seemoreroyals

16 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Why does NCL calll it "Free At Sea"? Any marketing professional will tell you the quickest way to make a sale is to convince the customer they're getting somenthing for free.  Only a sucker believes FAS is really free.  Since it's 'baked into the price', it's not free.

If you want to sail with NCL it is free.  Their rules. Try going to customer service and see if they will give you some of your money back or some onboard credit for opting out of the FAS adult bev pkg.  They will probably try to be nice at first but in the end you are not getting anything back.

See it any way you want to see it.  Gotta love these tipping threads.  What this is the 3rd or 4th new tipping thread in the last couple of days?

59 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Not getting a discount for declining the drink package does not prove the drinks are free.  You're paying for them as part of the cruise fare which is a far step from being free.  They're 'included', which is not the same as being 'free'.

As far as I am concerned they're free.  As far as NCL is concerned they're free.  If not why do they call it FREE AT SEA?  

It's baked into the price.  If you decline the adult bev pkg you get nothing back.  Other than not having to fork over about $300 worth of tips. I stand by what I posted earlier.

No use slitting hairs over it.  Another tipping thread, another round of bickering and arguing.

21 minutes ago, zqvol said:

Messed up logic. If you have 2 drinks a day you cover the cost of the package. 

I understand that the drink package is worth it.  My logic is pointing out that tips on drinks have already been ponied up in advance.

The drinks are free as part of the FAS.  If you decline the drink package they will not give you a discount on your cruise.  You just don't have to pay what amounts to about $300 in tips for a cabin for 2 on a 7 day cruise.

27 minutes ago, MyTMo777 said:

Been a few years since I sailed without a drink package so I can't recall (or there may have been changes). When I order a drink at the bar and they hand me the slip to sign, is there a tip automatically included on that slip? I know there's an option to add a tip, but checking to see if that would be on top of a percentage that is already added.

Yes.  Tips are automatically paid for you if you get FAS.  It amounts to about $300 for a cabin with 2 people on a 7 day cruise.  If you each have 10 drinks a day that is 140 drinks for 2 people on a 7 day cruise.  At approx $300 which you have to pay to get the free drinks that amounts to over $2 tip per drink paid in advance.

Paying extra is not expected or required.  I can only recall a couple of occasions I have tipped extra on the past couple of cruises.  One was when one of the bartenders on the Prima balanced a wine glass on his head and poured my wife a glass of chardonnay.  

If it makes you feel better to tip more tip more.  If you are like me and think $2 per tip per drink paid in advance is enough do not tip more unless the bartender does something above and beyond expectations.  

16 minutes ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

On our last voyage, two bartenders said they do not get a portion of the FAS gratuities, just the bar wait staff.

 

 

Either you misunderstood them or they are working you for additional tips.

Once you prepay your FAS tips you are not expected or required to leave additional tips.  Next to politics and religion,  tipping etiquette discussion on cruise ships is probably the most polarizing topic of discussion I can think of.

Do what you want.  Just realize you are under no obligation to tip in addition to the 20% FAS tips that have been set aside courtesy of NCL.

If you are worried about bartenders getting their share of what you have contributed via 20% prepaid FAS tips, like @Two Wheels Only posted that is between NCL and the bartenders.  

On a seven day cruise a cabin of two is already paying about $300 in drink tips.  There are some that will say part of that is the incremental cost of the drinks themselves.  However, if you opt out of the drink package portion of the FAS you will eliminate the tips but NCL will not give you a discount on your cruise.

To OP in summary, do what you want.  You have already done your part by paying the 20% prepaid drink tips.  If a fair portion of that does not reach pockets of bartenders then that is on NCL.  If they decide to funnel that money somewhere else shame on them not on you.  Enjoy your cruise.

No need to tip in MDR.  Simply get up and leave after dining there,  Already taken care of as part of DSC so you can enjoy a stress free cruise and not have to worry about who and how much to tip.

Anyone else besides me getting tired of some of the sanctimonious responses in these tipping threads?  

Just pay the DSC and be nice to your cabin steward and don't throw any unreasonable demands at him or her.  I guarantee you will have a great relationship with your cabin steward.

NCL replaced tipping with envelopes to cabin stewards a long time ago.  It is not hard to research the facts.

On a 7 day cruise a party of two is already tipping between 600-700 dollars assuming they get the standard drink package and the specialty dining package.  It is up to NCL to decide who gets what.  

This process was presented to all of us a long time ago as a way to enjoy our cruise without having to tip who and what amount.  I am more than willing to pay what I consider to be my fair share of tips expected. I cannot see a scenario where I would go to guest services and have them removed.

If you are in Haven you are expected to pay extra tips to concierge and butler.  Most of us folk here are in balcony cabins and below.  

36 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Hmmm...interesting. Everyone had to get those little name tag thingies and the announcers made a big deal of saying selection was random and could be anyone in the theatre. I think you cruised after us. Maybe they changed the procedure in December? Or, they just told us a bunch of hooie to make me nervous! 

