Passenger kicked off rhapsody for drunken incident

[Folk Singer]

This drinks package is all wrong. It takes 4 hours for each 1 oz. of Alcohol to be detoxified by our livers. So anyone who drinks 55.00 worth of booze a day is

slowly killing themselves. Some of you will say if it's slowly I will take my chances, after all I am on Holiday. Alcohol poisoning is insidious and life is to short to purposely rush headfirst in a hurray to oblivion.:(

 

Now we like to enjoy ourselves and have a few but this Alcohol Package is all wrong. You will see that in the next year or two it will be stopped by common sense I hope but more likely stopped due to a major Lawsuit. For either injury to passengers/crew or a wrongful death suit.:mad:

[sandravb79]

As Sinppu mentioned - if you look you will always see inebriated people on the cruise ships. On a cruise a couple of years ago even before the muster drill we saw a woman sitting at the Schooner Bar 3 sheets to the wind. We were still in port!

 

On Celebrity, you get a glass of champagne or mimosa upon boarding. I always drink my mom's glass too, because otherwise, if she'd drink it, she would also be drunk by the time it's muster drill! :D

Some people really can't drink.

[Mark_K]

Didnt RCI allow that before the George Smith incident? :confused: No doubt revenue is part of it but I dont think its ALL of the reason.

You used to be able to purchase one or two bottles of liquor on the first day, pay an additional $9/bottle, and take it to your room. Although, i think they stopped that before the Smith affair.

[Tim,n,Sue]

I think that would be part of the training of bartenders and servers to keep control. If that is a problem then they need to have a staff person available that can be contacted to deal with the problem. That takes the bartenders and servers out of direct fire.

 

It can be done, it is done every day in bars and restaurants around the world.

 

I am all for cutting of drunks before they get out of hand and bars around the world deny bar service to obviously intoxicated patrons but the customer is not handed a survey before they leave the bar. We all know how important the survey is and how nervous and frightened the staff get about not getting a good survey. Same holds true for the bar tenders. The survey is a powerful tool for the cruise line but is also and unfortunately so, a powerful weapon that can be used against the lowest paid staff.

[time4u2go]

Then why don't they allow you to either purchase a 1 L bottle or bring one on? I really don't like to wait for room service or walking back & forth to a bar. The answer is $$$$

 

How dare a company try to maximize their profits! :rolleyes::D

[cathep]

We saw some people walking away from the ship as the ship was pulling away from the Cozumel dock. They walked out in 2 groups with 3 or 4 in each group. The story being circulated was that 2 families got in a fight on board and both got kicked off.

 

If this is the case, then I doubt the alcohol package can be fully to blame for 2 families getting kicked off.

[akcruz]

I am all for cutting of drunks before they get out of hand and bars around the world deny bar service to obviously intoxicated patrons but the customer is not handed a survey before they leave the bar. We all know how important the survey is and how nervous and frightened the staff get about not getting a good survey. Same holds true for the bar tenders. The survey is a powerful tool for the cruise line but is also and unfortunately so, a powerful weapon that can be used against the lowest paid staff.

 

So maybe Royal needs to change the practice to penalize the bar tenders for serving those who are already over the limit instead of for just bad service? Or follow up on what the bad service is (not sure how to do that) to ensure it is not related to something like this. Unfortunately as long as the cruise line uses the survey as they do today there will be overly intoxicated passengers, some of those will have had the drinks package, others will not.

 

and to those saying the package will go away, it has been around a long time on other cruise lines without incident. Yes, it may take a little bit to "settle down" with Royal, but I really don't see it going away. If anything they will raise the price so less buy. We have seen overly intoxicated passengers before and have yet to sail when the drinks package was being offered. If people want to drink they will whether the package is there or not.

[Paul65]

You cannot blame the drinkers when the companies offer it up on a free flow consumption basis!

 

Yes, you can. People should be expected to be responsible for their own behavior. If you think you "cannot blame the drinkers" if Big Brother is not watching out for them, making sure they don't drink too much, that's kind of a sad statement.

