Charge for regular coffee in specialty restaurants?

[dmcfad2]

I was just on a social media site and someone in a HAL group posted that they were charged for a plain, regular coffee in the specialty restaurant (Tamarind and Pinnacle) and that they were told it would now be an extra charge for both coffee and tea. Has anyone else heard of this or had it happen to them? I find it hard to believe that plain coffee and tea would be an extra charge. I know that specialty coffees are an extra charge, but plain, black coffee?

[Mary229]

I have never had a charge and I often order Jasmine hot tea in the Tamarind and decaf coffee in Pinnacle (decaf tends to be nespresso and better flavor than the normal HAL swill)

[0106]

I drink tea and have never been charged in a specialty restaurant.  I just looked at the menus in the Navigator app and only specialty coffee has an additional charge.

[BermudaBound2014]

9 minutes ago, 0106 said:

I drink tea and have never been charged in a specialty restaurant.  I just looked at the menus in the Navigator app and only specialty coffee has an additional charge.

I read the same social media post as the OP

 

Apparently, the poster verified with guest relations that there is now a charge for regular coffee even though there is no additional charge listed on the menu. 

 

If this, in fact, a new HAL policy change experiment, I suspect it will fail miserably. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I saw this as well and actually do not believe this is the case. I think that they gave them an espresso or Americano. I honestly do not believe they are charging for regular coffee. With asking the Front Desk I think it can sometimes be misunderstood and the Specialty restaurant involved probably stated they ordered a specialty coffee. I do not see HAL stooping that low but then again they were trying to charge for an Appetizer and a salad 😲 not long ago.

[Mary229]

10 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

I read the same social media post as the OP

 

Apparently, the poster verified with guest relations that there is now a charge for regular coffee even though there is no additional charge listed on the menu. 

 

If this, in fact, a new HAL policy change experiment, I suspect it will fail miserably. 

I think the person is confused.  It’s the internet, you can’t believe everything you read😁. 

[syesmar]

13 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

… I do not see HAL stooping that low but then again they were trying to charge for an Appetizer and a salad 😲 not long ago.

I missed the info on that. Was that in the MDR or specialty restaurants? How many can currently be ordered?

[0106]

Currently, you can order as many appetizers as you like in the MDR and specialty restaurants.

[horseymike]

They are probably trying to get people to vacate the tables quicker.

It definitely stinks. They just can’t help themselves, they forget why people like to cruise.

[BermudaBound2014]

This poster is quite adamant that it is, in fact, a new policy confirmed by guest relations. She was charged for regular coffee in both the pinnacle and tamarind. No mention of the charge on the menu. Of course, I'd want to triangulate the data before drawing a hard conclusion, but .....

 

 

 

 

 

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, syesmar said:

I missed the info on that. Was that in the MDR or specialty restaurants? How many can currently be ordered?

 

For about 6 months or so -- and only rolled back very recently -- the specialty restaurants were only allowing one appetizer/soup/salad + one entree + dessert as included in the cover. There was an upcharge for anything more than one starter (can't remember the actual price), so if you wanted, let's say, crab cakes and a salad as well as your entree, you got upcharged.

[cruisemom42]

6 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

This poster is quite adamant that it is, in fact, a new policy confirmed by guest relations. She was charged for regular coffee in both the pinnacle and tamarind. No mention of the charge on the menu. Of course, I'd want to triangulate the data before drawing a hard conclusion, but .....

 

It shouldn't take long to find out....several people sailing HAL ships now, lol.

 

Personally I find it hard to believe. Their coffee has never been anything to brag about --vwhy charge for it?  The only possible thing HAL might get out of it is creating a sneaky way to count coffee/tea against the HIA total so that you have fewer "extra charge" drinks on your daily punch card, so to speak.

[BermudaBound2014]

15 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

. I do not see HAL stooping that low but then again they were trying to charge for an Appetizer and a salad 😲 not long ago.

 

The cruise lines are scrambling to increase revenue. Did you see where Celebrity just tried charging $2.50 plus gratuity for a chocolate chip cookie? That lasted just a few days. Major backlash and the policy was reversed. 

[BermudaBound2014]

1 minute ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

It shouldn't take long to find out....several people sailing HAL ships now, lol.

 

Personally I find it hard to believe. Their coffee has never been anything to brag about --vwhy charge for it?  The only possible thing HAL might get out of it is creating a sneaky way to count coffee/tea against the HIA total so that you have fewer "extra charge" drinks on your daily punch card, so to speak.

 

I just don't vision many people on HAL reaching the 15 limit. On carnival it happens on a daily basis. Of course, you could be right.

