Time to Take A Stand - Elimination of In Room Consumption

[rubrrick]

The question was asked early on about whether Celebrity allowed you to buy bottles and pay the consumption fee. The answer is no, Celebrity never had a consumption fee to take your alcohol back to your cabin. The policy is to hold your purchases till the final night. However, as macop said in her post, it is possible to get a willing staff member to put your purchase in your bag at the time you buy it, but it's not done very often. The staff member could lose their job if found out. You cannot purchase bottles at the bar either. What you CAN do on Celebrity is order one of the bon voyage packages prior to cruising that includes a bottle of booze, a 6 pack of soda and some nibbles.

 

Char, you are right to an extent. You can acutually (I have done this on the Mercury) order the gift of liquor and soft drinks on board and it will be delivered within the 1/2 hour. What is not mentioned, is that a bottle of liquor on Celebrity is $50.00. That does include the 6 pack of soda and nibbles. Expensive yes, but not as expensive as "by the drink". I haven't checked to see if Celebrity has pulled its liquor by the bottle. Has anyone checked this out? Maybe corporate thinks that anyone cruising on RCCL is not in the same class as X. Ouch, that hurt!!!

 

I have to assume that as each ship hits drydock for refurbishment, all of the Royal Suites and Owners Suites will no longer have bars. I also know that this equates to less than 1% of the ship.

 

Maybe all of the ships will be converted to the mini bars that are now available in hotel rooms. This spring my DW and I keep our vitiman jiuce in a referigerator on the Zuiderdam in the refer mini bar. After the second day, we checked our bill, and lo and behold, we had been charged for some liquor. We called the pursers desk and had someone come check out the mini bar, remove all drinks from the mini bar, and credit our account.

 

There has to be more to RCCL's logic than liability. They are a foreign bottom ship, so immune to most laws. What's the profit motive in this move?

 

Maybe the lurkers know?????????

 

Rick

[comfortcove]

I really don't think tht's the case, altough you argue convincingly. Our last two cruises were on HAL, they are very liberal, I believe the rate was 6 or 7 dollars back to the cabin, and even with many senior passengers the pax and crew were all fine. This is all about revenue, and really ticks us off because we checked this out before booking, and now are set to sail for the first time October2 with RCI. We always have booked a balcony cabin or better, and like to enjoy a few cocktails before late dinner in privacy. This is a bad policy change, and if we hadn't made final payment recently I would consider cancelling. Celebrity let us bring anything onboard with nothing said, they are great food and service wise, maybe we should have stuck with them or HAL

[brn2crz]

Not being a big drinker...Not that big of a deal for me.But I can certainly see how it is for some.Even for a non big drinker,who just wants a little cocktail before dinner,without going to a bar..

 

I don't know what the policey is on most other ships.If it is inline with others,then I don't see any need for any big uproar.............

 

However...What totally baffles me is...Why on earth would they sell it onboard,only to be delivered on the last day????Its not like they carry any special vintages or have great prices?Who would want to bring it home??

Most people are partied out by then anyway...As a matter of fact,being a resident of Texas...I can only bring home..either by way of ship or across state line...Like a half a quart...(ok,that may be a little low...But its very little)

 

So...I am a little confused on this one? I mean jeez...Begrudge someone a champagne toast on their balcony!!!??

[Merion_Mom]

Please excuse me while I re-quote myself:

 

THEY think that they are going to make more money by forcing us to buy only from the bars. Instead, everyone is going to be more and more ingenious in devising ways to smuggle. That $9.50 per bottle "in-cabin consumption fee" that they were pocketing IN VAST QUANTITY will be gone, gone, gone. They didn't have to do a THING to get that fee. No overhead, no labor costs, no materials. Just sit back and KA-CHING. Now if people WANT to buy booze to take home, they'll buy in the islands, where it was cheaper anyway. RC, this is a LOSING PROPOSITION.

[BobBeaSea]

Oddly enough, this is one of those situations where no one wins, neither the customer or RCI. Repeat customers and newbies aware of the $9.50 in cabin consumption deal are/will be pissed when they find out about this "policy" change. This group (including me) will do everything possible to avoid contibuting to RCI's booze revenue. This means skyrocketing smuggling and avoidance of ship's store booze in favour of island bought booze. RCI is banking on "new" business who are not aware of any of this. This new business is newbie cruisers and cruisers from other lines who have not had the $9.50 deal. Again, this is a lose/lose deal and it stinks.

