What will RCCL charge for next?

[ryano]

We tried and AI resort about 7 years ago and it was nice but I was bored to death and in bed by 9pm at the latest every night. It was much more expensive than the cruise we took the next year on Oasis (I think it was 2012 on Oasis, May have been 2013). Our airfare was not included and added another $888 to the tab. What AI’s give you free airfare, or included airfare? I would be interested in taking a look.

 

 

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I actually thought MOST of them did! :'):D I know back when I was looking several years ago, airfare was included with the couple I looked at but now I dont remember which ones.

[matj2000]

Who is forcing you to partake in things you do not like or want to pay??

 

The OP is suggesting that they will start charging for other things that are now included.

[Husky1987]

And, to be honest, the best way to get them to hear your frustrations is to not give them more money. Either they will realize they need to change, or it will continue to get worse as you find a product you enjoy more. Just my personal opinion, but if I saw my preferred product (be in anything) starting to go downhill, without any sign of correcting, I would jump off.

 

This right here.

 

As long as cruise ships sail at 100%+ of capacity, b*tching and moaning on Cruise Critic while still buying the product is counter-productive at best and just plain stupid at worst.

[setsail]

The OP is suggesting that they will start charging for other things that are now included.

 

I read the playlist(past post) before posting. The whine list is longer than The list in post 1. :o

 

Maybe they need a new whine list,lol

[topnole]

Remember cruising when you paid your fare and taxes and gratuities and that was IT? Now cruise lines, especially RCCL, are charging for basically everything- better food, room service, fancy coffee, yoga classes. My question is: What will they charge for next? How far does their nickel and diming go? Here’s my guesses:

 

Theater and show tickets

All food and drink (except tap water)

Flowrider, zipline, rock climbing wall, carousel

Public bathrooms

Hot tubs

Meet ups with dreamworks characters

Kids programs

Gym usage

 

What do you think? Where’s your line in the proverbial sand?

 

 

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I’ll just stay at land bases resorts in Vegas or Orlando where they don’t have any add ons besides the basic hotel listed price. The flowrider is free at the Gaylord in Orlando. Wait, it is actually like $100 a day to use it. Putt putt is free at the dolphin. Wait, it is like $10 per person to play. No parking or resort fee. Wait it is about $60 a day for parking and resort fee at the swan or dolphin. All meals come at a cost beyond the 300 a day hotel price. No free shows, rock climbing, etc. etc.

 

If you don’t like the add ons don’t cruise.

[proggieus]

Guess what?

 

 

That billion dollar ship you are boarding has to eventually be paid for.

 

The lines have fiduciary responsibility to thier share holders to try and make a profit.

 

 

The other option would be for them to just raise the prices across the board but then i am willing to bet you would be right back here complaining about how high the fares have become and you miss how you You used to be able to select what you wanted to pay for.

[adamrosie]

They do now charge for the breakfast but they do not charge for the character meet and greets or picture opportunities around the ship and at the parades.

 

 

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Not yet!

 

 

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[Havingfun2010]

When I first stepped foot on a ship (before the internet age), my expectation was this. It was a ship, where I will go to sleep at night, and wake up at a new and exciting location. I will have a good dinner at night. After a good dinner, they will entertain me at a show, and a bar. I will look at the stars at night, and hear the waves. During a sea day, I would lounge on deck, splash in an extremely small pool, and get entertained on the ship, with silly things like a belly flop contest. The ship had 900 passengers on it. The rooms were tiny. Balconies did not exist. We were told what tips and what the tipping culture was, and we handed out envelopes. We didn't need to "brag" on the internet, it was private.

 

Today, it's all different. Big ships, mean better activities. Ships have become the destination, With Oasis and Quantum classes. Is it wrong? I don't think so. We have options. As they add a new option, you have the choice. Embrace the destination, or just use the ship as transportation.

 

I go on many cruises without paying for food. Using the Spa. Buying a picture. I actually use ships now as a way to travel the world. I love it.

