seanquirke

Hi all, I have a Baltics cruise booked for May 24 and have considered a drinks package. Having only cruised with Celebrity once before and taking advantage of the Drinks package which came to £500 or $625 US for both myself and my Partner on a 7 day cruise. albeit in 2015. I was shocked to see that even with a 20% discount that is offered at the moment, that same package would now cost £1790 or $2246 for a 13 day cruise. I am considering just paying as we go so to speak, but checking prices. If we both had just 1 Martini a night with no other drinks, coffees or bottled water the final bill would be $460 including the 18% gratuity. If the $15 price tag is correct. Even if I reduce that to $13 the bill would be $398. Surely this can't be right ? Or do you think it may be a way of encouraging all to purchase the drinks packages. Neither of us are big drinkers but we would like to have a coffee, some bottled water and evening drinks even if this was kept to 6-8 drinks a day across the board we would run the risk of ending up with a drinks bill of $3000. It just seems crazy to me. Or do I need to consider that I just can't afford to cruise on Celebrity which it seems could well be the case. Thanks Sean

To be honest I do try and book cruises that have tips included and I am happy to do this. I really don't want the staff to suffer via loss of earnings. But as I've already mentioned we most likely will never agree. I stand my ground and say. We should be paying a fare days pay for a fare days work. FYI I have never said I remove the Tips. What I said was, I don't understand why I would be bad if I do, but the Corporation's are all Good for not paying their staff a real wage.

Hi all, We will never agree on this subject. For me I don't agree that any company let alone a multi billion pound corporation has the right to ask me to pay Staff appreciation to help top up their wages. Why oh why do we even consider that this is acceptable behaviour. Why am I made to feel or even be told on this site that I am a bad person if I pay $6000 for a cruise in a basic balcony cabin and remove any staff appreciation. Why is that blame not clearly sent packing in the direction of the Corporation who employed these staff. We all know they work hard. Well guess what. So do I in fact I have worked hard my whole life. A 12 hour day is nothing abnormal to me and never has been. I apply for the job and work hard at being recognised as someone they can not do without. I hit my targets and beyond and then I ask for a pay rise. Its always perplexed me as to why we allow this to happen and why the USA allows fat cat corporations to get away with paying cents. Rather than the going rate with the opportunity to progress within the company. I assume the later does indeed present itself but you guys need to stop blaming the likes of me for removing this and yet say not a single word to the likes of Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Don't even get me going on the 18-20% gratuity added to each drink. What on this planet is that about. $10-15 for 1 glass of wine poured from a bottle I can buy in my own super market for $8 and then I'm given no choice but to pay a gratuity. Before I go. When I am in the US I get on the HOHO bus to discover this great new city I find myself in. There's never any earphones. But there is a guide who has self taught themselves everything about the route we are taking. This person constantly reminds me that they don't get paid by the bus company and proceeds to get off at every stop again reminding me that he gets no wages from the bus company that have invested in jack points and software that will deliver in detail and 6 different languages, everything I need to know. and they & the driver will share these very much appreciated tips. So yes I tip because I'm British and feel embarrassed to walk past and ignore. Do I want to. NO. The same journey happens in Europe. The earphones are worn by all including our US friends and to date I have never witnessed one single person tipping that driver. If I want to chat to my wife and enjoy the view in peace I take off my earphones We pay our fair we Hop on & Off as instructed and we are happy. The driver gets paid the going rate and they too are happy. That I am aware of. Not one single hotel in the whole of Europe asks that we pay a staff appreciation. certainly not one I have stayed at in my 60 years. Thanks