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RCCL Cuts Costs?



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 25th, 2008, 02:47 AM posted to rec.travel.cruises
Robert Strauss
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Posts: 12
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?

We just got back from a cruise on the Voyager of the Seas. Its seems that
everywhere we turned RCCL had cut corners. I wonder if this is a trend over
the cruise line or just because us Texans are cheap. Examples a

No toiletries or robe in the room even though we had a balcony room.
No midnight buffet or midnight comedy.
Less entertainment.
Broadway show reviews did not have any sets.
No Baked Alaska.
More extensive searches of incoming luggage for alcoholic beverages.....
presumably so that you would have to purchase more drinks on board.

The other oddity was that the bars were not adequately stocked when we left
port. They could have been selling a lot more drinks but they did not have
much variety to offer in the bars until later. In fact, the bartender said
that they could not sell certain drinks until they were 3 miles out of
Galveston. Very curious. I have cruised 6 times out of Galveston and that
is the first time I have run into this.

Robert

The Woodlands, TX


  #2  
Old April 26th, 2008, 12:42 AM posted to rec.travel.cruises
Jean O'Boyle
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Posts: 2,354
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?




"Robert Strauss" wrote in message ...
We just got back from a cruise on the Voyager of the Seas. Its seems that
everywhere we turned RCCL had cut corners. I wonder if this is a trend over
the cruise line or just because us Texans are cheap. Examples a

No toiletries or robe in the room even though we had a balcony room.
No midnight buffet or midnight comedy.
Less entertainment.
Broadway show reviews did not have any sets.
No Baked Alaska.
More extensive searches of incoming luggage for alcoholic beverages.....
presumably so that you would have to purchase more drinks on board.

The other oddity was that the bars were not adequately stocked when we left
port. They could have been selling a lot more drinks but they did not have
much variety to offer in the bars until later. In fact, the bartender said
that they could not sell certain drinks until they were 3 miles out of
Galveston. Very curious. I have cruised 6 times out of Galveston and that
is the first time I have run into this.




Hi Robert!
Nice to see you here...it has been a looong time! And NO, Texans are not CHEAP!!! ;-)

On our last RCCL cruise, the Jewel of the Seas, we got our robes the 2nd day...but we have always gotten them on other RCCL cruises....maybe some cabin stewards are a bit lazy and do not supply them unless they are asked....We never ran into that.
As far as toiletries, it has been bars of soap and shower/shampoo stuff in the shower for quite some time...I always bring my own shampoo and conditioner and body lotion, as you are right...they have really cut back there.

They had a midnight chocolate buffet on the Jewel... we seldom go to anything at midnight so I don't remember about the other times.

The Jewel had much better entertainment than our other RCCL voyages...maybe because it was a transatlantic. I'm not much for Broadway shows, but enjoy a good comedian ...don't care for baked Alaska either...so those were not missed by me, anyway!
Their not serving certain drinks until they were 3 miles out of Galveston is a new one to me, though. I thought that was just the casino that could not open until then.

Otherwise, how did you enjoy your cruise on the Voyager?

Nice seeing you posting here again!

--Jean

  #3  
Old April 26th, 2008, 01:40 AM posted to rec.travel.cruises
J Carnaghie
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Posts: 281
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?



Robert Strauss wrote:
We just got back from a cruise on the Voyager of the Seas. Its seems that
everywhere we turned RCCL had cut corners. I wonder if this is a trend over
the cruise line or just because us Texans are cheap. Examples a

No toiletries or robe in the room even though we had a balcony room.
No midnight buffet or midnight comedy.
Less entertainment.
Broadway show reviews did not have any sets.
No Baked Alaska.
More extensive searches of incoming luggage for alcoholic beverages.....
presumably so that you would have to purchase more drinks on board.

The other oddity was that the bars were not adequately stocked when we left
port. They could have been selling a lot more drinks but they did not have
much variety to offer in the bars until later. In fact, the bartender said
that they could not sell certain drinks until they were 3 miles out of
Galveston. Very curious. I have cruised 6 times out of Galveston and that
is the first time I have run into this.

Robert

The Woodlands, TX


Dear Robert,
I wonder if the people in Galveston wanted to
collect their local tax of liquor? In some
California sailings, they collect state tax until
the ship is in international waters. It can get
really confusing.
I wouldn't miss the Baked Alaska very much,
since most of the ones I have seen on ships are
really just ice cream that they have spread with
some sort of goo and then torched.
With all the lines trying to remain
profitable [they do need to make money to stay in
business folks] and the "price wars" mentality, we
are going to see more nickel and diming stuff.
Cheers,
John in LALALand (On the Left Coast)
  #4  
Old April 26th, 2008, 03:03 AM posted to rec.travel.cruises
Bill[_1_]
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Posts: 823
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?

Robert Strauss wrote:

No toiletries or robe in the room even though we had a balcony room.
No midnight buffet or midnight comedy.
Less entertainment.
Broadway show reviews did not have any sets.


I don't recall the shows having sets in the past. What are you
expecting to see?

And does RCI do robes for non-suites? It's not Celebrity. Ditto
for Baked Alaska (I thought that was Celebrity). It's probably
cheaper for them to serve than other desserts so there would be
no financial incentive to get rid of it.

