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. Are service charges across the board for all guests? ncierges, I have to mention Marla. We also tip our waiter and assistant waiter $10-$15/day (in addition to the auto grats). Not my problem, its between them and Royal. BUT, leave $25 to $30 for 7 day cruise to steward. This is in addition to the daily gratuities. On a Cunard cruise, you can opt to remove or adjust the daily gratuities (hotel and dining service charge). Passengers can prepay the amount in advance or on board. (We have four kids 7, 10, 14, and 16.). 6294). 1. But if you feel that room steward deserves more, you put in that envelope whatever you think they deserve. We have very little contact, no special requests and the cabin is pretty clean. You are using an out of date browser. Other members of staff you will see around the ship on a regular basis include your dining team. Big deal IMO. You can use ABTA's approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process if you have a complaint that is not resolved. So also just pack your patience and be ready to roll with whatever comes. 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. Others remove them to save on costs as soon as they step aboard. . on our last cruise Romana (sp?) For my October cruise we will be tipping the extra amount personally as the cruise starts on 17/10. Perhaps you are referring to Romina. Actually was pleasantly surprised by the amount I had to pay ( which was converted into ) as it seems to be based on an old exchange rate rather than the most recent ones which have been painful for Brits. JavaScript is disabled. CA Residents Only: Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If.IF..you want to add to the gratuities by giving cash on your own, do it. For further details, please review our Service Gratuities FAQ. Sign up for a new account in our community. OopsI forgot to add that once you are in Reservation Details, you have to scroll down until you see the option to pre-pay the gratuities. I went to pre-pay the gratuities at the previous rate for my upcoming December sailing and noticed on the "Manage Reservation" page when I clicked on the Add Gratuities link it showed the total using the new rate. LauraS Last cruise I asked two questions and both times, 'try guest services'. Cruise fares in some countries, such as Australia, include the gratuities with your cruise fare. Included gratuities as a booking perk. My names Jenni and Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015. Play the final game of bingo on the sea day. Many people will also be assigned an area or specific table throughout the cruise so you will see familiar faces as the cruise continues. I get that it's only a minor difference between the old and new rate, but I prefer tipping crew in person. If youre on Allure, Smitha is a VERY close second. There's really no right or wrong amount. on Quantum was the best concierge we have ever had. Stay connected to the internet anywhere on board so you can text, post photos, video chat and more. 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. If it is the same woman then yes, she was the best ever. She then opened the add gratuities window on her system and it showed the total due using the old rate. Onboard Service Charges are additional. And I think it would be in poor taste to reduce the amount you normally tip extra in order to make up for such a small amount. I really dont consider where the crew is from. I'm proud to help over 800,000 people plan their cruises every month via this website. 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. However, if you want to choose the flexible My Time dining, rather than having a set dining time, you must pre-pay your gratuities. 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. I agree. 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. I had heard she became a Genie. You cannot prepay for your Cunard gratuities before your cruise. 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. I think you found the final payment window, not the add gratuities window. She was our first Genie and none have come close to her, yet. We will pay the new amount at the time. Celebrate at sea by giving the stateroom a festive touch. Want more cruise gift ideas? 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. No, they are reasonable requests. Gifts at The Shops of Princess. She was always offering to book us into iFly and North Star, even though we were booked on those our first cruise. You could have up to 2 bottles of wine per adult at boarding so maybe more than 2 bottles of wine depending on how much you drink - though it is 7 nights so plenty of time to drink more than two bottles! I tip based on US norms. Shore excursions. 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. Just an FYI on these increased gratuities. If you remove gratuities from your onboard account, the people who work hard that you may never see will lose out financially. I still don't have the option. I canceled. Birthday packages pamper adults, while a kid-themed package makes junior guests happy. 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. This bring up a point I've not thought much about. In 24 Disney cruises I have never prepaid. Only available online when you first book. The deadline to lock in the old gratuity rate for NEW bookings is Oct 17. If you booked via a TA I'm pretty sure you have to contact them to prepay gratuities. It costs them nothing to say they do. So if I give my stateroom attendant a $20, they aren't allowed to pocket it? The hotel and dining service charge will appear on your onboard account as a daily charge. CC Help Jenn Enjoy your cruise and quit adding unneeded stress. Hello, Were travelling next year on an Eastern Mediterranean/Greek Isle 7 night cruise, our second RC cruise. Look out for these as they can save you a lot of money. I used the link and I looked under reservation details and see no place to prepay. For more information please see www.abta.com. 