Palo extra charges - are they clear enough?

[ozliz]

I am planning another cruise with my mother for later this year. Last time we cruised together we did the Palo brunch (magic, Mediterranean, 2014) and to my surprise we were charged for the coffee my mother ordered at the end of the meal. I didn't make a fuss as it was only a couple of dollars but I did feel like the server should have clarified that the coffee was an extra charge. She only got one on his recommendation and after a discussion with him about what sort of coffee to order (since it is an Italian place and we had an Italian server and as Australians we have different names for a lot of the coffees). It wasn't clear that what she ordered was a specialty coffee especially as it was not a type she would usually drink - which he knew.

I didn't say anything to her when I signed the receipt as I didn't want to ruin the moment of wonderful food over a few dollars but I remember feeling annoyed since I had only drank water and my mother had one glass of juice up to that point (neither of us can have champagne or wine, I can't have juice and she's pretty much limited to the one glass she drank which she would rarely have). I know now that specialty coffees are extra but it would have been nice to be offered options as a substitute since neither of us were drinking the alcohol. For the record she didn't really like to coffee but drank it because it was small and he had suggested she try it for the Italian experience.

What has been your experience in Palo with the brunch and any extra charges? That was the only coffee she drank the whole week (I don't drink coffee) so the upcharge wasn't really on her radar and I think the server should have been clearer. Have they been for you?

 

[anricat]

I had a similar experience. Our first time in Palo (this was dinner) on the Magic in Oct 2015, the server first came over at dinner and said, "Would you like water?" both my DH and I replied that we would. Then the server said, "Regular or sparkling?" and I like sparkling so I chose that, not realizing it was going to be more. At the end of the bill, there it was. I was so surprised. It was our first time there and I just assumed that those were the two options offered, sparkling maybe normally with a charge in the MDR, but I figured since it was offered as an "or" in Palo it was sort of included in the up charge. Nope.

I didn't make a deal out of it, but I do with the server had said something like, "regular or would you like sparkling for an additional charge?" Yah, so it might kill the ambiance, but it's more clear. Our second time in Palo (Wonder, Aug 2016, again, dinner) the server actually didn't say that and only offered regular water. I had actually forgotten about it until I read your thread.

 

[aidtrismommy]

Last month at Palo brunch we were offered water and then asked if we wanted "mickey water" or bottled water. We chose mickey water, the same water we drink all over the ship for free. (I thought that was a cute way of offering tap water)

 

[remlap]

I'm sorry any restaurant in the world when asked what type of water, one knows that if you don't reply with "tap please," there will be a charge when they bring you your own plastic/glass bottle and set it on your table. OP says they prefer sparkling, so they should be used to this question. I file this question the same as "Would you like to hear the specials?" If unsure the correct reply is, "that sounds delicious, how much does that cost." If you're drinking soda, "Would you like another?" is a different question than "Would you like a refill?"

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but Palo is not doing anything diffent from any other restaraunt that offers sparkling water as an option. Or to answer your posts header, Yes they are being clear enough.

 

[ozliz]

I'm sorry any restaurant in the world when asked what type of water, one knows that if you don't reply with "tap please," there will be a charge when they bring you your own plastic/glass bottle and set it on your table. OP says they prefer sparkling, so they should be used to this question. I file this question the same as "Would you like to hear the specials?" If unsure the correct reply is, "that sounds delicious, how much does that cost." If you're drinking soda, "Would you like another?" is a different question than "Would you like a refill?"

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but Palo is not doing anything diffent from any other restaraunt that offers sparkling water as an option. Or to answer your posts header, Yes they are being clear enough.

OP here. It was someone else that mentioned they prefer sparkling, not me. I'm pretty familiar with sparkling being more but given that soda is included all over the ship I'm not surprised that anticat thought it was included. I've been to plenty of fancy style buffet places elsewhere where that would be a logical assumption. We have lots of High Tea in Australia at the nicer hotels that include those options.

