How Many Lobsters DO You Eat on Lobster Night?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

OK, this poll is being done on the request of my husband Tom. He loves Lobster and we have found that our Dining Room Stewart has fun with this when they find out he is trying to break his record. When you vote you can vote for your better half if he or she eats more lobster than you. I will also make it so no one knows what you voted.

Be honest how many Lobsters or the small Lobster Halves do you eat on the Formal night they serve Lobster?

Tom's record is 9 which was on the Zuiderdam April of 2003, this past May he only made it to 7 but we had our Tablemates and Waiter and Assistant Waiter cheering him on. He might of made it to 10 but the kitchen closed:(

[iluvcruzin]

One - but not for the reason noted. Usually it's a surf & turf. By the time I get to dinner after the appetisers and salad, I'm not up for eating until I bust. 1/2 tail, 1/4 tail, whatever.. a few bites is enough to satisfy the craving.

[Vicar]

I will admit to two or three.

maaaaaaaybe 4 , but then I will definately skip dessert.

you have to cut back somelace *LOL*

[Southbound]

We pass on the "turf" and order surf and surf. :D

[Aussie Gal]

One for both my husband and self. The lobsters that are served up are nothing like our wonderful "crayfish" that we have down here in Australia both in size and taste.

We prefer to leave them for the rest of the passengers to enjoy. Besides after having soup and appetiser, how can anyone eat more than one!

Jennie

[F5Loar]

6 is average for me but sometimes it takes 8. Remember these tails are known in lobster terms as a "two biter" Two bites and the tail is gone.
When you put it into perspective to size and number of bites per minute 6 is not that much. I think the biggest I ever got in a main DR was on NCL but HAL's was more tasty. Disney probably the worst tail I ever got.
I think they vary where they get them from too so it's hard to say what varitey of tail you are getting on your week. It's a cheapest supplier thing.
The biggest tail I ever got on a ship was on Carnival's Legend but that was at the Golden Fleece not the main DR and cost me an extra $25. It was however the size of my arm and cooked to perfection.

[Jacqueline]

I admit to not liking the ships lobster. Its a case of me being too fussy. Its one thing I can do at home and better.
The menfolk do love them !
On form- is it best to place a large order at once if you know you will have seconds and thirds ?

[FlorenceItaly]

Believe it or not, I am not a fan of lobster :).

Marie

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

When the lobsters were large, I had only 1 and husband would have 2.

Now that they are small, I eat 2 and husband usually eats 4.

We don't bother with the turf part - we just tell our waiter to bring us the surf only part. Leave the turf in the kitchen.

:)

[Orcrone]

On my other cruises I've had two, but they've been the large African lobster tails. From what I've heard on this board it will likely be five or six.

Before anyone gets too stressed about the calories, lobster is extremely low in calories and fat. On weight watchers you can have twice as much lobster as you can chicken. So tell the steward to bring more.:) :D

[rodree]

Just one. That`s all that`s ever served.

[redphoenyx]

mmmmmmmm.....I'm getting hungry for Lobster now!!!:(

I don't know yet. I'm cruising in 10 days! I'll let you all know when I return!

[Globaliser]

None.

Although I wouldn't quite go as far as "yuck", there's usually something better on a menu. Ship lobsters are inevitably cooked from frozen, too - so I'd much rather have fresh lobsters ashore.

[LizB1]

Generally don't eat lobster on the ship as we are spoiled here in New England with great lobsters. I also prefer to cook them myself and enjoy making a mess eating them out on the deck.

[jhannah]

I don't recall ever eating more than one. Like others have said, by the time I get through everything else prior to the entree I really am satisfied with one. Now, if it were fresh Maine lobster, that might be another story.

[elmorejj]

I`ve never asked for seconds on the lobster. When they serve it alone I eat two, when its surf and turf I eat the one or the half they serve......jean

[sheldrvrT6A]

I do two since getting lobsters in Kansas is a chore!
Have fun
Jerry

[HeatherInFlorida]

Actually, I start with dessert and then if I have room I'll have 2 of the silly little things. But I don't consider what they serve "lobster". My definition of lobster is New England cold water lobster only. Anything else is a poor substitute. But I'll eat just about anything in a shell.:D

[MISSYLOU]

I only order one as I am usually pretty full by the time it comes. DH oders two. For us folks in the midwest who cannot get good lobster that often it tastes pretty good to us. Although on the Mercury in March it was overcooked.

[RevNeal]

PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals" would be proud of us!

As for me ... give me a nice big piece of beef!

[Dutchman]

It is a shame that they are so small. On our trip to Alaska in 1990 they were still pretty good size, but like everything else including the cruise prices, they have gotten smaller!

[glrounds]

With the exception of Angel Shark, lobster is my favorite. Amazingly its always been prepared excellently (others have complained of the"rubbery" characteristic). :)

On the PRIDE this May, a young couple at my table ate 13 tails between the two of them. Maybe they were from Kansas ? :D

As others have posted, being from the coast, I am used to fresh lobster, but always found the lobster onboard very good. :)

[ekerr19]

The surf & turf in the Pinnacle Grill on the Maasdam last April was wonderful. While the lobster initially seemed a bit small, it was delicious and proved to be quite enough.

[gizmo]

For all you lobster lovers I read where the Pinnacle will be adding lobster to the menu.
If it is fresh lobster right out of a tank, it might entice me to try out the Pinncale.

This is part of the press release:

The Pinnacle Grill features great streaks, seafood and unique signature entrees. An exciting new signature dish, cedar planked lobster with roasted garlic scampi-butter and herb crumbs, is a delectable addition to the already amazing menu offering. Other signature entrees include chicken marsala with Washington cherries and cedar planked halibut with Alaskan king crab.

[GAJE]

On our one previous cruise, we did not know that it was "acceptable" to order more than one of ANYTHING! How would you go about ordering more than one lobster tail? - when placing your entire dinner order or after eating what was served and than asking for another? Another cruise is booked for January and I am hoping not to repeat ALL our previous mistakes!!!
Betty

[the2ofus]

Once I ordered extra crab legs and the waiter told me he would have to bring the whole plate (vegetables & garnishes too). Is that how it works with the lobster?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

By the time Lobster Night comes around it is the 2nd Formal Night and we have gotten to know our Dining Room Stewart pretty well. We always joke with them about Tom trying to beat his record on how many Lobsters he can eat. They have always just brought us our a plate with about 4 to 6 Lobsters on them. Now I know that when one of my tablemates and myself asked for 1 more lobster a piece he brought out a full plate with the 2 lobsters on them for us to share. I also remember on the Zuirderdam April 2003 I ordered the Prime Rib the night there was Crab Legs and our waiter brought me a huge plate of Crab Legs seperate saying I looked like a Crab Leg Eater;) He was really great.
With the Lobsters we just tell them to keep them coming for Tom. This past cruise on the Oosterdam we were cruising with friends and the waiter would bring plates for both the husbands. They were able to keep up with each other. Tom was thankful that the Chocalate Extravagaza was not in the afternoon. He barely ate lunch to have room for Lobster. We have always found the Dining Room Staff had fun with Tom eating all the Lobsters

[CaptData]

I usually eat two and no beeffor me. Doctor has told me to eat more sea food so lobster qualifies, I think! :D :D

[Vicar]

Betty
Don't be shy, Your waiter is happy to oblige, if I ever want seconds (OK and sometimes thirds ) I always ask and never get so much as a look, and Viola they bring it to you.

We had a waiter one time who would actually look a little sad if you didn't order more , he must have thought we weren"t enjoying the food. Of course I was always too polite to hurt his feelings *LOL*

One night I couldn't decide between two dishes and he said "No problem , I bring both"

Believe me no one will give you a second look if you order an extra appetizer, entree, or dessert on a cruise ship.

[HeatherInFlorida]

.....Believe me no one will give you a second look if you order an extra appetizer, entree, or dessert on a cruise ship.
And THAT, to me, is one of the many true beauties of cruising ... ;)

[Vicar]

Heather

Oh how right you are, :)


those people feed you better than an Italian mother *LOL*

[ger_77]

2 - My DH and I each order the "Surf & Turf" - we tell the waiter to put all the "Surf" on my plate and all the "Turf" on my husband's plate. Works fine because I don't really care for steak, and my husband would rather eat steak than lobster. Ah, a marriage made in Heaven !!!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[ellieanne]

None.

Although I wouldn't quite go as far as "yuck", there's usually something better on a menu. Ship lobsters are inevitably cooked from frozen, too - so I'd much rather have fresh lobsters ashore.

Actually, I have only had the lobster when I am on the Canada/New England cruise. I was lucky, and came back on the tender that carried the lobsters for that night's dinner.

Fresh lobster is a rarity for me and I was used to frozen, but ever since my first cruise, I have been spoiled for anything but fresh.

So if we are on the Canada/New England itinerary, I'll go for the lobster, if not, I pass.

[chefajax]

Most on a cruise ship...3, worried that second seating would be affected. At the casino near home, 12 plus 2 pounds of shrimp:)

[zazzy]

What type of lobsters are these? We will be on the Rotterdam next month (yipee!! I can finally say that!) and I am a bit partial to Maine lobster since that is what I grew up with.
Zazzy

[sail7seas]

I don't have any lobster on the ships. We are so used to our hard shell, Maine lobsters steamed to bright red, that the lobster on the ships pales in comparison IMO

[Roadwork]

All lobsters go to bright red when cooked. I have never seen a lobster any other color after it was cooked.

[sail7seas]

To a "lobster mayven" :) , only a steamed/boiled lobster is "lobster red". A broiled or baked lobster is not the same color.

Red was not exactly my point anyway.

The taste. quality and texture difference between a Maine hardshell, cold water lobster and a South African/or a warm water lobster are extreme IMO to one who "knows their lobster".

[HeatherInFlorida]

Besides, only cold water (such as Maine, New England) lobsters turn red when cooked. What is generally served on all ships is Caribbean or warm water lobster which is not even remotely similar. Actually, it's crayfish or crawfish or whatever the heck it's called. To a New Englander (transplanted to Florida;) ), it's almost sacrilegious to call it "lobster":D .

[Roadwork]

To a "lobster mayven" :) , only a steamed/boiled lobster is "lobster red". A broiled or baked lobster is not the same color.

Red was not exactly my point anyway.

The taste. quality and texture difference between a Maine hardshell, cold water lobster and a South African/or a warm water lobster are extreme IMO to one who "knows their lobster".
Putting the taste, quality and texture aside, what color is a broiled or baked lobster?

[Vicar]

Okay another New Englander is gonna throw his 2 cents in here *LOL*

IMHO

the Maine lobsters have a bit of a "meatier" texture (for lack of a better word) .

And I have had some of the South African lobsters and they have not been bright lobster red , almost a dark brown colored shell.

