<body><div>A cruise ship expert has shared his "buffet rules" and issued a caution to fellow travelers about dining on board. Gary Bembridge, a seasoned cruiser and the face behind the Tips for Travelers YouTube channel, has developed these guidelines over years of travel.These rules dictate whether he eats at the buffet, how he navigates it if he does, and what food items he will or won't consume. On his recent voyage on the Cunard Queen Anne, Bembridge didn't dine at the buffet at all, while on a Holland America journey, he had lunch there daily.He also mentioned that during his Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas cruise, he ate "pretty much" all his meals at the buffet. In his video, he elaborated on how he formulates these rules. One key rule is avoiding the buffet on embarkation day. Bembridge observed that savvy cruisers never hit the buffet "at the wrong time", choosing carefully when to dine there, reports the Express.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2ln9Zm_0wAZRzdu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ln9Zm_0wAZRzdu00" width="1200" height="799" ><figcaption>Gary had tips for people regarding the buffet on cruise ships ( Image: (Image: Getty))</figcaption></figure>He noted: "For a start, smart cruisers generally don't go to the buffet for embarkation day lunch. Not only is it busy, but there are better options and things that can help you get ahead of the crowds by not eating there.""There are always better alternatives that are less busy and offer in fact an elevated dining experience. The main dining room, if it's open, is one. As well as having a calmer atmosphere and a good menu there are several key things that you should do while there on embarkation day to get ahead of the crowds on setting up a better dining experience for your entire cruise.""Use the main dining roomGary says that, if you have loyalty status, cruisers should check to see if there is a special main dining room lunch and menu exclusively for you."Gary advises, adding that if you have loyalty status, cruisers should check to see if there is a special main dining room lunch and menu exclusively for you."Smart cruisers mostly go to the main dining room for embarkation day lunch instead of the buffet for two other key reasons. First of all, to make sure they have a great table if they're on fixed dining.""The other reason is to get food allergy requirements sorted. The main dining room maître d' is normally the person handling this and the one you have to speak to at some time."<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=34rlrm_0wAZRzdu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=34rlrm_0wAZRzdu00" width="1200" height="799" ><figcaption>Cruise ships are becoming more popular forms of vacationing ( Image: (Image: Getty))</figcaption></figure>"It's really important to do this because the buffet restaurant could be riskier for passengers with dietary issues. The maître d is there to assist and advise on how to handle all of this so seeing them early on is really important."Gary also suggests avoiding peak times as his third rule that smart cruisers adhere to, as the buffet can get hectic and hard to find tables. He said: "For breakfast that is usually about an hour before the ship gets into port because people want to eat before a port in for excursions or heading out exploring.""If open, I always use the main dining room, it's quieter, it's less frantic, or if not I order room service. Lunch peaks between 12.30 and 1.30pm when excursions tend to arrive back or people self exploring return to the ship to have lunch.""In the evenings, I often eat in the buffet to get more of my evenings on board. Eating in the buffet can take as little as 15 minutes but the main dining room is going to take 75 to 90 minutes."</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

'I'm a cruise ship expert and I have a secret list of buffet rules for passengers'

A cruise ship expert has shared his \"buffet rules\" and issued a caution to fellow travelers about dining on board. Gary Bembridge, a seasoned cruiser and the face behind the Tips for Travelers YouTube channel, has developed these guidelines over years of travel. These rules dictate whether he eats at...

A cruise ship expert has shared his "buffet rules" and issued a caution to fellow travelers about dining on board. Gary Bembridge, a seasoned cruiser and the face behind the Tips for Travelers YouTube channel, has developed these guidelines over years of travel. These rules dictate whether he eats at...