RCCL announces cost-cutting strategy for 2009

[Brad1185]

This is what NCLA did on the first Hawaii crusies a couple of years ago.

[Gonzo70]

I just noticed the fine print:

 

*All PAX will be charged a $2.99 per day Purell Supplement

*Additional Lobster tails available for $9.95

*25 Cent charge each time your Sea Pass is used to open stateroom door

*All PAX charged a $10 per day Resort Fee

*Towel Animals will be made by stewarts for $5 a night

*1st Ounce of Self-Serve Ice Cream free; $1.99 additional ounces

*25% of all casino winnings go to The House

*$125 fee if you keep your robe; $25 fee if you return it

*$10 fee per asking staff to enforce a rule, i.e. chair hogs

*$1 fee anytime a photographer snaps your picture

*$5 Cover Charge at Viking Lounge after 10pm - Ladies Free

[hooked-on-travel]

I just knew you were going to say the mandatory bike riding was to keep passengers' weight down, thus cutting down on the amount of fuel required for each cruise.

 

But if they ride bikes they'll be hungrier and need a lobster tail!

[sandgrand]

Question for "Amybear912" - I really love your signature quote, can I use it? (if not - where did you find it, maybe I can search for something like it) Thanks.

[MJL]

But if they ride bikes they'll be hungrier and need a lobster tail!

 

What lobster???? The ones you catch yourself on the fresh seafood catching excursion? :) :D :)

[amybear912]

Question for "Amybear912" - I really love your signature quote, can I use it? (if not - where did you find it, maybe I can search for something like it) Thanks.

 

Sure! I'm flattered... it's something my father always says... I'm sure he borrowed it from someone else... it's his email signature...

 

This is great... keep them coming...

 

 

I've also heard that in order to cut down on chair hogs, all pax will now be issued chairs (you'll find them in your cabin upon arrival)... you'll have to keep them in your cabin when you aren't using them and haul them up to the pool deck when you need a chair.... there will be a $5 per day surcharge for this.

[Cruising89143]

Sure! I'm flattered... it's something my father always says... I'm sure he borrowed it from someone else... it's his email signature...

 

This is great... keep them coming...

 

 

I've also heard that in order to cut down on chair hogs, all pax will now be issued chairs (you'll find them in your cabin upon arrival)... you'll have to keep them in your cabin when you aren't using them and haul them up to the pool deck when you need a chair.... there will be a $5 per day surcharge for this.

 

Don't forget that there will also be another surcharge if you want to sit within so many feet of the pool.;)

[Pomperaugrr]

The Adventure Ocean kids will spend three hours below decks rowing, similar to the old time galley slaves. They will get to sing songs and pretend to be pirates or Vikings, to keep it educational. I have our girls preparing for this by doing push-ups and using a rowing machine. (I'm kidding folks! :))

 

Thanks for starting this thread. I needed a good laugh. We are looking forward to our next cruise on RCCL in 21 days. This is a hilarious way to mentally prepare for the trip. I'm glad everyone posting to this can see the humor in the reality of the cruise business. Things change, as long as I'm on a cruise, I'm happy!

[vickiw0318]

You are forgetting coin operated toilets and box lunches for sale at check-in.

[Cruising89143]

Royal Caribbean has also announced that every time a crew member replies "my pleasure" they will ask to see your SeaPass card and there will be a $1.00 charge added.

[RetireeWannabee]

To further reduce food service staff needs, the tested My Time dining has now become "Crew Time Dining". When the staff determines the dining room ready, the lottery method selects which lucky passenger diners can now be seated for dinner! Since the lottery system + announcement feature is completely automated, no additional staff are needed, all are available for dinner service!

 

Failure to show when your number is called results in loss of dining room privileges for that evening. You must report to the dining room within 15 minutes of being called as the doors are shut and locked at that time.

 

Sources indicate that the dining room would not likely be available prior to 4 pm on any evening, except maybe port days, when they could begin dinner service as early as 3. Once the first service is over, the next one immediately begins once the linens and service pieces have been changed. It is expected that due to no-shows, the staff could easily have 3 or 4 seatings each evening, about an hour apart.

 

RCI expects this to be readily accepted by all passengers, as diners would be able to opt in to having "their table" and "their wait staff" with their preferences clearly stated on their set sail passes to further enhance wait staff efficiency. It's uncertain which seating this guarantee would apply to. Passengers will not be exposed to the risk of missing a show with this new program.

 

Further productivity boosts are expected two years from now as RC tests robotic wait staff, complete with individual personality selection!

[LauraS]

Not funny! It's been done.

 

Not true...funny is in the ear of the beholder!

 

This......this.......is HYSTERICAL:

 

To insure that all passengers have the best cruise experience possible, a mandatory First Night Fashion Show will take place. Each cruiser will don their formal attire and be required to parade through the dining room where a select set of passengers will judge their attire and determine if the attire is appropriate for formal night.

 

 

[petesweet]

These are all hilarious. Thanks for joining in.

