$3.95 Service Charge for Room Service starting

[Moondawgie]

Hey folks, it ain't all bad. I figure with the OBC that I'm getting for the Fuel Surcharge refund I'll be able to order early morning Room Service a whopping 35.44 times!

 

Love your attitude!!!:D

[Shipyard Cruiser]

We spent $1200 pp on our honeymoon cruise 30 years ago for an outside cabin (porthole, nonetheless) on Song of Norway. That same cabin today with a modest 4% increase per year would book for approximately $3,000 pp. I doubt those complaining about the late night fee for RS, speciality dining cost or fuel surcharge would chose to pay a premium cruise fare instead.

 

Anyone want to book a week's cruise in a porthole cabin for $3,000 pp? Like the good ole' days, it'll come with a big hershey bar in your room each night! :D

 

Trudy

 

So much for "the good old days".

 

Thank you.

[truthandkeidy]

We spent $1200 pp on our honeymoon cruise 30 years ago for an outside cabin (porthole, nonetheless) on Song of Norway. That same cabin today with a modest 4% increase per year would book for approximately $3,000 pp. I doubt those complaining about the late night fee for RS, speciality dining cost or fuel surcharge would chose to pay a premium cruise fare instead.

 

Anyone want to book a week's cruise in a porthole cabin for $3,000 pp? Like the good ole' days, it'll come with a big hershey bar in your room each night! :D

 

Trudy

 

P.S. I failed to mention we just got off the Brillance to the Med. in a Grand Suite for $500 pp/week.

Hmmmmm...that's a lot of chocolate I can buy with the cruise fare savings! :)

 

Trudy

[bike1964]

P.S. I failed to mention we just got off the Brillance to the Med. in a Grand Suite for $500 pp/week.

Hmmmmm...that's a lot of chocolate I can buy with the cruise fare savings! :)

 

Trudy

 

How much will they charge for the Hershey bar?:rolleyes:

[Ocean Boy]

P.S. I failed to mention we just got off the Brillance to the Med. in a Grand Suite for $500 pp/week.

Hmmmmm...that's a lot of chocolate I can buy with the cruise fare savings! :)

 

Trudy

 

Of course you realize that you got the cabin at that price because of the lack of demand for it right?

[Ocean Boy]

As someone pointed out, they need every passenger they can get to fill up these giant ships to make it cost effective to do the sailing. Wherever they have to go to find the passengers, so be it. Whatever crazy pricing they have to offer them to sail, it being done at the expense of passengers who cannot qualify for the lower prices (not a senior or no state discount, etc.). What RCL didn't count on was lower on-board revenue from the shops, bars, etc. If you market a cruise as "all inclusive" (which all the major lines do and then wonder why passengers expect that it will be so) and then when a newbie finds out that this and that have extra charges, that's where the reins are pulled in and the extra spending stops. The more extra charges RCL imposes, the less revenue from that item they will take in.

 

MARAPRINCE

Not only that but when they find out that the cruise isn't all inclusive as they thought it would be, ie. it doesn't meet their expectations, they are less likely to become repeat cruisers. The cruise lines are always going to be chasing their tails if they constantly have to fill ships with new cruisers. They have to have a percentage of those new cruisers turn into repeaters or they won't survive.

[truthandkeidy]

Of course you realize that you got the cabin at that price because of the lack of demand for it right?

 

Nah...I thought it was because I'm such a good girl! :p

 

Trudy

[Ocean Boy]

nah...i thought it was because i was such a good girl! :p

 

trudy

double post.

[Ocean Boy]

nah...i thought it was because i was such a good girl! :p

 

trudy

lol!

[Wilda]

I've been so preoccupied reading the Mariner repo threads, I just found this one a few minutes ago.

 

I am angry. And yes, you read that right, ANGRY about this.

 

It's not about the money, it's about changing the terms after the fact, and more importantly, adding another big fat EXCEPT to the way you have to describe a cruise.

 

When you go on a cruise, everything is included EXCEPT... The list grows longer and longer, and it seems the list of what you don't get is much longer than what you do get.

 

I am coordinating a small group cruise for some folks at my church. For many of them, it is their first cruise, and I had to spend quite a bit of time educating them on the basic facts of what a modern day cruise actually is. People have asked me, "wow, you mean 24 hour room service is really included in the price?" Well, it USED to be... but now there is another big EXCEPT that I have to add to the list. It makes you feel like a lawyer reading the fine print at the bottom of a contract.

 

This does not foster an environment of fun and relaxation, now I have to keep an eye on my watch and try to anticipate my hunger. Soon passengers will need to bring along their accountant to advise them how to avoid extraneous charges.

