1st time sailing on the Magic, why the long lines at Cabanas?

[scootch]

I have been blessed to be on 8 cruises. Started on the Wonder, then the rest have been Dream/Fantasy. Just got back from our first trip on the Magic. Cabanas was a zoo though, long lines, especially for breakfast. No seats anywhere except out by the pool. Never experienced that my previous 30 days on the bigger ships.

Any ideas?? Is it just too small? Maybe they should make breakfast a buffet option too in one of the other restaurants like Enchanted is on the Dream/Fantasy? Buffets work best for my selective eater or we would have left and gone to the the sit down/menu option.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have been blessed to be on 8 cruises. Started on the Wonder, then the rest have been Dream/Fantasy. Just got back from our first trip on the Magic. Cabanas was a zoo though, long lines, especially for breakfast. No seats anywhere except out by the pool. Never experienced that my previous 30 days on the bigger ships.

Any ideas?? Is it just too small? Maybe they should make breakfast a buffet option too in one of the other restaurants like Enchanted is on the Dream/Fantasy? Buffets work best for my selective eater or we would have left and gone to the the sit down/menu option.

AFAIK, there is another breakfast buffet option - at least there used to be in Parrot Cay. Doesn't Carioca's do the same? I know that there is sit-down breakfast in Lumiere's generally, also.

EDIT: Just checked some random Navigators - it seems that Carioca's isn't an option, like Parrot Cay was, for breakfast. That will contribute to the longer lines there.

 

[Justacruiser]

They added more service area but not the sitting area with the Dream/Fantasy concept. We often sit outside around mid-ship. Sea days we go early and port days we go late.

 

[scootch]

AFAIK, there is another breakfast buffet option - at least there used to be in Parrot Cay. Doesn't Carioca's do the same? I know that there is sit-down breakfast in Lumiere's generally, also.

EDIT: Just checked some random Navigators - it seems that Carioca's isn't an option, like Parrot Cay was, for breakfast. That will contribute to the longer lines there.

I am guessing that must be the problem. The lines were sometimes out past the elevators on both sides. A few servers tried to explain to people it was more like "pod stations", but didn't seem to help. One night at the shows, they asked how many were first timers and there was a huge response, maybe this had something to do with it. IDK?

 

[DMMarla07860]

I have been blessed to be on 8 cruises. Started on the Wonder, then the rest have been Dream/Fantasy. Just got back from our first trip on the Magic. Cabanas was a zoo though, long lines, especially for breakfast. No seats anywhere except out by the pool. Never experienced that my previous 30 days on the bigger ships.

Any ideas?? Is it just too small? Maybe they should make breakfast a buffet option too in one of the other restaurants like Enchanted is on the Dream/Fantasy? Buffets work best for my selective eater or we would have left and gone to the the sit down/menu option.

I just got off the Magic on the 13th and will say the one morning I saw a really long line as well going, but I think no one knew you could go to other pod stations too, a server was telling people that and while some listened and some like us already knew that others didn't and stood in line. Got a table outside because inside was a made house, but we like eating outside

 

[darnheather]

What are pod stations? Photos?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What are pod stations? Photos?

Separate stations much like in a food court. You just go up to the ones you want to get stuff at, not stand in a line that snakes by all the stations.

 

[Adreyer]

Well then... we were first timers last month on Magic and I felt the same way... BUT I was also guilty of standing in line, however no one told me not too either (only that we could start on the other side if we wanted because it was the same). It feels weird to me to "cut" in front of someone to visit the next station. Is that standard protocol? I do agree with the OP... it was pure madness and I never went back in there again.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Our last cruise was on the magic and had the same problem..
Someone on our last day mention about ordering room service instead..
I've never done it... But room service is free right ?? + tip of course..

Will be on the magic again in oct.. If it's really just the cost of tip maybe a mich better option

 

[sambycat]

AFAIK there is no hot breakfast room service item if that matters to you

 

[darnheather]

Separate stations much like in a food court. You just go up to the ones you want to get stuff at, not stand in a line that snakes by all the stations.

Hm, I've seen this work very well before in hotels. Why after the first day didn't people catch on? I can understand the confusion day one but after that?

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

AFAIK there is no hot breakfast room service item if that matters to you

Really? that sinks..
We are not big breakfest eaters.. eggs bacon toast.. That's it..
A couple of the days the line just to get in went clear out the doors onto the deck... it's really NOT worth waiting in that line for a few eggs.

Not to mention all the dirty looks / or comments people give you cause they don't listen to CM repeating over and over "there is no line please move oto the next station"

 

[scootch]

The pod

I just got off the Magic on the 13th and will say the one morning I saw a really long line as well going, but I think no one knew you could go to other pod stations too, a server was telling people that and while some listened and some like us already knew that others didn't and stood in line. Got a table outside because inside was a made house, but we like eating outside

Yes, we were on the same cruise. The Fantasy although much more people, was never as crowded.

 

[scootch]

Hm, I've seen this work very well before in hotels. Why after the first day didn't people catch on? I can understand the confusion day one but after that?

It was only a three night cruise... so pretty much two days of it.

 

[JMHDisney]

We almost always go to the sit down restaurant for breakfast and they are very good at accommodating the picky eaters.

 

[CesD]

In our experience on the magic, the long lines ( if any) was for the first station only.. But if u listened to the cast member who suggested to move on to another stations, there were no lines. This was in October.

 

[Simba One]

I usually go find a table and then hit the stations I want and never start at the beginning.

 

[mmouse37]

Well then... we were first timers last month on Magic and I felt the same way... BUT I was also guilty of standing in line, however no one told me not too either (only that we could start on the other side if we wanted because it was the same). It feels weird to me to "cut" in front of someone to visit the next station. Is that standard protocol? I do agree with the OP... it was pure madness and I never went back in there again.

Yes, it is standard protocol not to wait in the long line and to bypass others to go to the station you want. The way it is set up is to keep people from waiting in one long line. There are several stations that repeat through the dining area. Don't worry about dirty looks from others, it is they who do not understand the process. You would be doing the correct thing.

MJ

 

[kiford]

That's why I hated Cabanas on the Dream and preferred Topsiders on the Magic until they changed it to Cabanas. It's chaotic as well as the fact that they no longer give you a tray and many stations require you to wait for someone to serve you. We ended up eating at one of the MDRs on our last cruise (on the Magic) unless we had an early tour in order to avoid Cabanas. At least Topsiders moved at a constant speed unlike Cabanas which is just a free-for-all and confused. Hate it.

 

[Trera]

Seems like it is the pancake/waffle station at the end of the "long line" that causes the back up. Something about picking which one to get and then applying the syrup slows it all down.