Room service and to go food

[janpo]

Someone has to clean up after me regardless of where I eat. And I am not a slob. I have been chastised by Butlers for being too clean.

 

So if I walk aaallll the way to the buffet so that I can choose from a big selection of foods rather than a few things on the RS menu, like the so called grilled cheese I have seen described here recently as two pieces of toast with a cold piece of cheese between for $7.95, and then I walk aaallll the way back to my cabin with it, this makes me lazy?:confused:. That makes me special?:confused:

 

If I order Room Service, the mess is still there. And someone had to bring it TO me. Isn't that special!!

 

We like to have the occassional quiet meal on our balcony. While we enjoy the sea and the company. Maybe a breakfast or a lunch. If in a suite, that dinner en suite is wonderful. It's kind of nice on a regular balcony once in a while too. OK for the upper class suite folks but not for steerage? Of course they paid much more, and I am glad they have this perk. But if I am willing to walk to the buffet and fill my own plate, should I not be able to eat on my balcony, too? But it's all about the money. Not the mess. Not health and safety.

 

And it does make us feel "special". And isn't that a good thing? Would not NCL want folks to go home raving about the service, and the friendly staff, and the feeling of being catered to? "Why, they insisted we take dessert with us for later!" Or do they want them to remember the reprimand that dessert to go is forbidden. No carry outs for YOU! No late night desserts on the balcony.

 

Of course we COULD have it on the balcony, if we call room service, and wait 30 minutes and pay $7.95 and then maybe the cake is a little stale. Cause it's all about the money. Not the mess.

 

Or I could go to the Cake Boss stand and buy an ENTIRE CAKE. And then take it to MY Cabin!! But what about the mess? What about health and safety and bugs!!. Cause it's all about the money. Not the mess.

 

Or I could go to the casino, drop some coin, and then fill a plate from the late night buffet, and eat it.....where? No tables. Surely they don't intend you to eat it standing? Could you possibly take it to your cabin?? Of course, cause it's all about the money. Not health and safety. Not the mess.

 

So Pinot lover, that is why people take food to their cabin. That, and a dozen other reasons. And why should anyone else care how someone else chooses to vacation? If you should want to enjoy a Pinot on your balcony on a certain night and NCL said it was forbidden to take it to go, would you be happy? They have not done that yet, but actually I would think wine stains would be much harder to get out of carpet than a few crumbs.

 

 

 

Now thats just silly...everyone knows that the top of the slot machine doubles as a table . :)

[karinad]

This is what I will do when I go on my April, 2016 cruise that I booked before all this bull started.......If I want to take something from the buffet, whether it's late night, lunch, etc., I'm going to do it. I never take globs of food, just snacks. I will NEVER pay a $7.95 charge for R.S.! I am not going on our 2016 cruise for the food, we weren't impressed with the food on the Gem in Oct. anyway. We picked the cruise for the price and itinerary. If I'd find the same cruise on another line, I'm out of NCL!

 

When we do go in April, my DH will know nothing about these changes, as he does not come on these boards or the internet. If he gets stopped carrying food out I imagine that we'll get thrown off at the next port!:eek:

[CavalierX]

Now thats just silly...everyone knows that the top of the slot machine doubles as a table . :)

 

If you play poker, you're already AT a table... amirite? ;)

[janpo]

If you play poker, you're already AT a table... amirite? ;)

 

 

Ohhhh good idea!

[NLH Arizona]

So you do not have an issue with these changes, as you have stated. You say you will save your protests for something you have an issue with.:confused:. If that is the case, then I would have expected you to post once or twice to say that you have no issue and then fill your time with other things. Instead, you are here "protesting" constantly on these threads. Apparently, you DO have an issue, and that issue is the fact that some of us have "issues" with NCL.;)

 

Now in the case of Tiffygirl and her mother, her mother also had "no issue" with things that outraged Tiffy. But here is the difference. As far as I know, Mother has not come to the threads here to start rebutting nearly every single post which criticized these changes ( as far as I know;). Why would she? And why would you?

 

As a former NCL cheerleader, and I can call myself that, I never liked to see NCL criticized either, and often came to their defense. But I don't like the direction they seem to be headed in, and I feel very strongly about it, and I don't believe in blind allegiance. I do have issues. And if people are tired of seeing me post, sorry, but as you said, those who don't have issues can save their protests for another day and another issue ( and don't have to read these threads ).