 

I would not be at all surprised if this issue catches the attention of the Attorney General of Florida. If I recall correctly, that office has been very friendly to cruise passengers when it comes to things like this. I believe the early fuel charges were the subject of such action because the passengers were charged the additional money after booking at a set price. How is this any different? People who have already booked were clearly sold a product which included free room service.

 

Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is going to be for me to have to contact each of my group members and tell them about this? Sure it may be unlikely that any of them will use it, but they've already been told what their fare included, and now the cruise line is changing it. What might be next? And more importantly, what assurance can I offer that there won't be some other additional charge for the most ordinary thing that a cruise used to include?

 

I don't care what the cruise line is trying to accomplish by this, whether it's revenue, or better management of the product. They have done it the wrong way, and many people should and will be unhappy about it.

 

Theron

 

Then don't use room service. Honestly, I don't get what all the fuss is about. There is an abundance of food included in the cost of your cruise throughout the entire day and evening. Sorrento's is open 24 hours a day.

How on earth can a $3.95 charge impede an "environment of fun and relaxation" and why is it RCI's concern that you have to "keep an eye on your watch and try to anticipate your hunger"? You're kidding right?:eek:

[stompy]

Then don't use room service. Honestly, I don't get what all the fuss is about. There is an abundance of food included in the cost of your cruise throughout the entire day and evening. Sorrento's is open 24 hours a day.

How on earth can a $3.95 charge impede an "environment of fun and relaxation" and why is it RCI's concern that you have to "keep an eye on your watch and try to anticipate your hunger"? You're kidding right?:eek:

 

not all ships have Sorrentos. Some smaller ships only have pizza and french fries in the solarium after the windjammer closes and no other dining options after 1030 PM

 

Late seating night owls may want a nosh a few hours after dinner. We usually skip dessert and then have something sweet after we hit the casino.

 

This will impact how and when we order, what we order, and how we tip

[cruiserbryce]

thats a bummer...we arent always ordering that late but have before...glad its only between 12-5am though...certanly may stop and order or two during the next trip

[Catnip]

 

We can choose whether or not to go on their ship....simple!

 

No one is dragging anyone on these cruise ship.

 

Where do you think they were going to make up the difference?

 

Hey, I agree with you! I know it's a CHOICE and one that we all have. We can choose to go and be nickle-n-dimed to death and think it's perfectly OK, or we can switch to a different line that doesn't do that. Easy!

They are making the difference up in cutting corners in many areas. Decreased food quality, unless you want to "pay extra", more and more a la carte charges for things that were once included. And the beat goes on.

[fraidknot]

not suprised about this development, seems kind of an odd choice. how many late night orders could there be that a low service fee would make any bottom-line impact?

 

I wish they would make the late night menu in the least bit interesting, then we might have an issue, as we would want to order something. with the lack of options on that menu, I am just not sure why I would pay for stuff i just barely wanted anyway.

[Anton]

Sorrento's is open 24 hours a day.

 

No, it isn't. Sorrento's is open most of the time but not 24/7. Remember that not all RCI ships have all the eating venues of a Voyager or Freedom class ship.

[Browezilla]

Well, I'm kind of thinking this is just another thing to confuse so many on tipping.

After reading thread after thread, weeding out fact from non-fact I was totally convinced-as I have said befor that no one really knows how tipping works or staff scheduels.

So many say-tip the dining room service no matter if you eat there or not because that money is distributed among many as tips were pooled. That has not been proven to be fact.

To me-this just enforces the fact to tip the service you recieve directly. Be it WJ dining, room service, Johnny rockets, Seaview, the list can go on.........

Because you are given an envelope-you may think that covers you for all your food service but it just may not be the case. The envelope says 'per day' suggested gratuity. And also it says DR wait staff. Not per sailing and not all food servers.

I don't think it is an effort to stop room service at those hours. I think it is just RC's way of saying-these guys deserve a tip too. I could be wrong but I'm just trying to figure this thing out and it may never happen!!:(

 

Let the confusion continue..............................:eek:

I agree, I think it is to ensure these folks get tipped (and they probably keep a portion of it also to help pay for late night staff). Tipping is confusing. I've known people that ate the majority of their meals at the WJ and were confused what to do as the level of service there is relatively low. I've noticed that NCL has a "service charge" that is mandatory like they have their NCL-America line. I'm surprised more lines haven't done this yet.

[pmshirl]

So if you don't use RS during these said hours it won't affect you????

 

Well how about IF this is only the begginning, lets see if these items would change if they would affect you!

