Pay As We Go???

[sail7seas]

The thread below with discussion about who might want liquor or soft drinks included in our fare brought to mind a conversation we had here some time ago. I'm wondering how people feel about "Pay as We Go" as pertains to food.

 

Would you like it to be that if you want a hamburg, you buy it like at any hotel? You go to dinner and order from the menu with prices like anywhere else where we dine away from home?

 

There might be some upsides to it?

How bad do you feel the downsides might be?

[localady]

We are taking our teen boys to cruise for Christmas. The reason we chose a cruise is because we know the food is included. I did a road trip with them and almost went broke on feeding them.

I would think that we'd end up spending more on a cruise if it was more like Easy Cruise. I would shy away from that pay as you go arrangement.

[doone]

I would shy away from cruises also if it were pay as you go. Nope, not for me, keep it the way it is. You know the old saying, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

[karen2cruz]

Definitely would not cruise anymore if I had to think about more expenses than I already do. Right now I just can think about a specialty restaurant charge and soda card (both optional and can live without).

 

I also have teen boys- wow... paying for food on a cruise would be a nightmare. That is why we have a travel trailer for land vacations. Can stock up on food in the RV for those boys!!

[Druke I]

I would not care to go on a cruise where you paid for meals, etc, or as OP put it "pay as you go".

[newmexicoNita]

that is not what cruising is all about; it is all inclusive to some degree and always has been. I don't think this would work. There is a new, small line that does offer exactly that: pay as you go for everything, but it is designed for those who are traveling on a very tight budget and are using the cruise as a means of transportation only pretty much. NMnita

[KAKcruiser]

This is a very slippery slope. Please do not give the cruise lines any ideas. Before you know it, we would be paying the same we do now in addition to paying for food. They have already started this with the specialty restaurants and the coffee bars.

[elmorejj]

And just think, maybe having to make your own bed and clean the bathroom.....UGH!!....jean:cool:

[Randyk47]

We're hooked on cruising and one of the many reasons we are is the cost of food being included in the fare. When we consider, and we still do the research from time to time to make sure we're making the right decision, what kind of vacation to take, be it land based or cruising, food expense is one of the key determinations. Even with recent cruise fare increases cruising is still the best value, charging for food and other aspects now included in the cruise cost might challenge the "best value" notion.

[LHC]

the wonderful thing about cruising is no it is not cheap but you know the cost and what is included before you leave and the basics have been paid for at least 60 days prior to your cruise. This leave 60 days to save for bingo, casino, drinks, excursions, tours, etc.....

Not having to worry about the cost of your food is a blessing....also the service is excellent and everyone gets the same kind of room service except for those truly blessed suite passengers who must be living just like in almost Heaven.

Linda

[Bucky3]

Absolutely would not like the concept of "pay as you go" for food.

[thomasale]

no way

[gizmo]

This is a very slippery slope. Please do not give the cruise lines any ideas. Before you know it, we would be paying the same we do now in addition to paying for food. They have already started this with the specialty restaurants and the coffee bars.

 

DITTO

 

It is almost like that on NCL and it's Freestyle Dining. The ship has mulitple places to eat, but many of them charge extra. :eek:

[sail7seas]

DITTO

 

It is almost like that on NCL and it's Freestyle Dining. The ship has mulitple places to eat, but many of them charge extra. :eek:

 

 

Hmmm....something to think about. Their ships are going out as full as the other cruiselines' ships, aren't they?

 

Have to imagine the whole industry is carefully watching. I also wonder if they are so tired of the huge amount of food waste. So many take huge plates full of food, taste a little of this and that, push it around and discard it. Then go back and take more food and waste much of that, too. If people are paying for their meal directly, unless there is something wrong with it, most tend to be far less wasteful. IMO

 

I, however, agree with every other poster to this thread. I think it a bad idea and we, too, would carefully do the cost comparison between cruising and resort/land based vacations.

[bepsf]

While I don't mind occasionally paying extra for the privlidge of dining in a specialty restaurant/grillroom with more personalized/elegant service and unique menu, I certainly would not wish to pay every single time for every single meal or cuppa that I order - inclusive food is one of the things that makes cruising such an appealing vacation!

