SURPRISE! Fees for some Rm Service Items

[tkportersat]

I got my most recent cruise for $1135 total. 3 people, 7 days, balcony - out of New Orleans (Dream) over Spring Break. I found it just by branching out, we normally only cruise out of Galveston. My only requirement was the ship had to have water works.

 

I don't mind the extra Room service charges, I like having options.

 

That is a good deal, I would be interested in hearing more about it. DId you do a review?

[Wilgr]

So dressing up and playing pretend (oh, I'm on an ocean liner full of the rich and the upper crust, how exotic) is a "Positive" way to cruise in this century. Sorry to say it isn't the 1920s anymore and people do live their lives completely differently than those traveling during a bygone era.

 

And when did living our lives "casually" become "dressing down". I loved it as my church stopped requiring hats, I didn't need to wear prissy white gloves, slacks became acceptable for women, girdles and silk stockings and even panty hose became a distant memory and status wasn't reflected in the amount of ostentatious bling a woman chose to wear.

 

I applaud Carnival for keeping up with the times and not trying to be a "blast from the past".

 

 

Agreed, what someone wears doesn't dictate their status in this day and age, I know several millionaires......other than weddings and funerals I have never seen any of them in a suit.

[Wilgr]

GET OFF MY LAWN YOU WHIPPERSNAPPERS........why, I remember when a loaf of bread only cost a nickel.

[crusinpsychRN]

That is a good deal, I would be interested in hearing more about it. DId you do a review?

 

No review. I didn't like the ship, the Westerdam. No real atrium. GS was down in what looked like a basement. I like other ships where you can sit in lobby and people watch. None of that here. The adult pool was stark white and the deck needed restaining. Food okay. At breakfast on Lido they had many kinds of eggs Benedict every morning. OJ was in an odd place, prepoured and needed to be stirred. Couldn't get waited on in the MDR for anything whether alone or with others.

[crusinpsychRN]

Besides shrimp salad what else was removed from room service menu?

 

Does Sunshine have the new one?

[almendrada]

Sandwiches

 

Served with Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Potato Chips or Pretzels.

 

Choose White, Whole Wheat, Rye or gluten free Bread.

Tuna Salad

Roast Turkey

Ham and Cheese

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato

Grilled American Cheese

Grilled Reuben with Corned Beef and Swiss Cheese

 

How customizable is this? Like, if I asked them to add bacon and tomato to my grilled cheese, would they do it?

[A&Jfamily]

The cost of everything as a general rule has gone up. In our economy supply and demand rule the day - so if an airline wants to charge me $500 to get to the port when 2 years ago, despite a drastic decrease in gas (again driven by supply) it was $300, it is because they can and people are paying it.

 

Change is a reality of life. Local restaurants change their menu regularly to cut items, raise prices and add new offerings. This is how I view what is going on at Carnival. There are plenty of the same old free items but adding options for those that are willing to pay like special room service, cucinia and JiJis. And people conveniently forget the things that carnival has added to their ships that require no up charge: blue iguana, hotdog cart, Guys, comedy club and Havana bar just to name a few. Those are all additions at no charge.! Personally I enjoy the balance that Carnival is reaching - plenty of "free" items but the option for something extra and special at a minimal charge.

[Savlamara]

That's why balconies are wonderful :D

 

We only order breakfast through room service. Coffee, tea, and pastries in order to take early morning vitamins before we leave and hit the ship running so any residual smell is gone by the time we come back hours later.

[MrsPawel25]

I haven’t cruised yet (a few more weeks!) and I’m happy to hear that room service is free (besides an extra tip). I expected it to at least have a charge, if not charge for the entire menu. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place where there wasn’t an extra room service fee.

We were looking for a dinner option on our port day since we will miss our MDR time because we will be sightseeing Nassau. I don’t like the idea of paying extra for food when there are tons of other free (or included, I guess I should say) options. So I just won’t order anything that charges. It looks like there are tons of other good “included” items on the menu. This way DH and I can relax after our port day and have food come to us while we are getting ready to go out and hit the shows and casino.

