simonv

When cruise lines started those speciality restaurants, we were told the surcharge was to tip the waiters there, because they would not be getting tips like the regular dining room waiters did. Now tips are added to the bill automatically. They claim the tips are divided among workers, and I assume it includes speciality restaurants workers. So...cruise lines found one more way for revenues. What's next? Are they going to start charging for eating in the main dining room?

strand48

My understanding is that in Portofino's on RCL's Voyager, the charge is $20. Of this amount, only $1.50 is attributed to a tip. If you want to leave an extra tip, the waiter prefers cash rather than having it charged to your SeaPass acct., because then he/she can keep it. When I first heard about these specialty restaurants, my reaction was "Why should I pay $20 for a specialty restaurant? Am I not eating in a specialty restaurant already (the dining room)?" However, I have heard so many rave reviews about the food, the presentation, and a break from the dining room, I now expect that I will be patronizing Portofino's on my upcoming cruise.

diann

We have ate at the specialty restaurants on our last 2 cruises. One on RCCL and Celebrity. Believe me they are well worth the money. Both were fabulous, and nothing like the regular restaurants. By the time you order wine, be it a glass or bottle, it is abvioulsly more than $20 pp. Still worth the extra money in our opinion. I highly recommend them.

simonv

Has anyone noticed the quality of food and service in the main dining room declined since cruise lines started alternative restaurants?

Frank

simonv: I still believe a cruise is a good value vacation. Where can you get 3 full meals a day, food available to you 24/7 including snacks, buffet, barbeque and room service. Entertainment from morning to the wee hours, a cabin with balcony, on average 4 destinations, all for under $3000 a couple for 7 days.

Figure out what it costs for a hotel with meals and entertainment on a land vacation for a week. That doesn't include the multiple destinations, or the experience of being on the ocean, which in my opinion can't be duplicated.

P.S. No one is forcing you to patronize the speciality restaurants, but they are in fact well worth the cost.

TopMan

Unfortunately, I have been cruising long enough to remember when the food and service in these so-called "extra tariff" restaurants WERE the food and service in the dining rooms.

I disagree that these are "worth" the extra money and will also be the first to tell you I have patronized and enjoyed them on several different ships.

However, they are not "worth" the money and if patrons on cruise lines would refuse to eat in them the cruise lines would quickly discontinue them...but yes, they have founbd yet another way to generate revenue in a very overbuilt and under-patronized industry.

But times change and we must change with them.

simonv

I'm just complaining about the nickle and diming. But they are forced into it by having to keep the cruise fare low. They are in business and they have to make profit in any way they can. I understand that. No, I don't agree that the speciality restaurants are worth the money. I tried on Princess, Holland America and Celebrity. In all three the food was mediocre and service pretentious all show and no substance. I didn't think it's worth the money at all, but each to its own.

Giovanna

How true TopMan! The meals on our first cruises (25 years ago) were wonderful, comparable to a fine restaurant, and the service was impeccable. More recently (4-5 years ago) we found drastic changes in both.

We loved cruising years ago, but are less enthusuastic now mostly because of the size of the ships, as well as some of the steps the cruise lines have taken like including tips in the price of tickets, paying for dinners as noted above, etc.

We may be taking a cruise next year with a group of friends for a special celebration. Will be interesting to see what the majority choose.

Frank

I cruised 20 years ago, and the ships in those days can't compare to today's offerings in terms of entertainment, spa, gym, miniture golf, rock climbing wall, multiple dining venues (years ago, dining was done in one or two dining halls, frequently below sea level without windows), multiple bars, internet cafe, and standard cabins with cable TV, Telephone, sliding glass door and balcony (remember those portholes?)

It's nice to fondly remember the past, but the old ships can't compare to todays megaliners and all they have to offer.

Sure I miss some of the features of cruising back in the 1980's, especially the feeling you were cutoff from the news of the world but I wouldn't want to give up all of the pluses.

Lastly if you factor in inflation, the cost of cruising today is far more reasonable then 20 years ago, that's why everyone is cruising. Years ago, cruising was only for the wealthy, not anymore.

Giovanna

Apparently it depends on your point of view Frank. I don't want ice rinks, rock climbing walls, numerous restaurants and hordes of people on my cruise ship. I want a 600-700 passenger ship with beautiful shining wood with brass fittings, tasteful furnishing and elegance, not the ever-popular atriums (the more floors the better), tacky, glitzy decorum and all the hoopla. You see, when we used to cruise we wished to feel we were on a ship, not in a Las Vegas Casino.

