$3.95

earl · #1 (**permalink**) January 1st, 2009, 10:47 PM

Beginning January 2009 there will be a service charge of $3.95 for room service ordered between 12-5am, this includes the gratuity.
this is another way to generate revenue!!

ragtiki2005 · #2 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 12:16 AM

Guess if I have the munchies, will have to head down to the Royal Promenade instead! Bob

Royal · #3 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 09:30 AM

Where did you get this information from. Is this starting NOW?

Rick · #4 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earl

Beginning January 2009 there will be a service charge of $3.95 for room service ordered between 12-5am, this includes the gratuity.
this is another way to generate revenue!!

With all due respect, I do not think that this is another way to generate revenue. I think it more a way to stop some operating cost loss. I think it is good business sense. SERIOUSLY people, we are talking about 12 - 5 am for this service charge.

Do people really order room service food at 2 or 3 am

I called Crown and Anchor and inquired about this new service charge . One of the reasons given for this charge is Kids. example - Kids ordering muliple pizza's and other items after midnight just because they can.....trays lining the hallways, etc.

This is a non-issue and not worth a second thought. If you eat all day and all night and STILL need a food fix between 12-5am, then you have a bigger problem to be concerned about than a service charge.

brewtown · #5 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 01:11 PM

With all due respect,$3.95 will stop some of the waste that occurs. My kids are culprits of ordering a bunch of stuff during these times and eat less than half. I hate that aspect,but wife thinks that because they are on vacation, they can do it. $3.95 will certainly slow things down.

msblackjack · #6 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 02:03 PM

not a bad idea and not a bad price; as long is it isn't $3.95 per item,
but if it is $3.95 per trip and includes the tip; I would come out ahead as I generally tip $5.00 - $10.00 for room service and yes, I order early early am room service;

Dave the Wave · #7 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 03:39 PM

I have been know to have late night munchies myself. My question would be is the charge for things ordered after midnight or delivered after midnight? What if you order some sandwiches at 11:30 and the show up at 12:15

Or conversely, if you are an early riser and want to have some coffee and juice at 5 AM

Kuki · #8 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 03:53 PM

I think it's ridiculous! They want to eliminate waste... weigh the plates at the end of the buffet line.

Just another reason RCI isn't on my to do list for awhile.

Rick · #9 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msblackjack

not a bad idea and not a bad price; as long is it isn't $3.95 per item,
but if it is $3.95 per trip and includes the tip; I would come out ahead as I generally tip $5.00 - $10.00 for room service and yes, I order early early am room service;

Good point! We normally tip 3 to 4 dollars for room service. No big deal at all

michaelandJoanne · #10 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msblackjack

not a bad idea and not a bad price; as long is it isn't $3.95 per item,
but if it is $3.95 per trip and includes the tip; I would come out ahead as I generally tip $5.00 - $10.00 for room service and yes, I order early early am room service;

I'm with you, I usually tip $4-$5 so no big deal for me, but $3.95? Are the staff going to need one of those nickle dispensers?

brewtown · #11 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelandJoanne

Quote:

Originally Posted by msblackjack

not a bad idea and not a bad price; as long is it isn't $3.95 per item,
but if it is $3.95 per trip and includes the tip; I would come out ahead as I generally tip $5.00 - $10.00 for room service and yes, I order early early am room service;

I'm with you, I usually tip $4-$5 so no big deal for me, but $3.95? Are the staff going to need one of those nickle dispensers?

I am sure this will be one of those SeaPass charges....which does make it really nice because they will have the gratuity already in. So for the most part it will be a wash if you tip $3-$5...unless you are DTW and slip a $100 bill!

cranejwr · #12 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 07:36 PM

First time cruiser here so I may not know what I am talking about, but $3.95 sounds cheap to me. And yes I am one of those that will like coffee brought to the room to help jump start my day. Do you have to order the coffee and juice the night before or can you do it that morning. Like I said first timer here and know NOTHING about cruising. Just fulfilliing a dream of mine to cruise! I can't believe the time is getting so close! I get butterflies just thinking about it.YEAH! Dreams do come true.

beentravelin · #13 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 07:56 PM

I can understand where there coming from. I'd hate to guess how much food kids and some adults order and don't eat. 3.95 is not bad. I wonder if other lines will follow suit or if this will deter some would be Royal cruisers (like Kuki).