[temple1]

I am all for cutting of drunks before they get out of hand and bars around the world deny bar service to obviously intoxicated patrons but the customer is not handed a survey before they leave the bar. We all know how important the survey is and how nervous and frightened the staff get about not getting a good survey. Same holds true for the bar tenders. The survey is a powerful tool for the cruise line but is also and unfortunately so, a powerful weapon that can be used against the lowest paid staff.

 

That is why the suggestion to have a staff person be the heavy. Corporate will know it is their responsibility to control such behavior and takes the bartender or server out of direct contact. Heck, they can even "reward" servers for alerting staff of potential problems. If the bartender and servers are required to record the name of passengers they report they will have back up in case they are pointed out on a survey.

 

It can be done, I think right now they are in growing pains with it.

[beautiful.thing]

I'm just off FOS and we didn't see any. It was a family cruise though with 1400 kids.

 

OTOH maybe one could expect MORE drunkeness in that situation!

 

Anyway we didn't see a single drunk.

 

I'm with you. I didn't see a single drunk the entire cruise on FOS last week. The adults in my group all had the package and none of us ever got close to being drunk once and easily saved ourselves money with the package.

 

This situation has NOTHING to do with the drink packages. Heck, we were careful not to get drunk because who wants to waste a day of their cruise sick in bed with a hangover and not get to enjoy their drinks every day? I think in my personal case, having the package kept me from over indulging on any one day!!!

[Trainman-2]

There is nothing sadder than seeing someone kicked off the ship.

 

100% of the time what ever the reason or problem was, it was self inflicted!

[AeroBaldness]

We saw some people walking away from the ship as the ship was pulling away from the Cozumel dock. They walked out in 2 groups with 3 or 4 in each group. The story being circulated was that 2 families got in a fight on board and both got kicked off.

 

If this is the case, then I doubt the alcohol package can be fully to blame for 2 families getting kicked off.

 

I was coming here to post that ports like Cozumel, with Senor Frogs at the dock and the Booze Cruises in other ports are more of a major contributor to the drunk population than the all you can drink buffet. We watched a beautiful drunken ballet by two younger passengers last week who arrived late and one that appeared to have lost her sea pass card. To the credit of the Jewel staff, they handled it very well and ultimately let her and her partner on.

 

My wife and I avoided the package recently. Looking at our last two cruises, we've averaged around $100 a day for drinks, slightly below the $55 a piece for the package with some days higher, some lower.

 

Personally, I have no issues with the drunks unless their drunkenness impacts mine or my families experience. And if someone does, I think is my responsibility to tactfully remedy the situation, not a staff member. On the Cozumel port day of our last cruise, my wife and I were stopping at one of the bars to have a drink after dinner. A loaded woman, for whatever reason, chose to call me an obnoxious ####### for reasons no one had an idea why. I calmly asked what exactly I did for here to call me that, using her own words. It was fun to watch others at the bar move uncomfortably away from her. She tried to mumble though an explanation and an apology to which I let her know it was too late. Obviously embarrassed, she sat there with her mouth shut for the rest of the time we were there. Before I'm labeled a bully, I should add I am all of 5'6" 150 and she was about twice my size AND, if I'd acted the same way I sure hope I would have been called out in the same manner.

[DrD]

Unfortunately a lot of drunks will always act confrontationally when denied service. I believe that the bar tenders are worried that they will be named on the Customer Satisfaction Survey for cutting off people and they know that having anything negative written about you is one thing to be avoided at all costs. It is easier to keep serving them rather than risk the ire of a drunk denied service.

 

Well the drunk probably won't remember enough to fill out a survey.

[trev71]

You can't be sure that this person had the drink package it possible it just a person who had to much to drink. I have been on other cruises where they have had no all inclusive package and people were hammered and got thrown off the boat. I will get the package but have children and am a responsible drinker. I like the idea of knowing how much money I'm going to spend up front but won't be chasing drinks just to get to my total. 55 dollars worth of drinks every day. I don't drink to get hammered but I drink be aide I enjoy the taste of it. I know my limits and will stick to it.

 

 

Smart comment I am with you on that one...