[tigresslea]

By definition nick·el-and-dime

 

NORTH AMERICAN informal

 

verb

 

gerund or present participle:*nickel-and-diming

 

put a financial strain on (someone) by charging small amounts for many minor services.

 

So, therefore, no more pillow chocolates, sheer curtains, not allowing bottles to be brought on and the cost of liquor on board cannot be considered nickel-and-diming.

[Yvonne]

I never did understand the thrill of dining in your cabin on a cruise ship. The things are so small that after you eat the place smells like food for hours.

 

One of my favorite things to do on any cruise is order room service breakfast (fruit plate, smoked salmon, a croissant with butter and guava jelly, tomato juice and coffee) and enjoy it on our balcony. Heavenly, and the perfect way for ME to start my day. :)

 

And I'll order room service at a time other than breakfast at least once, maybe twice, during a cruise. I used to enjoy the cheese plate, but they no longer offer that. But a sandwich and chips is nice if I've had an early lunch and want something before a late dinner.

 

From what I see on the "pay side" of the room service menu I probably wouldn't order any of those anyway. I do hope they don't eventually charge for everything on the menu though.

[firemanbobswife]

One of my favorite things to do on any cruise is order room service breakfast (fruit plate, smoked salmon, a croissant with butter and guava jelly, tomato juice and coffee) and enjoy it on our balcony. Heavenly, and the perfect way for ME to start my day. :)

 

 

 

And I'll order room service at a time other than breakfast at least once, maybe twice, during a cruise. I used to enjoy the cheese plate, but they no longer offer that. But a sandwich and chips is nice if I've had an early lunch and want something before a late dinner.

 

 

 

From what I see on the "pay side" of the room service menu I probably wouldn't order any of those anyway. I do hope they don't eventually charge for everything on the menu though.

 

 

No more salmon on the room service menu anymore.

[Tigerlily75]

There is no free room service at all on Carnival Cruises sailing out of Australia (currently Spirit & Legend). So you guys get it good!! I would love that menu! The menu we have is boring, no wings, no philly steak .. unless it's changed recently, I'll find out in three weeks.

 

That said, there's no gratuities either, since we are not a tipping culture (though many still give cash tips to waiters/stewards at the end). Hopefully they get a higher rate of pay to make up for it! They "Australianise" the ships for sailing here.

[Je Souhaite]

I'll have No problem trying the wings and Philly cheesesteak for the small fee

 

 

The sirloin and cheese was free. They remove that and replace it with steak-ums, and then start charging for it.

 

I have a problem with that.

 

Who ever thought that we would pay a fare for all inclusive (other than things of a personal nature, as used to be bolded), and then pay more for food?

[Tapi]

I never did understand the thrill of dining in your cabin on a cruise ship. The things are so small that after you eat the place smells like food for hours.

 

 

We enjoy having an occasional light breakfast or dinner in in our stateroom when we don't feel like having a larger meal and when we just want to relax.

 

In-stateroom dining definitely has its followers. When we sailed on Princess, they even offer an ultimate balcony dining experience, with a course by course dinner served by your personal waiter. And it's very popular.

 

From $5 chicken wings to $100 ultimate balcony dining, the cruise lines are delivering (and accordingly charging for) what the guests want.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Who ever thought that we would pay a fare for all inclusive (other than things of a personal nature, as used to be bolded), and then pay more for food?

 

I have sailed many, many times (even recently) when the only thing I pay for outside of my tips is zero, nada, nothing beyond the price of the cruise. So a cruising experience is still "all inclusive" if I decide not to have fru-fru drinks, or alcohol, or shop the stores. Besides, I like the fact that my cruise is relatively inexpensive when I don't indulge in silly things like bottled water, or fancy food items. As long as I can get 3 square meals a day I'm a happy camper.

