$3.95 Service Charge for Room Service starting

[G'ma]

We are averaging around $122 per day for our booked cruises.

 

As far as the service charge for the wee hours of the night room service, it sounds like RCCL just wants to make sure the staff get tipped during those hours. My guess is a lot of people aren't tipping. Most people who work midnight and after in the U.S. get an extra amount in their salary.

 

I agree. I believe that many people stiff the room service people...especially those who think tipping is unnecessary and remove the auto-tips using one excuse or another.

 

I'll bet Carnival is licking their chops over some of this money grubbing behavior from RCCL and others.

[scottie99]

I have just noticed this bit on the memo and wondering if this is new?

 

"A full breakfast menu with egg dishes is offered between 7-10AM.

 

Full dining room menus are available for in-stateroom service during lunch

and dinner times."

 

With regard to egg dishes wasn't it just omlettes you could order before for brekkie? I wonder if this means Eggs Benedict will be available from room service?

 

Also wasnt it previously a restricted menu from room service for lunch and dinner unless you were in a suite?

 

Liz,

 

Is this fleetwide, starting from tomorrow?

 

I dont think I have ever ordered room service after Midnight, but the idea of of eggs and bacon in my cabin sounds good!

 

(4 days until the Brilliance!)

[BroncosFan2010]

I guess I will have to order my midnight cookies and milk a little earlier now. Grrr..... Why do they have to nickel and dime us on everything? It is bad enough to pay twice the price for a crappy bottle of wine, a good steak, and a decent burger. Now room service charge? Ugh!

[Elizanessie]

Could you please post a link to this info. As senrab said, it's not that I doubt you, but I always like to read the actual press release, so I can see if there is any info "hidden between the lines". You've been asked twice, and in neither reply have you given a link. I checked RCCL's site, searched all over to no avail, including the "What's New" page. I would like to see how they are implementing this. I find this especially interesting when one considers that it is a (albeit small) policy change taking place almost immediately. I would think there would be more advance notice of this.

 

OTOH, in all reality, it's an extremely minor issue. :cool:

 

I cannot give you a link to the info as it isnt on the website or anywhere yet. The info was provided to me by email from RCCL as a heads up,as I have already explained :D

[madforcruising]

I agree. I believe that many people stiff the room service people...especially those who think tipping is unnecessary and remove the auto-tips using one excuse or another.

 

I'll bet Carnival is licking their chops over some of this money grubbing behavior from RCCL and others.

 

At what point did RCCL start auto tipping?:confused:

[Cruising89143]

At what point did RCCL start auto tipping?:confused:

 

I think that she is referring to her fellow Carnival cruisers!!!!!!;) Also, Carnival can lick whatever they want. A $3.95 surcharge for room service is not going to get me back on the so called "Fun" ships!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SavageCruiser]

Beginning January 2009 there will be a service charge of $3.95 for room service ordered between 12-5am, this includes the gratuity.

 

Liz - As far as you know does this actually just apply to the delivery time or will it apply to order cards for breakfast that are put out after 12am but not delivered until 8am

[astrohip]

I cannot give you a link to the info as it isnt on the website or anywhere yet. The info was provided to me by email from RCCL as a heads up,as I have already explained :D

Thanks for the quick reply. I didn't mean to offend (and it sounds like I did--my apologies), it's just seems so strange to me to have a policy change with 24 hours notice.

 

Oh well, no biggie . . . :)

[wr813]

Here is what is still posted on RCCL.com website:

 

Included in your cruise ticket price is the entertainment, most meals (main dining, buffet dining, room service), your accommodations, and activities including our amazing fitness center, entertainment and our award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Program. You are expected to tip your cruise staff, but you can purchase tips in advance so you don't have to worry about it during your cruise. Some drinks, such as alcohol and soda are extra, but we offer unlimited soda packages for your convenience. And that's not all. For an extra cost, we have additional specialty dining venues, casinos, shopping, and shore excursions

 

If they were going to change this tomorrow, I highly believe it would be changed on their own website. Plus, those of us who have already booked would fall under the old rules of room service included. It would be like them trying to add a fuel surcharge to the already paid cruises.(that didn't work too well.)

[Lynnees]

I can't say that I have been notified yet either. Would this by chance be strictly for European sailings rather that "over here"? Europeans are not used to leaving a gratuity so I know there is less given.

[wr813]

This is also from their own website.

 

Maybe you want to sleep in or just spend a night relaxing in your stateroom; either way, you still have to eat. That's why we offer complimentary room service to all our guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 24 hours a day. So go ahead and have breakfast in bed or enjoy a sweet temptation dessert on your balcony. After all, you're on vacation.

Find Ships That Feature This

 

Also from their website.

 

Costs

All meals (including coffee, tea, water, iced tea or lemonade) delivered by room service are included in the price of your cruise. Specialty beverages, beer, wine and soda are offered at current bar menu prices.

