Why can't North Americans live without 'iced water' at mealtimes?

[Maya53]

I tried a holiday sober once. Nasty business. Shan't happen again.

 

Oh am looking forward to cruising with you in March 2104:)

[cruisetrail]

I have given it my best shot, but none of that makes the least bit of sense. Please could you repeat it but in sentences?

 

Sorry. It happened to be so difficult. I wrote it on the go..

 

Now slowly: a few cruises on real cruise ships will help answer all questions.:D

[ROZALIA]

I am very new here and would not cruise on the ship where I have to pay

money for a water at the dining table.

If you want to pay for water it's your business but you should not tell everyone how to behave.

We all have our own preferences in cruising.

I also would not spend hours talking about Americans drinking ice water at the table. Some of us like it, some not. But we definitely used to be served water at the dining room table and PROUD OF IT.

[All aboard??]

Sorry. It happened to be so difficult. I wrote it on the go..

 

Now slowly: a few cruises on American owned cruise ships will help answer all questions.:D

 

As per AmoMondo....small correction.

[Keel Haul]

Sorry. It happened to be so difficult. I wrote it on the go..

there currently is a big debate in the UK as to whether it is rude to use your mobile phone at the checkout..........using your 'puter when you are on the "go" is really pushing the envelope.

[Alex71]

I am very new here and would not cruise on the ship where I have to pay

money for a water at the dining table.

If you want to pay for water it's your business but you should not tell everyone how to behave.

We all have our own preferences in cruising.

I also would not spend hours talking about Americans drinking ice water at the table. Some of us like it, some not. But we definitely used to be served water at the dining room table and PROUD OF IT.

 

Here's my suggestion: buy a pack of 14 bottles of water, pretend the price of your cruise was 13 EUR higher and pretend you've received a free upgrade from tap to mineral water. Would that work?

[All aboard??]

Here's my suggestion: buy a pack of 14 bottles of water, pretend the price of your cruise was 13 EUR higher and pretend you've received a free upgrade from tap to mineral water. Would that work?

 

You will be surprised how cheap some of the posters here can be - lets not shock them into a double dip recession.

[sidari]

lets not shock them into a double dip recession.

 

AA ... what is one of those ? .... :D

[Skipper Tim]

You will be surprised how cheap some of the posters here can be - lets not shock them into a double dip recession.

 

Cheap I can understand. What boggles my mind is the expectation of some U.S. cruisers for everything to be as it is at home when they are in a minority on a foreign ship. The attitude of the likes of Cruisetrail is one of cultural imposition on ignorant foreigners. No amount of reasoned and enlightened discussion appears to change a steadfast self-assuredness. The 'when in Rome' principle obviously does not apply to everyone.

 

"The more one travels, the less one knows"

[moomoocow]

Cheap I can understand. What boggles my mind is the expectation of some U.S. cruisers for everything to be as it is at home when they are in a minority on a foreign ship. The attitude of the likes of Cruisetrail is one of cultural imposition on ignorant foreigners. No amount of reasoned and enlightened discussion appears to change a steadfast self-assuredness. The 'when in Rome' principle obviously does not apply to everyone.

 

"The more one travels, the less one knows"

 

Not only "everything as it is at home" but elsewhere on this forum (not in this thread) the expectation seems to be "everything as it is in one's vision of Utopia"

 

These people would be best placed hiring a rowboat on a local lake and ensuring they have plenty of home comforts and are as far away from anyone not conforming to their narrow view of the world outside of their front yard as possible.

 

I'm glad that the UK doesn't have a written constitutuion. I would hate to feel beholden to it.

[Keel Haul]

One of the great joys in my life is that Carnival's brand ambassador is a fat Essex boy who looks like Sir Les Patterson.They love the sycophantic carbuncle,his tag line is, I like Italian food, English football and the constitutional right to bare arms.Would you believe this man of the people was a failed city of London banker before he embarked on a career of arse licking. http://johnhealdsblog.com/

[Tatka]

We all need water to survive. On MSC ships there is free drinking water available all over the ship: in our cabins, in the public wcs and in the buffet 24 hrs a day. This thread is to ask why some people expect it, with ice, delivered, free of charge to their dining table. If you need water for medication at mealtimes, do not wish to carry it with you and cannot be bothered to visit a free outlet, is it not reasonable to pay the Euro or so for a bottle of chilled water to be waiter served at your table?

