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I'm not sure why anyone would expect anything more either. I didn't say anything to indicate I did. The point is tips are for service provided. If a job has evolved such that the position holder provides less service and value to a customer then the tip should be smaller.

I'll give you my take on room stewards, but I warn you it is not a popular one. Twenty years ago the room steward did what butlers in the haven areas do now plus more. There was no once or twice a day service, they were always checking on rooms to see that everything was in order or anything needed while guests were out (which they kept up with). They introduced themselves and told you to let them know if you needed anything or had any requests and they meant it and could do it. They had far fewer cabins to cover but were always to be found somewhere in the hallway. They gave true personalized service. It was expected passengers would tip them well as they earned it with excellent personal service. Over time the role evolved and post-covid often they provide no service beyond what housekeeping does at a Holiday Inn. When we cruise Carnival the "stateroom attendant," as they call them, almost always introduces themselves on the first day at which point we ask for bath robes and daily ice. In addition to the prepaid gratuities we leave them a cash tip the last day. The more personal service, and some have been quite helpful, the more cash tip. Our experience on NCL has been that it is more common to never see the room steward. We have to call housekeeping to get bathrobes and request daily ice. No personal service no cash tip. Cleaning the room is the bare minimum of their job. If that is all they do then what have they done to be worthy of a show of extra appreciation above the prepaid gratuity? In that case we don't add a cash tip.

Count me as one of those "cheap" guys. I see no need to pay for self-esteem. I'm perfectly comfortable with myself. When they put a 20% service charge on anything and everything why would one feel the need to tip more? Anticipating folks will claim the bartenders are getting shorted I will point out that we paid a $305 service charge on our free drinks package on our last 7 day cruise. We average 6 drinks a day each, or 84 drinks for the two of us for the week. Assuming drinks are $15 each (a bit higher than my bourbon and coke runs) then we are paying 24% in tips. Is there any reason to tip more than 24%?

I'm really enjoying your review. It is nice to see things from a family perspective. Thanks for taking us along.

I'm guessing you don't have a dirty mind...

We recently went on our first NCL cruise on the Breakaway out of New Orleans. The first day I noticed I had not once heard the F word so I started to pay attention. I first heard it on the 5th day in the late evening. One teen aged girl chating up a couple of older guys used it three times, I assume to signal them they had a chance. But those were the only three times in the seven day cruise. I figure that was pure luck. The average American no longer has the mental development to express their thoughts without use of vulgarity. (And, as St. George Carlin would say, and about half are stupider than that.) On the Glory out of New Orleans I hear it three times each from three different people before lunch each day, except on two week Journeys cruises.

See Greg? The extra isn't just in New Orleans... 😇

Naw! Nothing extra about it. That is just they way they are ever since Nick Sabin moved there...

Greg, I followed your Jubilee review and now this one. I get the impression that Jubilee is all about standing in line waiting but not so much on Spirit. Is that the case? Thanks.

You have my sympathy...

But is that "meaning" or "purpose?"

General rule: small amounts are taxes, big amounts are gratuities. 😁

I've been in their jail. Does that count? I love running into random deep philosophical discussions. What's the meaning of life? What's the meaning of "been to." Finding answers to these timeless questions is man's highest purpose. 😇

Sleep well Saint Greg... spirits await.

We're new to NCL and in looking at their rewards program I noticed one of the benefits starting at bronze is "Keycard Recognition." Search as I might, I could not find anything about it. We just took our first NCL cruise and our room door recognized our keycard without this benefit, so what is this benefit? Please save me from the pit of ignorance.

We've been on lots of Carnival cruises and have never seen this happen. If you are in a suite or diamond or platinum it won't make any difference, but if not I agree with you that matters. Sorry that I have no idea how or if it can be fixed.

So, with HelloItsMeB and others along, I guess no pineapple shirt or LGBT meets this cruise?

Well, looking at the profile picture I figure he is posing with his daughter since she looks to be about 30. But he looks to be about 60... 😇

Have you seen theirs? ...<$30 Billion>... they need that $300

Vacations are all about making memories...

Did you have a good time? Were you wearing your pineapple shirt?

I have a few ideas on how she can assist you...

Thanks for the warning!

???? What are you tugging on? And why?

My reply seems to have hit a snag and has to be approved, I assume because it contained a link. So I'll do it without a link and simply post the pic the link would have sent you to. Don't know for sure about Freedom but it is a Conquest class ship as is the Glory. On the Glory cabin 7220 has the head of the bed to the rear of the ship. See the pic If you look at the deck plans for the Freedom and the Glory you will see they are the same. Both have an oversized cabin 7228 just aft of 7220. Chances are the cabin plans are the same. In all Conquest class balcony rooms the bathroom is on the same side as the head of the bed. They wouldn't redesign the plumbing systems for different ships of the same class.