I do enjoy the African lobsters , but there is a big difference.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Putting the taste, quality and texture aside, what color is a broiled or baked lobster?Actually, IMHO and not to dispute S7S, a Maine (New England) cold water lobster will turn red whether it is steamed, boiled, broiled or baked. However, if it is broiled or baked it gets a blackish tinge to it because of the high, dry heat.

But as Vicar points out, the So. African variety does not. And most certainly the spiney crawfish crustaceans do not either.

[sail7seas]

The claws and tail of a broiled or baked lobster will have a spottiness to the coloring. It will have darkened spots and even whitish overtone sometimes.


A boiled or steamed lobster is the only that is truly bright lobster red after cooking.

We often go to our local "lobster pound" and pick up 2 1/2 to 4 pounders and I will either steam them or bake stuff them. They are always colored distinctly differently when baked/broiled.

Have you ever had a baked stuffed lobster, Roadway? Perhaps you might have noticed the difference?

[HeatherInFlorida]

There's nothing like trying to contribute to a forum and being totally ignored, but I press on:D . I have been eating broiled, baked stuffed, steamed and boiled cold water lobsters on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Maine for 50 years. I definitely know the color and I stand by what I said earlier.

Not that it matters any at all, because you're not going to see them on any Caribbean cruise anytime soon;) .

[sail7seas]

Heather ....I am very sorry if it seemed I was ignoring your post as that was not the case. I always enjoy your posts and your contributions. I apologize if I was rude.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather ....I am very sorry if it seemed I was ignoring your post as that was not the case. I always enjoy your posts and your contributions. I apologize if I was rude.No, no, no, honestly you weren't being rude. It was just that I felt I'd written a few lobster (so close to my heart) comments and people were talking around me. It happens ... probably just my own paranoia;) . Never a need to apologize, S7S ... I don't think "rude" is even in your vocabulary.:D

[Roadwork]

Thank you for the explaining. When my wife cooks them she always boils them but to answer the question, we have had baked stuffed lobster when eating out. They always looked red to me. Heather pointed out the blackish tinge and yes, I have noticed that and figured it was because of the baking.

[Slinkiecat]

Not being any kind of expert on lobster, I will have one when they serve it. I can rarely eat all they bring me and I hate to waste food.

Slinkie

[gliles]

Before anyone gets too stressed about the calories, lobster is extremely low in calories and fat. On weight watchers you can have twice as much lobster as you can chicken. So tell the steward to bring more.:) :D
Yes but do you cover chicken in melted butter? :rolleyes:

[Slinkiecat]

Hold the butter for me! Low fat is important on my diet. I love fish but will transfer it to a clean plate if they serve it in a pool of butter.

Slinkie

[bepsf]

Hmmm - I'd eat more, but by that time, i've already had double excargot and caviar appetizers - and I can never pass on the tender filet mignon...
;)
I'm gettin hungry over here!!!

[Druke I]

Just two or three for me - I have a small appetite - and am as thin as a rail!

[OSCAR TAMERZ]

The lobster on the Zuiderdam was small but the beef Wellington was made for Diamond Jim Brady and the filling was fantastic. I had the lobster in two or three bites and was going to get another but when I was done with the tenderloin I forgot about the lobster and got more of the tenderloin. Truly the best I've ever have. To be honest though our Pacific spiny lobster in California is so much better than the Atlantic that there is no comparison and lobster season starts again in just a few weeks so it wasn't much of a choice.

[rodree]

Been on a lot of cruises and have NEVER been served more than one.
They are kinda small and sometimes another would be welcome,but only one is ever offered.

[gliles]

Been on a lot of cruises and have NEVER been served more than one.
They are kinda small and sometimes another would be welcome,but only one is ever offered.
You have posted that twice on this thread. If you read through the thread, you will see that you can ask for another one and it's no big deal. If it were, no one would ever ask.

[Orcrone]

The question shouldn't be "how many lobsters do I eat", but "how many lobsters do they have"?:D

[Himself]

Anything in the Crustacian family ( Lobster, Oysters, Shrimp) upset my stomach. I guess I am just alergic to all of it.
Himself

[jcike1980]

I eat one , ask for second give it to my DW. jcike

[chimera]

None. I don't eat things where I can name the parts. And after 39 years of teaching biology, and dissecting their little cousins- crayfish- .........no thank you. :p

[sodell]

1st cruise was 7 days; missed it, went to the specialty resturant & didn't have a clue.

2nd was 1 day; went to the specialty resturant & it wasn't offered.

3rd was a 5 day repo; didn't offer it.

Of course, lobster is one of may favorites so I guess I'll have to book another cruise just to find out if all that's being said is true. :) :) (imagine a lip smacking smiley).

[Lynzchat]

How do I know which day is Lobster Night? Sorry, I haven't checked all the pages, to see if anyone posted it. I'll check it right now.

[gizmo]

Lobster night is the last formal night on 7 and 10 day cruises.

[jazzsea]

On previous cruises I have only ordered one. Now that I have been told to stay away from red meat the number of lobsters will likely increase. Maybe three or four.

[sail7seas]

We love lobster....but never order it on a ship. It doesn't taste anything like the great ones we are used to here in New England. We pick them live from the tank when we get them at home and cook and eat them within the hour. Of course, on the ship they have to have been frozen.

[Celestia]

On the Statendam recently I ordered the Surf 'n Turf. So-so lobster, not bad but not good enough to order s second one.

OTOH, Prawn Cocktails were consistantly excellent and I'd easily eat two, and would have had a third for dessert if I hadn't been too full!

