New Tipping Policy + Infant Question

[forevercruising1]

Hello!

I've read about the new, automatic charge of $10 pp/pday. Does anyone know if they will charge this for our one year old? I can't imagine that they would, but I thought I'd see if anyone has any confirmation on this.

Also, I read that Holland America offers infant "supplies" on board if ordered in advance. Does anyone have any information on that or, by chance, a copy of the supply request sheet? The brochure says there is a nominal fee for the supplies -- does anyone know what the prices are?

Thanks, in advance, for the information!

[AmyinVail]

You may also want to try posting your question on the Family Cruising section of this board, it's more focused on family-type questions! Or, if you do a search on there, you may already find some information that you're looking for! Have a terrific cruise with your baby! Here's the link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

[KSCnCA]

From what I have read on the boards, I would think they do charge the auto-tipping for the infant too. The room stewards clean your cabin, which is more work with an extra person, whether it be a 1 year old or a 20 year old. The service while dining seems to me to be more for an infant than an adult. If you have a question about it, call HAL. But don't feel that the extra person is not any extra work simply because that person is an infant and doesn't eat as much as an adult. (and please don't take offense, I love kids, but just because they are adorable, entertaining, perfect little babies doesn't mean they get a free ride)

Sign me: waiting for grandchildren of my own!

[AWOL]

We just returned from a trip on te Amsterdam and they did charge tips for our 23 month old. The cost of the supplies is high. The only price I remember off the top of my head is $1.00 per diaper
Regards
Roger

[AmyinVail]

I disagree about the work around an infant, as I've travelled with one. An infant does not ask for an ice bucket refill, doesn't dirty the glasses (suite) doesn't ask for room service, don't care or notice the towel animals, doesn't use the toilet paper, or usually the washclothes or towels (infants have their own hooded towels and soapy washclothes), nor do they need their bed made as they sleep in a crib with usually only their own blanket. As for the dining room, infants are usually on their mother's breast milk, bottled formula or jars of food - the dining staff have no interaction with them at all. How could it be compared to a 20 year old? When you have your own grandchildren, you'll see! Many cruise lines don't even charge for infants to travel (you only pay port charges) let alone auto tip.

[peaches from georgia]

Amy, the OP was inquiring about a one year old, so the majority of what you describe does not even apply to the situation. A 1 year old in the dining room is in a high chair, probably eating and dropping Cheerios, and is a great deal of work for the dining steward. I've had 3 children of my own and 5 grandchildren and know exactly what a toddler is like and the work that will be required of cabin and dining stewards. There are a lot of posters on here like myself with a great deal of experience traveling with children; more than you have, now that I think about it.

Of course, tipping is a personal decision and an automatic tip for a child can be removed from the pax account.

P.S. HAL stewards do not do towel animals.

[doone]

I agree with Peaches here, we sailed with my 18 month old neice once and let me tell you, she was alot of work, not only for my sister, but the steward in the dining room and her cabin. She had the high chair in the dining room, spilled some of her food, which they had to clean up, clean the high chair. She got sea sick and the cabin steward had his hands full with cleaning up after her more than once. My sister tipped all that helped her with my niece MORE than she tipped for herself and her husband.

I still don't understand how anyone can say an infant is less work than an adult. Day care providers charge more for an infant than a toddler!!!!!

[bepsf]

Every toddler, no matter how well behaved, takes a little extra to cleanup after - it's just the nature of the beast.

Think of all the cracker crumbs left on chairs, the little glasses of milk, and the extra plates or grilled cheese sandwiches that we always request & the toys that are left scattered around the room. If children were truly so low-maintenance - there would be no need for mothers, nannys or babysitters!

Stewards deserve at least the standard tip for your little one, if not more.

