I am hoping this is not inappropriate....

[RuthC]

FYI--HAL does not allow extra gratuities to be added to your daily dining checks. Cash is gratefully and graciously accepted.

:confused: I'm not sure what you mean by "dining check", since you aren't given a check to pay when you dine.

However, you can add to the daily Hotel Service Charge. Instead of paying the $12.5/$13.50 per person, per day that I believe the charge increased to, you can ask the Front Desk to increase that to any amount you like. The money will go into the same pool to be distributed to the cabin and dining stewards, as well as the behind the scenes people who share in it.

[RMLincoln]

Crystal is pretty all inclusive and we were comfortable with them. Bingo....gambling....high end stores.....shore excursions.is what you pay for once on board. Everything else is included.

I like to experience it all and not feel like.I am pulling out my coin purse and counting what is left. We like 1 to 2 cocktails at happy hour and a glass of wine with steak or Italian fare. Maybe a massage. What is a thermal suite???

Coffees and or espresso......all the specialties at least once. Internet now and then.

Shore excursions are important cause we know nothing about the stops in spain.

Laundry is a must at least 2 compressed and filled to capacity bags a week

We never buy photos....not our thing.

Azamara can be pretty close to all inclusive too.

Just about everyone watches their budget that answered my question. It really is up to us and not acting like fools. We don't at home so we just need to be on top of it on the ship.

And musn't forget the ģratuities.......sheesh!Overwhelming if I let it!

 

So there may be some things you can do to make it all a little less overwhelming...

When you book shore excursions ahead of sailing you pay for them ahead of sailing... so they won't be on your final bill;

There are beverage cards that can be purchase so you won't have to be concerned about the bill adding up. The beverage cards can be used for coffees and bottled water as well as wine and mixed drinks;

The spa costs will show up on the bill, I don't think you can pay for them ahead of time;

OBC can be purchased ahead of time, you can calculate the amount of the Hotel Service Charge... if you want to adjust it onboard you can do that.

 

Others may have some ideas to help you handle the different way of paying for your cruise. I think all totaled up your cruise experience will cost less than on Crystal and some planning will help you see that.

Enjoy, m--

[Tripper10]

:confused: I'm not sure what you mean by "dining check", since you aren't given a check to pay when you dine.

However, you can add to the daily Hotel Service Charge. Instead of paying the $12.5/$13.50 per person, per day that I believe the charge increased to, you can ask the Front Desk to increase that to any amount you like. The money will go into the same pool to be distributed to the cabin and dining stewards, as well as the behind the scenes people who share in it.

 

OR decrease the the daily charges to tip in cash as you see fit for that particular venue.

[Boytjie]

OR decrease the the daily charges to tip in cash as you see fit for that particular venue.

 

 

The "daily" Hotel Service Charge covers many people, from cabin stewards and dining room/Lido waiters to other behind-the-scenes workers so I don't know what you expect to accomplish with that plan.

 

And those cash tips will have to be turned into the pool because you did not leave the HSC in place.

 

So what are you exactly trying to accomplish?

[donaldsc]

OR decrease the the daily charges to tip in cash as you see fit for that particular venue.

 

Lets not get started on this issue especially as it has nothing to do w the question the OP asked.

 

DON

[Tripper10]

The "daily" Hotel Service Charge covers many people, from cabin stewards and dining room/Lido waiters to other behind-the-scenes workers so I don't know what you expect to accomplish with that plan.

 

And those cash tips will have to be turned into the pool because you did not leave the HSC in place.

 

So what are you exactly trying to accomplish?

 

I'm trying to accomplish that the information is explained correctly. You don't know any cash handed out gets turned in. I have been told otherwise by staff.

[Tripper10]

Lets not get started on this issue especially as it has nothing to do w the question the OP asked.

 

DON

 

Your post has nothing to do with my, or RuthC's post now does it, DON.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Tripper10

[kazu]

I'm trying to accomplish that the information is explained correctly. You don't know any cash handed out gets turned in. I have been told otherwise by staff.

 

Actually, if the HSC is not left in place the cash must be turned in/. Extra cash given in addition to the HSC is the recipient's to keep.