FW&FS,

C

[KenM]

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A FRESH NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER..

The lobsters are ok but they are not fresh and tend to be overcooked..

I'm from Florida but eat lobster that is flown in from New England-fresh..

That would be a real treat on HA.. FRESH LOBSTER - flown in to St Thomas or elswhere..
Would be a cut above the other cruise lines .............................

[vijoge]

I don't like lobster so I don't eat any. My husband eats 2 or 3, depending on the size.

[gizmo]

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A FRESH NEW ENGLAND LOBSTER..

The lobsters are ok but they are not fresh and tend to be overcooked..

I'm from Florida but eat lobster that is flown in from New England-fresh..

That would be a real treat on HA.. FRESH LOBSTER - flown in to St Thomas or elswhere..
Would be a cut above the other cruise lines .............................
One of the upscale cruise lines does fly in fresh lobster. I think it is SilverSeas, but not absolutely sure.

[sail7seas]

Sorry.....

Double post. Have no clue how I did that!

[sail7seas]

Yes, it is Silverseas. Pax can request just about any imaginable thing from the Chefs and if it possible for them to get the necessary ingredients (and they will go to considerable extreme), the pax will be served what they desire.


For the prices they charge, they can afford to do that. I am not (currently) interested in paying those sort of prices. The only cain I like is the largest Suite and it is very pricey. After all the nights we have spent in the "S" on HAL, we would not be happy in their smaller cabins.

Has anyone here been on Silverseas? I was invited to spend the day aboard and it was wonderful but we are not yet old enough IMO to sail with them even if we wanted to.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Has anyone here been on Silverseas? I was invited to spend the day aboard and it was wonderful but we are not yet old enough IMO to sail with them even if we wanted to.
Sail, are you saying that the average age of passenger on Silverseas is older than HAL? I had never heard that stated before. I have friends going on the Radisson the same week we go on the Ryndam and they are considerably younger the Tom and I. Does Radisson draw an older crowd also?

[Slinkiecat]

We love lobster....but never order it on a ship. It doesn't taste anything like the great ones we are used to here in New England. We pick them live from the tank when we get them at home and cook and eat them within the hour. Of course, on the ship they have to have been frozen.
After trying the lobster on a Carnival ship, I have to agree. It was dry and tough - either freezer burned or overcooked.

Slinkie

[Kate-AHF]

Laffinvegas - I want you to know that I emailed this thread to my DH, who is out of town. He dosen't "do" the BB's. I got a one-line reply:

"I want to sit with Tom."

:D

(Just got a second email:
"Please. I want to sit with Tom. You may not want to sit with us, I’ll see you at the dessert table or in the clinic."

Now I'll have to break it to him the Tom is not on our trip.)

[SoCalCruiseguy]

I'm from San Diego and as you might know we are famous for our grilled pterodactyl. So when I go cruisin, I just don't bother with the shipboard pterodactyl, because it just wouldn't be the same as the pterodactyl I'm used to :) All fun aside, the lobster served in the Carnival Conquest supper club is HUGE. Bet you can't eat more than one....o.k. two

George

[ejbmorr]

I can't ever remember being served more than one lobster on any of the ships we have sailed on. I do get teased about all the fish and seafood I eat onboard, so if more than one was ever served to me I am sure I would remember it as a special event. Yum!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Laffinvegas - I want you to know that I emailed this thread to my DH, who is out of town. He dosen't "do" the BB's. I got a one-line reply:

"I want to sit with Tom."

:D

(Just got a second email:
"Please. I want to sit with Tom. You may not want to sit with us, I’ll see you at the dessert table or in the clinic."

Now I'll have to break it to him the Tom is not on our trip.)


Kate, you are welcome to join us:D DH always has fun with his Lobster eating on the last Formal night. Our last cruise on the Ryndam we were at a table for 8 and in the begining he was not sure he wanted to try to break his record. As the week progress we got to know our tablemates quite well and had a lot of fun getting Tom to his 10th Lobster. Our Dining Room Stewart and Assistant Waiter also had a lot of fun with this and wanted to make sure he broke his record on the Ryndam. We had told them he was one short on the Oosterdam. When Tom does this he eats nothing else. What was funn is the others at our table also had quite a few. Everyone enjoyed cheering him on.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have been wanting to say Hi to you since i saw your name, so now is a good time. We are misplaced Vegan's, so please humor me and let me trade questions with you since i know your the only ones who will get a laugh at this. Whats the secret to playing the slot's?
Take Care and enjoy your cruise
BC


;) The secret to playing the slots, actually to not play them at all. Would you believe I have not played a single machine in 12 years, nor any other type of gambling as far as that goes. I have worked in the financial lending field for almost 30 years and have seen so many ruin their credit and loose everything over those darn machines. Although for the past 10 years I have been a Special Financie Director at a car dealership helping those with bad credit get financed so I guess in a round about way I have made money from the slots:eek:

[ewheelock]

All you have to do is ask. I usually ask after I finish the first tail so I know that I really want another one and wasn't going to waste it. I don't miss dessert on a cruise because I rarely eat desserts at home and it is a real treat.

[sail7seas]

LAFFNVEGAS.....

It makes me curious when your DH is trying to eat as many tails as possible, does he actually eat to enjoy them? Does he taste what he is eating and enjoy it as a special treat? Or is it like the hot dog eating contests :) ? It does sound like a good time was had at your table.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

LAFFNVEGAS.....

