$14.95 for STEAK???

[G'ma]

Why pay for anything when there is plenty of good food included in the cost of the cruise?

 

I'm in your camp on this one, fer sure.

 

I find dinner in the main dining room quite pleasant, with a good selection, well prepared and attractively served.... Dammed if I'll pay extra......

[G'ma]

You cant predetermine the person was not being truthful, thats just silly.

 

Maybe he was mistaken, legitimately.

 

(oops! Or- legitimately NOT,lol)

 

You're right; bad choice of words.

 

Let me rephrase that:

 

The review could have been more thorough if the reviewer had noted that the $14.95 steak was a special "Chop's" steak order and was in addition to the alternate steak selection.

 

Or, not having read the review, the reviewer could have purposely left the complete information out because he/she has a bone to pick about it.

 

Or, because he/she didn't read the entire menu but only noticed the price for this particular steak.

 

Oh, the possibilities are endless.:D

[G'ma]

Jumping to conclusions again are we? As you used OLD menus you really should find up to date information before you say someone is being "untruthful".

 

Personally, I believe this is only the beginning of extra charges in the main dining room.

 

I've already repaired the hole in that tire by saying it was a bad choice of words.

 

I, too, believe this is the beginning of more and more of the nonsense with "surcharges".....it's quicky becoming a cash cow.......and so many people are buying into it.

 

If nobody ordered it, it would soon disappear.....

[G'ma]

This is precisely why I've wanted to stay away from the specialty restaurants while at sea -- if ALL passengers boycotted the extra add-on stuff, it would stop. The problem is that enough people buy into it, and then the cruise execs feel justified in ramming it down everyone's throat.

Sadly, we can't charge Royal Caribbean or any other cruise line for our financial concerns. So even if we receive minimal raises and no bonuses (and insurance givebacks) in 2007, we don't get to take 10 percent off the cruise bill and call it a "reverse surcharge" to cover our costs.

But we DO get to starve the cruise lines when they institute genuinely extortionate charges - such as extra fees for any item on the main dining room menu. Personally, I'd rather keep the $14.95, order something different that night, and then buy a steak in the next port - even if it's more expensive. ANYTHING to discourage Royal Caribbean from further degrading its basic product.

 

Oh, I soooo agree with you.

 

Personally, I don't order any food item that must be paid for...that includes "specialty" coffee, pastries, cakes, "gourmet" cookies, specialty restaurants or anything else.

 

Wish more would follow. If people would stop patronizing these places, they would go away.......

[Merion_Mom]

Hi Merion Mom! Saw your note on our roll call and will check it out in 12 days...and report back. :) It's a very good question!

 

Thanks!

 

We are counting on you!

 

We need all of the details:

 

1. Is it there on the menu?

. . . . . Is it there every night?

2. Is there a regular non-upcharge steak on the menu?

. . . . . On any night? All nights?

3. Do they bring you a slip to sign, like all other items?

4. Do they add 15% gratuity to the $14.95?

5. Do you see anyone ordering it?

(are you going to order it, in the name of Cruise Critic integrity? ;) :D )

[TravlGrl]

Thanks!

 

We are counting on you!

 

We need all of the details:

 

1. Is it there on the menu?

. . . . . Is it there every night?

2. Is there a regular non-upcharge steak on the menu?

. . . . . On any night? All nights?

3. Do they bring you a slip to sign, like all other items?

4. Do they add 15% gratuity to the $14.95?

5. Do you see anyone ordering it?

(are you going to order it, in the name of Cruise Critic integrity? ;) :D )

 

I've already informed DH that I will be ordering it for him! :) I'm a vegetarian so I would only stare at it on my plate, but he would actually EAT it! :) Count on it!

 

I'm actually wondering if I should strike up a conversation about it at our table and ask others what they think about it. Odds are that they aren't Cruise Critic cruisers so it'll be interesting to get some thoughts from folks who aren't engaged in the conversation about it...and see what they think. :eek:

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

It's a vacation. It's a choice.

 

Obviously this bothers you very much.

 

Perhaps you would be less aggravated in a different setting.

 

(I have absolutely NO intention of ever having this "$14.95 Chops steak in the dining room" - my choice)

 

You seem powerfully intent on missing the point here. I wonder why.

What we're seeing is the diminuition of a quality product, much the same as we've been getting from the airlines for years. Food is removed from the list of amenities on short-haul flights in coach, then from transcon flights ... and then "food for purchase" is offered as a "choice." Soda (and on some airlines, even water) is then converted to a for-purchase "choice," too. Aisle seats, window seats ... these, too, are converted from free to a for-purchase "choice."

