luvsunnydayz

Agree with Cigar King.

 

Automatic gratuity is in place to ensure that ALL staff receive their fair share. If you feel like the service was not up to par, you can adjust the amount before you leave the ship.

 

But by cancelling it all together and just tipping manually where you see fit is going to exclude a lot of people that are working hard behind the scenes to serve you. Think cooks, dishwashers, cleaners, laundry workers, etc, etc. ).

I'm sorry but the positions that you have listed above are not tipped positions. They do not receive a cut of the prepaid tips, period.

Well, some of us don't get so jaded I guess. I still enjoy camping and youth hostels (nicer ones, I did not want to backpack across Europe and stay in the really bad ones even at 22). I cruise in little interior rooms up to (once) an Owner's suite and on bigger ships and little ones, and enjoy the variety.

 

I guess, from my 40 year old perspective, I would assume this young man, and others who are lucky enough to grow up getting to cruise a lot, will either continue to enjoy cruising on RCI, or he'll try some new and different vacations (maybe he has never camped and that will be as novel and new to him as cruising was one to you), or he'll move up to nicer cruise lines or nicer cabins, or he'll cruise to different ports, etc.

My word, there is no end to the amazing opportunities to travel that this world offers. I simply cannot imagine running out of things to look forward to in that respect.

I couldn't agree with you more!!!

Our first ever cruise was on the beautiful Mariner of the Seas and half of the ship had been chartered to Hogs on the High Seas. It was the WORST experience of my life. While I'm sure there are many very nice 'hogs' we got bullied and abused for a full 7 days for being gay. I can't tell you the names we were called at least once every hour if we were out and about. All from the hogs cliques. Neither of us 'looks' gay nor are camp or effeminate. I used to think - how do they know ???? We also had an incident where I went to the pool bar and 4 hogs started shouting at the bar staff to wash the glasses well so they don't catch fag disease !! There was another incident where my partner got in the solarium pool and all but one person got out. We ended up staying in our cabin nearly 24/7 for the last 3 days. We even ate room service rather than Windjammer or MDR. While disembarking and chatting to people in line we did find out a small contingent of hogs had decided to use us for 'fun' that week and due to the 'pack mentality' others followed and after a couple of days a decent sized group were looking out for us to 'make good sport'. Thankfully when we got back onboard (as it was B2B) we had an amazing, fantastic 2nd week.

Oh my goodness! That is such a horrible experience. I am so sorry that you and your partner had to endure this. I am glad that you were able to enjoy the second half of your cruise.

Enjoying your blog. We will be sailing on the Allure on June 16th. Please leave some Piña Coladas for us!

So will we!!!! We can't wait!. June 16th can't get here soon enough!

its nice having all the correct up to date info on OB in one thread. :)

Agreed!!!!

Thank you, OP!

This is great! Thank you for taking the time and doing this!:)

Awesome start!!!! I can't wait to read more!!!!