Some cruise lines charging for room service, others considering it
Jan 28, 2019, 4:20 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
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There is a core cabal at Cruise Critic that is bitterly opposed to anything that falls outside of the "traditional" cruise model. They are horrified at new concepts like anytime dining, relaxed standards for formal night, lower-price options with reduced service, etc. and no doubt bemoan the loss of the Baked Alaska Parade. 
Last edited by Randyk47; Jan 28, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Jan 28, 2019, 7:07 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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There certainly those who complain about any change. Some I understand some not so much. The ones that get me are the loyalists that are so locked into their cruise line that the line can do no wrong. There is a balance between objecting to some changes, complaining about everything, and having blinders on.
Jan 29, 2019, 6:51 am
#34
Join Date: May 2010
Location: HKG
Programs: BAE Gold, Qatar Premium, CX Gold, Emirates, Hilton Honors, Golden Circle
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Current cruise lines charging for room / cabin service.
Royal Caribbean charges $7.95 for room service other than Continental breakfast orders (as of March 2017).
Norwegian Cruise Line charges $7.95 for room service other than Continental breakfast orders (as of 2015).
Carnival Cruises actively considering room service charges link to USA Today article
Carnival Cruises announced on December 31 that they’d begin charging for room service orders ordered prior to 10 p.m., “to reduce food waste”. A per food item charge of $2.00-$5.00 charge was proposed.
The cruise line received a ton of feedback (40,000 posts and comments on Cruise Critic alone) and announced this week they’d be "making some adjustments to that plan to balance the interests of our guests with our efforts to reduce food waste costs. For the time being, there will be no changes until we finalize a plan that will be communicated to guests and travel agency partners alike."
Note that Carnival Corporation & PLC owns
. . . AIDA Cruises
. . . Carnival Cruise Line
. . . Costa Cruises
. . . Cunard Line
. . . Fathom
. . . Holland America Line
. . . P&O Cruises
. . . P&O Cruises Australia
. . . Princess Cruises
. . . Seabourn Cruise Line
If one initiates room service charges, you can bet these will become as ubiquitous as airline baggage fees and the like, and imagine other items currently considered included in cruise charges will become monetized. The unbundling of cruise fees will not be welcome, but they offer lots of revenue to cruise ship companies now left with over capacity due to their ship building binge.
Royal Caribbean charges $7.95 for room service other than Continental breakfast orders (as of March 2017).
Norwegian Cruise Line charges $7.95 for room service other than Continental breakfast orders (as of 2015).
Carnival Cruises actively considering room service charges link to USA Today article
Carnival Cruises announced on December 31 that they’d begin charging for room service orders ordered prior to 10 p.m., “to reduce food waste”. A per food item charge of $2.00-$5.00 charge was proposed.
The cruise line received a ton of feedback (40,000 posts and comments on Cruise Critic alone) and announced this week they’d be "making some adjustments to that plan to balance the interests of our guests with our efforts to reduce food waste costs. For the time being, there will be no changes until we finalize a plan that will be communicated to guests and travel agency partners alike."
Note that Carnival Corporation & PLC owns
. . . AIDA Cruises
. . . Carnival Cruise Line
. . . Costa Cruises
. . . Cunard Line
. . . Fathom
. . . Holland America Line
. . . P&O Cruises
. . . P&O Cruises Australia
. . . Princess Cruises
. . . Seabourn Cruise Line
If one initiates room service charges, you can bet these will become as ubiquitous as airline baggage fees and the like, and imagine other items currently considered included in cruise charges will become monetized. The unbundling of cruise fees will not be welcome, but they offer lots of revenue to cruise ship companies now left with over capacity due to their ship building binge.
Jan 29, 2019, 6:56 am
#35
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I find it all a bit funny that the new cruise demographic supposedly wants less formality which has generally meant a lessening of dress codes and the disappearance of formal nights with gowns and tuxedos but increased class-like distinctions that harkens back to yesteryear.
I think a lot of it is about comfort, or at least, perceived comfort. I want the perks I've gotten used to over time, but I really don't feel like dressing up to go to dinner every night. I've been cruising for just over 30 years, so it's been interesting to watch the evolution over time. I remember going on Sitmar as a kid, when I wore a jacket to semi-formal night and the only "alternative" restaurant was the small pizza parlor. Personally, I'd rather go to dinner in shorts and a t-shirt every night, but I made that choice when I decided to go on a cruise.
Cruise lines present the extras as "offering choices." It is still easy enough to have an enjoyable cruise and not pay a penny out of pocket. The truth of the matter is, though, that these "choices" often replace things that were free. Extra deck space, the libraries (I love the libraries, btw), etc. Some of it's evolution, some of it's the "because we can" factor. But it's also important to remember that there are far fewer cruise brands today than there were over the past decades. CCL and RCL control 75% of berth capacity. Throw in NCL and you're well over 80%. Each of these is a publicly traded company, and they're going to keep adding fees and cutting perks until it's no longer profitable.
Several years ago, we decided that Princess no longer fit our needs, so we started expanding. Ultimately, we came back to Princess when they fixed some of the issues, but we're not wed to them, either.