So unless we "choose" to fly in middle seats with no beverages or food, we can just pay more and shut up about it. Only a fool would view this as offering us "choices."

One would have to be profoundly naive - or deliberately ignorant - to miss the trend here. :rolleyes: A service or product that is traditionally free is slowly transitioned to an "extra," with new surcharges and fees.

When we began cruising a decade ago, perhaps the most attractive benefit was the "pay one price" system: You buy your tickets, and then count on unlimited food and basic non-alcoholic beverages. No extra $$ whatsoever. Period. No exceptions.

Then 24-7 lemonade vanished. Not a big deal, but it essentially wiped out the best alternative to buying Royal Caribbean's overpriced soda during the day. Next, soda at dinner became an add-on at an extra charge. No new value for passengers whatsoever; just Royal Caribbean's hand in our pockets - billing us for something that used to be part of the package.

The gradual direction here is to end the "all-inclusive" nature of cruising, and replace it with a long series of additional charges.

When the fatcat executives start getting customers conditioned to paying for basics in the dining room, there's a reason - and I don't believe it's the $14.95 revenue of the steak. Instead, it's the principle ... gradually, passengers will start accepting the notion that they should pull out the wallet at dinner to spring for "better" entrees. Why not start phasing in "better" fish and "better" veal dishes, all at premium prices?

Along the way, notice what happens to the core menu. I have. Compare an '08 menu to a '98 ... you're going to see lots more pasta entrees, vegetable dishes and chicken offerings. The names and descriptions will be as fancy and perhaps even exotic-sounding as ever, but the actual meal will be a lot cheaper for Royal Caribbean to serve. And the value to the customer will be that much less - but without any corresponding decrease in fare, any rebate, any improvement in other service. Simply more $$ out of your pocket and into Royal Caribbean's. The word is GREED.

And these trends aren't unrelated. If you're going to quietly force more customers to buy an unwanted upgrade, you've got to start subtly eroding the quality of the basic product. If you want to push those $14.95 steaks, then you'll eliminate the alternative menu steak ... or steadily downgrade the quality.

As the pressure builds to squeeze more and more profit out of the food upgrades, you can bank on further reductions to the size and quality of the basic entrees. That's the easiest way to drive more passengers to doing what was unthinkable just 10 years ago: Forking over money at each onboard meal. Does anyone really think Royal Caribbean (or any other cruise line) would voluntarily STOP forcing that trend forward?

What puzzles me is why people would act - and think - contrary to their own self-interest here. Why support any business that does a bait-and-switch aimed at you.

Why define a carefully orchestrated corporate campaign to pick your pocket with the happy bunny word "choice"? If the cruise line wants to offer me a choice, how about hiring some less-expensive excursion operators ... or booting Steiner on half the fleet, and hiring a better contractor ... or giving me a card to fill out at embarkation that lets me choose not to be approached by the ship photographer or the art auction hawkers. Oh yeah, they don't want me to have that choice!

So why would anyone defend the greed of the millionaire execs of the cruise line, rather than the interests of the paying customers whose business has enabled Royal Caribbean to expand its fleet and build ever-more-elaborate ships?

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

I foresee a time when only the buffet is "included" and ALL other eating venues will carry a charge! This is just a trial--if alot of folks start paying this, then they will add charges to additional menu items....just wait and see!

 

You've called this one, spot-on. Wouldn't be surprised if Royal Caribbean's executive offices have a 10-year or 5-year plan for shifting everything toward the Windjammer as the "all inclusive" version of the cruise ... with everything better coming at an extra charge. That's a world apart from what cruising used to be.

As much as I like Johnny Rocket's, I've resolved to never visit one on board. In the past, we've consistently walked past the premium coffee and ice cream shops that started appearing on ships a few years back ... because supporting them GUARANTEES that they will continue to spread, and that the cruise line will be encouraged to further cut back on the basic product.

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

 

Greed, hope for bigger bonuses and stock options, the usual.....:confused: :( :mad: .

 

Wait, I guess that wasn't the answer you were looking for. I was suppose to say it was the cruisers' fault.....:rolleyes:

 

 

You're right, Tranquil Waters.

Passengers were ordering seconds at dinner eight years ago, but the cruise lines were still highly profitable and promoted the practice ... waiters actually suggested it! So why would anyone suggest that's the reason for the $14.95 steak extortion, rather than the infinitely more obvious answer: Greed.

To say "So don't order it. Eat what is not an additional charge" is deliberately misleading - because the cruise line is steadily cutting back on what's available without additional cost.

