3 Ways To Score FREE LOBSTER On Your Carnival Cruise

Introduction

Surprisingly to many, Carnival is one of the few lines that still serves complimentary lobster tails. But some recent changes have limited and changed when lobster tails will be available and how many you can order. So read below for three ways you can still score free, plentiful lobster on your Carnival cruise.

1: Book a cruise that’s 6 days or longer.

As of September 2015, Carnival stopped serving complimentary lobster tails on cruises under 6 days. So the first step in scoring free lobster on your Carnival cruise is to book a sailing that’s at least 6 days. But as long as you’re booking 6 days, you may as well book 30, right? Did you know that Carnival is offering a 30 day transpacific cruise from Seattle to Brisbane in September 2023? I know because I live in Seattle and I’m currently trying to identify a kind soul (or con someone into it if that doesn’t work) to watch my kid for 30 days so I can book it. Any takers? The gig also comes with a geriatric rescue dog and a view of both Seattle cruise terminals so you can watch me sailing away from all my adult responsibilities and that…smell (is it the 10 year-old who refuses to bathe or the 14-year-old pooch with the rotten garbage teeth?). Bye! Have fun! I’ll be sure to send you photos of the lobster!

2: Eat in the main dining room on the second elegant night.

As of 2023, lobster night in the main dining room (MDR) switched from the 1st elegant night to the 2nd elegant night. I’ve been trying to figuratively climb into the heads of the “beards” (as John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, calls them) at Carnival to figure out how this change saves the line money. And while I’m in there, I’d like to also learn how to score one of those ridiculously cheap VIFP cruise fares everyone seems to always be getting, but that I NEVER get.

But anyway, back to the lobster. The only thing I can figure is that fewer people must dine in the MDR on the second elegant night. Maybe because they’re tired toward the end of their cruise and opt for the buffet? Or because they only brought one dress and spilled an espresso martini down the front of it on the 1st elegant night (Come on, I can’t be the only one!)? Either way, be prepared to dine in the MDR on the 2nd elegant night if you want to score free lobster.

3: Make friends with a vegetarian.

In the good old days, one could walk through the MDR on lobster night and see so many plates piled so high with lobster shells it looked like some sort of ocean-based environmental disaster had struck, wiping out the world’s supply of lobster. Pure carnage. It was awesome! But, sadly, those days are over. Or are they?

In addition to moving lobster to the 2nd elegant night, Carnival recently announced that guests will pay $5 for each entree over two that they order in the MDR, meaning that each person can now only order two lobster tails for free. But I think I’ve identified a workaround. Make friends with a vegetarian and invite them to dinner! More specifically, hang out around the salad bar at lunch and identify those weirdos who eat salad and fruit on a cruise. Befriend them by asking what kind of yoga they practice. And then invite them to dinner on the 2nd elegant night. At dinner, when it comes time to order, say something like, “I see that you’re only ordering salad (salad remains unlimited). Would you mind ordering me a couple of lobster tails? I would really hate for them to have died for nothing.” Bingo! Four (your two + their two) free lobster tails for you! Don’t give your new vegetarian fru-fru friend your real social media handles though or you’ll pay for those lobster tails with a lifetime of guilt-trips.

Now don’t go getting offended if you’re a fru-fru vegetarian, because I myself am a fru-fru vegetarian. But I’m NOT the type who eats salad and fruit on a cruise. And, trust me, I’ll be ordering my own two entrees in the MDR, so invite me at your own risk: “Are you sure you need two lobster tails? I was hoping you’d order me an extra tofu steak.”

Important Menu Update!

Since this post was originally written, Carnival has announced new fleet-wide dinner menus that will be rolled out to all ships by 2024. To see the new menus and which ships will be getting them first, go HERE.

And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Homework (10 points): What are your thoughts on the recent cuts and changes announced by Carnival? Share your answer to the comments.

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