Cruise - buffet versus sit down restaurant

[TaraBelle1069]

I am going on a Disney cruise and would like some opinions on something I've been thinking about.

I am following Weight Watchers POINTS program (not attending meetings, though). Though I don't intend to be that strict for the one week I'm cruising, I don't want to blow a lot of progress in one week either.

I think there are advantages and disadvantages to buffets and sit down restaurants for breakfast and lunch.

To start you off, my thought process is with a buffet you could control your own portions better than a sit down (example, one piece of bacon to taste versus a plate full that you want to eat so as not to offend your waiter!) but you could also go crazy and eat way too much which you might not do if you had to ask a waiter for a second plate of bacon.

I'm just curious to hear others thoughts and experiences.

 

[newholiday]

have you looked at the menus yet?
Before our Nov 03 cruise I deciphered all the menus so I knew ahead of time what I should order - the waiters were very accommodating

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by newholiday
have you looked at the menus yet?
Before our Nov 03 cruise I deciphered all the menus so I knew ahead of time what I should order - the waiters were very accommodating

I did but despite the fact that I have been dieting with relative success for over 6 months, I know my attitude will be "I'm on vacation". I figured if I set myself up for success, rather than failure, by going in to the ideal situation, I'd be better off. The thing is, I'm not sure what the ideal situation is! I was hoping different perspectives might make me figure out what MY ideal situation is.

I did an RCCL cruise and managed to "only" gain 3 pounds. I did that mostly by ordering off the "Ship Shape" menu and walking the deck. I did do buffets most days for breakfast and lunch. It wasn't until later in the cruise that I discovered the restaurants for those meals. I just can't decide what really did me in for those 3 pounds. More than likely, it was neither lunch nor breakfast, but dessert!

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by TaraBelle1069
More than likely, it was neither lunch nor breakfast, but dessert!

Ah-Ha! I think you found your answer! I recently returned after 9 days vacation, and the scale says I LOST 1-1/2 lbs. Possible?? NO WAY!! Not the way I was eating!!

I could have ate worse tho, trust me. I did the breakfast buffet every morning, for reasons like you stated....Less of everything, giving you a taste of everything. I also chose the buffet for dinner twice tho, and found myself stuffed to the gills, and very uncomfortable, even tho I pigged out on shrimp & chicken mostly.

I'm also doing WW, online, and I think when a served meal, from the menu comes, you're better prepared to recognize points rather than when you take a taste of everything from the buffet. just my experience.

Mind you, I did NOT count points (WAY TOO HIGH) during my vacation, but I DID write down everything I ate. Just a small 'tip' maybe for your trip, to keep an 'eye' on what you're doing.

Have a great time!!!

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by KimRaye


Mind you, I did NOT count points (WAY TOO HIGH) during my vacation, but I DID write down everything I ate. Just a small 'tip' maybe for your trip, to keep an 'eye' on what you're doing.

Thanks. I found myself counting points on my first cruise but I had to stop myself as I wasn't sure I could add that high!! I don't even write down what I eat now all that often but I think I'm going to start. It's the one thing I keep hearing from paying WW members.

 

[nativetxn]

I think that, for me, either the "sit down" restaurants" or the buffets will work. All I need is lots of protein and fat and I'll be satiated.

Good luck with this.

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by nativetxn
I think that, for me, either the "sit down" restaurants" or the buffets will work. All I need is lots of protein and fat and I'll be satiated.

Good luck with this.

Not me...I'm on Weight Watchers. It's all about portion control for me. Oh well...I'm not going to be too strict about it. By then I should have lost 80+ pounds so a few pounds isn't going to kill me!

 

[FreshTressa]

I was very very careful for breakfast and lunch at the buffet and did the full dinner every night for a 'reward', and ate whatever I wanted.

I managed to come home at the same weight!

 

[geetey]

Hi TaraBelle!

I recommend the buffet for breakfast if you like fruit. When we cruised DCL in May, the fruit is the first thing you encounter. I loved their fruit so much (melons, pineapple, grapes, strawberries) that over half of my plate was full! It made it much easier to pass by the bacon, sausage, hash browns, etc. If I over-endulged in anything the entire cruise, it was fruit.

I preferred the buffet for lunch because I could always grab a salad, and avoid the fries.

Dinner was sit-down all the way! I think the portion sizes were very appropriate (showing they are aware you are getting a 4 course meal). I was never stuffed at dinner, but definitely satisfied.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by geetey
Hi TaraBelle!

I recommend the buffet for breakfast if you like fruit. When we cruised DCL in May, the fruit is the first thing you encounter. I loved their fruit so much (melons, pineapple, grapes, strawberries) that over half of my plate was full! It made it much easier to pass by the bacon, sausage, hash browns, etc. If I over-endulged in anything the entire cruise, it was fruit.

I preferred the buffet for lunch because I could always grab a salad, and avoid the fries.

Dinner was sit-down all the way! I think the portion sizes were very appropriate (showing they are aware you are getting a 4 course meal). I was never stuffed at dinner, but definitely satisfied.

Good luck and have fun!!

Thanks very much. I had planned on having dinner sit down for sure. I'm not a big fruit eater but I do have strawberries every morning on my cereal. On my Royal Caribbean cruise there were no strawberries. Hopefully, they'll have them in November on the Magic.

On Royal Caribbean cruise, I did the buffet most days. It wasn't until near the end that I discovered the sit down. I'm thinking a healthy mix of each might be best! As long as I don't have bacon and sausage every day, I should be fine. The thing I liked about the sit down was that RCCL had notations next to the healthier things on the menu (actually it was separate but we were told they were planning on mixing it in and making a note next to the items). That helped me choose and then I felt less guilty about dessert!