Fab food, late night

Midnight buffets are no longer a nightly thing, but most cruise lines offer them at least once per voyage.

The Freedom of the Seas' Grand Buffet is held on Friday night of the voyage, and grand is good name for it. There's more than enough to feed your fancy: sushi, roast pork, chocolate-dipped strawberries, multi-layer cakes, cheese and fruit. But what's really amazing is the decor: ice-sculpture angels, marzipan mermaids, harp and guitar made of bread, watermelons carved with bucking broncos, intricate vegetable flowers. The whole thing takes about 300 man hours to produce, said cruise director Ken Rush.