Royal Caribbean has launched a test program that involves a $3.95 per-person fee at its Johnny Rockets restaurants.

The fee, introduced this week on Mariner of the Seas, will spread to Navigator of the Seas beginning with Saturday’s voyage (March 13), a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise out of Miami. Spokeswoman Jaye Hilton attributes the test effort, which she calls "very preliminary," to helping "manage demand for the restaurant."

"As Johnny Rockets gets more popular shore-side, it’s getting increasingly popular on our ships," she says. "Our ultimate goal [in charging a fee] is to enhance guest satisfaction."

The surcharge also applies to carry-out orders; folks will pay $3.95 for a set "takeaway" package, which consists of a burger, fries, onion rings and dessert. In-restaurant diners will still be able to consume unlimited quantities. This "new" per-person fee at Johnny Rockets is not unprecedented for Royal Caribbean, however; Voyager of the Seas, which was the first ship to incorporate a chain restaurant onboard, initially charged a fee (which was ultimately revoked due to passenger uproar).

Members of all three levels of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society (its past passenger program) who sail on Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas, will receive a coupon for one free visit.

Johnny Rockets is only found on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-class ships (Voyager, Explorer, Adventure, Navigator, and Mariner of the Seas). Despite its widespread popularity, Hilton says there are currently no plans to expand the chain to other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

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Like Haagen Daaz ice cream on Princess, Johnny Rockets is a premium well known branded item and I would not expect to get it for free. There are certainly enough alternative places on the Voyager class ships to get a hamburger (including room service) if you don't want to pay for Johnny Rockets.

Now if Johnny Rockets were the only outlet to get a hamburger and fries on the entire ship, then I would have a problem with the additional fee.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Royal Caribbean has launched a test program that involves a $3.95 per-person fee at its Johnny Rockets restaurants.

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So now they have come full circle, or maybe the cruising public has.

When she first entered service in January of 2000, passengers on Voyager of the Seas were charged for food in Johnny Rockets.

Sample Menu Items and prices from 2000:

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ORIGINAL HAMBURGERS (does NOT include fries)

The Original: with lettuce, tomato, onion, relish, pickle, mustard & mayonnaise......$3.75

St. Louis: with bacon, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, pickle, and St Louis sauce.....4.75

The Double: two patties, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, sauce, on a grilled bun.....4.95

#12: cheddar cheese, lettuce, onion, pickle, mayonnaise, and sauce......4.25

Streamliner: veggie patty, onions, lettuce, tomato, sauce, pickle, and mustard.....4.25

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It was only after passenger uproar that they dropped the charges in June of 2000.

Is this move a sign that cruising has indeed become a mass-market product?

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:

When she first entered service in January of 2000, passengers on Voyager of the Seas were charged for food in Johnny Rockets. It was only after passenger uproar that they dropped the charges in March of 2000.

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When I sailed on VOYAGER OF THE SEAS there was a charge for Johnny Rockets. I can tell you it was a lot more than $3.95 and I think it was an ala carte menu just like any Johnny Rockets on shore.

There was also a charge for rock climbing, in-line skating, miniture golf, and ice skating. I had a couple book where I had all those activities for free, but I certainly don't agree with RCI charging for activities, regardless of how unique they are.

I hope RCI doesn't get any ideas about bringing back charges for activities.

Anyway, I've now seen it reported elsewhere that RCI (via the Crown and Anchor Society) has said this:-

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Thank you for your email regarding Johnny Rockets. We appreciate your business and your interest in our products. We are currently implementing a test program onboard four sailings: Mariner of the Seas 3/7/04 and 3/14/04 and Navigator of the Seas 3/13/04 and 3/20/04. On these sailings there will be a $3.95 per-guest fee to dine in Johnny Rockets. The per-guest fee also applies to carry-out orders where guests will receive a "takeaway" package consisting of a burger, fries, onion rings and dessert. In-restaurant diners will still be able to consume unlimited quantities.

This test phase is preliminary and may assist us in managing the demand for this restaurant. All members of the Crown and Anchor Society will receive a coupon for a free visit to Johnny Rockets on these sailings.

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[ 03-11-2004: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

First, $3.95 is about the price of a mixed drink (and in many cases, cheaper)...so no big deal. Of course a burger isn't going to help you escape reality in the way a mixed drink will.

On the flip side, it's so cheap compared to JR's ashore that it almost seems petty on the part of RCI.

Then again, perhaps RCI has to pay JR's; if so, without a fee, RCI gets nothing in return.

And then again, maybe JR's has to pay RCI...if so, other than advertising for there shoreside outlets, JR's gets nothing out of it (without the fee).

I would pay the $3.95...at least once. Herein lies RCI's explanation behind it's logic. For the most part, folks might be inclined to visit JR's over and over again...if it's free. If they have to pay, the numbers would no doubt be lower. Afterall, like Ernie said, they can go elsewhere to get a burger and fries.

We're not talking about a true premium product here...no matter how you slice it, it's still just a greasy hamburger. Yeah, it's good but, I've never had a problem with the "regular" burgers served elsewhere.....

But with the kids tugging on my shirt, and the wife saying, "oh, come on...we're on vacation", who knows how many times JR's will see our smiling faces.

Russ

[ 03-11-2004: Message edited by: linerguy ]

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Royal Caribbean Tests Johnny Rockets Surcharge

Royal Caribbean has launched a test program that involves a $3.95 per-person fee at its Johnny Rockets restaurants.

"As Johnny Rockets gets more popular shore-side, it’s getting increasingly popular on our ships," she says. "Our ultimate goal [in charging a fee] is to enhance guest satisfaction."

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For a moment I though the introduction of a fee(like Cunard's Todd English - differnt grade of food, I know) was to make more money. Silly me, it is of course to manage 'Demand'!

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Originally posted by colt:
When will they start charging for meals in the main dining rooms?

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ASAP, If they think they can get away with it!

It is important to appreciate that not everybody associates the main dining room food with ‘fine food’ and ‘fast food’ as junk.

For a start some dining room food can be rather mediocre, as we know. Families with youngsters would probably prefer to occasionally pay for the Johnny Rockets fare, rather than the cordon blur food, every night.

[ 03-11-2004: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by eroller:

I hope RCI doesn't get any ideas about bringing back charges for activities.

Ernie

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They obviously weren’t foolish enough to pay the first time that RCI tried to introduce charges. It will be interesting to see if the cruising public has got dumber?

[ 03-15-2004: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]