Goodie goodies vs. Rule benders.

[G'ma]

While all this is well and good, I don't have rules in my house that states that you will pay EIGHT dollars for one finger of rum!! I'm a rule BREAKER on the alcohol rule. I DO buy some drinks from the cruiselines, however, I also bring ONE medium sized flask of alcohol and have some drinks on my balcony in the evenings. I don't apologize for it. Ah, the "chicken and egg" theory rears it's ugly head once again. Drinks on a ship used to be in the 2.00-3.00 range with daily 1.00 specials...... People complained anyway and continued to bring their own booze - which was permitted at the time. After a while, the loss of revenue from alcohol led to a jump in bar prices. More people smuggled booze, prices raised again. I'm not talking the dark ages here...I'm talking late 80's into the mid-90's.... You wouldn't be expected to pay 8.00 for a drink if everyone abided by the "no smuggling" rules and bought at the bars and lounges or the Bon Voyage department like most people do.

 

I own stock in Carnival AND RCI, so I do have a stake in how well they do. However, telling a grown adult that they MUST purchase your alcohol and then jacking the price up 500% isn't something I'm willing to abide by for 7-14 days. It's not gonna happen. If anyone is offended by having to pay the price for drinks onboard a cruise ship, there are options....don't drink or don't cruise. Same thing applies to many restaurants and bars where mixed drinks cost an arm a leg...to say nothing of beer prices. Guess someone could smuggle their own bottle under their coat, huh. Guess how long that would last. These places tell "grown adults" that they must purchase alcohol with them....and they jack the prices up substantially.

 

I don't purchase a soda card as the cruise lines allow you to bring your own soda. I can't imagine ANYONE purchasing these rediculously priced items. Why not just pay 4.99 for a 12 pack at the local Wal-mart and then bring them onboard? However, if they stopped this rule, I'd find some way to bring my own soda on board, as well. I'm NOT paying 3-5 dollars for 3/4 can of pop! Fortunately, most cruise lines permit a reasonable amount of soft drinks and beverages to be brought on board.

 

Frankly, I think too many people consider themselves "saints" when what they really are is a "doormat". Just because someone says you MUST do something, doesn't make it OK or reasonable. You are absolutely right. However, knowing what the rules are BEFORE you put your money down and then making the cognizant decision to ignore those you don't like is very adolescent... I think we SHOULD question some things that simply aren't reasonable. True. But, smuggling booze isn't "questioning" anything....it's simply smuggling..We pay thousands to cruise, we tip very well, we play WAY to much in the casino, we play bingo, we shop on the ships occasionally, etc...It's simply unreasonable to me to think that the cruise ships monitor your behavior to the point that you can't enjoy a mixed drink on your WELL PAID for balcony without paying ANOTHER 200 dollars per week for alcohol, or more if you're on a longer cruise. There are no rules about enjoying a drink on your balcony....anyone is free to do so. Room service will provide the drink...or the nearest bar will be glad to fill your order, provide a tray and you can take it back to your cabin.

 

I also do not book my excursions through the ships. If we wanted to be picky about taking revenue away from the ships, this would be doing that also. While it's not a "rule", it certainly DOES remove some revenue. So, all those that cry about taking revenue away from the poor, poor billion dollar company's, do you also book every excursion through the cruiselines? I'd certainly hope not! Not a good analogy at all. There are no rules about shore excursions and where you buy them....or where you go once off the ship.

 

So yeah...I'm a rule breaker. (a rule breaker who's spent over 15,000 dollars on cruises for '09 ALONE! The cruiseships will have to deal with that and be happy)

 

So, whether or not you are expected to follow the rules depends upon the amount of money you spend, then. Hogwash.

 

As I and others have said; most people recognize that private businesses have rules and we abide by them... Others believe that they are so special that somehow they are exempt from these rules......

[Ingrid83]

While I don't agree that buffet line cutting means you only think of yourself, I DO think that is the real reason for all the rule, "bend/breakers".

 

The poster above that mentioned breaking rules often works out, yes for THEM if they get away with it. It may in fact compromise someone else but hey, what do they care and that is the whole point here. Either you follow the rules out of respect for both authority and for your fellow passengers, or you don't and you just care about what YOU want and anyone else can go pound sand!

