HI Alan (& everyone else)

I think people are going a bit over the top in codemnation of the buffets!
My Hubby is a chef and when we cruise, if we end up eating in the buffet of an evening it is because the menu in the main restaurant hasn't appealed to him (Me & The children have no choice in this!! Lol)

If we choose to eat in the buffet both myself & my husband would prefer for it to be different ~ even if it means salad, spuds & chicken. If I wanted buccatini all'amantriciana I'd eat it in the restaurant and not expect it to be kept on a hotplate for those who may wish to try it~ (at some point)

We have cruised (apart & together) with lines as varied as epirotiki(BAD,BAD,BAD!! 16yrs ago!!), Carnival, Royal Carribean, Ocean Vilage, Airtours & Thomson but we still push cruising to our friends and family as the one way of getting a decent holiday, at a decent price without all the chavs or benidorm style ~ "I've only come for the beer, as long as that bar down't roads open and sells a decent brekkie an I don't hav to hear't foregn lingo me an' missus here 'll be ok!" ~ God save me from Island Escape!!

If people want to dress down for dinner then that is their choice and they should choose their ship accordingly, but the best food in the world would be spoiled by hanging round on a hot plate!

(Take note: in my husbands restaurant ~ if you are a smoker and happen to make the trek outside to the door for a cigarette your meal will be served when ready to an empty table, as GOD (the chef in this case~ lol) waits for no man!!