Royal Caribbean Called Me

[OceanCruise]

Hi ccletzgo, I do respectfully disagree with you. For years people had the "luxury" of free sodas with dinner and free cakes for celebrations. That was EXPECTED as part of the overall cruise tradition/experience. Since they now charge for these things I don't see it being any different than if RC began charging for room service. If all those people who have stopped going to JR now excessively order from room service instead, might this not create an overload for staff and justify a service charge? By the way, there is a thread titled "juice charges" whereby someone just reported being charged for room service juice on the Navigator. One of the reasons I specifically booked the Voyager was for the "luxury" of my teen to be able to eat at all hours in the fun environment at JR- (at his age he is CONSTANTLY hungry). The new charges there are not obviously the only reason I cancelled my cruise, but it was a definate factor in my decision. Have a nice day.

[mountainmare]

I have had been lucky to have cruised all the mainstream lines. If you like Celebrity you may be happier on HAL than on RCL. Only difference is a tad bit older crowd and quieter ship. I was considering a return to RCL because of some interesting itineraries, but quite frankly (I know I'll get opposing opinions) after reading about chairhogs, line butters, formal night slobs, unruly teenages I'm gioing to stick with HAL or CEl. Before everyone starts yelling--THERE IS A PERFECT CRUISE LINE FOR EVERYONE!! Let's just enoy the sea.

[mafig]

Ocean Cruise - You know I agree with you about room service. I hardly ever use it. Why should I subsidize others' use in my bottom line cruise fare?
How much do you think they should charge?
$3.95 sounds good for unlimited breakfast and lunch, don't you think? How about $5.00 per person for dinner (subject to change, of course, always a cruise lines' right).

If anyone complains, we can always tell them, there's food available for free all over the ship, just get up and get it. This is one way the cruiselines can keep their fares low, and it doesn't have much effect of me, so why should I care?

[ccletzgo]

I guess if J.R.'s was on every ship, and every cruise, like room service is, then I could see comparing it. I just put it in the same catagory as the specialty resteraunts and Ben and Jerry's. They are available on some ships. If you want to eat there, you pay for it. They are franchized names. (ben and Jerry's and Jon Rockets) I'm sure Royal pays to have the franchize on the ship. That is differant then one of Royals exclusive services that is only theres. Right?

[ccletzgo]

from web site: [url="http://www.johnnyrockets.com/franchise/faqs.php"]http://www.johnnyrockets.com/franchise/faqs.php[/url] 3. What about other costs?
Investments vary based on unit size and local conditions. Please note that freestanding site options incur higher build-out costs associated with construction. The estimated investment that is required to open a Johnny Rockets restaurant is as follows:

INVESTMENT RANGE
LOW
HIGH

FRANCHISE FEE $45,000 $45,000
Building Package Range
NON - Freestanding
Leasehold improvements,
furniture, fixtures, equipment,
signs, smallwares, inventory,
opening expenses, etc.
$450,000 $850,000
TOTAL $495,000 $895,000


4. What is the charge for royalties?
Individual Franchisees pay a royalty fee equal to 5% of gross sales derived from their Johnny Rockets Franchise exclusive of sales tax, use tax or service taxes. This royalty fee will be collected weekly. This charge covers the continued use of the Johnny Rockets name and trademark and access to our operation methods, ongoing support, and other benefits that come with being part of the Johnny Rockets team.

[xpcdoojk]

ccletzgo while your research is very illuminating, and I appreciate it. Most of the people reading this thread do not care about costs incurred by an evil corporation (RCI) as those expenses are passed on to the poor abused consumer of cruises, therefore a cost to an evil corporation is not a valid arguement on this topic. However, a $3.95 charge for a product that no other cruiseline is offering is a travesty of fairness and justice. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

So, ccletzgo, you really need to get clued in. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

ccletzgo, nice post! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

jc

[PARNAMI]

deleted

[This message was edited by PARNAMI on 04-13-04 at 02:56 PM.]

