duquephart

Maybe too diluted? It's not possible to make a weak martini unless water is added.

People "sell" the little white plastic goat "charms" that come with a bottle of Ayinger Celebrator. Doesn't mean people buy them.

On Homelands last summer the code was clearly not enforced. Jeans often, if not common, in restaurant.

Hosts having dress code discretion might not be a good thing. Maybe more concerned about "tips" than policy?

And ----- you won't like the price.

"sloppy World Cafe style dressing" ?????????????????

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2630344-gratuities/ Start at post #29.

Ask Viking: Are the tips collected from customers on a given/particular cruise distributed to the crew of that given/particular cruise at the end of the given/particular cruise?

Several threads here. I'm just reporting the findings of others.

I call it that because that is what "tips" are. Lots of information here and elsewhere. When you pay "gratuities" what you are really doing is contributing to the general/payroll fund - out of which the "hard working staff" is paid. In other words, "gratuities" are included in what these people are paid. Folks who do not pay these "tips" are stiffing no one. Many people seem to think that what they pay in "gratuities" becomes a pot of money that is distributed (according to some formula) at the end of each and every cruise. That is a fantasy.

I would imagine there are folks, perhaps lots of folks, who prefer the "not included" system in regard to "gratuities." That way of handling things allows them to reduce or eliminate "tips" on the grounds that they are really a service charge. These folks generally prefer to see their "tips" directly into the hands of deserving staff.

The practice on Viking River, at least the one I was on a few years ago, is/was to suggest tip amounts to voluntarily add to your bill.

Yes --- Viking makes it easy to turn your money into their money. But --- a year in advance?

There is a Seabourn thread comparing experiences with Viking. Seabourn seems worth looking into.

And there's the if.

Wouldn't MVJ tell the tale?

"Are we to assume that you prefer to never leave tips?" Why would you assume that? How businesses handle tipping has nothing to do with what I do.

"close to all inclusive" and inclusive are two different things. And --- we're not talking about other cruise lines.

Not everyone goes looking for information not provided. I'm only suggesting that there are people who feel they are done paying for a cruise once they have paid for the cruise. Something billed later is what is known as a hidden cost. I'm guessing many first time customers just assume they have paid for everything upon booking.

Land tours usually suggest tips - they don't bill them.

As has been pointed out many times, it's all a matter of consumption level and whether it pencils out. The reasonableness of the package is due, in part, to the fact that you have already paid for a given level of consumption. Lines that aren't already providing "free" wine and beer need to charge more for it.

Facts are facts. Every line has warts.

Make sure that's noted.

Some killer restaurants on the Bergen waterfront.

Indeed. But in regard to the cruise you are asking about ---------------------------