It makes me curious when your DH is trying to eat as many tails as possible, does he actually eat to enjoy them? Does he taste what he is eating and enjoy it as a special treat? Or is it like the hot dog eating contests :) ? It does sound like a good time was had at your table.

Actually since that is all he eats for dinner he savors every bite. He loves lobster he may use a litle bit of butter but basically loves them plain. He might have a plain baked potato with it. He is a real meat and plain potato kind of guy. Except he does love lobster and shrimp. It might sound like it is like a Hot Dog Eating Contest but it really is not that fast pace, but we really get great service that night from the Dining Room Staff. What has made it fun is that on all 3 of the HAL ships we have been on our Dining Stewart and his Assistant have taken great pride in helping him and have had lots of fun with us. That is why we tip them quite well at the end of the cruise because we have had good service and a lot of fun. Even with the changes in the Dining Room they always manage to give us really good service.

[Kate-AHF]

Lisa, at some point we will try to book a cruise you both are on. I'd love to watch, and Don may give Tom a run for his money....sounds like fun! Wagering could be involved... a completely different kind of "anchor pool".:D

[sail7seas]

Sounds like there is lots of fun going on. :) That is what cruising is all about. Enjoy!!!

Obviously, it's all high spirits and clearly the dining staff recognizes it is something your DH looks forward to on his cruises and they want help him enjoy as much as they can. Have a good time.....life is short!!!

[lipoppop]

Humares Americanus, (if I remember my biology),the American lobster has no peer. Those things without claws that besmirch the name "lobster" should have to be called something else.

Besides lobsters should be steamed. You drop them in the water when you go out to pick the corn that goes with the meal.

Here on Long Island our lobster fishing industry is almost dead and we have to buy our lobsters from New England.

[lipoppop]

Sounds like there is lots of fun going on. :) That is what cruising is all about. Enjoy!!!

Obviously, it's all high spirits and clearly the dining staff recognizes it is something your DH looks forward to on his cruises and they want help him enjoy as much as they can. Have a good time.....life is short!!!

Sail what happened to your posts? I only see a box with an "x" and not the vessel.

[sail7seas]

Sierrachik has been very kind to host my gif for me as I have no clue how to do it. My friend who used to host it passed away and she offered to help me. Because I visit here to many times a day, it was messing up her count of hits on her web page so I told her to go ahead and eliminate it. I tried to get it out of my profile here but I failed to do it successfully. :( I'll have to try again to get rid of the 'dreaded red 'x'!!!

[Mary Ellen]

I didn't vote because my response is none - BUT not that lobster is yucky. I do LOVE cold water lobsters, but the warm water 'lobsters' served on HAL these days is indeed - yucky, IMHO. I figure is is one more lobster for someone else (like DH).

[mattR]

Our table of 8 people eat 24 lobsters in Dec and my wife didn't have any:) The waiter finally cut us off:(

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Our table of 8 people eat 24 lobsters in Dec and my wife didn't have any:) The waiter finally cut us off:(

Matt, on the Ryndam in November there was 32 lobster eaten at a table for 8 and one person also did not eat lobster and they kept asking if we needed more. There must of been plenty of lobster on hand that sailing and they may have been limited on yours.

[mattR]

LOL good job I would've gone for more as I'm sure another guy at our table would've. Next time:)

[Ritanita]

I always look at the dinner menu in the morning. Surf and turf is easily exchanged for "surf and surf". Want more? Ask for it. you'll get it. If you're not up for a formal dinner seating, check out if they're serving lobster on the Lido. Get all you want there, too.

And what happens if the only thing on the menu for dinner that appeals to you is an appetizer? Well... ASK! I had a great main course of black bean and duck quesadillas...

And, quite frankly, the HAL staff will bend over backwards to make sure you get the exact meal you want... don't be afraid to ask.

[blackbird71]

LOL, I am enjoying this thread. I was on Crystal Harmony and you could at the time, order off menu. My mother wanted Lobster Thermador, so we ordered it for the next night. TWO of the biggest tails you have ever seen showed up.

All in all on a 6 day cruise, my mother had lobster three nights.

In the early 80s HAL and Cunard had South African Lobster tails... BIG... Good.

[Aussie Gal]

The South African Tails sound like our Aussie crayfish tails. They weight a good one and a half to two kilograms and they are delicious. We had them for our Christmas lunch and New Year this year. Just Delicious.:o :o

Jennie

[blackbird71]

Aussie Gal (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/member.php?u=30565)

In the early 90s I was looking to do a job in New Zealand and rented a lot of travel videos. In one video it show people stopping at a roadside lobster stand and getting a tail to eat..... Looked GREAT to me, but alass I did not get the contract. :(

[sail7seas]

Jennie....

Two kilograms.....Yum!! That is almost four and a half pounds, isn't it? That had to be so delicious. When they are large like that you can keep them moist during cooking. The small ones have a tendency to get dry.

[Aussie Gal]

Sail,

They are wonderful to eat. One lobster (crayfish) will serve up to five people. We bought 4 for Christmas and only ate 2, there were 10 of us and it was more than enough so we had one next day for lunch (Boxing Day) and we froze the other one and had it for New Year. We buy them just freshly cooked. Our daughter lives close to the sea, so we know that they have just been caught. We usually eat them cold, with mayonaise and a salad. :) :)

We also have them hot, lobster mornay or thermidor but when they are so fresh nothing beats a cold cray, to me it is the ultimate in a dining experience. Unfortunately, the tails are exported to Japan (have been for about 20 years) so the price is exhorbitant. One good size lobster now costs around $80AUD which is about $60US!! :( :mad:

Jennie

[joeinwpb]

We love lobster....but never order it on a ship. It doesn't taste anything like the great ones we are used to here in New England. We pick them live from the tank when we get them at home and cook and eat them within the hour. Of course, on the ship they have to have been frozen.

