What day is lobster night in an 8 day cruise?

[lilmc]

Perhaps it was your DW's experience that made them reconsider their approach to serving lobster tails.

I’m surprised they allowed this to happen at all and I would speculate it’d be forbidden now just for that reason. Not to mention, sounds like a hygienic disaster.

 

[owensamo]

We've been cruising fairly regularly on DCL for 10 years (though we don't have as many cruises under our belts as others for sure!) and we've never see anything like what you are describing on anything other than Baked Alaska night - and even then it was just flaming Baked Alaska. Lobster tails, in our experience, have always been served like in PrincessShmoo's photo, with no real ceremony around them. The waiters would de-shell the tail at the table and remove the shells, but it was a fairly clean/dry process - in general, I have actually found the preparation more on the dry side (though not necessarily in a bad way).

I would venture a guess that there was something special going on in the dining room when you experienced that, or that they were trying something that they later realized was a very bad idea. Though I can understand your wife's reluctance to re-experience it - we have a severe potato allergy in our family, and I know we would be reluctant to return somewhere that caused issues (and potatoes are hard to avoid!)

I would also recommend checking your cruise information on your reservation closer to your check-in date, and try to schedule Palo dinner for semi-formal night. They typically do hold bookings back for on-board booking, so if you check as soon as you board with the Palo changes staff, you should be able to ensure you have the right night. Since you will be on the Fantasy, you also have Remy as an option, though I do believe they have shellfish on their menu as well (I haven't been) and it's a lot more expensive. Also, I don't know if Cabanas has the Captain's Gala menu on semi-formal night, but if they do I doubt they're going to do a song and dance with your dinner there, so that could be another option.

Something else to consider - no matter what you end up scheduling, perhaps peek into one of the dining rooms if you can when the lobster is served and see what is going on? That way you can learn first-hand what they're doing currently. Talk to the head waiters and voice your concerns - see what they have to say. Even if you don't partake, see if you can at least observe so that you're better informed on your next trip.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I definitely ordered lobster and there was most certainly no fanfare of any sort. Our server removed the shell at our table, but that's it. However, even without fanfare perhaps there was something about the proximity of the water and the sheer number of shells being removed that caused the problem.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Since you will be on the Fantasy, you also have Remy as an option, though I do believe they have shellfish on their menu as well (I haven't been) and it's a lot more expensive.

Unfortunately we are not "Remy" people. One and done for us! We are more steak and potatoes people.

Cabanas is an option, yes as is room service. But since we are going to do a Palo night, just hoped to coordinate them!

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I definitely ordered lobster and there was most certainly no fanfare of any sort. Our server removed the shell at our table, but that's it. However, even without fanfare perhaps there was something about the proximity of the water and the sheer number of shells being removed that caused the problem.

So it certainly is related to the sheer number of shells - no question on that.

However, it was also enough that not only did the staff bend over backwards to make sure my wife was okay, but they went out of their way to offer a form of compensation (not like a desert or a drink, but a "gift"). I would venture to say that there was potential risk to DCL because they failed to indicate the level of allergy potential caused by their action and they wanted to protect against a lawsuit. We are not lawsuit type of people anyway, so I would never know if we had one. In any case, no harm, no foul in my book - at worst it was a bad night, but everyone lived.

But I know it was not the same event as people are describing it now. Whether it was a practice that has since been altered or whether it was a one (or limited) time event on a new ship, I don't know. But it was definitely different then people have described now and as I mentioned, DCL went more then out of their way to make sure she didn't hold any animosity.

I am glad it's not the same now as it was a very traumatic memory for my wife - as you can see, she doesn't even want to risk the MDR on lobster night now.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Unfortunately we are not "Remy" people. One and done for us! We are more steak and potatoes people.

Cabanas is an option, yes as is room service. But since we are going to do a Palo night, just hoped to coordinate them!

You know, I have read where the night that lobster is served, they also serve it in Palo. Now that was about 4-5 years ago. I don't know if they serve lobster in Palo on the Captain's Gala night now or not.

And the menu for dinner in Cabanas, typically in the past, as been a selection of items from the menu(s) available in the MDRs. Don't know if lobster would one of those items.

 

[TestingH2O]

Typically, the lobster is served on semi-formal night (on a 7 night cruise) which is night 6. The menu it's on is the Captain's Gala menu.

But with the new dining menus, isn't Captains Gala the second time through Royal/Lumiere/Triton instead of semi-formal?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But with the new dining menus, isn't Captains Gala the second time through Royal/Lumiere/Triton instead of semi-formal?

