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it amazes me how people pay for what used to be free

MISSSNOOPYGIRL

By MISSSNOOPYGIRL,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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BIG_Steve

BIG_Steve

Posted
Posted
My examples are FTTF and specialty dining restaurants onboard. I even don't understand paying for the specialty shakes and desserts, or cappuccinos in the dining room. I'll just stick to regular coffee thanks, even though I previously enjoyed their (free) cappuccinos. I am not cheap by any means but I am savvy. I refuse to patronize specialty restaurants (the MDR food is wonderful enough, as it should be), and in my opinion first to the fun may only save you a half hour here and there. Are people that impatient? You're on a cruise, it's not like you have to get to work in a hurry! What's next, charging to have your luggage delivered to your stateroom? Where does it end? That's right, why WOULD the nickel and diming by Carnival end if everyone keeps shelling out?

 

I have a physical condition that causes me to bring a lot of stuff along in my carry-on, making it a pain to lug around. I'm trying FTTF so that I can dump my stuff off in my cabin as soon as I board. My question is: What's it to you? Why do you care or even give a thought as to what others are willing to do with their hard earned money?

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Georgiagolfer

Georgiagolfer

Posted
Posted
I have a physical condition that causes me to bring a lot of stuff along in my carry-on, making it a pain to lug around. I'm trying FTTF so that I can dump my stuff off in my cabin as soon as I board. My question is: What's it to you? Why do you care or even give a thought as to what others are willing to do with their hard earned money?

 

Big Steve, I hear you, but you don't need to explain why you purchased FTTF. The fact is CCL offers FTTF (whether some like it or not) and you and a few others have the opportunity to purchase if you desire. The same way they offer Specialty dining, specialty coffees, photography, casino, drinks, etc. Your money, your vacation, your choice, Period.:D

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azlefty

azlefty

Posted
Posted (edited)

When you can buy a week-long cruise for $399 plus tax, including full room and board, I don't see how it could be anything but a loss leader. I would be very surprised if the total cost of fuel, staff, food, interest payments on a ship that cost $1 billion, laundry, pencils for trivia games, cleaning supplies, etc. is less than $399, even if Carnival pays staff less than U.S. minimum wage. All of that is before Carnival Corp. sees any profit and then has to pay corporate income tax. For what we get on a basic cruise without spending extra money, I'm not sure I could do it at home by myself. So we get the constant barrage of pitches to buy various things which are cheaper at home, which is what keeps the business and the boats afloat. I can live with that as long as the total cost is something i can afford.

 

When I was a kid in the 1980s, I worked in my grandmother's travel agency. I remember thinking how expensive the cruises were, usually over $1000 a week in 1980s dollars, equivalent to over $2100 today (per person), for an interior room. They might have included more liquor and had full-service dining, but the services and ships were much more basic than what cruises have nowadays, no balcony rooms, they were only for adults (Camp Carnival and the like hadn't even been dreamed of yet), entertainment was much more limited, and the brochure price was what most people actually paid.

Edited by azlefty
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kmc500

kmc500

Posted
Posted

FTTF, this next cruise will be our first buying this, and yes to us worth the $50, no to get on the ship quicker because we are usually among the first to board as we like to get to the port early but to be able to go and drop our carry ons off at our cabin and not have to carry them around with us all day will be really nice.

 

Sure is. Before we became platinum last year, we were thrilled to have the FTTF option. Dumping the carry on in the cabin is great, but even better to us was getting our luggage early. Previous cruises we would often not see our luggage before 5pm. Since buying FTTF twice, we've received our luggage before 1pm. Wonderful to know it is on board, and not have to sweat that it might have been lost somehow.

 

It is also great to get unpacked and organized before muster and sail away. More time for fun!

 

Kevin C

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Dee777

Dee777

Posted
Posted

Saturday we will be boarding the Breeze for 8 glorious days in our aft balcony :)

 

I purchased FTTF, we will have some alcoholic beverages, eat in the steakhouse a night or two, hit up the casino nightly, maybe play some bingo and I will drink the specialty coffees.

 

If I were to choose a land vacation we'd likely visit Vegas (we usually do 3 times a year or so) where we would have some alcoholic beverages, eat in a few steakhouses, hit up the casinos nightly and drink specialty coffees from Starbucks.

 

The Southern Caribbean just happens to be warmer right now!

 

In all honesty I can't understand what the fuss is all about to pay for "extras" that used to be "free". They were never free to begin with. Prices have gone up like everything else you buy and you're paying a little extra. If you choose to. If not then it's no cash out of your pocketbook!

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walty

walty

Posted
Posted
Guess what, DW and I still drink water out of the tap and never buy the bottled water.

 

Me, too!

 

But when I was a kid I was daring and lived on the edge. I would ride my bicycle all over town without a helmet! And when I got thirsty, I would actually drink out of a garden hose!

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Linerguy

Linerguy

Posted
Posted

Bottom line for me: it's my money, I'll spend it how I want. If you don't like it, or you think it's silly, that's tough – the LAST thing I'm concerned with is how other people feel about how I spend MY money.

 

The second to last thing I care about is how OTHER people spend THEIR money.

