This cruise is nickel and diming me to DEATH!

[ginadis2002]

We were on Celebrity a couple of years ago and with the exception of spa treatments, specialty restaurants (upscale) and drinks (including soda), I didn't see any extra charges for specialty ice cream, burger joints or coffee. I admit, though, I didn't look. Prior to that cruise, I had sailed on HAL and Carnival (many moons ago).

 

My personal opinion was just that I wish these venues weren't on the ships because it can cause discord with children. I don't want the fees built into the cost of the cruise. I totally understand why you don't either. And before anyone says I should be able to control my child, I can. It's just easier not to have to deal with the situation to begin with.

[herecomesthesun]

I don't believe that all instructor led classes have an additional charge. I have read about the early morning stretch classes being great and free.

 

I know there is a charge for simulation golf, but is there a charge for putt-putt? I heard they have it on the Mariner and was interested in giving it a try. I thought it included just like the rock climbing wall and ice skating.

 

I too get irritated sometimes with all the extra charges but you have to look at it with some optimism. There are a lot of great things included like the Ice Show, rock climbing and ice skating that you don't find on other cruiseships. And if they included the specialty restaurants and other things along those lines, then the overall cost of cruising would probably go up, something people who don't plan on using those extras probably wouldn't appreciate.

[jstducky]

Well not being a parent (I'm only 25), I now understand your point of view. thanks for clarifying. I am sure that its not easy when a child sees all these things and wants them, you don't want to have to turn them down all the time, but on the other hand you don't want to continually be paying extras for everything. It makes sense.

 

Unfortuantely, I guess there's no perfect cruise ship out there that will suit everyone's needs. Unless of course maybe if you were a millionaire and could afford all the extras in the workd, but then again I'm sure they'd still find something to complain about :)

[MGoBlue2]

Well not being a parent (I'm only 25), I now understand your point of view. thanks for clarifying. I am sure that its not easy when a child sees all these things and wants them, you don't want to have to turn them down all the time, but on the other hand you don't want to continually be paying extras for everything. It makes sense.

 

Unfortuantely, I guess there's no perfect cruise ship out there that will suit everyone's needs. Unless of course maybe if you were a millionaire and could afford all the extras in the workd, but then again I'm sure they'd still find something to complain about :)

Yes, they'll still find things to complain about. You should have heard the uproar on the Silversea board when the free champagne was changed from Moet to Philipponnat.

[4merlurker]

As the OP I understand the "reasoning" for the extra charges I just don't like them.:rolleyes: I know that everything you NEED is included in your cost and that anything you WANT is extra....

I just keep reading more and more posts about RCI charging for things now that originally were included when I booked. I just don't want to be surprised, that's all.

As a newbie cruiser (without any loyalty discount coupons :rolleyes: ) I rely on these boards for up to date info and I appreciate "most" of your responses.

thanks.

[Ericknow32]

Yes, they'll still find things to complain about. You should have heard the uproar on the Silversea board when the free champagne was changed from Moet to Philipponnat.

Is this for real or is it a joke? Ah, it really doesn't matter it's funny no matter what.:D

[Merion_Mom]

If I want to go to JR's I can do so at home--don't know what the big attraction is. When im on vaction I like to do thing s I don't normally do at home.

Funny that you should mention that. (I agree, btw) I don't get people who complain about the quality of the pizza on board - I would NEVER eat pizza on a cruise. I'M SPECIAL. I'M ON MY SPECIAL VACATION. GIVE ME SPECIAL THINGS. :)

 

Carol

[madforcruising]

I feel like RCI has more extra fees than other cruise lines I've been on.

 

I have somewhat limited experience with other cruise lines than RCI. Though I cruised with other lines but the majority of my cruises have been on RCI.

 

Anyway it might be that there are more extra fees with RCI but could it be that this is the truth because RCI has simply more options on their ships?

 

I have never cruised on any Voyager class, but from what I know the Ice skating is free. I don´t know of any other cruise line that has this option. The Rock climbing wall is free (at least on the ships I´ve been on), again don´t know any other cruise line that has it. Mini Golf is free.

