prepay gratuities on cruise

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. By "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.". Prepaid gratuities on most non-luxury cruises range upwards of $20 per person, per day. Play the final game of bingo on the sea day. Is Norwegian Cruise Line now charging for room service? I do wish you could pre-pay with OBC on Cruise Planner. ncierges, I have to mention Marla. Same on our last cruise - I asked about Chef's Table reservations and his response was "You can book that in the app.". You must log in or register to reply here. I'm kind of surprised about folks being so concerned if they are affected. At the end of the cruise, we usually tip $10-$20/day (in addition to the auto grats). BUT NOT US ! Here's where you should find the pre-pay gratuities option on the Celebrity website. You can check your onboard spend using the Cunard free wifi to into your account. Tip your Room Steward as you feel appropriate. I believe I've hear of her before, in a positive light, too! Different strokes. Some people on this thread seem to think your current bookings will not be charged an increase, but I think that is a misinterpretation. Guest satisfaction is the highest priority at Norwegian Cruise Line. Just an FYI on these increased gratuities. This website uses cookies. Cruise gratuities are simply a fact of cruising. I really dont consider where the crew is from. JavaScript is disabled. CC Help Jenn So, to those who think they are making a moral choice (while simultaneously saving themselves money ahem ahem) , just pay the gratuities and ensure you dont stiff the crew, cos that is what you are doing to all the crew behind the scenes. 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. Sign up for a new account in our community. on our last cruise Romana (sp?) People often have differing opinions towards paying gratuities. 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 ? 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. Just about every time I see posts about good or excellent Genies and/orconcierges, I have to mention Marla. In 24 Disney cruises I have never prepaid. Is there a list of all of the paid experiences? The service charges are 100% refundable. Get there early as it does sell out for electronic cards. I tip based on US norms. Usually, the extra pillows at the beginning is all I ask for. A request to move a specialty restaurant reservation due to illness was also not possible. The possibilities are nearly endless. No tip. Can I prepay my gratuities online, or do I have to call to do that? DRINKS package looked at it worked out over 1,000 for the wife and I FOR 14 DAYS SOME ONES GETTING RICH QUICK. 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. Started June 21, 2021, By 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. Others remove them to save on costs as soon as they step aboard. Our stateroom decoration packages come in several varieties: birthday, anniversary and Stanley-themed. 2. The magnets work on the veranda dividers also. 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. It says it is due 3 months before my cruise. . Thanks for the tip on Smitha. But its not for everyone. I agree. None of the staff is standing there waiting for extra tips or expecting it. 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. To find out more, please. Marla was absolutely phenomenal. It's nice being able to do that in person. Look out for these as they can save you a lot of money. Powered by Invision Community. Yes! And the daily gratuities on a cruise can certainly add up to a hefty sum. Why would I prepay my service charges? If you have had a bad experience with the service on your cruise and wish to remove the gratuities, you should speak to the staff at Guest Services who will be able to remove them from your account. We will pay the new amount at the time. We have NO intention of lining the pockets of the gready Cunard elite. I would prefer to pay gratuities to individuals that earn them . Its up to you. As peoples income and circumstances can vary so much, what is a lot to one person is pocket change to another. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. *Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings. 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. Only available online when you first book. Our next booked Star Class cruise is in Jan 2024. Have a great cruise! 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. Memories are the best souvenirs of all, and the best way to capture them is through photos. On a Cunard cruise, the gratuities added to each drink and spa service are compulsory. Onboard credit is like the chameleon of our cruise gifts because it can be used on or turned into so many different things. They may elect to prepay gratuities prior to the cruise, or have gratuities automatically charged on a daily basis to their SeaPass account. While you might have already paid for your vacation, there's one more expense to consider: gratuities (or service charges as NCL calls them). For my October cruise we will be tipping the extra amount personally as the cruise starts on 17/10. I went in and tried to add them, and it changed the price of my cruise!!! 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. 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. I believe the location of the Quantum Class Suite Lounge had a lot to do with her being more accessible. Everyone appreciates a cash tip, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Our cruise holidays are ATOL protected (No. So also just pack your patience and be ready to roll with whatever comes. She was always offering to book us into iFly and North Star, even though we were booked on those our first cruise. If they paid the crew appropriately the cost of the cruise would go up , appropriately! 