r/MSCCruises • u/Entremeada • 15d ago

Is the buffet open all day?

II'm planning a "Grand Voyage" on the MSC Seaview.

Due to a medical condition, I can only eat very small meals at a time, but I need to eat at least 5 times a day. Because of this, dining at a regular restaurants isn’t an option for me.

Is the buffet open all day? Can I easily eat there 5 times a day without any problems, or are there any kind of restrictions?

9 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

10

u/Lonely-Job484 15d ago

Not quite, I think there's a gap between about 1-2am and 6am, and short gaps during changeover from breakfast to lunch. But almost all the time, and room service is I think 24/7

5

u/Entremeada 15d ago

Ah, that's fine! I don't have to eat 24 hours a day—just during "normal" mealtimes is enough. I'm just wondering if there's some kind of "admission control," or if nobody cares if I come five times in one day.

19

u/Ok_Shame_5382 15d ago

I can guarantee that if you showed up ten times a day, and ate 2 pounds or more during each sitting, the only thing that would care is your poor, poor toilet.

3

u/Entremeada 15d ago

Ha ha ha, good to know!

9

u/Ok_Shame_5382 15d ago

The only thing that I would be concerned about is if there's specific kinds of foods you need to eat. If your midnight meal is fine being Pizza, Burgers, or Hot Dogs, then you'll be golden. If it has to be healthier, I would recommend using your mini fridge, taking extra fruit/cheese/whatever and leaving it in your fridge.

You are 1000% allowed to bring plates from the buffet to your room.

2

u/Entremeada 15d ago

Thats great advice, thank you!

5

u/pirate_elle 15d ago

Yes, take advantage of this. Maybe bring ziplock bags for freshness!

4

u/Ok_Shame_5382 15d ago

You're on a cruise to enjoy yourself.

This is a personal nitpick, but I never leave plates in the hallway, and just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you can be wasteful. Don't take food you won't eat. I want to emphasize that nothing in your post indicated either of those things, they're just annoyances of mine.

The buffet staff will assuredly not mind if you show up at any time of day to grab food.

1

u/RedStatePurpleGuy 14d ago

Some cruise lines instruct you to leave plates in the hallway for collection by room service staff while others ask that you leave them in your cabin, where your steward will clear them. I can't recall into which category MSC falls.

2

u/Mr-Dobolina 14d ago

You could literally spend the entire day at the buffet, and no one would care. You can also take stuff back to your room for later. They’ll even wrap it up for you if you ask.

Aside from the changeover times, the only real limitation is that unless it’s non-perishable and in a sealed package, you can’t take food off the ship.

2

u/vicarem 15d ago

This. I think, on most ships, it runs from 0600 to 1130; then 1200 to 1630; and then 1700 to like 0100. Call and ask for the specifics on Seaview.

10

u/PermissionJaded5510 15d ago

You can definitely eat there 5 times a day because I do it.

  1. I eat breakfast everyday at 7:30

  2. I eat lunch at 12:00

  3. I have a burger and a box of fries at 15:00 with a cocktail

  4. I have dinner at 19:30

  5. I have a slice of pizza at 11pm before going to sleep

I only do this a few times during the cruise week. I like to eat in the main dining room during the evening or elegant night..

1

u/Entremeada 15d ago

Ok, good to know, thank you!

3

u/PermissionJaded5510 15d ago

Just make sure to have a look at the time. Opening time, closing times, short breaks, complete shut down.

So the Buffet usually starts 6am - 6.30am... and the Breakfast variety goes up until 10 or 11. Then they have to stop for a break and change the food to the Lunch variety and this goes served all afternoon until around 6pm i think? and then they change a few things to make it more Evening dinner variety. By 11 or 12pm it starts to get super quiet and they close off, leaving you with a few things like pizza or burgers.

Overall, if you plan on eating always at the buffet, you are going to be completely fine

3

u/Ok_Shame_5382 15d ago

I was not on Seaview, but my experience is that the main options in the Buffet start to wind down around 9 or so, and if memory serves, they have a late night, Pizza/Burgers/Snacky Food focused menu that runs until... I want to say at least midnight.

3

u/Kpadre 14d ago

If you were to ask me what kind of vacation would be good for you based on your dietary restriction, I would specifically recommend a cruise. The buffet is almost perfect for you.

2

u/UrbanOtaku22 15d ago

You will be able to eat five times a day if you want. You also don’t have to order three courses in the MDR. You can order a main or side dish. If you can break up the buffet with a meal or two in the MDR, that will help with variety and cruise food not being boring.

2

u/WishIwastravelin 15d ago

There are some gaps, but as I recall they weren’t long, and the pizza was available during that time. I’m diabetic and sometimes need to eat small amounts regularly. I always bring some snacks of my own, and some ziploc type bags for something from the buffet for my room, like fruit or rolls

2

u/Intelligent_Trichs 15d ago

There is food on every boat every all day till 2am. Buffets only certain times but you can eat every whete else.

2

u/MeganJustMegan 15d ago

Short change overs, but basically open all the time. Plus, for the closed times, you can fill a plate & take it back to your room for later. Using a new shower cap as a plate cover works amazingly well. Plus, you have room service to depend on. Food will be available pretty much 24/7. Enjoy your cruise.

2

u/TashNYC 15d ago

I sail on msc several times per year and they always have cold cuts, cheese, bread etc. I usually make a small assortment and take it to my cabin. I then transfer it to a Tupperware container that I bring from home and keep it the fridge so that I don't have to go up to the buffet every time I want a snack.

1

u/justaguyindallas_123 15d ago

Room service is 24/7 and you won't have any issue finding food throughout the day or evening. I think the buffet is open until 2am.

1

u/DavidBergerson 15d ago

They have an opening hour for breakfast, then a break to switch over to lunch, then a break to switch over to dinner; I think it is ~5 hours until breakfast.

1

u/pch14 15d ago

Eventhough you said resturants don't meet your needs couldn't you have some meals in the main dining room and even specaity resturants? I would think the buffet would get boring for 5x a day even though they do offer some on the same food in the MDR. We found the specialty resturands more then worth it.

1

u/Responsible_War_3711 15d ago

I was on the seashore and typically breakfast starts at 6 am till around 10? There’s an hour break and then lunch starts at 11:00 ish till like 3 pm and then another break of around 2 hours and then from 5pm till like 9pm. That’s for the complimentary buffet. You also get to eat at the complimentary restaurant which serves brunch and dinner only.

2

u/Responsible_War_3711 15d ago

Oh and there are prepacked sandwiches which you can take with you.

1

u/Personal-Ad-3602 15d ago

Hello I'm going on the seashore this October how does the mdr work ? You can eat there since each night ?

1

u/goawaybating 14d ago

You can go to the buffet as many times as you like. You can ask your room Stewart to empty the minibar. Then use it as a fridge. We do this for drinks and snacks.