Cruise ship buffets are one of the most popular places on board, but they are also one of the most controversial. Everyone loves the variety of food and the casual atmosphere, but ask any cruiser and they will tell you the buffet can also bring out some of the worst habits at sea.
When I asked the Life Well Cruised Facebook community about cruise ship buffet etiquette, I was flooded with hundreds of comments. It turns out people have very strong opinions about what you should and absolutely should not do.
I kicked things off with one of my own pet peeves: “Drop the spoon on the floor and put it back in the dish. Yes, I’ve seen it.” That one comment got a huge reaction and from there, the stories rolled in.
In this article, we are breaking down the biggest cruise ship buffet don’ts with tips and real-life examples straight from fellow cruisers.
What Not to Do in a Cruise Ship Buffet
1. Not Washing Your Hands Before Entering the Buffet
One of the most common complaints from cruisers is seeing people head straight for the buffet without washing their hands or using hand sanitizer. With so many people sharing the same serving utensils, skipping this step can spread germs quickly.
Cruise ships usually have sinks or sanitizer stations right at the entrance for a reason. A few seconds to wash your hands or use sanitizer helps keep everyone on board healthy and avoids turning the buffet into a germ hotspot.
As one cruiser in my Facebook group put it, “It takes five seconds to sanitize. Don’t skip it!”
2. Touching Your Face and Then the Serving Utensils
This one came up again and again in the comments, and for good reason. Cruise buffets are a shared space, which makes it extra important to be mindful of hygiene. Touching your face and then immediately grabbing the serving tongs spreads germs faster than you might think.
As one cruiser put it, “Touch their face (nose area) and then touch the food tong.” Even if you are careful, it is easy to forget that everyone after you will be using the same utensil. A quick wipe with a napkin or using sanitizer before serving yourself goes a long way in keeping things clean for everyone.
3. Eating From Your Plate While Walking Around the Buffet
Several cruisers mentioned this as one of their biggest pet peeves. Walking around the buffet while snacking from your plate might seem harmless, but it creates a hygiene issue. Every time you lean over the food stations, you are bringing your plate and whatever you are eating right over the serving dishes.
It is also easy to bump into someone or accidentally drip food onto the counters while you are still choosing items. The buffet is designed for you to serve yourself first and then sit down to enjoy your meal.
4. Overfilling Your Plate
Piling your plate sky-high might seem tempting with so many delicious options, but it is one of the biggest buffet don’ts mentioned by cruisers. When food is stacked too high, it often ends up falling onto the counters or the floor, which creates a mess and wastes food.
Cruise buffets are all-you-can-eat, so there is no need to take everything in one trip. You can always go back for seconds (or thirds). Just make sure you grab a new plate!
Recently, I visited an all-you-can-eat buffet on land and saw this first-hand. At one point they brought out a tray of oysters, and the first lady in line took about 20 of them. The tray probably only had 25 oysters total, so it did not leave much for anyone else. I was shocked to see someone do this, and it is exactly the kind of thing that can happen on a cruise if people are not considerate.
5. Picking Up Food With Your Hands
This was one of the most repeated complaints from cruisers, and for good reason. Buffets are set up with serving utensils to keep things sanitary. The second someone reaches in and grabs food with their bare hands, it ruins it for everyone else.
Whether it is a roll, a piece of fruit, or even something “small,” always use the tongs or spoons provided. As one cruiser in the Life Well Cruised Facebook group said, “The minute I see someone grab food with their hands, I lose my appetite.”
Recently, on the last day of my cruise, we were in the buffet grabbing breakfast before debarkation. When I went to the fruit station, there was a lady touching all of the apples with her bare hands to figure out which ones were best. This completely ruined my appetite because she kept picking them up and putting them back down.
I get doing this in a grocery store, but this was a buffet on a cruise ship. Chances are, nobody is washing the apples before eating them, especially if they are eating inside the buffet.
Even if you think your hands are clean, remember that hundreds of other people are sharing the same food stations. A little consideration goes a long way in keeping the buffet safe and enjoyable for everyone.
6. Cutting in Front of People
This one drives cruisers absolutely crazy. Waiting your turn at the buffet is basic courtesy, yet several people in my Facebook group shared stories of cruise passengers walking right up and cutting in front of the line.
Not only is it rude, but it also creates chaos in what is already a busy space. Even if you only want “one quick thing,” it is still better to wait or politely ask. As one cruiser put it, “We’re all going to the same buffet. Your bacon isn’t going anywhere.”
A little patience keeps the flow of the buffet moving smoothly and avoids giving anyone a reason to roll their eyes behind you.
7. Wearing Pajamas, Robes, and Slippers to the Buffet
This one sparked a lot of debate in the Life Well Cruised Facebook community. Personally, I do not feel strongly about it either way, but it definitely got people talking.
One cruiser shared, “Wear pyjamas and robes and slippers. All she needed was her hair curlers (do people use those anymore?).” Some people feel like the buffet is casual enough that anything goes, while others think pajamas and robes cross the line into “too relaxed.”
In my view, as long as people are clean and covered, I tend to focus more on the food than what anyone is wearing. That said, it is a reminder that dress etiquette is one of those gray areas that can spark strong opinions on a cruise ship.
It’s probably best to leave the pajamas and robes for room service breakfast!
Related: What Not to Wear on a Cruise; Rules and Guidelines
8. Coughing or Sneezing Without Covering Your Mouth
This is one of those buffet behaviors that makes everyone cringe. A user in my Facebook group shared seeing someone, “cough and sneeze without covering your mouth,” right over the food area. It is the kind of thing that makes you want to skip the buffet and head to the main dining room.
Cruise ships are enclosed spaces with hundreds or thousands of cruise passengers, so covering your mouth (and turning away from the food) is just basic courtesy. If you are not feeling well, it is even better to avoid the buffet altogether and order room service instead.
A little consideration goes a long way to keep everyone healthy and enjoying their cruise.
9. Getting Dressed at the Buffet
One Life Well Cruised Facebook group member shared a story that had everyone shaking their heads. “Get dressed standing next to your table,” they said. “I saw a couple walk in. The woman was wearing a bathing suit and put a sun dress on over it. Then she took her bathing suit off right there at the table and waited for her husband to bring her food.”
Yes, this happened on a cruise. Cruise ships are casual and people are often heading to or from the pool, however the buffet is not the place to get changed. If you need to put on dry clothes or switch from a bathing suit to something else, your cabin is at most 10 minutes away.
A quick stop to change not only keeps things sanitary, it also saves everyone around you from a very awkward meal.
10. Not Looking After Your Kids in the Buffet
This was one of the most common gripes shared by cruisers, and multiple people in the Life Well Cruised Facebook community had stories to tell. From kids grabbing food, licking it, and putting it back, to climbing on chairs and tables or making a mess at the soft serve machine, it is a recurring problem many cruisers notice.
Running around the buffet and yelling might just seem like kids being kids, but in a crowded space with hot food, drinks, and people carrying plates, it can quickly become unsafe. The buffet is a high-traffic area, and without supervision, it can turn chaotic for everyone.
As one cruiser put it, “I don’t blame the kids, I blame the parents. If you bring them to the buffet, keep an eye on them.” A little extra attention goes a long way to make sure everyone enjoys their meal without accidents or food waste.
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Final Thoughts on What Not to Do in Cruise Ship Buffets
Cruise ship buffets are a favorite part of any sailing, but a little etiquette makes a big difference in keeping them enjoyable for everyone. Most of these “don’ts” come down to being considerate and remembering that hundreds of other cruise guests are sharing the same space.
What is your biggest cruise ship buffet pet peeve? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
