Gratuities

[afzeluches123]

In the first times we cruised RC we paid gratuities at the end ot the trip through envelopes given to us on the 6th day (or so), and we gave the tip by hand to the room attendant, head waiter, waiter and helper.

2 years ago we prepaid the gratuities, and still got the envelopes and felt awkward and weird to tell everyone we prepaid and that's why they're not getting anything with the envelope we got.

This coming cruise we booked through a TA and didn't prepay. Now I read in the RC tips that if we didn't prepay the tip will be deducted automatically from our on-board account.

So what's the difference? Its as if we pre-paid, right?

Anyway we don't have to give anything by hand to the pepole we're supposed to tip (unless they extremely worth it).

Do they still give you envelopes?

[Clarea]

In the first times we cruised RC we paid gratuities at the end ot the trip through envelopes given to us on the 6th day (or so), and we gave the tip by hand to the room attendant, head waiter, waiter and helper.

2 years ago we prepaid the gratuities, and still got the envelopes and felt awkward and weird to tell everyone we prepaid and that's why they're not getting anything with the envelope we got.

This coming cruise we booked through a TA and didn't prepay. Now I read in the RC tips that if we didn't prepay the tip will be deducted automatically from our on-board account.

So what's the difference? Its as if we pre-paid, right?

Anyway we don't have to give anything by hand to the pepole we're supposed to tip (unless they extremely worth it).

Do they still give you envelopes?

Yes, you still get envelopes.

 

One difference between pre-paying and the current automatic process is that you cannot remove prepaid gratutiies. With the automatic gratuities, you can remove or modify them by visiting Guest Services.

Edited February 23, 2014 by clarea

[Folk Singer]

In the first times we cruised RC we paid gratuities at the end ot the trip through envelopes given to us on the 6th day (or so), and we gave the tip by hand to the room attendant, head waiter, waiter and helper.

2 years ago we prepaid the gratuities, and still got the envelopes and felt awkward and weird to tell everyone we prepaid and that's why they're not getting anything with the envelope we got.

This coming cruise we booked through a TA and didn't prepay. Now I read in the RC tips that if we didn't prepay the tip will be deducted automatically from our on-board account.

So what's the difference? Its as if we pre-paid, right?

Anyway we don't have to give anything by hand to the pepole we're supposed to tip (unless they extremely worth it).

Do they still give you envelopes?

 

you still get the envelopes, so you can reward those who gave you extra service.

[Ocean Boy]

Also with the current system if you have any OBC it can be used toward gratuities where as when you pre-pay the OBC cannot be used.

[leaveitallbehind]

In the first times we cruised RC we paid gratuities at the end ot the trip through envelopes given to us on the 6th day (or so), and we gave the tip by hand to the room attendant, head waiter, waiter and helper.

2 years ago we prepaid the gratuities, and still got the envelopes and felt awkward and weird to tell everyone we prepaid and that's why they're not getting anything with the envelope we got.

This coming cruise we booked through a TA and didn't prepay. Now I read in the RC tips that if we didn't prepay the tip will be deducted automatically from our on-board account.

So what's the difference? Its as if we pre-paid, right?

Anyway we don't have to give anything by hand to the pepole we're supposed to tip (unless they extremely worth it).

Do they still give you envelopes?

 

The RCI gratuity policies in place, which were effective 3/13, are that with My Time Dining, gratuities are prepaid at the time MTD is selected. Otherwise, gratuities are charged automatically each day to your SeaPass account.

 

You can add additional gratuities if desired at the end of the cruise as previously by way of the standard envelopes that will be provided by your stateroom attendant or available at Guest Services.

 

If not dining with MTD, you can opt out of the daily charge method by speaking with Guest Services on board, but they will likely ask to be sure that it is not for any service related issues.

 

The service staff understands these policies and recognizes that the gratuities are being paid.

[afzeluches123]

Thanks all for clearifying this.

:D

[Scotty G]

You can add additional gratuities if desired at the end of the cruise as previously by way of the standard envelopes that will be provided by your stateroom attendant or available at Guest Services.

Actually they are not the old standard envelopes. They are WOW envelopes intended for Staff members who have provided service that was above and beyond.

Some cabin attendants, according to posts here, have been writing in their own information on an envelope and leaving it in the cabin with the other blank ones. I would ignore that envelope.

[Ocean Boy]

Actually they are not the old standard envelopes. They are WOW envelopes intended for Staff members who have provided service that was above and beyond.

Some cabin attendants, according to posts here, have been writing in their own information on an envelope and leaving it in the cabin with the other blank ones. I would ignore that envelope.

 

They were the old standard envelopes on every cruise we have taken since the new method was put in place.

[leaveitallbehind]

Actually they are not the old standard envelopes. They are WOW envelopes intended for Staff members who have provided service that was above and beyond.

Some cabin attendants, according to posts here, have been writing in their own information on an envelope and leaving it in the cabin with the other blank ones. I would ignore that envelope.

 

Our experience has been that they were the standard envelopes on the two ships we've been on since last March when the automatically charged gratuities to the SeaPass account went into effect. We also received separate blank "wow" cards which we filled out.

 

The "wow" cards are not related to any extra gratuities you may decide to include to the stateroom attendants and wait staff. They are intended to identify high level individual service that is then recognized internally by senior ship staff.

Edited February 23, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[DonnaK]

Really, if you kept the autotips in place on your onboard account, then you are not obligated to tip more. If we are not going to use the envelopes, we just discard them discreetly. There isn't awkwardness.

[Scotty G]

Our experience has been that they were the standard envelopes on the two ships we've been on since last March when the automatically charged gratuities to the SeaPass account went into effect. We also received separate blank "wow" cards which we filled out.

 

The "wow" cards are not related to any extra gratuities you may decide to include to the stateroom attendants and wait staff. They are intended to identify high level individual service that is then recognized internally by senior ship staff.

 

As in all cases standards within RCI differ across the fleet.

 

We did receive WOW envelopes on several cruises in the last few months (Enchantment, Freedom, Brilliance) and not the old standard gratuity ones.

 

I am familiar with the WOW card program and was not referring to the WOW cards!!! We did use those last cruise for two very deserving staff members :)

[nelblu]

No envelopes on the Allure. We got the WOW envelopes for extra tipping and others who are not part of the program, eg. D lounge bartender.

[leaveitallbehind]

As in all cases standards within RCI differ across the fleet.

 

We did receive WOW envelopes on several cruises in the last few months (Enchantment, Freedom, Brilliance) and not the old standard gratuity ones.

 

I am familiar with the WOW card program and was not referring to the WOW cards!!! We did use those last cruise for two very deserving staff members :)

 

Thanks for the clarification! We have not experienced the WOW envelopes so was confused by the reference to them, obviously thinking in terms of the cards. Hard to keep the varying programs that exist ship to ship. :confused:

 

We'll be on the lookout for them next week on Independence as that was one of the ships I was referring to as having the "old" envelopes last March.

Edited February 23, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[cruisenfever]

On our cruises last year on Enchantment in March/April and Vision in June we received just the WOW envelopes.