FamilyCruising003 Posted July 14, 2014 #1 Share Posted July 14, 2014 On Oasis, if we choose anytime dining, we are being told we need to prepay gratuities. If we are unhappy with the service, can we be refunded our money? Who refunds our money - the travel agent or Royal Caribbean? Will we get refunded on our credit card or through some sort of credit? Anyone try to dispute this? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted July 14, 2014 #2 Share Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) If you have issues with the service in the dining room you need to raise that at the time with the Head Waiter so that it can be put right. I've not read here of anyone being refunded their pre-pay gratuities when dining anytime. Do not expect to get any sort of refund if you don't raise it then and there. Sounds like you don't want to pay them at all. JMO. Edited July 14, 2014 by NorbertsNiece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negc Posted July 14, 2014 #3 Share Posted July 14, 2014 On Oasis, if we choose anytime dining, we are being told we need to prepay gratuities. If we are unhappy with the service, can we be refunded our money? Who refunds our money - the travel agent or Royal Caribbean? Will we get refunded on our credit card or through some sort of credit? Anyone try to dispute this? Thanks. No sure why you seem convinced that the service you receive in the dining room or in your stateroom will be so bad as to require that you get a refund. In our experience the service from all RCI staff is superior but on the off chance that you do have a problem, a complaint to a supervisor (head waiter or your room steward' superior should correct the situation. Unless you are simply looking for an excuse to avoid paying the gratuities, you shouldn't notice any difference in the quality of service you receive when you pay in advance, and for many, it is simply more convenient to pay up front rather than at the conclusion of your cruise. In our experience the service has been so good that an additional gratuity at the end of the cruise was often called for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted July 14, 2014 #4 Share Posted July 14, 2014 On Oasis, if we choose anytime dining, we are being told we need to prepay gratuities. If we are unhappy with the service, can we be refunded our money? Who refunds our money - the travel agent or Royal Caribbean? Will we get refunded on our credit card or through some sort of credit? Anyone try to dispute this? Thanks. you need to go to the Head waiter and address the service IMMEDIATELY, not let it go on the entire cruise then demand a refund of the gratuities.. also keep in mind that with ATD you can get a different waitstaff every night. if you do and it's not resolved, you go to Guest services. everything is refunded back to the original payment form used. I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of (legitimate) complaints heard on this board that warranted a removal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adayatatime Posted July 14, 2014 #5 Share Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) I can only state my experience of sailing from UK - gratuities can be removed if you are not happy with the service. I personally didn't remove them, but I was of the opinion that these could be removed at any point during the cruise if I was unhappy, which was the only reason I was happy to pay in advance. Edited July 14, 2014 by Adayatatime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setsail Posted July 14, 2014 #6 Share Posted July 14, 2014 On Oasis, if we choose anytime dining, we are being told we need to prepay gratuities. If we are unhappy with the service, can we be refunded our money? Who refunds our money - the travel agent or Royal Caribbean? Will we get refunded on our credit card or through some sort of credit? Anyone try to dispute this? Thanks. Already, before cruising, you think you will have bad service. How do you know, your cruise has not happened yet? Why not go with a positive attitude? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evitacruiser Posted July 14, 2014 #7 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I thought once they had been pre paid that was it. I know you can have the daily charges removed but if you pre pay to do ATD that is not the case as far as I am aware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthmerlin67 Posted July 14, 2014 #8 Share Posted July 14, 2014 No sure why you seem convinced that the service you receive in the dining room or in your stateroom will be so bad as to require that you get a refund. In our experience the service from all RCI staff is superior but on the off chance that you do have a problem, a complaint to a supervisor (head waiter or your room steward' superior should correct the situation. Unless you are simply looking for an excuse to avoid paying the gratuities, you shouldn't notice any difference in the quality of service you receive when you pay in advance, and for many, it is simply more convenient to pay up front rather than at the conclusion of your cruise. In our experience the service has been so good that an additional gratuity at the end of the cruise was often called for. Absolutely agree totally with this statement. We had no problems whatsoever on our recent cruise. The only thing we did pick up on was a bulb was occasionally flashing on and off in the washroom. WE mentioned it to our cabin steward, and he jumped on it there and then. By the time we got back from breakfast it was fixed. One other point to note, if you do not want to pay the gratuities (which I think were well deserved), why don't you just go into the buffet restaurant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adayatatime Posted July 14, 2014 #9 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Absolutely agree totally with this statement. We had no problems whatsoever on our recent cruise. The only thing we did pick up on was a bulb was occasionally flashing on and off in the washroom. WE mentioned it to our cabin steward, and he jumped on it there and then. By the time we got back from breakfast it was fixed. One other point to note, if you do not want to pay the gratuities (which I think were well deserved), why don't you just go into the buffet restaurant? Or set dining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adayatatime Posted July 14, 2014 #10 Share Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) I thought once they had been pre paid that was it. I know you can have the daily charges removed but if you pre pay to do ATD that is not the case as far as I am aware. They are still classed as gratuities (gifts) and I believe they can be removed daily. I think that would give the OP peace of mind, doesn't mean he will remove them. Edited July 14, 2014 by Adayatatime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srlafleur Posted July 14, 2014 #11 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I have never had service bad enough to warrant having gratuities removed or otherwise adjusted, from anyone on any cruise line. Wouldn't even think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negc Posted July 14, 2014 #12 Share Posted July 14, 2014 you need to go to the Head waiter and address the service IMMEDIATELY, not let it go on the entire cruise then demand a refund of the gratuities.. also keep in mind that with ATD you can get a different waitstaff every night. if you do and it's not resolved, you go to Guest services. everything is refunded back to the original payment form