Feeling nickled and dimed - Carnival Inspiration

[andy.capitan]

When did the up-charge go into effect on the Breeze for steaks? We were on the Breeze in July and did not have that on our menu. OOH, when Bill hears about this I am pretty sure he will be ticked, although maybe not if he rationalizes it is the Steakhouse quality steak. The steaks in the MDR were nothing to write home about on the Breeze we both noted. The best piece of steak we had was the mini filet at the Sea Day Brunch. We have a college student that works at a major steakhouse chain, and their steaks are as good as the very high end Ruth's Chris steaks; of course, the experience comes no where close to Ruth's. I remember eating at the Castle at WDW and the staff called us King, Queen, and Princes, LOL. Now THAT'S service one remembers! Of course, I don't recall the food being memorable, or maybe it's been too long, but I do remember the service;)

 

 

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The standard menu is still available. They are not charging for what was always available. They have added an extra option. Another choice.

 

The brunch still has steak and eggs, and all the rest at no extra charge.

[SadieN]

How much did you pay for your Princess cruise versus Carnival? More?

quote]

 

Right now some of these 3day cruises on Princess are cheaper (or just slightly more) than Carnival's. But many of Princess's 3dayers are not over the weekend.

Both cruiselines have been fire-selling these shorter cruises.

[tootsiescurly]

Most of the cruise lines in the same price range are all doing the same things. Last I checked, Princess was considerably higher to cruise. Giving customers choices means the rest of us don't have to pay for what we don't want. I have no problem with it, just don't pay it!

 

I do agree food on all the lines is not what it used to be. What you now pay extra for in the pay restaurants is what we used to get in the MDR. I think those days are gone.....unless you pay more to cruise a higher end line.

debbie

 

All I can say is Princess is worth EVERY penny extra you pay!!!

[Linda the Book Lover]

Interesting report about the tax. I think this is actually a recent change *for the better*. Previously, if you purchased the Bottomless Bubbles package while in port you paid tax on the entire package. Conversely, purchasers of Cheers were charged tax on an "as you go" basis, only on drinks ordered while in US ports (except Texas sailings, where they operate under some very rapacious rules). It sounds like Bubbles and Cheers are now on the same footing, tax-wise. That saves a buck or two.

 

After eight cruises this year, I can tell you that the buffet quality varies from ship to ship and is a direct reflection of the Chef d'Cuisine on board. They manage their own budgets and can emphasize/de-emphasize items, economizing on the buffet to improve the MDR or vice versa. Their budgets have shrunk through corporate cost-cutting and its become a real balancing act that some are better at than others.

 

As far as the "Steakhouse Selections" in MDR, I think it's disgusting, reprehensible, venal and insulting (but tell us how you really feel, writerfl. LOL). To charge $20 for a $5 piece of meat you should should have served me in the first place as part of my cruise fare is adding insult to fiscal injury. It is my fervent hope that nobody ever orders these items AND begins to complain loudly about the poor quality of the "regular" menu items they are supposed to supplant.

 

One of the best meals I've EVER had on a Carnival ship was at Cucina Del Capitano on the Breeze. Can you tell me why that only costs $15 a person up charge for a complete, sumptuous meal served impeccably versus an extra $20 for a single hunk of beef served by the same people who were serving you anyways? Hah! Trick question.

 

I loved your "but tell us how you really feel, writerfl. LOL"

[patriots00celtics]

They are supposed to swipe your card, I assume it's for the numbers, to make sure it's your card and give you the option to tip extra. The buffet is best when it's fresh but I still find it hard to be picky about 24 hrs of all you can eat food at whatever low price payed.

 

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[Tampa8]

The Buffet is a personal taste thing, can't argue with personal taste. It was fine perhaps not outstanding on the DREAM last year, I will know again in a couple of weeks on the Breeze. I also understand there can be some things that just are not good on a given cruise that might be on a return visit. That said;

 

1. Comparing the Italian restaurant food to a completely different type of food has no merit for cost. Beef happens to be very expensive this year. I can get a great meal at a Chinese restaurant for much less too, has no bearing on getting a top notch Steak.

 

2. The steak being charged for, as mentioned isn't mandatory, and ISN'T what was ever served in the MDR at dinner and isn't served on Royal Caribbean either as standard steak, another cruise line I have been on. So to say it is what should be served in the first place is wrong, I can say they should be serving Caviar too. The same steak they have always served still is served with no up charge. Your description of the Lobster ordered varies tremendously from my experience and what I have seen others post. I wasn't there so can't argue with your description for that night, but it isn't representative.

 

3. If the cruise you said you took was not charging taxes in port they were supposed to. That topic has been posted about here already.