[sgttami]

We stopped SMUGGLING two years ago and paid the fee for a bottle of Asolut. It was still cheaper than buying it in NJ and hauling it across the country.. We left the remains, usually about half a bottle, for the room steward.

 

Our travel agent always sends flowers and champagne. Are they going to confiscate that too and hold it till we go home????????????

 

If so, I'll tell my TA now to save his money since I don't want the hassle of carrying it home.............

[kenandlaura06]

If people write letters AND people stop buying bottles of liquor onboard altogether AND bar revenues don't go up a lot, I think that this policy might change again (in favor of the customer). Hopefully all of these "ANDS" will come true.

[Erie Dave]

Sorry for those of you who don't recognize that this may be an attempt to reduce some of the EXCESSIVE drinking that goes on on some of these trips. Some take drinking on a cruise way too far. If smuggling booze, or getting a deal on booze, or counting how many drinks you get from a bottle vs paying by the drink, is that big of an issue, you may need to seek proffessional help.

[Robinob]

Sorry, sir (Eric) you are wrong. In fact I rarely drink but do have parties in my suite. I do not need professional help. I am the one who calculated the drink cost. You may be a bit naive because if RCCL was really worrying about how much people drink they would close most of their bars and not allow teenage drinking.

[Robinob]

oops....Erie, I am assuming a woman. I looked quick and thought that it said Eric....Same message, though.

[NYDee]

If it is all about revenue, I personally wish they would raise the cruise fare by about $25 to $50 a day and let people buy their alcohol at the ship board shop. Then there wouldn't be so much whining.

[LogansDad]

The difference is that they can instruct the bar staff to cut people off if they overindulge and therefore reduce the chances that an inebriated passenger will injure himself. Their liability if they overserve a passenger is clear and should they fail to act appropriately, the financial consequences can be very costly. However, under the old policy they couldn't control the amount of drinking that went on in the privacy of one's stateroom. If a passenger drinks to excess in his stateroom, goes out on deck and injures himself the line would have to prove that they had not over-served that individual. Too few people are willing to assume responsibility for their actions nowadays and are all too ready to sue someone else and claim that they are to blame for whatever misfortune strikes them. I suspect the lawyers told the line to change their liquor policy to avoid such situations. Unfortunately as is the case in so many instances, the many are adversely affected by the actions of a few.

 

I think this is exactly right. When a lawsuit happens in a liability case one of the first things which is examined is if a company did diligence in preventing an accident. If the shop on board (run by the line or contracted by them) is letting people buy multiple bottles of the hard stuff and allowing excessive consumption then a case can be made for fault on the line's part when that customer causes a problem. Very similar to laws these days where bartenders and establishment with liquor licences (even temporary ones) are responsible if someone drinks too much and then casues a traffic accident.

 

I do think that the line will benefit by pax buying drinks at the bars on board and make greater profits by eliminating the abilility to take bottles back to the cabin. But I suspect it is the cost of multi-million $ lawsuits that is the over-ridding concern.

 

As someone said, it is the irresponsibility of a few excessive drinkers (not implying anything about anyone here!!!) that ruined it for us moderate folks. Such is life these days.

[peggyy]

Based on the timing, I still think it stems from the honeymooner. They'll look the other way if you smuggle, but if you happen to get drunk, in a fight and tossed overboard it's not their liability because they didn't sell you the booze. I intend to spend less in the bars than I did and they'll lose the $9.50's when I cruise in Sept. I'll write a paper letter. This is like the gestapo telling me I can't have a cocktail in my room after paying beaucoup bucks for the right to be there. How many people out of the millions that cruise get so drunk from the in room consumpsion that they damage property or cause injury? Those people are going to get their drinks, whatever it takes. As far as bartenders being able to cut people off, apparently it didn't happen in the casino on the infamous honeymoon night. OK now let's blame the press. Baggage handlers may be the answer. Imaging how much heavier luggage is going to get.

[Schplinky]

If it is all about revenue, I personally wish they would raise the cruise fare by about $25 to $50 a day and let people buy their alcohol at the ship board shop. Then there wouldn't be so much whining.