 

But I am just really confused why you are not saving your protests for another day/issue because you have firmly stated that you have no issue with these changes. For someone who has no issue, you certainly protest a lot.

 

Not protesting anything, just positing an opinion, I don't see you saying the same to those on your side of the issue that post the same things over and over. Why is it good for the goose, but not good for the gander.

 

You can criticize NCL till the cows come home, I've never said anyone could. I've never said I was tired of anyone's posts nor have I looked at how many some have posted, until it was brought up.

 

If I was protesting, I would be telling folks not to post, I would be telling folks there are wrong, etc., and I haven't done that, just voicing my opinion.

 

When an issue comes up that I want to protest, trust me, there will be confusion as to how I feel.

 

Have a wonderful day.

 

BTW, if you want a thread where the only posts are negatives against the policies, then start a thread and ask that there be no posts from those that agree with the policy or those that have no issues with it.

Edited May 21, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[SteveH2508]

Hahahaha well "technically" we are allowed to bring snacks out of the buffet.

 

Call me a bluff old traditionalist if you will - but - I carry my snacks in my belly.;)

[Dorhead1230]

Because you might suddenly feel a burning desire to do so. I'm reminded of the great speech by "Edgar Friendly" (Dennis Leary) in the tragically under-rated movie "Demolition Man."

 

You see, according to Cocteau's plan, I'm the enemy. Because I like to think, I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech, freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy who likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, "Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of BBQ ribs with a side order of gravy fries?" I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon and butter and buckets of cheese, okay? I want to smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in a non-smoking section. I wanna run around naked with green jell-o all over my body reading a Playboy magazine. Why? Because maybe I feel the need to, okay, pal? I've seen the future; you know what it is? It's a 47 year-old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas drinking a banana-broccoli shake, singing "I'm an Oscar Meyer Wiener." You live up top, you live Cocteau's way: what he wants, when he wants, how he wants.

 

Now, I would recommend against the green Jell-O/magazine part of that, at least outside of your own cabin. And if you do do something like that, I suggest you tip your room steward. A LOT. But the essence of the speech is: don't tell me how to live my life. Don't you tell me I'm doing it wrong. And in this context, the message is: don't tell me how to vacation. Because that makes me feel like Edgar Friendly. And trust me, no one wants to see that green Jell-O thing go down. :D

 

 

I don't know you, where you're from, or even if you're male or female, but I just fell madly in love with you [emoji1]. Don't tell my boyfriend [emoji12].

 

That really is one of my favorite monologues ever from a movie, and I am surprised I didn't think up the connection to this hot mess sooner lol. Thanks for the best chuckle I've had all day!

[CavalierX]

I don't know you, where you're from, or even if you're male or female, but I just fell madly in love with you [emoji1]. Don't tell my boyfriend [emoji12].

 

Just don't ask me to put on one of those dopey helmets from the movie. :)

 

That really is one of my favorite monologues ever from a movie, and I am surprised I didn't think up the connection to this hot mess sooner lol. Thanks for the best chuckle I've had all day!

 

I used to quote it a lot when Michael Bloomberg was mayor of NYC. He was a dead ringer for Raymond Cocteau, not just physically but in his aims! All he needed was a Jedi bathrobe and an associate named "Bob."

 

Edited May 21, 2015 by CavalierX

[Adventure_Seeker_Sean]

"Get over it?????" ...No, we have every right to complain and "vote" with our wallets. It's called competition and I hope other lines give NCL a run for their money. The once free service needs to remain free. It's an industry standard. Now they'll be charging for everything like the airlines. Watch, there will be a water meter in your stateroom on NCL in 5 years when they try to figure out how to squeeze the guests for more profit.

[swedish weave]

"Get over it?????" ...No, we have every right to complain and "vote" with our wallets. It's called competition and I hope other lines give NCL a run for their money. The once free service needs to remain free. It's an industry standard. Now they'll be charging for everything like the airlines. Watch, there will be a water meter in your stateroom on NCL in 5 years when they try to figure out how to squeeze the guests for more profit.

 

I foresee Carnival (CCL) management seeing this as an opportunity to sit tight and not follow suit so they can gain the business of those who are not pleased with Del Rio's antics

 

Using the airlines as an example, Southwest and Jet Blue have done very well by not following the others.

 

If CCL holds their ground, they will gain a lot from NCL's fiasco.