 

4. The poster who said it is a ripoff is wrong, period. You may feel it isn't worth it to you, but MANY of us have already posted how good it is, and how good it is at the actual steakhouse when the ship has one. If you don't go to the better steakhouses where very expensive beef is served you might not understand how much it costs. And yes, that steak is about there with what the better steakhouses serve. It's an option for those who want it.

 

5. I only gamble for fun and not all that much money is gambled. I will say the odds are more stacked against you on a cruise ship than at Las Vegas, or Connecticut, or Atlantic City casinos. They do not have a mandatory pay back, I have often seen multiple decks being used on board, I can't remember specifically about using auto shufflers. Just my opinion, no one should be going to the casino with the notion they will come away ahead. Think of it as fun. If you win, all the better. Until I know what other ships in other cruise lines are doing I can't say how your experience in the casino compares.

 

6. One last consideration is the cost of the cruise. I have saved 100's of dollars over very similar cruises on other lines. I understand that may mean some things will cost more or are not available for something I pay less for to begin with. If in the end that reduction isn't worth it I won't do it again, so far Carnival has given me my value and more.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Tampa8

[Havingfun2010]

Swiping you card for soda....it's about trust, and Carnival does not trust their passengers. Has nothing to do with inventory. Soda is extremely cheap. Cost about $0.04 a glass wholesale. So many people today try to "smuggle", and "share" drinks, that they now make it harder by verifying that it is you and tracking how often you swipe, like every 5 minutes?

 

Taxes. Small pennies add up to big bucks. They have to pay taxes, but they are not selling you the soda when you get it. It is already bought. Charging you a tax on a $0.00 purchase is not accurate. It's just a way to get a few extra pennies (that do add up) to cover their cost.

 

Other cruise lines you buy it online before your cruise and they don't bother you with this nonsense.

 

Soon you will need to drop a quarter in a bathroom, and they will call it a disposal fee.....while in port of course.

[serene56]

I believe the swipe your card for your free beverage is to print out a receipt that you have to sign after adding your optional tip?

 

you dont have to put in a tip. you sign the receipt. Its their way of controlling inventory-- and to make sure the card is yours.

[ManyMore]

You know that TAXES are something that cruise lines can not control right? They don't make money on taxes. The other stuff if optional so how were you nickle and dimed? Nobody is making you buy anything. You can still have all the food you want, all the soda you want so where is the issue? sigh

[newlights]

Roulette table has 5 minumim bet but all chips are 2 dollars now to you will be betting 6 or more most people last week didn't realize this and were placing 5 chips down betting 10 a pop when told by other cruisers some almost had mini heart attacks. The dealers etc were not telling people this at all and no signage was posted.

 

 

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[nchikk]

Just got off the Carnival Inspiration from the 3 day Ensenada weekend cruise. Several changes since the last time I sailed on Carnival really left me feeling nickled and dimed.... almost felt like I was on a budget low-cost airline like Spirit!

 

* When you buy the bottomless bubbles soda package and are in port, Carnival now charges $0.14 tax for each soda. No other cruise line has ever done this including Princess two weeks ago. In addition, Carnival now "swipes" your card with each soda and hands you a receipt to sign asking for an additional tip in addition to the tip you paid when you bought the soda card?

 

* Charging $20 extra to get steak or pork chops in the main dining room? Since when is that a normal practice on a cruise line? I'm fine with paying $25 for a special dining room like Palo on Disney, but to charge me extra for certain food items just feels like a surcharge to make "profit."

 

* The good old 6-5 blackjack at the $6 minimum table... not even with a single deck but with a continuous shuffle machine. The casino is making money hand over first on this one. Not to mention if you bet $6 you aren't getting even a 6-5 payout. You should be getting $7.20 for each Blackjack, but only get $7. Again, most ship casinos pay "normal" 3-2 payouts for Blackjack. This irritated me so much that Carnival didn't get my gambling money.

 

* Also charging a 3% fee to get casino chips at the table or cashier. Another thing that Princess didn't do on my cruise two weeks ago.

 

* Not an extra cost thing, but when did the food in the buffet get so bad??? I have experienced many cruise ship buffets and I've got to say this was the worst. Bland food, very little variety -- looked almost as bad as a buffet at Circus Circus in Las Vegas about 15 years ago.

 

Overall these felt like very negative changes. And as long as the competition isn't doing the same, my business will be with them (and yes, I know Carnival owns Princess).

 

Robert

 

Just my take on things...

 

If you don't want add an additional tip on the receipt, then don't. I don't see the problem.

 

The $20 thing in the MDR is, unless I'm mistaken, for Steakhouse entrees in the MDRs of ships that dont' have the Steakhouse. One is not forced to pay that unless they're ordering one of those selections.

 

The blackjack thing...it's the same in any brick-and-mortar casino I've been in for quite some time. The only better "rules" are at the higher limit tables.

