Royal Caribbean Charging for Late-Night Room Service

Royal Caribbean International is implementing a service charge for onboard room service orders placed between midnight and 5 a.m., in order to encourage “responsible food ordering,” the cruise line said.

The topic has been a hot one at consumer site CruiseCritic.com over the past week, prompting Royal Caribbean to issue a statement explaining that the $3.95 charge per delivery was based on an “exhaustive review of demand for room service by hour of day and the corresponding amount of food discarded.”

Royal Caribbean said room service would still be complimentary from 5 a.m. to midnight, and that in order to offer no-charge dining options late at night, the line is introducing newly extended hours at other onboard eateries.