 

I think part of the problem is some people think "booze-smuggler" when they say break the rules, and some people think "Rosa Parks." I believe in trying to change rules before breaking them, but I admire those who have the guts to break them when there is injustice. I don't know whether there is frequently cause for this sort of stance on a cruiseship, but I can think of some areas where there might be.

 

Ingrid 83

[jejaforlife]

Ehhh I don't care what other people do as long as it doesn't affect me directly. I am for the most part a rule follower. If I know the rules before I sign up for something and I still sign up, then I follow them. I try very hard to be a good role model for my kids and don't want to be a hypocrite. BUT, I have found in life that no matter how goodie goodie you think you are or try to be, EVERYONE chooses to break some "rule" at some point.

 

I'm going on my first cruise in June. It is a much needed get away for my dh & me. Do people really take their kids into the Adult Only pool???? I just don't think I can be silent on that one if it happens on our cruise. :D

[California Native]

I have found that I'm one of those people that whenever I bend or break a rule ..

I get caught.

It's been this way since I was little.

I just get caught

It stinks.

The entire population can break the same rule I do, at the same time everyone will be clear, but me.

My friends and family laugh about it!

So, I'm forced to be a goodie/goodie...

though I do have a an inner bad girl that's desperate to get away with something! :D

[Kristi Williamson]

So' date=' whether or not you are expected to follow the rules depends upon the amount of money you spend, then. Hogwash.

 

As I and others have said; most people recognize that private businesses have rules and we abide by them... Others believe that they are so special that somehow they are exempt from these rules......[/quote']

 

The cost of drinks have risen because the inflation has risen. If you actually believe they've raised those prices that much because people bring on a few drinks, you should pick up the occasional economics book. It would clear that misconception up for you. People continue to buy them at those prices, so they continue to raise them until the supply and demand for them at those prices decreases, NOT the other way around. It's basic economics.

 

And you are certainly entitled to your opinion, as I'm entitled to mine. But, I'll continue to cruise just the way that I do and continue to purchase drinks from the cruise lines AND drink my own that I brought with me. The primary difference between a restaurant and a cruise ship is that I can leave the restaurant after 2 hours and I am free to drink my after dinner drink in my home at a reasonable price. I cannot leave the ship, except in port, for 7-14 days and I will not pay 500% markup on every drink I have simply because I am aboard their ship. It's an unreasonable rule, that's very design is to make tens of thousands of dollars above what any reasonable profit should be and I will not abide by it. It's really that simple for me.

 

I actually own my own business, so I DO understand needing to make a profit. However, making a profit is quite different than taking advantage of someone who is creating the very profit that you make. If I, as a real estate broker, marked my product up by 500% everyone would think I was insane, and they would be correct. However, there would be SOME who would think that I was the "best" simply because I overcharged. Does that make it OK? We saw what happened when the banks all thought that was fine, right? In the end, it works to NO ONES benefit.

 

In this ONE regard, I believe the cruise ships are wrong. Will I revolt and not cruise simply because some love to say if THIS is a big deal then you simply shouldn't cruise? No. I love cruising and will continue to do so. I'll pay their high prices for tiny rooms with a balcony and I'll pay their high prices for their gift shops. The alcohol is the line in the sand for me, though. I CAN provide it for myself at a MUCH less expensive price, and I will continue to do so.

 

So...again, yes, in this regard, I'm a rule breaker.

[Kristi Williamson]

I would also like to add that I don't see it as clearly as "breaking rules" or being a "goodie goodie". NO ONE, and that DOES include you G'ma, is perfect and NO ONE can say that they've NEVER broken a rule.

 

I think everyone has a view of what's "right" and what's "wrong". For me, it's WRONG for any company to make 500% profit or more on ANYTHING. THAT'S stealing, in my opinion.

 

I've also driven 10 miles over the speed limit and I've also slipped a hotel lotion that I didn't use into my over night bag.