[madforcruising]

Here is what is still posted on RCCL.com website:

 

Included in your cruise ticket price is the entertainment, most meals (main dining, buffet dining, room service), your accommodations, and activities including our amazing fitness center, entertainment and our award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Program. You are expected to tip your cruise staff, but you can purchase tips in advance so you don't have to worry about it during your cruise. Some drinks, such as alcohol and soda are extra, but we offer unlimited soda packages for your convenience. And that's not all. For an extra cost, we have additional specialty dining venues, casinos, shopping, and shore excursions

 

If they were going to change this tomorrow, I highly believe it would be changed on their own website. Plus, those of us who have already booked would fall under the old rules of room service included. It would be like them trying to add a fuel surcharge to the already paid cruises.(that didn't work too well.)

 

This is also from their own website.

 

Maybe you want to sleep in or just spend a night relaxing in your stateroom; either way, you still have to eat. That's why we offer complimentary room service to all our guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 24 hours a day. So go ahead and have breakfast in bed or enjoy a sweet temptation dessert on your balcony. After all, you're on vacation.

Find Ships That Feature This

 

Also from their website.

 

Costs

All meals (including coffee, tea, water, iced tea or lemonade) delivered by room service are included in the price of your cruise. Specialty beverages, beer, wine and soda are offered at current bar menu prices.

 

 

The food as described will still be included, the 3.95 is a delivery charge;)

[Elizanessie]

Beginning January 2009 there will be a service charge of $3.95 for room service ordered between 12-5am, this includes the gratuity.

 

Liz - As far as you know does this actually just apply to the delivery time or will it apply to order cards for breakfast that are put out after 12am but not delivered until 8am

 

It is for orders delivered between 12midnight-5AM :)

[NanciRDH]

Even if you order something late every night, it's still less than $30.00...will that amount really make or break you on a cruise? I realize that there's alot of change this and charge that on every cruise line...and any other type of vacation you might choose to take, but many of the charges are optional. You don't have to drink, eat in the supper clubs or order room service, then there's no worry about any extra charges.

 

Hey Liz! Thanks for starting the fun today...;)

[Cruising89143]

This is also from their own website.

 

Maybe you want to sleep in or just spend a night relaxing in your stateroom; either way, you still have to eat. That's why we offer complimentary room service to all our guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 24 hours a day. So go ahead and have breakfast in bed or enjoy a sweet temptation dessert on your balcony. After all, you're on vacation.

Find Ships That Feature This

 

Also from their website.

 

Costs

All meals (including coffee, tea, water, iced tea or lemonade) delivered by room service are included in the price of your cruise. Specialty beverages, beer, wine and soda are offered at current bar menu prices.

 

And for the ones of us that have been around for a while, know that the cruise lines do not always update their website in a timely manner when changes are made.

 

I'm sure that we will be hearing from folks soon if this change is put into place tomorrow. My guess is it will start on the next cruise for each ship in place of 1/01/09.

[ssatterly]

I am usally in bed by then anyway!!!! and if I do order then thatsn the amount I tip anyway!!!! So there is really no diffrence...

[Elizanessie]

Thanks for the quick reply. I didn't mean to offend (and it sounds like I did--my apologies), it's just seems so strange to me to have a policy change with 24 hours notice.

 

Oh well, no biggie . . . :)

 

No worries :D

 

It wont show on the website until it is implemented...just as it was when the smoking in cabins rule came into being and fuel supplement changes etc. I have known about it for few days but wasnt able to post it until I got it confirmed...sorry :o

[Lynnees]

I've just taken a look through cruisingpower and can't see any notation to this effect.

[wr813]

Not saying 3.95 will break me but. . . .

 

This would truly be a bait and switch move on their part. Anyone who has booked and/or paid should fall under the old rules when the "free" room service was/is being advertised.

 

What if I show up in March on the Majesty and they decide to charge for water, dining room food, windjammer, etc. That is basically the same type of thing you are talking about in charging for room service.

[Elizanessie]

I can't say that I have been notified yet either. Would this by chance be strictly for European sailings rather that "over here"? Europeans are not used to leaving a gratuity so I know there is less given.

 

No it is not just on European cruises. It is Fleetwide on sailings starting 01/01/09.

[wr813]

Also, don't want to get flamed, but I will tip less on this cruise if this 3.95 charge is going to start. If they change the rules, I guess I will also.

[Cruising89143]

Also, don't want to get flamed, but I will tip less on this cruise if this 3.95 charge is going to start. If they change the rules, I guess I will also.

 

 

Tip who less? Room steward? Dining room staff?

[Brad1185]

Are you sure this is not a joke. I think all of you dreamed this up playing a cruel joke on Brad to just to get me all worked up.

 

See how RCI starts with Midnight, next 10pm, then all room service.

 

I still amazed on how many here just love any extra charge.

 

I'm still not over the $3.95 jr and $14.95 mdr charges, now this.

 

This change would actually save me $1.05 from the $5.00 tip the person would have received. Now the crew will make less in tips.

[weary traveler]

for my 12 BLT's and dozen cookies....

:p

[madforcruising]

Not saying 3.95 will break me but. . . .

 

This would truly be a bait and switch move on their part. Anyone who has booked and/or paid should fall under the old rules when the "free" room service was/is being advertised.

 

What if I show up in March on the Majesty and they decide to charge for water, dining room food, windjammer, etc. That is basically the same type of thing you are talking about in charging for room service.

 

 

Well they started charging for steak in the MDR a while ago. How does that fit into your quotes?