cruise ship

A drinks package could be a good idea if guests intend to drink a lot (Image: Getty)

On some cruise ships, guests will also be able to try samples from speciality restaurants on the first day of their trip.

Another guest warned: “Don’t drink too much. If you don’t have a drinks package, you’ll end up with a scary tab at the end of the cruise.”

Guests will usually have their drinks charged to the room so they could be in for a surprise if they don’t keep track of their spending.

Women applying sun cream

Sun cream can be expensive to buy onboard the ship (Image: Getty)

A drinks package could be a good idea if guests intend to drink a lot while they’re away and don’t want to worry about their final bill.

One guest added: “Pack more sunscreen than you think you need. It’s hot out in the middle of the ocean and very expensive to buy on ship or in port.”

Cruise ship decks can be very exposed to the sun so guests should be careful to wear sun cream.

Sun cream is usually one of the most expensive items to buy onboard so it’s a good idea to pack more than you think you’ll need.

If you do run out, try to buy another bottle at a city supermarket rather than an expensive port shop designed for tourists.

Do you have another cruise tip to share? Let us know in the comments.

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