Is the Seafood Shack a success?

[Earthworm Jim]

On our just completed Magic cruise our hangout was near the Seafood Shack and it didn't seem to be doing a ton of business. Their busiest time seemed to be 11:30 to noon, because the buffet wasn't open for lunch yet then. After that it was pretty slow most days. Has this pay for seafood plan been a success for Carnival? Admittedly, we were never there at dinner time. Maybe they are busier then.

 

I'm hoping they go back to to have at least some of the seafood free, like they used to do when the seafood restaurant was upstairs from the Lido buffet on many ships. That was rarely busy either, but I think that was due to it's location. Out of sight, out of mind. Surely they'd still have to charge for upscale seafood items like lobster rolls or crab legs. But they could also offer things like fish frys and chowder (without the bread bowl) for free there.

[Sagittarius traveler]

I think it is the location my family and I didn't discover the place until the last sea day on horizon lol.

 

We seen someone with a bucket of crabs and we were like where did they get that from lol.

[fabby50]

There were quite a few people getting plates of oysters on our recent Panorama cruise, but I did hear a couple of people say that the food was good, but not worth paying extra for.  If they grilled fish instead of frying everything, I think my husband would have eaten there daily, but he doesn't do fried food - 

[bury me at sea]

I miss the seafood place above the buffet.  Haven't and won't try the pay extra place.

[HectorAchilleus]

We noticed the same thing on a Journeys cruise on the Breeze. Due to a ridiculously long time to eat in the MDR, we spent the next 12 nights eating on the Lido deck. There was always a line for the buffett, deli, pizza BUT never for the seafood. We did not eat tere once - and we really like seafood. There was just too much for free to justify spending money on that.

[mnp75]

We tried it on the Vista and it wasn't nothing I'd rush to get again. It was a combo basket and my wife ordered the lobster roll. I'd spend the money at JiJi's or some other pay option first. 

[Eliot Ness]

On our recent 14 day Panama Canal Journeys cruise on the Glory we would occasionally see someone with a basket from there.  On the last night the wife got a $30 coupon from the casino for the Seafood Shack so we paid some extra and got 2 pounds of crab legs, which were pretty good.  I've said I'd never pay to eat there, but the bowls of clam chowder looked pretty good and weren't too expensive so I might try one of those next time.

 

Like others, I miss the fish n chips that were on deck 10 of the Conquest class ships that are now free BBQ.

[bjd2]

We tried it on the Vista and Horizon, spent quite a lot for crab legs and lobster and it honestly wasn't very good. 

[DenaInWyo]

I don't think it's particularly popular at all.  On the Vista for two weeks (B2B) and it was never busy.

THAT SAID..my family and I love it.  I am very much looking forward to spending a portion of my OBC on buckets of crab to have with beer or mojitos while chilling on the aft deck.  My sister is a big fan of the peel and eat shrimp.  Is it spendy compared to included food?  Yep.  But with crab being one of my very favorite foods, and enjoying it in that atmosphere, it's worth it to me.

 

Unfortunately, I do realize I'm in the minority.  So yeah, kind of expect eventually it'll be gone.

 

One more note..if they'd get the fish and chips right they might have better luck.  They never cooked it crispy enough.  The fish was done, of course, but it was for sure not as good as the old fish place that was included.  The fries are amazing (better than Guys, imo), and if you're nice to the guys working there and a regular customer..they'll usually toss you a plate for free 😉 

 

Edited to add:  If they'd somehow swap it out to have JiJis on every ship, I would not cry.  Best cruise ship food I've ever had, even over the steakhouse.  

Edited March 11, 2020 by DenaInWyo

[steveweese]

I am on the I really like it boat

[BelowDeck4us]

1 hour ago, fabby50 said:

There were quite a few people getting plates of oysters on our recent Panorama cruise, but I did hear a couple of people say that the food was good, but not worth paying extra for.  If they grilled fish instead of frying everything, I think my husband would have eaten there daily, but he doesn't do fried food - 

I definitely agree with you....grilling some the fish instead of frying it would make the experience much better.  On our Panorama cruise in February the fish was actually soggy.  But we've also eaten some good items and yes, there is never a line that we've seen.  I agree paying for the food definitely keeps the crowds down, but I hope they keep it around.  

