Key facts
- Cruise lines are increasing fees for services previously considered included.
- Passengers are facing higher gratuities, deposit requirements, and charges for specific packages.
- Examples include fees for second entrees, donuts, and missed dining reservations.
- Buffet offerings have been reduced in variety and quantity.
- Specialty dining and beverage packages have seen significant price increases.
- Room service now incurs a "convenience fee" for most orders.
Cruise lines are increasingly implementing a strategy of charging for services and amenities that were once included in the base fare, leading to widespread passenger dissatisfaction. This trend, described as "nickel-and-diming," involves a variety of new and increased fees across dining, beverages, and other onboard services.
Passengers are encountering charges for items like second entrees, with NCL reportedly charging $5, and even basic breakfast dishes like Eggs Benedict, which P&O Cruises is said to be charging $9 for. Missed dining reservations can result in a $25 per person fee, and even donuts are no longer free on Carnival Cruise Line. The buffet experience has also been impacted, with reports of reduced variety and smaller portions, leading some to label it "shrinkflation at sea."
Specialty restaurants are also seeing price hikes, with some charging up to $60 per person before additional costs like wine and gratuities. Beverage packages, once a straightforward way to manage drink costs, are now subject to dynamic pricing that can exceed $100 per person per day, plus an 18-20% service charge. This necessitates consuming a high volume of drinks daily to be cost-effective, as individual drink prices have also risen to around $15 for a cocktail.
Furthermore, room service, which was historically complimentary, now often comes with a "convenience fee" ranging from $7.95 to nearly $10 per order for substantial items. These changes have sparked significant debate and frustration among cruisers, who feel they are being upsold rather than indulged, especially after paying substantial fares for their voyages.