Key Aspects:
- One Carnival guest believes the cruise line is trying to cut costs by not telling cruisers the Main Dining Room is open for breakfast on debarkation morning.
- John Heald offered a poll that proves most guests do know about the debarkation breakfast options, but the Lido buffet is the most popular choice.
- Debarkation morning dining options are published in the FunTimes newsletter, the debarkation information letter, and on the Carnival Hub app.
The end of a cruise can be a depressing day as one has to leave behind outstanding service, stunning destinations, and attentive service. But even on debarkation morning, there is one more chance for deliciousness with breakfast.
Or is there? One Carnival guest has reached out to John Heald, upset that they didn’t know about all their morning meal options before debarkation.
“I have been on seven cruises with Carnival. It was only on my last cruise Breeze that I realized the main dining hall was open for breakfast,” the guest explained.
“This is never advertised. Carnival [is] trying to cut food costs with this and just wants us off.”
Well, I’ve been on 27 cruises with Carnival (I’ve been cruising for awhile!) and I’ve always known that the Main Dining Room is open for breakfast on debarkation morning.
Furthermore, the information is printed in the FunTimes newsletter and available on the Carnival Hub app.
Debarkation letters delivered to guests’ staterooms on the last day of the cruise with information about the debarking process also list breakfast options for that final morning.
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So, the idea that the Main Dining Room breakfast is “never advertised” is frankly preposterous. While it’s true that Carnival has taken steps to curb food waste, not letting guests know where meals are served is not a cost-cutting tactic.
This prompted Heald to list breakfast options for a daily poll to see what guests prefer. The results resoundingly note that not only do guests know where breakfast is available, but quite a few enjoy that last cruise vacation meal in the Main Dining Room.
Out of more than 12,400 votes, just over 620 did not realize the Main Dining Room was actually open on debarkation day.
Meanwhile, more than 4,900 guests are aware they could break their fast in the Main Dining Room, and 1,850 guests actually do so.
The Lido Marketplace buffet is the most popular breakfast option on debarkation day, with more than 2,800 voters confirming it is their breakfast of choice.
For me, I’m part of the roughly 2,200 voters who prefer not to eat at all on debarkation morning. By that time, I’ve had more than my fill of cruise ship food. Because we self-assist our luggage for an early getaway to head home, I prefer to just be on my way off the ship and out of the cruise terminal.
Why Do People Choose Different Dining Options?
Exactly why some cruise guests choose the Main Dining Room over the Lido Marketplace buffet (or vice versa) is a matter of personal preference.
Some travelers prefer the faster service of the buffet, meaning they can grab-and-go and be on their way more quickly. Others might just prefer something light and not be interested in a full meal.
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Some cruise guests, especially those whose travel plans are more flexible, love the option to extend their vacation experience just one more hour with a leisurely breakfast in the Main Dining Room.
“I appreciate the dining room being open on debarkation morning. We do not have to catch a flight and are in no rush to get back home to the grind,” one guest explained. “It’s a good way for us to tuck in and relax one last morning before heading home.”
Others note that going to the Main Dining Room means less of a rush for elevators and missing out on the long lines as debarkation begins. I know those lines very well, so skipping that part of the process would definitely be nice!
For some guests, it’s simply a matter of food preference, as there are breakfast options available in the Main Dining Room (like bacon every day) that aren’t offered at the Lido Marketplace.