[Jade13]

Not much. Hotel charges and laundry on a two week cruise. But we always have OBC.

[catl331]

I would like to pick what I pay for and not pay for things I don't use. Maybe I don't want to do excursions, have expensive wine, use the spa and get free airfare (we drive to Ft Laud) , also when all the inclusions are added up it cost way more than what we pay for a HAL cruise. We have had good deals with HAL's separate airfare option....one way to Europe was much better than we could get ourselves. The airlines wanted just a few hundred less than round trip! So it is different for each cruiser...do you want to pay ahead or when you use it. Up to you.

[jtl513]

I'm trying to accomplish that the information is explained correctly. You don't know any cash handed out gets turned in. I have been told otherwise by staff.

Yet you are giving false information. Cash tips don't have to be turned in ONLY IF you have left the HSC intact. Page 22 of the "House Rules" (Crew Services Cabin Directory) states:

If a guest chooses to adjust out of the RfE Plan

and instead provide cash tips to an employee, the employee

is required to turn in this cash to their Department Head

so the money can be added to the RfE plan. Any “tips”

received above and beyond the guests standard amount

may be kept by the crewmember.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=347497&d=1429979168

 

If you have "been told otherwise by staff" either they misunderstood what you asked, or they lied.

[Tampa Girl]

OR decrease the the daily charges to tip in cash as you see fit for that particular venue.

 

Is that possible? And exactly how do you do that?

[shertj]

We just recently sailed on the Maasdam to the Mediterranean and returned to Fort Lauderdale. Wonderful trip. Our expenses weren't cheap. I found most items worth the money with the exception of shampoo, blow dry and manicure. I recommend you plan on doing your own hair and nails. Shore excursions averaged about $150 per person. There are so many variables it depends on what you want to do. Enjoy!

[lahlah57]

We just recently sailed on the Maasdam to the Mediterranean and returned to Fort Lauderdale. Wonderful trip. Our expenses weren't cheap. I found most items worth the money with the exception of shampoo, blow dry and manicure. I recommend you plan on doing your own hair and nails. Shore excursions averaged about $150 per person. There are so many variables it depends on what you want to do. Enjoy!

 

Thankyou....salon services $$ are ridiculous and a no go for me! My girl here at home is the last person I see before I board. :o

[Randyk47]

Comparing luxury all-inclusive lines to basically pay-as-you-go lines here is like trying to describe the world in seven sentences. Some aspects are relatively easy some are difficult. Where are you cruising? Luxury lines suffer pretty substantially in price comparisons for destinations like the Caribbean and Alaska where there is so much competition but do much better in relatively less competitive destinations like Europe and Asia. What is your cabin category of choice? Do you typically book an inside category or a higher level suite? Comparing say a Neptune Suite to a comparable suite on an all-inclusive line may not have the same "sticker shock" and can be actually quite close. Now comparing the lowest level HAL inside cabin to the typical all-inclusive lowest level ocean view cabin is probably going to be a substantial difference. I'd be remiss not to mention the one aspect that seems to garner the most attention and that's alcohol consumption. If you're at least a moderate drinker then included alcohol is probably a good deal. If you're a water and fresh juice drinker then you're probably paying way too much for an all-inclusive but then again the comparison list goes on and gets into intangibles like service, food, etc., etc.

[swin26]

In addition to the daily hotel charge, our bill for a ten day cruise usually includes about $300- $400 for alcohol and specialty drinks (if we don't have a complementary drink package); $70-$100 for unlimited laundry; and $100ish for the internet. We book independent tours at ports and pre-book and pre-pay for two or three specialty restaurants. Any additional tips, are extra.

[whogo]

On your recently past cruises once you disembarked what was your final bill and how many days was your cruise?

18 days, $690.

[kazu]

We usually have nice obc and always walk off with a bill. I know we are going to do Master Chef's Table, Cellar Master dinner, pay corkage, buy wine packages, play bingo (me),etc. It really is not hard to calculate what your bill will be and make choices about where to spend it. Our bill is rarely a surprise to me.

[RuthC]

Is that possible? And exactly how do you do that?

No, it isn't. Did you read the posts following the one you quoted before you posted?

