cruisegal1970

3 hours ago, arealcheapskate said:

 

I always find these threads so amusing because they always devolve into some sort of lecture on ethics and morals. I'll be the first to say if not tipping makes me unethical or some sort of pariah, I'm happy to wear that label. After all, my username checks out. 

Totally agree.

Celebrity stealth price rises like removing gratuity from All Included, adding 20% to Specialty dining (now paying double), moving our favourite drinks from classic to premium..... just to name a few. 

WE will be cancelling all Gratuities at Guest Relations on all future cruises to balance the books.

Not interested in the moral high ground spurted by the many..... who probably do the same.

Which restaurants are open for LUNCH on sea days on Celebrity Equinox.

Celebrity's approach to safety is a joke, just lip-service.

22 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

I really only find that to be true if you sail the Caribbean, which is a no go for us , better to go a resort if you just want to go to a beach 

Try Mykonos with 7 ships, it's getting ridiculous...........the Med is worse than the Caribbean

45 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

......can either have free access to the ship until general boarding OR go ashore like at all other ports but again can not come back aboard until general boarding begins around 11:30.

 

That is now NOT allowed.

You get one chance to go ashore, that is before 9.00am, after that you cann't go ashore.

4 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

But you cannot remove only the dining staff gratuities and leave the housekeeping gratuities unchanged.  

Celebrity says "AJUST......" -  there is nothing wrong in me adjusting our gratuities from $18/pp/day  to say $10pp/day.

We have just booked Specialty Dinning package for the full cruise as it's our anniversary.  We have paid 20% gratuity on the package and I believe we are now expected to paid $36 per day additional gratuities, much of which goes to the dinning staff of the main restaurant that we won't use. 

Can we cancel these extra tips and reward those that do actually serve us?

Thanks for your opinions.  The cost for AL more than doubles the cruise fare. Water is free I assume and I always take coffee sachets anyway. I will be ashore more than aboard so basically could be paying twice for drinks.  My research suggests that WiFi aboard leave much to be desired so will contact home when ashore for free.

Gratuities will be my only cost plus a few drinks here and there, so thanks for all comments. NO PERKS is definitely the way for me to go.

As new to cruising what do most people choose.

Is it better to go All Included and pay as you go ?