Another sea day before we get to Tokyo, I was previously under the impression we were docking at Yokohama but have recently discovered we are much further in and will be using Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. This has changed our plans entirely, so I have researched things to do and I think we will just get off and walk. As we are coming back next year and intend to spend 3 nights in Tokyo pre-cruise, there isn’t any urgency to see anything of major interest.
Nicole went to the gym this morning and, on her way back, decided to collect a bottle of water from one of the bars. After 7 days into the cruise, she was told that she had used up her quota. As she doesn’t drink alcohol and the price is worked out on a daily rate, we are struggling to make sense of this. If one person in the cabin has the My Drinks package, then anyone else sharing the cabin has to have it too. She can seemingly go and have as many spirits as she likes, but no more bottled water. Tap water is not even available in the dining room, and if you want water with your meal, you have to buy it or bring your own along which is what our tablemates have been doing. There are water dispensers in the buffet and a couple of areas around that deck, but there are stickers on them asking you not to fill water bottles directly from the machine, so it’s a case of filling a cup then pouring it into a bottle. We were not totally sure who to have a word with, so our first port of call was the English English-speaking hostess who is only available for an hour in the morning and 2 hours in the early evening. 3 hours a day on a sea day, nice job if you can get it.
So, having spoken with Hannah, the Costa Hostess, there is no movement on the bottled water situation, but we can apparently get a glass of water at any bar. We also expressed our extreme disappointment with Nicole’s vegan options, especially in the MDR, given the excellent service we received from our last 3 Costa cruises. Lots of notes taken, and whether anything comes of it remains to be seen.
A very quiet day today with lots of reading and browsing, only interrupted by meals and a few laps of the upper decks to get some exercise and steps in.
Tonight was a completely different scenario in the MDR; we had two tiers of management loitering and eventually confronting Nicole about her vegan options. Quite why it has taken for us to complain for Costa to take any action is very disappointing. The two management staff were people we actually spoke with at the beginning of the cruise, and didn’t want to know. All of a sudden, things have changed.
Tomorrow Tokyo beckons…
Fitbit Steps – 11,137
I thought I had heard of every single nickel and dime thing a cruiseline could do to their guests, but now I guess I am wrong. Charging for water in the dining room? WTF? I will never recommend Costa to anyone. In fact, this needs to get out there to every person who might ever think of taking a Costa cruise. I hope your future Asian cruise is with someone else. After 30+ cruises to say I am shocked in an understatement. I only hope that Nicole’s dining situation gets better. How deaf are these people. I mean, she talked to the chef??? Who should she have talked to?
Free still or sparkling water is not included with lunch and dinner in the main dining room on a Costa cruise; you must purchase bottled water or a drink package. Free water is available at the buffet during meal times from self-serve dispensers.
Main Dining Room
Purchased drinks only: Water, along with other drinks, must be purchased during lunch and dinner service.
Beverage packages: You can buy a drinks package in advance or onboard if you anticipate a higher consumption of beverages with your meals.
Breakfast: Free water is typically included with breakfast in the main dining room.
Buffet
Free water: Free cold filtered water is available from self-service dispensers in the buffet during meal times.
Other drinks: Other beverages like coffee and tea are also available for free at the buffet during breakfast and sometimes through a “tea time” in the afternoon.
It’s a Costa policy: This is a noted difference from many other cruise lines, as Costa, being an Italian cruise line, does not offer free tap water in its restaurants.
Cost: A single 1.25-liter bottle of water is currently on sale for €3.50.