I remember when the auto tipping program started & people who used to tip the recommended amount now feel obligated to give additional. Why should this be any different?
Originally posted by Dave Beers:
Forget my above scenario. I was just reminded that RCI usually asks how many people are being ordered for, so I guess they'll also enforce portion control in the room service orders.
I do not think that would matter. On Carnival they ask for how many people, I like extra coffee so I usuallly just add a person or two to the order. They really do not know... any way maybe your friends from down the hall are joining you.
That's precisely what I was thinking when I posted! Everyone has made excellent points about this. I agree with Cruise Fanatic as well about them stabilizing the pricing.
Room service, at 2 or 3 a.m. is one of the things our teens love about crusing. Yes they use the windjammer and other food spots on board but room service has a special cachet for them. We have always given them a few dollar bills to have to give directly to the staff who deliver.
I do not like the charge. We have to travel at peak times (school holidays) and already pay 2-3 times what people can pay for low season travel. I think the cruise line does very well off us already. Nickel and diming begins to add up and it spoils things if you are always thinking about little charges or nagging the kids.
That's another thing. I have a hard enough time going over my statement to make sure it is right. On Carnival I have found errors before. I'm sorta surprised they had the gall to follow through with this at this point in time. Oh well, I only order once or twice during a 7 day during that time period. After leaving the casino I usually get some pizza.
nah wait
until the other cruise lines start doing the same, well the future is not looking good for me...I am addicted to the buffets they great food on board.
If they keep doing this "Nominal Fees" one day they will lose most of their clients to the all inclusive hotels, I hope this don't happen I really enjoy cruising
What the cruise lines need to do is stop this nonsense of such volatile cruise fares. Charging a price and then rebating $200,$300, $600, etc. at final payment or before sailing. They need to have a more steady cruise fare. Then they would have their profit up front. No skirting around the cruise fare.
I agree with that. I don't think any reasonable person should expect cruise fares to be at the same levels they were in 1990 yet they are, although they cover so much less now. Cut out the "here a charge, there a charge, everywhere a surcharge" mess and raise the base cruise fare. I wonder how many first-timers never come back after the shakedown they get while aboard?
Oh, and yes they could save lots of money by getting rid off all the ad leaflets they dump on the bed each night. Hasn't it occurred to them that most of it goes from bed to trash can without being looked at?
I don't know how many of the people who post to these board that succumb to the "extras". Keeping the base price low to attract business is the way of life & I suppose it keeps them in business but I know that we are NOTthe type of customers that they would like aboard since we hardly ever buy their extra services or merchandise or gamble in the casino. Keep the base price low & I'll be a happy sailor buying only what I wish to pay for.
There is a story from the late 1990's where the CEO of one line (I think it was Princess) allegedly said if they could get away with it, they'd charge for all meals in the dining room. I don't know if it is true, but I can easily see that type of proposal being discussed.
Sodas used to be included during meal times on most lines. Everyone was paying for it. Then they did away with it and started charging. I remember discussions from the past where people would suggest "why don't they just raise the fare and give us back the soda?" This invited some surprisingly offended replies from many. "I don't drink soda so why should I have to subsidize it for others?" Well, they used to. Even today, everyone is paying for the room service even if they never use it.
I don't know how many of the people who post to these board that succumb to the "extras".
I admit that I do. Our biggest downfall is photography...for some reason, I "need" to have an embarkation photo plus one at each port (if it is our first time there). We also dine one night at the specialty restaurant, courtesy of our TA. I haven't done so on Royal Caribbean, yet I do enjoy the specialty restaurants on HAL and Celebrity.
Then again, those are really our only expenses on board. Other than an occasional glass of wine, we don't drink much alcohol, and we also limit ourselves to the free drinks such as water and iced tea. My son is not a soda drinker. (If soda was no cost, we would certainly have more of it.)
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