 

1. $2.00 per cup of coffee

2. $1.00 for use of Ship Lavatory

3. $3.00 Solarium Pool chair

4. $2.00 Showroom entry

5. $2.50 Library Book

6. $1.00 for use of elevator, or $40.00 weekly pass

7. $5.00 per piece of luggage

8. $2.00 fee for basketball use on court

9. $4.00 Bingo Lounge entry fee

10. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Breakfast Package including coffee

11. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Lunch Package including coffee

12. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Dinner package including coffee

13. $100.00 Automatic tipping fee for Weekly WJ packages

14. $70.00 DR Breakfast Weekly Package including coffee

 

And the List could go on and ON!

 

I wonder if some of these changes would create a problem! Hummmm

Lot's of Choices to make!:D:rolleyes::eek:

[marci22]

So if you don't use RS during these said hours it won't affect you????

 

Well how about IF this is only the begginning, lets see if these items would change if they would affect you!

 

1. $2.00 per cup of coffee

2. $1.00 for use of Ship Lavatory

3. $3.00 Solarium Pool chair

4. $2.00 Showroom entry

5. $2.50 Library Book

6. $1.00 for use of elevator, or $40.00 weekly pass

7. $5.00 per piece of luggage

8. $2.00 fee for basketball use on court

9. $4.00 Bingo Lounge entry fee

10. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Breakfast Package including coffee

11. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Lunch Package including coffee

12. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Dinner package including coffee

13. $100.00 Automatic tipping fee for Weekly WJ packages

14. $70.00 DR Breakfast Weekly Package including coffee

 

And the List could go on and ON!

 

I wonder if some of these changes would create a problem! Hummmm

Lot's of Choices to make!:D:rolleyes::eek:

 

I take your point but at this time, I don't think they are going to let up on the various surcharges. When it becomes too complicated, I just won't book RC anymore.

[cruiserbryce]

to echo what others have said, cruising is still by far the best value and when it becomes different I will re consider how I travel

[kooljamming]

So if you don't use RS during these said hours it won't affect you????

 

Well how about IF this is only the begginning, lets see if these items would change if they would affect you!

 

1. $2.00 per cup of coffee

(pay more than that at Starbucks)

2. $1.00 for use of Ship Lavatory

3. $3.00 Solarium Pool chair

(better than seeing them occupied with magazines. and towels)

4. $2.00 Showroom entry

5. $2.50 Library Book

(pack your IPOD)

6. $1.00 for use of elevator, or $40.00 weekly pass

(but stairs are free)

7. $5.00 per piece of luggage

(I tip that anyway)

8. $2.00 fee for basketball use on court

9. $4.00 Bingo Lounge entry fee

10. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Breakfast Package including coffee

(that is $7 for breakfast each day)

11. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Lunch Package including coffee

($7 for lunch)

12. $50.00 Windjammer Weekly Dinner package including coffee

($7 for dinner)

13. $100.00 Automatic tipping fee for Weekly WJ packages

(worth the convenience for not going in search for it)

14. $70.00 DR Breakfast Weekly Package including coffee

(this is with real cloth napkin and a server)

And the List could go on and ON!

 

I wonder if some of these changes would create a problem! Hummmm

Lot's of Choices to make!:D:rolleyes::eek:

 

Welcome to what land vacations are all about, easily:D. How much do you think it cost for a week's vacation in California? Many get all that right now for a mere $100 per night....balcony to boot!

[Maraprince]

Not only that but when they find out that the cruise isn't all inclusive as they thought it would be, ie. it doesn't meet their expectations, they are less likely to become repeat cruisers. The cruise lines are always going to be chasing their tails if they constantly have to fill ships with new cruisers. They have to have a percentage of those new cruisers turn into repeaters or they won't survive.

The cruise lines are way too focused on getting new cruisers and not appeciating the repeat cruisers who made them the great lines that they are today in the first place! You may get a new cruiser the first time. But the million dollar questions are: "Will they come back again?" and "Will they recommend the line/ship to their friends and families?" If the answer to both questions is "No" the cruise line has failed. Sure they filled up a cabin, but that is all.

 

With the ecomony favoring passengers, the cruise lines have to be careful how they handle extra charges and exactly what are they really offering passengers in the first place that will entice them to sail with their line over everyone else out there.

