This cruise is nickel and diming me to DEATH!

[Ericknow32]

Being a newbie and we will purchase a soda card for DD But, do they have soda vending machines? Im one of those people who drinks a can of pop if I wake up in the middle of the night and I absolutely need my one can first thing in the AM even before coffee.

There are no vending machines. Like previously said, bring your own. Otherwise you will be paying through the nose for the cans put in your room.

[nrdsb4]

Examples: Johnny Rockets offers burgers/dogs/fries. These are available free in the Windjammer, though admittedly, the Windjammer versions are insuperior.

 

Sorry, I'm not being critical, but you just made my day. You just reminded me of my husband; we lovingly tease him for constantly creating new words that, while completely incorrect, are quite clear and very clever! He does it all the time with sayings and we just roll with laughter at times. He claims he doesn't do it on purpose, but I'm convinced he lies awake at night thinking up new ones. :D

 

We love him dearly and miss his "Daddyisms" whenever he is away on business.

[madforcruising]

I have to admit, I am confused about soda. I see a number of places (other than cruises) also do not include soda in an all-inclusive rate. That stuff is so cheap retail....I can't even imagine what it costs them wholesale....it's got to be pennies per gallon. To me it's such a cheap perk to offer free. I just don't get it. (And not that I care....I'd rather we don't drink copious amounts of the stuff.)

 

 

It can't be that much of a profit item but who knows?

 

It is one of the best profit items because it is so cheap. Think about how much oda the people drink how cheap they can buy it and for what price they can sell it. It adds up pretty soon and they can make a great amount out of this.

[AngieBaby161]

BEACHBUZZARD

 

I to am a light eater, when it gets light on the ship i eat.

 

I know that's baD.

 

JIM

 

Jim.....I think there are many of us who, when on a cruise are defined as light eaters! [/url]

[xpcdoojk]

Being a newbie and we will purchase a soda card for DD But, do they have soda vending machines? Im one of those people who drinks a can of pop if I wake up in the middle of the night and I absolutely need my one can first thing in the AM even before coffee.

 

No vending machines, but there are an endless supply of bars, and when they are closed there is room service. Call and it will arrive. You could even have room service bring you one to wake you up in the morning. Of course, unlike the bad coffee they are not free.:p

 

jc

[hermang]

Speaking of Disney, I just went this past May. With myself, wife and 2 small children, we stayed at the Polynesian resort (350/day) bought "park hopper" passes that allowed us to go to any of the Disney parks ($80 per person, per day), three meals per day for four in either the park or hotel depending on where we were (approx 200/day), airfare for four (about 600 R/T), and then add a random ice cream, sodas, water along the way. TOTAL= Serious money. Total trip cost for a week was about 7500 all told.

 

I just booked a cruise on the Freedom for all four of us for 7 days in an OWNER'S SUITE and it came to about 6500 including air.

 

Since we'll have access to the concierge lounge, it will save some on sodas, drinks, coffee. Had we not wanted a suite, we could have saved a substantial amount more.

 

I see a cruise as a bargain in comparison.

You have got to be kidding - is it THAT expensive now - So much for taking the grand kiddies

[Merion_Mom]

BEACHBUZZARD

 

I to am a light eater, when it gets light on the ship i eat.

 

I know that's baD.

 

JIM

Ah, Jim, you are on the seafood diet. ("When I see food, I eat it.")

[hermang]

Speaking of Disney, I just went this past May. With myself, wife and 2 small children, we stayed at the Polynesian resort (350/day) bought "park hopper" passes that allowed us to go to any of the Disney parks ($80 per person, per day), three meals per day for four in either the park or hotel depending on where we were (approx 200/day), airfare for four (about 600 R/T), and then add a random ice cream, sodas, water along the way. TOTAL= Serious money. Total trip cost for a week was about 7500 all told.

 

I just booked a cruise on the Freedom for all four of us for 7 days in an OWNER'S SUITE and it came to about 6500 including air.

 

Since we'll have access to the concierge lounge, it will save some on sodas, drinks, coffee. Had we not wanted a suite, we could have saved a substantial amount more.

 

I see a cruise as a bargain in comparison.

About 2 weeks ago we looked at Balcony cabins on the Freedom for the C&A event on 10/15/2006 @ 989 pp for 7 days. Figure air fare of at most 250-300 pp to Miami from New York and throw in a night before in Miami STILL a bargain.

