How Do You Feel About Room Service Charges?

Thank You ctav I read an article on this earlier today thanks for posting to Forum. Not surprised on the steep jump on The Norwegian Sky you had to wonder how they could continue at the standard rate , 49c for cabins Mini and below not to bad , brace yourself others It's coming to all ... Thanks Again

An article from CruiseRadio.com

Effective April 1, Norwegian Cruise Lines will once again be raising the daily gratuity rate… and sadly, this isn’t an April Fool’s Day joke.

“Norwegian’s discretionary daily service charges make it easy for guests to provide gratuities to key onboard staff,” the line says, “who provide superior guest service during the cruise, including their room steward, restaurant servers and behind-the-scenes support staff.” Of course, the key word in that sentence is “discretionary,” meaning that guests have the option of having the gratuities removed. (And anyone who has ever seen the long lines at guest services knows that this frequently happens!)

It’s worth noting, however, that the increase is not a particularly huge one, with the per person/per day charge going from $13.50 to $13.99 for any category of stateroom up to a mini-suite. For those in suites or the Haven, the charge will go from $15.50 to $16.99. (By the same token, passengers have seen the daily gratuities rate go up by these small increments numerous times over the past few years, and the cumulative effect is a not-so-small increase!)

The increase will be put into effect on all of the fleet’s ships, although one will go up more than the rest. “To better address the demands of the enormously successful all-inclusive product aboard Norwegian Sky,” the line explains, “the new rates [on that ship will be] $18.99 per person per day for any category up to a mini-suite, and $21.99 per person per day for any suite category.”

If there’s a bit of good news here, it’s that “any guest that has made a booking by March 31, 2017 will have the option of preparing their service charges at the current rate if done prior to the sail date. Guests with existing cruise reservations who have already pre-paid their charges at the current rate are not affected.”

I always try to see things from both sides. I tend not to order room service, I like to get out of the cabin and enjoy eating in food venues on any ship. So for me this is not a huge issue to begin with.

Like everything in cruise industry it comes down to setting and managing customer expectations. Historically room service was included, but as the competition adapts, so much each other cruise line. Carnival already did this two years ago if I recall. They started offering an 'enhanced menu' at a cost while leaving the 'legacy' options free. Possibly a migration towards getting rid of the free options in the long term.

We all like many of the news features and oohlala items on new ships but we don't want to give up anything from the past.

When I use room service at a hotel, there is a fee for it compared to walking down to the restaurant. While this won't be popular with the folks that use room service, I am okay with the folks that use the service paying for it so that folks like me who don't, don't have to pay for their use of it.

DUDE! PAL! Let's stop pretending that the multiple and excessive - "tips" or "gratuities" ever make it to the "server" other than in a round about way by subsidizing payrolls. Unless you hand them a fiver and they stuff the fiver in their pocket - they never see it. It is a rip off. A fraud. A fallacy.

...and I do jut that!

The trend is for more and more people to cancel the automatic "gratuities".

Additionally, if you were a server, and two customers are waiting for service, who would you serve first -- the one standing there smiling, who says please and thank you, and generally gives you an extra dollar or two, or the one pushing his way to the bar, scowling, and wondering too loudly why you are such a bad server?

If the consumer doesn't pay the salaries, then who will? the money will just appear out of nowhere?

The consumer pays the line, who then uses that money to pay the crew. The line cannot just print their own money.

"Additional penalties for every bar order"

"And you think you should owe ANOTHER generous tip to insure prompt service"

DUDE!!! You've made your point that you want everything you get your hands on for free. You have no idea the distance that the servers are required to cover just so you can sit in your cabin and wait while pacing around for them to show up with your order. These workers work very hard for what they are paid and if I tip them on what the meal would cost me at home is okay by me. And if they tell me thank you and when I call them again, they'll make sure my wait time isn't as long? That's fine by me too.

Also, PAL, if I choose to order something more than a snack and it's going to cost a little more since it's above the normal request? That's fine by me too.

The cruise line isn't forcing you to use the service and if you don't want to pay for it, don't use it. It's just that simple.

But - you are ALREADY paying automatic "gratuities." With additional penalties for every bar order. And you think you should owe ANOTHER "generous tip" to insure prompt service?

ABSOLUTELY. They have to pay the waiters, after all. And the rest of the hotel staff - and the ship's crew. WE shouldn't have to.