 

It is a buyer's market. The price of a cabin is just the starting point. By the time you add in transportation to the port (air fare), hotel stay (pre/post), spending money on food and activities (pre/post), shore excursions, etc. the price of the cruise has more than doubled. Depending on where you are traveling from, the price of the air fare costs more than the cabin! Passengers are looking at the total cost of everything. If you are fortunate to live in Florida, you have your choice of cruise lines with ridiculously low prices. But if your air fare, etc. run more than the cabin price, the passenger is going to look at a sailing closer to home that will cost less in the long run (no air fare, hotel, etc.). The cruise lines know this and up the fare in other cities to make up for the low prices out of Florida.

 

You can be assured that there are accountants sitting there figuring out what will give the cruise line the most profit -- in other words, what are the passengers will to put up to go on a cruise without causing a drop in bookings/revenue. They must answer to the stockholders if the dividends fall.

 

 

MARAPRINCE

[pmshirl]

Welcome to what land vacations are all about, easily:D. How much do you think it cost for a week's vacation in California? Many get all that right now for a mere $100 per night....balcony to boot!

 

As a matter of FACT. I was in California in 2006, for a 10 night stay in Passidina. My GD was a gymnast and competed at UCLA. The flight & hotel cost was around $2500.00 for 3 people. Breakfast was included in that hotel price. Car rental, entertainment, dinners were all extra. Still was cheaper than what I am paying for a 7 night cruise for 3 on the AOS in June 2009!:D Back in 1989 I was in Cal for the 100th Rose Bowl parade that my daughter marched ( as a majorette) with her High School band in!

 

That was a package deal through the High School, included Rose Bowl tickets and some other sites in the package. Was a very reasonable price too!:)

 

It wasn't my 1st Land vacation in Cali.and won't be my last, have been there many times! I had a cousin who was a professor at Santa Barbara College, and NO I didn't get free room & board when I vacationed in Cal.:rolleyes:

 

I have done many many land vacations across the USA. I got tired of the hustle bustle and like to relax while I vacation.

[flsunnymommy]

For me, it feels like I am spending an additional $8 a day in food. We do tip, I just do not see this as a tip, but as fee and would feel bad not tipping room service. Since 15% of charges normally count as tip, I figure maybe 50 cents to $1 will go to the person delivering, but who knows.

 

When at home, I work basically an overnight shift. I work till 4am and then get my son up at 5am to go to school and then I go to bed. So my eating schedule is way messed up and I do not eat breakfast till after lunch time.

 

So, I have room service bring my son breakfast at 5am and my son tips room service while I sleep a little longer. While he eats a late lunch, I am eating my breakfast and when he eats dinner it is my lunch. So once he is asleep, I get hungry around 2am so I order myself some "dinner"

 

Two of our "meals" will fall during this time. Please keep in mind that not everyone eats at the same time of day. So to us, are meals are no longer included, but an additional fee.

[matt690]

I have cruised many lines before... Carnival, NCL, RCCL, Princess, and Costa. My two favorite lines are Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

 

I was annoyed with several things on my last Royal Caribbean cruise. First, they charged for Johnny Rockets, a burger restaurant on the ship, which was once free. I was even more ANNOYED with the fact that the band played AT MOST for two hours a day (there was one day when it was cloudy and they just decided to NOT play at all). I have read that this is not consistent throughout their fleet - two person "bands" that play for two hours max a day. How about Carnival's reggae bands which are at the pool for 5 hours a day and are usually 4 person bands. NOW, Royal Caribbean is charging for room service ordered between 12 and 5 am! I am SURE that they will slowly turn this into a fee no matter the time once we are forced to get over it and accept the fact.

 

Royal Caribbean has crossed the line. I cruised the Imagination after my RCCL cruise. The band hours and quality was great. The LOBSTER was great, and so was the ROOM SERVICE. The SMALL THINGS are the things that matter sometimes. Yes, the rock walls and ice rinks are great, but I cruise to CRUISE. I cruise for the lobster, the room service, the great staff, the all-inclusive vacation feel. I was going to alter Carnival and Royal Caribbeam for future cruises, but this is IT. Carnival it is.

 

Not only is RCCL more expensive, but the nickel and diming is ridiculous. I do not see how some of you can justify. First you tried to make excuses for Johnny Rockets (ok yea there were lines, don't take advantage of the consumer though), then for the bands and live entertainment cutbacks... now room service! There are NO excuses. Sorry for the negative, but I am very annoyed and fed up with the cutbacks.

 

Royal Caribbean, you should be ashamed. The answer is now simple: we will be cruising on the new Carnival Dream next year... not the Oasis or Liberty of the seas.

[3GR8Sons]

If you are fortunate to live in Florida, you have your choice of cruise lines with ridiculously low prices.

 

Can you point me to the ridiculously low cruise prices for those of us who live here in FL. I have yet to run into them.