 

That would work nicely for those who want to spend thier cruise drinking in their room but would work against non-drinkers and those who want to relax in the ship's lounges. I think the cruise line will always keep the base price as low as possible, for advertising reasons.

[dougp26364]

If the new policy cuts down on some of the obnoxious drunks them I'm all for it. Nothing ruins a vacation quicker than someone that doesn't know when to say when.

 

I've enjoyed buying a bottle of some cordial like Irish Creme but, I don't have to have a drink poored from a bottle in my room to enjoy a cruise. The money they'll make from passengers who will now have to purchase drinks at the bar will be offset by the money they'll lose from passengers like me who pretty much only drink from the bottle I take back to my room. I bet it comes out to pretty much of a wash.

 

One other thought. I bet there's a lot you writing E-mails that have complained about kids on the cruise being obnoxious. If those kids were frequently drunk, this policy change can be a reflection of those complaints. It will make it harder for underage kids to get drunk if mom and dad don't have a bottle handy in the cabin that they can get into.

 

As for smuggling booze on board, what makes anyone think they won't get tighter about that? You might want to smuggle a bottle onboard but you might also find that they tighten up and start taking those bottles away from you.

 

Sure you can go to another cruise line. But from what I've been reading, some of them have had similar policies inforce for sometime now.

[Happy ks]

Sorry for those of you who don't recognize that this may be an attempt to reduce some of the EXCESSIVE drinking that goes on on some of these trips. Some take drinking on a cruise way too far. If smuggling booze, or getting a deal on booze, or counting how many drinks you get from a bottle vs paying by the drink, is that big of an issue, you may need to seek proffessional help.

 

I have emailed RCI twice, once to pose the question and getting the standard answer, once to let them know of my disappointment with their decision. But, your reasoning doesn't make any sense to me. If a person drinks to excess, they will do so no matter what the method or cost. Problem drinking isn't a part of this issue at all, at least not to us. My husband enjoys a drink in the cabin before dinner. Not 2, 3 or 4, one, that's it, we're on vacation and he should be able to relax with a cocktail if he wishes. We enjoyed the fact we did not have to "smuggle", cheat or be underhanded about this. We were always happy to pay the consumption fee and to tell you the truth, there was always some booze left at the end of the week, we would leave it in the cabin.

 

He doesn't even know of this new regulation, I haven't told him yet. Even though I'm not even having a cocktail with him, this change is just absolutely annoying. It's actually the first new regulation that has bothered me in a long time.

 

But, if enough people let them know of their dismay, they will alter their decision. I know it worked when Celebrity tried to charge on their newer ships to use the T-pools.

[Schplinky]

Can you not order the drink through room service?

[Fury1995]

Sorry for those of you who don't recognize that this may be an attempt to reduce some of the EXCESSIVE drinking that goes on on some of these trips. Some take drinking on a cruise way too far. If smuggling booze, or getting a deal on booze, or counting how many drinks you get from a bottle vs paying by the drink, is that big of an issue, you may need to seek proffessional help.

 

I think it's more like an attempt by you to explain this new policy..... which by the way has already been answered on this thread by an e-mail and conversation with a rep from RCI. It was a decision made by the revenue department!!!!!! Not the safety or the pr departments.. or any other department....revenue i.e. money.

 

Why is it when RCI changes any policies, some people have a hard time seeing it for what it is???? Again, I'll say it...money.

 

I am upset? Yes. Will I stop sailing on RCI? No. Will I drink in my cabin? I'll find a way..... maybe from some advice on this board?

 

I don't think it's a case of anyone not recognizing this is as an attempt to reduce some of the excessive drinking that goes on, but maybe others failing to recognize this as an attempt to generate more revenue (even if a neon sign said so)...simple as that.

[sgttami]

there are times that we just like to sit back and have the option of having a cocktail in our cabin without waiting for room service. We'd pay per drink but sometimes the wait is...forever!!

 

My sister and I cruised and like vodka and v-8 once in awhile. Sometimes you cannot get v-8!!!

 

My husband drinks vodka/grapefruit and I'm pretty much Coors Light..the grapefruit juice on the ship is horrendous, so he will sometimes take some on board..he'd rather have good grapefruit juice than the booze that goes with it..

