Are Room Service charges coming?

[mcrcruiser]

11 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

In the face of inflation of goods and services, how would you suggest that cruise lines keep a reasonable profit margin without either raising prices or cutting back services in some areas?

 

 

 

first the cruise lines raised their cabin prices substantially from pre covid & instituted saving food waste programs . what ever that means is to be determined by each individual . comparing hotel & food cost  to cruise line costs is easy . If we are paying $400 to $500  per fay to cruise how much does it cost us to take a hotel &v then buy our meals . Then add airfares if needed & pre hotel stays & rental cars before the cruise plus the added tips per day .Very soon a person can figure out what is their better value . This is the best way to answer your question .We are always evaluating cruising vs land trips 

[Petronillus]

30 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Very soon a person can figure out what is their better value . This is the best way to answer your question .We are always evaluating cruising vs land trips 

Everybody's opinion, and approach, and perspective is different. For me there is no comparison between a road trip and land tour, on the one hand, and a cruise on the other. The comparison, for me, is between a cruise and a stay at an all-inclusive resort like Dreams or Secrets. The convenience of the cruise ship's stable environment (unpack and repack only once) and its itinerary to me counts for a lot. Similarly, the great value of the beverage package lies in how carefree it makes the choice of what to drink when. I'm not the type to run the figures in order to satisfy myself that I'm getting my money's worth. Maybe it makes me a sucker, a lamb getting sheared, but hey, I'm on vacation!

[OlsSalt]

2 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

first the cruise lines raised their cabin prices substantially from pre covid & instituted saving food waste programs . what ever that means is to be determined by each individual . comparing hotel & food cost  to cruise line costs is easy . If we are paying $400 to $500  per fay to cruise how much does it cost us to take a hotel &v then buy our meals . Then add airfares if needed & pre hotel stays & rental cars before the cruise plus the added tips per day .Very soon a person can figure out what is their better value . This is the best way to answer your question .We are always evaluating cruising vs land trips 

 

Don't forget the quarters you need to put in the Magic Fingers mattress shakers in land-based hotels, -  instead of letting the all inclusive ship gently rock you to sleep. 

[FlaMariner]

2 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

We are always evaluating cruising vs land trips 

 

We do the same and HAL always comes out a major bargain for us vs land travel......HAL easily allows us to see the world at a price that matches our retirement budget......

 

18 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

If we are paying $400 to $500 

 

I cannot ever get to that type of daily spend on HAL......but I do understand how many folks can/do. Neptunes, CO, HIA, business class air, spa, speciality restaurants, casino and it can be done....easily...but we manage without and live large onboard!

Edited December 18, 2023 by FlaMariner

[OlsSalt]

2 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

 

We do the same and HAL always comes out a major bargain for us vs land travel......HAL easily allows us to see the world at a price that matches our retirement budget......

 

 

I cannot ever get to that type of daily spend on HAL......but I do understand how many folks can/do. Neptunes, CO, HIA, business class air, spa, speciality restaurants, casino and it can be done....easily...but we manage without and live large onboard!

 

Misquote attributed to "OlsSalt" - in prior post quoting.  

 

We too to not look at $300-400 a day per person cruise lines. But we are recently forced to face the same amount for port embarkation land-based hotels - Seattle and Vancouver. And that is just for the room and  a coffee maker - not full board, entertainment and point to point transportation thrown in too. 

[FlaMariner]

1 minute ago, OlsSalt said:

But we are recently forced to face the same amount for port embarkation land-based hotels -

 

Agree (sorry about the misquote, I just click and point!)

 

We have really scaled back and maximize/limit our pre/post cruise touring because of the land costs.......when we "get onboard" the cost to travel drops considerably for us.  Without HAL, we would easily have to scale back our adventures. 

[OlsSalt]

Just now, FlaMariner said:

 

Agree (sorry about the misquote, I just click and point!)

 

We have really scaled back and maximize/limit our pre/post cruise touring because of the land costs.......when we "get onboard" the cost to travel drops considerably for us.  Without HAL, we would easily have to scale back our adventures. 

 

Sad to report the per-share earnings predictions for CLL due out this Thurs may spell trouble for this value cruise line.  