[JH31115]

Cruising is a business and they are in it to make money. Right now with the popularity of cruising they charge what they do because people are willing to pay for it. I remember we used to book some cruises two weeks before a sailing and get a great deal. No more of that. The prices are ridiculous if you try for last minute bookings.

 

 

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[ObstructedView2]

Remember cruising when you paid your fare and taxes and gratuities and that was IT? Now cruise lines, especially RCCL, are charging for basically everything- better food, room service, fancy coffee, yoga classes. My question is: What will they charge for next? How far does their nickel and diming go?

 

What do you think? Where’s your line in the proverbial sand?

 

Let me ask you this:

If you were charged $7.95 plus gratuity to make this very important post, would you have done so??

 

 

:confused:

[MandyMooToo]

Yes I took the question to be broader about major cruise lines in general, not just Royal.

 

 

I can see that but the OP specified RCCL so I think he was pointing to them singularly.

[ONECRUISER]

I've never used room service; I don't drink coffee or interested in yoga classes. I have no problems not subsidising these with my base cruise fare.

Agree, as I say all the time. Cost to cruise cheaper then 30 years ago, not even adding inflation into it. Cheaper then a week at Disney which has Doubled in last 10 years... I paid $3600+ in 1988 on a 7 nite on Sovereign for a deck 2 tiny Port Hole cabin. This Oct on Serenade doing a 12 nite Repo BOS/FLL for a Corner/Aft Balcony, Cabin 8168, paying only $2968.64 before taking off my Crown and Anchor discount... Extra's on Royal have always been there, paid for Golf/Skeet Shooting off back, Chops been on there and charged for 20 yrs. At they made least Room Service is better tasting and Quality, makes it worth it...

Edited April 25, 2018 by ONECRUISER

[adamrosie]

Let me ask you this:

 

If you were charged $7.95 plus gratuity to make this very important post, would you have done so??

 

 

 

 

 

:confused:

 

 

 

Heck no!

 

 

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[danp]

we don't have to give them anymore ideas

[Iamcruzin]

The problem is they focus so much on what makes them money that they don’t care anymore about what doesn’t. For example, food. In the MDR the food used to be delicious. Now, with the addition of all this $pecialty dining bs, it’s meh. You want good food, you pay for it. What’s wrong with wanting good free food?

 

 

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I think this has more to do with that fact that they are serving 3000 to 6000 passengers 3 plus meals a day at any given time as opposed to 30 yrs ago when there were only 800 - 1500 passengers that were on board with set time meals in the MDR. Now you need all of these specialty options just for the sake of crowd control. People are willing to pay extra for better food and better service.

[LMaxwell]

Specialty Dining will likely add nominal charges for additional sides/apps/desserts. Too many people order "everything" because it is included and there is much waste.

[yuvraj]

Remember cruising when you paid your fare and taxes and gratuities and that was IT? Now cruise lines, especially RCCL, are charging for basically everything- better food, room service, fancy coffee, yoga classes. My question is: What will they charge for next? How far does their nickel and diming go?

 

I am happy to pay for more choice and options available through speciality restaurants. I would also pay for posh coffee. Wouldn't expect either to be included in the basic fare. Not sure why anyone would consider room service or yoga classes as essential requirements, I don't use either.

 

I like the food in the WJ. Mixed experience with MDR, but if I didn't like what RC offered then I would stop sailing with them. As for the chargeable extras, I am happy to pay extra for these if they appeal.

[asalligo]

I know that the poster is being extreme, but I do agree that the future of cruising will be cabin and buffet included in the price and everything else will be a paid feature. Companies raise prices until purchasing slows and then they pull back until they can raise again. Cruise lines have a lot of room to raise prices compared to land vacations.

[ryano]

as opposed to 30 yrs ago when there were only 800 - 1500 passengers that were on board with set time meals in the MDR.