 

And the buffet food...

First off, food opinions are subjective...chances are there are just as many who did not like it as there were who did. Secondly, it's a buffet, not a restaurant where food is prepared "a la minute". All that being said, our last cruise I didn't think the buffet food on the Dream was bad at all.

 

And I don't know about comparing cruise lines and how one does or doesn't do things another does or doesn't. Anytime I've checked, prices on Princess are higher than they are on Carnival, so I suppose I'd expect one to have things the other doesn't. If they weren't different, why bother even having the other cruise line at all?

 

LIke I said, just my 2 cents...your opinion may vary...and that's fine.

[Fishymom]

We just got off the Magic and the food has gone down hill...

 

We were so disappointed in it. Bland, boring choices or no choices.

 

We tried everything- except paying extra for the steakhouse. I live in the midwest, I'm not paying for a steak in the middle of the ocean when a ribeye is in my backyard.

[Nic6318]

I don't get it.

 

It sounds to me like the OP is complaining about having to pay for the cost of the choices they make on the ship. :confused:

 

As they stated by not gambling they saved money. Would it be better for you if they enticed you better so you could lose your money.

 

There are many things onboard where you can choose to spend your money. If you choose not buy anything onboard, they wont get a single nickel extra from you. If you choose to opt in or buy something you cant now complain that they are now nickeling and diming you. They aren't hiding the cost of anything, unless of course if you don't ask. It's your choice.

 

I think that's the way it works everywhere in life.

[TerReuv]

Being nickle and dimed is about being charged for lots of little things and not having a choice! You were not nickle and dimed. You were offered upgrades for certain things at a cost and you were charged tax on soda's in port (not the cruiselines fault). No one forced you to tip anything extra, no one forced you to order a "steakhouse steak" in the MDR, no one forced you to gamble.

 

Nickle and dimed is when you buy a printer and then find out you have to buy the power cord or USB cord separately!

[mmckm]

Just got off the Carnival Inspiration from the 3 day Ensenada weekend cruise. Several changes since the last time I sailed on Carnival really left me feeling nickled and dimed.... almost felt like I was on a budget low-cost airline like Spirit!

 

* When you buy the bottomless bubbles soda package and are in port, Carnival now charges $0.14 tax for each soda. No other cruise line has ever done this including Princess two weeks ago. In addition, Carnival now "swipes" your card with each soda and hands you a receipt to sign asking for an additional tip in addition to the tip you paid when you bought the soda card?

 

It's not carnival charging you this fee, its the government. Princess also charges that fee on drinks while in ports that make them charge it.

[YorN]

All I can say is Princess is worth EVERY penny extra you pay!!!

 

That's great if you enjoy "all-inclusive" or paying for things for other people. I don't. Why should I have to pay a higher fare just to get unlimited special coffees and other items that I do not partake in. Just charge me a lower fare and I will pay additional for those items for which I choose to partake.

[Warm Breezes]

All I can say is Princess is worth EVERY penny extra you pay!!!

 

It may be worth every extra penny to you but it certainly wasn't worth it to me. Unless I get a really great deal, I don't see us sailing Princess again for a while. The value to us for the extra cost was just not there. To each his own. Value is subjective.

[Cruiseaholichal]

That's great if you enjoy "all-inclusive" or paying for things for other people. I don't. Why should I have to pay a higher fare just to get unlimited special coffees and other items that I do not partake in. Just charge me a lower fare and I will pay additional for those items for which I choose to partake.

 

I don't drink coffee, coffee shouldn't be free for everyone, I don't eat dessert, dessert shouldn't be free for everyone, I don't swim , swimming shouldn't be free for everyone, I don't eat pasta- pasta shouldn't be free for everyone-- could go on and on and on.

 

When the food quality in the MDR goes down - then they offer something acceptable, but for $20 ,people feel like they are being nickel & dimmed, when a special coffee now costs $2.50, people feel nickel and dimmed.

 

Maybe there should be a cruise line where everything is a la carte

[rtscruiser]

Sadly, the OP is correct and I agree with his sentiments. Even more sadly, this is the way the entire travel industry is headed and we can expect the trend to continue. Remember when a checked bag was free? When you didn't have to pay an extra $10-$100 to sit in the first 10 rows in coach? Many airlines now make more on additional fees than they do on the base ticket. Hotels the same way. A "resort fee" whether you use the gym or not. A fee for your in-room safe. Carnival is simply following the trend. FTTF was the first major fee creativity; now you pay an extra fee in the MDR for slightly better food. Sure, it's all your choice. But we can expect more and more of these tack-on fees as the travel industry continues to learn what a cash cow these fees represent.

[rs12065]

See ya!!

 

Very mature reply. Thanks for adding nothing to the conversation.