Perhaps the price is better, but the ambience certainly isn't.

Frank

Giovanna what your looking for still exists, check out Seabourn, Radisson, and Crystal Cruise lines. Just don't get sticker shock. I'll stick with the mass market cruises.

Giovanna

I'm aware of the lines you noted. Also recently found an Italian line I'm interested in. Obviously you're free to cruise in any style on any line you wish.

simonv

I agree that the real price of cruise is much cheaper. The first cabin I had 30 years ago to Alaska was in a room with bunk beds. Now even the low range ships have better cabins I think. We have all kinds of ships to fit all tastes, for people who want Las Vegas at sea and for those who can't stand it. Obviously some people don't mind nickle and dimed. Some people want steak and some rather get sizzle. There's enough in cruise industry for everyone, I suppose.

ParrotMom

Our first cruise 18 years ago was on a small ship where there was white gloved service. To this day I prefer smaller ships...and they are out there and affordable (Orient, Oceania, a few NCL)...I don't want to pay for rock climbing or ice skating. The cruise lines I feel have overbuilt and there are bargains out there...if you live in Florida..lol..or shop carefully. Everybody has different expectations...and if your on a ship that has to feed 2500 you cannot expect five star dining. I have eaten at the Portofino and it was wonderful and there are those people (and I've met them) who prefer alternative restaurants on their cruise rather than the regular dining room... Cruises on the whole are a bargain..and I don't mind being charged for the tips ahead of time...You could not go to any resort in this country and enjoy three meals a day and only tip $10.00 total.. Oh yes.. with the price of fuel there has to be some way for the cruise lines to recoup their $$ rather than blatantly raisiing prices..

Giovanna

While I agree with most of what you posted Parrot Mom, I can't imagine why you would approve of paying for tips as part of your ticket. It has always been my experience that you tip for good service, the better the service, the higher the tip. Why would I wish to assure a less than great room steward or waiter a good tip? Each passenger should have the right to tip based on their personal experience with cruise personnel.

As far as the cruise lines recouping money for higher fuel prices through inclusion of tips in fares rather than raising prices that makes no sense. Austensibly the crew gets the prepaid tips (or do they) so how will that compensate for higher fuel costs? Somebody cooking the books?

ParrotMom

Breaking down the $10.00 per days for the persons to be tipped is minimal...We, if the service has been extraordinary always given an envelope directly to the person. We were on a two week cruise with the worst and I mean the worst waiter and bus boy.. we complained to the maitre de who did NOTHING!! Pre-tipping was not in place then and we made a point in filling out our cards to mention the unhelpful Maitre de who we did not tip or we gave what we felt was a minimum tip to our service people..We feel that the $10.00 a day is minimum for the staff and if I had a major problem... I'd be the first to be at the Pursers Desk. We were on a trans-Atlantic cruise where except for our set waiter the service was absolutely indifferent. I had broken my wrist on the first day of the cruise and our waiter couldn't do enough for us on top of the fact my husband wasn't feeling well and we certainly felt that the "suggested" tip was far too low. On our last cruise on the NCL Majesty we found a waitress that inspite of "freestyle" we sat at her station and enjoyed every moment with her. She took absolute pride in her work and interactions with her "guests". Iunderstand that many Europeans do not tip, they are used to having automatic tips added to in restaurants and hotels...perhaps this is reason. I for one don't mind...but I do feel that $20.00 for an alternative restaurant is a little much..

miguelgcuadra

$20 for the speciality restaurant is nothing. Just cruised with Royal Caribbean and it was a pleasure eating in the specialty rest. 3 times
1- 5 start restaurant.
2- excellent waiters
3- excellent meat
Where do you eat for $ 20.00 , macdonalds, thank you but no.....

Mimi

Giovanna, the specialty restaurants on Oceania are free of additional charge. The food is outstanding at both Toscana and the Polo Grill on the Insignia. In addition, the food in the Main Dining Room is also excellent. I agree about preferring a smaller ship and fewer activities on board, so Insignia at 675 was just right for us. The cruise staff was friendly, courteous and provided great service, so included tips were not grudged. You might want to check them out for future trips.