MSC Crociere has been testing a new way to generate onboard revenue: On "MSC Lirica" cruises out of Genoa, the vessel calls at Portofino where it stays at anchor. Those passengers who would like to tender ashore will be charged EUR 13,- for the tender ride.

It appears that at this time this is the only tender port where a tender fee is being imposed, but is this just the beginning?

Best,

The next we will hear is that they will be anchoring off all the ports and tendering passengers ashore to raise more revenue.

All this extra charges are really turning me off the cruising industry. To me it feels the accountants are really taking the piss out of their customers by all these extra charges at rediculious rates.
With NCL I already have the feeling you can't eat properly without having to pay extra.

What's next? Check in charge, transport luggage charge, room key charge, credit card charge, cleaning charge, no food included anymore.... ( Cruise execs.. do not read this :-))
I have a feeling the sooner or later shows will be charged soon.

it is true. Portofino isn't part of the original itinerary published by MSC but is being called at on embarkation day (when embarking at Genoa) a couple of hours after the departure from Genoa.

Best,

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Is it April 1st?

---

Unfortunately, it isn't. They're serious about this.

Best,

MSC and Costa do get a lot of European first timers. Once they get the taste of it they tend move on to other cruise lines.
First timers might take these charges for granted....

quote:

---

Originally posted by oslo dutch:

First timers might take these charges for granted....

---

I worked on a number of ships with several cruise lines for years, and we used to laugh at passengers who thought there was a charge to get their tender tickets in the lounge. Little did I realize that some day, someone would really charge for them. But then, it was always unimagineable that there would be charges for room service, afternoon teas, certain shows, etc.

IMHO MSC's charges for drinks are fairly reasonable - unless you would like to drink beer that is.

A large cup of freshly brewed coffee is EUR 1.30, a 1.5 liter bottle of water EUR 1.80 etc.

MSC suffers from the total absense of direction of its dining room staff in particular. Based on three cruises during the last 14 months, I have found the dining room service to be the worst of any of the more than 70 ships I have sailed on (this includes two-star budget operators - I won't include ferries, though). The maitre d's are not interested in ensuring proper service and many waiters aren't, either. I have encountered massive rudeness and arguments ("Of course you ordered this!" etc.).

Charging for the tender service really is the straw that breaks the camel's back, IMHO.

Best,

quote:

---

I mean this is only one port of call MSC has no intention of expanding this "concept"

---

If you are so sure about that, why did MSC start that "concept" in the first place if they have no intention whatsoever to expand it?

Best,

quote:

---

Originally posted by r.fiebig:

If you are so sure about that, why did MSC start that "concept" in the first place if they have no intention whatsoever to expand it?

Best,

Raoul

---

I'm not 100 percent sure but I think that once they see the reprecussions this "concept"has had on their Brand image they may change their minds. Just a hunch....

I am still young and under 30 and even I remember the days when a cruise was all inclusive.

If any of the ships I cruise on started intriducing fares for things like tenders, entertainment, or anything that always had been included I would not cruise with them anymore and look for another line.

From my recent cruise on Azura - that is a ship I won't return to. Crowding was one factor, but the other was The Retreat. The cost was exhorbitant and took away a pool that was always free to use. So in the future any P&O cruise I do Azura will not be on the list, and any Princess cruise I do, any ship with The Sanctuary will not be on the list.

There's a note on their website that say this:-

"After the departure, the ship will perform a call in Portofino bay. Passengers in transit or who embarked in Genoa may purchase the roundtrip transfer to the shore onboard."

So it's not a normal port of call; I don't even know how long the ship will stay. Perhaps the charge may be to deliberately dissuade passengers from going ashore and causing delays?

[ 07-21-2010: Message edited by: Tom Burke ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tom Burke:

So it's not a normal port of call; I don't even know how long the ship will stay. Perhaps the charge may be to deliberately dissuade passengers from going ashore and causing delays?
[ 07-21-2010: Message edited by: Tom Burke ]

---

I think that's exactly what is going on here; no way can Portofino accommodate all those people from the ship. It's being treated as an optional shore excursion, which will limit demand. Kind of like those cruises on big ships down to Antarctica, when only a portion of the passengers can actually go ashore.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Linerrich:

I think that's exactly what is going on here;

---

This is entirely possible and sounds very plausible. Nevertheless, it's a precedent.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Linerrich:
[....]
no way can Portofino accommodate all those people from the ship. [...]
Rich

---

I feel this might be a hidden test case for future charging of tender rides. These reptile accountants are willing to try everything to get more money in.
I agree with Sutho that this on board revenue business model is getting irritating and far too commercial.
It's the same as in the airline industry now charging all these extra's a ridiculous rates.

Yes, it is not the same as charging for tendering on a "normal" port call but nevertheless this comes across as cheap and tacky and it is just off-putting.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sutho:
So in the future any P&O cruise I do Azura will not be on the list, and any Princess cruise I do, any ship with The Sanctuary will not be on the list.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by dougnewman:

It's being added to every Princess ship, so I guess you won't be sailing with Princess again any time soon.

---

I thought the "swim against the current" pool could still be used without paying for The Sanctuary? Is this no longer the case?

I always think of the movie Logan's Run when I hear "the Sanctuary" mentioned. LOL

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

I always think of the movie Logan's Run when I hear "the Sanctuary" mentioned. LOL
Ernie

---

And being an old altar boy, it has a completely different meaning to me!