Specialty Restaurant Pricing Out Of Control

[Ret MP]

1 minute ago, rudeney said:

 

They've never been cheap, but I still like them.  7 or 8 years ago when I was working in an office, a few of us would go there and that meal cost around $13.  The last time my wife and I ate there, we shared the fries and the check was about $35.  Unless we eat drive-thru food (which we don't) anytime we can eat under $40 now it feels like a bargain!

I'm not big into Five Guys either or, believe it or not, In n Out burger.  I guess I have a different taste than a lot of people.  My youngest daughter and her family just love Five Guys.  However, I have a few friends and family that don't like In n Out burgers, too.  

 

None of this is to say that their burgers (including Guy's) is bad, just not something I look forward to.  I like JRs, Freddies, Fuddrucker's and Steak n Shake.

[bigeagle12]

1 minute ago, Ret MP said:

I'm not big into Five Guys either or, believe it or not, In n Out burger.  I guess I have a different taste than a lot of people.  My youngest daughter and her family just love Five Guys.  However, I have a few friends and family that don't like In n Out burgers, too.  

 

None of this is to say that their burgers (including Guy's) is bad, just not something I look forward to.  I like JRs, Freddies, Fuddrucker's and Steak n Shake.

Hey, we can agree on Fuddruckers if you can find any still open 🙂

[Ret MP]

18 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Guy Fieri has several hundred restaurants in the USA, of all differing concepts; all very successful.

I thought we were actually talking about Carnival's vs Royal's burger joints, Johnny Rocket's vs "GUY'S BURGER JOINT.  Not Chicken Guy, Downtown Flavortown, Guy's Sammich, et al.

[Ret MP]

2 minutes ago, bigeagle12 said:

Hey, we can agree on Fuddruckers if you can find any still open 🙂

There is one just north of Detroit that is one of the best.  It has great ice cold beer and they have full service menu in the bar.  

[Tulsacoker]

6 minutes ago, bigeagle12 said:

Hey, we can agree on Fuddruckers if you can find any still open 🙂

Yes our last fudds closed three months ago here in Tulsa 😭
born and raised in San Antonio so I do miss them

Edited September 23, 2022 by Tulsacoker

[not-enough-cruising]

33 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I thought we were actually talking about Carnival's vs Royal's burger joints, Johnny Rocket's vs "GUY'S BURGER JOINT.  Not Chicken Guy, Downtown Flavortown, Guy's Sammich, et 

Edited September 23, 2022 by not-enough-cruising

[Tulsacoker]

I don’t know about cheaper but the one carnival cruise I took it felt like was spring break 

[time4u2go]

49 minutes ago, bigeagle12 said:

I don’t know why everyone thinks Carnival cruises are cheaper than Royal.  I pay the same amount across all mainstream cruise lines.  If you compare Carnival’s 30 year old ships to Royals mega ships then yes.  But apples to apples prices are about the same.  In fact my cheapest cruises have been on Royal including upcoming cruise next month.  

I've noticed this too. Carnival is not necessarily cheaper than Royal. 

[mpdog42]

2 hours ago, bigeagle12 said:

Guy’s is open noon to 6.  They also have fries, chili, and onion rings.  And the burgers are far superior to JR’s IMHO 🙂

Carnival needs to change Guy's to a Whataburger!!!

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, bigeagle12 said:

I don’t know why everyone thinks Carnival cruises are cheaper than Royal.  I pay the same amount across all mainstream cruise lines.  If you compare Carnival’s 30 year old ships to Royals mega ships then yes.  But apples to apples prices are about the same.  In fact my cheapest cruises have been on Royal including upcoming cruise next month.  

 

14 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

I've noticed this too. Carnival is not necessarily cheaper than Royal. 

I wouldn't know.  I haven't been in Carnival's website in a little less than a decade ago, except today to looked up some info about Guy's.   Back when I was loyal to Carnival, Carnival was much cheaper than Royal.  

 

BTW, price, for me, isn't the only factor for disliking Carnival, now.  

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by Ret MP

[CanHardlyWait4NextYear]

11 minutes ago, mpdog42 said:

Same as me. Any Current/Former/Retired LEO who was a "Real "cop Ie: street cops who have worked Domestics, traffic stops.unknown trouble calls.Riots, Etc..can tell you that why most of the Fight Videos are Similar and why they are occurring..unfortunately just not on sites like CC

Wow. I just can't.....Wow.

[Ret MP]

Okay, as much as I hated to go into Carnival's site again, I report, you decide:

 

 

I tried to make things as equal as possible.  

Both 7 night cruises to the Caribbean, and about 3 ports of call.  Some possible differences.  Both are Balcony, aft, about the 14th deck.

Edited September 23, 2022 by Ret MP

[bigeagle12]

31 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Okay, as much as I hated to go into Carnival's site again, I report, you decide:

 

 

I tried to make things as equal as possible.  

Both 7 night cruises to the Caribbean, and about 3 ports of call.  Some possible differences.  Both are Balcony, aft, about the 14th deck.

