What do you want for nothing...a Rubber Biscuit!!!
Same as airlines.
NCL is the worst offender.
We’ve been on one cruise and we won’t do it again. But the company spelled out very clearly in advance what was included and what would be an extra charge. The worst was their communications system was terrible. We paid extra for internet service calling it “spotty” would be a gross overstatement. We got some money back, but they should have refunded our entire internet charges. They blamed it on being in northern latitudes (southern Alaska) where the satellites don’t roam.
Spirit Cruise Lines
Cruises seem so contrived and artificial to me. Kind of like Las Vegas. I went once and was NOT impressed.
Not Viking. They are awesome, and no riffraff. Worth every penny.
I understand that there are some lower capacity cruises, primarily in Europe, but the jumbo monsters based in Miami and Fort Lauderdale have all the charm of Continental Trailways.
You want to avoid getting nickle-and-dimed on a cruise? Don’t go on a cruise! Goodness gracious. Do I have to think of EVERYthing?
I have taken a total of one cruise ship trip, to Nova Scotia from NYC with eastern seaboard stops along the way. Had a daily rate for the package I chose - which was in addition to the cruise rate for the cabin selected. They had a casino on board. I had no daily rate expenses on my account at the conclusion of the cruise. They owed me money after considering all my casino winnings. Not a bad way to travel.
I would do that cruise again if they’d let me divide it into one-way to Nova Scotia, with a week or two stay over in Nova Scotia, and one-way return to NYC.
What do you want for nothing...a Rubber Biscuit!!!
Paid for an upcoming cruise. This article is spot on.
There is a daily, per-person charge for:
Internet — $26
Drinks (just soda $11 per day)
Alcohol Drinks ($38 per day) Not getting
Mandatory gratuity ($580 for our party of 4)
Eating at premier restaurants ($100 to $500 per person, per event)
Excursions ($100 to $3,000 per event.)
The “printer” is the actual cruise. The “ink” is absolutely everything once on the ship. Ridiculous. Never again.
The thought of being on a cruise is about as appealing as a long-distance flight on Spirit Airlines.
I just bought a row boat.
I’m satisfied.
The two cruises I took were both jewelry honey traps. The cost of the cruise was reasonable but the two diamonds my wife was brainwashed to buy broke the bank.
I went on a Princess Alaska cruise (Whittier to Vancouver) including bus up to and train back from Denali...outstanding in every way.
Read the liability waiver and the choice of law and forum for where disputes must be litigated and under what country’s law before signing the contract. If things go wrong, as they often do, the rights of the traveler are very limited.
I am repelled by the idea of being in a place where I cannot walk out and leave.
There are those who prefer the ‘nickel and diming’ because we don’t like to pay for things that we don’t use. Ala carte, OTOH, means you can pick and choose the things you want and only pay for those things.
Too many seem to think that if the cruise lines did not ‘nickel and dime’ and included everything in the base fare, that those ‘nickel and dines’ would be free. Everything that is included in the fare, increases the fare. TANSTAAFL.
My wife and I have been going on tours with a small “cultural discovery” company in Italy and Croatia the last couple of years. The cost is reasonable, certainly not exorbitant, and these folks are incredible. They pay for absolutely everything once you get there, and do not scrimp on anything. It’s really refreshing, and the reason we keep going back
Since I am a suite cruiser (and a loyalty Diamond member), I get free wifi in my suite, four drink vouchers per day to use anywhere, free beer, wine, and soft drinks in the suite lounge from 11:00am to 11:00 pm, 24-hour premium coffee, and an hors d'oeuvres and cocktail happy hour from 5:00pm - 8:00pm where the drinks are free. I don't get the drink package, as this is plenty for me.
I noticed the uptick in upselling in the main dining room about 15 years ago and didn't like it when they interrupted the meal and conversation to pitch their premium dining packages. I did notice that they lowered their upscale dining rates in the back half of the cruise.
That said, Royal Caribbean has been moving away from 7+ night cruises for their premier ships and has targeted the 3-4 night family cruisers. People have noticed that on the longer cruises, the clientele is older and more affluent, but their spending habits are different. Now they can squeeze two cruises into one week.
Many are Diamond+ or Pinnacle cruisers, so they get deep discounts on their staterooms and generous on-board benefits. Also, many cruisers are tapped out by the fourth night of the cruise and close their wallets to more upselling.
That's why these cruise lines have moved their larger ships to the shorter cruise market like South Florida, where they can turn over the wallets every four days from young families looking for a quick cruise experience from Ft. Lauderdale or Miami to the Bahamas and the line's private beach island, where they can charge even more for the full water park experience at what used to be just a free beach and barbecue afternoon.
-PJ