 

OK there is a charge for JR and B&J but the question is are any other cruise lines having these venues for free?

[rascalious]

After four cruises, we just plan on spending an extra grand or two. We book a year in advance and save extra funds for or Seapass charges. We know we will gamble some, drink a lot, and tip the recommended amount. We allow for taxis, trinkets, and off-ship dining. We book a year in advance, so we save extra funds over-and-above the cruise and airfare prices. We no longer book shore excursions through RCI and book our own air. The savings usually pays for all our Seapass charges and sometimes even a hotel stay to allow for travel the day before the cruise

[noseybuddy]

That statement implies that they lowered the ticket price when they installed the fees. We all know that is not the case. We are all paying the same amount, if not more, even though they implemented a charge.

 

QUOTE]

 

ITA

[knothead]

Here is what all this complaining boils down to!!! We all want to cruise at low prices with everything included. WE ALL WANT SOMETHING FOR NOTHING!! I would love it this way BUT....... If everything is included everyone has to pay out the $'s. I personally like to be able to cruise at these lower fares and pay as I go for the extras if I choose to!!! I don't drink much - maybe one or two drinks the entire cruise. My DH & I might split a couple of cokes. My DH plays in the casino ( If He has the $ saved up) & I don't. We don't use the spa , we had rather spend the extra $ on shore excursions.

 

We all want it to be a perfect world and it never will be because there will always be someone wanting something or not wanting something ... So take things at face value and enjoy your vacation! I'm sure going to !

[jstducky]

to 4merlurker: can I ask you what was included in the price of your cruise when you booked that you are now finding is not included? The JR policy of charging money started close to 1.5 ago now. I beleive way before you booked your cruise. As for soda, thats always been excluded, spa charges have always been excluded, as have classes in the gym. I'm just wondering what was, or what you thought might have been included, but are now disappointed to find out that they are not included? this isn't meant as being critical, perhaps i'm just missing something?

 

mad: i completely agree with you. no other cruise lines offer things such as ice skating and mini golf and rock wall. JR and B&J isnt on other cruise lines. i like your thought that maybe RCI has more extra charges only because they offer more "extras" than other cruise lines.

[grhunter]

That statement implies that they lowered the ticket price when they installed the fees. We all know that is not the case. We are all paying the same amount, if not more, even though they implemented a charge.

 

Oh but the fares HAVE come down by almost 50%. The first RCCL cruise I took cost $1200 per person for an inside cabin. The only things they charged for were drinks. Now I pay $700 and have more choices... but I may have to pay for some of those choices. I'll take the $700 cruise with more choices over the $1200 one any day.

[Ericknow32]

Oh but the fares HAVE come down by almost 50%. The first RCCL cruise I took cost $1200 per person for an inside cabin. The only things they charged for were drinks. Now I pay $700 and have more choices... but I may have to pay for some of those choices. I'll take the $700 cruise with more choices over the $1200 one any day.

The fares have not come down since they implemented the charge for Johnny Rockets. In fact the fares have gone up immensely. I don't know when or were you are sailing but I have not seen a cruise for $700 in a long time.

[Michuck]

Sorry, just don't get it - I wonder if some of these same attitudes are the same after hotel stays where you can pay a couple hundred dollars just for the room - then pay for food (if I paid for as much food as I eat on a cruise, OUCH!!), tips (the bellman, waiters, etc.), ice cream, coffee, cookies, entertainment, etc.

 

I've gone on cruises (3 - 5 nites) when my budget was exceptionally tight, and except for tips, my bill came to $48, I had more entertainment, food and enjoyment than I could have had staying at a hotel. Stayed at the Foutainbleu one nite for DH's 60th birthday, had an oceanview room, dinner, breakfast and lunch, and spent over $600.

 

Michele

[Babs66]

One charge you won't have to worry about anymore and that's the $9.50 consumption fee if you buy a bottle of booze for your cabin...no longer allowed.

[curiousjly]

I ask that you read all of this before you get angry with me, please, and I know it is long, but I am trying to help many here understand what it is like to be new to cruising, and why there are some problems in the understanding of costs.

