Poll: What would you pay extra for?

[DonMar]

None Of The Above. But hey, if the cruise line is gonna charge us for stuff, how about we get a rebate for things we don't like and don't use.;)

 

For me the list of rebates is:

1. the spa - I can get massages and pedicures cheaper at home with no sales talk! and from someone who knows my preferences

2. the casino - too cheap to gamble

3. the art auctions - do people really buy this stuff?

4. the shops - ditto! We need more sundries and basic stuff that we forgot to pack

5. Kid programs - I don't have kids, but on second thought, the programs should keep kids out of our hair

6. Photographs that are discarded. Photograhers can be so annoying, and then the photos are so expensive we don't buy them.

 

I would and do pay extra for reasonably priced bottles of liquor to drink in the cabin. Princess and HAL are reasonable.

 

I also don't mind paying for laundry service, nor do I mind paying a higher price for a balcony cabin.

 

Cruising remains a good value, if one is a canny spender.

 

 

Well stated. For a moment, I was thinking that I would pay extra for all of the photographers and announcements to disappear! But then I thought, why would I pay for that - should that not just be part of the vacation experience - peace and quiet - IMHO.:o

 

(Costa has very few announcements - and their announcements are done in at least 3 - 5 languages.:eek: It was lovely.)

[guam/ny]

Acutally I wouldn't pay extra for any of the items listed above. I'd be inclined to pay the room service fee in lieu of putting my clothes back on to go to the solarium or the promenade for something to eat. (Also, it may not be too fresh at the promenade cafe at that hour. Of couse, all of this depends on whether I'm still up at that time. Might be a moot point.

 

We've eaten at the specialty restaurants and don't mind paying the fee. The food is VERY good, you don't pay for your alcoholic drinks and can order more than one entree/dessert just like in the main dining room. We've even done (at an add'l cost) the mystery dinner (twice!)

[guam/ny]

I'm sorry if I'm repeating what anyone else has written but after reading more than half of this thread, I had to stop to make a statement.

 

There are NO necessities on a cruise that they charge for now. Photos? Specialty restaurants? Excursions? Alcoholic drinks? Sodas? These are EXTRAS that we could all do without if we so choose.

 

Photos? Take your own camera and ask another passenger to take your picture!

 

Specialty restaurants? Yes, I like them and always go there at least one night (depending on the length of the cruise), but I would manage quite nicely if I didn't go and only used the dining room, the buffet or room service for dinner.

 

Excursions? Make plans on your own and control your costs that way.

 

Alcoholic drinks? I know many people enjoy a drink or two daily when on vacation, but if you can't do without that drink, you have a bigger problem than nickels and dimes!

 

Sodas? There are plenty of other things to drink for which there is no extra charge. There is always iced tea available, but I don't drink it because I avoid caffeine. I've never had a problem when asking for lemon wedges to add to my water (free) and a packet or two of artificial sweetener and I have a great drink to enjoy.

 

The things they charge extra for are LUXURIES. Internet? I wish I could keep my husband off of it! Laundry? Hand wash or bring enough that you can wait until you get home to do the laundry. Spa services? They're nice, but you can have a wonderful vacation without them. Etc., etc., etc.

 

Your NECESSITIES are included - your cabin, your meals, your entertainment. Anything you pay extra for is a luxury. If you want to indulge yourself, have a ball. I do, and I do not complain about the costs.

 

Sometimes I feel like I have to ask if you want cheese with that whine!!

 

 

I like you Susan! Like Maxine too!

[kitty9]

I checked priority disembarkation at ports, but I need to clarify this. I would only pay extra for that if I was doing an independent excursion and needed to be on the pier early. Sometimes if you're at a tender port, it can be difficult to set up your own excursions since often the cruise line's shore excursions always go off first. So, I would be willing to pay a nominal sum in this case to get off and meet my excursion provider.

 

As for anything else I'd be willing to pay extra for, nothing on that list qualifies. To me, you only pay extra for special things ... things that you would not normally get on a cruise.

 

For example, yes, I would be willing to pay extra for things like unlimited laundry on a long cruise. I may also be willing to pay extra for some special programming, like hands on classes in photography or to learn a new skill. I'm not talking about lectures here, but rather hands-on classes that perhaps supplemented a lecture program on a particular topic.

 

I think cruise lines are losing out on a major money-making opportunity here ... and I think they're being extraordinarily dumb in letting this revenue stream pass them by.

