I hope fees don't grow

[over50visits]

With the airlines not-so-secretly raising ticket prices by charging extra for everything (luggage, seat location, early boarding, food, pillows, curb checking, phone reservations, printed ticket, itinerary changes) they have significantly raised the price of flying over their "advertised ticket price" which is basically a lowball price to get you in the door.

I'm glad so far Disney hasn't matched RC with a surcharge for late night room service. We think our cruise charge is the ticket price, but it is already accepted that we need to add the essentially mandatory tips for servers, etc. That increases the real price of a cruise by $100 or more. I just hope they (and the rest of the cruise industry) don't look at the airline model and start in with more fees. They generate a lot of real unhappiness with the airlines and passenger anger.

[NancyIL]

In 13 cruises, I have never ordered from room service. And if I did so on RCI - it wouldn't be between midnight and 5 a.m.! DCL gets their "surcharge" in the higher prices you pay upfront!

As far as airline fees - the only extra one I pay is to check my bag. You don't have to buy your tickets over the phone, pay for assigned seats, use curbside check-in, etc.

[over50visits]

There was a time when NONE of those airline options had a fee. Luggage is probably the most egregious fee they've added. I just hope the cruise lines don't catch on.

We certainly have ordered from room service. Nothing like early morning coffee in your bathrobe on the veranda!

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by over50visits

There was a time when NONE of those airline options had a fee. Luggage is probably the most egregious fee they've added. I just hope the cruise lines don't catch on.

We certainly have ordered from room service. Nothing like early morning coffee in your bathrobe on the veranda!

I don't book cabins with verandah's...or drink coffee. Guess that's why I don't order room service!

[kcashner]

The luggage fees, especially for the first bag, are the most ridiculous thing I've seen...but then, it's just another way to get more money from us without making it appear that they are raising ticket prices. Most of the other charges are for things that could be considered "optional," but you ought to be allowed one bag up to a given weight free. Guess that's why I now fly Southwest whenever possible!

As to the cruise, DCL has set the standard for lowering "add on" fees, not increasing or adding them. They "lose" over a million dollars per year on the beverage station vs. a soda plan, but gain more in customer satisfaction.

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by kcashner

The luggage fees, especially for the first bag, are the most ridiculous thing I've seen...but then, it's just another way to get more money from us without making it appear that they are raising ticket prices. Most of the other charges are for things that could be considered "optional," but you ought to be allowed one bag up to a given weight free. Guess that's why I now fly Southwest whenever possible!

As to the cruise, DCL has set the standard for lowering "add on" fees, not increasing or adding them. They "lose" over a million dollars per year on the beverage station vs. a soda plan, but gain more in customer satisfaction.

For my trip to WDW last month, I flew with carry-ons only. Next week I'm going on a longer trip that includes a cruise, so I'll pay $15 each way to check one bag. It isn't worth it for me to drive to the nearest airport that Southwest serves (Indianapolis 2+ hours away) and pay to park just to save the checked bag fee.

DCL may have "free" soda, but their prices are usually higher to begin with. (I don't drink it and I don't care!) And if I'm not mistaken, DCL is still charging some unfortunate people fuel supplements - whereas most other cruise lines suspended theirs. A fuel supplement was added to my December cruise when I booked it as part of a group last June. I rebooked the cruise as an individual reservation when cat. 12 cabins opened up, and there was no fuel supplement.

[over50visits]

At least the airlines don't make us sign a contract that says they may or may not take us where they promised. And they don't make us sign something that says the airplane may not work!! Witness from the DCL contract:

THE CARRIER DOES NOT EXPRESSLY OR IMPLIEDLY WARRANT, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY AS TO, (a) THE FITNESS, CONDITION OR SEAWORTHINESS OF THE VESSEL AND (b) THE FITNESS, CONDITION OR MERCHANTABILITY OF ANY FOOD OR DRINK PROVIDED ON BOARD THE VESSEL. THE CARRIER SHALL NOT BE STRICTLY LIABLE IN TORT FOR ANY DEFECT, LACK OF FITNESS, IMPURITY OR CONTAMINATION OF ANY FOOD OR DRINK PROVIDED ON BOARD THE VESSEL.

Yes, I know other lines are similar. Doesn't make it okay to tell me the ship may not work and the food may not be fit for eating, and if either happens too bad.

[woody73]

Originally Posted by kcashner

As to the cruise, DCL has set the standard for lowering "add on" fees, not increasing or adding them. They "lose" over a million dollars per year on the beverage station vs. a soda plan, but gain more in customer satisfaction.

IMHO, DCL makes up the million dollar loss -- and then some -- with higher cruise fares.

Last month, we went on two Panama Canal cruises on other cruise lines. An eastbound followed by a westbound the next day.

For the same amount as what DCL is charging for the January 2011 PC on the Wonder, we paid for two Panama Canal cruises (28 days total) and had over $900 left over. Oh, but there was no free soda.

Woody

[PBader]

Originally Posted by NancyIL

For my trip to WDW last month, I flew with carry-ons only. Next week I'm going on a longer trip that includes a cruise, so I'll pay $15 each way to check one bag. It isn't worth it for me to drive to the nearest airport that Southwest serves (Indianapolis 2+ hours away) and pay to park just to save the checked bag fee.

DCL may have "free" soda, but their prices are usually higher to begin with. (I don't drink it and I don't care!) And if I'm not mistaken, DCL is still charging some unfortunate people fuel supplements - whereas most other cruise lines suspended theirs. A fuel supplement was added to my December cruise when I booked it as part of a group last June. I rebooked the cruise as an individual reservation when cat. 12 cabins opened up, and there was no fuel supplement.

DCL gives those charged the fuel supplement back as a room credit instead of just issuing credits for them as long as the price of crude is below a certain point. They can just as easily add one back on to your cruise if the price of crude changes. To me it isn't a big deal.

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by PBader

DCL gives those charged the fuel supplement back as a room credit instead of just issuing credits for them as long as the price of crude is below a certain point. They can just as easily add one back on to your cruise if the price of crude changes. To me it isn't a big deal.

People who were charged the fuel supplement for the 4th quarter of 2009 are NOT getting it credited, from what I understand. That isn't fair, because some people on the same cruises were never charged the fuel supplement - depending on when they booked the cruise.