Originally posted by Kremmen:
Except that it's not "required" and, as such, there's no way I'm going to pay 40% extra for something which touts the all-inclusive nature of a cruise as one of its main advantages!
Unfortunately, US businesses have got used to trying to con the consumer by being allowed to add taxes, surcharges, tips, etc, on to the amount they advertise, and some of them wish to push this as far as possible.
If something is advertised as $X, that should be what I pay, in total. It's as simple as that. Anything else is fraud.
Unfortunately on those US ships, the waiters, busboys and room pesonnel are not really paid
by the ship.