Should you go to the buffet or the main dining room on a cruise? I tried both.

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Venezia, marks some culinary firsts for the line. The Venice-inspired ship, which set sail from the U.S. this month, has dining options including Il Viaggio, a new restaurant serving regional Italian fare, and special on-theme menu items at Guy Fieri’s Guy’s Burger Joint.

But for all its new features, the vessel also has some cruise ship staples: a buffet and main dining rooms. Both were included in the price of the voyage but offered different selections and dining experiences. I sampled each of them on a four-day cruise from New York to Bermuda. Here’s how they compared.

Are there still buffets on cruise ships?

Some cruise lines swapped to a crew-served model at their buffets in the wake of COVID-19 – even if temporarily – but Carnival never did.

I started most days during the sailing at Lido Marketplace, the ship’s buffet. The lines were often daunting, and walking around felt like playing dodgeball as my fellow guests and I moved from one food station to another.

But when I visited at dinnertime, there were fewer people. The eatery serves a wide range of cuisine, and as someone who struggles with mealtime indecision, it was hard to pick. As I made my way along one of several counters, I served myself jambalaya and cornmeal-crusted chicken. The jambalaya was well-seasoned and the chicken was crisp. All the food I tried there kept well, even while on display.

There were also deli sandwiches and pour-your-own beer stations.

I went from grabbing a plate to sitting down at a table in about 10 minutes.

The buffet was near the Lido pool, and the atmosphere was casual – many diners had their bathing suits on – but had some striking design flourishes, like faux trees springing from the floor and lanterns hanging from patio umbrellas.

Can you get food anytime on a cruise?

That depends on the cruise line, said Susan Guthrie, a travel agent and owner of Cruisin' with Susan and More, affiliated with Travel with Sparkle. On some lines, the buffet or other venues may be open late or offer room service 24 hours, while others close down in the evening.

"It varies," she said. Cruise lines that cater to an older demographic may also close dining down earlier than those that host late-night parties.

On Venezia, Lido Marketplace had a midnight buffet, and Pizzeria del Capitano was open until 4 a.m., according to the cruise line's app. Carnival also offers 24-hour room service.

Can you eat unlimited food on a cruise buffet?

Cruise ship buffets are generally unlimited, Guthrie said. On Venezia, I may or may not have gone back for seconds.

What type of food is served on a cruise ship?

Cruise lines often serve a range of cuisine on their vessels, and Venezia was no different. While many of the ship's eateries had an Italian focus – like La Strada Grill, which serves Italian street food – there was plenty more to choose from, including steakhouse Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki, among others.

What is the sit-down restaurant experience like at Carnival Venezia?

While I got my steps in at Lido Marketplace, Canal Grande offered table service in plush chairs. The restaurant is one of Venezia’s two main dining rooms and not-so-subtly highlights the theme of the ship: There is a full-size gondola in the center of its bottom floor, set on a blue platform beneath an arched bridge.

The atmosphere felt elegant but laid-back – the attire was casual the night I went – and our table toward the back of the ship offered a prime view of the vessel’s wake at sunset. I had Your Time Dining, which allowed for open seating during dinner.

The menu featured a mix of cuisine, from a quesadilla to lasagna al forno to an Indian vegetarian dish (the menu changes throughout each cruise, though some items are always on offer). Items that came with a surcharge were clearly marked, and the menu noted a $5 fee if a guest orders a third entree or more, along with an 18% service charge.

I did some tableside world traveling and got a mixed greens salad, sweet and sour shrimp and tiramisu. The fried rice that came with my shrimp entree was a tad overcooked, but I enjoyed the meal otherwise. The presentation was also more sophisticated than the plate I arranged at the buffet – I’m no food stylist.

The waiters were attentive, routinely refilling my water glass before I even realized it was half-empty, and over the course of roughly two hours, I felt pampered in a way I might have expected more from one of the ship’s specialty restaurants.

What food is included on a cruise?: Here's how to take advantage on your next sailing

Is dinner better at the restaurant or the buffet?

At both restaurants, included drink options were limited. There was a station offering drinks such as water, regular coffee and select juices at Lido Marketplace, but guests had to order other beverages separately as part of a drink package (or pay a la carte).

Carnival’s Bottomless Bubbles drink package, which includes soft drinks and juice, starts at $6.95 a day for children and $9.50 a day for adults, according to the line’s website. The Cheers! package, which includes soft drinks and juice along with beer, wine by the glass, cocktails and more, starts at $59.95 per person, per day.

The same inclusions applied at Canal Grande, but guests could order drinks like specialty coffees and other beverages right from their table (and the eatery had an extensive wine list).

Guthrie also noted that guests may find some of the same items in the buffet that are served in the main dining room.

I enjoyed my meals at both restaurants, and without a price tag to think about, the choice on a given night might come down to how much time you have and the atmosphere you're looking for.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does Carnival Cruise have buffets? Trying Venezia buffet, dining room