I understand that Costa on their European itineraries currently charge some for room service - primarily to cut down on the aforementioned food-waste issues as much was ordered to just have in the stateroom but would go untouched (its a cultural/hospitality issue - not a revenue-generating issue)

[boomerSexyK]

:eek: Pay for food??? I guess we already do that ( in the price). But there is something to be said for the elegance of and carefree attitude of knowing it is all included, Isn't that one of the reasons why so many of the land-based resorts in the Caribbean are all-inclusive? I agree that there is huge waste in food onboard, but I also think that is true for so many of "dining included" options that are available for vactioners. I would venture to say that also is a lot cheaper for the "hosts", be they cruiseline or land-based, to serve up a few different entrees for dinner as opposed to an open menu style of ordering. Does anybody know (Host Doug/Walt) what the monetary value the cruiseline sets up for food/pax when determining their cruise prices?? Whatever it is, I would doubt very much if that amount made its way into reduced price for cruising. For myself, I would in all likelyhood go back to including land-based vacations in my travel planning options if cruiselines started to charge separately for dining.

I mean how else can you chat-up the person next to you in the casino that evening while you evaluate your various take on the glaze used at dinner??? LOL:)

[gizmo]

Does anybody know (Host Doug/Walt) what the monetary value the cruiseline sets up for food/pax when determining their cruise prices??

 

I do not know if this is still the case, but at one time a chef or whomever was allocated x amount of dollars PP. Some cruises were allocated more than other. Caribbean was the lowest with World Cruises being the highest.

[Roz]

One of the most attractive features of a cruise for me is the fact that it frees me from budgeting on a day to day basis. My lodging, food, most beverages, entertainment, and transportation from port to port is included and prepaid.

 

If I had to pay as I went along, I would look seriously at all-inclusive resorts.

 

Roz

[gizmo]

Hmmm....something to think about. Their ships are going out as full as the other cruiselines' ships, aren't they?

 

Have to imagine the whole industry is carefully watching.

 

NCL has a big following. The entire cruise industry does watch and then copies what another does.

 

NCL has been the leader in many things. They were first with:

A Private Island.

Alternate dining, which was free.

Charge for the alternate dining.

Freestyle dining

 

All of the above were copied by other cruise lines except Freestyle. Some cruise lines have marketed their version of FS, Princess with Personal Choice and even Hal with the 4 dining times and now the Any Time dining or whatever it is they are calling it.

I think Hal's version with the 4 dining times was more of a marketing thing, where they make someone think they have choices.

[sail7seas]

Yep....guess that is what I'm saying, isn't it. ;)

[RuthC]

I've been a picky eater from the time I was taken off the bottle. :rolleyes: Now, at this late stage of the game, I'm trying to learn to eat new foods. The way cruising sets up food service---especially at the Lido---helps a lot in this regard. I can try out a little something without making a committment. I've even added some foods to real life from this! :)

Beyond that, there's the whole "cruising atmosphere" thing about the all-inclusive package. It's what cruising has been for longer than I've cruised. To take it away wouldn't be what I enjoy.

[kakalina]

No! What a horrible thought Sails; bite your tongue.;)

[sail7seas]

No! What a horrible thought Sails; bite your tongue.;)

 

 

:D I totally agree, Kakalina...... I would hate to see that happen.

[Guest Celestia]

Part (a large part, actually) of why cruising *is* a vacation for me is that once you've paid your fare there is no need for stressing over the budget (or cooking meals or washing dishes!)

 

We don't do much of anything that costs 'extra' on a cruise. There's no need to in our view - we've no use for spas, upcharge food or drinks, or gambling. We know and have paid in advance the fare, the few excursions and the included tips. We get a break from worry about daily expenses - for two weeks they are all paid - it's wonderfullly relaxing!

 

I can stay home and stress about the food budget. Pay as you go would just be taking that stress to other locations, not 'a vacation' in my view.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I just doubt this will ever happen, there might be a cruise line that could try it but it most lightly would be the start of the sinking so to speak:D

 

Now I could see some limitations come into place and time certain foods are served but to start charging will not likely happen. Plus they actually have been with the increased cruises prices to pay for fuel and food.