bucfan2

3 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

 

My wife said that her Pinnacle pin is the most expensive piece of jewelry that she owns!!!! I agree!!!!

Indeed.  Don't even know what box it got thrown in.

13 hours ago, cruise wizard said:

might be difficult to discern who's a "Z" as most don't wear pins for identification and it is frowned upon to ask ones loyalty status. 

Love it.  We noticed this on X as well.  We're the type to enjoy the cruise we're on, not draw attention to ourselves w/ making sure everyone knows our 'status'/stories of how many cruises we've been on/etc.  If we're asked during a conversation, we gladly discuss.  If not, we feel people are generally not as interested in our travel career as we are.

3 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

Ignore what others say, basically this is a great idea. I for myself know very well how tough it is to stay in the European winter for many months, never having a durian or other nice fruit from home. Not even a dragon fruit. But here is the point, I don't think your grocery store, even it's called "international", can provide this.

 

 

Terrible idea to suggest bringing fruit/vegetables/nuts on or off a ship, depending on the port.

8 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

Bring them cash. 

It's that simple.  They don't want/need/desire our snacks/trinkets/junk/etc. Space is limited in their rooms, and they have a pretty good idea what they prefer to buy....with cash. 
Welcome to cruise critic.  This topic will come along about as often as a tipping thread/chair hog thread, so you'll get to enjoy them for years to come. 

4 hours ago, fpcruiser said:

Their best friend is making himself sick thinking about how much they might be out.

I am pretty sure she is going to make it.

If a doctor ever states he/she is 'pretty sure' I'll make it, and my best friend is getting sick wondering how much $$ I'm out....he'll quickly become my 'former' best friend.

Lots of good advice already given by others.  All the best for a speedy recovery.

24 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

Nothing to see here folks. 

 

Bribe

 

Dictionary

Definitions from Oxford Languages 

verb

1. dishonestly persuade (someone) to act in one's favour by a gift of money or other inducement.

   "they attempted to bribe opponents into losing"

    

   noun

   a sum of money or other inducement offered or given to bribe someone.

   "lawmakers were caught accepting bribes to bring in legalized gambling"

    

    

Appreciate ya posting that.  Dishonestly obviously doesn't apply to tipping ahead, but inducement certainly does.  We tip on service received, not anticipated service to come.

45 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

 

It is more nuanced. It infuriates most people "to be wrong, when they know they are right". Moliere

https://econwpa.ub.uni-muenchen.de/econ-wp/lab/papers/0309/0309002.pdf

"V. Tipping-in-Advance Tipping in advance was the original type of tipping in commercial enterprises. There are several versions for the origin of tipping, but one of the common versions dates tipping back to England of the sixteen century. Brass urns with the inscription “To Insure Promptitude” were placed first in coffee houses and later in local pubs, and people tipped in advance by putting money in these urns. The purpose of tipping-in-advance from the consumer’s perspective is to commit the worker to provide good service quality. This form of tipping reverses the opportunism problem: instead of the consumer being able to stiff, here the worker is able to provide bad service despite the advance tip. Tipping experts, however, suggest that workers who get advance tips try very hard to justify the trust they received: Brenner (2001) claims, “The advance tip is the most effective method for assuring results… This strategy will insure that you’ll be taken care of with the highest degree of consideration,” and Star (1988) suggests about hotel concierge “If you want to be fawned over, tip the concierge upon arrival as you introduce yourself.” Just as the consumer finds it less costly to tip than to feel unfair and embarrassed in reward-tipping, the worker prefers to exert effort than to feel unfair and untrustworthy with tipping-in-advance."

The next paragraph explains bribery tipping if you are really interested to know the difference found in the link above.

 

That's good stuff right there.  I've never been one to underestimate the power of a bribe, but for those that do, it might interest them (most likely not IMO).

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Our perception is our reality until we see it happening to others.

If you say so.  I refer to 'tipping ahead' as bribing.  But just the same....prefer to simply read thru yet another tip thread for entertainment, wait for inevitable lock of the thread, and see another start up in a week or so.

15 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Absolutely correct. I read post after post of how someone's butler is a 'no show'. How they are being overlooked. How a certain waiter avoids their smiles and friendly salutations. How the maitre d or YC director avoids them. That their meals are too cold or take too long or not cooked or over cooked. That they did not receive a bottle of liquor or a plate of macaroons or chocolate dipped strawberries. What was Einstein's definition of insanity? "Continuing the same act (not tipping) and expecting a different result."  

  For those that fail to understand the academic's definition of tipping. Tipping is NOT your hotel service charges, forced or mandatory gratuities, or forced tips imposed. Tipping is voluntary and discretionary.