[PARNAMI]

Come to think of it, I HARDLY EVER USE ROOM SERVICE EITHER! Why should MY cruise fares be subsidizing the meal service for others! Let them pay their own ways!!

Of course, were RCI to institute some sort of charge for room service, likely, there'd be negative repercussions. Hmmmm...how could they implement the charges while minimizing the negative impact..and prepare people for the permanent charges in the future?? ...let's see... hmmmm..

I got it! How about if they begin charging..with just a "nominal" fee..say...oh...$2.00....."just to cover the gratuity!?" Many passengers stiff the steward so RCI could sell this to the less astute by telling them it's being done in the name of increasing crew harmony and morale and as a convenience for passengers!!! Many will believe it TOO!!! Then...gradually, managment could increase the fees.....until they reach the point of major resistance...$3.95, $5.95, $8.00, $10.00, whatever the market brings!??

Doing so gradually as I suggest will see the arguments against the charge countered once again by the less informed who see no problem with a "more than reasonable $2.00 charge." Those people can argue with all of the "petty" minded people creating such a fuss about such a minor amount. Then, once things quiet down, RCI, you can sock passengers with the REAL charge, just like you plan on doing with Johnny Rockets and as you did with PortoFinos and Chops!

Likely, RCI will chase previously loyal RCI customers to other lines but why should they care? They've been attracting a lot of NEW people...so will never miss us.....

At least, not until, once again, the market turns downward and RCI discovers the old reliables have lost their affinities to RCI and have found new homes and places to spend their vacation dollars. Do they really anticipate these NEW customers of theirs will stick with them when the economy turns sour? I surely don't! But, heck..short term, they'll help pad the bottom line..and that's all that counts, right?

[B]RCI..here you are.....still one more idea to ruin cruising for the people who kept you in business all these years!!" [/B]

Mel Litzenberger

PARNAMI's Cruise Page!

[B]Before the advent of nickel and diming, Cruising USED TO BE like being wide awake......and dreaming! [/B]
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] Now..it's just another vacation!!

Check out my cruise site -
<A HREF="http://parnami.tripod.com" TARGET=_blank>
http://parnami.tripod.com</A>

Every night after 10 eastern time, I can be found in AOL keyword: "Cruise Cafe". Let's talk CRUISING!!!

[xpcdoojk]

crazy website is just plain extra odd today.... yikes!!!!! This was a duplicate post. sorry.

jc

[This message was edited by xpcdoojk on 04-13-04 at 03:21 PM.]

[xpcdoojk]

Parnami, there is again a flaw in your logic, humorous though it is. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] JRs exist in only one fleet and then on a small portion of that fleet. Room service is available on all RCI ships and is available on all the ships of all of their competing fleets. Sorry nice try. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Please, don't give up though, someday I hope you will come up with a cogent arguement. It just hasn't happened yet.

jc

[ccletzgo]

"Royal's Hip Hop Malt Shop"

"A Royal Wake-Up Specialty Coffee"


"Royal's Rocky Boat Ice Cream Parlor"


NO EXTRA CHARGE!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


Now that was not so hard, was it? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[mafig]

CCLETZGO - LOL - Sounds good to me!

[PARNAMI]

What's wrong with simply: [B]Royal Rockets?[/B]

[B]Before the advent of nickel and diming, Cruising USED TO BE like being wide awake......and dreaming! [/B]
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] Now..it's just another vacation!!

Check out my cruise site -
<A HREF="http://parnami.tripod.com" TARGET=_blank>
http://parnami.tripod.com</A>

Every night after 10 eastern time, I can be found in AOL keyword: "Cruise Cafe". Let's talk CRUISING!!!

[GinaDucey]

(Please keep in mind this comment is made in the best of humor).

Shall we go back to the time of Titanic where we have First Class, Second Class, Third Class and so on. Specific features for specific classes? Fine dining for First, Johnny Rockets for Second and for Third the buffet? Eash class stays on their specific deck - different ports for the classes?