On a Mediterranean cruise there are way fewer Americans and a wider range of different cultures than the cruises leaving North America. I can be certain that my mother (who hasn't been to North America in about 40 years) would not understand the difference between 'another' and a 'refill', although she'd never have more than half a glass of soft drink and would assume anything more would be additional charge as that is standard here in Australia and throughout Europe where we have usually travelled together so it wouldn't actually matter.

We're planning Palo dinner on the 2017 cruise (Norwegian fjords) because I like that more and she hasn't done dinner (I did it on the Fantasy eastern Caribbean cruise). I'll have to keep note of what they tell us about extras (although neither of us will have alcohol and my mum won't have coffee at that time of the night).

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

It can be really tricky. All over the ship. Not that they are necessarily TRYING to make it tricky. So many people from so many parts of the world, with so many conventions, and yes, a lot of choices. I often felt like I wanted to know, "does this cost extra?" "Does that cost extra?" But I didn't want to keep asking that, so I just mostly didn't order some things if I thought they MIGHT cost extra. Some of which may well have been free. My loss, for my mistake, but I do feel that Disney could make things a bit clearer.

Especially since things change. Apps in the Irish pub now cost extra. Apps in the Adult Cove still don't. How can we tell? I always teach my sons to ask how much something costs whenever a waiter offers them something. I have a son that doesn't drink soda, YAY!, but likes cranberry juice. Sometimes it costs as a soda does, sometimes a lot more. Sometimes refills are free, sometimes they aren't. I'm happy to pay for it because I think it is better than soda (might not be), but I always tell them that they should know how much of my money they are spending before they order something. I guess I should follow my own advice.

 

[diznymom]

I had a similar experience. Our first time in Palo (this was dinner) on the Magic in Oct 2015, the server first came over at dinner and said, "Would you like water?" both my DH and I replied that we would. Then the server said, "Regular or sparkling?" and I like sparkling so I chose that, not realizing it was going to be more. At the end of the bill, there it was. I was so surprised. It was our first time there and I just assumed that those were the two options offered, sparkling maybe normally with a charge in the MDR, but I figured since it was offered as an "or" in Palo it was sort of included in the up charge. Nope.

We were just on the Fantasy. The way the water options were presented by the server, I assumed the sparkling water was free also. I chose the regular water b/c I don't care for sparkling water, so it was not an issue with me.

I guess I'm just a dumb hick or something, but around here, when the wait staff presents options like this, it is the same price unless they tell you otherwise.

 

[wcw57]

when a waitress at the diner asks if I'd like lemon in my dt coke, I always ask, "Is it free?"
Sometimes they laugh along with me, other times they think I'm an idiot and tell me the lemon slice is free.
NOT EVERYONE has had experience in restaurants that offer different waters or coffees or whatever.....To assume that everyone should know about these things means you stand above me and the rest of the hoi polloi.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Unless you're dining with the very wealthy or royalty, don't ever be ashamed to ask the cost of something. You don't have to ask, "Is it free", just "what's the cost". If it's free, then bonus. If not, you know without having implied you can't afford it.

 

[Shanti]

I am planning another cruise with my mother for later this year. Last time we cruised together we did the Palo brunch (magic, Mediterranean, 2014) and to my surprise we were charged for the coffee my mother ordered at the end of the meal. I didn't make a fuss as it was only a couple of dollars but I did feel like the server should have clarified that the coffee was an extra charge. She only got one on his recommendation and after a discussion with him about what sort of coffee to order (since it is an Italian place and we had an Italian server and as Australians we have different names for a lot of the coffees). It wasn't clear that what she ordered was a specialty coffee especially as it was not a type she would usually drink - which he knew.