You're so right Sails. The North Atlantic lobster has claws, and they're the best part of the whole lobster. I remember feeding the whole family on a single 10 lb. Lobster. Can't say as I enjoyed dropping the poor thing into the boiling water though.

Oh! By the way - The 10 lb. Lobster set me back a grand total of $7.50. The price has gone up a little since than, and the sizes have gone down.

Two (2) tails are enough to satisfy me on Lobster Night. Your right Lisa They are small. :) :)

[sail7seas]

You're so right Sails. The North Atlantic lobster has claws, and they're the best part of the whole lobster. I remember feeding the whole family on a single 10 lb. Lobster. Can't say as I enjoyed dropping the poor thing into the boiling water though.

Oh! By the way - The 10 lb. Lobster set me back a grand total of $7.50. The price has gone up a little since than, and the sizes have gone down.

Two (2) tails are enough to satisfy me on Lobster Night. Your right Lisa They are small. :) :)

Oh my goodness.....that must have been some number of years ago to have bought a 10 lb. lobster for $7.50.

IF you could even find one today, it would set you back At Least $150 (or maybe even more) . I probably could get one if I really wanted it very badly but I would certainly have to order it in advance. We live near a very large lobster exporter and they can and do get just about every size one could want but we'd pay dearly.

[joeinwpb]

Back in the 60's, when I bought that 10 pounder they were fairly common. Even larger ones could be acquired. They actually charged less for the large ones because the general belief, albeit erroneously, was that the large ones were tough.

That one lobster fed 10 people that night, and was delicious

Sadly the little things that are being sold now, are a sign of the times. Over harvesting to feed a burgeoning world population.

[az lily]

please // can we have some intelligent discussions... these stupid polls and ridiculous questions take up time and energy better spent.. i have a feeling there are too many people on these boards who are really bored and usae theee emails in an effort to entertain themselves.. i notice too many duplications of unecessary comments

[zdude]

We don't always need intelligent discussions. I love reading about people personal lobster easting reacords, gorging themselves on 10 likely frozen, lobster tails claiming to enjoy every bite.:D

[ORANGEinINDY]

PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals" would be proud of us!

As for me ... give me a nice big piece of beef!

"A man of the cloth" with humor as sarcastic as my own... I gotta love that.

My first cruise is in May and I am looking forward to eating.... Lobster in particular. Now... should we save Larry Lobster, or should we cook Larry Lobster.... you decide, while I go melt some butter!

[ejbmorr]

Reply to "Wasted time": This board has set up some type of reward system based on the number of messages posted by an individual. I think that is what prompts some of the duplicate and redundant responses. If it is fun for the folks who are into that kind of thing, I don't think it is harmful for the rest. Just read what you are interested in or just the first few replies (as I do).

[ORANGEinINDY]

No Butter for Bubba, the 22-Pound Lobster

Mar 2, 8:37 AM (ET)

By MIKE CRISSEY

PITTSBURGH (AP) - He could be older than Warner Bros. studio, General Motors and the Boy Scouts. He could have survived two world wars and Prohibition. He could have been dinner.

He's Bubba, a 22-pound leviathan of a lobster pulled from the waters off Nantucket, Mass., and shipped to a Pittsburgh fish market.

"It is overwhelming," owner Bob Wholey said. "If you see it, you will never forget it. Customers are just in awe."

On Tuesday, Wholey gave the lobster to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, which will send him to an aquarium at a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum.

Based on how long it typically takes a lobster to reach eating size - about five to seven years to grow to a pound - Bubba may be 100 years old.

That would make the crustacean older than Warner Bros. (1907), the Boy Scouts (1910) and the states of Arizona and New Mexico (1912), not to mention the first commercial radio station (1920), television (1927) and computers (1943).

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent Wholey a letter asking him to work with the group to release Bubba back in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine.

Another group calling itself People For Eating Tasty Animals reportedly offered Wholey a hefty price for the lobster. At Tuesday's price of $14.98 a pound, Bubba would retail for about $350.

Bob Bayer, executive director of the University of Maine's Lobster Institute, is skeptical and estimates that Bubba is likely 50 years old, but doesn't know for sure. Warm water and plenty of food may have more to do with a lobster's size than how long it's been alive.

"We have looked at all kinds of things to figure out if there is any way to age a lobster. I'm guessing 100 years is probably too high but I can't argue with it because you don't know," Bayer said.

No matter his age, Bubba dwarfs a typical 1 1/2-pound lobster. He's about three feet long and took up about half a 4-foot-by-4-foot tank at Wholey's Market. A lobster sharing his tank was about as big as one of Bubba's claws.

A handful of people who wandered by the tank Tuesday were impressed. One woman quietly said, "Wow," while a man said, "He's serious."

Although his business is to sell seafood, Wholey says Bubba was never bound to be boiled and buttered. And he's become a little philosophical after seeing the lobster, which could be twice his 54 years.

"I don't think you could eat something that big. ... What range of emotions does a lobster have? Greed? Lust? Love? I'm just going to give him to the zoo and hope he lives another 100 years," Wholey said.

"If you sat down and ate this thing, wouldn't that be a bit shellfish?"