 

Regardless of what people post on a virtual reality board, we all have a line in the sand that we believe is truly the right thing to do and things that we view as absolutely rediculous. So while you may try and flame those like me who are honest on these boards, we all know that NO ONE who's ever graced this place has followed every rule. Everyone who's posted on here has broken some rule. We're ALL rule breakers in one way or another, whether we like that or not. Some of us are just more honest about it that others... ;)

[JDinWA]

"I just want you to state what rules you think are necessary to insure equal freedom for all."

 

"Dear lady, I'll happily accept your rules."

 

"But you don't seem to want any rules!"

 

"True. But I will accept any rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do."

 

(Robert Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress)

 

 

This thread just brought that passage to mind. :)

[shelby_36]

I consider myself a goodie goodie. I don't bend the rules although as a disclaimer the first year we went cruising the kids got soda cards and my husband and I didn't. We don't drink much soda. But one day I had a really bad headache and tylenol wasn't touching it. Sometimes caffiene will help so I had my son get me a drink with his card. I felt guilty and never did it again. Helped my headache though.

[Cactuscruise]

Generally, I am a goodie-goodie. I believe rules in general are made for a reason and if I bend or break them, it's usually inadvertent. Last week in Rome, my friend and I got on a city bus with our one euro coins in our hands. But we got on the front entrance of a crowded bus, and the only fare machine was one to validate paper tickets. by the time we could see the back of the bus where there was a machine for tickets, we were getting off. So, not wanting to profit from our free ride, we gave our coins to the first street musician we passed. EM

 

I haven't bent the rules...I've broken them! I won't do anything that would impact my fellow passengers. For instance, I won't bring an iron but I will bring some alcohol. I run the risk of having it taken away at boarding, I know. But I've been fortunate it's hasn't been confiscated so far, I don't bother to disguise it. It's for drinks with my friends in the cabin. I still manage to run up a hefty bar bill anyway. Just can't resist those drinks by the pool and in the dining room!

[Iris5383]

. . . I think everyone has a view of what's "right" and what's "wrong". For me, it's WRONG for any company to make 500% profit or more on ANYTHING. THAT'S stealing, in my opinion.

 

I've also driven 10 miles over the speed limit and I've also slipped a hotel lotion that I didn't use into my over night bag. . . .

 

Kristi -

I'll agree with you, the cost of drinks on board are high compared to having a drink in your own home. But I do not agree that the cruise line hikes up the price 500%. There are other expenses of having a drink away from home.

 

Probably the highest expense is liquor liability insurance that the ship needs in case a person should drink too much and injure themself or others, or cause property damage. And since it may be hard to determine where the drunk person got the alcohol, the ship is picking up the risk of drinking from those bringing alcohol on board.

 

There is also the cost of transporting the alcohol to the ship, the cost of paying the servers, the cost of washing the glasses . . .

 

That being said, we normally cruise Holland America. They allow wine, champagne and soft drinks to be brought aboard by passengers. Makes it easy if there are no rules. ;)

 

And those little lotion & shampoo bottles in the hotels? Those are for guests to use in the room or take with them. The hotel won't (or shouldn't) offer a half-used lotion bottle, or one that has been opened and not used, to the next guest.

 

And yeah, I speed sometimes. The last time I got stopped the officer told me is for 8 miles over generally you won't be stopped (if there are no other circumstances), 9 miles over is another story. :mad:

 

Enjoy your next cruise! I plan to. :)

Laura

[Mrs.C05]

I do find the aloholic beverages on board to be pricey, but we don't drink much so we don't have a huge liquor bill at the end.

 

I've been known by my family as a goodie-goodie, from the age of birth til about 17, but since then I've been a rebel.:p I've been known to break a few rules our cruises.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Proud member of the "goodie-goodie" club here. I like rules, follow them and expect others to do so, too. Although I'd just as soon see the rule-breakers tossed overboard, the rules should be fair and reasonable. too.

[Toto2Kansas]

Here's my thing ... people get upset when others tell them not to break the clearly written rules and then go into the usual list of illogical defenses from "oh you've never done anything?" to "I'm not really hurting anyone." I guess what I don't understand is why people flaunt it and then attack others for being judgemental.

