Luxe Seafood Cruise, Meal

Rottnest Cruises serves a seafood feast on the water with this 4-hour Luxe Island Seafood Cruise. Among the island's boat trips it carries the top rating, 4.9 from 56 reviews. Prices start at A$395 per person and cancellation is free.

Overview

A lobster lunch with a difference, this cruise starts the moment you step aboard at the Thomson Bay Fuel Jetty on Rottnest Island. A welcome cocktail comes first, then the boat heads out with the crew to pull cray pots. Guests can join in catching their own lobster or simply watch on from the deck.

The centrepiece is a 7-course lunch designed by executive chef Tony Howell, built around fresh local lobster, Western Australian seafood and local produce. Service runs at a white tablecloth long table, with an onboard chef and full crew. Drinks flow for the whole trip: Margaret River Howard Park still and sparkling wines, a wide range of local and international beers, sodas and bottled water. Bringing your own alcohol is not allowed.

Between courses there is time to swim in one of the island's tranquil bays, lounge on the upper sun deck, or float on the specially designed mats in the turquoise water. The trip runs for 4 hours from an 11:30 start, capped at 30 travellers. Note that ferry transfers to and from Rottnest Island are not included, and the cruise does not run in winter.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Thomson BayArrive at the Rottnest Cruises Thomson Bay Fuel Jetty, adjacent to the main ferry jetty in central Thomson Bay, 15 minutes before departure. The cruise starts at 11:30.
2. Board the boatStep aboard, where a welcome cocktail is served as you board. The listing does not fix the order of the activities that follow.
3. Lobster catchingAt some point in the cruise, join the experienced crew in catching your own lobster, or watch on from the deck as the pots come up.
4. Seven-course seafood lunchSit down to a 7-course lunch by executive chef Tony Howell at a white tablecloth long table, with all-inclusive wines, beers, sodas and water served throughout.
5. Swim and sun deckDuring the cruise there are chances to chill on the upper sun deck or on the large float mats in turquoise water, and to swim in one of the island's tranquil bays.
6. Return to Thomson BayThe cruise ends back at the same fuel jetty where it began, roughly 4 hours after departure.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the day right, from getting to the island in the first place to dealing with a moving boat.

• Getting there. Ferry transfers to and from Rottnest Island are not included, so book your own ferry and allow time to reach Thomson Bay. The fuel jetty sits next to the main ferry jetty in central Thomson Bay. Arrive 15 minutes before the 11:30 departure.
• Seasickness. One reviewer recommended taking seasickness medication if you get seasick, though they still felt queasy towards the end despite taking some. The crew looked after them well, but medication is a sensible precaution on any boat day.
• Food and drink. The 7-course lunch and all drinks are included, from the welcome cocktail to Margaret River wines, beers, sodas and water. Bring nothing extra to drink, as BYO alcohol is not permitted. Reviewers repeatedly noted that the food and drinks just kept coming.
• Swimming. The cruise includes time to swim in one of the island's tranquil bays, and float mats and the upper sun deck are there for relaxing between courses. Pack whatever you normally want for a swim stop on a boat day.
• Group size. The boat takes a maximum of 30 travellers plus crew. One reviewer said there was still plenty of room to move.
• Weather. The cruise needs good weather and can be cancelled if conditions are poor, with a different date or a full refund offered in that case. Wind can also affect the lobster pot pull, as one reviewer found, though the rest of the day went ahead.

Common issues. The cruise does not run during winter, so check availability for your travel dates before locking in ferries and accommodation. It is not wheelchair accessible. Wind can stop the cray pots being collected, as one reviewer experienced, and the whole trip can be cancelled for poor weather or if minimum numbers are not met, though you would then be offered a different date or a full refund. Ferry transfers to the island are an extra you must arrange yourself, and cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure receive no refund.

How To Choose