Gratuities

We booked our cruise (Ovation from Sydney 28/1/17) and paid the gratuities in advance. I understand the drinks, and I assume any other products we actually purchase on the ship, are subject to an 18% gratuity.

18% seems a bit steep to me. I can remember, I think, paying 10% whilst travelling in the USA. So is tipping different to gratuities? And, where is the magic figure of 18% plucked from?:mad:

The mark-up on some of the wines that I recognise is huge. Did we pull the wrong rein by going with RCI? With all the hassles they are having, I'm starting to have real doubts. :confused:

We booked our cruise (Ovation from Sydney 28/1/17) and paid the gratuities in advance. I understand the drinks, and I assume any other products we actually purchase on the ship, are subject to an 18% gratuity.

18% seems a bit steep to me. I can remember, I think, paying 10% whilst travelling in the USA. So is tipping different to gratuities? And, where is the magic figure of 18% plucked from?:mad:

The mark-up on some of the wines that I recognise is huge. Did we pull the wrong rein by going with RCI? With all the hassles they are having, I'm starting to have real doubts. :confused:

18% is common on most cruise lines for bar purchases.

Tipping and gratuities are the same thing.

While Australians do not have to pay daily gratuities on a Princess cruise from Australia (it is built into the fare) we still have to pay tips on the things we buy on board such as drinks.

Therefore I think on all the cruises leaving from Australia you still have to pay tips for drinks and the percentage is about the same.

Tipping and gratuities are the same thing.

 

While Australians do not have to pay daily gratuities on a Princess cruise from Australia (it is built into the fare) we still have to pay tips on the things we buy on board such as drinks.

Therefore I think on all the cruises leaving from Australia you still have to pay tips for drinks and the percentage is about the same.

On Princess cruises out of Australia there are no tips on drinks. :)

On Princess cruises out of Australia there are no tips on drinks. :)

It is built into the price.

We booked our cruise (Ovation from Sydney 28/1/17) and paid the gratuities in advance. I understand the drinks, and I assume any other products we actually purchase on the ship, are subject to an 18% gratuity.

18% seems a bit steep to me. I can remember, I think, paying 10% whilst travelling in the USA. So is tipping different to gratuities? And, where is the magic figure of 18% plucked from?:mad:

The mark-up on some of the wines that I recognise is huge. Did we pull the wrong rein by going with RCI? With all the hassles they are having, I'm starting to have real doubts. :confused:

Tipping varies in the US, it may be 10% in some places but restaurants have ranges of anywhere between 12% and 25% depending on the service standards of the restaurant (ie. top end fine ding will be the higher %).

As for on the ships, some have it included in the fares or price of the drinks and others add it on at the point of sale.

BTW, If you are going to cancel your cruise, best to do it now and before final payment as chances are you have lost your deposit.

On Princess cruises out of Australia there are no tips on drinks. :)

Thanks for correcting me. That shows how much I drink.:eek:

And I'm a regular Princess cruiser.:D

It is built into the price.

Agreed that the prices of drinks are higher on the Australian based ships, but I was responding to this comment:

(quote) on all the cruises leaving from Australia you still have to pay tips for drinks and the percentage is about the same. (end quote)

Tips are not added and there is no percentage (same or otherwise).

Karoolabiddy, the gratuities you have pre paid are basically a hotel service charge and they cover the cabin steward, waiters etc and those who work behind the scenes to make your trip wonderful. You do not have to pay anything extra to your steward or waiters if you do not want to.

Bar and spa staff do not share in this so 18% is added to bar accounts and if you have spa treatments which is then shared with those staff. The 18% may seem a bit stiff but this is the going rate on ships I have been on (not just RCI). It went up from 15% a few years back. Princess cruises out of Australia do not have this charge as it is built into the cost of the drinks so you still end up paying about the same as the price of these includes the gratuities.

We booked our cruise (Ovation from Sydney 28/1/17) and paid the gratuities in advance. I understand the drinks, and I assume any other products we actually purchase on the ship, are subject to an 18% gratuity.

18% seems a bit steep to me. I can remember, I think, paying 10% whilst travelling in the USA. So is tipping different to gratuities? And, where is the magic figure of 18% plucked from?:mad:

The mark-up on some of the wines that I recognise is huge. Did we pull the wrong rein by going with RCI? With all the hassles they are having, I'm starting to have real doubts. :confused:

Did I miss something?? What are "ALL THE HASSLES" RCI are having?

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Did I miss something?? What are "ALL THE HASSLES" RCI are having?

Thanks to all for their advice.

The "hassles" are really just "minor upsets" just things changing - the drinks packages changing (no cheaper ones available), dining changing, (both just very recently), and the question of how the double boarding will go on the 28th. I certainly hope there will be no more "minor upsets".

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Did I miss something?? What are "ALL THE HASSLES" RCI are having?

Perhaps they are referring to the Dynamic Dining being dropped off the Ovation and Lifou being dropped from the itineraries of the Voyager, the Explorer and the Ovation.

Not so much hassles for RCI but may affect the passengers on those particular cruises so that they feel hassled.

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Did I miss something?? What are "ALL THE HASSLES" RCI are having?

Glad somebody asked:cool:

Tipping varies in the US, it may be 10% in some places but restaurants have ranges of anywhere between 12% and 25% depending on the service standards of the restaurant (ie. top end fine ding will be the higher %)

If you are going to tip 10% in a restaurant be prepared to run very fast :D - the staff are not going to be impressed at all - 10% was the going rate 20+ years ago but now it's more like 15% absolute minimum to 20%

If you are going to tip 10% in a restaurant be prepared to run very fast :D - the staff are not going to be impressed at all - 10% was the going rate 20+ years ago but now it's more like 15% absolute minimum to 20%

Wish my income had gone up 50-100% the rate of inflation.

Over the last 20 years I'm not sure Many have even kept up with inflation let alone double the rate.

If you are going to tip 10% in a restaurant be prepared to run very fast :D - the staff are not going to be impressed at all - 10% was the going rate 20+ years ago but now it's more like 15% absolute minimum to 20%

Just read an article that 20% is the base amount now, up market restaurants are 25%. :eek:

If you are going to tip 10% in a restaurant be prepared to run very fast :D - the staff are not going to be impressed at all - 10% was the going rate 20+ years ago but now it's more like 15% absolute minimum to 20%

Exactly, that is why I said some places other than restaurants.

It is built into the price.

Which is the same as Ovation, and RCL here as well.

[QUOTsE=The_Big_M;51087502]Which is the same as Ovation, and RCL here as well.

Royal still add them to your account and let you remove them if you choose don't they?

[QUOTsE=The_Big_M;51087502]Which is the same as Ovation, and RCL here as well.

 

Royal still add them to your account and let you remove them if you choose don't they?

yes - you can choose to remove the 'gratuities' - and do whatever you wish in respect to 'tipping'.

But this 18% is getting a tad extreme !!

There have been many threads / discussions on this - and I kinda like the comments re wishing my income had gone up - and the 20% as being 'base' rate for 'tipping'.

Maybe someone can 'explain' how a soft drink package - where in the majority of instances it's either the customer going to a self serve - or someone just serving it from a 'fountain' - deserves a 18% 'tip' ??? (and then of course - the 'chip' in the cup which limits a drink every 15mins ??)

We are off on a 7 night RC cruise in a few weeks ..... and one has to look at the 'tipping' a few ways....

1..... 7 nights... I don't need my bed / room made every day... gee.. I'm not that untidy ! And bed turn down ... I don't think so.

2.....4 nights we'll be in port.. and given the MDR is either a 'time' or 'pay for your own time'... I suspect that we wont be eating there (MDR) on most occassions....given how late we will be getting back on board. (* why have a 5.30 MDR session when tours come back after this time ???)

3.... and let's look a those massive cruises.... 4000 people plus.... at minimum $30 per cabin per day.... it 'adds' up and RC are are getting these 'tips' tax free. Where are these tips going - and who actually gets 'what' ??

It's a bit like some hotels now charging 'resort fees'..... or even worse... Vegas casinos now charging to park in their mega parking stations.. when for years they have been for free.... at what point does the price that you 'see' get eroded away with additional tips / fees / charges etc etc etc ??

 

Royal still add them to your account and let you remove them if you choose don't they?

I think Big M was referring to drink packages, but in regards to for the cruise, yes, you can remove them if you wish.

yes - you can choose to remove the 'gratuities' - and do whatever you wish in respect to 'tipping'.

 

 

But this 18% is getting a tad extreme !!

 

 

 

There have been many threads / discussions on this - and I kinda like the comments re wishing my income had gone up - and the 20% as being 'base' rate for 'tipping'.

 

Maybe someone can 'explain' how a soft drink package - where in the majority of instances it's either the customer going to a self serve - or someone just serving it from a 'fountain' - deserves a 18% 'tip' ??? (and then of course - the 'chip' in the cup which limits a drink every 15mins ??)

 

We are off on a 7 night RC cruise in a few weeks ..... and one has to look at the 'tipping' a few ways....

 

1..... 7 nights... I don't need my bed / room made every day... gee.. I'm not that untidy ! And bed turn down ... I don't think so.

 

2.....4 nights we'll be in port.. and given the MDR is either a 'time' or 'pay for your own time'... I suspect that we wont be eating there (MDR) on most occassions....given how late we will be getting back on board. (* why have a 5.30 MDR session when tours come back after this time ???)

 

3.... and let's look a those massive cruises.... 4000 people plus.... at minimum $30 per cabin per day.... it 'adds' up and RC are are getting these 'tips' tax free. Where are these tips going - and who actually gets 'what' ??

 

 

It's a bit like some hotels now charging 'resort fees'..... or even worse... Vegas casinos now charging to park in their mega parking stations.. when for years they have been for free.... at what point does the price that you 'see' get eroded away with additional tips / fees / charges etc etc etc ??

This is why you should compare the price of cruises over the whole package and not just a cruise fare. There are other options out there.

Which is the same as Ovation, and RCL here as well.

 

Royal still add them to your account and let you remove them if you choose don't they?

The response above was to drinks: "On Princess cruises out of Australia there are no tips on drinks."

In terms of general daily gratuities though, RCL add them to your account; no change there.

yes - you can choose to remove the 'gratuities' - and do whatever you wish in respect to 'tipping'.

 

 

But this 18% is getting a tad extreme !!

 

 

 

There have been many threads / discussions on this - and I kinda like the comments re wishing my income had gone up - and the 20% as being 'base' rate for 'tipping'.

 

Maybe someone can 'explain' how a soft drink package - where in the majority of instances it's either the customer going to a self serve - or someone just serving it from a 'fountain' - deserves a 18% 'tip' ??? (and then of course - the 'chip' in the cup which limits a drink every 15mins ??)

 

We are off on a 7 night RC cruise in a few weeks ..... and one has to look at the 'tipping' a few ways....

 

1..... 7 nights... I don't need my bed / room made every day... gee.. I'm not that untidy ! And bed turn down ... I don't think so.

 

2.....4 nights we'll be in port.. and given the MDR is either a 'time' or 'pay for your own time'... I suspect that we wont be eating there (MDR) on most occassions....given how late we will be getting back on board. (* why have a 5.30 MDR session when tours come back after this time ???)

 

3.... and let's look a those massive cruises.... 4000 people plus.... at minimum $30 per cabin per day.... it 'adds' up and RC are are getting these 'tips' tax free. Where are these tips going - and who actually gets 'what' ??

 

 

It's a bit like some hotels now charging 'resort fees'..... or even worse... Vegas casinos now charging to park in their mega parking stations.. when for years they have been for free.... at what point does the price that you 'see' get eroded away with additional tips / fees / charges etc etc etc ??

I never mind paying the house keeping gratuities, it's the extras on RCL that make you stop and think you'd like your income to be going up that extra 20% as well :D

I never mind paying the house keeping gratuities, it's the extras on RCL that make you stop and think you'd like your income to be going up that extra 20% as well :D

a little 'bit' off the gratuities tag..... but sticking with the extras....

with RCL.... we're off to Vietnam in a few weeks (HK to Singapore on the Voyager) - and I emailed them a week or so ago about the 'visa' cost....

... two emails back saying that 'someone' is looking at it.. and nothing since. A simple question not answered.

... and news stories that the cost is $U5 from Vietnam sources.... one HOPES that RCL aren't going to take us for a ride on this !!! (anyone on what the actual visa cost is - considering we are returning to the ship each night ???)(