[KirkNC]

I am really amazed how little some of you have stated (excluding OBC's as offsets). The auto-tip alone is $25/day (per couple), if you do any drinking (HH) that's going to be $15-20/day, specialty restaurants are $29 per couple (for 4*), just the little incidentals, specialty coffee, soft drink, bingo, internet $250 for 500 minutes, a bottle of wine, laundry (if not 4*) and the list goes on.....

 

I think the OP wants to get an idea what to budget, its great if you have OBC's to offset the charges but I don't think that is what the OP is asking about.

Edited January 25, 2016 by KirkNC

[Tripper10]

Is that possible? And exactly how do you do that?

 

Just go the service desk and explain to them what you are trying to do. They will take care of it. Sometimes people on these boards push their agenda to follow the "suggested procedures" but you have options. Just do what's best and you feel comfortable with for you and your family.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Tripper10

[kazu]

I am really amazed how little some of you have stated (excluding OBC's as offsets). The auto-tip alone is $25/day (per couple), if you do any drinking (HH) that's going to be $15-20/day, specialty restaurants are $29 per couple (for 4*), just the little incidentals, specialty coffee, soft drink, bingo, internet $250 for 500 minutes, a bottle of wine, laundry (if not 4*) and the list goes on.....

 

 

 

I think the OP wants to get an idea what to budget, its great if you have OBC's to offset the charges but I don't think that is what the OP is asking about.

 

 

 

The problem is Kirk, that what I spend $ on during a cruise may not be what the OP chooses to spend $ on. I honestly think that the best thing for anyone to do is to list what they want to do/spend money on and then they can calculate and amend.

 

 

 

 

 

Just go the service desk and explain to them what you are trying to do. They will take care of it.

 

 

 

How to stiff the staff 101? There is a thread to discuss tipping and I suggest that this type of discussion be taken there rather than derail the thread. This should not be a means of cutting costs IMO.

Edited January 25, 2016 by kazu

[Tripper10]

The problem is Kirk, that what I spend $ on during a cruise may not be what the OP chooses to spend $ on. I honestly think that the best thing for anyone to do is to list what they want to do/spend money on and then they can calculate and amend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to stiff the staff 101? There is a thread to discuss tipping and I suggest that this type of discussion be taken there rather than derail the thread. This should not be a means of cutting costs IMO.

 

Other members brought up the tipping if you read the thread. I'm just making sure all the information is known. I never suggested stiffing the staff. It's probably not a good idea that you brought up stiffing the staff unless you want it to happen more often IMO.

[RMLincoln]

So there may be some things you can do to make it all a little less overwhelming...

When you book shore excursions ahead of sailing you pay for them ahead of sailing... so they won't be on your final bill;

There are beverage cards that can be purchase so you won't have to be concerned about the bill adding up. The beverage cards can be used for coffees and bottled water as well as wine and mixed drinks;

The spa costs will show up on the bill, I don't think you can pay for them ahead of time;

OBC can be purchased ahead of time, you can calculate the amount of the Hotel Service Charge... if you want to adjust it onboard you can do that.

 

Others may have some ideas to help you handle the different way of paying for your cruise. I think all totaled up your cruise experience will cost less than on Crystal and some planning will help you see that.

Enjoy, m--

 

So are there any other ways we can think of to help the OP to consider pre-paying prior to their HAL cruise to make it more like what they pre-pay in their more-inclusive fare on Crystal?

 

Laundry - can arrange for unlimited laundry at $7/day per cabin... can this be pre-paid and pre-arranged?

Beverage packages? alcoholic and non-alcoholic... I am not familiar with these as we are among the very light drinkers...

Specialty Restaurants? If you make pre-cruise reservations do you pre-pay them?

Pre-purchased OBC to cover Hotel Service Charge and other expected items... bingo? casino? spa?

 

Other ideas? m--

[jtl513]

I never suggested stiffing the staff.

That's exactly what you did when you said:

 

OR decrease the the daily charges to tip in cash as you see fit for that particular venue.

 

EVERYONE will in the end receive less money than if you had left the HSC intact, including those that you give cash to who can not keep it. Ergo, you've stiffed crew.

.

Edited January 25, 2016 by jtl513