[sambamama]

Here is where being a solo really hurts.  HAL used to have all sorts of cruises where the single supplements was 150% or less, and was adding large shipboard credit.  I've looked at other cruise lines.  HAL is the only one holding firm at 75%, and usually it's always 100%. At that price, it's always cheaper for me to take a land tour as I've found a number of no single supplement tours  And even cheaper if I just do it myself.  I just booked a 7 night inside cabin for Alaska for 2025, and it was well over $2000.  That's more than what I paid for my 14 night tour in Egypt and my 10 night tour in Morocco combined.  I just won't be cruising very much, or very much with HAL at those prices.

[sunviking90]

4 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

 

I agree.  The title is more like click bait to me.

 

I have been on these boards for quite a few years now and I can probably count on one hand the number of threads I have started. I have learned a lot, and hope that I have helped others occasionally. I had no interest in starting “click bait” and that wasn’t at all my intention, but rather to get some information from those who have cruised HAL more than I have recently.

This will be the last thread I initiate.

[cbr663]

OP, I just checked our statement from our Nov cruise and yes, we only ordered room service once and it was indeed noted on the statement with a charge of $0.00.  I didn't even notice it until you pointed it out.  Seems strange to me also.  Why even note it on the statement?

[OlsSalt]

4 minutes ago, cbr663 said:

OP, I just checked our statement from our Nov cruise and yes, we only ordered room service once and it was indeed noted on the statement with a charge of $0.00.  I didn't even notice it until you pointed it out.  Seems strange to me also.  Why even note it on the statement?

 

It might be for their own internal purposes - comparing in one resource, how much room services was order for a surcharge vs how much was ordered that was still free? 

[kazu]

1 hour ago, sunviking90 said:

I have been on these boards for quite a few years now and I can probably count on one hand the number of threads I have started. I have learned a lot, and hope that I have helped others occasionally. I had no interest in starting “click bait” and that wasn’t at all my intention, but rather to get some information from those who have cruised HAL more than I have recently.

This will be the last thread I initiate.

 

I wouldn’t let a few deter you from starting another thread down the road.  You asked a reasonable question - and understandably so.  

 

I don’t consider your thread click bait.  You asked a question with a question mark.  quite clear to me.  Don’t let a few discourage you and keep posting 😊 

[cbr663]

It must be a relatively new thing as I also checked our statement from our Alaska cruise from May and it wasn't included then.

 

OP, you have a very sharp eye.  Perhaps you should look at getting a job as a night auditor on a HAL ship 😉

Edited December 18, 2023 by cbr663

[mawvkysc]

2 hours ago, sunviking90 said:

I have been on these boards for quite a few years now and I can probably count on one hand the number of threads I have started. I have learned a lot, and hope that I have helped others occasionally. I had no interest in starting “click bait” and that wasn’t at all my intention, but rather to get some information from those who have cruised HAL more than I have recently.

This will be the last thread I initiate.

I did not think it was click bait. 😊 

[Petronillus]

FWIW, I thought the "click bait" comment was a cheap shot. 

OP's post has stimulated an interesting and worthwhile thread.

OP should keep on keeping on. One man's opinion.

[*Miss G*]

3 hours ago, sambamama said:

Here is where being a solo really hurts.  HAL used to have all sorts of cruises where the single supplements was 150% or less, and was adding large shipboard credit.  I've looked at other cruise lines.  HAL is the only one holding firm at 75%, and usually it's always 100%. At that price, it's always cheaper for me to take a land tour as I've found a number of no single supplement tours  And even cheaper if I just do it myself.  I just booked a 7 night inside cabin for Alaska for 2025, and it was well over $2000.  That's more than what I paid for my 14 night tour in Egypt and my 10 night tour in Morocco combined.  I just won't be cruising very much, or very much with HAL at those prices.

 

Think of it as the price per night for the room and board, vs price per person (based on two people per room).  That’s the cost they need to break even.  When I book a hotel room, I don’t get a price per person; I get a price per night.  And I can guarantee I am spending less on HAL per night than I am spending on terra firma.

[Haljo1935]

3 hours ago, sunviking90 said:

I have been on these boards for quite a few years now and I can probably count on one hand the number of threads I have started. I have learned a lot, and hope that I have helped others occasionally. I had no interest in starting “click bait” and that wasn’t at all my intention, but rather to get some information from those who have cruised HAL more than I have recently.

This will be the last thread I initiate.

