Feel like I'm being nickel and dimed.

[RaiderFaninNM]

I totally understand the OP thinking.

 

During our 1st cruise all we heard was announcements for art shows, bingo, casino games, specialty restaurants over and over and over and over! It did get old as first but then I was able to turn on my “female ears” ;) :D and turn then continual announcements off………..Then we were able to enjoy the cruise.....

[Langley Cruisers]

Where will the extra charges end??

 

...meaning everything that was served except for specialty restaurants, and there were no extra charges. Now there are.

 

You know what? They aren't going to end. They are making money for the cruise industry and people are buying the "extras". As a passenger, you have a choice. You can eat as much as you want at the "free" venues and not have to pay a nickel or a dime or more.

 

I understand your initial statement, but won't you at least accept that it's not going to change, BUT you still have a choice?

[cruisinfanatic]

Agreed. My cruise experience began in the early 90s so perhaps I missed the premium MDR food. I do not ever remember MDR food being as good as what is presently offered in Chops or Giovanni's Table.

 

On the other hand, buffet choices have not changed much over the years and I think the choices offered in Park Cafe or Majesty's Compass Deli are a great step up in free lunch food.

the deserts used to be really good

[Finbar127]

I've been on many of the same ships you've been on in the 90's when I started cruising and you are grasping if you think you've ever had a specialty restaurant quality, quantity, and service type meal on any of them.

Yes the food was better then, but not nearly specialty restaurant better.

 

Let’s just agree that we have different opinions on how good the food used to be. I would gladly trade today’s offerings for the food and service aboard the Song of America.

[CaribbeanCrush]

I have been a CC member for over 9 years, and while I don’t have many posts, I have been lurking for a long time. I have been on 6 RCCL cruises, 1 Princess, and 1 HAL. I haven’t been on a cruise in over 3 years, however, and recently booked Oasis of the Seas for April, which brought me back to these boards.

 

It seems to me that RCCL, and perhaps the other lines, but I am only looking at RCCL, are nickel and diming their guests on food items and such. This seemed to start when they instituted a “cover charge” for Johnny Rockets. It used to be included in your cruise fare, and all you paid for was your beverage or shake if you wanted one.

 

Now, in addition to the cover charge for JR, I see there is a Seafood Shack on the Oasis that they are charging a la carte for. In addition to an ice cream parlor which is extra (I know about the soft serve machines), and Starbucks; will it ever end. Is there going to be a time when I will have a “cover charge” to eat in the main dining room?? (Not serious, but trying to make a point).

 

What really got me on a rant, however, was the $3.95 charge for room service after midnight. Talk about the ultimate nickel and diming. Either offer “free” room service, or make it a charge. What could possibly make me ordering a hamburger at 1:00 am cost the cruiseline more than if I ordered it at 11:00 pm. And while I’m at it, and this is just semantics, but on the dining option flyer from RCCL, it tells me what is “complimentary” and what costs money. Please don’t tell me it’s complimentary; tell me it’s included in my fare; use the word “included”. That’s just a little pet peeve.

 

Now, before I get flamed, I know that noone is holding a gun to my head to make me go on this cruise, noone is making me eat in the Seafood Shack or JR, and noone is making me pay for the room service or the ice cream parlor. But all my food used to be “included” (complimentary) in my cruise fare; besides the specialty restaurants and beverages, if there was food offered on the ship, it was included.

 

Just my rant for the day. Bye.

 

Ever been to Disney World????

[Finbar127]

the deserts used to be really good

 

That we can definitely agree on.

[trpjackson]

You have to remember that the cruise lines are in it to make money. The ships are bigger and more expensive than they were 20 years ago. I think the Oasis class ships are close to $1 billion dollars to build. 20 years ago cruises were geared more toward the upper class because of how much it cost to go on one, and everything was included. Cruise lines then started offering lower fares to get the middle and lower class onto the ships so they could increase their(cruise line) revenue. To do that they had to use lower quality food and charge for some optional items. When cruisers are on then they have the choice to spend more money. Thats why they have art actions, gold by the inch, and drink prices that are higher than at the local pub. Having all the extra things that are optional instead of included is what keeps the cruise for down for everyone.

[Trainman-2]

RCI had to make a choice

 

- Raise the cruise fare for everyone

 

- Hold down the fares and charge for individual things

 

 

I think that charging cruisers for the services and activities they actually use makes a lot of sense.

 

Just about everything else we do in life is pay for services you use.

 

It makes sense to me!

[Stags14]

So you'd rather just go on an older ship where you didn't have the choices you have on the newer?

 

Not at all.

 

I like the options but I think the OP has a valid point. That is all. If I want to try it - I will pay for it. If I don't want to try it, I won't. It's simple... but again, I do understand the point being made and I feel it's valid.

[foxesden1]

IMPO (and only MPO) I would rather NOT have to pay extra for the basics.. good food, free soda (a la disney), etc. and pay for the flow rider, gulf, climbing walls, ice skating.. etc. they could sell a "action pass" of say $89 bucks per week - and bring back the cheese plate to the dining room!

 

T

[knotIn1]

A cruise is/was an all inclusive vacation to some degree.