LOL .. you know all pricing for all cruise lines is dynamic.  They go up and down every day/week.  I just did a Royal 8 night in an aft balcony for $1,288.  

[Ret MP]

1 minute ago, bigeagle12 said:

LOL .. you know all pricing for all cruise lines is dynamic.  They go up and down every day/week.  I just did a Royal 8 night in an aft balcony for $1,288.  

Yep, but I just did a snap shot for about the same date, maybe 2 or 3 days difference, both from Miami.  It is what it is.  

 

My cruise in October, a 4 nighter in a spacious balcony, midship with insurance, taxes and fees is only ~ $270.00 FOR TWO and it's not a casino freebee/serious discount.  Yes, that is a lot cheaper than Carnival. We just had a lot of discounts.  So, the premise is, if you just look at the fare, even with their, so called sales that are in reality their regular prices, and consider all things being equal, I believe Carnival is a lot cheaper.  YMMV.  No, I'm not drinking the Royal Kool Aid or being a sheeple to Royal, I'd kiss Royal goodbye in a heart beat and go somewhere else other than Carnival, if they really pissed me off like Carnival did.  

[Wineaux007]

This thread😉 certainly has evolved from Specialty Restaurants to a bunch of yada, yada, yada.  

[time4u2go]

15 minutes ago, bigeagle12 said:

LOL .. you know all pricing for all cruise lines is dynamic.  They go up and down every day/week.  I just did a Royal 8 night in an aft balcony for $1,288.  

Very true. 

[bigeagle12]

26 minutes ago, Wineaux007 said:

This thread😉 certainly has evolved from Specialty Restaurants to a bunch of yada, yada, yada.  

Hey, it’s my thread .. relax and enjoy 🙂

[Ret MP]

25 minutes ago, Wineaux007 said:

This thread😉 certainly has evolved from Specialty Restaurants to a bunch of yada, yada, yada.  

For sure.  I sure hope the takeaway is a good thing for you.  I learn something from just about every post, even some in this thread.

 

 

[bigeagle12]

29 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Yep, but I just did a snap shot for about the same date, maybe 2 or 3 days difference, both from Miami.  It is what it is.  

 

My cruise in October, a 4 nighter in a spacious balcony, midship with insurance, taxes and fees is only ~ $270.00 FOR TWO and it's not a casino freebee/serious discount.  Yes, that is a lot cheaper than Carnival. We just had a lot of discounts.  So, the premise is, if you just look at the fare, even with their, so called sales that are in reality their regular prices, and consider all things being equal, I believe Carnival is a lot cheaper.  YMMV.  No, I'm not drinking the Royal Kool Aid or being a sheeple to Royal, I'd kiss Royal goodbye in a heart beat and go somewhere else other than Carnival, if they really pissed me off like Carnival did.  

Not sure what Carnival did to tick you off.  We love to cruise all the lines.  They all have something special to offer.  We cruise when kids are in school, do not do weekend cruises, and prefer 8 to 15 night cruises. Have never had a bad cruise. 

[Ret MP]

12 minutes ago, bigeagle12 said:

Not sure what Carnival did to tick you off.  We love to cruise all the lines.  They all have something special to offer.  We cruise when kids are in school, do not do weekend cruises, and prefer 8 to 15 night cruises. Have never had a bad cruise. 

This is no joke, I'm happy for you and your experience.  

 

BTW, I find that when the kids are in school in N. America, South American schools are out of school and they love to cruise, no matter what cruise line.

 

One of these days, I'll share the letter I sent to the CEO of Carnival about my issues and concerns.  Just not yet.

[Wineaux007]

52 minutes ago, bigeagle12 said:

Hey, it’s my thread .. relax and enjoy 🙂

I see it is your thread, but it's been hijacked from its original premise. 😉

[bigeagle12]

14 minutes ago, Wineaux007 said:

I see it is your thread, but it's been hijacked from its original premise. 😉

Not really.  It is the value of specialty restaurants vs included food options and how Royal compares to other cruise lines in this area. 

[gerig]

On 9/3/2022 at 10:40 PM, Mikew0805 said:

We ate at the Tampa locations the other day. $198 total for two. Appetizer to share, salad each, and ribeye each with one side, and cheesecake to share... not including tip.

 

 

Ruth Chris steaks are better than c hops

 

[rudeney]

2 hours ago, Wineaux007 said:

This thread😉 certainly has evolved from Specialty Restaurants to a bunch of yada, yada, yada.  

 

It's Cruise Critic.  It's whap happens.  If it hadn't evolved, it would probably be locked by now. 🤣

[seasidemama]

On 9/4/2022 at 11:17 AM, vjmatty said:

Already there…. the 2C I booked on Anthem’s transatlantic next month for $1123 is now over three times that much. 

 

You're talking about next month. Take a look at next summer. Prices are insane right now. I booked a regular OV balcony on the oasis for $3200 (2ppl) back in June. Right now the price for the same balcony cabin category for 2 ppl is almost $6,000! Who is paying these prices??