[hermang]

Being a newbie and we will purchase a soda card for DD But, do they have soda vending machines? Im one of those people who drinks a can of pop if I wake up in the middle of the night and I absolutely need my one can first thing in the AM even before coffee.

If you don't bring it on board there is always the minibar

[cruisinfanatic]

The fares have not come down since they implemented the charge for Johnny Rockets. In fact the fares have gone up immensely. I don't know when or were you are sailing but I have not seen a cruise for $700 in a long time.

 

Try an inside on the 9 night Voyager out of Bayonne in September. $699 + Tax

[WeLuvVacation]

I hope you jump on it. I would If I had the time.

 

Already did!!!!!!

 

49 days to go!!!!

[awm]

dont forget the pay toilets!

 

:eek:

[digital_curator]

I agree with most here except for the following few points.

If we are going to make certain things ala carte pricing because not everyone uses them, then why not food and entertainment also?

I guess this is why they came up with easy cruise:D

 

For $30 some odd dollars a day you get a small orange room.

 

The majority of rooms are inside cabins.

All food is extra. All drinks are extra.

There is no casino. There are no pools. There is no entertainment. There is a hot tub.

There are no mini-bars in your room. There is no room steward (unless you want to pay extra).

Talk about bare-bones cruising:eek:

 

We are not going to be able to cruise as much as we like but I would rather save up and go less often then go on something like this...but I'm sure there are people out there that love this option.

 

I'm interested in the comparissons to all-inclusive resorts. With few exceptions, I would never expect my all-inclusive vacation to include the casino, the spa, tips. There are also often charges for some watersports as well as expensive excurisons.

 

We usually budget at least $200 pp on top of our all inclusive price for such things, not including tips.

 

In comparrison, on our cruise we drank whenever we wanted, went to the casino whenever we wanted, ate at JR once (didn't do the specialty restaurants 'cause we liked the food in the dining room) and went for the Rasul Couples treatment in the spa. Our extra charges came to less than $400. Was I surprised by any of these charges? No, because they were outlined as "costing extra" in the brochure and on RCI's website and I found out exact prices by doing research here.

 

So I think, depending on the deal you get, they probably even out. What wins me over is waking up in the morning with a whole new country in front of me:)

 

Cheers,

[WeLuvVacation]

Soda and booze are the #1 profit centers anywhere. And tap soda is even more of a profit center than cans or bottles. If you buy a bottle of "house or well" booze, and charge 4 bucks for a mixed drink using it with 33 or so shots per bottle that is about $ 132 per bottle. That bottle wholesale from a distrubutor is about 8-12 bucks depending on what it is. Even with saying $ 10 bucks for mixers, and that is probably way too high thay are making a cool $ 110 profit per bottle before factoring in salaries and other overhead charges. And if you buy that "drink of the day" in the fancy glass they make even more money. Cause the profit on the glass more than makes up for the additional ice and slightly more drink that you get.

[MLG4MEE]

Just like the others, this is my opinion. You have people that have no problem going into the casino and dropping $100's or $1000's of dollars (I was on a cruise with a group and someone with our group dropped $2400) knowing the house is going to win more than they are but do not complain about that. But yet, they'll complained about being "nickeled and dimed to death" about some small fees their being charged somewhere on the ship. Like I said, this is just my opinion.

[Doc344]

At the risk of being flamed to death I feel I have to comment.....either this board is being infiltrated with cheapskates, or too many people are being way too unrealistic. Cruising, IMHO, is still the best value in vacations available today. Fees are charged for extras, but the base prices of a cruise is so low there should be no complaints......go fly your family somewhere, pay for a weeks hotel, and buy three meals a day...and unless you spend the week in Motel 8 somewhere where I do not want to vacation anyway, and eat at McDonalds, you are going to have an eye opener......if you do not, then maybe you should do that instead of cruising!

[maggieworkman]

You have got to be kidding - is it THAT expensive now - So much for taking the grand kiddies

 

I just wanted to comment about this. It does not have to be that expensive to go to Disney. The Polynesian is one of the most expensive resorts at Disney. We stayed at Pop Century for $59 a night. Also, you can get a 7 day Magic Your Way Ticket (good for all 4 parks) for $211.94 adult (includes tax).