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. 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. MarinerAlex, October 3 in Celebrity Cruises. It's a $2 a day hike across the board. Started June 21, 2021, By Gifts at The Shops of Princess. FWIW, I assume that you're bringing the wine in order to have with dinner. I'm okay with paying the auto gratuities program. 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. However, there is a difference in price depending on your accommodation category. So also just pack your patience and be ready to roll with whatever comes. 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. The words perfection and Marla are synonymous in my dictionary. It's just over five days before our family's first cruise ever, aboard DCL or any other cruise line. My names Jenni and Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015. Brand New Donald Duck Munchlings and Pastry has debuted at Disney World! Port Canaveral parking: OK for brand new car? I am anxious to see if there is as much interaction with the SL Concierge on Harmony as there was with Romana. However, if you want to choose the flexible My Time dining, rather than having a set dining time, you must pre-pay your gratuities. It is as if they are asking for more. CC Help Jenn This is in addition to the daily gratuities. We also tip them depending on the level and quality of service they provide. But if you feel that room steward deserves more, you put in that envelope whatever you think they deserve. Big deal IMO. and what are favorites, Parents Now Protected From Having To Pay Extra To Sit With Their Kids On Flights. 1. 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. Onboard credit is like the chameleon of our cruise gifts because it can be used on or turned into so many different things. The charge is the same for adults and children. Should I tip extra on a Cunard cruise? If you buy a Cunard drinks package, a 15% gratuity will be added to the price of the package to cover tips. Only time will tell. 2022, Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The deadline to lock in the old gratuity rate for NEW bookings is Oct 17. "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." Enjoy your cruise and quit adding unneeded stress. 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. Do your sums, the amount of money collected if we all paid the daily charge is HUGE. MedallionNet Wi-Fi is fast, reliable andwherever you are. Hello, Were travelling next year on an Eastern Mediterranean/Greek Isle 7 night cruise, our second RC cruise. 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. forests_lover, October 9 in Royal Caribbean International. I tried it once many years ago and decided I would pay someone else to do those things for us. Cunard gratuities for bar, wine and spa services are added to your onboard account automatically along with each purchase. The guest services desk will supply envelopes to those who ask for them. Usually, we have had very good experiences where they at least try, and we always tip for the service. on Quantum was the best concierge we have ever had. The tips are shared amongst the hotel, restaurant, bar and salon staff, including those who work behind the scenes. This bring up a point I've not thought much about. In a hotel, we leave $3 to $5 per night. 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. The words perfection and Marla are synonymous in my dictionary. Birthday packages pamper adults, while a kid-themed package makes junior guests happy. No Romana (I believe how you spell it) is from China, I believe the location of the Quantum Class Suite Lounge had a lot to do with her being more accessible. If you booked direct the email implies that you can go to Manage Reservation and add them there. . BTW, my husband and I are on the same cruise! 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. While some see these tips as forced Like death and taxes, it's something that cruise passengers simply can't avoid. 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. It was our first experience with a concierge and perhaps my expectations were too high. It's easy! Am booked through the BCC/Casino and it wouldn't be surprising if the BCC is like a TA where you can only call in. Get there early as it does sell out for electronic cards. Cruise fares in some countries, such as Australia, include the gratuities with your cruise fare. Last time we took the drinks package and it was worth our while. 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. 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. paying more and think the service received warrants it, then pay what you are comfortable paying. Each Cunard stateroom has its own steward assigned to it usually, you will see them making up rooms up and down the ship throughout your sailing. We're planning on using Oceaneer's and Vibe, and maybe even Edge. I canceled. 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. You cannot prepay for your Cunard gratuities before your cruise. That being said, you're allowed to bring four bottles of wine onboard with you. Yes! 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. Contact your travel professional and request that it be added to your cruise reservation. I agree 100%, Romana was the best SL Concierge we have encountered on Royal Caribbean. 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. This is outlined in more detail below. Last cruise I asked two questions and both times, 'try guest services'. CC Help Jenn Maybe its a box of chocolates or an aluminum water bottle for a day-long excursion. 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 ? It isnt always easy to find information about how much Cunard gratuities are, so read on if you wish to avoid a surprise bill at the end of your cruise! 