 

Best post of this entire thread. Very well worded, and I totally agree! ;)

[Arwenmark]

Kristi,

You may not think it is right for anyone to make 500% profit but it is certainly NOT stealing it is free enterpise. NO ONE is making you or anyone else take cruise and pay 500% profit to buy drinks. You can choose not to cruise or not to drink or you can watch for specials, drink only in port etc.

The rule for alcohol that so many here freely ignore, is not JUST about making money it is also about controlling how much people drink.

 

Several posters here have said I run up a big bar bill, [then I go back to my cabin and drink my stashed booze] THAT is exactly what the cruiseline wants to avoid because they are responsible if someone over drinks and it injured or injures someone else, goes overboard, or just makes a royal A-S of themselves annoying other passengers.

 

All this I don't break rules that affect other people is a load of bull, since the rule breaker is the one deciding if his behavior affects other people. Let's let the other people decide if it does or not.

 

If there are rules for which there is no good and obvious reason, perhaps the reason is not obvious to you, or perhaps it is unjust, in that case work to get it changed, and don't cruise with that line until it is. but don't just decide OK I don't agree with this rule so I will ignore it.

[Kristi Williamson]

Kristi,

You may not think it is right for anyone to make 500% profit but it is certainly NOT stealing it is free enterpise. NO ONE is making you or anyone else take cruise and pay 500% profit to buy drinks. You can choose not to cruise or not to drink or you can watch for specials, drink only in port etc.

The rule for alcohol that so many here freely ignore, is not JUST about making money it is also about controlling how much people drink.

 

Several posters here have said I run up a big bar bill, [then I go back to my cabin and drink my stashed booze] THAT is exactly what the cruiseline wants to avoid because they are responsible if someone over drinks and it injured or injures someone else, goes overboard, or just makes a royal A-S of themselves annoying other passengers.

 

All this I don't break rules that affect other people is a load of bull, since the rule breaker is the one deciding if his behavior affects other people. Let's let the other people decide if it does or not.

 

If there are rules for which there is no good and obvious reason, perhaps the reason is not obvious to you, or perhaps it is unjust, in that case work to get it changed, and don't cruise with that line until it is. but don't just decide OK I don't agree with this rule so I will ignore it.

 

You're right, they're not making me. I bring my own to supplement what I refuse to purchase from them, whether you like it or not.

 

Also, if you've ever driven 5 miles over the speed limit, you're in no place to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. Those that say this is a straw man argument must be unaware of the definition of the word.

 

As previously stated, EVERYONE breaks some rules and EVERYONE does things others wouldn't like or agree to. You'll just have to deal with this one being one we will agree to disagree on.

 

As I also previously said, if everyone would refuse to purchase these rediculously overpriced items, they WOULD reduce the price. So...by your logic, I already AM doing something about it. Again, basic economics.

[Kristi Williamson]

Proud member of the "goodie-goodie" club here. I like rules, follow them and expect others to do so, too. Although I'd just as soon see the rule-breakers tossed overboard, the rules should be fair and reasonable. too.

 

This, I definitely agree with and what I was, generally, trying to say in my posts. You said it much better than I did, with must less misunderstanding.

[pris993]

Well' date=' our prisons and jails are full of people who "march to a different drummer" and "make their own rules."

 

Can't imagine what the "pay off" would be for refusing to follow the rules the rest of society is expected to follow......

 

It's all about the "me" generation anyway, I guess.[/quote']

 

 

There is a difference between braking the Law and living life on ones own terms by ignoring artibrary rules. We are not sheep, we make independent decisions.

[mactrio]

I guess I am a 'goodie-goodie' because I try very hard to not break rules, I do the posted speed limit, I don't steal, I don't smuggle food into the movie theater, I don't smuggle booze on a cruise, I don't sneak food home from an 'all you can eat' buffet etc....we try to always set a good example for our child and bending and/or breaking the rules is not part of a good example.

 

I do, however admit to drinking a coke that my husband got on his soda card. :eek: I had ordered a crown & coke for myself and it was way too strong, so he drank my drink and he got a plain coke for me to drink.

[mactrio]

WOW! It's nice to meet you, Jesus! :rolleyes::cool::rolleyes: (you've never lied either, huh?)

