Everyone appreciates a cash tip, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. LauraS It's easy! When it comes to cruise ship gratuities, you might be wondering if its better to prepay your tips, or wait until youre onboard your cruise.While there is no right or wrong answer, there are some benefits to prepaying gratuities that you may appreciate. Why is anyone stressed over tipping? Big deal IMO. You cannot prepay for your Cunard gratuities before your cruise. Our room steward was always available and very understanding and accommodating. For my October cruise we will be tipping the extra amount personally as the cruise starts on 17/10. Royal just raised their gratuities and it's the same deal that if you prepay at least the day before your sailing, you pay the old rate. Just about every time I see posts about good or excellent Genies and/orconcierges, I have to mention Marla. Purchase one-device or four-device packages at low daily rates. Those will automatically be charged to your On Board Account to be paid off at the end of the cruise. martini bar, et al) staff, but from my observation, there appears to be such a pool. If you have not made final payment this will be included in your final payment amount or if final payment has already been made, we will require full payment at the time it is added. Thank you so much for this golden advice and thank you all guys for your kind responses for my question about tipping .. appreciate your kind help and support in this great forum. No, they are reasonable requests. Simply contact our reservations experts at 1-800-237-7030 at least 30 days prior to your sail date and they will make note of your dining preference. We also tip them depending on the level and quality of service they provide. CC Help Jenn Because every special occasion deserves to be well celebrated. I used the link and I looked under reservation details and see no place to prepay. I love to find bargain cruises! DRINKS package looked at it worked out over 1,000 for the wife and I FOR 14 DAYS SOME ONES GETTING RICH QUICK. Choose a trusted travel agent with a best price guarantee. ncierges, I have to mention Marla. You're welcome to share this guide with your friends if you think it may help them too. We were disappointed in our Harmony concierge. Two bottles per adult. The same steward will make up your stateroom and will likely introduce themselves on your first day of embarkation. But it does help take the sting out of the payment -- which can be hundreds of dollars for a cruise -- when you understand what they are and how they work. And the daily gratuities on a cruise can certainly add up to a hefty sum. Onboard Service Charges are additional. If its part of the All Included (or whatever its called) or if its automatically added to the customers OBC, or if we can find the pre-paid gratuities and pay it at final payment, then all is well. You're under no obligation to tip anything above the daily gratuities. It would be great if she (Marla) is on that cruise with us. Stream your favorite shows, movies, music and sports. So if I give my stateroom attendant a $20, they aren't allowed to pocket it? I know the steward is only getting a small portion of the daily tip amount. I've tried on serveral occasions and the system would change the cruise price so I plan to pay them when I call to pay the cruise balance. Birthday packages pamper adults, while a kid-themed package makes junior guests happy. Keep in mind you don't HAVE to prepay gratuities if you don't want to. We also tip our waiter and assistant waiter $10-$15/day (in addition to the auto grats). Also, my reading of the email is that if you DO NOT do this by Oct 17, you will be charged the new rates effective on that day. Not my problem, its between them and Royal. Especially ones taken by our professional staff. I have prepaid for gratuities for my upcoming 7-night cruise, now am I supposed to put a tip in the room steward's envelope at the last day ? I explained this wasn't the previous policy and that guests were offered up until the date of the sailing to pre-pay gratuities at the rate that was existed on the booking date. 2. https://www.walmart.com/search?q=pirate+costume+girls, Exclusive 'Strange World' Sneak Peek Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios, Check Out the Newly Remodeled Kona Cafe At Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney Cruise Line Shares More Details on Marvel Day at Sea. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I am anxious to see if there is as much interaction with the SL Concierge on Harmony as there was with Romana. $18.50 USD per person per day for The Haven and Suites; $15.50 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types, $18 USD per person per day for The Haven and Suites, $15 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types. I believe they do this as they are hoping we will find something to buy on the ship with our OBC. Whether to tip extra on top of the standard gratuities on your Cunard cruise is entirely down to personal preference. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. I love to hang out on Instagram sofollow me for more cruise tips. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. This is all a personal choice, self of culture. I also don't buy the posters who say they tip $100 extra. Why would I prepay my service charges? On a Cunard cruise, you can opt to remove or adjust the daily gratuities (hotel and dining service charge). The possibilities are nearly endless. Are service charges across the board for all guests? Site content may not be reproduced without express written permission. Play the final game of bingo on the sea day. I agree. She was our first Genie and none have come close to her, yet. Princess Cruises is a member of ABTA, (membership number V8764) which means you have the benefit of ABTAs assistance and Code of Conduct. I did NOT have the unfortunate experience that Dancing Shoes just had. on our last cruise Romana (sp?) It could be a Princess-branded roller bag, designer perfume or the cuddliest gift of all a Stanley bear. If one of your party is a bit of a handful or a messy small child, you should really consider it. It is our goal to reach a satisfactory solution to any issue when it happens and make sure our guests can focus on enjoying their cruise. Our last cruise was right before the shut down and we gave the room steward a few nice tips during and at the end of the cruise. Contact your travel professional and request that it be added to your cruise reservation. Tipping room steward after prepaying gratuities. I think it is perfectly reasonable to have a stack at guest services, and folks can pick them up if they want. I stick to the auto goat's and an extra $20 or so if there was anything I asked out of the ordinary. I dont need Cunard to tell me how much I should pay daily and to whom. . Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. By So also just pack your patience and be ready to roll with whatever comes. Usually, the extra pillows at the beginning is all I ask for. Also, I was adding this to a cruise that was already paid in full and sailing in early January. Last time we took the drinks package and it was worth our while. However, in the event a service issue should arise during your cruise please let our on-board guest services desk staff know right away, so that we can address these in a timely manner. Now if only had a bar that was open 1100-2300 , completely agree on the split with CK and SL, and the 1100-2300 bar would have made it perfect that's why the next two Royal cruises booked are on Harmony and Allure. Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, F97AEA45-0709-4B40-8932-FFED132839A3.jpeg. Treatments at the Lotus Spa. In this post, Ill be going through the cruise tipping policies by cruise line and answer some of the most common questions people have about gratuities on a cruise. "If you would like to pre-pay your gratuities at the current rate before your sailing, we are happy to extend this opportunity to you." MarinerAlex, October 3 in Celebrity Cruises. If the cruise lines paid their staff a living wage, there would be no problem with tipping. To find out more, please. CA Residents Only: Do Not Sell My Personal Information. No tip. It's there. I canceled. if I'm supposed to do that, then what's the good average range for a tip in a trip like this to the Caribbean ? As of March 3, 2022, guests will pay a $14.50 per guest, per day service charge. The argument that people wont pay the gratuities, even though they represent part of the salary make up, on the basis that crew members should be paid appropriately is a fallacy. paying more and think the service received warrants it, then pay what you are comfortable paying. There are several ways to prepay your gratuities: Add them on to the total cost of your cruise when you book; Call Royal Caribbean before your cruise She then opened the add gratuities window on her system and it showed the total due using the old rate. !1, We started Cunard Cruising in 1996, And after our first cruise we have Never paid the Daily charge. Do your sums, the amount of money collected if we all paid the daily charge is HUGE. Here's where you should find the pre-pay gratuities option on the Celebrity website. or is that considered an unnecessary double tip ? As peoples income and circumstances can vary so much, what is a lot to one person is pocket change to another. The main point is that if you'd like to pay the gratuities at the old rate (if you booked your cruise prior to this month), you have to call in and pay them rather than doing it on the "Manage Reservation" page because the page will display your total using the new rate. For further details, please review our Service Gratuities FAQ. Royal just raised their gratuities and it's the same deal that if you prepay at least the day before your sailing, you pay the old rate. (We have four kids 7, 10, 14, and 16.). Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, F97AEA45-0709-4B40-8932-FFED132839A3.jpeg. Like death and taxes, it's something that cruise passengers simply can't avoid. However, you can pre-purchase onboard spending money which can be used against your hotel and dining service charges, as well as bar, wine and salon service charges. With 4 Royal and 2 Celebrity cruises under our belts, I have yet to meet any stewards who do not exceed my expectations. You kind of have to get to manage your reservation in different ways and after several attempts, I found the page which enabled me to edit and add gratuities. Tip your Room Steward as you feel appropriate. I think you found the final payment window, not the add gratuities window. How much is the charge? However, most people will be glad to pay the daily gratuity charge to ensure that every member of staff is rewarded fairly for their hard work. I, for one, think they deserve. But its not for everyone. 