Is Azamara billing manadatory pre-paid gratuities months in advance now?

[NorthernStar]

I have an upcoming cruise on Azamara Journey in Feb 2010 and noticed a few days ago they posted a mystery $294 charge to my credit card. Nobody contacted me regarding this issue, I just saw it posted. After making a few calls the charges turned out to be pre-paid gratuities, wanted 2 months in advance! This is after the cruise was paid in full and I never agreed to pre-paid gratuities.
They also tried to bill me twice for the cruise fare but that is another story.
Did anyone else have these charges added?

[tgg]

For reasons still unexplained, my travel agency included gratuities. Then they gave me an OBC that would cover the gratuities with some left over. I called and had the gratuities removed.

[NorthernStar]

I am trying to remove these pre-paid gratuities and nobody wants to do it ( I booked through Travelocity).

[topcop]

I booked with Cruises-N-More and was asked if I wanted to pre-pay. I had never heard of pre-paying, but I guess just another way to have and use our money.

[wripro]

Why would anyone want to pre pay gratuities and give A the use of your money for months in advance?

[NorthernStar]

We have no problem paying gratuities while onboard, when the services are delivered, but being billed 2 months in advance without permission is ridiculous. :mad:
Check your credit card statements if you have an upcoming cruise with A, that's all I can say.

[grg1]

prepaid gratuites , collected at the time of booking, appears as an option when booking through an internet sight . so i would suspect that an agent would have the same option. he or she just did not offer it to you!!!