 

Why just for water? It is reasonable to pay for everything :).

Lets pay for omelets during the breakfast, soup during the dinner etc.

 

And yes, if it is bottled water we do pay, if it is tap water with ice we don't. :)

[Tatka]

Cheap I can understand. What boggles my mind is the expectation of some U.S. cruisers for everything to be as it is at home when they are in a minority on a foreign ship. The attitude of the likes of Cruisetrail is one of cultural imposition on ignorant foreigners. No amount of reasoned and enlightened discussion appears to change a steadfast self-assuredness. The 'when in Rome' principle obviously does not apply to everyone.

 

"The more one travels, the less one knows"

 

It is not only US cruisers you know. ;)

 

Cruisers from other countries (UK including) have their expectations too, Tim.

[ROZALIA]

Cheap I can understand. What boggles my mind is the expectation of some U.S. cruisers for everything to be as it is at home when they are in a minority on a foreign ship. The attitude of the likes of Cruisetrail is one of cultural imposition on ignorant foreigners. No amount of reasoned and enlightened discussion appears to change a steadfast self-assuredness. The 'when in Rome' principle obviously does not apply to everyone.

 

"The more one travels, the less one knows"

 

Since you are constantly on-line and cruising, you obviously do not have to work hard for your money - but some people do - from Europe and USA included. And if they pay for the cruise they expect water at the table FREE

[All aboard??]

Since you are constantly on-line and cruising, you obviously do not have to work hard for your money - but some people do - from Europe and USA included. And if they pay for the cruise they expect water at the table FREE

 

Errrrr; speak for yourself.

 

If you actually worked hard enough you would have better things to concern yourself with than the cost of a bottle of water.

[Blazerboy]

Tim, I think you have a clearer understanding of why I'm considering retirement Wellington or Lucca.:rolleyes:

 

Was at a lovely party with a bunch of enlightened Americans last night, and we drank chilled champers and room temperature sparkling water. Not a cube of ice in sight. Although, to be fair, the hostess is originally from NZ, and other guests were originally from places like Brazil, UK, Hungary and Bulgaria...

 

I didn't suffer from a lack of ice, but did acquire invitations to visit Christchurch, or use a beach house on the Black Sea. Fair trade, I think.

 

Now back to the defense of provincialism.

 

Andrew

[DutchBunny]

Since you are constantly on-line and cruising, you obviously do not have to work hard for your money - but some people do - from Europe and USA included. And if they pay for the cruise they expect water at the table FREE

 

Speak for your self please. I am from Europe and even though I am Dutch, I expect to pay for extra's such as drinks and water is a drink (or something fish like to swim in).

 

I am so lucky that most people who think water should be free of charge only travel on American cruiselines and don't do any other travel. That way I will not meet you somewhere around the globe. Why do you travel if it has to be the same as at home? Than it is cheaper to stay at home. I love to go to other countries just because they are different from my country.

 

This reminds me of something. When I was at school for my study travelagent, we went to a Hilton hotel for a site visit. There they told me that all Hiltons worldwide looked the same so that the American guests would feel at home. I thought this was strange and nowadays I even think it weird because I do not understand it. You will have so much fun if you try to adapt a little to the country you visit. Some things you may not like but you will have a terrific experience. The same with being on different kind of cruise ships. They are all different and some things you will not like but let that not spoil your holiday. Just enjoy the difference!

[All aboard??]

Speak for your self please. I am from Europe and even though I am Dutch, I expect to pay for extra's such as drinks and water is a drink (or something fish like to swim in).