 

As a person new to cruising, I can understand the OP.

 

When you watch the comercials, there are no remarks about these extra charges, no statement that if you get a coke you will have to pay for it. They show internet, arcade games for kids and more, but no mention of charges for them. Go to the RCI web site, and there are mentions of all this great stuff, but no mention of charges for them.

You don't hear about a lot of the "hidden charges".

 

DO NOT GET MAD AT ME, I am not complaining, I figured there would be things I would have to pay for that was not listed, there always is at anything you go to. I had figured there would be extra nice resturants that would charge. I figured there were expenses that many do see as hidden. I see them as just not mentioned, there is no intentional hiding, I think the cruiselines just think that people know from word of mouth, from boards such as this.

 

One of the things that can cause a confusion is when you go to some sites and read posts, there is all the talk about the great stuff they did, but many forget to add that they had to pay for that excursion, for that wonderful special dinner for special night. That the spa was great, but they don't mention it cost extra.

 

Please don't misunderstand me, but many here to me seem to be pretty well off, my hubby makes a wopping 40,000 a year. We have a son who has emotional/psychological problems, but no insurance coverage for him, his pdoc is $90 a month, his medication is over $300 a month, a therapist visit is over $150 a visit, which if we did what was needed, would be twice a month. He is getting ready to go to college, but we don't qualify for grants, reason, we make too much money!!

We can't afford deep sea fishing, parasailing, spa treatments, buying that $3,000 ring, or whatever it is that is talked about.

Again, don't misunderstand me, I am glad you can, you and yours have worked hard for your money, just as my hubby does for his, and you DESERVE to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But it can, for someone who is new here, give a false impression.

 

Go and read your posts, see where you talk to newbies of how the first day they need to go and sign up for the spa, as they get filled fast, of how they need to make reservations as they get filled fast.

Some remark it cost to do that, many don't.

 

So, many newbies are surprised when they find out it costs extra. I have read articles in magazines and really thought that the airfare was included. Not until I was researching did I find out it wasn't. I'm not stupid, I have a fairly good IQ, I have graduated from college with a bachelors and am now working on a Masters/Doctorate. But, I really thought some things were included, but not to shocked when I found out.

 

So, please have a bit more understanding for us new ones when we are shocked, and express it, okay?

 

Janette

(Jly)

[Onessa]

When looking at a brochure or a Web site for any service (hotel, amusement park, etc.), I don't expect EVERYTHING to be included unless there is a notice in bright flashing red in a 48pt font that says "EVERYTHING is included!" Even at the chinese buffet down the street from work that has a flashing neon sign that says: "EVERYTHING is included" if you want an extra fortune cookie, you pay 15 cents.

 

There are more things on a cruise that they do not charge extra for that surprise me (Adventure Ocean, rock climbing, skate rental, extra entre in the dining room, etc.) than those things that they do charge for.

 

Part of the charges are to bring in money, but others are, at least in part, to discourage waste and/or manage a "limited resource". When JR was free, I saw a few abuses and I'm certain RCCI saw a lot more.

[wrp96]

I ask that you read all of this before you get angry with me, please, and I know it is long, but I am trying to help many here understand what it is like to be new to cruising, and why there are some problems in the understanding of costs.

 

As a person new to cruising, I can understand the OP.

 

When you watch the comercials, there are no remarks about these extra charges, no statement that if you get a coke you will have to pay for it. They show internet, arcade games for kids and more, but no mention of charges for them. Go to the RCI web site, and there are mentions of all this great stuff, but no mention of charges for them.

You don't hear about a lot of the "hidden charges".

 

DO NOT GET MAD AT ME, I am not complaining, I figured there would be things I would have to pay for that was not listed, there always is at anything you go to. I had figured there would be extra nice resturants that would charge. I figured there were expenses that many do see as hidden. I see them as just not mentioned, there is no intentional hiding, I think the cruiselines just think that people know from word of mouth, from boards such as this.

