Actually, having a restaurant or two onboard with a surchage is pretty common now days. Most newer ships are set up this way. We are taking our grandkids on a Disney ship this fall, and their upscale restaurant, Palo's, has a $10 per person surchage. And because your normal servers aren't attending you, a tip is also expected.

Of course, we've got grandkids to tend to so we won't be partaking anyway. Jim Greenfield, WI (now) Fiji (in THREE WEEKS!)