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. 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. 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. I still don't have the option. I know the steward is only getting a small portion of the daily tip amount. She then opened the add gratuities window on her system and it showed the total due using the old rate. 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). Powered by Invision Community. If there is a service issue can the service charges be adjusted on board? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I think it is perfectly reasonable to have a stack at guest services, and folks can pick them up if they want. 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. If I cancel my cruise are the service charges refundable? The same way I'd tip housekeeping even though I already tipped the dinner server and cocktail server earlier in the evening. Dining packages are perfect for couples looking for a romantic dinner out. Play the final game of bingo on the sea day. I tried that as well to pre-pay with your OBC- and I couldn't so I did some research and found out it they will take it out during your cruise- you will get billed each day for your tips, then they will take it out money out of your expense account. By All prices are quoted in USD and are subject to change without notice. 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. I really dont understand $100 plus auto grats for a week. Stay connected to the internet anywhere on board so you can text, post photos, video chat and more. ETA: Note that the last hike was Jan. 6th, 2020 dlh, I love it when you post my thoughts.but more succinctly . 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. This can be done at the Guest Services desk once youre on board the ship. LauraS Your list looks good! Learn more about our stateroom decorations. And on our first cruise our kid was just exhausted. It could be a Princess-branded roller bag, designer perfume or the cuddliest gift of all a Stanley bear. If you dont want to.Dont. This is all a personal choice, self of culture. Gratuity charges. Don't forget, you may be tipping "in person", but it all goes into a pool. Pre-paid crew appreciation. I have witnessed two of my friends do just that. Those will automatically be charged to your On Board Account to be paid off at the end of the cruise. They can be added at anytime up to 24 hours prior to sailing. You cannot prepay for your Cunard gratuities before your cruise. Stream your favorite shows, movies, music and sports. By In the past some waiters have said that only stateroom attendance received the increases. 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. Sign up for a new account in our community. If they could not be fulfilled, a short explanation should suffice. The same steward will make up your stateroom and will likely introduce themselves on your first day of embarkation. For further details, please review our Service Gratuities FAQ. So for a 14 day cruise you will pay a total of $28 more for your cruiseif you tip. No, they are reasonable requests. Learn more about our celebration packages. 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. For those sailing on Cunard world cruises, promotions are sometimes available which include complimentary hotel and dining service charges. 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. Shore excursions. I get that it's only a minor difference between the old and new rate, but I prefer tipping crew in person. That being said what I have asked from them is typically what is listed as a part of the suite amenities. 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. 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. 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. Hoop Dee Doo, Fantastic package ect? In 2022, Cunards daily gratuities are $11.50 per person, per night for guests staying in Britannia Staterooms and $13.50 per person, per night for guests staying in Grill Suites. For bookings made on or after April 1, 2022, that prepay their service charges before their sail date: $20.00 USD per person per day for The Haven and Suites; $18.00 USD per person per day for Club Balcony Suite; Passengers can prepay the amount in advance or on board. 1. My BCC booking wasn't there yet I had a bunch of sailings, called reg X customer service (not the BCC) gave them my credit card and every booking number and it's done. Two bottles per adult. Norwegian Cruise Line offers Kosher dining options during your cruise with advanced notice. 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 . I also dont care how much they make. Here's a link to the flyer when gratuities were increased in 2020 explaining how they do things. 6294). I thought you said "crew" which to my mind refers to wait staff in MDR, Luminae or speciality restaurants. How do I prepay my service charges? Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. Gratuities (also known as tips) are service charges that are added to your onboard account when sailing with Cunard. Tipping room steward after prepaying gratuities. !1, We started Cunard Cruising in 1996, And after our first cruise we have Never paid the Daily charge. You could win a lot of money. In which case its down to me to decide how much I appreciated their attention. Im happier in a pair of shorts watching the sunset with my French cheese plate than in a dining room on a ship. Why is there a service charge? 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. While this is intended to make things easier, the honest truth is that having automatic gratuities can actually lead to more questions. 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.

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