I have vivid memories of my first cruise on Norwegian Spirit, and how excited I was about going to the midnight chocolate buffet!
It wasn’t about being hungry – it was about being able to stay up late and eat as much chocolate as I wanted – which is probably most childrens dream!
Guests were waiting around for the buffet to open, and then taking photos when the doors were opened. That all helped to build the excitement.
There were chocolate fountains, ice carvings, and elaborate food displays – the kind I had never seen before. They were really all so impressive!
I often wondered what happened to midnight buffets, and why do I still miss them?
What Exactly Was A Midnight Buffet?
Midnight chocolate buffets were common across many cruise lines during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.
Norwegian Cruise line were still holding them in the 2000s when I took my first cruises.
There were many elaborate displays; it was a real event that most people seemed to attend.
You could find:
- Ice sculptures
- Chocolate fountains
- Fruit carvings
- Cakes and desserts
- Decorative bread creations
- Chocolate displays
They often opened around midnight and attracted huge crowds to the buffet.
Why They Felt So Special
These days, there seem to be cruise bloggers or vloggers like me on every cruise. Many document everything they eat and everything they see.
Back in the days before smartphones, that didn’t happen.
People didn’t spend all day photographing food, so seeing these displays was always a great surprise.
The buffet became an attraction in its own right.
For many families, it was one of the highlights of the cruise.
My brother and I were allowed to stay up late specifically for it, which made it extra exciting!
The Problem: Most People Didn’t Actually Eat Much
While guests loved looking at the displays, a lot of food wasn’t eaten, or it went to waste.
Many passengers had already eaten a normal dinner or evening snacks. Extra food is something most people on a cruise don’t need.
In reality, there is only a certain amount of chocolate-based foods most people can eat before starting to feel a little sick!
The buffet often became more of a spectacle than a meal.
My mum vividly remembers walking along the cabin corridors the morning after the buffet, and seeing trays with lots of discarded food outside the cabin doors.
It appeared that many people got plates full of food and took it back to their cabins – before deciding it was all far too sickly to eat.
They then just put the trays outside for the cabin stewards to tidy up the next morning.
Why Cruise Lines Started Getting Rid Of Them
Food Waste
- There were growing concerns about the amount of food waste generated by one midnight buffet.
- Cruise lines became much more conscious about reducing waste and improving sustainability.
- Preparing huge displays for one late-night event became harder and harder to justify.
Labour Costs
- Creating the buffets required significant staffing.
- Chefs could spend hours preparing decorative displays and Ice Sculptures.
- Cruise lines realised they could use those resources better elsewhere.
Changing Passenger Habits
Modern passengers often eat throughout the day. Having set dining times with no food in between is becoming more and more unusual.
Today’s ships offer:
- Longer buffet hours, there is food of some sort available most of the day.
- Pizza venues, so you can just grab something and go.
- Late-night snacks in case you are feeling hungry before bed.
- 24-hour food options, so you’re never going to get really hungry.
Guests no longer need one giant midnight buffet.
Bigger Ships, More Dining Choices
Years ago, the midnight buffet was one of the few late-night options, and it was always well attended.
Today, passengers can often find food at a variety of onboard venues almost any time of day.
The midnight buffet became less necessary – and less popular.
Are Midnight Buffets Completely Gone?
They haven’t entirely disappeared.
Some cruise lines occasionally bring them back for gala nights, or on special cruises – and you may find the occasional midnight buffet on special dates on the calendar, like Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
That said, I can’t remember the last time I saw a proper “chocolate buffet” held. They are much rarer than they once were.
Would Midnight Buffets Work Today?
Cruiselines are unlikely to bring back regular midnight buffets because of:
- Food waste concerns.
- The sheer amount of uneaten buffet food represents a massive financial drain.
- Preventing food waste is a key priority for cruise lines’ bottom lines.
- Higher costs
- Cruise lines are always looking at ways to cut costs, it seems.
- Midnight buffets involving elaborate displays are very labour-intensive.
- There are always plenty of alternative dining options for guests.
- Midnight buffets are just not needed.
Guests would still love them to be reinstated:
- For nostalgias sake
- Guests who have been cruising for years often look back to midnight buffets with great fondness.
- Of the sense of occasion – it was a highlight of the cruise and something to look forward to.
- It’s something unique and memorable
- Instagrammers would love it!
When I cruised with Viking, they didn’t have a midnight buffet, but they had the most amazing New Year’s Day brunch. It probably made far more sense for them to do that, as people are far hungrier at lunchtime!
My Favourite Memories…
My favourite memories of midnight buffets are of helping myself to plates full of chocolate strawberries and taking them back to my cabin to eat them.
Chocolate fountains with marshmallows or fruit to dip in the chocolate were also a firm favourite.
I also used to love seeing the amazing Ice sculptures, and it is rare to see those when you cruise now.
Occasionally, if I am lucky enough, I might get chocolate strawberries as a loyalty or suite perk – but nothing compares to the excitement and expectation of staying up late and going to those Norwegian Chocolate buffets!
Have a look at my amazing Viking cruise – and the amazing New Year’s Day brunch – complete with doughnut trees and fruit carvings – in the video below:
Before You Go
Find out about cruise ship behind-the-scenes tours you might want to take here:
Cruise Ship Tours That Take You To Areas Most Passengers Never See
Find out when might be the best time to book a cruise (it isn’t during peak season) below:
The Best Time To Cruise Isn’t When Most People Think
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