 

However, back to the title, I doubt they consider it a total success.  But am hoping they spend a little time to improve it.  

[bigcstyle4]

Over the past couple years the only times I’ve seen it get “busy” would be right around opening time at 11 or so. I’ve gotten a couple of bread bowls over the years which are very good and only $4 I believe.

[cbaker1974]

Had soggy fried fish a couple of weeks ago on the Breeze.  It looked great when served up, but the batter is a really odd consistency and it's kind of difficult to eat (the fish separates from the coating, so you end up with a fish fillet in a "glove" of batter that is unwieldy by hand, fork or any other utensil.  If it was Captain D's or Long Johns quality then I would have been fine with it, but this was worse than public school fish triangles.

 

I did enjoy the peel and eat shrimp...pretty good deal and makes the shrimp cocktail in the MDR (or even the steakhouse) look silly.  I liked taking it and eating it while watching movies by the pool.  I think having it as a "stand" that you have to pay for is a big weakness...all the other "open deck" restaurants (pizza, bbq, guy's, blue iguana) are free, so its confusing for a lot of people.  I'd move the BBQ upstairs to this location and put the seafood shack down on 5 or roll it into the Red Frog pub somehow...perhaps place it closer to the other paid casual options like the Sushi place with some indoor/outdoor seating that's dedicated to the restaurant.  

[MeganGC1983]

We were on the Magic with you Earthworm and ate there twice. Once was for the garlic seafood crablegs... terrible. The other was the combo basket... pretty good. The biggest problem is that there’s usually only one person doing everything, from taking the orders to cooking the food to plating it. It. Takes. FOR. EV. ER. (In my Sandlot voice) 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Well, as they are putting it on the Radiance as part of it's transformation, they must consider it a success.  Otherwise they would have found something else to do with the space.

 

Unless the powers that be can't admit, for some reason, that it is a failure, and will act like it is a success, regardless.

[drgonzogoo]

We enjoy the Seafood Shack(Shanty) we like to get a platter and relax on the Lido. We have gotten the lobster roll and steamed shrimp too. It's all pretty good, and a good value! 

[thesmiths]

Is it a success,  Must be if adding to other ships?

 

I'll have lunch there a few times during the week on each cruise.

I enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FSHLOT]

We enjoyed the Seafood Shack a few times. I'm no expert when it comes to lobster rolls, but the ones we had were pretty good. It was worth the money we paid. imo

 

I think it would be considered a success!!

[jimbo5544]

18 minutes ago, thesmiths said:

Is it a success,  Must be if adding to other ships?

 

I'll have lunch there a few times during the week on each cruise.

I enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bingo

[rmajor]

I tried the lobster roll and it was meh  at best. BUT the oysters were AMAZING and i will def be getting some with my OBC on my March 22 cruise on the Magic.. if it sails of course !! 🙂

[ricew001]

Once we saw the prices we were like nah - we will stick to the other options. That said we did eat at the steakhouse and I didn't realize tip was included so I left a 20% tip. But if there were other options on the menu I may be apt to try it. As much as my hubby loves lobster he passed on it.

[bstel]

how much is the lobster roll?

[AmBear]

16 hours ago, Sagittarius traveler said:

I think it is the location my family and I didn't discover the place until the last sea day on horizon lol.

 

We seen someone with a bucket of crabs and we were like where did they get that from lol.

We've eaten there, I had the fried clams, my wife had the clam chowder in a bread bowl, both were affordable, and great!

[Bases5]

45 minutes ago, bstel said:

how much is the lobster roll?

They were $12 last time we had them

[Bases5]

It might do better than it looks.

When we ordered there we were given a beeper to come back when the food was ready so we did not hang out there.

But we have never had t wait in a line to make an order.