Forgive me - but this topic is getting silly now. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Fantasy 11/91
Ecstasy 1/98
Fascination 11/99
Paradise 2/00
Imagination 4/02
Ecstasy 5/03
Paradise 10/03
Sovereign of the Seas 4/04


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=da70d6&cdt=2004;4;30;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Till we leave on the Sovereign

[PARNAMI]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GinaDucey:

Forgive me - but this topic is getting silly now. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do you think so? Talk to me in 5 years and see if you still feel the same! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

[B]Before the advent of nickel and diming, Cruising USED TO BE like being wide awake......and dreaming! [/B]
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] Now..it's just another vacation!!

Check out my cruise site -
<A HREF="http://parnami.tripod.com" TARGET=_blank>
http://parnami.tripod.com</A>

Every night after 10 eastern time, I can be found in AOL keyword: "Cruise Cafe". Let's talk CRUISING!!!

[GinaDucey]

PARNAMI - ? - ok I have got to be missing something - why talk to you again in 5 years to see if I still feel the same? And please do not give me a flip answer - I am looking for a real answer here.

Fantasy 11/91
Ecstasy 1/98
Fascination 11/99
Paradise 2/00
Imagination 4/02
Ecstasy 5/03
Paradise 10/03
Sovereign of the Seas 4/04


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=da70d6&cdt=2004;4;30;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Till we leave on the Sovereign

[SAYHEYRENEE]

I am going to be going on my 1st Rccl cruise this summer. I am fustrated with customer service giving different answers too. I will be on the Majesty and don't know if my room has a safe or not. i am in 4059. People on the boards say I dont have a safe and the cruise line says i do. How can I find a rep that has been on the ship? Can they send a crew member to find out? Sorry I am just fustrated. I find it inconvienent to go to the pursers desk for a safe to keep money, travelers checks and jewelery in. I just want a correct answer.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;08;23;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
NEXT: Majesty of the Seas 8/23/04,Carnival Legend CTN 10/22/04
PAST: Inspiration 8/24/03

[Ocean Boy]

One can quote all the numbers they want. Non of us has any idea what sort of agreement RCI has with Johnny Rocket's to have them aboard. I do know this, I am quite sure that the five Voyager JR's must be the only ones that don't have to pay at least minimum wage.

I am also quite sure that whatever the cost is it was figured into the fare schedule for the ships. It certainly was when I BOOKED my cruise though is won't be when I TAKE my cruise. And the price of the cruise sure didn't drop when they factored out JR's.

And since room service is a fleet wide service RCI would probably make out much better charging for that than at JR's. If it cuts down the demand for room service think about how many workers they could let go.

[PARNAMI]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GinaDucey:
PARNAMI - ? - ok I have got to be missing something - why talk to you again in 5 years to see if I still feel the same? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You indicated earlier that you thought "the topic was getting silly." If it were about no more than the silly $3.95 charge for Johnny Rockets, you'd be correct. It's not! That silly charge won't be so insignificant within a very short time. Plus, the charge for some lousy hamburgers continues a trend towards charging for ALL FOOD SERVED ON BOARD SHIP! I indicated talk to me in 5 years because, if accepted, by then, I'd expect the charges to have grown to include food served in the dining room. My question for you 5 years from now will be: Do you still think it's so silly?

Don't forget, the President of RCCL, shortly after coming on board from helping to screw up the airline industry, asked: "Why do we have to provide food for free?" His handwriting is all over the charge for Johnny Rockets! Obviously, he still doesn't feel food to be part and parcel of the cruise experience. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

[B]Before the advent of nickel and diming, Cruising USED TO BE like being wide awake......and dreaming! [/B]
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] Now..it's just another vacation!!

Check out my cruise site -
<A HREF="http://parnami.tripod.com" TARGET=_blank>
http://parnami.tripod.com</A>

Every night after 10 eastern time, I can be found in AOL keyword: "Cruise Cafe". Let's talk CRUISING!!!