Mike
Jan 29, 2019, 7:56 am
#36
Suspended
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I think a lot of it is about comfort, or at least, perceived comfort. I want the perks I've gotten used to over time, but I really don't feel like dressing up to go to dinner every night. I've been cruising for just over 30 years, so it's been interesting to watch the evolution over time. I remember going on Sitmar as a kid, when I wore a jacket to semi-formal night and the only "alternative" restaurant was the small pizza parlor. Personally, I'd rather go to dinner in shorts and a t-shirt every night, but I made that choice when I decided to go on a cruise.
The airlines have aided this shift with checked baggage charges. I did two cruises last year both carry-on only. The suit and tied stayed at home.
Jan 29, 2019, 8:36 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2000
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We cruise with Seabourn which is owned by Carnival, there are no charges on board and I mean no charges everything from wines to liquors are included, the Thomas Keller restaurant the amazing sushi restaurant and bar EVERYTHING. Tipping is not only not allowed it is actively discouraged so a completely stress free experience which is how a good cruise should be.
Jan 29, 2019, 8:49 am
#38
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
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As stated in previous post, you can still cruise and not pay an extra cent. You can even do that on Seabourn if you enjoy drinking cheap wine. Still looking for a sushi restaurant on Seabourn.....oh, you are referring to the 650 capacity ships. Sad to say, many passengers have brought their filthy tipping habits from other cruise lines to Seabourn.
Jan 29, 2019, 10:15 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
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We cruise with Seabourn which is owned by Carnival, there are no charges on board and I mean no charges everything from wines to liquors are included, the Thomas Keller restaurant the amazing sushi restaurant and bar EVERYTHING. Tipping is not only not allowed it is actively discouraged so a completely stress free experience which is how a good cruise should be.
Finally, while tipping is not exoected, it is certainly allowed and much-appreciated.
We do enjoy not having to show our room key to access most services!
Jan 29, 2019, 11:11 am
#41
formerly BackSlash3
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I was just on the Celebrity Edge over the Christmas break and was surprised how all-inclusive it ended up being. Our booking included a middle of the road drink package, gratuities, & $300 in on-board credit. This is a pretty common package for booking early. The OBC covered Internet and the 1 specialty restaurant we wanted to go to, and my bill at the end of the trip was just excursions.
My account ended up being $150, but It's the first cruise I can remember where the on-board bill wasn't over $1000 despite me not paying attention to costs.
It's just 1 data point, but I found it notable that I spent less on account on this trip than on cruises 10 or 20 years ago.
Also, speaking to OP, this ship did have the $7.95 room service charge.
My account ended up being $150, but It's the first cruise I can remember where the on-board bill wasn't over $1000 despite me not paying attention to costs.
It's just 1 data point, but I found it notable that I spent less on account on this trip than on cruises 10 or 20 years ago.
Also, speaking to OP, this ship did have the $7.95 room service charge.
Jan 29, 2019, 11:41 am
#42
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Manhattan NV
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The staff, all the staff are very well paid. Not so long ago, tipping staff was considered an insult and often turned down. But, what can you expect when they have to fill berths? They've gone from 600 total capacity to 2600+ in very few years. People come on board and think they are sailing on an ultra luxury line. They're not. Same with Silversea, but at least SB has adjusted prices accordingly to maintain some kind of value proposition.
Jan 29, 2019, 12:05 pm
#43
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I was just on the Celebrity Edge over the Christmas break and was surprised how all-inclusive it ended up being. Our booking included a middle of the road drink package, gratuities, & $300 in on-board credit. This is a pretty common package for booking early. The OBC covered Internet and the 1 specialty restaurant we wanted to go to, and my bill at the end of the trip was just excursions.
My account ended up being $150, but It's the first cruise I can remember where the on-board bill wasn't over $1000 despite me not paying attention to costs.
My account ended up being $150, but It's the first cruise I can remember where the on-board bill wasn't over $1000 despite me not paying attention to costs.
I remember looking at a Celebrity cruise a few years ago. The fare offerings, for the same cabin category and sub-type, were either a fairly expensive one that had most of these items included, or a no-package resident fare that was substantially less.
On a note, someone on CC booked a Celebrity TATL where the web site showed the 4 "perks" offered (Celebrity is loathe to offer any sort of deals on repo cruises), taking screen shots all the way through the booking process. Paid and took it up with them when the perks didn't show up in the confirmation. The poster claimed that Celebrity acknowledge the mistake and honored the reservation though the perks were converted into the equivalent in OBC (perhaps a better deal)..
My first and only Celebrity cruise was a TPAC repo. End of cruise bill was just the service charge less $75 OBC was our end bill and we had no perks, not even elite ones. Even better, our per diem was in the range of $40.
Jan 29, 2019, 2:55 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
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The staff, all the staff are very well paid. Not so long ago, tipping staff was considered an insult and often turned down. But, what can you expect when they have to fill berths? They've gone from 600 total capacity to 2600+ in very few years. People come on board and think they are sailing on an ultra luxury line. They're not. Same with Silversea, but at least SB has adjusted prices accordingly to maintain some kind of value proposition.
Jan 29, 2019, 3:24 pm
#45
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Out of 30 odd cruises I do not remember oredering room service but about 8 times, mainly while we were in a large suite. So yes charging for it is takeaways, how many people order room service. Cool coffee, cold eggs, etc have no apppeal for me !