Rates rose between 2000 and 2006, yet the dining experience was notably weakened. How do you justify charging more and providing less? Well, I suppose one way is to adopt the Cruise Critic Kool-Aid Society's favorite line of "Take what the cruise line gives you, be grateful for it and shut up!!"

"Some things are extra; some aren't." ... Ah, what don't you understand about the fact that MORE things are extra now, and FEWER aren't?

That means reduced value to the vacationer. Now if Royal Caribbean had balanced off this ugly attrition with something good, it would be another story. They could have added another lobster night to each cruise, or cut 5 percent a year off their fares, or started leaving 64-ounce Pepsi bottles and a six-pack of Michelob in every stateroom, or distributed free ship sweatshirts at embarkation ... but they didn't. They just relentlessly cut back amenities while adding obscenely overpriced "some things are extra" options.

The ONLY way for customers to defeat that trend is to make it unprofitable for them. If each ship returns with a few hundred unsold Chops steaks after each voyage, the company will eventually stop trying to peddle this junk. If the $4.95 fresh o.j. ends up in the bilge, that little scam will die off, too.

There's no way we can eliminate the art auctions, the horrible-odds casinos, the endless Tanzanite hawking, etc. ... but those who prefer can easily get through an entire cruise without spending a dime on any of that nonsense. And it won't detract from our vacation a bit. But when the company starts gouging us during meals, we're a more vulnerable audience.

There is NOTHING that would be as effective as a customer boycott of the upsells. :D

[Merion_Mom]

Don, you are summing up your own needs and experiences and preferences very well. And I won't disagree or argue with them - they are your opinions and totally valid.

 

But when you say that RC is not adding any value, you are off the mark.

 

What they are adding may not be important to you, but they are adding things. Those things are the ships' activities and amenities which didn't exist years ago. They are sinking money into flowriders, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, inline skating tracks, bigger and better gym equipment, boxing rings, saunas, wide Promenades, karaoke bars, bigger and better children's facilities and teen facilities, etc.

 

It's a deliberate business decision which you surely disagree with, but that's where they are choosing to invest their capital.

 

These are the things which apparently attract new cruisers.

 

This may be why it is time for you to find another favorite cruiseline, because RC is growing in a direction away from what makes you happy in a vacation. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

I don't like to see upcharges and surcharges either, but I merely choose not to purchase those things. I don't buy Ben and Jerry's ice cream, I don't pay for premium coffee, I buy very few photos, I don't pay for Johnny Rockets, and I almost never buy anything in the shops.

 

I *do* buy drinks, and do not find them overpriced. You would be hardpressed to pay only $8 for a drink where I live, so my drinks, which are usually $5.50 onboard, are quite reasonable in my mind.

 

I can live with eating decent but not fabulous food in the main dining room. I can go to Chops or Portofino if I want to, but I don't do it often - it's a splurge, like anything else. I don't EXPECT gourmet food in the MDR, and that's not dumbing down my expectations - it's reasonable, because RC doesn't promise a gourmet feast every night.

 

So, I'm not attacking you. I enjoy having a reasonable discussion, which I hope is what we are doing.

 

Whatever you do and wherever you go, I wish you fair skies and following winds.

 

:)

[dfishner]

Let's see a $14.95 steak is being offered in the dining room

Chances are very few people will order the steak for $14.95 in the main dining room. For all those who are getting upset about this just don't order it. I would never pay for it in the main dining room. I would in the speciality restaurants. If RCL is testing a surcharge on food in the MDR that one is way to high and I bet it will fall by the wayside.

 

As consumers we have the final say so on what we spend our money on..If cruising is starting to become to expensive or your tired of the nickle and diming maybe it is time to look for a different kind of vacation. I never thought cruising was all inclusive, When I cruise I do not buy photos, spend very little in the casino, spend a fair amout in the lounges, hardly spend anyting in any of the ship stores, spend on the specialty restaurants and that is my choice. I never felt I was being nickled and dimed on a cruise if I do not want it I don't buy it end of story.

[EscapeFromConnecticut]

Don, you are summing up your own needs and experiences and preferences very well. And I won't disagree or argue with them - they are your opinions and totally valid.

 

But when you say that RC is not adding any value, you are off the mark.

 

What they are adding may not be important to you, but they are adding things. Those things are the ships' activities and amenities which didn't exist years ago. They are sinking money into flowriders, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, inline skating tracks, bigger and better gym equipment, boxing rings, saunas, wide Promenades, karaoke bars, bigger and better children's facilities and teen facilities, etc.

 

It's a deliberate business decision which you surely disagree with, but that's where they are choosing to invest their capital.

 

These are the things which apparently attract new cruisers.

 

This may be why it is time for you to find another favorite cruiseline, because RC is growing in a direction away from what makes you happy in a vacation. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

I don't like to see upcharges and surcharges either, but I merely choose not to purchase those things. I don't buy Ben and Jerry's ice cream, I don't pay for premium coffee, I buy very few photos, I don't pay for Johnny Rockets, and I almost never buy anything in the shops.

 

I *do* buy drinks, and do not find them overpriced. You would be hardpressed to pay only $8 for a drink where I live, so my drinks, which are usually $5.50 onboard, are quite reasonable in my mind.

 

I can live with eating decent but not fabulous food in the main dining room. I can go to Chops or Portofino if I want to, but I don't do it often - it's a splurge, like anything else. I don't EXPECT gourmet food in the MDR, and that's not dumbing down my expectations - it's reasonable, because RC doesn't promise a gourmet feast every night.

 

So, I'm not attacking you. I enjoy having a reasonable discussion, which I hope is what we are doing.

 

Whatever you do and wherever you go, I wish you fair skies and following winds.

 

:)

 

The problem here is the suggestion that substituting an upsell for a core product is merely offering "a choice."

That has been the Big Lie of the vacation industry in recent years - providing customers with fewer choices and weaker products, yet masquerading the whole scam as some sort of customer service. It's called lying. And it's reprehensible.

Simple formula: Degrade and erode the core product, while slowly adding costlier alternatives. Eventually drive the customers away from what they thought they were buying - and what they'd set out to buy - and instead force them into taking the more expensive option that you're selling.

Perhaps some people aren't offended by this. Maybe you call it simply "a free market."

Others of us see it as disgracefully arrogant greed. Regardless, all Royal Caribbean passengers need to be aware of it ... for we are not only cruisers and vacationers, but also consumers. And clearly, this cruise line profits most from us when we are uneducated consumers.

So I will call anyone to task for endorsing the "it's just another choice" line - because that is simply anti-consumer propaganda.

As for finding another cruise line, perhaps. My plan, though, is to do what ALL Royal Caribbean customers ought to consider: Retaliate. :)

In our past cruises, I never once brought alcohol or soda aboard. It seemed tacky, but also fundamentally unfair to Royal Caribbean. They were giving a fair product and in exchange were entitled to my soda and bar business.

But as they're now gouging and cheating, the rules change. Royal Caribbean will not again profit from beverage service with our account. ;)

My wife and I frequently booked excursions through the cruise line, too. This was partly for convenience and dependability, but also - as silly as this sounds - to be decent customers. Really. But that ends now, too. The souvenirs from the shops end as well; anything I need will be bought on shore.

We'll continue to tip significantly-better-than-average because the staff is innocent in all of this. But as for the cruise line, it can expect me to play a new onboard game: "Nickel-and-dime Royal Caribbean." Just how low can that disembarkation statement go? :D

[Gracie115]

AMAZING!! I started this thread just to get a clarification...never dreamed it would wind up a debate on all things cruising.......didn't mean to make anyone angry or upset....

 

Thanks for help with the answer everyone!!

[luvscruising2007]

I believe I have read most if not all of the posts in this thread. However, I don't remember if any other ship besides Freedom has this new charge. DH often orders the alternative steak. I hope this is not fleet wide. Does anyone know for sure?

[Gracie115]

Well some of the posts said there was still the alternative sirloin steak in addition to the CHOPS steak and some said there wasn't so I guess it just depends on what ship you are on!!

[PSCruiser]

I believe I have read most if not all of the posts in this thread. However, I don't remember if any other ship besides Freedom has this new charge. DH often orders the alternative steak. I hope this is not fleet wide. Does anyone know for sure?

 

Yes, would some other recent cruisers chime in on whether the $15 steak option has been seen on other ships? Wondering if this is a permanent, fleet-wise change, or a test.

[CTCcruiserr]

In several pevious posts the usual "if you do not like it cruise on another cruiseline or do something else" ands that is excellent advice. I have cancelled both of my families 2009 cruises and have booked all-inclusive land vacations. I will certainly cruise again but will wait until this all falls out and see what the product offered contains. I have always cruised in suites and the prices on Oasis for suites are too high as are suites on other ships for 2010. I certainly wish all of you happy cruising but I will be doing somewthing else for a couple of years.

[lysolqn]

You're right; bad choice of words.