Ron · #14 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 09:27 PM

Personally it wouldn't bother me if they charged $9.95 for room service between 12 and 5 a.m. I am with Rick on this--I think it probably has to do with kids and probably drunks ordering gobs of food and wasting it, as well as wasting the time it takes to prepare, deliver and then clean up the mess.

Johnnie Rockets started out as being free but wasn't the charge brought about by kids hanging out in there for hours and ordering huge amounts of burgers, fries, etc. that were wasted ?

beentravelin · #15 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 09:44 PM

I still haven't sailed Royal but I don't think this will stop me from booking one. As a matter of fact, I've been looking 6 day euro cruise on Royal. The only thing I don't care for on Royal is that you can't order bottles of liquor to your room.

Oh yeah, how much is the food at Jonny Rockets? Same as at home?

ragtiki2005 · #16 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 11:01 PM

Johnny Rockets is $3.95 per person. Milkshakes and soda was extra. Bob

beentravelin · #17 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2009, 11:58 PM

Thanks Bob!

earl · #18 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 02:34 PM

Yes $3.95 is not a big deal now beacause its for overnight srevice.
About when they make it for 24 hour service. Thats how it starts
You can be sure they will think of otherways to nickel and dime us.

Snoozeman · #19 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 04:58 PM

Don't have a problem with it. I don't recall ever ordering anything that late and if I did that seems reasonable. I don't tip that much for regular room service, $1 for one person, $2 for two.

I think it's more to control abuse of the system. Royal still has the sandwich guys roaming around just after midnight outside the bars. I always thought that was a nice touch. A little snack to take the edge off.

EMG · #20 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beentravelin

I still haven't sailed Royal but I don't think this will stop me from booking one. As a matter of fact, I've been looking 6 day euro cruise on Royal (got a tip from Cutiecat). The only thing I don't care for on Royal is that you can't order bottles of liquor to your room.

Oh yeah, how much is the food at Jonny Rockets? Same as at home?

Not ordring bottles for your room should not stop you from choosing RCCL, neither should a charge for midnight room service. I can't imagine who might be ordering at this time of the morning anyway.

MrPete · #21 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 07:54 PM

Those that condone this.....keep forking your money over willingly.

Tell them this is a good thing. Yes. That makes sense.

Next grocery stores will charge you .05 a bag. Tell them this is a good thing also.

DUH.

EMG · #22 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 08:34 PM

Not sure where you're from but last year Ikea started charging $0.05 cents per bag then they totally eliminated plastic bags altogether.

Does that keep the store from being packed and busy, nope. Will charging $3.95 for after midnight room service stop the cruiseline from selling cabins, nope. Compared to what you'd pay for room service at a hotel.. scratch that....... for what you'd pay on ANY vacation for the amount of food you'll eat on a cruiseliner, I'm not sure how there could be any complaints.

Funny thing is; the people who are complaining are probably those who don't even use the service.

Kuki · #23 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Funny thing is; the people who are complaining are probably those who don't even use the service.

On occassion I do order room service late (early in the morning) after returning to the cabin - if the next day is a sea day. I always tip the person who bring it... but at least I'm handing the tip to them.

RCI also tried to charge for "a better steak" in the dining room... and they got lambasted to the point they had to run and hide with that idea. If you think that they're going to stop at $3.95 if there's no outcry, you're mistaken.

At the moment I think RCI has an ill advised, and in my view undeserved, superiority complex. I think their prices are generally higher than other mass market lines, and they're trying still trying to top the charts on the "nickel and diming".

thecruisequeen · #24 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 09:16 PM

I would never eat at that time but you have to tip either way so it really is the same thing if they are charging the $3.95 or you tip 3/4/5 or more dollars.