It is random.  We did not go to box office to opt in and were quite surprised when my wife was selected.  Didn't win but did get a free t-shirt.

11 minutes ago, PaperSniper4 said:

BINGO!🤑

 

Sad but true. When a company produces more product that it can sell (100% occupancy), there is little reason to change anything to make the product more attractive to potential customers. Basic economics.

 

We too have been cruising for a long time, over 30 years in our case, and we still love it, but occasionally I wonder if we ought to continue. My poor wife will be very disappointed if there are no triangular "hash browns" on our cruise next month.😪 I can hold out a little longer as long as they continue to have excellent croissants.😎

 

 Doug

Most itineraries  have a McDonalds at at least one of their ports.  For now anyway your wife will need to get her hash brown fix there.

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Someone posted a pic of that in a thread here.  The family looked none too happy about “dressing in PJs”.  It looked like it was the Mother’s idea.  The rest of the family looked perturbed by it.

 

I’ve never seen. it on any of my cruises.

 

My guess it will fade away as quickly as it started.

 

Personally, I don’t get it.  Makes zero sense.  It takes as much effort to get dressed as it does to throw on PJs.  But, as you say, it’s a “thing”.  And, people tend to do the latest “thing”.

 

No one can complain about shorts in the MDR any more if people are traipsing around in PJs.

I saw it again the other day while at a casino.  There was a family , not on the casino floor, but on their way to dinner.  I guess times are changing.  

39 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

We haven't had a good "how I expect everyone else to dress" debate in a while.

 

Speaking of which, I don't think I've seen anyone in a tux or suit on a cruise in a couple of years.

I did see several families on our Prima cruise this past December all dressed in matching pajamas parading around the ship.  I think that is a new thing people are starting to do on cruises.  Got to admit they looked comfortable.

How about a new rule.  No religion, no politics, and no more discussions on tipping.

@tmal2 see what you started?  Are you still around to reap the benefits?  Since you are the OP I am curious what your plans are going to be for tipping the cabin steward and others.

21 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Holy Moly.....$700 in tips up front?  How long are you sailing?  A month?  In the Haven?

 

I've never paid more than $175 for the DSC/tip, and that's for staying in the Haven.  Admittedly, I'll add another couple hundred for additional tips for the Cabin attendant, Butler and Concierge, but that's still nowhere near $700.

 

WOW....you're a really good tipper.

See post #100 for further clarification.  

2 hours ago, complawyer said:

 

 

some people tip, others choose not to do so. you have made your position abundantly clear.

 

 

Everybody tips.  The cabin steward, free diner staff etal get their tips from the DSC.  It is up to NCL to distribute accordingly.

The bar staff and the specialty dinner staff get their tips from the 20% that is added on .  

It adds up to about $700 in tips for a cabin for two on a seven day cruise.  Seems like more than enough to me.  Just in the last few years the DSC has been raised from $12 to $20 per person per cabin.  

The only way to avoid tips is to go to guest services and have them removed.  

3 hours ago, bkrickles1 said:

Hysterical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You choose to insult rather than add value!

You don't know me or how I divvy up my $$$!! Lol 🤣🤑

 

Telling me that I'm throwing away money or what I should be doing with it doesn't add anything to the thread started by the OP. 

And making $20 sound like it's nothing is, not only insulting to me but it's insulting to the cabin steward that truly values that $20 plus any additional money I "tip" him/her throughout the sailing.

 

You are obviously more thrifty/frugal than I and, apparently, it works for you.

Good luck with that!!!

Probably more frugal and thrifty than you but was not meant as insult.  Sorry you took it that way.  To each his or her own.  It is a personal choice how you want to spend your money.  

The DSC when transformed from giving individual envelopes on the last day to cabin stewards, waiters and others years ago was a genius move on NCL's part.  Now they are collecting on average about $700 in tips up front for a cabin for two on a seven day cruise.  That assuming that cabin gets the drink package and the SDP.   

Nothing else is required or expected in tipping.  I have never went down to customer service and had the DSC (cabin steward et al tips) removed and probably never will.  But it takes something above and beyond to get me to tip extra which I do occasionally.  

Let's leave it at that.

11 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

Nobody has said that you can't accomplish the same thing without the $20.

As I've said previously, I too include $20 with my introductory note that has my simple requests on it.

I enjoy doing it, it typically improves the response time for my requests and I perceive that it improves my relationship with the steward.

Again, and I've mentioned it before, I know this first $20 is a "bribe" and I'm happy to do it.

It's not illegal. It's not unethical. It makes my family happy. It makes the cabin steward happy!

It's a win, win for all involved!

 

53 Days until I get to slip my cabin steward a crisp $20 bill!!!!!

Lol!!!

Good for you.  

In the words of the philosopher Sheryl Crow "If it makes you happy it can't be that bad."

For a 7 day cruise for two people you are already paying close to $700 in tips assuming you have drink and specialty dinner package so another $20 not going to break you. 

To me that $20 you chose to throw away up front would be best left in pocket to be divvied out to someone else along the way that provides something exceptional in regards to service during your cruise.  Otherwise keep the $20 and buy yourself a trinklet at one of the ports you visit.