[john&kelly]

I think some people on this thread have been ahead of me in the supermarket arguing with the clerk about a $.03 sale!
John

Brilliance- Mediterranean- Venice
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;6;19;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]

[xpcdoojk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SAYHEYRENEE:
I am going to be going on my 1st Rccl cruise this summer. I am fustrated with customer service giving different answers too. I will be on the Majesty and don't know if my room has a safe or not. i am in 4059. People on the boards say I dont have a safe and the cruise line says i do. How can I find a rep that has been on the ship? Can they send a crew member to find out? Sorry I am just fustrated. I find it inconvienent to go to the pursers desk for a safe to keep money, travelers checks and jewelery in. I just want a correct answer.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sayheyrenee

Try a new topic that you create asking this question. I was on the Majesty 8 years ago, and I think it had a safe, but I don't really remember. Good luck Your question is just lost on this thread which may soon go bye bye, anyway.

Oceanboy, is it possible that despite the huge revenue RCI is making giving away hamburgers that even at the outrageously high fares that they charged you that RCI is not actually making a profit. I know you seem to think that they have control over the profit they make, but they don't. Because they have competition and the competition sets the prices that they can charge. I don't know why I am wasting my time trying to discuss this topic logically with you, because I have gone thru this repeatedly over the last month, but here goes 1 more time. Let's say that RCI needs to sail near capacity on all their sailings and to sell a cabin for an average of $3000 in order to make a profit on a sailing. Carnival is making a profit at $2500 (why who knows this is just a what if scenario... the age and composition of the fleets etc). So the market price becomes $2500, RCI can't fill their ships at the needed average of $3000, and they cut the prices in order to maximize revenue because a 90% ship at $2500 is greater revenue than a 50% ship at $3000. if the ship has 1500 cabins the revenue for 90% is $3,375,000 at 50% the revenue would be $2,250,000. So they make more revenue by charging less, but in order to make a profit they needed to be at 90% and an average fare of $3000 as per my example. The needed revenue for them to make a profit would be $4,050,000. They are losing $675,000 on this sailing. So the pricing structure does not gaurantee a profit. The demand for their product does in conjunction with what the competition offers. So let's say that RCI has made a huge investment in new ships (they have) and that the debt on these new ships is large but another cruiseline has not got this debt problem so they can offer their product at a lower cost. Many cruise customers are unsophisticated and they think the Carnival ship is just as good as the Mariner of the Seas. If this imaginary scenario is realistic in the sense that they are not making huge profits, then in the long run they have to hope for the demand to increase or for their competition to go broke(how many cruiselines over the last decade have gone this way, lots). If the non profit making continues at some point RCI becomes a takeover target or worse they go broke. This would benefit none of us. Since the existence of all of the cruiselines is the supply of cruising vacations and the reduction of one means that the others will be able to charge more and it reduces the diversity offered by having more cruiselines. If RCI is making huge profits as many people think and I hope that is true. Then these very profits mean that the industry is very strong and in the long run there will be more companies getting into this business and again, increase of supply and we the customers will get a better price and more diversity. In other words if the cruiselines make lots of money we all win, too. I know this is a subtle point, but it is the way the real world operates. Remember you first computer, mine was a Mac Plus I paid $1250 for a computer with a floppy drive and no hard drive. I later upgraded to a 20mb hard drive for $500. I have in my digital camera a 256 mb card the size of a postage stamp and I paid about $50 for it.

This scenario is definitely not the real world it is only to illustrate the economic realities. You nor I nor Parnami know the economic realities faced by the cruiseline. I think we should let them run their company, and we can each make the decision as to what we value in a cruise and which cruiseline we want to reward with our hard earned vacation dollar, rather than carrying on a silly crusade, like Mel is. JMHO If you want to state that you don't want to cruise RCI fine, don't cruise with RCI, but this constant attacking it is tedious.

jc

[Catnip]

SAYHEYRENEE,
I understand your frustration. I, too, was frustrated last Friday when I was trying to get my handicapped mother (in a wheelchair) off of Brilliance. I went down to the Purser's Desk for 2 days trying to get a straight answer on the debarkation process for wheelchair passengers. Got 4 different answers from 6 different people at the Purser's Desk.
Sorry I can't help you with your question. I was on Monarch, but it was at least 7-8 years ago and I really don't remember if it had an in-room safe, or not.
Good luck!