2022 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. 11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruisetour | Norwegian Cruise Line, 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruisetour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line, 20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line, 11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog. IF we are to believe that ALL the money goes to The staff then I will come out of retirement and get a job with Cunard. Readers' Choice Awards: Best Cruise Itineraries. I believe the location of the Quantum Class Suite Lounge had a lot to do with her being more accessible. Powered by Invision Community. She found it refreshing & one less thing for her to be concerned about. Celebrity, as many other Lines, have added gratuities in ways that dont require any action from us. Cruise staff should be paid an appropriate wage for their job , not expecting their wages to be topped up by passengers who are already paying good moneyed for their holiday . Find a great cruise - See the best prices from all travel agents, 2. And on our first cruise our kid was just exhausted. Only available online when you first book. Cunard charges gratuities at a daily rate which is automatically added to each passengers account throughout the sailing, plus an extra charge for each drink or spa service purchased. We usually tip extra, but not a huge amount. While some people like to remove daily gratuities and instead tip cash to certain crew members, this isnt recommended. While you might have already paid for your vacation, there's one more expense to consider: gratuities (or service charges as NCL calls them). Our cruise holidays are ATOL protected (No. The SL concierge? We kind of had to as our toddler and infant were pretty sick for a few days and we needed to change sheets, towels, and even pillows multiple times per day (and night a few times). 1. I cannot find anywhere on my reservation where I can prepay. Its up to you. Gifts at The Shops of Princess. Traveling with my mentally disabled brother, we tend to be a little messier. I would like to use OBC for this. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. i.e. Gratuities are the same price for all three of Cunards ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. I tip based on US norms. While some see these tips as forced If you come from a culture that doesnt tip beyond the actual bill where its added into or part of the cost, and you dont want to, Dont. Many thanks - I was able to go in this morning and pre pay the gratuities. The magnets work on the veranda dividers also. Unfortunately, I think you've misunderstood. I don't care for this either. Taking a trip on Norwegian Cruise Line? If you booked direct the email implies that you can go to Manage Reservation and add them there. I believe I've hear of her before, in a positive light, too! Here's a link to the flyer when gratuities were increased in 2020 explaining how they do things. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. That's what cruises are for. Different strokes. There are two types of gratuities on Cunard cruises: Its worth noting that casino staff do not receive any automatic gratuities, as not all passengers use their services. and what are favorites, Parents Now Protected From Having To Pay Extra To Sit With Their Kids On Flights. You cannot prepay for your Cunard gratuities before your cruise. Therefore I dont think anyone should be telling someone else its only $100 you can afford it when they dont know that persons situation. Play the final game of bingo on the sea day. In a hotel, we leave $3 to $5 per night. Accordingly we have giftpackages for every guest, from young in love to young at heart. Learn more about our stateroom decorations. The daily gratuities is in addition to the 18% gratuity automatically added to all Just an FYI on these increased gratuities. Our last cruise was right before the shut down and we gave the room steward a few nice tips during and at the end of the cruise. It's a $2 a day hike across the board. When visiting the main dining room, in particular, you will notice the same faces seating and serving you. recently & they were told expressly not required to tip extra. I just like to be able to tip cash as I go too. The convenience of pre-paying the service charges allows you to plan your budget prior to your cruise giving you additional freedom while on board. For more information please see www.abta.com. I thought the pooling was just for the wait staff and the bartenders. That being said what I have asked from them is typically what is listed as a part of the suite amenities. I do wish you could pre-pay with OBC on Cruise Planner. I thought you said "crew" which to my mind refers to wait staff in MDR, Luminae or speciality restaurants. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Many people tip their cabin stewards personally, leaving money in an envelope for them in their room the morning of disembarkation or tipping them personally on their last day. The couple of requests I made via email (table by a window in MDR, mention of my daughters birthday) went unfulfilled. I agree 100%, Romana was the best SL Concierge we have encountered on Royal Caribbean. Brand New Donald Duck Munchlings and Pastry has debuted at Disney World! Theres something to be said about the power of food to make any moment a little better. MedallionNet Wi-Fi is fast, reliable andwherever you are. To keep in mind that you wont be able to do it all, and don't forget to have fun? $20.00 USD per person per day for The Haven and Suites; $18.00 USD per person per day for Club Balcony Suite; $16.00 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types. For those sailing on Cunard world cruises, promotions are sometimes available which include complimentary hotel and dining service charges. I had heard she became a Genie. This can be done at the Guest Services desk once youre on board the ship. Should your concerns not be met with satisfaction you can adjust the charges. The charge is the same for adults and children. People seem to assume if youre going in a cruise you are wealthy, but some people will have saved for years to go on one cruise and it may be the only time they get to do it. Interesting. If you get great service from your steward, an extra tip is very nice, but not expected. I believe a gratuity is a bonus for good service provided by the crew member to me . Treatments at the Lotus Spa. Included gratuities as a booking perk. forests_lover, October 9 in Royal Caribbean International. Unfortunately you don't actually come into contact with most of the service people that actually provide you services and are part of the group that benefits from the gratuity system. The Shops of Princess are like a floating mall, with a wide array of gift options sure to make anyone feels special. Pre-paid crew appreciation. On any given cruise, youll find everything from the newly engaged and honeymooners to couples celebrating silver and gold anniversaries. Hoop Dee Doo, Fantastic package ect? Marla was absolutely phenomenal. She was our first Genie and none have come close to her, yet. How to prepay gratuities on Royal Caribbean. I find these hidden charges unacceptable and would much prefer that all crew members were paid appropriately and that this was then reflected in the cruise purchase price. If you remove gratuities from your onboard account, the people who work hard that you may never see will lose out financially. All guests 3 years or older. Its important to know which you prefer, so you can factor in the cost before you set sail and know where your onboard account will end up at the end of your sailing. Maybe its a box of chocolates or an aluminum water bottle for a day-long excursion. Onboard credit is like the chameleon of our cruise gifts because it can be used on or turned into so many different things. I managed to get to the place where I added gratuities. , sign in to your account, select Reservations Details, and add gratuities. Can anyone help me out. For further details, please review our Service Gratuities FAQ. I really dont consider where the crew is from. If you dont want to.Dont. This has been the case for many months. It costs them nothing to say they do. I purchased magnetic hooks/clips to hang damp suits and other items on the walls of the stateroom. We have structured a guest satisfaction program designed to handle any concerns about service or on-board product quickly and efficiently. Started June 21, 2021, By By You can use ABTA's approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process if you have a complaint that is not resolved. I have witnessed two of my friends do just that. If you booked via a TA I'm pretty sure you have to contact them to prepay gratuities. Started August 27, 2021, By The way it is now, is offering people a chance to auto pay and ensure all staff get the appropriate cut of the funds, and reduce them in rare cases where service was a disappointment. You didnt mention a packing list, but we really like clothes pins as it helps us maximize space when line drying swimsuits in the shower over multiple days as well as battery operated tea lights for in the middle of the night potty breaks so you dont light up the whole cabin when you open the door. That's sounds like being at home with a different view to look at. Onboard credit is like the chameleon of our cruise gifts because it can be used on or turned into so many different things. There's really no right or wrong amount. The same way I'd tip housekeeping even though I already tipped the dinner server and cocktail server earlier in the evening. Pro Tips for Tonight's Return of Fantasmic! On 10/3/2022 at 2:23 PM, MarinerAlex said: 18 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said: 19952022, The Independent Traveler, Inc. To pre-pay your gratuities before your sailing at the current rate, please go to. Shore excursions. . At what point in the booking process can the prepaid charges be added? You are using an out of date browser. Enjoy your cruise and quit adding unneeded stress. You can also tip above and beyond the recommended amounts if you wish. Port Canaveral parking: OK for brand new car? For Pirate Night - you might want to look at inexpensive costumes to take for the kids - we picked up these for $5 and the girls were comfortable in them, and looked Adorable in photos. It says it is due 3 months before