 

One of the things that can cause a confusion is when you go to some sites and read posts, there is all the talk about the great stuff they did, but many forget to add that they had to pay for that excursion, for that wonderful special dinner for special night. That the spa was great, but they don't mention it cost extra.

 

Please don't misunderstand me, but many here to me seem to be pretty well off, my hubby makes a wopping 40,000 a year. We have a son who has emotional/psychological problems, but no insurance coverage for him, his pdoc is $90 a month, his medication is over $300 a month, a therapist visit is over $150 a visit, which if we did what was needed, would be twice a month. He is getting ready to go to college, but we don't qualify for grants, reason, we make too much money!!

We can't afford deep sea fishing, parasailing, spa treatments, buying that $3,000 ring, or whatever it is that is talked about.

Again, don't misunderstand me, I am glad you can, you and yours have worked hard for your money, just as my hubby does for his, and you DESERVE to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But it can, for someone who is new here, give a false impression.

 

Go and read your posts, see where you talk to newbies of how the first day they need to go and sign up for the spa, as they get filled fast, of how they need to make reservations as they get filled fast.

Some remark it cost to do that, many don't.

 

So, many newbies are surprised when they find out it costs extra. I have read articles in magazines and really thought that the airfare was included. Not until I was researching did I find out it wasn't. I'm not stupid, I have a fairly good IQ, I have graduated from college with a bachelors and am now working on a Masters/Doctorate. But, I really thought some things were included, but not to shocked when I found out.

 

So, please have a bit more understanding for us new ones when we are shocked, and express it, okay?

 

Janette

(Jly)

 

Yes, it would be nice if more was included in the price, but then the price would have to go up. And some of the stuff people are mentioning why should we all have to pay for it. I don't drink sodas so I don't care that it's not included in the price, and for the amount of sodas some people drink I would be unhappy if the price of cruising went up just so that sodas could be free on board.

 

Tthe problem is that the OP is saying that RCI is the one that is nickling and diming her, like none of the other cruise lines do this. Carnival charges for it's specialty restaurants, as does NCL, Princess, HAL, etc. They all charge for sodas, except for the high-end lines.

 

And honestly, at home, do you expect a spa to be free, do you expect places to just give you jewelry away for free, do you expect to be able to play in a casino for free (I'm not saying that is you, but somebody did).

 

A little common sense is necessary. RCI's website mentions that you can buy soda packages - for a reasonable person this should suggest that sodas aren't included in your cruise fare. And RCI's website does mention the charges for certain things such as the golf simulator, laundry services, shore excursions, etc.

[beachbuzzard]

I agree with most here except for the following few points.

 

If we are going to make certain things ala carte pricing because not everyone uses them, then why not food and entertainment also? I'm not a big eater, and I also don't go to many of the shows. Why should I pay for all that if I don't use it?? Truth be told, I really don't mind that I pay for the big eaters and the entertainment goers. It doesn't bother me. But I am trying to make a point that many of you are using a reasoning that could be extended further.

 

BTW, it wouldn't bother me if it was a couple more dollars and they included cokes, even if I don't drink too many of them. Why not? Because I think charging for coke is a bit much... many people normally like to have coke and it seems a bit more like taking advantage of something people really like. I don't need cheesecake but it's free. I think coke should be too... even if no one really "needs" it.

 

Concerning Johnnie Rockets, it was less than a year ago they started charging (not 1.5 years as someone stated). We were on VOS last August and it was free. We got the coupon in the C&A coupon book so it was free the one time we went this year.

[Erie Dave]

Lurker, it is sad that you haven't even gone on your first cruise and you are already worked up over these petty things. Relax, realize that even if you take advantage of all the extra things available to you on the cruise, you still aren't talking about alot of money. I have been on a few cruises now, I have been to Chops and Portofino over a dozen times, my wife enjoys the gym and the spa, we went to JR's once, and I don't regret a penny we have spent. We had great times and great memories, and the little things just don't matter. Get over it, it is the way it is, and enjoy your trip---it won't matter at all 10 years from now when you are looking back at the pictures remembering what a wonderfull time you had.

