no more prepaid gratuities required with open dining

yep that's right! no longer required! heard it from Celebrity reps!

Hoooray! No more bellyaching or complaints about that, hopefully.

bon voyage

I'll check the website for verification of this. :D

Just booked today and was told prepaid tips are required. :confused:

Hm. I wonder if it's possible to call and have the prepaid tips line item removed from invoice since we are not past final payment yet and have plenty of obc to take care of it later in lieu of cashing out in the casino which is no longer possible

Just booked today and was told prepaid tips are required. :confused:

We also just booked, and at first the agent said no prepaid tips - but then said it comes up on the invoice.

If we pay it, and it is no longer required - then what?

When it turns up that you do not have to pay them in advance, most likely a call for a credit would be in order.... no challenge at all, I do not think.

With pre-paid inclusive gratuities, I Am to understand that there is a credit at or before final payment, as pre-paid gratuities are only chargeable at the final payment or date and not before unless one pays for the cruise in full before final payment date.

bon voyage

We also just booked, and at first the agent said no prepaid tips - but then said it comes up on the invoice.

 

If we pay it, and it is no longer required - then what?

You just don't pay it on board!!

When is this supposed to come in to play? When i booked they (say) they have no fixed dining. I book anytime dining and pay gratuities upfront. Then all of a sudden I can switch to fixed dining. It's a scam.

You just don't pay it on board!!

 

When is this supposed to come in to play? When i booked they (say) they have no fixed dining. I book anytime dining and pay gratuities upfront. Then all of a sudden I can switch to fixed dining. It's a scam.

First it seems we need someone from Celebrity to say this is correct. Captain Club rep told me a bit ago it is not!

A scam - do not think so. As to booking and not having fixed dining; would guess that was online. Remember the website is awful. If you moved to fixed from Select I would simply call Celebrity or your TA and ask that the prepaid gratuities be removed. FWIW I do not specify any dining preference when reserving and it defaults to fixed.

I was told it was effective immediately, and anyone who has it on their booking at this time can call and cancel it off their booking

I think we have to wait a few days....and let the fog clear as folks try to get their invoices changed. Otherwise, it's just a rumor...a very nice rumor...but let's not get our hopes up.

Wouldn't it be nice if "celebrity cruises" came here and gave us some official information. One can always hope...

And hope and hope. At least Celebrity if they have made this change has done it in their usual manner by not telling their own employees! As my father, a Navy officer said, "Hell of a way to run a ship."

You just don't pay it on board!!

 

When is this supposed to come in to play? When i booked they (say) they have no fixed dining. I book anytime dining and pay gratuities upfront. Then all of a sudden I can switch to fixed dining. It's a scam.

How is it a scam if you don't pay it while on board, because you paid it up front for "any time" dining? And yes, personally I'd rather pay for it according to the service at the time of the service.

More importantly (at least to me) is if the staff and crew thinks gratuities have NOT been paid, while they already have been paid. That could make for some sour staff and service....

I wish this would be straightened out soon.

You just don't pay it on board!!

 

When is this supposed to come in to play? When i booked they (say) they have no fixed dining. I book anytime dining and pay gratuities upfront. Then all of a sudden I can switch to fixed dining. It's a scam.

You certainly are in the minority in terms of thinking it is a scam.... :)

How is it a scam if you don't pay it while on board, because you paid it up front for "any time" dining? And yes, personally I'd rather pay for it according to the service at the time of the service.

 

More importantly (at least to me) is if the staff and crew thinks gratuities have NOT been paid, while they already have been paid. That could make for some sour staff and service....

 

I wish this would be straightened out soon.

Would it not provide for better service if the employees thought their gratuities had not been already paid? with Celebrity many opt out of the standard payment and pay in cash. Thus good service would provide tips!

How is it a scam if you don't pay it while on board, because you paid it up front for "any time" dining? And yes, personally I'd rather pay for it according to the service at the time of the service.

 

More importantly (at least to me) is if the staff and crew thinks gratuities have NOT been paid, while they already have been paid. That could make for some sour staff and service....

 

I wish this would be straightened out soon.

Would it not provide for better service if the employees thought their gratuities had not been already paid? with Celebrity many opt out of the standard payment and pay in cash. Thus good service would provide tips!

Please note the area that I now bolded from my previous quote.

Hm. I wonder if it's possible to call and have the prepaid tips line item removed from invoice since we are not past final payment yet and have plenty of obc to take care of it later in lieu of cashing out in the casino which is no longer possible

What? What about refundable OBC? When did cashing out OBC in the casino begin?

What? What about refundable OBC? When did cashing out OBC in the casino begin?

Refundable OBC is still fine to cash out or be put back on your CC

Refundable OBC is still fine to cash out or be put back on your CC

So if I have non-findable OBC and I don't use it, I am out? When did this begin? I didn't see any announcement regarding this change.

Just spoken to Celebrity UK and they confirmed that whilst the ability to book select dining without pre-paying gratuities is not available yet, there is a company proposal to make the change - no definitive timing other than "the next month or so".....

So if I have non-findable OBC and I don't use it, I am out? When did this begin? I didn't see any announcement regarding this change.

That's what non-refundable means. You can use the credits in hundreds of ways as my DW seems to find. I've never worried about it being left over.

As far as I know, this has always been the case. Has anyone seen it otherwise?

It is my understanding that when you have select dining, you can be seated at several different tables during the cruise, and served by several different waitstaff. Pre-paid gratuities are shared between all of the people who work in that area. If they are not pre-paid, and shared, then how would you give the gratuity? Would you give it each night after the meal? Would you "keep track" of who served you on which nights and then give it to each server on the last night?

We always get select dining and prefer to not worry about having money available to give gratuities on the last night. If you feel you do not lie the service, then just ask for a different table on the next evening.

It seems that most of the servers in Select Dining are very good at their jobs.

It is my understanding that when you have select dining, you can be seated at several different tables during the cruise, and served by several different waitstaff. Pre-paid gratuities are shared between all of the people who work in that area. If they are not pre-paid, and shared, then how would you give the gratuity? Would you give it each night after the meal? Would you "keep track" of who served you on which nights and then give it to each server on the last night?

 

 

 

We always get select dining and prefer to not worry about having money available to give gratuities on the last night. If you feel you do not lie the service, then just ask for a different table on the next evening.

 

 

 

It seems that most of the servers in Select Dining are very good at their jobs.

Simple. They would deduct gratuities daily and charge to your on board account. Should not be different for select since gratuities are shared no matter how you dine. Gratuities given on the last night to servers are in excess of standard gratuities for those who choose to give more. I have never understood why grTuities were paid in advance for select. You don't pay them in advance if you dine in blu or luminae which is really select but in a different venue

I have never understood the logic with open dining requiring prepaid tips.

That's what non-refundable means. You can use the credits in hundreds of ways as my DW seems to find. I've never worried about it being left over.

 

 

 

As far as I know, this has always been the case. Has anyone seen it otherwise?

Always. On every line

Obc from cruise line use or lose. Even so on a b2b. Does not carry over from cruise 1 to cruise 2

Obc from ta refundable