1 hour ago, TrumpyNor said:

Last year I was on my first cruise after NCL changed the cabin cleaning to once per day per cabin, and after reading here on CruiseCritic that several complained about getting their cabin cleaned late afternoon, I did the following:

I wrote a friendly card to the cabin steward, introducing us (my husband and myself) and stating that I knew that he had to clean a large number of cabins, and if it would be possible to clean our cabin amongst the first one in the day. I then enclosed a $20 dollar note to it.

 

Result: On a 11 day cruise, our cabin was cleaned before 10.00 AM every day. To me that was totally worth the extra tipping above the standard daily service charge fee. 😊

You could have accomplished the same thing without the $20.  We do the same thing without forking over the $20 and still maintain friendly interactions with cabin stewards when we see them.  If we need ice or coffee or extra towels for the room we call his extension and they are there waiting for us when we get back to the room. 

All of these services are part of what you are tipping for in the basic DSC.  I do not see any logical reason to tip extra.  None of it is over and above what you would expect in the normal course of your cruise.

7 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Try it and see how the service improves.

We always get great service on a cruise and we seldom if ever tip over and above the tips we pay comprised of the dsc , 20% drink tips and 20% sdp tips.    But we are nice and respectful to the crew and never make unreasonable demands.  

dsc - aka $20 per person per day tips

2 hours ago, tmal2 said:

Does anyone tip their cabin stewards in top of the $20 per person per day service charge? How much additional do you give?

They are paid as part of the DSC.  Unless they really go out of their way and do something memorable they get zero extra from me.  Unlike 20 or 30 years ago when they were like ninjas and seemed to clean your cabin every time you were away more than 10 minutes, now you get one cabin cleaning per day.  If you want ice buckets filled or coffee maker and coffee you have to ask for it. 

You pretty much have to ask for everything.  Level of service from cabin stewards not what it used to be.  It is now not any better than an average hotel room on land.  Keep that in mind as you will undoubtedly get many suggestions to tip extra.  It is not expected or required to tip more.  Be nice to your cabin stewards and try not to be a PITA and I think they will appreciate that more than anything.

6 minutes ago, pete_coach said:

I wonder how many of the almost 50 million posts on Cruise Critic are repeated questions.

They all could call the cruise line directly and get answers but, sometimes people can give experiential answers as opposed to corporate scripted answers? We have cruised often and have asked questions here to confirm or to validate what the corporate websites indicate.

Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

You did not hurt my feelings.  I guess it should be considered a compliment to call me or anyone else on here a know it all?   The subject of tipping has been rehashed here tirelessly on end.  All you have to do is scroll back no more than 10 pages you will find endless discussion on tipping and people's differing opinion on what DSC is or is not etc. etc. etc.

25 minutes ago, pete_coach said:

You may know it all but the OP said "never been on n. cruise ", so they asked.

No need to belittle or mock the question or OP.

Sometimes I wonder if they take the time to go to NCL's website and see for themselves.  Or call someone that works for NCL.  The problem with coming here  is if you ask 10 different people what NCL's tipping policy is,  you will get 10 different answers.  Who knows who is right and who is wrong. 

The OP has cruised before and has a pretty good idea what a tip is.  I do not need or did I ask for a lesson on keyboard etiquette from you.  So you do you and I will do me.

Has this thread been closed yet? If not give me a minute.  I need to go dig out my old football pads and helmet.  I will be right back.

47 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Personal thing....I have "bought" VIBE passes twice.  Once on the Breakaway and once on the Escape.  I think the most I paid was $150 0r $160.  I thought that was expensive but was willing  to pay as I was staying in an inside room on both.  

 

Then, it started to skyrocket.  I found I'd rather take that money and book a nicer cabin. Last I checked, the cost was $230PP on a 7 nite cruise.  

 

That seems a bit much for a lounger and hot tub for a week.  

 

I can always get a drink in the wealth of bars on board.

The vibe is a lot more than a lounger and a hot tub for a week.  It is an oasis of peace and calm.  We were recently on the Prima first part of December.  Our sailing had 3700 on a ship designed the hold about 3000.  I was told close to 1000 of the passengers were under 16.  Not surprised as teens and kids were scrambling everywhere throughout the ship.  The Observation Lounge was packed.  The main pool area was packed.  The outside infinity pool areas on deck 8 were packed.

During the day I would say we averaged about 3-4 hours in the vibe beach club.  It was really nice to have a place to escape the masses in an otherwise overcrowded sailing.  There is a reason it has skyrocketed.  People like the vibe and are willing to pay for it.

We booked our upcoming Dec cruise on Escape in first part of January.  Was told by CAS that vibe would not be available to book until some time end of Summer.  Next day while viewing our reservation on NCL website I noticed vibe passes were already for sale.  

Not wanting to take a chance I took care of booking the vibe then and there.  Moral of the story is if you want to get vibe passes make sure you book as far ahead as possible.  It was the same way when we booked our vibe passes on Prima last year.