Gratuities to be included in RCI fares

[DianeandMark]

We are very pleased at this decision & had wondered just how long before this was introduced. It will actually make no difference for us, but we are happy for the crew who will now have some certainty.

 

Tipping is not part of our culture (Aus & NZ), and so it was not unexpected to have issues with this, with 'US ships' operating downunder. Prior to our 1st cruise the TA advised us of the tipping 'etiquette' for RC ships ie pre-pay or pay in cash on-board. We elected to pre-pay, and have done so on all 11 RC cruises. We also pay extra to those who made our cruise special.

 

It was disappointing to us that people, within their rights, removed or did not tip. Even worse were the people on social media encouraging others not to tip. Add in the TA's who went out of their way to tell people that they didn't 'need' to tip.

 

Anyway, all gone now.

 

In terms of what we will see re 'total' cruise pricing, I expect it will be difficult to actually see what impact the 'included' T&G's will have as pricing is very fluid, and it will likely not be that obvious. In any case we will continue to cruise with RC and likely pay extra cash tips to those who we consider deserve them.

Ironically we booked a cruise on Explorer for 2018 whilst on-board Legend OTS 2 weeks ago, and pre-paid our T&G's :)

 

 

Weagree

 

 

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[DianeandMark]

Ok I'll try again. I agree wholeheartedly with your comments mr walker and will be happy to see the end of gratuity topics on various forums.

 

We have elected to prepay our gratuities on our cruise on Solstice in March and am happy to do so but I will be ringing and getting clarification from our TA before final payment.

 

We are more than happy to leave the gratuities in place, as long as those who decided not to prepay still have them added to their cruise account. I can't see how it will work going forward if those who book after a certain date do not need to pay any gratuities.

 

If it turns out that I will be paying but half the ship won't then I will remove the gratuities for the first time and pay them to staff around the ship.

 

 

 

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[GUT2407]

I agree, except that not all those people are sorting out the gratuities, many are paying their account (cash) or sorting out discrepancies with the account (dining or drinks, etc).

 

Never understood why some assume that everyone at the Purser's desk is removing gratuities, but it seems a common assumption.

[Beanb41]

There is no consistent pricing structure within RCCL and Celebrity anyway. When I log in NZ I get pricing in NZ dollars. If I use the UK site I get UK pounds and Australia Aussie dollars. If one has been on the Aussie / NZ boards for any length of time one would see how disgruntled we are down under about the cost plus regime to appease the US customers. Celebrity monitor these forums will have taken our comments on board and also the feedback received on board from Guest relations.It will be interesting to see if one booked a down under cruise from the USA if it was all inclusive. If the base price doesn't go up or goes up marginally then I think we are on to a winner. The losers are those who go and remove the auto grats once they get on board because they no longer have that option from next week. I am just going to have to live with OBC and a drinks package future cruises as I cant have free gratuities, but I am sure I will manage

[mrs and mrs]

Statement 1 / Just wonders why people feel the need to explain what they do with their personal finances (I/e grats):confused:

 

Statement 2 / one of the waiters let slip, just how much they make a year, without tips. (there's some good action happening there, yes they work hard, yes they work long hrs, Haven't we all at some stages of our lives.:)

 

Statement 3 / Amazing how one of the waiters, was in the process of buying his 3rd house back home, now I don't begrudge him one little bit.:)

 

Statement 4 / Why are crew so happy to be working on Aus cruises during our summer, never been answered, and I've asked it several times on the main boards.:)

[Beanb41]

Statement 1 / Just wonders why people feel the need to explain what they do with their personal finances (I/e grats):confused:

 

Statement 2 / one of the waiters let slip, just how much they make a year, without tips. (there's some good action happening there, yes they work hard, yes they work long hrs, Haven't we all at some stages of our lives.:)

 

Statement 3 / Amazing how one of the waiters, was in the process of buying his 3rd house back home, now I don't begrudge him one little bit.:)

 

Statement 4 / Why are crew so happy to be working on Aus cruises during our summer, never been answered, and I've asked it several times on the main boards.:)

 

What is the point you are making?

