RCCL implementing fees for Johnny Rockets

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 18:56:47 -0500, "E.k.R."
wrote:

Frankly, I have no problem with RCI charging for Johnny Rockets. I think
they should have all along, and at $3.95 per visit for unlimited food I
think it's a steal. At any Johnny Rockets on land, $3.95 won't get you very
far... maybe an order of fries.
It's even more of a steal being free of charge. Hence the attraction,
and the illusion that you're living the high-life aboard the ship.

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.
So free food means poor quality food? What kind of cruiser are
you???? ;-)

If other restaurants on ship offered the same quality of like-minded
food that JR did, for free, I'd rather go to those than pay $3.95 at
JR. But that's the catch - those other restaurants don't offer the
same quality food. I've been reading tons and tons of posts about
RCCL and the Voyager line, none of them have ever indicated that the
Windjammer's burgers were even half as good as the JR's burgers. So
what kind of choice is that? And, if a cruiser is used to getting
quality items for free, why on earth would they want to change?

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.

If you would put the word "decent" in there before "hamburger", I'd
say that I'd agree with you and that is exactly what's happening.

I'm just a first time cruiser so what do I know. But from what I've
been reading, here and on Cruise Critics, there is a tradition in
cruising about mostly everything on board being free. It is part of
the experience of a cruise, the simulation of care-free living,
getting away from it all, super vacation. So charging for food - even
for the specialy restaurants, let alone trendy greasy spoons - really
is a backwards idea to the idea of cruising.

If they only wanted to manage demand, and not profits, why not open
another JR on the ship? Or better yet, increase the quality of the
Windjammer/Island Grill to match JR? Then if you want a quality
burger, you wouldn't be as inclined to go to JR. As it is now,
Windjammer's hamburgers are not comparable to JR's, so of course
people are going to go to JR for better burgers. (For myself, I've
never been to a JR, and am anxious to try their shakes, which do cost
$, sadly...)

Also, from what I heard on Cruise Criticcs, (I know, I know, I
probably shouldn't be putting this down if I can't back it up), RCCL
is not hurting for profits. They could afford to continue NOT
charging for Johnny Rockets and would be just fine. And also I heard
that they're both owned by the same parent company?!? If that's the
case, I can't imagine why they'd continue to offer two dining options
(Windjammer and JR) that offer similar food (hamburgers) with such
vast differences in quality?

I've never heard of a restaurant trying to manage demand by increasing
the cost. I have heard of restaurants expanding to manage demand.

Usually restaurants will start out with low prices to attract
customers and once they have a solid customer base, then they can
increase prices to increase profits. That sounds exactly like what
RCCL is doing. And hey - didn't they charge prices for JR to begin
with, but cruisers practically jumped ship in protest? Sounds like it
was RCCL's idea all along, this is just a compromise compared to
charging $ per item.... get 'em used to paying this, then adjust the
prices up again in the future.

I'm going on my VoS cruise next month. While I was willing to pay
$3.50 for a shake, I'll really have to be desperate to pay $3.50 +
$3.95 for a shake. As for the burgers, I'm going to see if Windjammer
is as poor as they say.

David

I emailed Crown and Anchor last night about it and told them how greedy it
was for them to charge for Johnny Rockets. I told them if they really need
money that bad they should have a fee for pool use. They emailed me back
and said it was a test on four Cruises. Mariner and Navigator for the next
two cruises each. All I can say is I hope everyone boycotts Johnny Rockets.
We just came back from Explore of the Seas in January and had a snack almost
every day at Johnny Rockets. We had such good service we tipped the two
waiters who took care of us all week. It's not the money they are charging,
it's the principle that upsets me. Next they'll be charging to see the ice
shows since there is such high demand to see them.

-- Tom
Pittsburgh Pa

"Jo-Ann" wrote in message
om...
I've already emailed Royal Caribbean to voice my displeasure. Maybe
if more people do this, they'll get the message.

Jo-Ann

"George Leppla" wrote in message
...
"Bill C" wrote

I just read on www.Cruise Critic.com that Royal Caribbean will now be
charging a $3.95 fee for eating at Johnny Rockets.

They tried this before and abandoned it when the passengers abandoned
Johnny
Rockets. I like Johnny Rockets but not enough to stand in line for more
than a few minutes and certainly not enough to pay for it.

This is one policy that will truly be reviewed by the passenger's
response.
My advice... eat in the Windjammer or the dining room. If enough people
do
that, Royal Caribbean will get the message once again.

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 16:52:37 -0800, Grey Wolf
wrote:

Also, from what I heard on Cruise Criticcs, (I know, I know, I
probably shouldn't be putting this down if I can't back it up), RCCL
is not hurting for profits. They could afford to continue NOT
charging for Johnny Rockets and would be just fine. And also I heard
that they're both owned by the same parent company?!? If that's the
case, I can't imagine why they'd continue to offer two dining options
(Windjammer and JR) that offer similar food (hamburgers) with such
vast differences in quality?

Hi David,

The above shows you can't believe everything you read on cruise
critic. RCCL has a very heavy debt load. They are not owned by the
same parent company.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

In article , E.k.R.
wrote:

At any Johnny Rockets on land, $3.95 won't get you very
far... maybe an order of fries.