[judithbiggs]

we were on the Maasdam for the holiday cruise,and they did infact charge the same fees for him as an adult. I felt it was more than fair with dirty diapers to remove from the cabin, a port a crib to clean around and all the
other stuff you bring for a 10 month old. The dining steward always had a highchair waiting for him when we arrived at dinner, and they made sure that he did not have to wait for his food bringing it right away. As far as supplies, I assume your child is on table food, so you wouldn't be needing baby food. We didn't need it either, so that worked out just fine. Their diaper charges were outragious. $1.00 per diaper, so we brought all of our own. I am sure you will find the service with an infant outstanding. The Indonesians really love little ones. Be sure to reserve your highchair and crib before leaving or you might be left high and dry. Also bring some of your own bedding for the crib, as the only have sheets to wrap around the very thin matress. We brought our own blankets for our grandson. Another good thing to bring would be plastic garbage bags to use for the diapers. We thouhgt of that at the last minute, and it worked out well so that you didn't have them sitting in the garbage cans until they were emptied. Good luck and have a great time. WE did

[AmyinVail]

You have no idea how much experience I have with children - why, then, would you assume that you have quite a bit more? Well, I retract my generalization post...I suppose my children are simply neater than most!!

[RuthC]

The original question was does HAL impose the service charge on babies?
The answer to that question is "yes".

Whether or not HAL should charge is a totally different question, and is subject to differing opinions. If you do not wish to pay a service charge for a baby then it might be better to choose a line that won't impose a charge.

[Lisa63]

As HAL does apply automatic tips for children (including babies), be sure to activate their shipboard accounts. We didn't want our 10-year-old son to have charging privileges, but we were then told at the Front Office that we had to activate his shipboard account if we wanted to auto-tip. This wasn't a problem -- we simply held on to his card -- but keep in mind that HAL will set aside the $60 or so hold per day on each account.

I agree that babies, toddlers, and all kids are more work for the stewards. When our son was younger, our waiters would often cut up our son's food so that we could, in their words, enjoy our vacation. :)

[samissailing]

You have no idea how much experience I have with children - why, then, would you assume that you have quite a bit more? Well, I retract my generalization post...I suppose my children are simply neater than most!!

I think Peaches was referring to your cruising experience, not general experience with children, based on your signature...

[gizmo]

Many cruise lines don't even charge for infants to travel (you only pay port charges) let alone auto tip.

Interesting. I didn't know many cruise lines didn't charge, I thought it was only NCL and Disney. Which other lines don't charge?

[bmgaritty]

To the OP:
HAL does provide diapers and baby food which they would like you to preorder in advance. My daughter was 10 months when we sailed last March, prior to auto tipping.
As for the price, if I buy diapers at the airport, hotel or a cruise ship I expect to pay more - as with anything else in those venues. For discount diapers I go to Costco or Sam's. Need less to say, I brought them on board.

The room stewards and the wait staff doted on my daughter - from arrranging her toys to having her preferential fruit waiting as her first course at dinner. The waiters and room steward made origami animals for my daughter which she really enjoyed.
The room steward kept our room neat including your standard expectations but he exceeded our expectation in regards to our baby.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by HAL. I don't think tipping will be an issue once you see how they dote on your baby.

[goldie888]

My family of six have just returned from the Oosterdam January 2 cruise. We had a fairly good time.

The experience we had with the all the crews in the dinning room were wonderful. They were extremly nice to my niece Portia. The cabin stewart did a wonderful job keeping both our cabins tidy.

The only one thing that bother us was the $10 tipping for the little baby. As the 3rd passenger in the cabin, the price for her was almost as much as an adult. With the Playpan for a bed, there is no work to make it. Any special food items or supplies are charged extra. At meal time, she certainly did not eat a 5 course meal like an adult. NO free baby-sitting or Club Hal for this 14 months old. So no extra expense to justify the extra charge.

Other cruise lines charge $5 for the little ones until they can attend Kid clubs, so I think HAL should too.

[Arubalisa]

The room stewards and the wait staff doted on my daughter - from arrranging her toys to having her preferential fruit waiting as her first course at dinner. The waiters and room steward made origami animals for my daughter which she really enjoyed.We had the same experience, at dinner, there were many times the kids received better service than the adults. Our daughter has extremely fond memories of oragami, magic tricks and riddles. She just asked me yesterday how she could contact Oka!

As to baby supplies, contact Ship's Services and ask them to fax you the list.