[Phoebe92877]

This will be my second cruise, however I was surprised about the cost of having my laundry done aboard. On HAL, they provided coin operated machines. For less than 10 dollars we were able to wash and dry a decent amount of clothes. IMHO RCI is a bit expensive when it comes to its services. So....looks like I'm bringing a flat sink stopper and some Woolite with me.

 

Also, I still think that soda & specialty coffee should be included.

[MGoBlue2]

Is this for real or is it a joke? Ah, it really doesn't matter it's funny no matter what.:D

No, I'm serious - there was serious uproar on the Silversea board over their dropping Moet et Chandon as a free champagne and channging to what some thought was an inferior label.

 

I took a quick look over there today and here are couple things I noticed people complaining about...

 

The Bvlgari toiletries were supplied 'sparingly'

 

I only had help a couple of times carrying my plate from the lunch buffet - on other cruises there was always a waiter to help

[jstducky]

 

Concerning Johnnie Rockets, it was less than a year ago they started charging (not 1.5 years as someone stated). We were on VOS last August and it was free. We got the coupon in the C&A coupon book so it was free the one time we went this year.

 

I hate to say it but they did start charging for Johnny Rockets on some ships about a year and a half ago. I remember that this started back on the old boards before we switched over in April 2004. If you go back and look at the first few pages of this new board, beginning in April 2004, people in March and April 2004 cruises were already talking about how JR had a charge way back then. It started off as a test program, and when RCI realized it was working in cutting down the lines, etc. they then went ahead and implemented it fleetwide on ships that had JR. Perhaps you were just lucky when you sailed VOS in August and there wasn't the charge yet.

[4merlurker]

I ask that you read all of this before you get angry with me, please, and I know it is long, but I am trying to help many here understand what it is like to be new to cruising, and why there are some problems in the understanding of costs.

 

As a person new to cruising, I can understand the OP.

 

When you watch the comercials, there are no remarks about these extra charges, no statement that if you get a coke you will have to pay for it. They show internet, arcade games for kids and more, but no mention of charges for them. Go to the RCI web site, and there are mentions of all this great stuff, but no mention of charges for them.

You don't hear about a lot of the "hidden charges".

 

DO NOT GET MAD AT ME, I am not complaining, I figured there would be things I would have to pay for that was not listed, there always is at anything you go to. I had figured there would be extra nice resturants that would charge. I figured there were expenses that many do see as hidden. I see them as just not mentioned, there is no intentional hiding, I think the cruiselines just think that people know from word of mouth, from boards such as this.

 

One of the things that can cause a confusion is when you go to some sites and read posts, there is all the talk about the great stuff they did, but many forget to add that they had to pay for that excursion, for that wonderful special dinner for special night. That the spa was great, but they don't mention it cost extra.

 

Please don't misunderstand me, but many here to me seem to be pretty well off, my hubby makes a wopping 40,000 a year. We have a son who has emotional/psychological problems, but no insurance coverage for him, his pdoc is $90 a month, his medication is over $300 a month, a therapist visit is over $150 a visit, which if we did what was needed, would be twice a month. He is getting ready to go to college, but we don't qualify for grants, reason, we make too much money!!

We can't afford deep sea fishing, parasailing, spa treatments, buying that $3,000 ring, or whatever it is that is talked about.

Again, don't misunderstand me, I am glad you can, you and yours have worked hard for your money, just as my hubby does for his, and you DESERVE to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But it can, for someone who is new here, give a false impression.

Go and read your posts, see where you talk to newbies of how the first day they need to go and sign up for the spa, as they get filled fast, of how they need to make reservations as they get filled fast.

Some remark it cost to do that, many don't.

 

So, many newbies are surprised when they find out it costs extra. I have read articles in magazines and really thought that the airfare was included. Not until I was researching did I find out it wasn't. I'm not stupid, I have a fairly good IQ, I have graduated from college with a bachelors and am now working on a Masters/Doctorate. But, I really thought some things were included, but not to shocked when I found out.

 

So, please have a bit more understanding for us new ones when we are shocked, and express it, okay?

 

Janette

(Jly)

 

Nicely Done! You took the words right out of my mouth!

Thank you! :)