 

I am so lucky that most people who think water should be free of charge only travel on American cruiselines and don't do any other travel. That way I will not meet you somewhere around the globe. Why do you travel if it has to be the same as at home? Than it is cheaper to stay at home. I love to go to other countries just because they are different from my country.

 

This reminds me of something. When I was at school for my study travelagent, we went to a Hilton hotel for a site visit. There they told me that all Hiltons worldwide looked the same so that the American guests would feel at home. I thought this was strange and nowadays I even think it weird because I do not understand it. You will have so much fun if you try to adapt a little to the country you visit. Some things you may not like but you will have a terrific experience. The same with being on different kind of cruise ships. They are all different and some things you will not like but let that not spoil your holiday. Just enjoy the difference!

 

Well said - dank je wel!

[DutchBunny]

Well said - dank je wel!

 

Your welcome:D

[Skipper Tim]

So this is the deal you sign up for, food is included, drinks are not.

 

Some people only drink water at meals and some people only drink wine. The markup on a bottle of wine will be anything from 12 Euros up. The amount of labour to deliver both is around the same. Why should the wine drinker subsidise the water drinker?

 

MSC do not offer iced tap water. It is not a cultural norm of Italy. It is not on the menu. How can some folk expect staff to fetch them something to drink not on the menu simply because they are used to it in their own culture and expect not to pay for it?

 

This thread helps put into context some of the negative comments on other aspects of MSC. I mean, really! All this nonsense about not having free water. How are the same brigade going to cope with a risotto, the Italian art of queuing, French kissing, Greek dancing, the French, Muslims, communists and lack of towel animals?

[Capricruiser]

I keep saying the same thing: if you want iced tap water at your MDR table, just politely ask your waiter. I drink wine with my meals but on occasion ask for a pitcher of water (free) and it's always been brought to me without hassle. I can't understand all the big problem on this subject.

[Alex71]

So this is the deal you sign up for, food is included, drinks are not.

 

Some people only drink water at meals and some people only drink wine. The markup on a bottle of wine will be anything from 12 Euros up. The amount of labour to deliver both is around the same. Why should the wine drinker subsidise the water drinker?

 

MSC do not offer iced tap water. It is not a cultural norm of Italy. It is not on the menu. How can some folk expect staff to fetch them something to drink not on the menu simply because they are used to it in their own culture and expect not to pay for it?

 

This thread helps put into context some of the negative comments on other aspects of MSC. I mean, really! All this nonsense about not having free water. How are the same brigade going to cope with a risotto, the Italian art of queuing, French kissing, Greek dancing, the French, Muslims, communists and lack of towel animals?

 

What's being offered is classic Full Board same as what used to be offered at most land based resorts in Spain, Italy and other countries. I actally prefer half board since this gives me the opportunity see different places for lunch without being tied down to the resort.

 

Nowadays, All Inclusive is unfortunately becoming the norm at more and more places and is starting to kill the local night life.

 

MSC is advertizing the cruise as Full Board and that's what we get. The price for water is very reasonable. We recently stayed at a mountain resort in Austria and paid 8 EUR per 0.75 L bottle.

[Tatka]

MSC does offer free ice water on Caribbean sailings. :)

 

I do not think it is such a problem for them, just like for majority of the other lines.

 

Will the absence of free water stop me from cruising with them in other regions? I do not think so. It's just a nice option to have.

[moomoocow]

Since you are constantly on-line and cruising, you obviously do not have to work hard for your money - but some people do - from Europe and USA included. And if they pay for the cruise they expect water at the table FREE

 

I have never expected free water at any table I've sat at. Because all water from a tap or a bottle isn't free. Someone, somewhere has to pay to make it come out of the tap or to get into the bottle.

 

Ergo someone should pay for it.

 

If the conditions of expecting free water are working hard and paying for a cruise then I'm obviously going wrong somewhere. I've paid for water in every continent in every class of hostelry and don't expect it free. Obviously I don't work hard enough. Fancy that.

[Tatka]

Should we be charged for water and ice in our cabins? North Americans and not NA expect it too. :)