I suspect that this latest attempt at on board "up sell" will further marginalize the average cruise passanger who books expecting a complete experience only to realize that if you want better food etc you have to pay an additional premium. Why not just go back to selling 1st, 2nd and 3rd class tickets and provide corresponding amenities or lack thereof.
Seriously, I realize that the current state of the world economy is making it difficult for cruise lines to meet the bottom line without raising fares to the point where the average moderate income cruiser will no longer see this as a vacation bargain. On the other hand, deceptive pricing and practices (such as ever increasing fuel surcharges, skimping on food variety and quality) may diminish the experience to the extent that the mass market lines will shed customers and have to scrounge other markets (China and the oil rich countries) to fill the mega ships that are all the rage. As for me I'll just cut back and take one real cruise (with amenities, service and quality) every 5 years rather than every year.
You would be surprised what some people will pay -- read on the other site where someone booked an inside cabin then spent hundreds on one of HAL's new Suite Amenities packages (I have a thread on this somewhere about what they cost and what is included).
Julie | June 24, 2008 at 9:30 am | In Photos, Latest News, Shipboard Amenities | 7 Comments
Since we’ve showed you the Retreat cabanas, we thought you’d like to see the Lido cabanas too. The loungers look really comfortable and their proximity to the pool makes them the perfect place to relax. The cabanas are right next to the pool under the Magrodome.
There will be curtains between the cabanas giving some privacy, but at the time of this photo they hadn’t been installed.
The cabanas are behind the curtains.
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Good Point! 
Honestly, I thought it would be too cold .... You know that I nothing of taking a NE/Canada cruise .... 
Thanks, KK! Those Lido Cabanas look VERY inviting! 
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