Why do the cruise ships make a big deal about the drink of the day when you first get on the ship? They make it seem like it is complementary, but after you agree to it, then you realize that it costs $8. <BR><BR>Big time scam they have going.<BR><BR>I also think that the cruise ships are ripping us off when it comes to the tips. Why do they suggest what amount of a tip we should leave? The whole purpose of a tip is to give something small to show your appreciation for a stellar job. An extra $75 for tips is not something that I factored into the price of the cruise.<BR><BR>I am sure that there are other rip offs that the cruise lines scam us with but this is all that I can think of.<BR>

How about the spa? They make it look like it is free and then whammo you find out it is an extra $80 for a facial.<BR><BR>Don't even get me started on the shore trips.

What about the fact that now many ships have extra restaurants that charge you fees to eat there? HELLO - isn't all the food included? Did they think we wouldn't notice restaurants charging extra? Cruising used to be a bargain. Now, well, nickel and diming is a good way to put it.

I like the fact that if you don't need the service you don't have to pay for it in your cruise fare. What if they started charging for the shows? It does seem like they are nickel & diming you to death but they must have done surveys, the most popular things are included and the extras are extra.

Maryann,<BR>How do figure the cruise lines would know who likes what, when? Should they keep a whole Broadway company on the ship just in case there are few cultured people willing to pay for it, or no shows, no gourmet cooking, let's bring it down to the lowest common denominator. Everybody has different needs and wants, but please don't tell me anybody is being screwed just because they try to sell this or that. I don't know about anybody else, but in my business world that happens every day.

what another person using Maryann? please don't confuse me with her or him. <BR><BR><BR>a captive audience is just that, but any responsible business that wants repeat customers will do surveys and have marketing ideas to increase revenue. That's why we have so many choices on the ship as there should be. That is in my business world.

I have no idea why anyone would think that a facial or a specialty drink would be included in the cost - whether it is $399 or $1500 - especially if you read your contract cover to cover. <BR><BR>Also, regarding tips - it is a suggestion. It is kind of annoying but some people want to know what is "appropriate."

I go into all the specialty restaurants and eat to my hearts content. I don't pay a penny extra. I just refuse and they know to say nothing. Ships don't "nickle and dime" you, they dollar and double dollar" you. It is a real racket they have going. I heard the next charge they will add on to your account is how many times you flush the toilet. It will cost you $5 per flush after the first 2 flushes each day. Toilet paper, of course, is extra. A roll of 2-ply paper will set you back another $3.00.

This is why one should visit a travel agent instead of attempting to read everything printed concerning cruise ships. One will know in 5 minutes. Then one could decide whether one wishes to cruise or take a land-based vacation. Then one will find out what the resort is nickel and diming you for and then what?? .... Stay home.<BR><BR>Paul

I do agree with Eddie that one assumes that the champagne is complimentary when you board a ship.<BR>But, the waiter must tell you there is a charge before you sip. I do agree it is a bad practice and should be noted on your comment card.<BR><BR>But now that you are past passenger you can go to the past passenger party on your next cruise and drink all the complimentary champagne you wish. <BR><BR>Enjoy,<BR><BR>Paul

I cannot believe that they charge so much for ironing! I think the little room cleaning people should iron for free.

I guess that all the complaining about "nickel and diming" could be eliminated by the cruise lines just upping the price of a cruise by about<BR>$6-$800.<BR>That way, they could say "all included"<BR>Then it would be cheaper, right????<BR><BR>I love to listen to the chronic gripers about this "nickel and dime" stuff, how they have to pay for spa treatments, how they have to pay for cokes for JR. and Missy, etc, etc. But while they are complaining they usually are running up hundreds in bar bills, buying all those goofy photos that everyone but them knows looks like crap,dropping a few hundred in the casino, etc.<BR>No one makes you spend anything.If you feel it's not worth it, simply learn to tell yourself no.This works at sea just as well as when you are on vacation on land. How many ways does Walmart have of getting your money? How about the grocery store? Point is , you are nickeled and dimed everywhere, not just on a ship.Just say no.

Where did you find a cruise fare for $399 p.p.? All the 7 day cruises I looked at charged $1200 to 1500 on a mini-suite balcony. I do agree that $80 is pretty high for a facial, should be more like $40-50.

Just remember, no one is forcing you to go!

Yo go stephanie! The above posts that referenced $399 p.p. are nuts. Granted nobody said 7 days so I think you might be making an assumption that they were not making.<BR><BR>However, even if they were talking about a 3 or 4 day cruise for $399, then their logic fails because no one pays $1500 for such a short cruise.<BR><BR>Bottom line - they cannot have it both ways. Either they are talking about 7 day cruise (in which case they would be hard pressed to tell you which cruise line offers it for $399) or else they are talking about a shorter cruise (in which case one would wonder who would pay $1500).<BR><BR>Either way people are talking about apples and oranges.

Stephanie @ Larry,<BR>Did both of you come from the same idiot family?<BR>399,1500, was just a number, what I meant was that cruiselines could charge for everything upfront(whatever it is), and most people would not pay for it. Like any other business, they pull in people with a low, low price and then........<BR>Nothing wrong with that but you idiots seem to have a problem with that. <BR>Ron,Harry @ BJ, thank God for people like you.....

Here's the solution to avoiding "nickles and dimes."<BR><BR>I just returned from an 11-day cruise where a fruit basket and a bottle of iced French champagne greeted us upon arrival at our suite. <BR><BR>We had wine with every lunch and dinner,<BR>24-hour room service (full menu at mealtimes). We had caviar delivered to our suite one night.<BR><BR>Whenever we wanted a martini, mimosa, beer, drink-of-the-day, or whatever, we just asked for it.<BR><BR><BR>We also had in our suite a litre of Tanqueray Gin and another of Puerto Rican rum as well as an assortment of soft drinks, mixes and beer in our fridge, all replenished daily. <BR><BR>My total bill at cruise end was $35 (for 2 photographs and a disposable camera). All of the above (and more) was free. No tipping, either. <BR><BR>Now, don't ask me how much the cruise cost (please) but there was no nickling and dimeing.<BR><BR>You either pay it all up front...or as you go. There's no free ride.<BR>

Very intelligent post.

Eddie, you hit the nail on the head. Cut the fare, raise the small stuff. Big money!

With fares dropping how do you think the cruise lines can make any money?