Yes, the all-you-can-eat buffet remains a quintessential feature of the cruise experience on almost every major line in 2026. These buffets are typically open for nearly 18 to 20 hours a day, serving a vast array of cuisines ranging from standard breakfast fare and carving stations to international specialties and elaborate dessert bars. Most mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC include buffet meals in your base cruise fare, meaning you can visit as many times as you like without additional cost. In recent years, cruise lines have pivoted toward a "hybrid" model where some stations are self-serve while others feature "made-to-order" cooking to reduce waste and improve food quality. While luxury lines may emphasize seated, multi-course dining, they almost all still maintain a high-end casual buffet option—often located on the upper "Lido" deck—to provide guests with the flexibility of a quick, diverse, and unlimited meal overlooking the ocean.