[Je Souhaite]

I have sailed many, many times (even recently) when the only thing I pay for outside of my tips is zero, nada, nothing beyond the price of the cruise. So a cruising experience is still "all inclusive" if I decide not to have fru-fru drinks, or alcohol, or shop the stores. Besides, I like the fact that my cruise is relatively inexpensive when I don't indulge in silly things like bottled water, or fancy food items. As long as I can get 3 square meals a day I'm a happy camper.

 

Most would have known that goes without saying.

 

Even before they started charging for things once included, you could have avoided sodas, spa visits, alcohol, and even tours and come out with a faux "all inclusive".

 

They are slowly shifting by moving things from the included column to the excluded column, while making you think this a good thing, or "brilliant".

[pearose]

All you really ever need from room service is a BLT and the chocolate cake. Oh, that chocolate cake is absolutely heavenly. Those remain free so I am happy as can be. :)

 

 

 

I have a weakness for chicken tenders, I am like a 5 year old boy that way. I will try not to spend $5 on those but if I am drunk I can't make any promises. lol

 

 

My thoughts exactly. Those two items are a MUST on every cruise!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Most would have known that goes without saying.

 

Even before they started charging for things once included, you could have avoided sodas, spa visits, alcohol, and even tours and come out with a faux "all inclusive".

 

They are slowly shifting by moving things from the included column to the excluded column, while making you think this a good thing, or "brilliant".

 

And I can remember a day when all cruise lines included wine, champagne, alcoholic drinks, 3 fancy meals in the dining room, a glamorous midnight buffet and where service people outnumbered the passengers. I can also remember that cruising was a "rich, old people" activity with shuffle board, skeet shooting, and no balcony cabins.

 

The thing is...I don't want to pay for someone elses' fru fru in my basic fare. And since cruising has become more and more affordable for us average folk of course all the "free fru-fru" is now an extra. I bet if you added all the "pay for extras" to a cruise fare it still wouldn't add up to the "cost" in price vs. income that it used to.

[crusinpsychRN]

By definition nick·el-and-dime

 

NORTH AMERICAN informal

 

verb

 

gerund or present participle:*nickel-and-diming

 

put a financial strain on (someone) by charging small amounts for many minor services.

 

So, therefore, no more pillow chocolates, sheer curtains, not allowing bottles to be brought on and the cost of liquor on board cannot be considered nickel-and-diming.

 

It's also "drain or destroy" so those things ARE included.

[Yvonne]

No more salmon on the room service menu anymore.

 

Noooooooooooooo!!!

 

Must cancel cruise then!!!

 

Not really, but it is disappointing. I wonder what would happen if I wrote it on the menu. I've heard of people getting items they have written in so maybe I will give it a try.

 

Or do they not have it on the ship at all anymore, does anyone know?

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Noooooooooooooo!!!

 

Must cancel cruise then!!!

 

Not really, but it is disappointing. I wonder what would happen if I wrote it on the menu. I've heard of people getting items they have written in so maybe I will give it a try.

 

Or do they not have it on the ship at all anymore, does anyone know?

 

Still at the buffet, in the dining room at breakfast, and is available when getting coffee and bagels or muffins at the service area on deck 5 on the Magic in the mornings. Or at least it was the last time I sailed.

[Jana60]

For all those worried about extra room service charges: no need to worry! On my last cruise that I returned from last Saturday I ordered room service three times and it only arrived to the room once (45 minutes later!) so if you never receive the food you don't have to worry about paying for it! :confused:

Service has really deteriorated! Not because the staff are not trying but because there just aren't enough of them!

Edited March 5, 2016 by Jana60

[ShakyBeef]

I never did understand the thrill of dining in your cabin on a cruise ship. The things are so small that after you eat the place smells like food for hours.

 

That may be true for the cabins with which you're familiar, but it should not be made as a sweeping statement about cabins in general. Not all cabins are created equal.;)

[NIATPAC29]

how customizable is this? Like, if i asked them to add bacon and tomato to my grilled cheese, would they do it?

to actually answer your ? Yes and no. I have had luck customizing room service orders and other times they ignore it. I guess it depends on the ship and crew.