Palo extra charges - are they clear enough?

[janiebubble]

I know how people feel. We were asked if we'd like to order some drinks and I asked for some water. I was told quite condescendingly that in Palo our waters are San Pellegrino or ... (insert stick bottled name here, I think it may have beenEvian). At no point was I a) told there was a charge or b) told there was an option for free still water. I'm not surprised there was a charge but am disappointed a free option wasn't offered. I also felt that the request was sneered at, that he was disappointed we weren't ordering expensive drinks. (As you may be able to tell we didn't love our Palo waiter! He's the only server I've given less than an excellent rating on the dreaded survey!)

 

[wombat_5606]

I feel like everyone is missing the big picture here. I do understand the OP's concern; it is almost like the server was not considerate and talked them into a specialty coffee they kind of didn't want/expect to begin with. I completely understand that. However, please remember you are going to Palo for fine dining; even if you are on an all (mostly)-inclusive cruise; We all know what costs extra! Specialty drinks, coffees, fun smoothies for the kids... Yes, I think it is absolutely common to be charged for sparkling (or bottled) water no matter where you go; how is Palo different. You are charged for specialty coffees everywhere on the cruise. Just bc Palo has an upcharge I don't see why you would think everything is included. I think we are expecting too much to find answers to everything on line.. If we want to enjoy a fine dining establishment; just do that... don't upset yourself by nickeling and diming your experience. I would be the first one to be surprised/annoyed to find a charge I didn't expect. But I think I would take it as lesson learned and not give it another thought before I let it ruin my experience. Who knows, he might have even removed the charge if you pointed it out. I do things like that all the time.

I so disagree.

Not everyone has traveled very much. Not everyone has an unlimited supply of discretionary income. Not everyone has ever eaten in a fine dining room.

There is no way that I'm going to agree that when a waiter is offering me something in a restaurant where I've paid an upcharge to dine, that there is an additional charge for the items he's offering me. My expectation would be that the upcharge I'm already paying includes anything, beside a beverage alcohol, that I'm being offered, unless the waiter informs me of the additional expense. I also don't agree that it's on me to ask, especially in a fine dining room.

It's bait and switch, when you don't inform your customers. They don't have to tell you that your lobster is an additional $35, but they should tell you that these items being offered will incur an additonal charge. What a simple and polite thing for them to do. "These items will be at an extra cost, if you would care to order them" What is the harm in that? Why not do that to avoid any angry or disappointed diners?

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I so disagree.

Not everyone has traveled very much. Not everyone has an unlimited supply of discretionary income. Not everyone has ever eaten in a fine dining room.

There is no way that I'm going to agree that when a waiter is offering me something in a restaurant where I've paid an upcharge to dine, that there is an additional charge for the items he's offering me. My expectation would be that the upcharge I'm already paying includes anything, beside a beverage alcohol, that I'm being offered, unless the waiter informs me of the additional expense. I also don't agree that it's on me to ask, especially in a fine dining room.

It's bait and switch, when you don't inform your customers. They don't have to tell you that your lobster is an additional $35, but they should tell you that these items being offered will incur an additonal charge. What a simple and polite thing for them to do. "These items will be at an extra cost, if you would care to order them" What is the harm in that? Why not do that to avoid any angry or disappointed diners?

I'm guessing because not enough people have found it unusual or complained.... Surely if they had in all these years/cruises, they would have changed their policies.

 

[wombat_5606]

I'm guessing because not enough people have found it unusual or complained.... Surely if they had in all these years/cruises, they would have changed their policies.

Why would they? They are making money on it. There are people that like to avoid conflict and just won't say anything and just suck it up, pay the upcharge. They either don't go back to that restaurant or they go back and know what to expect the next time.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Why would they? They are making money on it. There are people that like to avoid conflict and just won't say anything and just suck it up, pay the upcharge. They either don't go back to that restaurant or they go back and know what to expect the next time.

Yep, like I said, lesson learned. And now all of us reading this post have even more knowledge to make an informed decision. That's what these forums are for. To share/glean knowledge.

 

[wombat_5606]

Yep, like I said, lesson learned. And now all of us reading this post have even more knowledge to make an informed decision. That's what these forums are for. To share/glean knowledge.

Sure, but sadly, it doesn't help those people that don't read these boards, which is the majority of people cruising.

 

[MUN]

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.

Did you deduct the cost of the special coffee from your server's tip?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Soda is free across the ship, I typically drink soda at dinner etc, when we go to Palo for brunch will the soda cost more? If it does cost more, do they charge for refills? Thanks for the info!

Soda is free in the dining rooms and from the drink dispenser. It is not necessarily free elsewhere on the ship. Whenever my DW has ordered a Diet Coke while I have a beer at one of the walk-up bars or in one of the lounges, there has been a charge for the soft drink, with the standard gratuity added as well. I know this will happen ahead of time, so I have no problem with it, but I would not say soda is free across the ship.

 

[Rabb it]

Soda is free in the dining rooms and from the drink dispenser. It is not necessarily free elsewhere on the ship. Whenever my DW has ordered a Diet Coke while I have a beer at one of the walk-up bars or in one of the lounges, there has been a charge for the soft drink, with the standard gratuity added as well. I know this will happen ahead of time, so I have no problem with it, but I would not say soda is free across the ship.

And what about Palo?

 

[AngelDisney]

Soda is free in the dining rooms and from the drink dispenser. It is not necessarily free elsewhere on the ship. Whenever my DW has ordered a Diet Coke while I have a beer at one of the walk-up bars or in one of the lounges, there has been a charge for the soft drink, with the standard gratuity added as well. I know this will happen ahead of time, so I have no problem with it, but I would not say soda is free across the ship.

It is also not free if order via room service.

 

[AngelDisney]

And what about Palo?

From the answers I got from here:

Soda, juice, coffee, tea and milk is included at no charge, unless it's a speciality coffee/drink or bottled water, still or sparkling.

I ordered a bottle of sparkling water at dinner and it was about $7. I found it reasonable. I can't remember whether DD ordered any drink at brunch. I wasn't charged anything extra at brunch.

 

[gotomu212]

I think a lot has to do with your server. We were lucky enough to go to brunch twice on our recent cruise. The first time we had a great server and when I asked for water in addition to my drink she very clearly asked if I would like the complimentary Mickey water (tap) or the sparkling water or bottled water for a light upcharge.

The second time we went to brunch we couldn't get the same server and while he was good when I asked for water he just replied sparkling or bottled and didn't even mention tap water or that both the options he gave me had a cost. I thought it weird that he didn't even offer the free water option (especially since you should expect some form of free water). If our first server hadn't been explicit I probably wouldn't have clicked that I needed to say tap water.

As a server familiar with the restaurants offerings they should be clear when suggesting things that cost extra.

 

[wcw57]

and is there a head-waiter at Palo to inform/complain to?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

and is there a head-waiter at Palo to inform/complain to?

Yes.

 

[ozliz]

I know how people feel. We were asked if we'd like to order some drinks and I asked for some water. I was told quite condescendingly that in Palo our waters are San Pellegrino or ... (insert stick bottled name here, I think it may have beenEvian). At no point was I a) told there was a charge or b) told there was an option for free still water. I'm not surprised there was a charge but am disappointed a free option wasn't offered. I also felt that the request was sneered at, that he was disappointed we weren't ordering expensive drinks. (As you may be able to tell we didn't love our Palo waiter! He's the only server I've given less than an excellent rating on the dreaded survey!)

As someone who mostly drinks tap water unless in a country where it's not safe to drink the tap water I'm used to servers being disappointed that I don't order drinks and my whole family is the same, especially with alcohol at meals so they never make much off us.

 

[Flossbolna]

First, I think it is a very bad habit of servers who do not inform their guests whether things they offer are an additional fee.

We were lucky that our servers always informed us. I know that on our latest Palo brunch our amazing server Pamela offered us coffee and clearly stated that the regular coffee was included, but that they had a selection of espresso drinks which would be an extra charge. The same with water at Remy.

I would actually let it be reflected in my tip if a server tricked me into ordering something that I would not have paid for had I known it costs extra. However, when I am not certain about something I just ask if what they offer is included in the experience or an extra charge.

And finally on the sparkling water situation: all DCL cruise ships serve soda water (or however you want to call it, club soda or yes, in some areas of the world: sparkling water) for free in the MDR. It is my drink of choice and I never paid for it. It comes from their fountain, not from a bottle. So, I don't think it is crazy to think it would be included at Palo and Remy as well. The other sodas are (my BF had Coke for every single meal we had in those restaurants together, we were never charged).

OP, to come back to your question, what additional charges you need to be aware of, besides bottled water and speciality coffee I think the only other things would be upgrades to the meal experience like the wine tasting menu for dinner. However, this was marked clearly in the menu. But if in doubt, just feel free to ask. I don't think asking implies that you cannot afford it, only that you want to make an informed opinion.

 

[mevelandry]

Since there can be exceptions here and there, I always ask what is included or not or whether the item I want to order is included or not (unless I really don't mind paying for it).

It's a bit annoying but it helps me make a choice. To me sparkling water is not worth spending 10$/bottle when I can get Perrier for 2$/bottle at the grocery store.

 

[PAGA2003]

Well this is just an assumption but it would make sense to me for servers to not automatically state prices/upcharges due to etiquette concerns. In some fine dining establishments there are two separate menus, one for men with prices and the other for women with no prices ('blind menus'). We've only encountered this once (at the same two star I mentioned above) so I can see why prices would not be discussed. Some people obviously desire it but it could make others uncomfortable.

 

[Shanti]

Well this is just an assumption but it would make sense to me for servers to not automatically state prices/upcharges due to etiquette concerns.

Baloney. Palo and Remy both already tell diners about the extra costs for everything except non-alcoholic drinks, so it is clearly not an etiquette issue.

 

[wombat_5606]

Well this is just an assumption but it would make sense to me for servers to not automatically state prices/upcharges due to etiquette concerns. In some fine dining establishments there are two separate menus, one for men with prices and the other for women with no prices ('blind menus'). We've only encountered this once (at the same two star I mentioned above) so I can see why prices would not be discussed. Some people obviously desire it but it could make others uncomfortable.

In 2017, I find it incredible that a restaurant is still thinking only men pay the tab. Wow, just wow!!!

I really don't understand why discussion of pricing would make someone uncomfortable. How do you know if you can afford something if you don't know the price? I guess you adhere to the rule that if you have to ask, you can't afford it.

Here again, not everyone has unlimited discretionary income.

To make all of the people that are so sensitive to mention of prices, perhaps Disney could add a disclaimer to their Palo and Remy pricing in their print material that they will be asked to pay an upcharge for additional items during their experience in fine dining.