 

And as I said previously, our TA sends champagne..we're not big fans of it but will share it with those we meet during the cruise...Are they confiscating that too?????

[Erie Dave]

I am sorry if some of you are taking my post too personally. You will note that I did say "some", and certainly did not say all. I guess if my comments upset you, sometimes the truth hurts, but that was not what my post intended.

We usually travel with a small group. We enjoy getting together on the balcony before dinner and sharing a bottle of wine. That kind of stuff is not what I am talking about. I don't see how this new policy prevents you from having the occasional coctail in the privacy of your own cabin. You can order room service, walk to a bar (there are tons of them) and bring drinks back etc. I do think, however, that some ( note I said some again) people get tuned up in their cabin and get carried away. That is all I was referring to, nothing more, nothing less.

I am not defending RCI at all, I am just pointing out what I thought was obvious. I don't care if it is to make more money, I always thought that was the point of being in business. If they can make more money on booze, it may keep other costs down, or help to keep providing some of the things they already do at no cost.

[Fury1995]

Actually I'm not taking your post personally because I don't believe anything you may have referred to in your post applies to me, so no apology needed.

 

We all have our belief when there is a lack of facts. That was what was so confusing about this policy change. No reason was initially given. If I understand correctly, you won't be able to bring anything back to your cabin (like you mentioned in your reponse). You will have to drink your wine in the public areas (unless you pay the extra cost for room service selections to drink it on your balcony). So I guess this affects you more than you think.

 

As far as money goes. Most of us read these and advise on these threads to get ideas of how to save time, money, and research about our next cruise. We research and get ideas of how to save even $25 in some cases with coupons and such. Entire threads are devoted to the topic of coupons. Why would anyone go through all that trouble to get a discount off their next cruise and then not care if it gets blown away by policy changes like this one??

 

I don't fall into that catagory. At what point should someone care?

[Brad1185]

im with you on this one even though i dont drink. i just wish you were with me against the jr charge rather than embracing it. i cannot believe people had to ask the reason why the stopped taking bottles to your room. to me its quite simple ITS THE MONEY. they make more money from the bar than the consumption fee. as support, i will start complaining with rci.

[NYDee]

So much complaining in so many threads about RCI making money. RCI is not a charitable institution. It is a company, they make money. Or they go bankrupt. If you can't afford the cruise and the price that is charged, then you shouldn't go. If you can afford it but don't want to spend the money, don't go. I seriously do not understand the constant complaints/comments about RCI wanting to make money. However, they choose to do it, raising cruise fares, or charging for more items. You have the choice not to buy it.

[jwlane]

I can't imagine RCCL giving up the revunue voluntarily,

Starboard Cruise Services pays a fee to RCCL to operate concessions on ships. Does Royal Caribbean provide the merchandise? Probably not. The following is from a Q&A section of Starboard's web site:

 

Q : What is Starboard's affiliation with the cruise lines?

 

We are a concessionaire, which means we lease the shop space on board; staff the retail sales teams and supply the merchandise that is presented and sold.

 

If this is true throughout their store operations, it would include liquor, clothing, jewelry, etc. SCS might also pay a percentage of sales to Royal Caribbean, but we don't know that. So, is RCCL losing money? Will Starboard be the loser? Only they know the answer to that. But, IMO, anyone that thinks this decision is based on anything but $$$ is way off base. This decision is purely intended to increase bar revenues. And, as a shareholder, I say "DO IT".

[Fury1995]

So much complaining in so many threads about RCI making money. RCI is not a charitable institution. It is a company, they make money. Or they go bankrupt. If you can't afford the cruise and the price that is charged, then you shouldn't go. If you can afford it but don't want to spend the money, don't go. I seriously do not understand the constant complaints/comments about RCI wanting to make money. However, they choose to do it, raising cruise fares, or charging for more items. You have the choice not to buy it.

 

I think you misundertsand the real objection to this change in policy. I don't think too many people would have objected to an increase in the fee so much as to no longer having the option to say...pouring your own drink in your own cabin when you want one. Cruises are for relaxing and being on your "own" time when you can. I don't see what the big deal was about us having a bottle in our own cabins and a cocktail with friends on our own balconies. Can you give a real explaination for it?