 

As time goes on, they are adding "stuff" for a price.

 

As time goes on, they are taking away some of the "stuff" we use to get.

 

If Disney started to build new rides and charge extra for those rides, i am sure customers would have an issue with this. Disney could say "hey, you are still getting the same things for free, we are just charging extra for the new.

 

I understand why they do it, and would thank them as a stock holder, but that does not mean it sits well with me or the seasoned cruiser.

[Ocean Boy]

IMPO (and only MPO) I would rather NOT have to pay extra for the basics.. good food, free soda (a la disney), etc. and pay for the flow rider, gulf, climbing walls, ice skating.. etc. they could sell a "action pass" of say $89 bucks per week - and bring back the cheese plate to the dining room!

 

T

 

And I would rather that they leave the rock walls, flowriders, and golf alone. You can have the "cheese plate extravaganza pass" for $89.00 per week.

[clean1owner]

So do I. For the first few years it existed on Voyager Class, JR was free. That said, there was almost always a waiting line and it was difficult to eat there at lunch, especially on a sea day. Since the $4.95 cover charge, you can almost always walk right in.

 

 

There ya go. If that doesn't explain it in a nutshell, nothing else can.

[foxesden1]

And I would rather that they leave the rock walls, flowriders, and golf alone. You can have the "cheese plate extravaganza pass" for $89.00 per week.

 

 

Yes but the Cheese plate is "new" to the cruise line.. where as the flow rider is.. as someone pointed out.. is the reason we are being charged for items that used to be free.

 

rather then removing the old, why not charge for the new? if that is the reason why the charges are there in the first place.. :o

[clean1owner]

Just my two bits worth on the food quality.

 

I have NEVER had a bad meal in the MDR of ANY ship that I sailed on. I have had meals I didn't like, but they were a new dish that I had never eaten before, and I wouldn't have liked it no matter where it was prepared. Also, when I didn't like the menue choice, I was able to make a second choice, at no charge. Or even eat two entrees at the same seating, for no extra charge. I have never used one of the optional restaurants, and really don't plan to.

Someone earlier posted about the wasted food. That was one thing I always noticed on the cruises where every meal in every venue was "free". People simply didn't care if they threw away a half plate of food because they felt like they didn't pay for it. Imagine the cost to the cruise lines if people wasted those Fillets, (Which, by the way, I really dont like), because they didn't have to pay the $14.95 for them? I'm sure they simply wouldn't be offered.

 

So let's look at this in a different way. The consensus seems to be that MDR food is in the good, but not great catagory. So compare that to a pay for restaurant. Breakfast=$10.00 Lunch= $15.00 Dinner= $25.00 throw in an afternoon snack for $5.00. You just spent $55.00 on food for the day. Multiply that by 6 full days and you have $330.00. Add the first nights dinner and the last mornings breakfast and you have a grand total of $360.00 for food on a 7 night stay. That is a pretty good chunk of your cruise fare.

[dnwside]

I once saw a sign in a local bicycle shop which read "Local, family owned businesses are like kittens...if you ignore us, we go away."

 

While appreciating the "nickel and dimed" feeling, I have to remember that we did this to ourselves. By patronizing these snack shops, we tell RCL we like them and want them around.

 

DH and I never pay for food or snacks onboard, with the exception of one dinner in Portofino's each cruise. We might also get one bottle of wine for dinner, but that is about it. We have several reasons for this:

1. I can cook better than anything they serve onboard, so why pay extra for it.

2. We don't need the extra calories... never been hungry on a cruise with the free grub.

3. We view the onboard food as fuel for our bodies, not "an experience", so the economy-grade pump is just fine.

3. DH insists he works hard 51 weeks a year and wants to feel "rich and spoiled" on our cruise, so we pay for OS or GS cabins, and he will only book ship excursions (for safety reasons, he claims). That is enough outlay for one week after you add in the tips...and we do tip well.

 

So...I say...vote "NO" by not spending your dollars if the purchasing opportunities are bothersome to you.

 

Ditto...thats how DH and I feel also! :)

[househunter]

I have been a CC member for over 9 years, and while I don’t have many posts, I have been lurking for a long time. I have been on 6 RCCL cruises, 1 Princess, and 1 HAL. I haven’t been on a cruise in over 3 years, however, and recently booked Oasis of the Seas for April, which brought me back to these boards.

 

It seems to me that RCCL, and perhaps the other lines, but I am only looking at RCCL, are nickel and diming their guests on food items and such. This seemed to start when they instituted a “cover charge” for Johnny Rockets. It used to be included in your cruise fare, and all you paid for was your beverage or shake if you wanted one.

 

Now, in addition to the cover charge for JR, I see there is a Seafood Shack on the Oasis that they are charging a la carte for. In addition to an ice cream parlor which is extra (I know about the soft serve machines), and Starbucks; will it ever end. Is there going to be a time when I will have a “cover charge” to eat in the main dining room?? (Not serious, but trying to make a point).

