Does anyone ever purchase from the minibar

[jagsfan]

I don't believe I have a sense of entitlement because I use the mini cooler to keep my drinking water cool. I can't drink water with ice in it but have to drink a lot of water for medical reasons. I make up Crystal Light lemonade and drink it periodically day and night. I think cruise lines and hotels make a tidy profit from me without needing to sell me exorbitantly priced snacks.

 

 

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[CapeCodCruiser]

I do - not for the snacks but for beverages yes. It is convenient and really not much more than going and getting something.

[leisuretraveler223]

I think cruise lines and hotels make a tidy profit from me without needing to sell me exorbitantly priced snacks.

 

This sentence is the embodiment of entitlement. The cruise line is making a profit, so you should be able to subvert part of their marketing strategy for your own gain....

[lucymorgan]

This is the second post I've seen about the minibar being empty upon arrival. I hope this is a new policy that goes fleetwide.

 

I think it might go fleet wide, just like many hotel chains now offer mini fridges but not with contents.

 

What they have or are starting to realise is that the products stocked in all of these fridges go out of date and if most passengers don't use them I suspect a lot of products are being thrown out.

 

Colas, nuts, chips etc all have use by dates. If the turnover if not high enough, it would be costing the company to stock them - plus the cost of the staff that have to check them every day.

 

edit: when I travel alone on land and arrive late at my destination it is great to have a mini bar to draw on but on a ship where I know there is plentiful food / drinks within an easy walk and almost free room service, I do not see the benefit of a stocked mini bar - for me anyway

Edited April 21, 2016 by jenibor

[BobnJac]

We never touch anything in the minibar and consider it a waste of space. On our last christmas cruise we used the contents as our in cabin christmas tree.

[BobnJac]

[dcgrumpy]

Normally no. But I did take a Red Bull once to try and help wake up.

[tlatrice]

I got my sister a Sprite out of the minibar once when she got seasick. Honestly, I was glad it was there. But I don't otherwise. In fact, most times I don't even remember its there.

[matj2000]

I would bet the cruise line makes more money from the mini-bar by charging for items never taken.

 

With the hopes of the passenger never checking their statement.

 

Than the passengers actually drinking them....

[Clarea]

I would bet the cruise line makes more money from the mini-bar by charging for items never taken.

 

With the hopes of the passenger never checking their statement.

 

Than the passengers actually drinking them....

This would not surprise me.

[misty57]

Generally we do not use the contents in the mini bar, but DH does often get a water package and we "swap" one of the Evian bottles for a cold one so we can always have a cold bottle. I have had a diet Coke from the fridge and then replaced it later with another I obtained from the bar with OBC, so it's a wash either way. I would prefer the fridge be empty though, so we could store our drinks. We might use less ice:)

[sjb317]

Only once have we used anything from the mini bar when I became sick on a Celebrity ship after eating a sandwich with Mayo on it from the Pool Grill. It was nice to be able to grab a can of ginger ale during my 12 hours of . . .

 

Sherri:)

[bogofman]

This is the second post I've seen about the minibar being empty upon arrival. I hope this is a new policy that goes fleetwide.

 

so do we, the contents takes up cupboard space

 

We once asked the person who fills up the minibar to take away, all he did was put it in a bag under the table.

 

Just move ourselves now.

 

AS more and more cruises come with drinks packages, just bring cans/bottles back to the room

[bogofman]

I continue to be surprised they allow or are willing to empty it at all. The whole wisdom of a mini bar is for the impulse buy. Emptying it takes the opportunity for that impulse away.

 

To me, emptying the mini bar for your own use is akin to asking a restaurant to microwave your frozen meal for you.

 

 

i'd have to get a mini beer fridge to bring along,:D

 

along with a kettle ( as they are supplied in europe)

[Merion_Mom]

I imagine we will eventually see RCI use the same point of sale system many hotels have gone to, where there are sensors in the mini bar and you are automatically charged if something is removed for more than a set amount of time.

 

 

 

They can't and they won't.