 

On certain longer cruises, the cruise lines should coordinate a couple of onboard lecture series with hands-on classes that people can take for a fee. Almost everyone likes to learn something new when on a longer cruise ... especially a grand voyage or world cruise. Why not capitalize on that? Carefully orchestrate a lecture series (such as Holland America's Exploration Speakers Series) with a series of hands-on classes. For example, have a renowned nature photographer onboard to provide some lectures on his work. These lectures, as with all shipboard lectures, would be free. But he would also offer a series of hands-on workshops, limited to a certain number of people, for those who wanted to explore the topic further. Add to this some included shore excursions where participants can hone their skills under the photographer's personal direction, and you have the makings of a very nice product that can be packaged and sold. I'd be willing to bet there would be enough passengers who would take advantage of this to make it worthwhile.

 

Of course, photography is just one example. There are many others ... music, art, acting, crafts ... you name it. Sailings could have "themes" and passengers could either just attend the free lectures, or could choose to more thoroughly explore the topic via the enhanced program for an extra charge.

 

But it is stuff like this that I might be willing to pay extra for. I would not be willing to pay for things like room service. I'd sooner run up to the Lido and get my own snacks.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

Gee Rita, everything you wrote actually exists, and all with no fee, on Crystal.

 

Free laundry with washers and dryers on every floor and they provide the detergent and fabric softener.

Classes in piano, ballroom dancing using professional dancers as teachers, foreign languages, cooking, wine, computer classes (and not just beginners classes but some that get quite complicated including photography and movie making), health and wellness programs (their Walk on Water program is very popular), classes on investments, art classes (and not just silly things but they actually brought on a woman who helps the passengers make a quilt, they do painting, drawing, sculpture, jewelry making and watercolors), and then there's the speaker's bureau where they bring on lecturers on every topic imaginable. And as I said, there are no fees attached to this, not even for the wine classes.

Edited January 8, 2009 by kitty9

[yarlenna]

I just enjoyed a Regent cruise. Yes, it costs more than most, but I found it to be worth every penny. The ship was small enough to not have to worry about things like where you can sit for a show, or finding a seat where I want to do my sun bathing. When I was done on that ship, my bill for the "extras" was less than $50. The biggest treat was not being part of a heard. I don't think I'll ever get back on a ship that has more than 1000 pax. I know it is more $$$. But FOR ME it is the only way to cruise.

[Pilot55]

I would pay extra for none of these. If you want a good seat - get there early. If you want a table for two, ask fot it, if it available they will give you one. These are simply things that are not worth any extra cost. If you have a special need they will make arrangments if ask - if they don't then try another line.

[Mparis184]

I am the frugal cruiser. I don't want to pay additional money for anything.

 

I regret to say that we will soon be charged for a lot of what we are now taking for granted as FREE on the cruises. They are not making any profits and have to discount the cruises to fill the ships. Where is the money going to come from? Cruisers like you and me!

 

Marion

[mrscfromma]

I'm a cheap as I can get it cruiser so, I also would not pay extra for any of the above.

 

What I would like to see is soft drinks, juice, and wine included with meals in the main dining rooms(even a limit of 1 or 2 at no charge would be acceptable). I am willing to pay for them elsewhere on board because there would be to much waste otherwise. Coffee and tea are ok, but sometimes I just want something cold and water doesn't cut it.

[Mparis184]

I like to call myself frugal but I am so tight I squeek when I walk.

 

As far as the soda goes, I bring my own on board and keep it in my cabin. If we are on a Caribbean cruise I have a small fold up cooler that will keep my soda cold all day at the pool. When I get my final bill I always laugh, it's almost nothing. They don't make much money on me! I don't drink and after 20 cruises we don't even have our photos taken anymore...we have all we need.

 

They can find new services and charge all they like - I just say "no thank you".

 

Marion

[Weeze624]

As much as I love cruising this is making DH and I consider other vacationing options like the all-inclusives. It just irritates me that we need to pay for "specialty" restaurants and that alot of the specialty areas they are adding are for pay areas. I think it is a bummer.

[deban42]

No one seemed to have an opinion on being able to stay later on the ship. I think that would be wonderful. Having to get up early, finish packing, dress, shower, whatever, and then stand and wait to be called off the ship in groups, around 8am, sux!! Sure, I will get up early to see the sunrise, or not miss a glacier, but I dread the last day. If we had a "late checkout", and could have a nice breakfast, a leisurely time to finish packing, maybe even an early lunch, one more time around the ship, a few more pictures, now that seems to be the way to end a cruise, not what i have read on here so far.

