While sailing recently on Princess Cruises’ 7-day California Coastal cruise on the Star Princess, my new shipboard friend Angela and I decided to try the Crab Shack casual dining experience.
The Crab Shack is set up in part of the seating area for the Horizon Court, and is only open some nights. Reservations are required and there is a $20 per person cover charge to dine.
All meals at the Crab Shack begin with Popcorn Shrimp and Hush Puppies served with tartar sauce and bayou cocktail sauce for dipping.
Next, Manhattan clam chowder is served with the clams still in the shell. This chowder is made with bacon, tomatoes and potatoes.
Now it’s time to get messy, so the waiter ties a plastic bib around your neck.
As you can see in the photo above, there are four different seafood “boil” type entrees that you may choose from on the Crab Shack menu.
I ordered the Steamed Alaskan King Crab Legs with Old Bay Peel & Eat Shrimp, Corn on the Cob, Boiled Potatoes and Lemon.
The crab is delicious. The peel & eat shrimp are very messy.
It’s all messy – but fun to eat. You do have to fight with those crabs, but all of the proper crab-eating implements are available.
Angela ordered The Royal’s Mixed Steamer which includes a Snow Crab Cluster, King Crab, Jumbo Shrimp, Clams, Mussels, and Kielbasa Sausage. (She ordered without the sausage.)
This is the better entree choice with two kinds of crab.
Who can resist a crab claw?
For dessert, there was some kind of non-memorable chocolate cake. But who needs dessert after all of that seafood?
In addition to being on the Star Princess, the Crab Shack dining option can be found on the Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Island, Regal, Royal and Ruby Princess ships. The venue operates between 6 to 9 pm on select evenings during a given cruise.
I found this to be a unique and fun cruise ship dining experience.
It is very casual for a specialty restaurant, but serves high-quality seafood in a fun environment.
Have you dined at the Crab Shack on a Princess Cruises ship? What did you think about the experience? Please share in comments below.
Check out these other posts on my recent California Coastal Cruise on the Star Princess:
- Trying Out San Francisco’s New Cruise Ship Terminal at Pier 27
- Views from the Star Princess Cruise Ship
- A Look at the Sabatini’s Menu on Princess Cruises’ Star Princess
- A Look Inside Interior Cabin B-625 on the Star Princess Cruise Ship
- A Quick Visit to Ensenada, Mexico via the Star Princess Cruise Ship
- How Joining a Roll Call on Cruise Critic Made My Solo Cruise a Blast
- Touring Los Angeles and Hollywood on a Princess Cruises’ Excursion from Long Beach
Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook
Or, check out our boards on Pinterest and/or our photos on Instagram.