$3.95 Service Charge for Room Service starting

[bajathree]

Excuse me....but didn't I just read recently that passengers were revolting about not having their fuel surcharges refunded for recent cruises, and one of the things they were doing was ordering room service just to have it sit outside but feel, well there, no refund...I will get you! Well all they did was get their fellow cruise passengers....so you can thank them NOT RCCL for this.

[shipshape sam]

Same here.......we never have ordered RS during those hours.

What concerns me is I can see this going to 24 hour RS......its just a matter of time.

 

***

 

Guess your ox would then be gored! :)

[shipshape sam]

I hardly think RCI is implementing this to keep us healthy. :rolleyes:

 

It's a cost saving measure in a bad economy. :(

 

Whatever, I still tip more than $3.95 for room service if I order more than 2 things. :)

 

I am glad to hear you tip well. I tip, but not to your degree for room service.

 

My point was if reference that the alleged surcharge (RCCL policy change) was okay because there is an obesity problem in the US. It was tongue in cheek partly. :)

[phtktz3]

By cutting down on traffic I mean it will may make people think twice before ordering RS. It is usually at least 45min to 1hr 1/2 to get anything delivered, and if it is wrong or something is missing, double that time.

 

I often see trays of food left in the hallway that are barely touched. Maybe it is because RS is 'free'? A nominal charge often makes people behave more responsibly.

 

I also wonder how many people do not tip room service at all, especially in the late night hours. Maybe that is the reason for the charge.

 

I certainly don't like being nickel and dimed but I think RS needs an overhaul and if this is part of the experiment, it's fine by me.

 

Okay now I understand what you mean by traffic...it is really more of a clutter in the hallways problem and I agree that is pretty unsightly and can be a problem for people in scooters/ wheelchairs or with mobility challenges in general...(;).not to mention the drunky drunkersons) We do use RS a lot and one of the things I don't like is that there is no place to put the tray in the room that isn't cumversome or in the way but I also don't like opening my door at 8am and seeing my dirty tray still out there from the night before....it makes me feel like that neighbor who leaves their trash cans at the curb for 2 days after trash pick up:p

[phtktz3]

I always did pay about this for room service... I keep an envelope of $1 bills just for this so I could adjust depending on the size of the order. ;) ...and whenever I did order room service later in the evening they would always say that it would be around 45 minutes to deliver... so instead I go to the windjammer and get food and bring it back to the cabin.

 

On most ships there is no food available in the WJ between the hours of midnight- 5am...that is why we need the room service option....I shutter at the thought of having to go<<gulp>> 5 hrs with no food options while on a ship:eek:

[FL_Cruiser64]

I hardly think RCI is implementing this to keep us healthy. :rolleyes:

 

It's a cost saving measure in a bad economy. :(

 

Whatever, I still tip more than $3.95 for room service if I order more than 2 things. :)

 

Yep.

 

I tip $4 for morning coffee ($2 for each person). If I have a late night/early morning snack after a night of drinking and dancing I usually tip a 5 bill. I actually would save money. LOL.

 

Excuse me....but didn't I just read recently that passengers were revolting about not having their fuel surcharges refunded for recent cruises, and one of the things they were doing was ordering room service just to have it sit outside but feel, well there, no refund...I will get you! Well all they did was get their fellow cruise passengers....so you can thank them NOT RCCL for this.

 

What ship was that? Were they even eligible for an FS refund?

[Catnip]

 

It is just a sign of the times and will continue, we have already seen additional charges for this and that and I guarantee there will be more until finally people say "Enough" :D

 

I think you are right. And I think it sucks. Enough is enough.

I am always surprised at the large number of people that think it's OK and there's nothing wrong with this continued nickle-n-diming. In the not-too-distant future, I predict there will be a charge for deck chairs! :eek: And most everyone will be OK with that, too. :cool: :confused:

[eem0924]

The majority of the time I order room service is between 12 midnight and 5 am. The rest of the time I can go and get whatever I have an interest in.

 

$3.95 including gratuity isn't bad. I usually tip $3 or so so that's about the same.

 

Does this take effect 1/1/09 on all ships?????

