World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Cruise passengers sharply divided over cutting buffet lines to sneak quick bites
Cruise passengers are debating whether it is acceptable to step ahead in a buffet queue to take a single item. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman says people should wait their turn, because cutting in can seem rude and disrupt the flow of diners.
Gottsman says briefly reaching for a napkin is more understandable, and asking to get a fork or knife may be reasonable when the queue is short. Children joining an adult may be given leeway, but holding a place for a spouse or friend can frustrate people who have waited 20 or 30 minutes. She advises reporting repeated queue-jumping to dining staff rather than confronting someone over a minor incident; online commenters disagree on whether gaps between dishes make stepping ahead acceptable.
In short
- Buffet queue-cutting can frustrate passengers and disrupt service.
- Etiquette advice allows limited exceptions for utensils or napkins.
- Passengers disagree about stepping ahead when there is a gap.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A buffet queue works best when everyone takes food in turn, so stepping ahead for one item can still delay others and signal that their time matters less. Clear, consistent etiquette also helps prevent small exceptions from turning into disputes, while allowing limited practical leeway for essentials such as cutlery or a child joining an adult.
The case against
A buffet line can have natural gaps between dishes, and briefly reaching for one item may add little or no delay when diners are not being displaced. Treating every step out of sequence as queue-jumping can make a shared, informal meal feel unnecessarily rigid, especially for small requests or when the queue is short.