 

The motion of the ship makes this system non-feasible.

[rukkian]

Those saying this is a sense of entitlement - it is about comfort, and customer service imo. Can they make money off the mini-bar from some people, sure. But in the end, they are in the hospitality industry, and providing things their customers want is how they stay in business. They can cut costs by removing the fridge, but they could also remove lamps, install pay to use outlets, give you a even crappier bed, but at some point people will quit using your service or it will be worth less (and hence get you less money per person).

I don't see any issue with asking them to empty it if you know you will not use it. I consider it basic customer service.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

[quote name='misty57']Generally we do not use the contents in the mini bar, but DH does often get a water package and we "swap" one of the Evian bottles for a cold one so we can always have a cold bottle. I have had a diet Coke from the fridge and then replaced it later with another I obtained from the bar with OBC, so it's a wash either way. I would prefer the fridge be empty though, so we could store our drinks. We might use less ice:)[/QUOTE]

I was going to say something similar. I didn't on RCCL this past summer, but the summer before on HAL to Alaska, I'd gotten the "bucket of beer" deal they had with my first lunch. As a solo, I'm obviously not going to drink all 6 at once (ok, maybe not obvious to everyone, but for me that is way over the top), so I had several left over. Took them and the bucket back to my cabin and pulled them out of the bucket so it could go back and not take up space. And over the next few days swapped out my bottles from the bucket with the ones in the fridge. When I left, the fridge had the same amount it had at the beginning of the cruise - just some had begun their life at a bar and got brought back to my cabin. :) No harm, no foul!

[Big_G]

Never touch the stuff.

[Clarea]

[quote name='rukkian']... I don't see any issue with asking them to empty it if you know you will not use it. I consider it basic customer service.[/quote]
I'd to see the opposite option, meaning the mini-fridges are empty unless you ask for them to be filled. Sort of like asking for ice these days. That way the folks that find it convenient to have the fridge stocked can still use it.

[rukkian]

[quote name='clarea']I'd to see the opposite option, meaning the mini-fridges are empty unless you ask for them to be filled. Sort of like asking for ice these days. That way the folks that find it convenient to have the fridge stocked can still use it.[/QUOTE]

That would be the best, but I can see some sales coming if they have some in there. I ask it to be emptied at hotels as well when on vacation so we can use it. At Disney, we had it emptied so we can store milk for cold cereal for the kids a few years back. They had no problem with it.

[constable145]

I haven't yet. But you can rest assured when I'm in a Star class suite in August 2017 on the Harmony I will. Every day.

[twcricket]

On Adventure in September, the cooler was empty which was nice because we could store the cupcakes and bottle of wine our travel agent sent us.

[nomoreknothead]

We split a soda at night to take our medicine with since we no longer buy the beverage package. Cost is the same and it's easier! Neither of us like to take our medicine with water .... some of the medicine has really bad after taste.

[NightOne]

$2000 Cruise Fare
$700 Flights
$150 Hotel Room
$20 Cab Fare
$5 Tip to Porter at port
$400 Shore Excursions
$500 Casino/Shopping
$100 Specialty Dining
$825 Premium Drink Packages

Oh.... but that Diet Coke for $3 in the mini-bar ... don't touch that because the price is way too high!!

ROFL :D:D:D

I don't buy out the mini-bar but if I want something from it I have no qualms about grabbing it. You're on vacation people. :)

[John&LaLa]

[quote name='NightOne']$2000 Cruise Fare
$700 Flights
$150 Hotel Room
$20 Cab Fare
$5 Tip to Porter at port
$400 Shore Excursions
$500 Casino/Shopping
$100 Specialty Dining
$825 Premium Drink Packages

Oh.... but that Diet Coke for $3 in the mini-bar ... don't touch that because the price is way too high!!

ROFL :D:D:D

I don't buy out the mini-bar but if I want something from it I have no qualms about grabbing it. You're on vacation people. :)[/QUOTE]

So you don't tip the staff, just the porter?