8)

earl · #25 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 09:35 PM

Tipping is suppose to a your choice or option. I always tip for
everthing on a ship. I just would like to have the choice.

Ron · #26 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2009, 09:50 PM

As they say, it would be boring if everyone thought alike.

In all my cruises I bet I haven't ordered room service but maybe 3-4 times. Once when my wife had a sore knee and once I remember ordering breakfast --those two I do remember, maybe 1 or 2 more that I don't remember but definitely none between 12 and 5 a.m. !

I think that it's only going to affect a small percentage of people and not on my list of things to worry about.

I know that people go to the spas and pay out the wazoo for a rub, cut, shampoo, etc. and think nothing about it. People go to the casino and drop several hundred and think nothing about it. But, ordering room service between 12 and 5 am for $ 3.95 is a pain ??
I would think that most folks that order room service does so well outside that time frame.

Some call it nickel and dimeing but I don't see it that way. It's a service that you pay for if you choose to use it. If they don't want to pay, do like most folks and don't order at those ghastly hours or go somewhere that's open and avoid the charge.
The cruise line could just simply raise the overall rate by about $ 20.
per person and say nothing and no one would be the wiser as to why.
But by doing that the ones who don't order at those hours would be helping to subsidize those who do, which is where I would have a problem.

Maybe it will eventually come down to where there will be different levels of pricing--pay X $$'s and have everything included--pay less and then pay as you go for any extras you may decide you must have, and etc.
I still believe that gross wasting of food was what brought about the charge at Johnnie Rockets but even with the charge, most of the time you have to wait to get your foot in the door so putting a price on that hasn't affected it any.

Steal the mints off the stewards carts in the hall, hoard them up in your safe and when that 2 a.m hunger hits, chow down on some mints til 5:05 a.m rolls around, then order the free room service !!

beentravelin · #27 (**permalink**) January 4th, 2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMG

Not ordring bottles for your room should not stop you from choosing RCCL, neither should a charge for midnight room service. I can't imagine who might be ordering at this time of the morning anyway.

The bottles of liquor would be a deterent for me. I'm not a heavy drinker but when you can order a litre of Jagermeister for $35 on Canival it saves alot of money. I think by the shot it would add up to about $135 dollars. My girlfriend likes Grey Goose which you can get for around $40 a bottle or nearly $200 by the drink. So yes this does make a difference to US.

Oh and I DO use room service late night.

Trip · #28 (**permalink**) January 4th, 2009, 08:54 PM

Whiel not an RCI ship, the last time I ordered room service before midnite, it took well over an hour, so I would think, orders called before 12, would be fine...

I have no issues with the charge, I think this could cut down on waste.

EMG · #29 (**permalink**) January 5th, 2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beentravelin

The bottles of liquor would be a deterent for me. I'm not a heavy drinker but when you can order a litre of Jagermeister for $35 on Canival it saves alot of money. I think by the shot it would add up to about $135 dollars. My girlfriend likes Grey Goose which you can get for around $40 a bottle or nearly $200 by the drink. So yes this does make a difference to US.

Oh and I DO use room service late night.

Sounds like you're just the life of the party.. but what do I know? I don't drink alcohol to the point where I need to order bottles, nor eat during the hours I may be sleeping but; I was under the assumption that any bottle purchased onboard any ship; was not delivered until the last night of the cruise.

I could be wrong in my assumption though.

gerif · #30 (**permalink**) January 5th, 2009, 05:15 PM

I, too, believe it is being done to cut back on waste. Can't imagine wanting anything to eat at that time that I couldn't grab from the Cafe Promenade anyway, but $3.95 isn't really a huge price to pay considering I'd be tipping anyway. I do remember when there was no charge to eat at JR's - and there was at least an hour and a half wait to get in mid-afternoon on a port day because teens would just take a booth and hang for hours! Since they instituted the (really nominal) charge, you can usually get a table quickly.