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. http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Celebrity/General_Info/Flyers/17059991_CEL_PCP_Gratuities.pdf. If they could not be fulfilled, a short explanation should suffice. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. It could be a Princess-branded roller bag, designer perfume or the cuddliest gift of all a Stanley bear. If the cruise lines paid their staff a living wage, there would be no problem with tipping. Treatments at the Lotus Spa. On any given cruise, youll find everything from the newly engaged and honeymooners to couples celebrating silver and gold anniversaries. And the daily gratuities on a cruise can certainly add up to a hefty sum. 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. 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. Especially when were talking chocolate-dipped strawberries, chilled shrimp, a cheese tray and the ultimate indulgence the Ultimate Balcony Dinner for two. I stick to the auto goat's and an extra $20 or so if there was anything I asked out of the ordinary. i.e. Interesting. If you do not opt to prepay gratuities, a daily charge will appear on your SeaPass account every day of the cruise for the daily gratuity rate per guest. Thanks for the tip on Smitha. At the end of the cruise, we usually tip $10-$20/day (in addition to the auto grats). You could win a lot of money. Started June 21, 2021, By Tip your Room Steward as you feel appropriate. Gratuities (also known as tips) are service charges that are added to your onboard account when sailing with Cunard. I also don't buy the posters who say they tip $100 extra. 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 ? All guests 3 years or older. As peoples income and circumstances can vary so much, what is a lot to one person is pocket change to another. I believe they do this as they are hoping we will find something to buy on the ship with our OBC. I believe the location of the Quantum Class Suite Lounge had a lot to do with her being more accessible. or is that considered an unnecessary double tip ? MedallionNet Wi-Fi is fast, reliable andwherever you are. In some promotions, Cunard offers free on board spending money. Can anyone help me out. It's just over five days before our family's first cruise ever, aboard DCL or any other cruise line. Purchase one-device or four-device packages at low daily rates. Hoop Dee Doo, Fantastic package ect? I believe I've hear of her before, in a positive light, too! (c) Cruise Fare does not include Cruise Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses. Concierges are extremely variable. It was the Victorian British who invented tipping a brown envelope was given to crew members who went out of their way to make ones cruise memorable, then along came Yanky doodle Dandy and splashed the cash in all directions . Didnt even acknowledge my email requests and couldnt get them on the phone about the reservations change as I was trying to deal with the illness. 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). I'm okay with paying the auto gratuities program. You must log in or register to reply here. Find a great cruise - See the best prices from all travel agents, 2. I favor this if it helps the crew, but I think it might result in the reduction of extra tips that might result in the crew getting fewer $$. Those will automatically be charged to your On Board Account to be paid off at the end of the cruise. 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. (c) Cruise Fare does not include Cruise Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses. Therefore IMO the best advice is - its discretionary, auto tips will be added to your account, if you are comfortable. Our cruise holidays are ATOL protected (No. Accordingly we have giftpackages for every guest, from young in love to young at heart. However, I find their leaving envelopes in the cabin a bit annoying. Bring extra bathing suits. It's there. 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. For further details, please review our Service Gratuities FAQ. The daily gratuities is in addition to the 18% gratuity automatically added to all I thought the pooling was just for the wait staff and the bartenders. Readers' Choice Awards: Best Cruise Itineraries. Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. DRINKS package looked at it worked out over 1,000 for the wife and I FOR 14 DAYS SOME ONES GETTING RICH QUICK. If one of your party is a bit of a handful or a messy small child, you should really consider it. $100 at beginning of cruise. The tips are shared amongst the hotel, restaurant, bar and salon staff, including those who work behind the scenes. Please dont book with any old company just because they have a cheap deal. By While paying tips comes naturally to Americans, Brits and Australians arent used to paying a lot for tips. Started August 27, 2021, By Guest satisfaction is the highest priority at Norwegian Cruise Line. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Many thanks - I was able to go in this morning and pre pay the gratuities. She was our first Genie and none have come close to her, yet. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. The same way I'd tip housekeeping even though I already tipped the dinner server and cocktail server earlier in the evening. How do I prepay my service charges? It's nice being able to do that in person. It's a $2 a day hike across the board. 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. BTW, my husband and I are on the same cruise! We have 7 nights on the Fantasy during our kid's fall break next week and we are all losing our minds with excitement. My understanding with stateroom staff is that they can keep it. I love to hang out on Instagram sofollow me for more cruise tips. We're planning on using Oceaneer's and Vibe, and maybe even Edge. To find out more, please. 