What is the lobster rule on cruises?

Servers would sometimes even go around the dining room bringing them to passengers before they even asked for one. Now, under the new rules, passengers who want a second lobster tail (and any after that) will pay $16.99 plus an 18% gratuity for each one they ask for.



The "lobster rule" on cruises has undergone a massive shift in 2025 and 2026 as major lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival have moved away from the "unlimited" model. Historically, "Lobster Night" (usually the second formal night) meant guests could order as many lobster tails as they wanted for free. Now, most mainstream cruise lines have implemented a "One Free Tail" policy. After your first complimentary lobster tail in the Main Dining Room, you are typically charged a fee of $16.99 to $19.99 for each additional tail. This change was introduced to manage rising food costs and reduce massive amounts of food waste. High-end lines like Celebrity or Virgin Voyages may still offer more flexibility, but the "unlimited" era is largely over for the mass market. If you are a true lobster enthusiast, a high-value strategy is to visit the specialty steakhouse on board; while there is a cover charge, the quality of the lobster is often significantly higher than what is served in the massive dining room during the "formal night" rush.

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Royal Caribbean and Carnival Both Make Lobster Changes It's always possible to purchase a lobster tail in MDR from the small list of items from the Chops steakhouse menu every night, but on formal night, they are included.

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(Appetizers and desserts are still unlimited with no extra fee.) Carnival only serves lobster on one formal night on cruises of six nights or more. It used to be unlimited on those nights, but now each lobster tail after the first two will cost $5, per the new policy.

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Several luxury cruise lines just include the gratuities in the cruise fare, smoothing over any possible issues. Most lines allow passengers to adjust or remove automatic tips by visiting the front desk. The exception? Norwegian Cruise Lines, who requires cruisers to file a reimbursement request after the cruise ends.

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Choose a luxurious breakfast or experience the ultimate romantic dinner at sea: a sumptuous four-course meal, including succulent lobster tail and juicy steak, your beverage of choice, hors d'oeuvres, all served right on your balcony served by our dedicated waitstaff.

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While they might not host the excessive midnight buffets of yore, many cruise ships do still offer late-night snack stations in the buffet areas, featuring items like sandwiches, tacos or crepes.

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As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.

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Yes, you can remove gratuities on Princess Cruises. All gratuities are automatically added to your onboard account and can be adjusted or removed completely at the Guest Services desk before disembarkation. Guests also have the option of pre-payment of gratuities prior to sailing.

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So you're in the mood for some good eats, but you'd rather stay in your comfy, cozy stateroom? Really, who could blame you? Simply pick up the phone and order something tasty from our extensive room service menus.

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Carnival Cruise Line dress code In accordance with the dress code, passengers cannot wear regular shorts or gym shorts, bathing suit attire, beach flip-flops and other similar items in the dining room.

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A live lobster is allowed through security and must be transported in a clear, plastic, spill proof container. A TSA officer will visually inspect your lobster at the checkpoint. We recommend that you contact your airline to determine your airline's policy on traveling with your lobster before arriving at the airport.

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Paying gratuities and tipping the staff aboard a cruise ship is not compulsory but is considered the right thing to do. Cruise Tipping is a gesture of goodwill to reflect your gratitude for the service provided and to say a big “Thank You” to the crew members.

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A majority of cruise ship lines offer their employees free food throughout the duration of their contracts. There's typically a special kitchen on the boat that prepares food for staff members. Employees may eat in separate dining areas, depending on their classifications.

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On booking there might be an option not to pre-pay gratuities before you sail. However, if you opt out at this stage, most cruise lines will add the gratuity to your onboard account daily. You can choose to either amend the amount or remove altogether by visiting guest services in most cases.

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Feeding Yourself on Debarkation Day Even though you're leaving the ship, you're still entitled to breakfast onboard. These are your options: Eat in a Dining Room You'll be assigned to the same dining room you had dinner in on the last night of your cruise.

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Cruises are often known for decadence when it comes to food – it's available all day, every day, in unlimited portions, and it's certainly not all healthy. That said, it is possible to eat healthy while on a cruise ship – while still enjoying yourself, too!

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Sure, you can eat at the buffet at almost any time of the day or make a reservation at a specialty restaurant, but to dine in the main dining room, most cruise lines require you to show up at either a set time or during a limited timeframe.

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