I didn't say anything to her when I signed the receipt as I didn't want to ruin the moment of wonderful food over a few dollars but I remember feeling annoyed since I had only drank water and my mother had one glass of juice up to that point (neither of us can have champagne or wine, I can't have juice and she's pretty much limited to the one glass she drank which she would rarely have). I know now that specialty coffees are extra but it would have been nice to be offered options as a substitute since neither of us were drinking the alcohol. For the record she didn't really like to coffee but drank it because it was small and he had suggested she try it for the Italian experience.

What has been your experience in Palo with the brunch and any extra charges? That was the only coffee she drank the whole week (I don't drink coffee) so the upcharge wasn't really on her radar and I think the server should have been clearer. Have they been for you?

I didn't have an issue at Palo, but a few weeks ago at Remy brunch I was surprised to see a surcharge for the non-alcoholic drink my server had offered me in lieu of the complimentary glass of champagne (since I don't drink). He never mentioned it would cost extra, & I thought it was weird as the drink was obviously much cheaper than the glass of champagne that would have been complimentary with brunch. What made it more confusing was that I had been offered an alternative drink in Palo prior to dining at Remy, and at Palo was not charged extra. So how was I supposed to know that Palo would include a non-alcoholic drink, but Remy wouldn't? Nothing obvious about it.

Like you, I didn't fuss as I went to Remy prepared to spend some money, & my server was great aside from that, but it was $6 or $7 for a drink I didn't really even want (I only accepted it as he offered & seemed eager to serve it to me- I didn't ask for a special drink). Slightly annoying. Next time I'll ask if any offered drinks cost extra.

Unless you're dining with the very wealthy or royalty, don't ever be ashamed to ask the cost of something. You don't have to ask, "Is it free", just "what's the cost". If it's free, then bonus. If not, you know without having implied you can't afford it.

True. And there's also nothing to be ashamed of in not wanting to waste money, or not having a lot of money.

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

I'm from San Francisco and dine out quite frequently at "nicer" places. Nowhere have I ever been charged for sparkling vs regular water. Did the OP's coffee have a liquor? My last cruise was in 2014 (Transatlantic), but I believe coffee after dinner was not an extra cost. Am I misremembering or are they adding hidden charges to more things on the cruise of late?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm from San Francisco and dine out quite frequently at "nicer" places. Nowhere have I ever been charged for sparkling vs regular water. Did the OP's coffee have a liquor? My last cruise was in 2014 (Transatlantic), but I believe coffee after dinner was not an extra cost. Am I misremembering or are they adding hidden charges to more things on the cruise of late?

Most restaurants I've been to, if you order "sparkling" it costs. "Tap water" doesn't have a charge.

Don't know about OPs coffee situation, but I think it sounds like it was a specialty coffee, not a regular cup of coffee. Specialty coffee cost extra (as in Cove Cafe).

 

[cedricandsophie]

Not trying to sound pretentious but no where would I expect sparkling water to be free. When we go to Palo we always say tap water because even the bottled reg water would have a cost. And my husband always asks if there are free refills, no matter where he goes. At Palo we always get a bottle of wine and we expect an upchaege on that. And I like a latte after dinner which I always expect to pay for. I do like it that Palo provides an after dinner drink...lemoncello...for free. Reg coffee would be included.

 

[wombat_5606]

IMO, Palo and Remy are an upcharge. I'm not too happy to find that now there is an upcharge to the upcharge, not matter what it is for!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

IMO, Palo and Remy are an upcharge. I'm not too happy to find that now there is an upcharge to the upcharge, not matter what it is for!

If you order a specialty coffee in the main dining room, there's an extra cost. It's not really an "upcharge to an upcharge".

Hopefully OP will come back and let us know if the coffee was just a regular cup of coffee (which shouldn't have an extra cost), or a specialty coffee (which does).

 

[wombat_5606]

If you order a specialty coffee in the main dining room, there's an extra cost. It's not really an "upcharge to an upcharge".

