Cruise Passenger Revenge?

[Mikel1733]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/04/27/cruise.passengers.revenge/index.html

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

This looks like a re-run of a previous article I read sometime ago. The guys that complained about the fees was supposedly told that his cruise was an all-inclusive deal. Doubt it. It is spelled out everywhere all the things that cost extra. Duh! Many people exit the ship with zero on their sail & sign account. It can be done. But I certainly always pay for the extra's. Love their flavored rums in the gift shop and love the pictures. Of course I have to drink at the clubs.

[Mikel1733]

This looks like a re-run of a previous article I read sometime ago. The guys that complained about the fees was supposedly told that his cruise was an all-inclusive deal. Doubt it. It is spelled out everywhere all the things that cost extra. Duh! Many people exit the ship with zero on their sail & sign account. It can be done. But I certainly always pay for the extra's. Love their flavored rums in the gift shop and love the pictures. Of course I have to drink at the clubs.

 

Squeeky wheels always seem to get the oil. A cruise wouldn't be a cruise for me without a few DOD's. :p

[poobears]

Well that was an odd read. Since when is stiffing the crew on tips, not eating at the specialty rest. and not buying pics news worthy? LOL

[tef43]

Yawn.

 

I'd like the 2 minutes of my life back that it took to read that drivel.

[Maraprince]

The title of the article is misleading. It is really a matter of being "practical" by watching your wallet. But that would not have gathered people's attention.

 

No one forces you to spend money once you board. It is up to you if you want to spend your money and what you want to spend it on. Many NCL passengers boast all the time of not spending a penny on board (that includes not tipping since with free style dining they never have the same wait staff).

 

The bigger issue is the continued misreprentation of by some TA's that cruises are all inclusive. This sets up the first time cruiser to expect that he/she will not have to spend any additional money once on board for extras.

 

 

MARAPRINCE

[kyrisong1]

I love the line "assaulted by photographers", never once have I been assaulted by a photog, in fact they ask I say nay or yay and thats the end of it.

Specialty restaurants are optional, there are still main dining, lido and room service as well as the Pizza/pasta and grill options that are free.

I believe if you want to pay 3,000 more for booze included you can do so on Crystal isn't it? I've never drank that much to bit*& about it.

This is a case of "me me" people liking to complain and a newpaper having a slow news day.............lol

Never know I might "get back" at the newspapers for "assaulting me" with stupid stories by not subscribing to that rag............:rolleyes:

Carole

[umwife11]

It's pieces like those that make me ashamed to be a journalist--with all due respect, my editor would rip me a new one for that sensationalistic tripe.

 

The first guy he interviewed obviously did not do his research on his vacation. He wasn't charged $30 for a nice meal. He was given the option to have his free dinner in the dining room (or buffet...or room service) OR he could pay extra for a NICER dinner. And paying extra for drinks is an exaggeration...my husband doesn't drink soda or alcohol. But he sure loves apple juice, lemonade and water...all drinks, all free. And "mandatory gratuity at the end of his cruise"--again, you're told about that when you book AND you're given the option to adjust said gratuity or take it off altogether.

 

Even the friggin' fuel surcharges (which honestly, were BS) were a temporary thing while fuel was sky-high.

 

You want to write a hit piece on being nickel-and-dimed Mr. Elliott, try your hand at the airlines. Lots and lots of material there. Start with that European line asking passengers to pay to use the restroom.

 

I'm not saying this to be a cruising cheerleader...I just really have a hard time feeling sympathy for people who do not bother to prepare themselves about their vacation properly and then complain about it when they get back.

 

No one makes you buy the pictures, the drinks, the shore excursions or the supper club meals. Stop whining about them.

[LemurCat]

Yawn.

 

I'd like the 2 minutes of my life back that it took to read that drivel.

 

Ehhh ... you only would have wasted it on another thread. ;)

[tef43]

Ehhh ... you only would have wasted it on another thread. ;)

Nah, it just delayed me mixing another Dark 'n Stormy.

[techmom]

I love the line "assaulted by photographers", never once have I been assaulted by a photog, in fact they ask I say nay or yay and thats the end of it.

Specialty restaurants are optional, there are still main dining, lido and room service as well as the Pizza/pasta and grill options that are free.

I believe if you want to pay 3,000 more for booze included you can do so on Crystal isn't it? I've never drank that much to bit*& about it.

This is a case of "me me" people liking to complain and a newpaper having a slow news day.............lol

Never know I might "get back" at the newspapers for "assaulting me" with stupid stories by not subscribing to that rag............:rolleyes:

Carole

 

I agree! We were looking at an all inclusive resort and for the 2 of us with airfare it was going to be $3500. Well we booked the Pride for May where we are driving to the Port and saving $2000. You see my husband doesn't drink and although I sure could try, $2000 worth of drinks for the week is a bit more than I care to spend.

 

Supper club, we did it for Christmas, Photos-nope. Those are decisions you make-there is no one there twisting your arm saying you have to do these things.

 

Put things in the paper that matter!

[DarthGrady]

It gets me how much folks complain about the fuel/supper club/steak/room service surcharges. Even with all that, cruising is still the best vacation value around.

 

The rates nowadays are almost the same or cheaper than what was being charged over 20 years ago ( I actually have the 1983 Carnival Catalog!:D). I have no problem at all plopping down $450 bucks for a 7 day cruise, $60 more for a night at the supper club, then some pictures, souvenirs, and a few drinks. We still come away at less than $1500 for the two of us for a weeklong trip. I am pretty sure we couldn't do a week at Sandals for that price.