[Sigtau21]

Yeah I saw a picture of the lobster. It is huge!!! Could imagine then bring out a lobster as big as some Thanksgiving Turkeys????!!!!!

[Rosarymb]

I think I'd have a heart attack if I was swimming and saw something with foot long claws coming at me ! Can you imagine the look on the faces of they guys who caught it? :eek:

[mechcc]

Only been on one cruise and had a 8 top for dinner. 6 ladies from Oklahoma DW and me. I was the only one who liked lobster. I was in heaven!!!!

hcc

[stanford's girl]

Saw on CNN today that Bubba the 22pound lobster died today. Poor Bubba.:( But I will order at least 3 of his friends when I cruise in Oct.!!!!!!:D

[jaguarstyper]

I just happened to go to Wholey's on Monday to buy some seafood. I seen this critter in person. He was one big lobster. One of my business partners has a picture on his desk of a lobster he "caught" in maine. It was 21 pounds. In the picture, he is holding a claw in each hand, chest high. The end of the tail is about at his knees. He is over 6 feet tall. From what he has said, lobsters this size are not really uncommon. They generally are not considered "good to eat".

Tim

[mechcc]

A moment of silence for Bubba!


OK, Let's eat!!!

hcc

[sail7seas]

We had REAL lobster for dinner tonight.


DH went to our Lobster Pound, picked out two still swimming 2 .75 pound males; brought them home; we steamed them and they were fabulous.

Hard to compare a measly 4 oz. frozen, defrosted, dry bite of lobster meat to a real Maine hardshell.

For us New Englanders.....we're spoiled with such excellent lobster and most others disappoint us. So....for us, still no lobster for us on lobster night.

[stanford's girl]

YUUUUUUMMMMMMM. Sounds like a great dinner s7s!:)

[joeinwpb]

You are absolutely right Sails about the "Maine" lobster is best by far". Also the best meat is in the claw, and there are no claws on the "Florida" lobster". Also the way you cooked it (Either steamed, or boiled) is the way it's best. It's in a class by itself.

But still - to me - the lobster they serve on ship beats all the other dishes, on the menu.

"I'll have two please".. :)

[trubey]

sorry, double post. It took me a while to figure out the photograph thingy.

lkt

[trubey]

I haven't eaten a lobster in years. I can't get the good fresh ones and the crummy ones are, well, crummy.

Susan had one on the Prinsendam and said it was the '4-ounce frozen' variety.

Lane

See my Rottweiler? This is Fluffy, and I paid a heck of a lot of money for her.

[Wennfred]

DUDE !! You rock, My wife has 2 Lobsters while I do the Surf and Turf, and then end up pissed off later becasue she had 2 and I had 1 LOL, Im gona have 4 next time ! Thanks

[Wennfred]

[QUOTE=stanford's girl]

Youre too funny !!!

[Nliedel]

Sure the lobsters are low in fat and calories. I cannot say the same for the drawn butter lobster soup I make out of them. I am pretty good the rest of the time but it's butter on cruises.

[Kernel32mco]

I always get two. When I finish the 1st one, I tell the waiter to bring another one. I think I had 3 last time. I've ordered a couple desserts too before. I make sure I can finish the food I order. Wasting it is just wrong.

[mstea]

I didn't know you could order more Lobster. Do you do that when you first order? Let me know, Cruise coming up and lobster sounds oooh so good.Thanks.

[Kernel32mco]

I've ordered 2 to start with and I've also told them to bring more when I finish the first one. Your waiter wants to make you happy. Communicate with them.

[dbullsfn]

I did 6 and 2 shrimp cocktails on the 3/10 Maasdam

[MnFrozen2]

Someone on this board had posted they had eaten nine, and seemed somewhat proud of that fact. So as the competitive natured person I am, I took that as a challenge.

I just got back from the Zuiderdam 3/19. I ate ten. Could have done allot more than that, but only had to beat nine. I would have to say that the first four tasted great, but soon after started tasting like rubber bands.

[sail7seas]

Just wondering why you would continue to eat something that 'tasted like a rubber band'? If it was so unpleasant tasting as that, why on earth would you stuff it into your body? I cannot understand that. An animal doesn't know better; presumably, human beings do???

[bepsf]

Someone on this board had posted they had eaten nine, and seemed somewhat proud of that fact. So as the competitive natured person I am, I took that as a challenge.

I just got back from the Zuiderdam 3/19. I ate ten. Could have done allot more than that, but only had to beat nine. I would have to say that the first four tasted great, but soon after started tasting like rubber bands.


Good lord - I hope you weren't offended when your tablemates walked away in disgust...

[Kate-AHF]

I have to say that the lobster we had on the Zaandam was some of the best I have ever had (that I did not cook myself). They were NOT of the frozen variety, and they were absolutely perfectly cooked.

It's so hard to get a lobster in a restaurant that has not been cooked to the point of a new 3M product.

[MnFrozen2]

Just wondering why you would continue to eat something that 'tasted like a rubber band'? If it was so unpleasant tasting as that, why on earth would you stuff it into your body? I cannot understand that. An animal doesn't know better; presumably, human beings do???I think you're an idiot who misunderstood what I was implying or trying to accomplish. Also, I don't like your tone, and I would be careful what you say about what I should or should not instinctively know as a human being. I am not an animal and certainly not the overweight person you most likely are! These tails are small. So I believe me, there wasn't any "stuffing" going on.

As I said, the first four tasted great. Actually they all tasted fine. As the novelty of having lobster started to wear off they lost some of the appeal. Maybe I should have used the phrase "chewing like rubber bands" instead of "tasting like rubber bands". One fact remains true, too much of a good thing is not always good thing.