 

As mentioned above, it could be to move people along faster? Or it could just be a really bad policy decision like the Celebrities Cookie? Or maybe just a quick trial. I can't remember the ship, but wasn't there a very brief policy change regarding drinks in the Neptune lounge that only lasted a week or so? 

 

Ships are scrambling to increase revenue. I just don't see how a $3 coffee is relevant. 

[cruisemom42]

4 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

The cruise lines are scrambling to increase revenue. Did you see where Celebrity just tried charging $2.50 plus gratuity for a chocolate chip cookie? That lasted just a few days. Major backlash and the policy was reversed. 

 

I did see that. I was more shocked by the vaping "trial" in the casinos.

[disneyochem]

Currently on the Volendam.  I just checked with Guest Services.  No charge for regular coffee, tea (hot or iced).

 

Dining at the Pinnacle Grill tonight—we’ll see if that is true!

[pmjnh]

4 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I think the person is confused.  It’s the internet, you can’t believe everything you read😁. 

I agree , especially on FB...many people belonging to these FB groups seem to thrive on spreading issues that are not issues at all... and like that old change the story  as you spread the word routine. I get frustrated just reading some of these threads. 

[disneyochem]

Just contacted by a dining manager on the Volendam (not sure of his title?).  Assured me that HAL never charges for regular coffee or tea at any of their restaurants.

 

He did ask me which social media is posting this misinformation.

[BermudaBound2014]

17 minutes ago, pmjnh said:

I agree , especially on FB...many people belonging to these FB groups seem to thrive on spreading issues that are not issues at all... and like that old change the story  as you spread the word routine. I get frustrated just reading some of these threads. 

 

I have not found that to be true. I think CC and FB are about the same in terms of 'spreading issues'. I think, for the most part, both forums are mostly filled with people who come from a good place and are trying to be helpful. It is much easier to build relationships on FB, although that can be done here on CC also.

 

For me, the difference on CC is that there are more seasoned cruisers here who I have grown to trust, although FWIW, the 'coffee scandal' poster is not new to sailing HAL as the post came from the Mariner society board.

 

 

[BermudaBound2014]

6 minutes ago, disneyochem said:

He did ask me which social media is posting this misinformation.

 

"Holland America Line Mariners" on FB.

 

Many cruise lines have a very solid presence on social media where they can respond to misinformation in a timely fashion. HAL would be served well to respond. 

Edited September 29, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[pmjnh]

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

"Holland America Line Mariners" on FB.

 

Many cruise lines have a very solid presence on social media where they can respond to misinformation in a timely fashion. HAL would be served well to respond. 

Holland  America does not own or manage any of these FB sites except for the official HAL site. Even the Mariner FB page sited here is not a HAL site. HAL  won’t be seeing or reading all/any  of the social media sites on FB,of which there are dozens started by anyone who wants to start one. 
 

[BermudaBound2014]

8 minutes ago, pmjnh said:

Holland  America does not own or manage any of these FB sites except for the official HAL site. Even the Mariner FB page sited here is not a HAL site. HAL  won’t be seeing or reading all/any  of the social media sites on FB,of which there are dozens started by anyone who wants to start one. 
 

 

I'm aware. I wouldn't expect HAL to respond to the mariners society page directly. I provided that information because @disneyochem said the dining room manager on Volendam was wondering what social media site it was posted. 

 

What HAL can do is respond to this 'rumor' on their social media site. Sure it's lots more work for someone at HAL, probably a full time position,  but other lines are doing it and some of them are doing it very well. Rumors like this get nipped in the bud immediately and guests are not left wondering what the real policy is. 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[pmjnh]

23 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

What HAL can do is respond to this 'rumor' on their social media site. Sure it's lots more work for someone at HAL, probably a full time position,  but other lines are doing it and some of them are doing it very well. Rumors like this get nipped in the bud immediately and guests are not left wondering what the real policy is. 

 

in a perfect world, yes. Sigh

 

not to continue off topic, but my personal favorite on one of the FB groups..was from someone who stated:

"I read on the HAL website that there is a corkage fee for each bottle of wine we bring onboard... is this true???"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2023 by pmjnh

[syesmar]

23 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

For about 6 months or so -- and only rolled back very recently -- the specialty restaurants were only allowing one appetizer/soup/salad + one entree + dessert as included in the cover. There was an upcharge for anything more than one starter (can't remember the actual price), so if you wanted, let's say, crab cakes and a salad as well as your entree, you got upcharged.

I’m very happy to hear they rolled that back! Thanks for the info @cruisemom42

[sahara1]

1 hour ago, syesmar said:

I’m very happy to hear they rolled that back! Thanks for the info @cruisemom42

They changed the policy but upped the price to include the second appetizer!