 

 

 

 

Now this is what I would pay extra for. I'm not an early riser. I'd gladly pay to get up an hour or two later on the last day:D:D:D:D:D:D

[ON cruiser]

I would pay for none of the above, and sincerely hope that Holland America Line and other within the Carnival empire do not follow RCI's lead.

 

In my opinion, if the cruise lines add ever more surcharges, etc., to cruising, then instead of growing, they will "kill the golden goose", and I, for one, will start frequenting the more upscale all-inclusive resorts, where I will not have to put up with this nickle and diming nonsense.

[ken_ll]

In my opinion, if the cruise lines add ever more surcharges, etc., to cruising, then instead of growing, they will "kill the golden goose", and I, for one, will start frequenting the more upscale all-inclusive resorts, where I will not have to put up with this nickle and diming nonsense.

 

I have to agree with ON cruiser.

 

Cruising is only a commodity and at this point an all-inclusive is cost effective without the additional charges. Once cruise lines are seen as greedy or if that is the perception, it will be the reality.

 

I would not be willing to pay additionally for any of those "extras". We supplement any cruise line provided (free) drinks with those we bring on board. We do "spurge" with a fancy drink in the theatre on the last night of the cruise. I have gone as far to take pictures of their photographs of us, do I feel guilty, no. I consider myself cheap, it affords us the opportunity to cruise several times per year.

 

Tipping - This is one area I see the cruise lines increasing the mandatory charge with increased amounts not necessarily going to the service staff.

[dsh25]

I would not want to pay extra for any of the above options. But then again, I want the cruise line industry to go back to the all inclusive pricing. I do not mind charging extra for alcohol or spa treatments but the rest of the charges are ruining the experience for me.

[beachchick]

I LOVE to cruise, however, I also enjoyed our all inclusive vacation...where we EVERYTHING was included...including nicer restaurants as an option to a buffet, tips and alcohol. It depends on what you are looking for and your financial concerns/worth.

 

As far as the 3.95 late night charge on RCI? We never do late night room service, but I'll bet people will consider that the "tip." I hope the person delivering gets some of this money.

 

Which is one reason we aren't considering AI resorts these days. My DH doesn't drink and I don't drink all that much. I don't want him to subsidize anyone's alcohol consumption but mine. We used to run into that when dining out sometimes. If "the table" ordered three bottles of expensive wine and I had 1 glass and my DH had none, the idea of evenly splitting the bill was unreasonable. It's not as if we're ordering caviar and lobster in lieu, so there's simply no way that AI is the right fit for us. It doesn't matter whether we can afford it, we'd simply rather not use the money that way. That's not to say that AIs aren't a great option for many people. It can be quite convenient to pay the one price and not worry about it again.

 

We really enjoy the option of extra courses and desserts in the dining room, and my husband has even coined the term "triple double," meaning a meal where he's ordered 2 appetizers, 2 mains, and 2 desserts. However, as much as he enjoys this opportunity, I think he'd quickly curb the habit if a surcharge was introduced.

 

One thing I think I would be willing to pay extra for? Priority embarkation. The lines to embark are always a nightmare, often hot, and generally unpleasant. But we enjoy boarding in the early groups so we have a chance to find our way around the ship before it's too crowded.

 

If your DH is doing his triple double meals because he really enjoys them, then he should absolutely continue and have fun doing it. Why not? Unfortunately, some people order multiples just because they feel "I've paid for the food, I'm going to eat as much as possible" or they go to the buffet and load three plates high, but leave half of it on the plates. That kind of waste both raises cruise fares (to cover the food thrown out) and is, IMO, just plain wrong.

 

I agree that embarkation at prime time can be a PITA. If the cruise lines decided to offer such an option as a surcharge item, they'd have to have a limited number of spots available. Otherwise, you could end up with 50% of the pax having "priority" embarkation. That would kind of defeat the idea. Our method of dealing with it is to simply wait until just a bit later to get to the pier, but I know many people love to arrive as early as possible to start enjoying their cruise.