[katiel53]

I agree the charging of tax is new to some, but tax is charged in any US port and it's on the amount of the drink, i.e. mixed drink might be 15 cents and a soda a different amount. I also believe that the signing of the receipt is two-fold. One so that cruisers can tip additionally as some wanted to tip the actual person bringing the soda or pouring it and didn't have cash, but also for inventory purposes, although, I am doubtful about the second reason.

 

The up charge in the dining room is on all ships, not just those with the American Table. Personally, I like the idea of getting a better steak or surf and turf any night without having to go to the Steakhouse. My husband will go once to satisfy me, but he's a small eater so it's kind of a waste of money for him to go there.Cruise prices themselves are really cheap, so for those who want to eat something better, they have the option to do so. If you don't want to pay the up charge, don't, but those of us who wish to do so will continue to do so.. Also, Carnival is NOT the first line to do this. We also sail Royal Caribbean and this has been done for years.

 

If you feel nickeled and dimed to death, I could feel that I am paying for others kids to go to the kids clubs, the swimming pool, the shows, karaoke, etc. so you can see we all have our opinions and what's being nickeled and dimed to one is not to another. The difference is you have a choice in extra tipping, buying the steak etc., but I don't.

Edited November 4, 2014 by katiel53

[tootsiescurly]

That's great if you enjoy "all-inclusive" or paying for things for other people. I don't. Why should I have to pay a higher fare just to get unlimited special coffees and other items that I do not partake in. Just charge me a lower fare and I will pay additional for those items for which I choose to partake.

We book suites, no matter which line. To us the extra money on Princess is worth the amenities. Carnival gives you basically nothing except priority embarkation for booking a suite. It is a matter of preference.

[musbeus]

But could you not have just relaxed and enjoyed the cruise?

 

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Edited November 4, 2014 by musbeus

[skierrob]

Cool -- dumb question though: Why did the Miracle arrive in Ensenada so late? Did you stay all night?

 

Halloween was a blast on the ship! Most everyone was dressed up and partying on deck. ;)

 

Just off the Miracle. We watched you sail out of Ensenada.

 

Everyone's already discussed the taxes. Rather pay $0.14each for a few sodas rather than a tax on the whole package amount. The tip line is pre-programmed. Like getting take out at a restaurant, the tip line is still there. Fill it in or ignore it.

 

The steakhouse upcharge is something Carnival has toyed with in the past. We also had it on the Miracle. It's not for everyone. On our 15 day cruise on guy we met had the Lobster Tail or Surf n Turf every night in the MDR.

 

Casino--Carnival's tables, Carnival's rules. The BJ odds changed a few months ago. The odds are clearly stated. For as long as we've sailed on Carnival out of California (Paradise was our first ship) they've always charged 3% for chips/cash at the tables. It's the penalty you pay for stopping the play at the table. (Yes, it costs them money when this is done.) Could have used your Player's Bank at any slot machine and gotten chips at the Cage for no charge. Have heard many of the Pit Bosses inform table players of this.

 

I'll be on the Golden next week doing a B2B. I'll check out the Casino.

 

Buffet has always been hit and miss. Depends on the chef.

 

How was Halloween on the Inspiration? We had a blast on the Miracle.

[andy.capitan]

Sadly, the OP is correct and I agree with his sentiments. Even more sadly, this is the way the entire travel industry is headed and we can expect the trend to continue. Remember when a checked bag was free? When you didn't have to pay an extra $10-$100 to sit in the first 10 rows in coach? Many airlines now make more on additional fees than they do on the base ticket. Hotels the same way. A "resort fee" whether you use the gym or not. A fee for your in-room safe. Carnival is simply following the trend. FTTF was the first major fee creativity; now you pay an extra fee in the MDR for slightly better food. Sure, it's all your choice. But we can expect more and more of these tack-on fees as the travel industry continues to learn what a cash cow these fees represent.

 

You can only blame the consumer for this trend. Price is still the most important factor in choosing a cruise line or airline.

 

By default, search engines bring up flights from lowest to highest cost - of the base ticket. Consumer demand for the lowest price forced airlines to break out some fees and expenses. Checked bags are still free on Southwest, but you won't find them using search engines.

 

Company greed of cheap customers? Probably a little of both but I would put more blame on the consumer.

 

The limited selection of steakhouse entrees in the MDR are noticeably better than MDR offerings, and no, not at the expense of selection or quality of the included offerings. Carnival was not the first to offer extra cost entrees in the MDR.

 

The speed at which Carnival rolled out steakhouse selections fleet wide is proof of the popularity with cruisers.

 

It is about offering choice and flexibility.

 

On FTTF, with 15 cabins per sailing (+/-), it is hardly a cash cow, but again, is a choice. There are far more Platinum cruisers on any given sailing.