Maybe. I'm not sure whether they're sticking with the each dining room only serving 2 menus for the duration of the cruise (well, 3, counting pirate night) or if it was a test. I thought they were only doing that on the Fantasy? Is it all ships?

 

[TestingH2O]

Maybe. I'm not sure whether they're sticking with the each dining room only serving 2 menus for the duration of the cruise (well, 3, counting pirate night) or if it was a test. I thought they were only doing that on the Fantasy? Is it all ships?

Well, not the Dream, obviously.

But yes, all the ships. I suspect the drive were the new restaurants on the Classics that have themed menus to go with two nights of shows.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well, not the Dream, obviously.

But yes, all the ships. I suspect the drive were the new restaurants on the Classics that have themed menus to go with two nights of shows.

Nothing like making it more difficult to figure out when to dine at an alternate venue then. Now the answer would be "whatever night you're in Lumiere's/Triton's/Royal Court-Palace" is when the Captain's Gala menu (lobster) is served.

No one would know beforehand, then.

 

[Starwind]

My allergist pretty exclusively does any food allergy testing via blood tests rather than scratch tests because of the possibility of sending someone into anaphylaxis from the scratch test.

I like that approac. I have gone into anaphylaxsis my last two allergy tests and now refuse to get any more. They don't know which of what caused the reaction. The allergists here don't do blood tests, so that is not an option. :-(

 

[Starwind]

OP, I have an anaphylaxsis allergy to all seafood [fish, shellfish, crustaceans, molluscs, cephalopods, etc]. I will react to airborne amounts if I am close to them [so I cannot sit within a couple people of someone eating seafood] or if there is a large amount in the air [unknown how much "large" has to be, but Red Lobster is not an option and make stakehouses are out too].

On our first Fantasy cruise, I had a reaction two nights before "lobster night". We were in Animator's Palate and I was halfway through my entree when I suddenly was itchy and having trouble breathing but did not know why. By the time I got my asthma inhaler out and had used it I was suddenly hit with what was like a wall of seafood smell in the air [it had not been there/noticeable before]. Then I knew why. I rapidly got up and went to the lobby which had fresh air. Our server and the head server followed me and were quite concerned. After a few minutes I felt much better and decided I didn't need the medical centre [probably not a wise choice, but it was the choice at the time]. Our server got the rest of my meal, including dessert, packaged up to go and I took it to my room to finish it. Before I left, the head server explained that two nights later was "lobster night" and almost everyone orders lobster. He said it will be much worse and suggested that I not eat in the MDR that night -- that they would arrange to have my meal brought to my stateroom instead. They did, and that is where I ate. My sister did go to the MDR because she wanted to see the second night at Animator's.

On our second Fantasy cruise, I had a milder reaction one night at Royal Court; our meal was brought very quckly and we were almost through our entree before everyone else got their shrimpy appetizer. This was helpful because we had to leave early because of too much seafood in the air.

I highly suggest contacting DCL Special Services and having a talk with them. They should be able to tell you the menu rotation [perhaps not far out, but at least closer to the cruise] and may be able to help with getting Palo the right night. Also, you can talk with them about other options that may be available . At the very least, the alelrgy should be noted on your reservation.

We also talked with special services about having our own table, and that has been granted each time [since nobody at my table can be having seafood, it isn't fair to strangers to limit their menu choices].

SW

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I highly suggest contacting DCL Special Services and having a talk with them. They should be able to tell you the menu rotation [perhaps not far out, but at least closer to the cruise] and may be able to help with getting Palo the right night. Also, you can talk with them about other options that may be available . At the very least, the allergy should be noted on your reservation.

We always have it noted on our reservation. In the past, the waiter usually gives my wife tomorrow's menu the night before so she can order in advance and he has the food prepared separately.

In my experience it's hit and miss when you call the people on the phone about the dining rotation. They don't always get it right (probably as confused as we all are).

 

[g_ppetto]

If you haven't already done so, you should fill out the Request Special Services form to note the allergies - https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/special-services-information-form/ Other special services information can be found here - https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/guests-with-disabilities/

 

[pjacobi]

Note that most "lobster" on a cruise ship is likely to be Caribbean Rock Lobster (no claws), which is not even directly related to New England Lobster with big claws full of meat.

If served only the tails, it is likely a Caribbean Rock Lobster unless specified as New England or "cold water" lobster tail.

-Paul

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Note that most "lobster" on a cruise ship is likely to be Caribbean Rock Lobster (no claws),

Just looking at the coloration differences on the 2, I can say with a fair degree of certainty that they are the caribbean rock lobsters.