NCL room service charge

[smeck]

NCL recently announced a $7.95 charge for room service. How long do you think before Princess follows suit?

[dmwnc1959]

NCL recently announced a $7.95 charge for room service. How long do you think before Princess follows suit?

 

 

Doesn't Princess Cruises already have this, but just for after midnight and pizza? I don't think they'd go to a room service charge for all orders 24/7.

 

:D

Edited April 2, 2015 by dmwnc1959

[Astro Flyer]

Doesn't Princess Cruises already have this, but just for after midnight and pizza? I don't think they'd go to a room service charge for all orders 24/7.

 

:D

In January it was a $3 delivery charge for pizza anytime however nothing else; RCI had a fee for delivery overnight.

 

I think that NCL has more fee based options & hope thst Princess doesn't add it after they attempted to add it to the Regal last May. We have only used room service a couple of times & most recently for a couple of personal size pizzas (about the same size as at Alfredo's).

Edited April 2, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[Loonbeam]

NCL also adds an auto-tip to specialty dining and dinner shows. If Princess were to copy anything, I think that would be it.

 

Recall the reaction and retraction to the fee on Regal.

 

NCL makes no bones about the fact that their new ships are geared to the unbundled cost model.

[Colo Cruiser]

NCL is more about nickel and diming then Princess is.

I don't see any added charges besides the $3 pizza.

Edited April 2, 2015 by Colo Cruiser

[senior lady]

another reason I stay with Princess.

Royal Caribbean has also implemented 18% gratuities

[KruzeKrazy!]

We use room service often including for pizza with the $3 charge. I gladly pay the $3 plus add a gratuity but don't really understand why the charge for pizza. It costs more to carry a pizza than a meal? Maybe they have to fetch the pizza from a distant area?

[Astro Flyer]

We use room service often including for pizza with the $3 charge. I gladly pay the $3 plus add a gratuity but don't really understand why the charge for pizza. It costs more to carry a pizza than a meal? Maybe they have to fetch the pizza from a distant area?

 

Based on what I've read, it's an effort to reduce waste which apparently was occurring more often with pizza than with other room service food although I'm doubtful if anyone has a definitive answer about why.

Edited April 2, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[caribill]

We use room service often including for pizza with the $3 charge. I gladly pay the $3 plus add a gratuity but don't really understand why the charge for pizza. It costs more to carry a pizza than a meal? Maybe they have to fetch the pizza from a distant area?

 

Based on what I've read, it's an effort to reduce waste which apparently was occurring more often with pizza than with other room service food although I'm doubtful if anyone has a definitive answer about why.

 

That was the reason. Staff was cleaning up many uneaten pizzas before the charge was added.

[caribill]

NCL recently announced a $7.95 charge for room service. How long do you think before Princess follows suit?

 

Princess did try this (I think it was $3, but I could be wrong) on the Royal or Regal (I forget which) when it first sailed.

 

There was this charge when the free basket of fruit was delivered to the cabin, when the morning coffee was delivered to the cabin and with any other order.

 

It lasted only about a week.

 

At the same time they tried a $10 charge in the previous free Alfredo's Pizza restaurant. The charge included a glass of wine. Non-wine drinkers were quite unhappy about paying $10 for free pizza. This also lasted about a week.

 

If NCL is charging $7.95 for room service to bring morning coffee, I suspect they will have many less orders to deliver.

[satxdiver]

That was the reason. Staff was cleaning up many uneaten pizzas before the charge was added.

 

Pax would order pizza which comes as a whole pie, eat a few pieces at most and throw the rest away. I do believe they were trying to stop the wasted food. Pax after the entertainment late at night would order a pizza only wanting maybe one or two pieces. I was on the carnival magic and they had a 24 hour pizzeria and grill on the lido deck. when the bars started closing these two venues were very crowded with pax particularly the grill.

[paul929207]

Princess put a $3 delivery charge on pizza when they started delivering it. That was several years ago. I think that is the only thing with a delivery charge on Princess

[Griller]

I'd support getting rid of room service altogether, Princess could save a lot of staff costs that way.

They've already implemented costcutting which make the whole Princess cruise experience less special than it used to be so why not get rid of room service?

I still like Princess, booked late at firesale prices its great value.

Unless pax are confined to their cabin for Noro reasons do they really need room service with all the other options there are to eat on the ship?

[pablo222]

Pax would order pizza which comes as a whole pie, eat a few pieces at most and throw the rest away. I do believe they were trying to stop the wasted food.

 

They could have simply offered 'pizza by the slice',

and let folks order 2 or 3 slices from room service.

Not much different than ordering a sandwich.

[Tyskie]

We are Princess cruisers but recently have been sailing NCL - a couple of reasons for that: NY port, casino at seas program & some different itineraries ............. we are not happy with the added fee but since we don't have a cruise booked with them, we'll do a wait & see.

 

Getting back to topic: we love room service in the AM for coffee. Nice to have that first cup without showering and dressing. Also if we have an early excursion, cereal, fruit, Danish will be enough breakfast. And, would this include ice too? For us, there never seems to be enough ice. Let's hope that Princess doesn't follow NCL. :eek:

Edited April 2, 2015 by Tyskie

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

I'd support getting rid of room service altogether, Princess could save a lot of staff costs that way.

They've already implemented costcutting which make the whole Princess cruise experience less special than it used to be so why not get rid of room service?

I still like Princess, booked late at firesale prices its great value.

Unless pax are confined to their cabin for Noro reasons do they really need room service with all the other options there are to eat on the ship?

 

You've got that right. As long as people can order as much as they like without an extra charge they don't feel any need to not waste it. Initiating a charge will save money & keep the bottom line in the black.

If you pay extra for the food you'll be less likely to just discard it.

[RocketMan275]

NCL recently announced a $7.95 charge for room service. How long do you think before Princess follows suit?

 

It's not clear what NCL is doing. So far, the fee is only for two ships and is advertised as a test. Some reports indicate that there are two room service menu. One, which is the one they've always had has been reported by some to have no fee attached. The second, which is an expanded menu, has been reported to have a fee. So, are they testing the fee concept, the expanded menu, or both?

 

Still, it's loads of fun to visit their board to read the responses.

[kruisey]

I'd support getting rid of room service altogether, Princess could save a lot of staff costs that way.

They've already implemented costcutting which make the whole Princess cruise experience less special than it used to be so why not get rid of room service?

I still like Princess, booked late at firesale prices its great value.

Unless pax are confined to their cabin for Noro reasons do they really need room service with all the other options there are to eat on the ship?

 

We are on vacation and maybe like our morning coffee or tea in our room and maybe breakfast .

There are other times of the day for many different reasons why folks want to eat in their cabins.

[shredie]

I'd support getting rid of room service altogether, Princess could save a lot of staff costs that way.

They've already implemented costcutting which make the whole Princess cruise experience less special than it used to be so why not get rid of room service?

I still like Princess, booked late at firesale prices its great value.

Unless pax are confined to their cabin for Noro reasons do they really need room service with all the other options there are to eat on the ship?

 

There it is again, that pesky idea that some people like one thing and others like something else. Apparently, that is soooo hard to understand. I don't much like MUTS, but I'm not advocating they remove it. For a totally customized cruise, I think you'd need your own yacht (where you could eliminate room service.)

[CI66774]

I'd support getting rid of room service altogether, Princess could save a lot of staff costs that way.

They've already implemented costcutting which make the whole Princess cruise experience less special than it used to be so why not get rid of room service?

I still like Princess, booked late at firesale prices its great value.

Unless pax are confined to their cabin for Noro reasons do they really need room service with all the other options there are to eat on the ship?

 

While they're at it, just get rid of the pools - takes time for the crew to clean and water presents a safety hazard. Hey, they should get rid of all the dining rooms because, shucks, people only need the Horizon Court - saves staff and money. Griller, what an utterly ridiculous comment!

[Loonbeam]

From what I hear, SOME items on the menu will have a surcharge but possibly not all of them..

 

No idea which items are what.

 

It's not clear what NCL is doing. So far, the fee is only for two ships and is advertised as a test. Some reports indicate that there are two room service menu. One, which is the one they've always had has been reported by some to have no fee attached. The second, which is an expanded menu, has been reported to have a fee. So, are they testing the fee concept, the expanded menu, or both?

 

Still, it's loads of fun to visit their board to read the responses.

[Griller]

We are on vacation and maybe like our morning coffee or tea in our room and maybe breakfast .

There are other times of the day for many different reasons why folks want to eat in their cabins.

 

I guess it would be too much to expect them to burn a few calories and walk to the buffet or International Café and get what they want and bring it back to their cabin?

I gave up on room service years ago when it never really was hot enough, or fully what I wanted even though I had carefully ordered it to be so, and as for the tea well they bring some hot water and teabag separately, its not possible to make a good cup of tea like that IMHO.

If they are going to keep room service then as a stockholder I think they should charge what it really costs to provide the service, and that won't be cheap.

[happy cruzer]

Yep, it might be too much to ask, room service is very popular with people with disabilities as is cruising in general. The high level of service and care is an asset over land vacations. Folks with mobility issues really like to have room service at times. One lady reported that her husbands hearing problems made the dining areas uncomfortable.

 

If a cruise lines Wants yo be inclusive and multigenerational room service as a included option is an asset.

Edited April 2, 2015 by happy cruzer

[shredie]

I guess it would be too much to expect them to burn a few calories and walk to the buffet or International Café and get what they want and bring it back to their cabin?

 

Yes, and for people like some of my friends right here who are handicapped and need assistance walking, they could burn up even MORE calories, especially those who use a cane. :rolleyes: They could practice their balancing skills carrying a cup of coffee and a croissant in one hand! :rolleyes: There's probably little chance the coffee will be cold by the time they make it back to the room because they wouldn't have to wait for the elevator. :rolleyes: People who are mobility challenged are known to be rapid stair climbers and can dash down the hall with both hands occupied without ever spilling a drop! :rolleyes: Who needs room service?

Edited April 2, 2015 by shredie

[Colo Cruiser]

You left out 2 more, you can use 6 total. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

;)

Edited April 2, 2015 by Colo Cruiser