my cruise. But if you feel that room steward deserves more, you put in that envelope whatever you think they deserve. As well as waiters and staterooms stewards, there are many crew members who offer support behind the scenes, working in the kitchens, laundry rooms and other areas. on Quantum was the best concierge we have ever had. Gratuities (also known as tips) are service charges that are added to your onboard account when sailing with Cunard. Pre-paid crew appreciation. Stay connected to the internet anywhere on board so you can text, post photos, video chat and more. If youre on Allure, Smitha is a VERY close second. If.IF..you want to add to the gratuities by giving cash on your own, do it. Thanks for the tip on Smitha. The deadline to lock in the old gratuity rate for NEW bookings is Oct 17. Perhaps you are referring to Romina. Gifts at The Shops of Princess. I believe she was from Romania, slender with long black hair? $100 at beginning of cruise. For Pirate Night - you might want to look at inexpensive costumes to take for the kids. Same on our last cruise - I asked about Chef's Table reservations and his response was "You can book that in the app.". Should I tip extra on a Cunard cruise? We offer several packages to help you celebrate your special occasion. Yes! Don't forget, you may be tipping "in person", but it all goes into a pool. I'm huge on tipping because they make it possible for us to have such a lovely vacations. She was always offering to book us into iFly and North Star, even though we were booked on those our first cruise. Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck services bills, and an Some cruisers like to tip on their own terms and will remove all gratuities to award individual members of staff. My understanding with stateroom staff is that they can keep it. When I checked my future bookings, when I have booked a fare that is AI or one that has pre-paid gratuities, there is not an option for me to confirm anything, so those appear to be fine. Guest satisfaction is the highest priority at Norwegian Cruise Line. It's just over five days before our family's first cruise ever, aboard DCL or any other cruise line. I tried it once many years ago and decided I would pay someone else to do those things for us. I recommend that you find the best price and then take it to a trusted travel agent who will beat it, as well as giving you the best service. These are also members of staff who people like to personally tip, due to them being seen regularly and shown to make their cruise experience special. But as this is a very port heavy cruise, Im not seeing that we will get the same value for money. Bathing suits dried quickly on the veranda. Sign up for a new account in our community. By I sincerely hope to meet some of you on future cruisesso far I have only met Den . That being said, you're allowed to bring four bottles of wine onboard with you. I get that it's only a minor difference between the old and new rate, but I prefer tipping crew in person. They may elect to prepay gratuities prior to the cruise, or have gratuities automatically charged on a daily basis to their SeaPass account. Can I prepay my gratuities online, or do I have to call to do that? Only time will tell. There are a few who virtue signal on this site so don't believe everything you read. Fair enough. Our next booked Star Class cruise is in Jan 2024. We have 7 nights on the Fantasy during our kid's fall break next week and we are all losing our minds with excitement. Just know that things don't always go according to plan our cruise on the Fantasy was lovely but due to weather/ship issues we ended up skipping two of our ports. CC Help Jenn I thought I was a decent tipper. Cunard gratuities for bar, wine and spa services are added to your onboard account automatically along with each purchase. It's nice being able to do that in person. The gratuities on Cunard are pretty reasonable, and as fellow travel blogger Karen said in her review of Cunards Queen Elizabeth, the gratuities are the lowest in the industry. So for a 14 day cruise you will pay a total of $28 more for your cruiseif you tip. The tips are shared amongst the hotel, restaurant, bar and salon staff, including those who work behind the scenes. Theres a gift for everyone: theCoffee & Soda Package for coffee and tea lovers, the Classic Soda Package for fans of fountain sodas and the Plus Beverage Package for guests who want it all: cocktails, wine, beer, specialty coffee and more. The deadline to lock in the old gratuity rate for NEW bookings is Oct 17. The agent initially said the increased gratuities applied to all bookings (no matter the booking date) as of October 17th. Book with a trusted travel agent - Here's who I recommend, 3. I'm proud to help over 800,000 people plan their cruises every month via this website. ETA: Note that the last hike was Jan. 6th, 2020 dlh, I love it when you post my thoughts.but more succinctly . CC Help Jenn This website uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. The hotel and dining service charge will appear on your onboard account as a daily charge. BTW, my husband and I are on the same cruise! Some people on this thread seem to think your current bookings will not be charged an increase, but I think that is a misinterpretation.
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