 

Let me rephrase that:

 

The review could have been more thorough if the reviewer had noted that the $14.95 steak was a special "Chop's" steak order and was in addition to the alternate steak selection.

 

Or' date=' not having read the review, the reviewer could have purposely left the complete information out because he/she has a bone to pick about it.

 

Or, because he/she didn't read the entire menu but only noticed the price for this particular steak.

 

Oh, the possibilities are endless.:D[/quote']

 

- the $14.95 "upgrade" is not in addition to the alternate steak selection; it IS the alternate steak selection.

 

- I did not purposely leave out complete information and have no bone to pick about "it" or anything else for that matter.

 

- I did read the entire menu - every night; it's pretty hard NOT to notice the price for the steak selection since it's smack dab in the middle of the menu and is boxed and in bold print.

 

- the endless possibilities you suggest are the result of your refusal to accept the reality of RCCL's decision to offer a pay as you go upgrade to its dinner menu.

[curley23]

Don't see what all the fuss is about. Most of you who have been complaining are the same ones who have complained about food quality on other threads.

Again, RCI gives you another choice, and you have a problem with it. It is not like they already took some everyday item from the menu, and now you have to pay for it. Maybe you would rather have RCI raise the fares 50 or 100 $$ across the board and include it, however, there are also some who could care less, and wouldn't eat it anyway. This is where choice comes in. It is good for everyone.

If you can't seem to grasp the concept of choice, rather than just have them increase fares and force people to buy something they may not want, then maybe you need to go elsewhere. I am sure there are plenty of people who would rather choose how to spend their money, rather than someone else doing it for them.

If you are one who would rather see RCI increase prices, and offer better food, then you already have your wish. Oh, sorry, you get to choose how to do it.

[Tranquil Waters]

.... It is not like they already took some everyday item from the menu, and now you have to pay for it.....

 

This is where your argument falls apart. According to posters, there are some ships that have indeed taken away "some everyday item from the menu" - the free steak alternative is no longer on the menu. If you want a steak alternative, you indeed "now have to pay for it". :( :)

 

Now this may not be the case on all ships at this moment in time, but if they can make it work on some ships, I think we will definately see the policy carried out on all ships sooner rather than later....

[lysolqn]

It is not like they already took some everyday item from the menu, and now you have to pay for it.

 

That is exactly what they have done.

 

They've removed steak as an every day alternative selection and replaced it with the $14.95 New York strip steak from Chops.

[curley23]

This is where your argument falls apart. According to posters, there are some ships that have indeed taken away "some everyday item from the menu" - the free steak alternative is no longer on the menu. If you want a steak alternative, you indeed "now have to pay for it". :( :)

 

Now this may not be the case on all ships at this moment in time, but if they can make it work on some ships, I think we will definately see the policy carried out on all ships sooner rather than later....

 

A Chops NY strip was never an everyday item. As a previous poster stated, the sirloin steak was still there and this was added.

I don't see anything falling apart here.

Seems there is still a bunch of speculation. Does someone have an actual copy of the menu to post here.

[petesweet]

How do you justify charging more and providing less? :D

 

I guess your call for a boycott means we won't be seeing you on any Royal Caribbean cruises in the future.

 

As for charging more and providing less, I suppose you haven't bought a "pound" of coffee, a candy bar, or a box of cereal over the past years.

[Jamielps]

I just had a couple more thoughts on this. I own a manufacturing company and in the past year with the price of gas increasing have seen unforeseen costs, gas and other, creep into my every day life.

 

With the exception of the gas surcharge, I have not noticed that RCCL's prices are that much higher then normal. Some ships are less expensive then others but I have to assume that with the larger Freedom / Voyager classes this is because of the many amenities they do offer with no charge. That being said, since their prices are fairly consistent during this economic time they are trimming all the fat where they can to not significantly change the cruising experience while trying to keep prices manageable. An example of this could be the steak as an alternative every night. Fortunately no one is forced to order it! IMHO sometimes I want a steak so I don't mind paying, and would rather have the option to at least pay for it then not at all. I may be naive but if this was a sign of times to come with the nickel and dimming , then I would assume many loyal RCCL fans would "jump ship" to other cruise lines. Hopefully this is just a temporary situation with extra costs on their end that they are trying not to force on us. :o

[VillaHappy]

I have a problem with this. $14.95 for a Chops steak. The total cover charge at Chops is $20.00 for an amazing meal, app, sides, entree, and dessert, and GREAT service.

 

So, given the steak is $14.95 does that mean all of the rest is just worth $5.05?

 

Good point!