[jillyfish]

Milk & cookies !!! Hey its 3 sometimes 4 burgers with bacon(hold the onions), cheesecake,big pot of coffee,tea for two..oh yea and cookies and extra milk...thats all for now thanks.:D

 

After that its 3 hours sleep for me and I am up ready for my bacon and fresh rolls and pastries,coffee from room service before hitting the WJ for more bacon but with toast,fried egg(over medium),pancakes and blueberry sauce and two mugs of coffee :D

 

Strange thing...I never ever put on weight on a cruise.

WOW!! :eek: Wish I had your metabolism and stamina ;)

[kooljamming]

I think you are right. And I think it sucks. Enough is enough.

I am always surprised at the large number of people that think it's OK and there's nothing wrong with this continued nickle-n-diming. In the not-too-distant future, I predict there will be a charge for deck chairs! :eek: And most everyone will be OK with that, too. :cool: :confused:

 

In time I predict/hope price will be that only people who can truly afford will book, so no need to nickle and dime. As long as many people (speaking of the US market) are cruising for $100 per day, then this will happen. I suggest they increase the price and make it a vacation worth planning for and taking. Many people think the charge is OK because they reckon they can't do better anywhere in terms of value. I think the cruise line should say enough is enough to people who want these vacations but can't truly afford them.

[Catnip]

In time I predict/hope price will be that only people who can truly afford will book, so no need to nickle and dime. As long as many people (speaking of the US market) are cruising for $100 per day, then this will happen. I suggest they increase the price and make it a vacation worth planning for and taking. Many people think the charge is OK because they reckon they can't do better anywhere in terms of value. I think the cruise line should say enough is enough to people who want these vacations but can't truly afford them.

 

I have been cruising since the early 80's and have seen MANY changes in the cruise industry, not all for the good. And what you predict is exactly how cruising used to be back in the "good old days"! :) Very little (if at all) "extra" charges besides the casino.

You did not have to pay extra for "good" food.......all of your meals were included in your cruise fare, and most meals were very good. There were lavish midnight buffet's every night, as well as a spectacular gala buffet on the last "formal" night. No charge for room service and the room service menu was a lot more extensive than it is now!

[MrsPete]

I have never actually ordered room service during these hours, and I probably never will. Nonetheless, I don't like this because it's only a matter of time 'til the extend it into the hours when most of us DO order room service! Give 'em six months or a year, and the surcharge'll be extended a little earlier. Give 'em a year or two, and it'll be $3.95 for ALL room service.

 

It started with Johnny Rockets cover charge. Did any of us ever really believe that it was about keeping teens out of there?

 

This type of thing is a "backdoor way" of raising cruise prices.

[MrsCorL]

Can I see a show of hands for anyone that has ordered room service after midnight and before 5am?

 

jc<---- hand is not raised

 

jc<---- imagines 95% of the food ordered at this time occurs on spring break or summer cruises....:D

 

dh does...or should i say did....he always gave a 3.00 tip....i guess no more

[Catnip]

Nonetheless, I don't like this because it's only a matter of time 'til the extend it into the hours when most of us DO order room service! Give 'em a year or two, and it'll be $3.95 for ALL room service.

 

This type of thing is a "backdoor way" of raising cruise prices.

 

Exactly correct.

[deban42]

Did I read correctly, That you have to pay for steak in the main dining room, and there are no more midnight Buffets. Its be almost 2 years since I last went on a cruise.:mad::mad::mad: We are starting to plan our next cruise. What else has changed???:eek:

[bruce-r]

I think they should charge all day for room service. Maybe it will cut down on traffic and the room service people will not be so overwhelmed (as they always seem to be).

 

$3.95 with gratuity included is nothing.

 

I can almost agree. If all of the $3.95 service charge was a tip, I'd be happier with it.

[Brad1185]

Did I read correctly, That you have to pay for steak in the main dining room, and there are no more midnight Buffets. Its be almost 2 years since I last went on a cruise.:mad::mad::mad: We are starting to plan our next cruise. What else has changed???:eek:

 

Yes you read correctly

[cruiseawaits]

A big harsh but none the less the truth. I don't agree about killing ourselves by over eating is OK. Maybe big brother but in the real world there are changes in the way food is sold and prepared to address this problem. Obesity in American is NOT an individual problem but a national one. Schools no longer provide certain snacks. A country with a questionable health care system but raging rate of heart disease and diabetics, as a result of obesity is not good, in my opinion. I mistakenly thought most people are sound asleep at 5 in the morning...my bad:D

 

Schools that participate in a "Healthy Food" initiative and receive government funding(reimbursements) for doing so are restricted to the foods they serve. So when the government is ready to subsidize my cruise, I will be more than willing to give up eating what I want to eat and will follow "healthy" guidelines. But as long as I am paying for my cruise, it is I who will determine what I eat and hopefully, when I want to eat it. I also enjoy a small snack before bed and when cruising, that is very often after midnight.

[Brad1185]

RCI did change their web site stating room service now has an added service charge. There still is no mention of the extra charge in the MDR. Their site states all meals are included in the MDR.

[Albert Ross]

Did I read correctly, That you have to pay for steak in the main dining room, and there are no more midnight Buffets. Its be almost 2 years since I last went on a cruise.:mad::mad::mad: We are starting to plan our next cruise. What else has changed???:eek:

No - there is an OPTION to pay for a better quality cut of steak in the main dining room on TWO of the ships - Monarch and Freedom I believe. This is a trial, not sure if it is continuing into this year. Normal steak available on the menu on all ships as usual.

Midnight buffets were dropped months back because of the incredible wastage of food.

[bajathree]

Yep.

 

I tip $4 for morning coffee ($2 for each person). If I have a late night/early morning snack after a night of drinking and dancing I usually tip a 5 bill. I actually would save money. LOL.

 

 

 

What ship was that? Were they even eligible for an FS refund?

 

No they weren't but it happened right when RCCL announced that they were dropping all future fuel surcharges. I just went searching for it but it must of got buried. I forget what ship but it was in the last month and passengers were forming a revolt on board. One things they reportedly did was started to order room service just to have it sit. The thread was over a half dozen pages long and was running for days....it may have gotten pulled, since I did a search and come up blank.

[MrPete]

I have never actually ordered room service during these hours, and I probably never will. Nonetheless, I don't like this because it's only a matter of time 'til the extend it into the hours when most of us DO order room service! Give 'em six months or a year, and the surcharge'll be extended a little earlier. Give 'em a year or two, and it'll be $3.95 for ALL room service.

 

It started with Johnny Rockets cover charge. Did any of us ever really believe that it was about keeping teens out of there?

 

This type of thing is a "backdoor way" of raising cruise prices.

 

I have NEVER ordered room service on any cruise I've been on, but this type of charge offends me, more so than the steak charge. The steak charge still PO's me the way they said it was one thing, and turned out to be one ROYAL lie.

 

If our daily tips for food is already something like 5.50 for the day, 3.95 is pretty steep in comparison.

 

Now, I wonder how many orders are going to be placed/delivered (whatever is the charge trigger) at 11:59, or 6:01? :confused:

[MrPete]

Oh yes......."The Nation of Why Not"!!!:(:rolleyes:

 

Soon, it will be the "Nation of Why Bother"? :rolleyes:

[Cruise_Couple]

RCI did change their web site stating room service now has an added service charge. There still is no mention of the extra charge in the MDR. Their site states all meals are included in the MDR.

 

Yup, here is the new write up straight from the RCCL web site...

 

Maybe you want to sleep in or just spend a night relaxing in your stateroom; either way, you still have to eat. That's why we offer room service to all our guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 24 hours a day (late night service charge applies). So go ahead and have breakfast in bed or enjoy a sweet temptation dessert on your balcony. After all, you're on vacation.

[Shipyard Cruiser]

I have been cruising since the early 80's and have seen MANY changes in the cruise industry, not all for the good. And what you predict is exactly how cruising used to be back in the "good old days"! :) Very little (if at all) "extra" charges besides the casino.

You did not have to pay extra for "good" food.......all of your meals were included in your cruise fare, and most meals were very good. There were lavish midnight buffet's every night, as well as a spectacular gala buffet on the last "formal" night. No charge for room service and the room service menu was a lot more extensive than it is now!

 

And of course you can still find cruise lines that provide all that.

 

You will pay quite a lot more then RCI or any other mass market cruise line.

 

There is no free lunch (room service) here.

 

The lower you make the fare the more extras you will pay for.

 

How much did you pay for that cruise in the early 80's in todays dollars?