 

Excuse me??? Just because I don't steal and I follow rules you think you can call me Jesus. I happen to have a very strong Catholic faith, and I am very offended by your comment.

 

I guess YOU have a guilty conscience, if my few comments made you comment in a negative way.

[Handsome58]

of the people who have answered here that they have broken or bent some rules do not know how or are unwilling to understand that some people have the "right" to not break the rules and that when they do not it does not have a reflection on those of us who do. I have broken rules while cruising and I commend those who have not. I do not believe this is an attack those who do not do what you do type of situation but so many people seem to think they have a right to defend what they do by attacking what others do. I do not defend my rule breaking by bashing those who don't. Let's agree that some do and some don't and the question was who does what.

[BruceMuzz]

Did you know that using, selling, and providing illegal narcotics to your children is NOT illegal on a cruise ship in international waters?

It's only a rule the cruise lines try to enforce.

We can choose to bend or break that rule if we wish.

 

Last week on my ship we caught a 45 year old man who had invited a group of 14 year old boys to his cabin every night to get them drunk.

Their parents were pretty upset about it when they found out.

 

Was this man doing something illegal?

The Dade County Sheriff investigated and told us there was nothing he could do about it.

This 45 year old was definitely twisted, but he had not broken any laws.

He was only bending the rules.

[anamanxs]

i am on the rule bender side here as i have smuggled beer in my luggage onto the ship, and i have purchased a soda card and shared it with the whole family. i would like to know just how many of you havebent the rules ( even if only 1 minor offence ) and how many of you are saints.

Answering the first question. I try to do what is good and right, I wear my seatbelt, I do the speed limit or follow the traffic speed, but I have broken a few rules. Always buy more spirits then allowed to take back home. I do declare some on customs but probably not all. I believe in manners and using them.

 

I have never snuck spirits onboard but am probably going to since I just bought RR. If we could buy it onboard and bring back to the cabin that is what I would do. I am not much of a drinker and will buy the DOD. It is probably my only time I drink, so it doesn't take much. My DF does drink; so the RR are more for him than me. I like the frozen stuff.

 

People need to realize we are all human and not perfect and we do break laws, contracts and that does not make us BAD people!

 

So, in answer to the first question - I am not a SAINT! But, i am OK with it and most people would call me one! NO ONE EXCEPT ONE IS PERFECT! We should not judge others, just ourselves. And as a MOM my kids (lol).

[ikelmay]

Did you know that using, selling, and providing illegal narcotics to your children is NOT illegal on a cruise ship in international waters?

 

I have really REALLY tried to stay away from this one, but when a response such as this one is posted to a question about rules, I have to shake my head and wonder.

 

To even attempt to draw a comparison between a criminal act and a reasonably good humoured discussion on the ethos of rule breaking is utterly fatuous.

[G'ma]

You're right, they're not making me. I bring my own to supplement what I refuse to purchase from them, whether you like it or not.

 

Also, if you've ever driven 5 miles over the speed limit, you're in no place to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. Those that say this is a straw man argument must be unaware of the definition of the word.

 

As previously stated, EVERYONE breaks some rules and EVERYONE does things others wouldn't like or agree to. You'll just have to deal with this one being one we will agree to disagree on.

 

As I also previously said, if everyone would refuse to purchase these rediculously overpriced items, they WOULD reduce the price. So...by your logic, I already AM doing something about it. Again, basic economics.

 

It's amazing to me the logic some will use in order to justify breaking the rules about smuggling booze. They are all the same excuses....with the same 4/5 reasons, the same language...none of which are worthy. And, the posts are always full of "me, me, me".....

 

Boring.

[MadManOfBethesda]

I have really REALLY tried to stay away from this one, but when a response such as this one is posted to a question about rules, I have to shake my head and wonder.

 

To even attempt to draw a comparison between a criminal act and a reasonably good humoured discussion on the ethos of rule breaking is utterly fatuous.

 

True.

 

But it is no more fatuous than the driving over the speed limit analogy that rule "benders" always bring up when their behavior or actions are criticized by those who believe in acting in accordance with the ship's rules and regulations.