Cruise lines find some extra cash

[Jason]

You'll pay additional for many things - even some meals - formerly included in the fare.

By Arline Bleecker

Knight Ridder News Service

As ferociously competitive times have forced cruise lines to seek other sources of revenue to offset low fares, they've raised the price of extras ranging from photos to food to fun.

The trend of charging for little add-ons surfaced years ago, when Princess introduced a fee of about $4 for "premium" ice cream. The line successfully deflected the inevitable criticism and, eventually, most lines followed suit - if not with ice cream, then with cappuccino, pie by the slice, and, yes, water.

Charges also creep in where you least expect them. On some ships, if you open that disposable camera in your cabin, $17 will appear on your bill.

So far, no line charges for meals per se, unless you count those ubiquitous alternative restaurants. Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the trend in 1988, when it introduced the concept on Seaward. These days, such eateries on all ships levy surcharges ranging from $5 to $35.

In other economic innovations, Holland America - a line that has long touted its "tipping optional" policy - recently succumbed to the trend of billing tips to your on-board account, a strategy now entrenched on several lines, including Princess and Carnival. In this permutation, it's up to you to ask the purser to delete the charge.

Things could get worse. Industry expert George Devol, publisher of Ocean Cruise News, says first-time cruisers attracted to big new ships "will not be as taken aback by the extra cost items as would a longtime cruiser." He predicts that "once the concept of having many extra- cost items takes hold, it will open up a number of features for those traveling on these ships. Dining will mostly be at an extra cost (although some very basic food might still be included), but with a number of the restaurants being run and operated by well-known shoreside establishments rather than by the cruise lines." In fact, that already has come to pass on some ships.

Devol also foresees onboard shops operated by name-brand stores rather than by a universal concessionaire, as they are today; and first-run movies that will cost extra.

Last spring, Devol predicted "some entertainment will have a supplemental charge, but it will allow name performers to appear on ships, which until now has not been economically feasible."

Last month, Norwegian Cruise Line briefly tested a revolutionary new charge: a pay-for-entertainment program on the Dawn that featured, among other headliners, TV's Good Times star Jimmie "JJ" Walker. Admission: $10. The line ultimately decided against implementing the fee permanently: "I guess it didn't do too terribly well," a spokeswoman said.

Then there are shore excursions, the cost of which can mount rapidly. Anne Campbell, editor of the consumer Web site cruisecrazies.com, suggests that "you can almost always cut the cost of shore excursions by planning activities for each port in advance and visiting the destination's Web site, where you'll often find many of the same tours offered by the same ground operator for a substantially lower price... . The point is, once you're aboard ship, your options for cutting costs decrease. It's worth your time to do your research at home."

[GottaCruz]

I think it would be a terrible shame to see these things implemented. One reason why cruising appeals to us so much is because we think of it as an "all inclusive" vacation, for the most part. Making these changes would certainly change all that. :sad: