What is the advantage of prepaying gratuities?

I'm not debating the automatic gratuities, but I am wondering what the advantage is of prepaying the gratuities rather than just having them charged to your onboard account and paying them with your credit card when you settle your account?

I'm not debating the automatic gratuities, but I am wondering what the advantage is of prepaying the gratuities rather than just having them charged to your onboard account and paying them with your credit card when you settle your account?

None other than you have paid it off in advance of your cruise so you go on the cruise ship with a zero balance as opposed to owing gratuities. You also need to prepay gratuities if you want MTD.

I am wondering what the advantage is of prepaying the gratuities rather than just having them charged to your onboard account and paying them with your credit card when you settle your account?

None

For any Canadians reading this thread there can be very good reasons to prepay your gratuities.

On our last 2 cruises it was cheaper tp pay our gratuities up front in CDN$ than it was to pay in US$ on the ship. Prepaid CDN was $82.65 vs $84 US on the ship.

For any Canadians reading this thread there can be very good reasons to prepay your gratuities.

 

On our last 2 cruises it was cheaper tp pay our gratuities up front in CDN$ than it was to pay in US$ on the ship. Prepaid CDN was $82.65 vs $84 US on the ship.

...and don't forget...when paying with a Canadian cc on the ship, the cc may very well charge a commission and fee for foreign exchange...and the foreign exchange rate may not be very favourable compared to the Bank of Canada's rate.

For that reason, whether I have MTD or fixed dining, I always prepay my gratuities.

:D

While we still find the service in the dining room and from room stewards adequate, we have seen less enthusiastic service since the pre-paid gratuities were put into practice. We have taken to letting our room steward know that we will leave an additional tip for outstanding service and have seen a return to 'over and above' service. New Dynamic Dining means we won't have the same dining room staff, so that relationship will not be the same as before. Other than the convenience of having tips prepaid, we find little advantage for cruisers.

We always do anytime dining so always prepay...as somebody else said its done paid for and one less expense we have when our vacation starts.

For any Canadians reading this thread there can be very good reasons to prepay your gratuities.

 

 

 

On our last 2 cruises it was cheaper tp pay our gratuities up front in CDN$ than it was to pay in US$ on the ship. Prepaid CDN was $82.65 vs $84 US on the ship.

Yes! We prepaid ours after reading some of the threads.

I do it online at booking so it's paid for before I step foot on the ship and as someone said I start wit a zero balance. I'm not going to ever have them removed so I might as well have it out of the way! :cool:

The tipped service people do not GET the tips in advance...they get them after the cruise is over..so pre-tipping shouldn't affect service at all!

I do it online at booking so it's paid for before I step foot on the ship and as someone said I start wit a zero balance. I'm not going to ever have them removed so I might as well have it out of the way! :cool:

We feel the same way.

It makes no difference if you prepay or not. Prepay means you won't get a really large invoice at the end. Just like prepaying all your drinks. I remember always having a $400-$600 bill after a cruise. Now on the last day, I get a nice small invoice. Most cruises I seem to have about $100 OBC so my final invoice is about $0.00 or a few dollars. It's nice walking off the ship, knowing you will not have credit card bills coming!

Only reasons that make any sense to me include exchange rate or some sort of discount. Another reason that makes sense to SOME people is not having that big bill at the end of the cruise. Doesn't make anything cheaper, but some people feel better being fooled (LOL!).

Reasons not to prepay is that is something changes, you have to get YOUR MONEY back from them. That is a very good reason in my book to not pay something before it needs to be paid.

...and don't forget...when paying with a Canadian cc on the ship, the cc may very well charge a commission and fee for foreign exchange...and the foreign exchange rate may not be very favourable compared to the Bank of Canada's rate.

 

For that reason, whether I have MTD or fixed dining, I always prepay my gratuities.

 

:D

There is no fee credit cards that do not charge the Foreign exchange rate of 2.5% out there. You just have to pay the difference in the dollar.

Also I prepay as well one less thing to worry about

While we still find the service in the dining room and from room stewards adequate, we have seen less enthusiastic service since the pre-paid gratuities were put into practice. We have taken to letting our room steward know that we will leave an additional tip for outstanding service and have seen a return to 'over and above' service. New Dynamic Dining means we won't have the same dining room staff, so that relationship will not be the same as before. Other than the convenience of having tips prepaid, we find little advantage for cruisers.

Maybe it is just us.....but we start our relationship with our cabin steward and our wait/bar staff with big smiles (and why not -- we are starting a vacation FROM work or our daily activities), and seem to be met with wonderful service.... with hardly any complaints about THEIR effort. Perhaps something specific is out of their control, but that is something else.

Tips will be paid one way or the other....so for some, clearly Canadians (and maybe others with foreign currency issues), it could make much more sense. If you want to start out with a clear balance sheet, that won't be accruing anything other than 'purchase' that is fine also. But it should not impact service. From what I understand the staff doesn't know who prepaid gratuities until the night or two before the end of the cruise, anyway.

Only reasons that make any sense to me include exchange rate or some sort of discount. Another reason that makes sense to SOME people is not having that big bill at the end of the cruise. Doesn't make anything cheaper, but some people feel better being fooled (LOL!).

 

Reasons not to prepay is that is something changes, you have to get YOUR MONEY back from them. That is a very good reason in my book to not pay something before it needs to be paid.

It is not a matter of being "fooled" so I don't get why you said that, but some people such as I just pay it up front with as part of their booking and it's done. No Biggie! :cool:

some people such as I just pay it up front with as part of their booking and it's done. No Biggie! :cool:

That's your preference (A-OK!) but it doesn't translate to an advantage which is what OP asked about.

Our Canadian friend DID point out an advantage as relates to favorable exchange rates.

A matter of personal preference for most people, nothing more nothing less.

That's your preference (A-OK!) but it doesn't translate to an advantage which is what OP asked about.

 

Our Canadian friend DID point out an advantage as relates to favorable exchange rates.

Look dude! I see you like to follow people around and make comments to what they post. Well you don't need to stalk me and tell me what the OP said! I read just like you do and I was just making a comment stating my preference! I didn't make it out to be an advantage! DA*MN!

The only reason we prepay is because it's required with my time dining.

I don't understand why people are so rude to each other on these boards.

A matter of personal preference for most people, nothing more nothing less.

Agreed!

We're Canadian and our exchange rate is 7% through NCL. We've pre-paid the DSC and I've also added $500 of OBC. We've also pre-booked and paid all of our excursions. Can't beat that exchange rate. :)

My husband is a non-drinker so the UDP is not worth it for us as we would both have to purchase it. I'm a light drinker, so will just buy a la carte using the OBC. Will also use OBC to purchase (if possible) behind the scenes tour for my husband and son. If there is any leftover OBC, I'll either cash out at the casino last night of the cruise, or just wait for a cheque from NCL.

Some people enjoy having everything paid for in advance. It will also help to split up the payments if you plan on having a large bill at the end of the cruise.

Personally, I always pay at the end of the cruise. This is less cost up front and makes the cruise more affordable at booking for new cruisers I talk in to going.

A matter of personal preference for most people, nothing more nothing less.

Agree! The little one might earn on that bit of money in their investment or savings account isn't worth worrying about.

We're Canadian and our exchange rate is 7% through NCL. We've pre-paid the DSC and I've also added $500 of OBC. We've also pre-booked and paid all of our excursions. Can't beat that exchange rate. :)

 

My husband is a non-drinker so the UDP is not worth it for us as we would both have to purchase it. I'm a light drinker, so will just buy a la carte using the OBC. Will also use OBC to purchase (if possible) behind the scenes tour for my husband and son. If there is any leftover OBC, I'll either cash out at the casino last night of the cruise, or just wait for a cheque from NCL.

Do they return the funds in Canadian or US dollars? Just curious. Thanks!