[kyrisong1]

I love the line "assaulted by photographers", never once have I been assaulted by a photog, in fact they ask I say nay or yay and thats the end of it.

Specialty restaurants are optional, there are still main dining, lido and room service as well as the Pizza/pasta and grill options that are free.

I believe if you want to pay 3,000 more for booze included you can do so on Crystal isn't it? I've never drank that much to bit*& about it.

This is a case of "me me" people liking to complain and a newpaper having a slow news day.............lol

Never know I might "get back" at the newspapers for "assaulting me" with stupid stories by not subscribing to that rag............:rolleyes:

Carole

Yeah the all inclusive resorts are expensive, we tried it back in the mid 90s great price for a new resort opening in Cancun. The free alcohol was so watered down we could start drinking at 9am and not even catch a buzz. We had to go to the bars in town to get "real" alcohol.

Now thats not to say that the nice all inclusives have watered down alcohol, but this one sure did.

At least on the ship I control how much I spend on drinks and the drinks are usually way strong enough for me.

And when you're in a place like Coz, some of those all inclusive day resorts have GREAT magaritas, and strong!!!!

I think cruising is one of the best vacation values, and we certainly enjoy it.

Carole

[kyrisong1]

See all I have to do is start thinking about DOD's and Margaritas in Coz and I end up quoting myself:eek::D;)

[tedjazz]

How Interesting...I thought to myself when I read this article, then the posts. I know this one's gonna get Flamed. Now if the article would have said something about the cruiselines that was glowing or cast them in a much more positive light, the same posters would have been nominating the piece for a Purlitzer Prize. Really, try to take an objective look at the world sometime, it can be liberating :)

[NOLA_Cruiser88]

I have only been on one cruise but this article was full of BS.. Since when is there no drinking age at sea on cruises? Since when was an optional gratuity placed on your S&S as a service so you dont have to load envelopes MANDATORY (although you are pathetic if you dont tip) On that note why not do a piece on the 50 dollars a month the staff makes if you dont tip... I didnt pay 30 extra for a meal on my cruise I simply chose not to. I also liked the OPTION of being able to get a professional photo as well.

[ib4cruzn]

How Interesting...I thought to myself when I read this article, then the posts. I know this one's gonna get Flamed. Now if the article would have said something about the cruiselines that was glowing or cast them in a much more positive light, the same posters would have been nominating the piece for a Purlitzer Prize. Really, try to take an objective look at the world sometime, it can be liberating :)

 

I must be the only one who thinks the photographers are a PITA. Who wants to wait for 1.5 hours to get off in port because some idiot with a fake parrot wants a photo op. I know I can say "no" but that doesn't fix the traffic jam they create.

 

Honestly, sometimes I wouldn't be surprised to pull the shower curtain back and find one there.

 

Why don't they just set up shop and those who wish to can visit?

[ib4cruzn]

I also liked the OPTION of being able to get a professional photo as well.

 

Good luck!

[dan40]

Some talent or knowledge lacking chump reporter has written an almost identical "report" every year for about the last 20 years.

Specialty restaurants are more than 20 years old.

Bar charges are as old as I am and more.

Photos at a price? A cruise standby of 3 or 4 or more decades.

Casinos? SINCE forever!

Excursions, same thing!

The only newish money maker and its a good 10 years old now is the specialty coffee, dessert shops.

But ALL options, none mandatory. And since it was a Carnival cruise to lead off the article. Even the tips are optional.

 

Did someone tell the passenger the cruise was "all inclusive?" VERY POSSIBLY, someone did. A PVP? A TA? His brother-in-law that never cruised?

Seems a 'reporter' writing an expose would find the answer to that fairly basic question. IF he had any concept of accurate, unbiased reporting.

Did cruise prices rise after the huge downturn after 9/11? Yes, they did increase. To above pre 9/11 levels? NO! They stayed below pre 9/11 levels even thru 2008, today they are lower yet.

DO cruiselines go out of their way to inform everyone of optional xtra costs? No, they don't make a big show of it, but they don't hide it either.

A passenger that does a little bit of research on his own WILL know. Others, like in the 'report', will blame others for their own ignorance.

 

Next year, another know-nothing reporter WILL write about the same 'report.'

[Mikel1733]

I must be the only one who thinks the photographers are a PITA. Who wants to wait for 1.5 hours to get off in port because some idiot with a fake parrot wants a photo op. I know I can say "no" but that doesn't fix the traffic jam they create.

 

When they do the photo with the showgirls I always am happy to let them take as much time as possible. :D

[DqALEX]

Carnival is still the best bang for the buck.

[LHP]

All that article did was make Steve Roberts (the cruiser doing the complaining) look stupid and uneducated. I bet his family is proud!! :rolleyes:

[tedjazz]

Some talent or knowledge lacking chump reporter has written an almost identical "report" every year for about the last 20 years.

 

So when we don't agree with someone's reporting/opinion/commentary, etc. We call them "Chumps" or any other caustic label that may come to mind. Oh my...I'm glad I don't cruise with those kinds of people.

[LHP]

So when we don't agree with someone's reporting/opinion/commentary, etc. We call them "Chumps" or any other caustic label that may come to mind. Oh my...I'm glad I don't cruise with those kinds of people.

 

No...they are not a Chump because we disagree.

 

They are a Chump because they deliberately MISREPRESENT....

 

there is a difference....

[NOLA_Cruiser88]

"So when we don't agree with someone's reporting/opinion/commentary, etc. "

 

Sorry I dont think there is an argument about an opinion here.. The writer created a story and not only that made up fictitious information.. There is no drinking allowed by minors and tipping is NOT mandatory nor is a cruise all-inclusive.