If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Travelling in the EURO zone question: Does Euro zone costs equal UK Pound zone costs aginst USD? | Max Power | Europe | 11 | December 12th, 2004 11:31 AM |
American Budget Cuts | Jeff Hacker | Air travel | 3 | September 25th, 2004 12:40 AM |
RCCL Mariner-Just booked 1st RCCL cruise | Helen | Cruises | 8 | May 16th, 2004 04:03 AM |