One of the oldest cruise customs is lobster on a formal night in the main dining room, an establishment that is intended to be complimentary.
However, due to changes being made to the regulations of two of the biggest cruise companies in the market, you might have to pay more for specialties like a lobster tail.
On Symphony of the Seas, one of its biggest ships, Royal Caribbean is testing modifications to the main dining room menu with the potential to implement them across the fleet.
Passengers who buy more than one lobster tail on a formal night will pay $16.99 (plus 18% gratuity) for each additional order as part of those adjustments, which also include simplifying and streamlining the menu to reduce dining times.
At the moment, on formal nights, all other Royal Caribbean ships offer limitless free lobster tail.
(Cruisers can have lobster every night of their voyage, but when it's not a formal night, there is an additional fee of $16.99 per order.)
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement that the team created a new set of menus that offer a different selection every night with the same variety to choose from — beef, chicken, fish, and vegan options. This was done using feedback from guests and data-driven findings after each sailing across the fleet.
Along with "Royal Night," when cold-water lobster is the featured entree with the option of beef, chicken, and vegan entrees, "each night's menus reflect a different cuisine, such as Caribbean, Italian, French, Mediterranean, and American."
"We are evaluating customer and worker feedback daily as we test the new theme night offerings.
Over the next weeks, we anticipate making changes.
The feedback thus far indicates that [the new offers] are being favorably embraced."
Along with changing the cuisine, the line is also experimenting with flash mob-style entertainment on formal nights aboard Symphony of the Seas. This is akin to the dancing, costumed waiters that Carnival Cruise Line has long featured in its dining halls.
Speaking of Carnival, the line will make its own dining modifications this month.
The ability to order endless free entrees in the major dining areas will no longer be available to passengers, which is one of the most important changes.
The first two main courses will no longer be charged under the new rule; instead, there will be a $5 fee for each additional main course.
(Appetizers and sweets are still free and limitless.)
On voyages lasting six nights or more, Carnival only offers lobster on one formal night.
Previously, it was limitless on those nights, but the new rule now charges $5 for each additional lobster tail.
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