As far as my tablemates being in disgust, they didn't even notice until I was done.

[TexasDH]

please // can we have some intelligent discussions... these stupid polls and ridiculous questions take up time and energy better spent.. i have a feeling there are too many people on these boards who are really bored and usae theee emails in an effort to entertain themselves.. i notice too many duplications of unecessary comments

Yet, you ARE evidently reading the thread... :rolleyes:

And if we ARE, indeed, entertaining ourselves... keep it up! What's the harm in a little daily laughter? It has been said that laughing/smiling is the best way to stay young! :)

As to me... I don't eat lobster -- I'll share that steak with RevNeal!

[sail7seas]

I think you're an idiot who misunderstood what I was implying or trying to accomplish. Also, I don't like your tone, and I would be careful what you say about what I should or should not instinctively know as a human being. I am not an animal and certainly not the overweight person you most likely are! These tails are small. So I believe me, there wasn't any "stuffing" going on.

As I said, the first four tasted great. Actually they all tasted fine. As the novelty of having lobster started to wear off they lost some of the appeal. Maybe I should have used the phrase "chewing like rubber bands" instead of "tasting like rubber bands". One fact remains true, too much of a good thing is not always good thing.

As far as my tablemates being in disgust, they didn't even notice until I was done.



As to my size, I've been married for 35 years. I was slim at the time we married and I still wear the same slim size. Not that it is any of your business.


As to what you 'should' have said, I responded based on what you 'did' say.
What you said was 'tasting like rubber bands'. Now you decide that is not what you meant. You obviously wrote one thing and didn't like my response predicated upon that, so go ahead and change the verbage. Anyone who eats ten orders of lobster tails, is stuffing. IMO When being served a five course dinner, that is excessive by any reasonable person's standards. IMO

It would have sickened me to watch a person over indulge to that extent. Had I been at your table and it was earlier in the cruise than the next to last night, I would have had to leave the table and not returned.

[fridayeyes]

The lobster for me has always been sort of ho-hum on cruise ships. It's often a little tough and not very tasty. If it were crab legs, the score would be different, but I've found on lobster night that the lobster isn't worth missing some of the other dishes so I usually order something else. I do the same with the Baked Alaska. Great presentation, fun night - but an average dessert. Give me something gooey, hot and chocolate instead, please. :)

A note about tone - I find that on boards, people often type things that they would never say in person no matter how provoked they were. The online format gives a certain aura of anonymity and protection from confrontation that leads people to disregard common standards of civility. IMHO, if you find yourself getting hot about something someone has said here, responding in kind is not the way to go. A few unpleasant posts can be overlooked, but tit-for-tat sessions downgrade the experience here for everyone.

Cheers,

Friday, whose rose-colored glasses are firmly in place

[sail7seas]

Your point is well taken, Friday. Thank you.

[SDHALFAN]

Personally I can't stand Lobster so anyone can have my share. Now, Crab or Shrimp (preferably both on one plate) keep you mitts off - they're all mine:)

[fridayeyes]

I'm with you there. :) My family once won back to back dinner comps at a now defunct seafood place that featured all-you-can eat King crab legs. The first night, we ate the rolls, the salad, the cole slaw, the baked potato, etc.

The second night, my uncle pulled the server aside when she took our drink orders and said "Hold the salad, hold the bread, hold the potato. Bring the crab."

[texashms]

Let’s make one thing clear here. We are all here because we choose to be here. If you are going to judge someone based on their eating choices make it short. I was on the cruise with MnFrozen. He’s a fun guy and he had fun eating 10 lobster tails. So what if he was doing it to beat a record??? It’s his choice. Just as it was your choice to judge him so harshly. Just as his tablemates had the choice to walk away, had they been disgusted—they weren’t. Just as it is my choice to think, that if the guy gets a kick out of eating 10 lobster tails, that it is kind of funny.

Please be careful when judging others. You may find that you have to defend yourself and the harsh stances you take.

[viennacruiser]

I am also a friend of Mnfrozen2, and why is it that he was slammed for responding to a thread which has been going on for quite some time.I have been on these boards for about a year now and notice that if anyone dares to voice an opinion that is not in keeping with the so called tone of this board they are slammed.:confused:

I have not participated in any of these conversations in the past but Mnfrozen is a real live person that I have spent time and and very nice person and not just some name on a board and he did not deserve to be slammed for honestly talking about his lobster experience.

Lets try to allow everyone to post freely without fear of being slammed for their opinions.Just because we have not sailed many times or days with HAL does not mean we are any less entitled to our opinions.
Oh and I only has one lobster and it was not very good.....otherwise I might have had 10 myself:p

[Tarkus]

hrm... last cruise i was on (seabreeze, a bit over five years ago) they ran-out of lobster by the time of the second seating... so i guess everybody in the early shift pigged-out on them!

honestly, it never occurred to me to just keep ordering-and-ordering them - maybe i'll try it (assuming some are still available for late seating) on my upcoming trip on the zuiderdam! :p

[rodree]

Agree with you GAJE. We have been on many many HAL cruises on probably
every ship in the fleet. Have never been offered more than one. Since they are kinda small we would welcome another.
We always get a balcony cabin but,is this something offered only in higher catagories?

[Gunzee]

Just off the Volendam. I had 6 lobster tails during the late seating. Our server bring extra, knowing that most people will want more. If you don't ask, you don't get more. So, speak up.