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. We have structured a guest satisfaction program designed to handle any concerns about service or on-board product quickly and efficiently. It has been our experience that the SL Concierge's on the Oasis Class ships are really focused on the Pinnacles and Star Class cruisers. are they in any part of the suite gratuities? Those will automatically be charged to your On Board Account to be paid off at the end of the cruise. Princess Cruises is a member of ABTA, (membership number V8764) which means you have the benefit of ABTAs assistance and Code of Conduct. Here is how Celebritys email said I could pre-pay my gratuities: To pre-pay your gratuities before your sailing at the current rate, please go tohttps://www.celebritycruises.com/account, sign in to your account, select Reservations Details, and add gratuities. The reason there's a fixed service charge is an important one: Our Crew (as are the crew from other lines) is encouraged to work together as a team. Instead, gratuities on a cruise ship are highly automated, with most people just electing to prepay or being charged a set amount for each day on the ship. It was our first experience with a concierge and perhaps my expectations were too high. Stream your favorite shows, movies, music and sports. I have witnessed two of my friends do just that. 2. The same steward will make up your stateroom and will likely introduce themselves on your first day of embarkation. I sincerely hope to meet some of you on future cruisesso far I have only met Den . I am anxious to see if there is as much interaction with the SL Concierge on Harmony as there was with Romana. We have NO intention of lining the pockets of the gready Cunard elite. Not sure if there is a pool for tips given to Al Baccio or various bars (i.e. Learn more about our stateroom decorations. When guests pay gratuities, it enables the service staff, including waiters and stateroom stewards, to be rewarded for the work they do, in addition to their wage. But its not for everyone. The Shops of Princess are like a floating mall, with a wide array of gift options sure to make anyone feels special. I'm huge on tipping because they make it possible for us to have such a lovely vacations. I agree 100%, Romana was the best SL Concierge we have encountered on Royal Caribbean. I know the steward is only getting a small portion of the daily tip amount. BUT NOT US ! 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. Here's where you should find the pre-pay gratuities option on the Celebrity website. and what are favorites, Parents Now Protected From Having To Pay Extra To Sit With Their Kids On Flights. All prices are quoted in USD and are subject to change without notice. I did NOT have the unfortunate experience that Dancing Shoes just had. We also tip them depending on the level and quality of service they provide. Whether to tip extra on top of the standard gratuities on your Cunard cruise is entirely down to personal preference. They may elect to prepay gratuities prior to the cruise, or have gratuities automatically charged on a daily basis to their SeaPass account. We usually tip extra, but not a huge amount. You can also purchase a bottle of Champagne, wine or spirits from our Princess Cellars. Yes! It's easy! But watch out. Onboard credit is like the chameleon of our cruise gifts because it can be used on or turned into so many different things. 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. The payments go toward staff members providing service, including your room steward and dining staff. Its up to you. ETA: Note that the last hike was Jan. 6th, 2020 dlh, I love it when you post my thoughts.but more succinctly . Available in increments of $25, $50, and $100. The guest services desk will supply envelopes to those who ask for them. You do the cooking,cleaning and serve all the meals . Same on our last cruise - I asked about Chef's Table reservations and his response was "You can book that in the app.". If you dont want to.Dont. , sign in to your account, select Reservations Details, and add gratuities. Some people on this thread seem to think your current bookings will not be charged an increase, but I think that is a misinterpretation. Nowadays, cruise gratuities are added automatically to your cruise bill or even built into the cruise fare. She found it refreshing & one less thing for her to be concerned about. If you feel there is a member of the crew who has gone above and beyond what is expected to make your time on board memorable, you are welcome to reward them individually for doing so. I generally tip the concierge if I have they do anything specific and only a few time not tip of I really had no interaction with them. For bookings made on or after April 1, 2022, that prepay their service charges before their sail date: For bookings made on or after April 1, 2020, that prepay their service charges before their sail date: For bookings made on or after April 1, 2019, that prepay their service charges before their sail date: For bookings made prior to April 1st, 2019, that prepay their service charges before their sail date: Guests sailing to Hawaii will be charged an additional 4.275% Pre Paid Service Charge GET Tax. You can use this free spending money to pay for some or all of the gratuities incurred on your cruise, depending on the amount of free credit and the gratuity charge. Especially ones taken by our professional staff. Norwegian Cruise Line offers Kosher dining options during your cruise with advanced notice. recently & they were told expressly not required to tip extra. The daily gratuities for hotel and dining services are recommended but can be removed. That's sounds like being at home with a different view to look at. I tried it once many years ago and decided I would pay someone else to do those things for us. For those sailing on Cunard world cruises, promotions are sometimes available which include complimentary hotel and dining service charges. Do your sums, the amount of money collected if we all paid the daily charge is HUGE. Everyone appreciates a cash tip, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. In which case its down to me to decide how much I appreciated their attention.
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