You can get a bowl of chili. The order of fries is $2.95 I believe.

Johnny Rockets is a premium well known branded item and I would not
expect to get it for free.

You say it is premium and the other guy, DaFlaBear says it is a greasy
spoon. I don't think it is a greasy spoon, but I don't think it is
premium either. It is just burgers and malteds in a fake 50's decor. It
is not worth the extra charge.

--
Charles

Never been on RCCL ! I''ll stick to Celebrity,& HAL !

BILL

Actually, the same article mentions that Crown and Anchor Society members of
all levels (i.e., you've cruised on RCCL at least once before) will get
coupons for one free meal at Johnny Rockets. In my opinion, once is enough
at any Johnny Rockets during a one-week cruise! It's good food, but are you
really on a cruise to eat at a glorified McDonalds every day (for heaven's
sakes!)?

Cheers,
Paul

Say hello to my "leetle" friend.

This is the same Paul from ".

Do you want to believe him?

BL123

Thank you, Bill.

I'd consider anything that the troll wrote as gospel.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ


"Bill Lawrence123" wrote in message
...

Actually, the same article mentions that Crown and Anchor Society members
of
all levels (i.e., you've cruised on RCCL at least once before) will get
coupons for one free meal at Johnny Rockets. In my opinion, once is
enough
at any Johnny Rockets during a one-week cruise! It's good food, but are
you
really on a cruise to eat at a glorified McDonalds every day (for
heaven's
sakes!)?

Cheers,
Paul

Say hello to my "leetle" friend.

This is the same Paul from ".

Do you want to believe him?

BL123

everyone needs to Write RCCL and tell them how dissatisfied theya re with this
decision
Susette
Join us on our Annual Group Cruise 04Dec04 Jewel of the Seas!
Check out our website: www.cruiseoutlets.com

Hi Guys,

LOL, having just got off the Explorer (well not just, my tan is already fading)
I much rather see a lounge chair reservation on that ship (LOL now that's out
of control) than a Johnny Rockets fee pop up in the future.

The unfortunate thing is Johnny Rockets is the only outdoor food venue (the
booths) on those ships.

Would I pay 3.95-probably not when sober. My trips to JR's were only to the
takeout window. I never had a wait by the way (other than food prep time), and
that was on peak week.

Would I pay 3.95 when full of gin and muchie, LOL, why not.

Personally I agree with one poster on another board that said "why not just add
3.95 to the passenger cost.

In fact I say, add 13.95, and completely kick up the overall quality of the
food, on the Explorer.

It ain't terrible, but an extra 10 bucks per head would go along way to making
more dishes "special".

The lack of Deckchairs and a nice place to munch outside, is probably the
single reason a voyager ship won't pop up for our next big group trip.

At this point, with 700 days to the next cruise, the gang seems unanimous that
our ships will either be the Connie, The Mille, or Princesses "Golden" (We
loved the Grand)

Like I said in my TR's, we glad we we experienced an Eagle Class ship, it
certainly has it's big plus', but next time out, we think we'd be much happier
with 600-1000 less pax, and more "personal" service.

John
Office of Nickle & Dime
The Zamgwar Institute

John,

I learned a long time ago that not all of the fees go where we think that
they should.

On our first cruise back in 1969, having paid maybe $800 for a great cabin
on a 10 day cruise we were appalled by having to pay a fee for a reserved
chair by the pool. I said what you said...why not add $X to the cruise and
eliminate this surcharge.

The following year we learned that the $X didn't go to the line, it went to
the purser, as did the bingo money. He probably also had his hand in the
pie for the spiffs paid by the "recommended" stores ashore, and he owned all
of the liquor onboard.

Times have changed, sort of. Where on a 10 day cruise then I ate 30 meals
in the dining room, today I have the option on most ships of eating none, so
the money to pay the behind the scenes people has to come from somewhere.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ



"Zamgwar" wrote in message
...
Hi Guys,

LOL, having just got off the Explorer (well not just, my tan is already
fading)
I much rather see a lounge chair reservation on that ship (LOL now that's
out
of control) than a Johnny Rockets fee pop up in the future.

The unfortunate thing is Johnny Rockets is the only outdoor food venue
(the
booths) on those ships.

Would I pay 3.95-probably not when sober. My trips to JR's were only to
the
takeout window. I never had a wait by the way (other than food prep time),
and
that was on peak week.

Would I pay 3.95 when full of gin and muchie, LOL, why not.

Personally I agree with one poster on another board that said "why not
just add
3.95 to the passenger cost.

In fact I say, add 13.95, and completely kick up the overall quality of
the
food, on the Explorer.

It ain't terrible, but an extra 10 bucks per head would go along way to
making
more dishes "special".

The lack of Deckchairs and a nice place to munch outside, is probably the
single reason a voyager ship won't pop up for our next big group trip.

At this point, with 700 days to the next cruise, the gang seems unanimous
that
our ships will either be the Connie, The Mille, or Princesses "Golden" (We
loved the Grand)

Like I said in my TR's, we glad we we experienced an Eagle Class ship, it
certainly has it's big plus', but next time out, we think we'd be much
happier
with 600-1000 less pax, and more "personal" service.

John
Office of Nickle & Dime
The Zamgwar Institute