Originally Posted by skofarrell
I know there are ways around the surcharges. The Plat/Diamond coupon books have free JR certs. When booked into a Suite on the Voyager, I have asked the concierge for more and they were provided.
I still think that $4 for JR is idiotic.
But the whole concept of being charged for alternative restaurants, cups of soda, wines, net access, etc. etc. is something you won't find on most of the higher end ships. You can often find a similar cruise on Regent or a shorter cruise on Silversea within a few hundred of a nice balcony cabin on RCCL, Princess or Carnival.
A good part of the difference in brochure price between the lines can be erased by the expected spend on soda, juice, mixed drinks, wine and beer, and gratuities that you would not be paying on the higher end lines.
To compare at a more granular level, look at your expected daily cost per person with beverages, restaurant options and tips - I would gladly pay an extra 100 a day to jump from RCCL to Regent or Silversea, even if I'm the youngest person on the Silversea cruise