 

Check out www.mousesavers.com

 

Maggie

[kenandlaura06]

Soda and booze are the #1 profit centers anywhere. And tap soda is even more of a profit center than cans or bottles. If you buy a bottle of "house or well" booze, and charge 4 bucks for a mixed drink using it with 33 or so shots per bottle that is about $ 132 per bottle. That bottle wholesale from a distrubutor is about 8-12 bucks depending on what it is. Even with saying $ 10 bucks for mixers, and that is probably way too high thay are making a cool $ 110 profit per bottle before factoring in salaries and other overhead charges. And if you buy that "drink of the day" in the fancy glass they make even more money. Cause the profit on the glass more than makes up for the additional ice and slightly more drink that you get.

 

Just like soda at a movie theater concession stand has the highest profit margin...even more than popcorn.

[Ericknow32]

Just like soda at a movie theater concession stand has the highest profit margin...even more than popcorn.

Well, yeah they charge $10 bucks for a large.

[Dovey]

To the Original Poster:

 

I'm just curious. This will be your very first cruise? How much research did you do before you booked your trip? I saw in your post the lovely picture of your children? That would be 3 people, plus you and another adult? So you booked a cruise trip for 5 people on your particular ship and did not realize before you paid that certain things would incur additional charges?

 

I'm truely interested how this came to be. From time to time I have been known to jump into certain things without looking ahead and have suffered for it. However, my vacation planning involves TONS, sometimes years, of research.

 

I won't even go into the volumes of material I gathered for my trip to Italy. :) (Needed a whole suitcase just for the research.)

 

Anyway, Did you use a travel agent? Did you book online? How did it come to be that you did not know about the additional charges for the various extras?

[OceanCruise]

We talk to a lot to people who have never taken a cruise but would like too. They are nearly always surprised that cappuchino and soda are not included and that there is a charge for exercise classes and wine tasting. Also, while they realize they have to tip, they don't realize it will be $400-$500 extra per family which is a lot of money. Believe me, they are not stupid people, but there is truly a misconception out there that a cruise is nearly all inclusive. As for cruises being cheaper than years ago, it is actually way more expensive for those of us who can only cruise during the summer. The cruise lines really gouge those of us sailing from NY/NJ at that time. When I look at the late fall prices I am so envious at those who can sail at this time as there are incredible bargains.

[Happy ks]

Jim.....I think there are many of us who, when on a cruise are defined as light eaters!

 

 

I love your little "buffet guy!" Now I remember why I don't like to go to buffets;)

[teddie]

When I consider other vacations we have taken (Disney, London, Mexico, for a few examples) I know that a cruise vacation is a darned good deal. Even if you choose to stick only with what is included in the fare, IMHO we still get a great vacation value.

 

The reality is that if you would like over and above what the stated inclusions are, then you will be charged. It's the way of the world.

[bobbie0253]

Actually after 10pm you do have to pay for Adventure Ocean. ;)

 

 

Not for 12 and over. Just under 12.

 

I haven't read the entire thread yet, so if someone already said this.... sorry.

 

Bobbie

[kathy_bc]

I consider myself to be a newbie cruiser too. Although I have cruised a few times before, it is always done economically. We don't have the money. But we save up for the cruise. I think the OP was just asking about the add-ons that aren't always posted. For some of us, those add-ons are alot of money. Personally, we don't do anything extra. The cruise itself is awesome! Our first RCCL cruise was on the Radiance. She was a beautiful ship. Although I love special coffees, I never once set foot in the coffee bar. Same with the 2 extra restaurants -- we never went there. The coffee was fine in the windjammer, and the food was great in the dining room. I don't understand the people who complain about the food. It's a heck of alot better than what we get at home, so it's great to us.

 

I think that these boards sometimes gets nasty and I'm apalled at some of the things people say. Not everyone has spare money! Our seapass usually has about $200 on it for the two of us (not including the tips -- that's on top -- but I consider that a "must"). We always enjoy our cruises immensely, even though we don't do the extras. Just the cruise itself is a luxury to us.

 

I have to say, that I cringe when I see some people being nasty. Like when some people talk down about people not dressing up for dinner. I think everyone should just enjoy themselves and not worry about others so much. NOt everyone has the expendable income that many do on the ship. Some of us do save everything just for the cruise. I would LOVE to have the extra money and be able to do all the extras, but I can't. That is life. The cruise itself is a luxury.

 

OP, don't worry about the extra costs, or the nasty comments. Enjoy yourselves. There are plenty of things to do on the ship, and plenty to eat without the extra charges -- just do those things, and have a blast!