Bill
  #5  
Old April 26th, 2008, 02:09 PM posted to rec.travel.cruises
George Leppla
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Posts: 1,219
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?


"Robert Strauss" wrote

The other oddity was that the bars were not adequately stocked when we
left port. They could have been selling a lot more drinks but they did
not have much variety to offer in the bars until later. In fact, the
bartender said that they could not sell certain drinks until they were 3
miles out of Galveston. Very curious. I have cruised 6 times out of
Galveston and that is the first time I have run into this.


This is a fairly recent development and it is compliments of the
Texas/Galveston Tax department.

Seems some governmental people got in a snit because cruise lines were
selling booze while in "state" waters and they didn't have a liquor
license..... and thus that governmental agency was missing out on a few $$$$
in tax revenue.

So an agreement was reached where the cruise lines keep track of what drinks
they sell while in port so they can report that and pay the taxes. I
understand that the drink menu was limited to make bookkeeping easier (but
to tell the truth, that didn't make much sense to me).

Anyway, you get limited selection onboard until you get out of the 3 mile
limit, then the full bar opens up.

I ran into this on the Conquest and the Grand Princess sailing out of
Galveston.


--
George Leppla http://www.CruiseMaster.com


May 12, 2008 - 5 nt New Orleans http://www.cruisemaster.com/fantasy.htm
October 26, 2008 Sleazy 5 http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy5.htm
Feb. 8, 2009 Solstice Valentine http://www.cruisemaster.com/solstice.htm

  #6  
Old April 26th, 2008, 02:21 PM posted to rec.travel.cruises
Kurt Ullman
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Posts: 1,653
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?

In article ,
"George Leppla" wrote:

So an agreement was reached where the cruise lines keep track of what drinks
they sell while in port so they can report that and pay the taxes. I
understand that the drink menu was limited to make bookkeeping easier (but
to tell the truth, that didn't make much sense to me).


Me neither. Unless there is some kind of sliding scale on the tax,
maybe related to alcohol content. Since there is probably no easy way to
recoup the "extra" taxes, maybe the lines serve only the less taxed
stuff to lessen the impact on the profits.
Otherwise, the drinks bills are all time stamped when posted, so it
would seem logical that they could (fairly) easily keep track of that.
  #7  
Old April 26th, 2008, 02:51 PM posted to rec.travel.cruises
Becca[_2_]
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Posts: 245
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?

Jean O'Boyle wrote:

Nice seeing you posting here again!

--Jean


Like Jean said, it is nice to see you posting again.

On one cruise out of Galveston, they would not sell alcoholic beverages
until we were 3 miles out, but I do not remember the cruise line we were
on.

http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/publicat...ewLaws2007.pdf

Nice to see you again, Robert.

Becca

  #8  
Old April 26th, 2008, 07:45 PM posted to rec.travel.cruises
Jean O'Boyle
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Posts: 2,354
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?


"Bill" wrote in message
...
And does RCI do robes for non-suites? It's not Celebrity. Ditto
for Baked Alaska (I thought that was Celebrity). It's probably
cheaper for them to serve than other desserts so there would be
no financial incentive to get rid of it.


Yes, Bill they do....we have always gotten robes in our balcony rooms on
RCI.
Baked Alaska can happen on any cruise line...I'd prefer it not at all,
especially on ships where they serve that as "the" dessert instead of giving
you a dessert menu.

--Jean


  #9  
Old April 26th, 2008, 10:57 PM posted to rec.travel.cruises
Tom K
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Posts: 2,578
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?


"Jean O'Boyle" wrote in message
...

"Bill" wrote in message
...
And does RCI do robes for non-suites? It's not Celebrity. Ditto
for Baked Alaska (I thought that was Celebrity). It's probably
cheaper for them to serve than other desserts so there would be
no financial incentive to get rid of it.


Yes, Bill they do....we have always gotten robes in our balcony rooms on
RCI.
Baked Alaska can happen on any cruise line...I'd prefer it not at all,
especially on ships where they serve that as "the" dessert instead of
giving you a dessert menu.

--Jean


I hate Baked Alaska... but I LOVE when newbies (especially kids) see the
Baked Alaska Parade for the first time...

--Tom


  #10  
Old April 27th, 2008, 01:46 AM posted to rec.travel.cruises
kerry ambler
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Posts: 135
Default RCCL Cuts Costs?

the robes are based on your crown and anchor status not the cabin type.
platinum and above get robes no matter what kind of cabin. you usually have
to ask for them as they are still in the laundry when you board the ship.


"Jean O'Boyle" wrote in message
...

"Bill" wrote in message
...
And does RCI do robes for non-suites? It's not Celebrity. Ditto
for Baked Alaska (I thought that was Celebrity). It's probably
cheaper for them to serve than other desserts so there would be
no financial incentive to get rid of it.


Yes, Bill they do....we have always gotten robes in our balcony rooms on
RCI.
Baked Alaska can happen on any cruise line...I'd prefer it not at all,
especially on ships where they serve that as "the" dessert instead of
giving you a dessert menu.

--Jean



 




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