 

Not even 30 years ago! I was on Carnival Holiday in 2008. My first cruise. Yeah, it was an older ship that even the most loyal Carnivalists hated but the service and food was outstanding and the best of any cruise we have had yet. I contribute that to the fact that there were "only" 1400 guests onboard. There were only two set dining times. On formal night, 90% of the guests were dressed to the nines. You stuck out like a sore thumb if you werent.

[It'sRC4ME]

It was a ship, where I will go to sleep at night, and wake up at a new and exciting location. I will have a good dinner at night. After a good dinner, they will entertain me at a show, and a bar. I will look at the stars at night, and hear the waves. During a sea day, I would lounge on deck, splash in an extremely small pool, and get entertained on the ship, with silly things like a belly flop contest.

 

This is so sweet.

[DebJ14]

That was my main issue with an AI (and a very nice pricey one at that). After dinner I was bored senseless.

 

I have never had that issue at any of the AI resorts where we have stayed in Mexico. Every resort has had a show every night and there were performers in at least one of the bars or in the main plaza in the evenings. We've also had great fun at casino nights at some of the AI and came away with some great prizes. Cost to play = ZERO!

 

Even with First Class Airfare and an oceanfront suite(some with private plunge pools) we come out ahead with the AI resort. No fees for WiFi, no fees for specialty dining, base gratuities included and no bill for drinks at the end. We book at least a GS on RCCL so that is what I am using for my price comparison. We tip as we go at the AI, but not nearly as much as the $17.50 per day per person we pay in the GS and of course there is no 18% automatically added to the drinks. And now many of the AI resorts we like are offering free private transportation from the airport, so that is additional savings.

[TEXASMUNK]

JUST FOR A COMPARISION!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back in the infancy of cruising, NCL introduced the SS NORWAY. No balconies, but here are a few of those prices:

inside cabin: $960

outside cabin: $1,440

Suite: (no balcony) $1,840

these do not include port taxes

So, compared to day, not bad!

 

And before anyone comes back with: "that's bogus, where id you get those prices? ..Reading out of the 1981 brochure...and yes, back then the brochure price was the price you paid! PER PERSON

[Joebucks]

Almost everyone I know, and speak with, are very willing to pay for quality. I just refuse to pay extra to get something that is not as good as it was a few years ago when it was free (included). That is why we are going to an AI this year for our primary vacation. We are not "high maintenance" people and don't have to be entertained most of the time. In fact, what makes vacations attractive to us is the ability to get away from the world and do whatever we want...even if that means absolutely nothing but hang out by the pool or enjoying the quiet of out patio/balcony.

 

I have to challenge this one. Of course most people are going say they're willing to pay for quality instead of saying I want the most watered down experience I can find. It gives a sense of personal worth. Then when it comes time, what do the people really buy? Now some really will pay more. Some get on that kick, find it's not worth it, and go back. The market has overwhelmingly chose the mass-market brands. Just as the world overwhelmingly chooses more affordable options in every other industry. If everyone wanted to pay more and get more, that is what we would see more of.

 

I personally prefer the mass market model. I'm not sure why anyone would want to pay more for an experience that is one-size-fits-all and your options are selected for you. Everyone has different food, entertainment, etc preferences. Why pay $1000 on a fare with no choice when I can pay $700 and choose to fill in the gaps with my personal preferences or choose not to at all? Now sure, there are needs that certain brands can cater to better. However, most of the arguments have gotten really silly.

 

Your last line just reinforces the cruise's operating model. Affordable fares enable you to choose what you want to do and how you do it! Sure there are some things that we wish were still around. Human nature hates being told you can't have what you used to have. However, we get new things added too that go unnoticed.

[taglovestocruise]

They should get rid of tipping and institute a daily resort fee like every hotel in Vegas does.

[bob4cruise]

A fee for hot tubs would keep the hot tubs kids free !!

 

 

Remember cruising when you paid your fare and taxes and gratuities and that was IT? Now cruise lines, especially RCCL, are charging for basically everything- better food, room service, fancy coffee, yoga classes. My question is: What will they charge for next? How far does their nickel and diming go? Here’s my guesses: