Some of the super deluxe lines off "all inclusive" cruises where there is no tipping and everything with perhaps the exception of very expensive wines and/or liquors are included in the base price.

I was musing with my TA the other day about this trend and the concurrent trend of rapid growth in medium and upper medium price point all inclusive land resorts and we wondered if the time has come where one of the major cruise lines would consider instituting an all inclusive line (or ship) at the premium (HAL, Celebrity etc.) or mass market levels.

What do you folks think? Is there a market for this? Would you pay a premium of several hundred dollars over the present base price (which includes less and less) in order to have a truly all-inclusive cruise?

Enquiring minds want to know!

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Originally posted by lambcom:
...complaints is how things that used to be included in the fare are now optional extras...

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I'm not sure that is true. There are extra fees but these are often for additional choices and facilities.

Probably passengers main expenditure is alcohol, excursions and the Casino. Others may be for on board shopping, spa treatments, bingo and photographs. These have never been included on crossings or cruises, have they?

Some lines ask if you wish to pay gratuities up front, Cunard & Celebrity. Some think this is a cheek, but I just think of it as a cost of the cruise and pay them with the initial invoice. Cunard ask for no more, Celebrity then hand you envelopes for additions.

All in all, I would rather pay more initially than piecemeal once aboard. One does this on the luxury lines, all very well, but they are not suitable for children and I wish some of the mass market lines did too. But the general public is too dense to understand why one cruise may cost more than the another and will plumett for the cheapest, therefore they [the lines] all have to follow each other with the way things are priced

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Originally posted by PamM: Carnival's cruises ex Dover next year are priced fully inclusive of all gratuities.

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Interesting. In the US these cruises are certainly not priced inclusive of gratuities. I'm planning on taking one in July on SPLENDOR. I think they do this in the UK (and Australia) because you have a very different tipping culture than the US. Carnival crew are used to a US standard of tipping and in the past maybe that has not occured with non-US passengers. By including tips in the basic fare the crew is assured of receiving the recommended tipping quideline.

My recent cruise onboard VOYAGER OF THE SEAS out of Barcelona was as close to all-inclusive as you get. Everything was prepaid by my company (tips, drinks, shore excursions, etc) and my statement at the end of the cruise was $0. Can't beat that. They still had to swipe my cruise card for every drink I "purchased" at the bar, but the amount on the receipt would be $0. We just signed and off we went. It was fantastic! I have to admit, I don't think I ever drank so much on a cruise. I was really nice having a final statement that read $0.

I'm sailing on Silversea in October and again it will be nice to have pretty much everything included. I've been finding drink prices going up and up with each cruise I take. Drinks onboard ship are no longer the bargain they used to be. They are a HUGE money maker for the cruise line.

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Originally posted by eroller:

They still had to swipe my cruise card for every drink I "purchased" at the bar, but the amount on the receipt would be $0. We just signed and off we went. It was fantastic! I have to admit, I don't think I ever drank so much on a cruise.
Ernie

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This could be a reason why we won't see all-inclusives on the mass-market cruises. It seems that there's a growing back-lash against free-flowing alcohol with every stupid drunken overboard 'incident.' Can you imagine if Joe College and his buddies could drink for "free?"

Also as the population (at least in the US) is aging, less people are drinking than they used to, and a lot of people could resent subsidizing others' drinks if they themselves don't drink. This attitude comes up with all-inclusive resorts like Sandals, too.

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Originally posted by Linerrich: This could be a reason why we won't see all-inclusives on the mass-market cruises. It seems that there's a growing back-lash against free-flowing alcohol with every stupid drunken overboard 'incident.' Can you imagine if Joe College and his buddies could drink for "free?" Also as the population (at least in the US) is aging, less people are drinking than they used to, and a lot of people could resent subsidizing others' drinks if they themselves don't drink. This attitude comes up with all-inclusive resorts like Sandals, too. Rich

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This is why I mentioned if anything, all-inclusive for mass-market lines would be an "option" that you pay for in advance. Basically a package add-on. This way the rest of the passengers are not subsidizing anything. I don't think there is a demand right now, but in the future it could be something that we see as cruise lines try to appeal to different market segments. To me it seems more people are drinking than ever before, regardless of an aging population. Bars are packed and more open every day, and you hear of more drunken incidents then ever before.

Regarding all-inclusive resorts, my feeling is if you don't want to subsidize the liquor intake of others, then don't book all-inclusive. There are plenty of other options to choose from.

On my 1998 Celebrity cruise (Mercury) they included tips for UK passengers only within the price. You were given vouchers (the tips) which you could give to the crew or not, Dependant on if you think they deserved it.

Heaven forbid that alcohol, mixes, wine etc. be included - Keep things the way they are!!!! we're hearing more and more of accidents and suicides, mostly it seems, because of drunkenness......and how many pricey, fancy, coffees can you drink in a day? Add to that the 'overweight' problems of so many.......I'm fed up hearing, "I'm on a diet before I cruise......" and upon return, "I'm on a diet, had a ball and tried everything. Gotta lose 10lbs."

With many cruises behind us, I can honestly say neither of us has ever gained more than a lb. or so.......we just didn't pig out! supposedly justified by the often heard 'well, we paid for it'.

Land based 'all inclusives' (we've only visited a couple) do include what Pam calls 'plonk' and local brands - you have to pay for the 'premium' stuff!

As for the 'gratuity' programme in effect on many ships today, it's good! We welcome it. You do have options......supplement it to those who have served you well. A personal 'thank you' means much to all of us. You can be 'cheap', 'be sick' for the Farewell Dinner and slink off the ship.......we've seen it happen!

Many Canucks are like the Brits - we tip when it's deserved........we're just not into throwing money around.

Keep things the way they are!!!! - I personally don't like paying for drinks, anything I don't want or need.

It did not work and after some cruises, they cancel the concept.

The Problem was that they got an big number of heavy drinkers on board of the ship, and among them are the "normal people" who drank social or non alcohol.

The behaviour of the drunken extremely drinkers was not the best - of course - and they disturb the other people.

The others were complaining, that they have payed with their rates the alcohol of the extremely drinking and now they suffer from their behaviour.

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Originally posted by glynn:
Green,
Maybe they were "pushing the food around" because it was poor quality ?
To my mind cruise food is or has been up to now "marginally OK", definetly not what I would call good. Maybe my upcoming P&O bookings will change my mind.

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I don't think so!! - they were North Americans on a North American line and itinerary! Badly brought up, I'd say.