Florida Couple Charged $100K for Cruise Ship Dinner

Florida Couple Charged $100K for Cruise Ship Dinner

We’ve all seen prices going up lately but you can’t blame this story on inflation. So how did a Florida couple get a dinner bill for $100K on their cruise?

When you book a cruise there are plenty of free meal options which are usually pretty good. Now for those who want something different like Italian food, sushi, or steak, cruise ships offer specialty restaurants for a fee. This Florida couple, Alex and Alicia, recently booked a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. During their seven day cruise, they decided to dine at Jamie’s Italian which is one of the ship’s specialty eateries.

Alex and Alicia enjoyed a multi-course meal of crispy calamari, garlic bread, penne Pomodoro, arugula, and parmesan salad, followed by a lemon meringue cheesecake and hot chocolate with vanilla ice cream. When the couple checked their shipboard account, they saw a charge of $98,638.93 from the restaurant!

Obviously they didn’t eat $100K in food. It seems that someone erroneously entered an ID number into the gratuity box instead of the correct tip amount. Problem solved, right? Not really. Royal Caribbean reversed the erroneous charge but the charge still appeared on their credit card. That resulted in a hold on their card for the rest of their cruise. “This has been pretty stressful to deal with while on vacation,” said the couple. “We had our card decline while off the boat on an island, presumably because this authorization was locking up the available credit on the card.”

In the end, they saw this as a tech problem and not the fault of their server at the restaurant.

[SOURCE News Channel 8/Cruise Hive]

With EVERYTHING so expensive nowadays, it can cost an arm and a leg to take the family out for a meal.  Luckily, we have found these 14 places where kids can eat free in SW Florida.

I took my kids to Taco Bell this week and it was $30 for three of us!  $30 for Taco Bell?  What?

But, now that school and sports are back in full swing, sometimes the only option is to grab a bite to eat while on the go.  While it is nice that so many places are offering parents a break for their kid's meals, they all seem to offer it on a Tuesday.

The folks at Hip2Save put together a list of places all across the country offering these opportunities.  With their help, we simplified our list with 14 places where kids can eat free in SW Florida.

As always, promotions can vary by location and day, so always be sure to contact your local restaurant before making the trip.  And make sure you have the rewards numbers for the places that offer the birthday treats.

If you know of any local mom and pops offering these free meal opportunities with the economy in decline, let us know.  While these chains are delish and we appreciate the offers, we like to give some love to our small businesses too.

Kids can eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée on a select day of the week at participating locations.   Check with you local Applebee's to find out what day.

On Tuesdays, kids 12 and under can eat for free at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s from 4-8 PM with the purchase of one adult entrée.  Double check that your location participates before making the trip.

Every Tuesday, kids can eat free at Bob Evans restaurants after 4 PM with the purchase of an adult entrée.   Contact your nearest location to confirm

At select locations, kids can eat free on Tuesdays between 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM with the purchase of an adult combo meal (note that some locations may charge $0.99).  Check with your location.

My Chili’s Rewards members can receive free kids’ meal rewards offers that can be redeemed in-restaurant or online.

On Tuesdays from 4 PM to 10 PM (may vary by location), kids can eat free with an adult entrée purchase at participating locations. This offer is valid at participating restaurants for up to two free kids’ entrées from the kids’ menu per one adult entrée purchase of $6 or more.

On Tuesdays at participating locations, kids ages 8 and under (OR anyone named Wilbur) can get a free Lil’ Wilbur Meal with the purchase of an adult entrée, valid for dine-in only.

Firehouse Subs gives out free combos for kids’ on their birthdays.  Sign up your kids for a Free Kids’ Combo with the purchase of a Medium or Large Sub, Chips, and Drink! Or, you can also get a Free Medium Sub with the purchase of an additional Medium or Large Sub, Chips, and Drink.

“Kids eat free” when kids 12 and under.  They can enjoy a free dinner with the purchase of an adult entrée.  Valid any day from 4-10pm at participating locations.

WELCOME TO MOE'S!  On Sundays at select locations, kids can eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée (limit one free kids’ meal for each adult meal purchased).

At participating locations, you can score a free kids’ meal with two adult entrées on Tuesday nights from 5-9 PM.

Sign them up for the Perkins Kids Birthday Club, and they’ll get a coupon for a free kids’ meal during the week of their birthday, if they're 12 or under

Every Tuesday from 5 PM to close, kids can eat free at participating Ruby Tuesday locations with the purchase of an adult entrée (limit one).

Every Tuesday, when you buy one adult entrée at Zaxby’s, you’ll get TWO kids’ meals free!  Participating locations only.