I can understand that they charge for cocktail and drinks, maybe it need to be imported?? Most all-inclusive resorts also include all beverage may it be alcoholic or not. However, ice cream, italian or other cuisine restaurants, why? Don't we choose the cruise line for their cuisine because they serve good cuisine beside they ALTERNATIVE CASUAL dinning? Why are passenger being charged for not eating at dinning room? I don't really appreciate the idea.

Also, the extra charges for facilities: Voyager of the Seas charges for use of Rock climbing, golf similator, skating rink, and Jazuzzi? Don't we pay MORE already becasue the ship has these facilities, now the passeager has to pay the panelty to use the extra facilities? I am very discouraged.

I still think when you get the price of a cruise to cheap you may end sailing with rude, trashy,lower class of people. These people could care less about the fine beauty of art and enjoy destroying whatever they can get their hands on and make other passengers vacation week miserable. If you didn't read about the group of adults and their children that trashed the VISION OF THE SEAS on this thread - you should!

If I would have been the captain I'd "kicked then all off" at the first port. Parents should be held accountable for the actions of their children! All the cruise lines have to do is make their policy know and enforce it.

NOW! I got to cruise on V.O.T.S. in December and I loved the ship. At 60 years young. I don't ice skate, climb rocks, inline skate, play basket ball etc. Their didn't get any of my money but I should had fun watching. I paid for a malt at Johnney Rockets. (Nice touch if you long for the 50's - but I "ain't" paying one penny on any cruise ship for "darn" hamburger!

My wife always manages to get a 12 pack of pop on board. I have room in my suitcase for a 5th of Jack Daniel. Forget the massages. Here at home I pay $30 dollars for a one hour massage. BUT! I still visited the steam room and sauna daily!

I also learned years ago it is a waste of money to buy all of those pictures. Though we still like to have nice pictures of the ship show friends.

Even watching our money we still end up gambling a couple a hundred dollars in the casinos and my wife loves to buy jewelry.

Give me the open sea and a gorgeous cruise ship and I'm in heaven!

Enjoy your time and don't belittle others or it will come home to roost.

Enjoycruising.

I have no idea the age of the kids but the story makes it clear they were out of control. Damaging paintings, throwing chairs overboard, blocking isles etc. Meantime the parents stood by watching and thought it was cute.

I have never ever heard of anything like this happening. I don't now if they were rich - poor. I don't care. The point I was trying to make is parents should be held responsible for the actions of their children.

Again I appolize for ruffling some feathers. No! I never been in a suite and never had an outside cabin with a verenda. We always book inside. I still working for a living.

I just love to cruise and I like reading this chat line to hear from fellow cruisers.

It doesn't bother me that they charge for some of the activities on the ship...it keeps the crowds down. (As long as they don't go overboard!) I guarantee that if they didn't have a small fee, there would be unbearable lines for the more popular things, like in-line skating, etc... Also, our travel agent gave us a "coupon book" full of coupons so that we could do these activities for less, (and even free in some cases).

However, it does concern me that some lines are now charging extra for food...especially little things like ice cream, etc.. However, I read on another bulletin board that the reason they charge for the alternative dining rooms is to give the waiters in these restaurants a "tip." You don't have to tip your waiter in the dining room when you don't eat there, so that money goes toward a tip for the waiters in the alternative dining rooms (who aren't getting tips like the waiters in the main dining rooms. If this is true, it makes good sense, and it doesn't bother me to pay $5 to eat there. If anybody knows if this is true, let us know!

No matter what, I'll keep on cruising! I'm addicted!