 

Now to bring us all back to earth, please check out this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=680512

[RCCLNYMETS41]

Bathroom & Toilet FLushing Procedure Update:

 

You must only use & flush the toilet in alphabetical order according to last name. If you do not have to go to the bathroom when your letter comes up, you will forfeit your turn & must wait until your letter comes around again. THank you for your cooperation.:rolleyes:

[cyscopup]

I had heard that all passengers will be required to bring their own oars onboard with them at check-in. They will then alternate hourly between human power and fuel power. Thus eliminating the need for the fuel surcharge.:D There will be a charge for those that do not bring oars with them.

[wolfcathorse]

Also, passengers will be randomly assigned to galley duty to help prepare all meals, including placing the food in the standard brown paper bag. :D

 

and without waering food handling gloves or washing their hands!

[Hypo]

Royal Caribbean WILL be offering a new type of cabin on Genesis ships. They will be called "bunking" cabins, and they will utilize the previously wasted space under the dining room tables as cozy cabins. Privacy curtains (tablecloths) will be supplied. It is suggested that guests vacate their cabins during meal times, but it will not be required. For a small surcharge, guests will be able to bunk under their own dining room table, thus assuring arriving in the dining room on time for meals.

 

Hypo

[JandJ091902]

I just noticed the fine print:

 

*All PAX will be charged a $2.99 per day Purell Supplement

*Additional Lobster tails available for $9.95

*25 Cent charge each time your Sea Pass is used to open stateroom door

*All PAX charged a $10 per day Resort Fee

*Towel Animals will be made by stewarts for $5 a night

*1st Ounce of Self-Serve Ice Cream free; $1.99 additional ounces

*25% of all casino winnings go to The House

*$125 fee if you keep your robe; $25 fee if you return it

*$10 fee per asking staff to enforce a rule, i.e. chair hogs

*$1 fee anytime a photographer snaps your picture

*$5 Cover Charge at Viking Lounge after 10pm - Ladies Free

 

 

Are there coupons given to Diamond+ to waive the covercharge?

[wolfcathorse]

Bathroom & Toilet FLushing Procedure Update:

 

You must only use & flush the toilet in alphabetical order according to last name. If you do not have to go to the bathroom when your letter comes up, you will forfeit your turn & must wait until your letter comes around again. THank you for your cooperation.:rolleyes:

 

to reduce the cost of each flushing pax will be instructed to "if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down"

[Cruise Cat]

To make the casino even more efficient, all passengers will be required to input their back account number with their on-line check-in information 30 days prior to sailing in order to authorize a direct bank transfer to RCCL. You will also be required to select a number between 1 and 10 to indicate how much you like to gamble. There will be no actual gambling in the casino itself. Passengers will be divided into gambling groups (1 through 10 as you selected above). Passengers who selected a 10 from above will have their entire life savings (100%) transfered from their bank to RCCL's all the way down to gambling group 1 at 10%. A select number from each group will be chosen at random as winners. The more you gamble, the more you could* win. The actual ship casino is non-functional and is for show purposes only. The dealers are wax figures, the levers on the slot machines cannot be pulled, and the sound of coins dropping from the machines is only a simulation. All winnigs are in the form of discount coupons on future RCCL cruises that no one else wants nor can fit into their schedule. The only actual gambling on the ship is "BINGO". Passengers may purchase a $2,000 "Bingo License" upon booking. This license entitles you to purchase Bingo Cards at $100 per card while on that individual sailing. Cards can only be purchased and used by the owner of the valid Bingo License and cannnot be delegated to family members.

[Gonzo70]

Are there coupons given to Diamond+ to waive the covercharge?

 

Yes, for a nominal fee.

[Gonzo70]

Cards can only be purchased and used by the owner of the valid Bingo License and cannnot be delegated to family members.

 

But will they enforce that? I can just see it now; we will soon have a lengthy thread about people sharing bingo cards and whether or not this constitutes stealing. :D

[Cruise Cat]

Are you suggesting there will be "Bingo Card Scalping"? :D :D :D

[Fran Harp]

What about the one where each passenger will have to ride an exercise bike one hour per day that is connected to the ship's electrical generator?

 

Mike

 

Oh I like this one.....all those people who ride bikes and walk on treadmills when they can walk outside in the sunshine will be powering the ship, too!!!

 

Fran in Toronto

[noelbows]

I heard the following new rules have been placed before the board of directors to vote on during the next board meeting. An unofficial poll of the board members shows that the rules are favored to pass.

 

Mis-behaving children, and the parents that permit such children to behave inappropriately, will immediately be moved into crews quarters and be assigned service or cleaning duties for the remainder of the cruise. Refunds will not be granted and cabins will be placed up for auction to the highest bidder.

 

All passengers choosing to dine in the Main Dining Room will be required to earn the opportunity by serving the passengers in the alternate seating. Passengers who wish to bypass working in the dining room will be required to work elsewhere on the ship to earn their own brown bag meals. Passengers caught bringing their own food items on board will be charged a service fee of $20 each, per day.