 

No one seemed to have an opinion on being able to stay later on the ship. I think that would be wonderful. Having to get up early, finish packing, dress, shower, whatever, and then stand and wait to be called off the ship in groups, around 8am, sux!! Sure, I will get up early to see the sunrise, or not miss a glacier, but I dread the last day. If we had a "late checkout", and could have a nice breakfast, a leisurely time to finish packing, maybe even an early lunch, one more time around the ship, a few more pictures, now that seems to be the way to end a cruise, not what i have read on here so far.

 

NCL does allow this--within reason. You do not have to leave your cabin at the "crack of doom" (as my DH calls those horrid early morning cattle calls). We had coffee, went to breakfast, came back and finished putting our things together, took showers, had a last cup of coffee, and exited the ship at about 10:30. We agree that the getting up and getting out and then being forced to sit in the passageways, lounges, or wherever while waiting to disembark is the pits.

 

Your idea seems good in theory, but is not possible because they've got to clear the ship before they can allow pax for the next cruise onboard. Not only do they have to clean, resupply, etc., but there are security issues. They simply cannot allow the previous cruise pax to stay onboard through lunch (not even an early one). Late morning is good, but anything beyond that means that we'd all be complaining about how we had to wait until after lunch to board because the ship hadn't been cleared early enough. It's a balancing act for the cruise line.

 

I'm in the nothing listed category also, and at the moment can't think of anything I would need or like to pay extra for. Aren't cruises supposed to be all inclusive??????????????????

 

No. We've never thought of mass-market cruising to be all-inclusive. There is no "supposed to be" about it. Even the premier lines have extra charge items. I think that many people have the perception that cruising is completely AI from shows, movies, and other things that depict cruising as "more" than it is.

 

beachchick

Edited January 8, 2009 by beachchick

[cruiser1812]

I would not pay extra for any of these choices. If it gets this complicated, why not just take a "Land Vacation"? Cruising is wonderful, but the primary advantage of a cruise is getting from "Here to There" without packing and unpacking and knowing your costs upfront. Without the latter, cruises are losing their allure.

[melanie2009]

None of those are things I'd pay extra for, but one of the great things about cruising is the flexibility available with different fare packages.

[sandinmyshoes]

My family would pay extra for a short embarkation line at the start of the cruise. We are platinum with Princess so we get this for free on their ships, but cruise other lines as well and would be happy to pay for priority boarding with them. We want to start the fun when we arrive at the ship, not hours later because we had to stand in a long boring line waiting on people who didn't fill out their paperwork ahead of time as requested. :rolleyes:

[newmexicoNita]

Probably would not pay extra for any of them, but I did vote for late debarkation. If I had a really late afternoon flight I would like to stay on the ship til maybe late morning at least, it beats sitting in some dumb airport. Maybe paying extra for a lounge one day might be fun, if the price is not too out of line.

 

Nita

[emjsea]

No children.

[momofmeg]

I enjoyed the therapy pool when it was free, but I think $25 per day or $150 for a week is too much. If it was free, I would go perhaps 3 times in 7 days, and each time I would get in for 30 minutes-that is just not worth what the lines charge. I see no need to get a week's pass since I won't go every day-and $20-25 for me to spend 30 minutes there is just not worth it.

 

As far as the specialty dinning, that charge does not bothe rme. We used to pay $800 a person for an inside cabin-now for that price, we have a balcony cabin. I prefer having that to the better food. I can always go to the specialty for one or two nights. I do not have to have top notch 4 star food every night. Sometimes I am happy just to have a simple salad.

[Mary Ellen]

Thanks to everyone who has voted! Perhaps you understand why I specifically left off the "none of the above" option -- you'd all click it and then the poll wouldn't be very interesting at all.

Yes, but it is absolutely meaningless. I didn't vote and by the amount of other 'none of the above' posters, the majority of them didn't either. A poll that means nothing.

[kornkob]

It's even more meaningless than that--- even if there was a 'none of the above' option, the collection method alone makes it meaningless. The results only apply to a tiny subset of cruise participants: those members of CC who are willing to take polls and happen to peruse the 'Ask a Question' section. That pool of participants does nothing to aid in collecting data that can be reasonably extrapolated to the general cruising public.

[Mary Ellen]

I agree there is NO way any poll here could be extrapolated to the general cruising public, but this poll can't even claim to represent to the views of the posters on the 'Ask a Question' section.

[brpwine]

The reason we take cruises is that they are all inclusive. If the cruise lines start nickel and dime-ing us we will seek other forms of all inclusive vacations. Those offered by resorts are a good alternative. There are many other choices.