Hopefully OP will come back and let us know if the coffee was just a regular cup of coffee (which shouldn't have an extra cost), or a specialty coffee (which does).

The coffee question, I could probably understand, depending on how it was presented. The water offer, in my opinion, is very misleading. Water is free in all of the places I frequent. I would think that sparkling water would be included in my upcharge for Palo or Remy, since I'm already paying an upcharge to dine there.

 

[ozliz]

The coffee question, I could probably understand, depending on how it was presented. The water offer, in my opinion, is very misleading. Water is free in all of the places I frequent. I would think that sparkling water would be included in my upcharge for Palo or Remy, since I'm already paying an upcharge to dine there.

Being 2 years ago I can't remember what it was called. From a non-coffee drinker it looked similar to what we would call a 'long black' in Australia but it would have been called something different. It was something that the Italian server recommended after discussion with my mum as to what would be more authentically Italian. I'm not surprised it was extra now I know the American coffee culture and the arrangements on the ship better but definitely think we should have been told which drinks were and which were not included in the price - eg if the answer had just been yes to coffee would it have been the regular American stuff and not an extra fee?

In Australia most people only ever drink coffee from espresso machines so we're used to paying for it because most turn their nose up at the stuff from filter machines. I won't go too much into the coffee culture here but let's just say if the local corner coffee shop (often family owned by families of European descent) hires a bad barista they find out pretty fast because when the regulars see that person working and turn around to go somewhere else.

 

[wombat_5606]

Being 2 years ago I can't remember what it was called. From a non-coffee drinker it looked similar to what we would call a 'long black' in Australia but it would have been called something different. It was something that the Italian server recommended after discussion with my mum as to what would be more authentically Italian. I'm not surprised it was extra now I know the American coffee culture and the arrangements on the ship better but definitely think we should have been told which drinks were and which were not included in the price - eg if the answer had just been yes to coffee would it have been the regular American stuff and not an extra fee?

In Australia most people only ever drink coffee from espresso machines so we're used to paying for it because most turn their nose up at the stuff from filter machines. I won't go too much into the coffee culture here but let's just say if the local corner coffee shop (often family owned by families of European descent) hires a bad barista they find out pretty fast because when the regulars see that person working and turn around to go somewhere else.

Yes, I understand. My opinion is that ANYTHING that would have a separate charge should be presented as such, whether it's coffe or water, or beef or seafood. Unexcusable, in my opinion, not to let people know if there is a basic option and an upcharge, especially in a dining situation like the upcharge restaurant on a cruise ship. I'm in a restaurant where there is an upcharge to dine there. I would not think that if they were offering me something, other than a beverage alcohol, that there would be an additional charge.

I'm very familiar with the coffee culture in Australia.....my husband is a citizen and I've lived there! Love the country, BTW. Just spent 2 months there in 2016!

 

[anricat]

Sheesh. Okay, well, I'm officially surprised that ya'll think I'm some kind of backwater (see what I did there?) hick for thinking sparking water wouldn't have a charge in a fancy uncharged dining room.

I will say, If I had been offered a "bottle of sparkling water" I probably would have asked if it were an extra cost. At the time, I sort of assumed that they had some sort of fuzzy water tap. You know, like on a bar where they can just get bubbly water to come out of that little gun thing they use for sodas? I thought there was a soda water only option. That's what I thought I was getting. At no point did I see a bottle or was I presented that it was in any way bottled water, which would have definitely made me immediately think "extra cost!" Clearly I misunderstood and I'm not as "in the know."

 

[anna08]

I don't really recollect being charged for any non-alcoholic drinks in Palo or Remy - in my memory, Remy dinner really expects you to drink a cup of coffee at the end and I believe both places offer the water option. Given the standard charge and our customary tip for these meals, I would not like to be charged extra for any non-alcoholic drinks, in the off chance we'd be ordering one. I do remember being offered the several hundred dollar add-on option of truffles with a Remy dinner and our quick no to that.