"To live on the land...we must learn from the sea"

(26 prior cruises. Nobody cares, so why list them all?)

[GinaDucey]

PARNAMI - I guess I just look at things differently. Until 4/30 I only have past experience with Carnival (I know how most of the board here feels about Carnival - so we do not have to go over that again) but even on Carnival they have been little by little charging for stuff. I have the option of not partaking in what ever it may be that I do not feel I want to pay extra for.

From what I can tell if you or anyone else is basing your cruise decission only on the food options while on board - what did every one due before we had these options? Gee maybe ate in the only dining room that was offered.

I get the main point about if one charge happens then corporate guys say hey...what else can we charge for and see if it will fly.

It all boils down to this - I am glad that the original poster switched plans if things were not up to par and went for a vacation that was more to their liking. Everyone else here can do the same thing. I am sailing for the first time on RCCL and it is not because I do not like Carnival - actually I have enjoyed every single cruise I have been on.

You will not have to worry about me getting back to you in 5 years from know - no offense but I have far more important things to worry about than a few upcharges -

Fantasy 11/91
Ecstasy 1/98
Fascination 11/99
Paradise 2/00
Imagination 4/02
Ecstasy 5/03
Paradise 10/03
Sovereign of the Seas 4/04


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=da70d6&cdt=2004;4;30;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Till we leave on the Sovereign

[Ocean Boy]

xpcdoojk...

Whether or not you believe it, not everything you say is lost on me. I agree with a lot of what you have to say. What would make this whole issue go away would be if RCI would just come out with the truth and say "look guys we need (or want) to make more money on this sailing." I don't want to hear any more lies about the charge being put into place to increase customer satisfaction. I don't want customer service telling me there is no charge when at the same time someone posting live from the Mariner is telling me there is.

I have never called RCI evil. I like RCI and I like the product they deliver. I never described their fares as outrageously high. If I thought they were I would have already tried Princess or NCL.

The bottom line is that they need to learn to be honest with their customers. It goes a long way. There is nothing worse for a company than frustrated customers. Whether it has to do with increased charges, additional charges, safes in the cabin or anything else. Be truthful and people will accept it much better than when they feel like they are being BS'ed.

BTW, I don't think I attack RCI which you described as tedious. But do you think that your constant defense is any less tedious?

[This message was edited by Ocean Boy on 04-13-04 at 07:53 PM.]

[RDeagazio]

I was on the Mariner the week of March 21st. and not only was juice FREE at breakfast it was also FREE at dinner and we did not purchase the soda package.

Bob

NCL Sunward II / Emerald Seas
HAL Veendam (old and new)
HAL Zaandam
HAL Volendam (old and new)
HAL Maasdam / HAL Statendam
RCI Song of Norway
RCI Nordic Prince
RCI Sun Viking
RCI Song of America
NCL Southward / NCL Norway
Home Lines Homeric
RCI Sovereign of the Seas
RCI Majesty of the Seas
RCI Monarch of the Seas (2x)
RCI Grandeur (2x)
RCI Enchantment (4x)
RCI Vision / RCI Splendour
Celebrity Galaxy
Carnival Tropicale
Carnival Paradise
Carnival Destiny
RCI Nordic Empress (2x)
HAL Nieuw Amsterdam
HAL Noordam / NCL Sky (2x)
NCL Sun / NCL Dawn
NCL Sea / NCL Majesty
Carnival Victory
Carnival Glory
RCI Voyager (2x)
RCI Explorer / RCI Adventure
RCI Navigator / RCI Brilliance
RCI Serenade (2x)
RCI Mariner 11/12/03
RCI Nordic Empress 12/20/03
RCI Radiance 12/28/03
Cunard QM2 1/30/04
RCI Mariner 3/21/04
HAL Oosterdam 5/2/04
RCI Serenade 7/18/04
And more to come.....