[Tagsalong]

We were on the Monarch three weeks ago and had dinner with two officers. We were told that two passengers were escorted off the ship the morning at CoCo Cay (day 2). They had to take (and pay for) a high speed boat to Freeport, where they could get a flight to Orlando, or home. The officer (who will remain nameless) personally escorted the two off with their luggage, but would not tell me the cause or incident (rightfully so). It was spring break time and most of the college kids (I'm 68 so I can call them kids) were buying the package on embarkation day.

[need_a_holiday]

We are now up to two ejections, one person at Noumea for discardus deiectus (object overboard) and two families at Cozumel, the Capulets and the Montagues. Did anyone go on a cruise recently and not get thrown off a ship?

[need_a_holiday]

Sorry, three ejections.

[Melozone]

Really,15,000:confused::confused::confused:

 

Yes, really. Two of us and two granddaughters. Airfare, hotels, excursions, and on and on. More like $20,000 when all is said and done. Eastern Mediterranean.

[ryano]

Yes, really. Two of us and two granddaughters. Airfare, hotels, excursions, and on and on. More like $20,000 when all is said and done. Eastern Mediterranean.

 

Holy WOW! :eek: I will one day be past Diamond status and likely not have that kind of money put out! Thank goodness for being within driving distance of 3 RCI ports!

[need_a_holiday]

This particular cruise cost about $1,200 per person before gratuities. I hope he remembered to fill out the form to have gratuities removed from his sea pass card before he got thrown off ...

[Melozone]

Holy WOW! :eek: I will one day be past Diamond status and likely not have that kind of money put out! Thank goodness for being within driving distance of 3 RCI ports!

I took care of my mom with dementia for seven years. She passed last May at 91. I have a bit of money left by her. We lived in Greece for a year in the 70s and she always wanted to go back.....I wish I could tell her we are going. Thank you Mom.

[Frankmac]

Im considering the package for an upcoming cruise. I will probabley be drinking bottles of Heineken which at $4.75 + tip equates to 10 bottles per day. For me that would be easily achievable when on holiday, and I wouldnt see it as excessive drinking at all spread over a 12 hour period.

[cathep]

We are now up to two ejections, one person at Noumea for discardus deiectus (object overboard) and two families at Cozumel, the Capulets and the Montagues. Did anyone go on a cruise recently and not get thrown off a ship?

 

Once we saw those families leaving, we realized we needed to stop checking people out of our way in the hallways (hockey family here). We didn't want to suffer the same fate. ;)

[bikerunner]

 

Personally, I have no issues with the drunks unless their drunkenness impacts mine or my families experience. And if someone does, I think is my responsibility to tactfully remedy the situation, not a staff member. On the Cozumel port day of our last cruise, my wife and I were stopping at one of the bars to have a drink after dinner. A loaded woman, for whatever reason, chose to call me an obnoxious ####### for reasons no one had an idea why. I calmly asked what exactly I did for here to call me that, using her own words. It was fun to watch others at the bar move uncomfortably away from her. She tried to mumble though an explanation and an apology to which I let her know it was too late. Obviously embarrassed, she sat there with her mouth shut for the rest of the time we were there. Before I'm labeled a bully, I should add I am all of 5'6" 150 and she was about twice my size AND, if I'd acted the same way I sure hope I would have been called out in the same manner.

 

I completely agree with you on this situation. I have learned, 20 plus years in hospitality industry, that staying calm and collected usually is the best way. This throws the other person off so much, like you observed they have no way to answer and make more a fool out of themselves. I would no way think this is being a bully, you were looking for clarification.

[luvsunnydayz]

I wouldn't be surprised if the drink package was pulled soon. On the FOS recently there was much more drunkenness than I've ever seen on a Royal Caribbean ship. We have a very good time cruising but I just can't imagine drinking all day, every day, to make the package seem like a good deal to us.

 

DH and I ran into people drunk in the elevator by 11:00am on our Honeymoon cruise and this was before Royal Caribbean had the drink package. People are going to get drunk with or without the package, it doesn't matter.