Mullinsr

My wife and I just returned to California following a "Dream Trip" to Norway via Hurtigruten. We took the 6 Day northbound cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes. Three meals per day were included in the cost, which was substantial. On our first day we discovered that drinking water was not included in the cost of Lunch or Dinner. Not even their excellent tap water. In the restaurant there was a tap water dispenser which was available during breakfast but it was locked off during both Lunch and Dinner. If you wanted water during Lunch or Dinner you had to purchase bottled water at 25 Kroner (About $5 US). When I complained to the Cruise Director and later directly to the Captain their only response was "You can get drinking water from the tap in your cabin.) No explanation why the tap water dispenser was available at breakfast in the same restaurant, but tap water was not available at other meals.
Strangely, Hurtigruten sells itself as being "Environmentally Responsible" but they ad to global warming by only providing bottled water at 2 meals per day. Few things are less responsible than bottled water when good clean tap water is plentiful.
I can only assume that someone in high places at Hurtigruten is getting "Kick Backs" from the bottled water supplier.

hetismij2

Wow. That must be new. On my three trips water was provided at both lunch and dinner. Maybe they have introduced the fee because so few people drink wine or beer with their meal.
If you had the red coffee cup you could have filled that with water and taken in with you.
Send a letter of complaint to them.

hetismij2

I just looked at the website, and it does say in the Essential stuff that wine and water packages are available, and they they only serve bottled water in the restaurants now.
Water in the cafeteria and bar remains free.

Definitely send a letter or email of complaint off to the Norwegian HQ.

plr

In the meantime, I will plan to just bring a refilled water bottle from my cabin to each meal. Pretty stupid to be forced to this, but not a huge problem to do so....

hetismij2

plr, you could instead fill the red cup with water. Even though tea and coffee are free after meals lots of people use their red cups for it, and have them on the table during the meal.

IanR

In response to plr and hetismij2 (above), it's not that easy! Restaurant managers are instructed to confiscate glasses and cups from diners on the way in to meals, no matter what they contain (yes, even their own tap water). They excuse this on the grounds that it might be alcohol. This misguided policy was introduced in March this year (2014), and whoever came up with it has no understanding of the market. I have traveled on Hurtigruten twice this autumn and seen huge customer resentment. I feel sorry for the restaurant managers who have to implement it, as they face rows all the time. Hurtigruten has just changed hands so let's hope the new owners see sense and revert the policy forthwith.

hetismij2

Thanks for that update Ian. It sounds amazing that they introduced that policy. It seems to be coming more commercial and cruise like all the time, which will put off the faithful returnees, and many new customers who choose Hurtigruten over a Norwegian cruise because of its relaxed atmosphere and lack of cruise ship entertainment and rules.

bilboburgler

Not offering tap water is unacceptable, I'd drop a line to Greenpeace as well as the Norwegian Ministry, this has to be stopped.

bilboburgler

http://www.miljodirektoratet.no/no/O...onment-Agency/

http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/think-outside-bottle

http://www.banthebottle.net/ban-the-bottle-campaign/

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