  I posted in April that our cruise on the MSC Seascape was the best cruise we have ever had in 50 years of cruising. We were treated Royally the entire week. I can not attribute our good time to my goods looks and charming personality (for I have neither). All I am saying, is it doesn't take very much and reprimands and asking for an audience with your "friend" the hotel director in lieu of a 'douceur' is gauche (lacking social grace, sensitivity, crude and tactless) akin to colonial classism in former times.

We tip generously, and at the END of the trip.  Additional tipping is purely by our choice.  Service throughout the week would be the same regardless, as we tip at the end and it has no effect on our service received throughout the week.

13 hours ago, chrisgp999 said:

I always find it helpful to pop a bowl of popcorn and relax in my easy chair before I start reading another thread about tipping.

Absolutely!!  And it's comical to read and think 'these people actually believe they're going to influence someone's tipping choices'.

55 minutes ago, TrinaLC said:

Really? 
 

Ya...I realize it sounds obvious, but yes, really.  Certainly didn't mean to offend anyone...regardless what is said, somebody is offended in today's world.

1 hour ago, ellie1145 said:

the reviews on here are pretty horrendous. 
 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps search reviews elsewhere?  Or at least search for favorable threads on here.

Logic would lead one to believe asking for reviews again when the reviews are already 'pretty horrendous' should yield 'pretty horrendous' reviews.

15 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Many  of you may not remember a time  when  not even one bottle of wine  was allowed to be brought on board. It would be sad if they took our wine bottle allowance  away because it was abused and folks tried to scam the system. 
 

m
 

Some may remember a time when you could bring a portable bar along. Also replenish at ports. 

On 5/14/2024 at 9:29 PM, PhillyFan33579 said:

I realize food is very subjective, but Wonderland is my second least favorite speciality restaurant (Mason Jar is number one by a huge margin). 

Subjective indeed, as we love them both.

1 hour ago, Kbonner said:

JS here and yes we were embarrassed to beg and knock until somebody let us in

No need to be embarrassed...you're simply requesting access to an area that only grants limited access to JS's.

7 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

 an aft balcony! looking forward 

Made me laugh.  Enjoy your cruise.

2 hours ago, jean87510 said:

I read your idea and agree completely.  My feeling is anyone who pays for a suite should be the only person in a suite lounge.

 

I am not sure how other lines handle this.  I know I never saw Black/Diamond status in the YC on MSC.  I think if you don't pay for the suite, you shouldn't go in the lounge.  JMO.

 

Mind you I'm just a D+ and probably will never make the P status.

Couldn't agree more.  We are approaching p status (albeit a bit gingerly, as we no longer sail RC exclusively).  Not even sure why the suite lounge/ck/etc was ever offered based on status.  'Want it, then pay for it' seems like common sense to us.

If you're content w/ the product you're currently sailing, remain content.  If you're curious on the bigger ships, I wouldn't worry about embracing anything...just cruise one and see what you think.  Ask a million people their preferences, and you'll most likely get 2 million responses.

5 minutes ago, vaindioux said:

Why don’t you?

 

Just criticizing!

 

 😃

Yep...I'll criticize your selfishness. 

10 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Pinnacle members not staying in a suite are required to use vouchers. Suite guests, regardless of crown and anchor designation, receive the complementary drinks.

m
 

That is exactly how it appears on paper. Real world experiences may vary. 

6 hours ago, vaindioux said:

First i m not going to post any detailed info here.

Of course not. 

9 hours ago, cruisegus said:

 

Up to 6 months ago it was pretty much a guarantee perk

With upper tiers becoming so top heavy, it won't be getting better any time soon (we were amoungst those receiving quadruple points in suites after the extended flu season...it was almost comical how quickly tiers rolled by).
We used to be loyal to Royal, but w/ the continued reduction in perks, we've been cruising other lines as of late.  Royal is far from being the only line out there, and other than the Crown Loft's, their suite program is far from the best. So we've decided to cruise other lines' suites, and generally get enough perks to make up for the diminished C&A program anyway. 

6 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Perhaps it was not obvious, but my last comment was about the OP.

Ya, I figured it was on my somewhat cryptic comment.  Never been one to catch the obvious lol.

11 hours ago, Biker19 said:

It may have a race against Cats.

 

Biker, who wonders what compels folks to post mindless musings.

My comment was in response to pizza in the theatre/drink making in the restroom/etc. Sorry to overtax the brain. 

2 hours ago, yogimax said:

 The implication on this board is that MSC is all about the Yacht Club.

To some, it is...and that's OK.