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S.S.Oceanlover

S.S.Oceanlover

Posted
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Agree on the Royal extra cost options. We're going on the Allure in a couple of months and the conversation has been, "oh look, they have a cute little cupcake place. Oh it's extra. They have sushi too. Nevermind, extra. Johnny Rockets? Extra."Sure there are 23 dining options, but half of them cost extra. Not to mention a large number of the activities on the ship. Even a cooking demo has a fee.

 

Carnival was a little slower out of the gate but they are catching up.

 

I think most of the time Carnival let's the other lines try these extra cost venues and when they don't see much push back they implement the same things. Good strategy.

 

They also have the sushi, cake/cookie place,milk shakes all at extra cost.

 

I tend to agree with those that say keep the fares low and let the pax pick what they want to partake in.

 

Bill

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LMaxwell Great Review Rare

LMaxwell

Posted
Posted
Agree on the Royal extra cost options. We're going on the Allure in a couple of months and the conversation has been, "oh look, they have a cute little cupcake place. Oh it's extra. They have sushi too. Nevermind, extra. Johnny Rockets? Extra."Sure there are 23 dining options, but half of them cost extra. Not to mention a large number of the activities on the ship. Even a cooking demo has a fee.

 

Just FYI - Johnny Rockets on Allure has FREE breakfast. FREE FREE FREE. Most people don't know this.

 

Also, the characters breakfasts/interactions are FREE FREE FREE.

 

Also, the Doghouse and Wipeout Cafe (either are great for kids or the kid in you) free, free, free. Wipeout Cafe also has free soft serve, and there are machines on the pool deck near the bandstand with free soft serve.

 

If you don't want feel like windjammer check out the solarium bistro, free. Even though the solarium is an adults area, kids are allowed in the bistro section, no worries.

 

There is plenty to spend money on but it doesn't seem as IN YOUR face as you may expect just by reading it. Lots of complimentary food and drink. All entertainment is free. Merry Go Round is free. Zipline, flow rider, mini golf is all free. It seems like the nickle and dime stuff is aimed at kids to make parents spend a few bucks here and there. Enjoy your trip.

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Phlybice

Phlybice

Posted
Posted
Agree on the Royal extra cost options. We're going on the Allure in a couple of months and the conversation has been, "oh look, they have a cute little cupcake place. Oh it's extra. They have sushi too. Nevermind, extra. Johnny Rockets? Extra."Sure there are 23 dining options, but half of them cost extra. Not to mention a large number of the activities on the ship. Even a cooking demo has a fee.

 

Actaully, the food at Johnny Rockets is free. Not the drinks. You pay a service charge cause it's a service restaurant.

 

If Guys had service, you'd be paying for that too. But not yet. You get on line and get your own food.

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PhotoPete

PhotoPete

Posted
Posted

Been cruising for 20 years now. My cruise was on Nordic Empress to the Bahamas for 4 nites....As I recall, I think the DW and I paid around 500pp. That works out to well over 100 dollars per person per day. We just got back from a week long cruise were we paid about 43 dollars per person per nite. I hope the cruise lines contiune to nickle and dime as long as the base fare remains afforable. If you want to eat at an upscale dining venue than go for it. I'm more than happy with the MDR food. The cruise lines make money off me from drinking booze and taking excursions. I'm quite happy with the trend of lower base fares.

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sky61

sky61

Posted
Posted
I still drink out of the hose.

 

Hahahaha! I am really loving this thread...

 

 

Caribbean Princess~Western Caribbean~April 2014

Celebrity Millennium~Alaska~July 2014

Celebrity Reflection~Eastern Caribbean~February 2013

Crown Princess~Western Caribbean~February 2011

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walty

walty

Posted
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Hahahaha! I am really loving this thread...

 

 

Caribbean Princess~Western Caribbean~April 2014

Celebrity Millennium~Alaska~July 2014

Celebrity Reflection~Eastern Caribbean~February 2013

Crown Princess~Western Caribbean~February 2011

 

I live on the edge, so sometimes I drink milk that is out of date!

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dclark

dclark

Posted
Posted
I love that cruising is this way. The base price is still very affordable, especially in comparison to some other vacations. I don't really drink, don't gamble and have never paid for specialty dining or a specialty coffee. I would rather have those type things a la Carte so that the folks who what them can buy them but I don't have to pay for them unless I really want them. Most of the main cruise lines do the exact same thing in order to keep cruises affordable.

 

Why do people think that CCL is trying to keep prices low? They want them to be as high as possible, to make more money! They are not running a little lemonade stand, counting out the price of lemons, then tacking an extra $.20, they are a cruiseline!

They don't set the price; the market does. CCL sells cabins for what the market will bear. When the market says "no, you can't sell X cabin for $500!" , then CCL has to either make cutbacks in expenses or add extra fees. It really is that simple, folks.

And if you don't think you should pay for things you don't want, then great, have a nice day. But, what if you DO have to pay for things you want?

Have kids? Why shouldn't you pay $3 per hour that your kids are there? Like to overeat, stuff yourself with burgers and seconds in the MDR? How about charging you extra there too? I mean, with your logic, why should I have to pay for free baby sitting for others, or for some, the pursuit of gluttony?

Wait, I got a better idea- how about a charge for everything on board, from food, entertainment, to renting pool loungers. Why not?

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