 

What really got me on a rant, however, was the $3.95 charge for room service after midnight. Talk about the ultimate nickel and diming. Either offer “free” room service, or make it a charge. What could possibly make me ordering a hamburger at 1:00 am cost the cruiseline more than if I ordered it at 11:00 pm. And while I’m at it, and this is just semantics, but on the dining option flyer from RCCL, it tells me what is “complimentary” and what costs money. Please don’t tell me it’s complimentary; tell me it’s included in my fare; use the word “included”. That’s just a little pet peeve.

 

Now, before I get flamed, I know that noone is holding a gun to my head to make me go on this cruise, noone is making me eat in the Seafood Shack or JR, and noone is making me pay for the room service or the ice cream parlor. But all my food used to be “included” (complimentary) in my cruise fare; besides the specialty restaurants and beverages, if there was food offered on the ship, it was included.

 

Just my rant for the day. Bye.

 

I didn't have time to read all of the responses but I was wondering which cruiseline you sailed on in the past that covered anything besides the main dining room, buffet and perhaps a few snack places. The OPTIONS that are on todays ships including the Oasis did not exsist before. There was no specialty ice cream shop that was included for free, there was no Seafood Shack that was included for free. These are all new OPTIONS that you can choose to participate in or not. If you decide not to, than the things that are included will be exactly the same as they were in the past. They have not taken away any of the "free" places they have just added new options for those who want them. They have also kept the base cruise fares as low or even lower than they were 17 years ago when I first started cruising. I like it this way- low base fare and then you can add on which things you want.

[mek]

That is the only way to control people from hanging out?? Teens I see today, have Ipods, Iphones, Laptops, Ipads but they cant get a few dollars together?? I ain't buying that one, sorry.:cool:

 

Princess had the same issue with the Sanctuary - it started out free and the crowds were a problem, so they have a cover charge and the area is now as it was originally intended - a peaceful, upscale place to relax.

[Snick500]

I wish they would have a few less food items on the menu, and concentrate on making the ones offered excellent. Do they need that many sub-par desserts, meats, etc?

[Gablin]

On my first cruise, in 1983, I remember being shocked to pay for a lemonade in a bar, or transportation to the nearest town at a port. I had misinterpreted the "everything's included" description. That cruise cost me about $1,000, including air, to share an inside cabin with a stranger, before my bar and excursion bill.

 

Since then, I have normally not paid for any drinks other than liquor or wine, not paid for any meals, unless on shore, and seldom paid the cruise line for shore excursions.

 

In Norway, on the Hurtigruten, in 2005, I discovered the concept of no casual buffet place open during the day. If I wanted a cup of coffee or a snack, I had to buy it.

 

On HAL ships, at first, the alternative restaurant was free. You could only book it once during a twelve day cruise, but it was free. Now, it's $20. It is not worth it to me, but I'm basing that on one experience in the Pinnacle Grill, for which I did not pay. My travel agent provided it. I've not tried the RCCL extra cost restaurants.

 

To me, the cruise lines appear to be "nickel and diming" or cutting the basic fare and adding on a lot of other stuff, as a marketing device. My basic cost for a vacation remains similar to my cost in 1983, adjusted for inflation.

 

I guess I feel about the cruise lines the way I feel about my local mall. I can go into the mall and buy the one thing I really need, or I can cruise the place, finding this and that, and get a latte, a lunch, a cookie, a new handbag, etc., and feel that I have somehow spent too much money.

 

If the cruise goes where I want to go, and the cabin is priced fairly, and they will feed me three times a day, it's good. All else is a choice I might make, if the price isn't too high.

[Ocean Boy]

Yes but the Cheese plate is "new" to the cruise line.. where as the flow rider is.. as someone pointed out.. is the reason we are being charged for items that used to be free.

 

rather then removing the old, why not charge for the new? if that is the reason why the charges are there in the first place.. :o

 

RCI is building these large ships with the intent of marketing to, and filling them, with families. When a family is looking to book a cruise I suspect they will be temped to choose a ship because it has a flowrider not because they offer a cheeseplate in the dining room. If you make these ships unattractive to families by charging for all of these venues you may find that cheeseplate costing far more than it does now.

 

Also remember, the flowriders do bring in revenue. Private time can be rented by groups and lessons are available for a fee. Again, this revenue helps keep the price of your cheeseplate down.

[Trevoli]

That is the only way to control people from hanging out?? Teens I see today, have Ipods, Iphones, Laptops, Ipads but they cant get a few dollars together?? I ain't buying that one, sorry.:cool:

 

Chances are, the teens didn't pay for that iAnything, their parents did. Do teens get their own SeaPass (or whatever RCCL calls it) Card? Perhaps if the cover charge appeared on their parent's card, the parent would have a problem with it.

 

All I know about Johnny Rockets, is what I've read on these boards.

 

Is the cover charge a result of teens hanging out there too long and/or wasting food? If so, has the situation been alleviated by the cover charge? Someone who's witnessed it will have to clarify.

 

I totally get where the OP is coming from. That said, I don't have a problem with the extras. Like I stated before, and as other posters have said, if offering for fee alternatives keeps my cruise fare down, it's totally fine with me. I'm going on Allure in a few months, and I will spend a decent chunk o' change on alternative dining.