used. I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of (legitimate) complaints heard on this board that warranted a removal It should also be noted that if you find an exceptionally good team of servers in MTD, you can request having them for the remainder of your cruise and the dining room staff will do their best to accommodate you. That is much more likely than getting inferior service for the duration of your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowers44 Posted July 14, 2014 #13 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Everyone talks about bad service in the Dining Room and the gratuities. That gratuity that you pay up front, goes to all of the workers that have contact with you on the ship. It gets divided between many people. It is not just for the waiters. So, when you remove it or don't pay it, that effects many other people who may be doing a great job for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted July 14, 2014 #14 Share Posted July 14, 2014 They are still classed as gratuities (gifts) and I believe they can be removed daily. I think that would give the OP peace of mind, doesn't mean he will remove them. Nope. MTD gratuities are paid up front pre-cruise so cannot be refunded so easily as they have already been charged. He cannot remove them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evitacruiser Posted July 14, 2014 #15 Share Posted July 14, 2014 They are still classed as gratuities (gifts) and I believe they can be removed daily. I think that would give the OP peace of mind, doesn't mean he will remove them. I don't believe that is the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted July 14, 2014 #16 Share Posted July 14, 2014 On Oasis, if we choose anytime dining, we are being told we need to prepay gratuities. If we are unhappy with the service, can we be refunded our money? Who refunds our money - the travel agent or Royal Caribbean? Will we get refunded on our credit card or through some sort of credit? Anyone try to dispute this? Thanks. Just leave your name and address on this board and everyone who feels sorry for you will send you a few bucks.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepeka Posted July 14, 2014 #17 Share Posted July 14, 2014 you need to go to the Head waiter and address the service IMMEDIATELY, not let it go on the entire cruise then demand a refund of the gratuities.. also keep in mind that with ATD you can get a different waitstaff every night. if you do and it's not resolved, you go to Guest services. everything is refunded back to the original payment form used. I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of (legitimate) complaints heard on this board that warranted a removal I believe this is the best answer to the OP's question. The MTD gratuities which are paid at final payment can be adjusted or completely refunded by visiting Guest Services prior to debarkation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted July 14, 2014 #18 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I believe this is the best answer to the OP's question. The MTD gratuities which are paid at final payment can be adjusted or completely refunded by visiting Guest Services prior to debarkation. No. They can't stay in My Time with Gratuities removed. If they change to timed seating that's another story altogether. The whole premise of MTD is that gratuities are pre-paid. And they cover room steward as well as dining staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepeka Posted July 14, 2014 #19 Share Posted July 14, 2014 No. They can't stay in My Time with Gratuities removed. If they change to timed seating that's another story altogether. The whole premise of MTD is that gratuities are pre-paid. And they cover room steward as well as dining staff. Maybe with UK sailings that is true, I don't know. But this Q&A from RCI indicates otherwise: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqType=faq&faqSubjectId=415&faqSubjectName=Gratuities&faqId=5563 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted July 14, 2014 #20 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Maybe with UK sailings that is true, I don't know. But this Q&A from RCI indicates otherwise: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqType=faq&faqSubjectId=415&faqSubjectName=Gratuities&faqId=5563 Ah..... I see where the confusion lies..... you're going from the website.... which is talking about the automatic gratuities as well as those that are optionally pre-paid..... no mention there of MTD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepeka Posted July 14, 2014 #21 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Ah..... I see where the confusion lies..... you're going from the website.... which is talking about the automatic gratuities as well as those that are optionally pre-paid..... no mention there of MTD. There are many references to removing or adjusting gratuities and there is no discrimination between those applying to MTD and the normal pre-paid or auto gratuities. Likewise, the cruise contract mentions nothing about MTD gratuities being totally non-refundable or non-adjustable, only that they are required to be paid in advance. Oh and I understand about trusting information on the RCI web site.... many here over the years have mentioned terribly out of date info still posted. Regardless, if I am totally wrong on this, my apologies. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adayatatime Posted July 14, 2014 #22 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Nope.MTD gratuities are paid up front pre-cruise so cannot be refunded so easily as they have already been charged. He cannot remove them. I didn't remove them so I didn't experience it, but we were told: If you are not happy with your service you can get your gratuities removed, daily, by guest services. Is that not the case then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deptacon Posted July 14, 2014 #23 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Here is a thought everyone...answer the OP's question or don't respond. So many responses "why would you ever" or "I have NEVER thought that warranted" etc etc.... the OP asked a question...if you don't want to answer....don't post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted July 14, 2014 #24 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I didn't remove them so I didn't experience it, but we were told: If you are not happy with your service you can get your gratuities removed, daily, by guest services. Is that not the case then? It certainly is the case that you can remove gratuities when you do not have My Time Dining and have not prepaid gratuities. However, it was my understanding that if gratuities are prepaid, or you transition from traditional to My Time Dining during the cruise, then gratuities cannot be removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adayatatime Posted July 14, 2014 #25 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Here is a thought everyone...answer the OP's question or don't respond. So many responses "why would you ever" or "I have NEVER thought that warranted" etc etc.... the OP asked a question...if you don't want to answer....don't post. I agree with that, because if we take out all the opinion, it still appears we are confused about the facts. I am anyway. :confused: I can't see how, if we call something a gratuity, it can't be removed. Really not being difficult, I just can't see how that can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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