Hot Popcorn

[Hawkstar33]

Every night the smell of fresh popped corn, would fill the air on several decks of Symphony. Right by the theater, ice rink, jazz club, etc.   Like bait for a fish.  People upon smelling, instantly walked right over to the popcorn machine to get some. People of all ages.  And then it happened. 98% of those people did the same exact thing. They gasped, then spurted out the same thing in not always the same exact words. THEY WANT HOW MUCH?  IT'S NOT FREE?  NOT FREE FOR ANYBODY?   ARE YOU KIDDING ME, was another common saying.  YUP.   $ 2.50 a small bag..   I will never forget the pained looks on those faces.   

[Ryder101]

$2.50 is not that bad. $7.00 is bad.

[melbur]

Yuk, just the smell permeating the 4th floor makes me gag

[Husky1987]

Somebody has never been to a movie theater.

[soremekun]

$2.95 with gratuity.  Purchased it a few times.

https://youtu.be/KHDxkXV7xsE

Edited March 11, 2023 by soremekun

[HicksRA]

Yeah, times are tough..  Royal can’t afford to give away 4 cents worth of popcorn to passengers. They need to charge $2.50 for it. 

[RobInMN]

Yep, there was a whole discussion back in January. I think they charge for it to minimize the mess. Can you image how much of that popcorn will be all over the theater floors if it was free? People that were barely interested would take some, whole families would each get their own, including the 2 & 3 years who will likely spill/drop it. etc.. If you charge for it, even this nominal amount, only the people that really want it will get it, and they'll largely be more careful with it.

 

[Biker19]

10 hours ago, HicksRA said:

Yeah, times are tough..  Royal can’t afford to give away 4 cents worth of popcorn to passengers. They need to charge $2.50 for it. 

Perhaps they charge for it to not have everyone make a mess that needs to be cleaned up?

[JamesEM]

The popcorn was free when I sailed on Holland.

[Mark_K]

5 hours ago, JamesEM said:

The popcorn was free when I sailed on Holland.

How many kids on board compared to a Royal cruise?

[Hawkstar33]

23 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Perhaps they charge for it to not have everyone make a mess that needs to be cleaned up?

Aside from making extra cash, that is probably the reason.  Honestly have to say that people were not really concerned about the messes they were leaving around the ship.  Staff tried very hard to keep up with the scattered glasses, spilled drinks, half full stacked up plates of wasted food on tables, and food on floor in buffet.  So yes, This would seem to be a major reason.  

[JamesEM]

17 hours ago, Mark_K said:

How many kids on board compared to a Royal cruise?

What kids, the sons and daughters were in their 40/50's. 

[DallasGuy75219]

On 3/11/2023 at 7:15 AM, Biker19 said:

Perhaps they charge for it to not have everyone make a mess that needs to be cleaned up?

That's why Carnival started charging for popcorn for Dive-In Movies... kids were throwing it at each other rather than eating it.

[catlady66]

On 3/10/2023 at 10:05 PM, RobInMN said:

Yep, there was a whole discussion back in January. I think they charge for it to minimize the mess. Can you image how much of that popcorn will be all over the theater floors if it was free? People that were barely interested would take some, whole families would each get their own, including the 2 & 3 years who will likely spill/drop it. etc.. If you charge for it, even this nominal amount, only the people that really want it will get it, and they'll largely be more careful with it.

 

Many moons ago, I worked in a bar that served free popcorn.  Every night as I swept up piles of buttery goodness, I wondered if anybody managed to get some in their mouth.  You nailed it on the head--if it's free they throw it by the handful and one kernel out of ten hits the target.  I wonder if the same people complaining say anything about the ATM surcharges in the casino.

[Mum2Mercury]

Thank you for buying popcorn.  That yummy stuff has been supporting my family for generations -- yes, we grow it.  

 

Yes, $2.50 for a small bag is pretty high, given that so many other snacks are free (or, included in the cruise ticket).