[karinad]

I'm sure it's been said before, but, whether we use room service or not, this is a part of going on a cruise that is a special part of what going on a cruise is about. FREE ROOM SERVICE. NO CHARGE! Most land vacations, even all inclusive, like Sandals or Beaches, etc. would not give you room service. Some have a light breakfast delivery. We used to go to Sandals, but discovered that cruising had this luxury and less expensive.

 

As people keep discovering this new change in policy, this thread will keep going on, so I hope that those that have been here from the beginning have some patience with seeing the same complaints, because it will not end nor should it! When something is wrong or disappoints us, it's very hard to "get over.":(:(

[knight2096]

Someone has to clean up after me regardless of where I eat. And I am not a slob. I have been chastised by Butlers for being too clean.

 

So if I walk aaallll the way to the buffet so that I can choose from a big selection of foods rather than a few things on the RS menu, like the so called grilled cheese I have seen described here recently as two pieces of toast with a cold piece of cheese between for $7.95, and then I walk aaallll the way back to my cabin with it, this makes me lazy?:confused:. That makes me special?:confused:

 

If I order Room Service, the mess is still there. And someone had to bring it TO me. Isn't that special!!

 

We like to have the occassional quiet meal on our balcony. While we enjoy the sea and the company. Maybe a breakfast or a lunch. If in a suite, that dinner en suite is wonderful. It's kind of nice on a regular balcony once in a while too. OK for the upper class suite folks but not for steerage? Of course they paid much more, and I am glad they have this perk. But if I am willing to walk to the buffet and fill my own plate, should I not be able to eat on my balcony, too? But it's all about the money. Not the mess. Not health and safety.

 

And it does make us feel "special". And isn't that a good thing? Would not NCL want folks to go home raving about the service, and the friendly staff, and the feeling of being catered to? "Why, they insisted we take dessert with us for later!" Or do they want them to remember the reprimand that dessert to go is forbidden. No carry outs for YOU! No late night desserts on the balcony.

 

Of course we COULD have it on the balcony, if we call room service, and wait 30 minutes and pay $7.95 and then maybe the cake is a little stale. Cause it's all about the money. Not the mess.

 

Or I could go to the Cake Boss stand and buy an ENTIRE CAKE. And then take it to MY Cabin!! But what about the mess? What about health and safety and bugs!!. Cause it's all about the money. Not the mess.

 

Or I could go to the casino, drop some coin, and then fill a plate from the late night buffet, and eat it.....where? No tables. Surely they don't intend you to eat it standing? Could you possibly take it to your cabin?? Of course, cause it's all about the money. Not health and safety. Not the mess.

 

So Pinot lover, that is why people take food to their cabin. That, and a dozen other reasons. And why should anyone else care how someone else chooses to vacation? If you should want to enjoy a Pinot on your balcony on a certain night and NCL said it was forbidden to take it to go, would you be happy? They have not done that yet, but actually I would think wine stains would be much harder to get out of carpet than a few crumbs.

 

Exactly! Great post and so true.

[42CruiseCrazy]

Punkincc is right. It's about the money. NCL wants to make more and it's passengers want to spend less. So they add a fee for room service. Consider this, people. If NCL continues to allow people to take food from the Buffet back to the room there will be twice or 3 times as many people doing that to avoid paying room service fees. That will result in far more dirty dishes and uneaten food (without trays) cluttering up the hallways. NCL had to change the policy to AVOID a Health & Safety problem. People have complained about being "forced" to pay for room service. Nobody is "forced" to eat in their room. There are lots of nice, comfortable places to eat on the ship. It is perfectly alright to eat in your room, if you want to, but you should do so according to the ship's rules.

 

 

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[sparks1093]

Punkincc is right. It's about the money. NCL wants to make more and it's passengers want to spend less. So they add a fee for room service. Consider this, people. If NCL continues to allow people to take food from the Buffet back to the room there will be twice or 3 times as many people doing that to avoid paying room service fees. That will result in far more dirty dishes and uneaten food (without trays) cluttering up the hallways. NCL had to change the policy to AVOID a Health & Safety problem. People have complained about being "forced" to pay for room service. Nobody is "forced" to eat in their room. There are lots of nice, comfortable places to eat on the ship. It is perfectly alright to eat in your room, if you want to, but you should do so according to the ship's rules.

 

 

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Nice foray into Orwellian logic. If the people that used free room service before instead went to the buffet to get their food to bring back to the cabin you would have the same number of plates to clean up, I doubt that the number of passengers eating in their cabin would rise dramatically following the addition of the room service charge. Let's apply Occam's Razor, shall we? NCL sees a way to tap into a potential revenue source by adding a charge for room service. It is quickly discovered that passengers, being at least semi-intelligent, will obtain food from other venues to bring back to the cabin in order to avoid the room service charge. So in order to thwart the passengers attempt to avoid the charge and protect the new revenue stream the policy is changed to prohibit food from being removed from the dining venues.

 

But there will be some that still believe that NCL did this for health and safety reasons and to preserve the cleanliness of the ships, even though that reason was not given until after the above sequence of events occurred and until people started complaining.

[Wendy&Grumpy]

I foresee Carnival (CCL) management seeing this as an opportunity to sit tight and not follow suit so they can gain the business of those who are not pleased with Del Rio's antics

 

Using the airlines as an example, Southwest and Jet Blue have done very well by not following the others.

 

If CCL holds their ground, they will gain a lot from NCL's fiasco.

 

Carnival has already started. There was a poll on their FB page about a room service charge and then when a poster asked if CCL was going to be following suit, the answer was a clear no.

[Cruise4Real]

But there will be some that still believe that NCL did this for health and safety reasons and to preserve the cleanliness of the ships, even though that reason was not given until after the above sequence of events occurred and until people started complaining.

 

Honestly I don't think very many on CC ACTUALLY believe NCL's narrative. Everybody really knows what happened here, just some are, for whatever reason, parroting NCL's "line." This sort of cynicism and acceptance of corporate "plausible deniability" is the rotten core of our body politic and infects almost every aspect of our national dialogue, so of course it's present on CC, too.

[LoveyHowell]

NCL had to change the policy to AVOID a Health & Safety problem.

 

NCL should have said they made the change so that Haley's Comet would come back sooner. Then four or five would be talking about Haley's Comet; what, you don't want the comet to return sooner?

 

Bottom line, that's a made up excuse. NCL can clean their ships however well they deem necessary.

 

This is all about money. Don't be daft and think otherwise.

[LoveyHowell]

Honestly I don't think very many on CC ACTUALLY believe NCL's narrative. Everybody really knows what happened here, just some are, for whatever reason, parroting NCL's "line." This sort of cynicism and acceptance of corporate "plausible deniability" is the rotten core of our body politic and infects almost every aspect of our national dialogue, so of course it's present on CC, too.

 

 

 

YES, YES, YES, YES!!! THIS! Am so enthused someone else gets it and sees it for what it is. Why people continue to be corporate shills in the face of simple reality confounds me.

[42CruiseCrazy]

I agree with you, Sparks. It is definitely a "money grab" on the part of NCL and if I valued room service and "in-cabin dining" as many people on this thread obviously do then I would be hopping mad as well. Since I always get an inside room there are about two dozen places on the ship where I would rather eat than in my little cabin. I feel for those who are angry and disappointed about these new rules. It's a bum deal.

 

 

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[42CruiseCrazy]

I never really believed that NCL's new policy was truly motivated by health and safety. But plates & trays in the hallways is a real (not imaginary) issue. I except that there will continue to be plates and trays and will just deal with it.

 

 

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Edited May 22, 2015 by 42CruiseCrazy

[NLH Arizona]

Nice foray into Orwellian logic. If the people that used free room service before instead went to the buffet to get their food to bring back to the cabin you would have the same number of plates to clean up, I doubt that the number of passengers eating in their cabin would rise dramatically following the addition of the room service charge. Let's apply Occam's Razor, shall we? NCL sees a way to tap into a potential revenue source by adding a charge for room service. It is quickly discovered that passengers, being at least semi-intelligent, will obtain food from other venues to bring back to the cabin in order to avoid the room service charge. So in order to thwart the passengers attempt to avoid the charge and protect the new revenue stream the policy is changed to prohibit food from being removed from the dining venues.

 

But there will be some that still believe that NCL did this for health and safety reasons and to preserve the cleanliness of the ships, even though that reason was not given until after the above sequence of events occurred and until people started complaining.

NCL made the change, if it was a money grab, then that is their decision. Each and every business out there raises prices, changes policies, etc., to make more money (without telling you why they have made the change or putting a spin on it), why do you expect NCL to be any different than every other company. Seems like folks are more upset that NCL might make some money from this, then they actually are about the actual policy. And since the policy is pretty much unenforceable nor has it been enforced since its inception, pretty much a lot of ado over a policy that isn't being enforced.

[Cruise4Real]

NCL made the change, if it was a money grab, then that is their decision. Each and every business out there raises prices, changes policies, etc., to make more money (without telling you why they have made the change or putting a spin on it), why do you expect NCL to be any different than every other company. Seems like folks are more upset that NCL might make some money from this, then they actually are about the actual policy. And since the policy is pretty much unenforceable nor has it been enforced since its inception, pretty much a lot of ado over a policy that isn't being enforced.

 

The policy was implemented without notice, and many tens of thousands of cruisers who were beyond final payment, who booked and paid for a cruise that included free room service, have subsequently found out that the cruise line, in its thirst for revenue to make up the LOSSES in FDR's "well run" premium lines, has taken that perk and privilege away.

 

Then, in order to maximize the take from this new unannounced and un-grandfathered-in RS charge, NCL doubled down by promulgating a policy that eliminates taking plates of food from the buffet (and other restaurants). It does appear they are not enforcing the new rules, yet the rules remain and EVERY contact with corporate that has been reported here on CC reveals they are ADAMANT about the policy. Until the executive suite changes its mind and publicly reverses the policy, it can be enforced and fully implemented at any time.

 

Therefore passengers are right to be wary of this disreputable management team, and continue the pressure on NCL to shape up or, well, ship out.

[NLH Arizona]

The policy was implemented without notice, and many tens of thousands of cruisers who were beyond final payment, who booked and paid for a cruise that included free room service, have subsequently found out that the cruise line, in its thirst for revenue to make up the LOSSES in FDR's "well run" premium lines, has taken that perk and privilege away.

 

Then, in order to maximize the take from this new unannounced and un-grandfathered-in RS charge, NCL doubled down by promulgating a policy that eliminates taking plates of food from the buffet (and other restaurants). It does appear they are not enforcing the new rules, yet the rules remain and EVERY contact with corporate that has been reported here on CC reveals they are ADAMANT about the policy. Until the executive suite changes its mind and publicly reverses the policy, it can be enforced and fully implemented at any time.

 

Therefore passengers are right to be wary of this disreputable management team, and continue the pressure on NCL to shape up or, well, ship out.

I think everyone has agreed that they did a bad job in implementing the offer. The "taking food back to the cabins" policy is not being enforced, with regard to the buffet. Wonder if they are not enforcing it, because of the bad way they implemented the room service charge....only time will tell, if this is the case or they have figured out that the policy is enforceable and it will go away.

 

Of course, some passengers have the right to be wary of any company and they can try to pressure them into changing their policy or, yes, they can ship out to another company.

[42CruiseCrazy]

The policy was implemented without notice, and many tens of thousands of cruisers who were beyond final payment, who booked and paid for a cruise that included free room service, have subsequently found out that the cruise line, in its thirst for revenue to make up the LOSSES in FDR's "well run" premium lines, has taken that perk and privilege away.

 

 

If you're implying that "tens of thousands" of cruise passengers are cheated by this change in policy then you're wrong. Most people prefer to eat in the dining areas. What would you have NCL do? Announce all policy changes and price increases 4 or 6 months in advance of implementation so that anyone who disagrees can cancel their cruise? Should the cruise lines send out emails to everyone who's booked every time they change a price for something? And really now, how many people are going to cancel their cruise vacation because room service is no longer free?

 

 

 

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[LoveyHowell]

If you're implying that "tens of thousands" of cruise passengers are cheated by this change in policy then you're wrong.

 

How so? It's clear bait and switch. So, really, every single cruiser is cheated by this.

 

Most people prefer to eat in the dining areas.

 

Is this a statement of fact that you have proof for, or your opinion?

 

What would you have NCL do? Announce all policy changes and price increases 4 or 6 months in advance of implementation so that anyone who disagrees can cancel their cruise? Should the cruise lines send out emails to everyone who's booked every time they change a price for something?

 

There is a fundamental difference between changing a price of something, and creating an entirely new fee for something that was advertised as complimentary at time of booking. And yes, NCL should send an email to those that are booked. They already have that contact information and use it for marketing purposes.

 

And really now, how many people are going to cancel their cruise vacation because room service is no longer free?

 

I am sure this was asked around an expensive conference table and the answer was "We'll make more than we lose"