jjsays

I have only been a member of CC for a week or two and have found most threads to be informative and helpful.

This thread is one that is the exception to the rule. So many people justify their snide comments as just their opinion, but seriously; the holier than thou attitudes and outright efforts to shame the original poster are quite distressing.

Saying to someone that if they cannot afford to tip they cannot afford to cruise is not just expressing an opinion, it is insulting. Have you considered that it is not about affording the tips but the concern as to why we are made to tip? The same for those who feel the need to justify the culture of tipping purely because the staff are underpaid - How about rallying against the culture of underpaying hard working employees instead of berating someone who has not once said they were NOT going to tip?

Using the - "but the line is based in another country where tipping is customary" twaddle is a composition/division logical fallacy. Just because the US tips has absolutely zip to do with whether or not a ship registered in the Bahamas and staffed internationally should expect citizens from around the world to automatically follow suit.

I did a few sums and even though the math is exceedingly rough I worked out that a ship like the ROS with a full complement of passengers expects around $30000.00 USD a day in gratuities. Rounding down the staff that receive tips to 800 means that each employee can hope for about $38.00 USD extra a day - even if we take it down to 700 staff sharing the gratuities they can still only expect $43.00 USD a day. Roughly $1200.00 USD extra a month. Admittedly a reasonable amount of money for someone who has no rent to pay, no food bills, no utilities and no entertainment bills to speak of for several months of the year. Still, not enough to make anyone rich I would have thought. So even if you adjust that to bring a daily rate up to $50.00 a day - No one is going to be buying any mansions on your dime.

Sure, if the cruise staff are paid more our cruise prices rise - but I would rather have an honest up front cost rather than 'hidden extras'. As it is my pre-paid gratuities added an extra $200.00 AUD to our 6 night cruise - not a bad chunk of change for the unsuspecting.

I have already booked and paid for this cruise but I know that in future I am going to be far more discerning when it comes to choosing which cruise is right for my family, and as things stand now I suspect that only Australian or similar, domestic lines that are obligated to pay a living wage will be the ones to get my tourism dollars in future. It has absolutely nothing to do with whether I should tip or not and everything to do with whether to allow my dollars to be used in corporate slavery rackets or not.

To those that have been respectful, understanding and helpful I apologise for my rant. Many of you have showcased the exemplary behaviour that makes this forum a great place for newbies such as myself and the OP.

To those that allowed this thread to devolve into a nasty, needling exchange, I feel for you - it is obvious that some of you don't even realise it and that I find very sad.

good to know but has nothing to do with the person who I quoted

My apologies, upon a re-read I realised that the original comment about taxes was made by an American and not an Australian as originally thought - Your comment was the last in reference to that original post and for brevity I replied to it rather than quote all 3 tax related comments. I did however have the wrong end of the stick and therefore wasted quite a deal of time in explanation haha. There was no intention to single your comment out but I do realise that is the impression everyone would have been given. Again, I am sorry.

Thank you so much all. I am one of those people who love to plan, research, prepare and dream about my holidays well in advance - that way I can take it ever so easy when the vacation actually happens ;) All of this great info and helpful advice just makes it so much fun for me :D

Firstly I would like to thank everyone at CC for arming me, as an upcoming, first time cruiser, with a wealth of information. Most appreciated. :D

I do still have a few questions which I hope will not bore you. - No drink package or cabin choosing questions I promise!! :p

1. Mimosas! On one morning of the year (Christmas) I love to indulge in these delightful drinks. Today I spied them on a posted special breakfast menu. Are they available every breakfast? We are traveling on the ROS. Will I look like a lush if I indulge - every morning? :eek:
   
2. Can someone please explain what DH/DW etc. mean? I assume it is Dear Husband and whatever specifically used on the forum but perhaps I am missing a cruise etiquette thing?
   
3. On careful study of the deck plans I note that there are two sets of elevators on the Radiance, one forward and the main central set. Seeing as our cabin is forward I am hoping passengers have access and the forward set are not purely service elevators. Any advice there please?
   
4. We are only going on a six night cruise, with three full sea days. Is this long enough for added excitements such as formal and theme nights or do the cruise lines forgo these on short cruises?
   
5. Finally ( for now haha) Disembarkation - I gather we put bags outside the cabin the night before - but then what please? Do we get breakfast? Is there a staggered time schedule? Any chance of sleeping in even a little? Say til 7.30 am? My husband is a long term shift worker and early mornings really are a wrench for him.
   

Thank you very much and apologies that I have not yet found the answer to these questions in my trawling through this great site.

Price of the cruise has ZERO to do with tax charged

Would just like to point out that in Australia we have a value added tax called GST which is calculated on total cost of goods sold. Even though the GST is not applicable to international cruises it is applied to domestic cruises and travel. GST on travel can be quite a minefield to work out and most Australians just assume it is applied to everything. The comment re: pre-tipping adding to the tax may have been in reference to GST which, on a domestic Australia to Australia cruise would be correct.

Fortunately, I do not believe the international cruise lines have it applied even on their Australian waters cruises.

Just a tip for those from outside of Australia that are thinking of holidaying here as a part of their cruise; Booking any air travel within Australia i.e. domestic flights, as a part of your total vacation package before you arrive in Australia means that your flights will be GST free.

If you book them separately to your package (even if you book them while you are not in Australia), or if you book them from within Australia, then those flights will attract GST which is 10% of the flight cost.

As an Australian and an upcoming first time cruiser, I can understand OP's confusion. The wages in this country are what is called a 'living wage' and we find it very difficult to believe that others may be getting subsistence pay rates. Rationally, we know it happens, but emotionally we just cannot fathom it.

It is also difficult for us to factor in tips when costing something - especially on large outlays like a cruise.

Personally I am very happy to be told how much is expected and then to pre-pay, takes away a lot of anxiety. Even so I am concerned about how much is considered acceptable to tip for extra service - Do I use cash, do I fill the envelope at the end of the cruise, how much extra should I pay? Is tipping the bartender a US dollar a drink ( even though I bought the beverage pack ) a good idea? Would the cabin steward be offended by a couple of US dollars left each day or would it get them into trouble...

See, it is fraught for those of us that have never experienced it !!! It is also an expense we are not familiar with considering.

I am a little more fortunate than most as my husband is an American, but he has never cruised before either so even he is a little nervous having been out of the habit for a while now.

P.S. I just read the last couple of posts, in defense of the OP I do not think they are planning on NOT paying gratuities, I think they are just relieved that they are not going to be responsible for the entire party's tipping. They will probably be subject to a load of questions and comments from their group prior to the cruise and being able to tell the others tat it is entirely up to them means they will not have to listen to any griping. Once on board I am pretty sure the whole party will begin to understand and the envelopes/accounts will probably be accepted graciously. Australians are not 'mean' - we are just inexperienced.

Thank you so much for both the review and the .pdf's. My husband and I are going on our first cruise next March and I am one of those people who like to research everything new to the Nth degree haha. Being able to spy as it were, on another cruise is invaluable to me.

Kudos.