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Originally posted by mjw:
Can someone explain why they have these extra charges when on the rest of the Carnival fleet they have these included in the cost of the cruise fare.

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Cruise lines will charge whatever each market can sustain. The demand from passengers in Oz is probably higher than the supply of ships, so they can charge higher fares and add ons.

I'm always moaning that US Cruise Lines visiting the UK charge higher fares than they do in American waters. I do not believe that It is all due to higher operating costs.

Life (and business practices) are not fair!

[ 04-01-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

There is some new regulations being brought in by the Australian Government where all cruise lines operating cruises from Australia will now have to list what they are charging for any services that are not included in the actual advertised cruise fare.

There has been complaints from passengers about not being told about these extra charges in the past.

Not to sure when it all starts but it will apply to all companies cruising from Australia.

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
...will now have to list what they are charging for any services that are not included in the actual advertised cruise fare.

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Its not supprising.

I have friends that have cruised with P&O in the UK for many years.

They are now finding that a lot of things that were free are now charged as extras including the morning tea / continental breakfast tray delivered to the cabin.

Australia obviously do not like these changes with the extra costs of cruising, above the fare you pay, so have done something about it with their new regulations.

Soon all cruise lines could be operating like Easy Cruise with everything as extras and all you will pay for is a bed and space to sleep to be transported from A to B.

Lets hope other governments follow the example of Australia so you know, before you take your cruise, exactly what you have paid for and what are now classed as extras.

How long will it be before we see a fully inclusive price for a cruise which includes everything and no extras..

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):

How long will it be before we see a fully inclusive price for a cruise which includes everything and no extras..
Neil (Bob)

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LOL!! Can you imagine the cost of a cruise fare if a cruise included EVERYTHING! Are we talking about subsidizing all beauty and spa treatments, all shore excursions, people's gift shop purchases and casino gaming? What about Aunt Tillie's 7-cards-a-game Bingo habit? The meals served in the a la carte restaurants? People who must drink Dom Perignon every night? Where would this end?

The luxury cruise lines already include beverages and most wines, to the resentment of those light drinkers or non-drinkers who also must pay the high fare associated with luxury cruising.

But I think the main complaint in this thread is about the extra charges for room service items. The cruise lines found out quite some time ago that in Europe, passengers there ordered exorbitant amounts of food for their cabin. Literally hundreds of meals were being delivered as room service night and day, with tremendous waste involved. Once the lines put a charge on this, the ordering and waste became minimal. Apparently (and surprisingly) this abuse of room service is not prevalent in North America!

I cannot explain, nor speak for our Australian friends as to why they are being charged, unless perhaps there is a history of the same amount of abuse with room service?

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
...in Europe, passengers there ordered exorbitant amounts of food for their cabin. Literally hundreds of meals were being delivered as room service night and day, with tremendous waste involved.

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Where did you get that information from?

I am curious to know where you have heard about this waste of food in the service of meals in cabins on European cruises.

I worked on the P&O Cruises various ships for over 30 years both on UK cruises and Australian cruises and the waste of food from room service meals was very small.

To my mind it is just another revenue earner for the cruising companies now charging for all these extra meal services.

Even the ss Oriana, which entered service in 1961 had a grill room in addition to her other restaurants where you paid a cover charge to dine.

Now it seems that they are charging you to eat nearly everywhere except in the main restaurants.

Why should you have to pay extra if you prefer a burger, cold meat and salad or a pizza for lunch instead of having the full menu and use the main restaurant.

Around the decks when we were at sea we served beef tea in the cold weather and ice cream in the warmer weather every day at about 11.00am and the service was free.

Now some cruise lines charge.

It seems that if the cruising companies think they can get away with charging for any type of food service other than in the main restaurants then they charge !

At least Australia is now making the cruise companies publish their extra charges !

Lets hope other countries follow their lead.

Neil ( Bob )

[ 04-01-2007: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

Unless of course you have the extra money to throw away.

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
To my mind it is just another revenue earner for the cruising companies now charging for all these extra meal services.

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Agreed!

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Where did you get that information from?

Why would European's order and waste food more than American's?

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MSC cruises is a recent case-in-point. They charge for room service in Europe, because when it was complimentary, some people would order plate after plate of food sent to the cabin, much of which went uneaten. Room service is included complimentary on their cruises ex.US, but even so, the amount ordered is rather limited.

Costa is another cruise line which does this. Why do people behave how they do? I really don't know!

I think charging for room service is in part for revenue generation and in part a method of not over-stretching already busy staff as the demand of course drops.

[ 04-01-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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I think charging for room service is in part for revenue generation

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OTOH, it could all be an April Fool's prank.

I have heard this being said about European Lines before but have never seen any evidence of the over ordering, on lines which don't charge. I always thought it was the other way around as see many trays being delivered when on US cruises, and left in the hallway for one to trip over.

Neil, I think the charge for the morning coffee was soon done away with on P&O? They did bring it in, but it only lasted a few months with all the complaints I think; unless it has since returned.

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Originally posted by PamM:

I have heard this being said about European Lines before but have never seen any evidence of the over ordering, on lines which don't charge. I always thought it was the other way around as see many trays being delivered when on US cruises, and left in the hallway for one to trip over.

Pam

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Executives at MSC have stated European's were ordering room service in droves during embarkation when room service was initially free. Basically they would get to their cabin and the first thing they would do is pick up the phone and order a ton of room service. This is one reason the fee was implemented. This just does not occur on US based cruise ships even with the free room service.

I imagine you don't see those room service trays on the European lines because the charge is working. People are not ordering room service for the most part. If it were free, I bet it would be a different story .... especially on lines like Costa, MSC, and Ocean Village.

You will never get the all-inclusive cruise because there is too much money to be made from the extras such as spas etc and because the base fare would be prohibitively high so you wouldn't attract the cattle.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I thought that Room Service was normally suspended with most lines, during the embarcation and disembarcation days.

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During disembarkation it is suspended, but on most lines you can order room service during embarkation day. I've only ever done it once, on the QE2.

Generally I'm not a big room service person, but all that changed with Silversea. Their room service is simply unbeatable. During dinner you even have a waiter assigned to your suite serving you course by course. Room service was truly a memorable affair, and something I looked forward to quite often. It also helped having a beautiful and large balcony suite to enjoy it in. I must get back on Silversea!

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Originally posted by Frosty 4:
They say it's best to eat smal portions throughout the day vs a monster meal at dinner.

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Hi

There is some new regulations being brought in by the Australian Government where all cruise lines operating cruises from Australia will now have to list what they are charging for any services that are not included in the actual advertised cruise fare.

There has been complaints from passengers about not being told about these extra charges in the past.

Not to sure when it all starts but it will apply to all companies cruising from Australia.

Neil ( Bob )

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Actually I dont think this is a very recent thing (as in the last year). Australia's been a country who enforces disclosure of fees for at least a decade, its only been minor enhancements to this regulation that keep coming in to reduce confusion.