I considered your question worthy of asking - valid question and caused several of us to take another peek at our statements, which is not a bad thing.🧐

This forum exists for us passionate (or just curious) cruisers to gather, exchange info, and ask questions. I hope you reconsider your future and initiate a thread when you deem appropriate.🤗

[cruisemom42]

13 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Think of it as the price per night for the room and board, vs price per person (based on two people per room).  That’s the cost they need to break even.  When I book a hotel room, I don’t get a price per person; I get a price per night.  And I can guarantee I am spending less on HAL per night than I am spending on terra firma.

 

There are some hotels that do provide a single rate (usually for a single room but sometimes called a "double for single use"), and there are some cruise lines that sporadically offer lower solo supplements (e.g., 120% rather than 175% or 200%). Likewise, there are some land tours with low or no solo supplements that can be cheaper than cruises.

 

I accept that it's pricier to travel as a solo but sometimes it does feel dispiriting to always have to look so hard for these kinds of deals. Through no fault of their own, solos almost always do pay more -- while listening to others talk about how they paid much less and how cruising is such a "value" vacation.

 

[*Miss G*]

15 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

There are some hotels that do provide a single rate (usually for a single room but sometimes called a "double for single use"), and there are some cruise lines that sporadically offer lower solo supplements (e.g., 120% rather than 175% or 200%). Likewise, there are some land tours with low or no solo supplements that can be cheaper than cruises.

 

I accept that it's pricier to travel as a solo but sometimes it does feel dispiriting to always have to look so hard for these kinds of deals. Through no fault of their own, solos almost always do pay more -- while listening to others talk about how they paid much less and how cruising is such a "value" vacation.

 

 

To be fair, my comparison was based on travel, food, and entertainment to the same ports as the cruise itinerary goes.  It just can’t be done for the same price on land as it can on a HAL ship.  As a note of interest, Avalon usually has a few “no single supplements” on offer for their river cruises if one were searching for solo deals.

[Bill B]

31 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 As a note of interest, Avalon usually has a few “no single supplements” on offer for their river cruises if one were searching for solo deals.

 

On the website of many cruise lines there's a page listing reduced, or no single supplement cruises:

 

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/special-offers/single-supplement

 

https://www.pgcruises.com/promotions/solo-travelers-save

 

https://seabournsolotraveler.com/

 

https://www.silversea.com/best-luxury-cruise-deals/single-occupancy-supplements.html

 

https://www.costacruises.eu/cruises.html?page=1#occupancy_EUR_Blue=A&guestAges=30&guestBirthdates=1992-11-21&{!tag=shipsTag}shipId=TO&group.sort=duration desc,departDate asc&{!tag=offerTag}campaignId_EUR_FAKESNG=Blue

Edited December 19, 2023 by Bill B

[CHIEFWINEMAKER]

On 12/18/2023 at 8:38 AM, Petronillus said:

 

As for DW and me, we have never splurged on a Neptune suite and don't find our verandah cabins to be attractive dining venues. Besides, we sort of pride ourselves on being low-maintenance clients. The very idea of a butler, for instance, we find abhorrent.

My feelings exactly ! Coffee and tea brought to our cabin at 7am is our idea of luxury. After we enjoy that treat there are plenty of venues, food and interactions with other travelers to keep us occupied and entertained.  

[Bill B]

On 12/18/2023 at 8:38 PM, Petronillus said:

The very idea of a butler, for instance, we find abhorrent.

 

You shouldn't. I did a Silversea (all suites and every suite has a butler) cruise and believe me - butlers are just glorified room stewards with a fancy title.

[VermeulT]

On 12/18/2023 at 7:37 AM, Real NHDOC said:

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about this issue.  They have been putting zero $ charges on the bills for several years (some ships do it differently than others).  For example, sometimes on the Pinnacle class ships if you order something from the NY Pizza and Deli or Dive In they will ask for your cabin number and show a $0 charge. 

 

They just do it for internal accounting so I wouldn't say it is indicating any changes to the "free room service" policy. 

 

For accounting for sure.  Someone with a statistics analysis background figures out how many people eat where and at what times.

[tuolumne couple]

10 hours ago, VermeulT said:

 

For accounting for sure.  Someone with a statistics analysis background figures out how many people eat where and at what times.

exactly. If you aren't at a table in the MDR, a specialty restaurant or ordering room service, I suppose that they can assume you are in the Lido. I would assume that Crew Appreciation follows this tracking.