[mrs and mrs]

What is the point you are making?

 

Not to sure really, but I loved reading the sound of my own voice.

PHEW, going to be a long 3 mnths off, with-out a cruise.

Maybe we could do some crowd funding to send us on a cruise, NO Internet;):)

[MicCanberra]

We are very pleased at this decision & had wondered just how long before this was introduced. It will actually make no difference for us, but we are happy for the crew who will now have some certainty.

 

Tipping is not part of our culture (Aus & NZ), and so it was not unexpected to have issues with this, with 'US ships' operating downunder. Prior to our 1st cruise the TA advised us of the tipping 'etiquette' for RC ships ie pre-pay or pay in cash on-board. We elected to pre-pay, and have done so on all 11 RC cruises. We also pay extra to those who made our cruise special.

 

It was disappointing to us that people, within their rights, removed or did not tip. Even worse were the people on social media encouraging others not to tip. Add in the TA's who went out of their way to tell people that they didn't 'need' to tip.

 

Anyway, all gone now.

 

In terms of what we will see re 'total' cruise pricing, I expect it will be difficult to actually see what impact the 'included' T&G's will have as pricing is very fluid, and it will likely not be that obvious. In any case we will continue to cruise with RC and likely pay extra cash tips to those who we consider deserve them.

Ironically we booked a cruise on Explorer for 2018 whilst on-board Legend OTS 2 weeks ago, and pre-paid our T&G's :)

 

We are on the same page, I am glad it has been sorted.:D

[MicCanberra]

Never understood why some assume that everyone at the Purser's desk is removing gratuities, but it seems a common assumption.

 

Yes, I suppose people just a line and think what else could they be doing. I am often lined up to get my card reactivated as I tend to have a magnetic personality on these sea cards.

[GUT2407]

I'm glad to see it.

 

Because I am about as anti compulsory tipping as it's possible to be.

[MicCanberra]

Statement 1 / Just wonders why people feel the need to explain what they do with their personal finances (I/e grats):confused:

 

Statement 2 / one of the waiters let slip, just how much they make a year, without tips. (there's some good action happening there, yes they work hard, yes they work long hrs, Haven't we all at some stages of our lives.:)

 

Statement 3 / Amazing how one of the waiters, was in the process of buying his 3rd house back home, now I don't begrudge him one little bit.:)

 

Statement 4 / Why are crew so happy to be working on Aus cruises during our summer, never been answered, and I've asked it several times on the main boards.:)

 

I can answer number 4 , with a quote from a lady (bar staff) on Explorer who said, "I like to work in the casino for the Asian season and the bar for the Aussie season. That way I am always getting a lot more tips.":D

[Russell21]

I still get a kick reading the posts from the people that think the staff work for peanuts.

[MicCanberra]

I still get a kick reading the posts from the people that think the staff work for peanuts.

 

The staff are not allowed to work for Peanuts any more, too many have nut allergies now.;)

[mrs and mrs]

Yes anyone would think that its a self imposed jail sentence they put on themselves.

Or get on that ship and work for peanuts NOW. Oh ok, under sufferance.

And ill still maintain that a lot of aussies tip extra on aus base cruises that have grats included and dont, no matter what those across the pacific, think or say.

[ReneeFLL]

I welcome the change, We always prepay our gratuities and actually think if everyone did we'd have lower fares not higher. The estimated 30% who do pay the gratuities subsidise those who don't. Just my opinion.

 

 

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Why do you think only 30% pay tips? I can't imagine that it would be that low.

 

Glad they are finally making the tips part of the overall cruise price. Then the cheapskate can't take them off.

[GUT2407]

I still get a kick reading the posts from the people that think the staff work for peanuts.

 

I thought they worked for Snoopy.

[GUT2407]

Yes, I suppose people just a line and think what else could they be doing. I am often lined up to get my card reactivated as I tend to have a magnetic personality on these sea cards.

 

Mrs Gut goes down every couple of days to see if she can get a different cabin mate.:eek::D:cool:

[mrs and mrs]

obv shes not trying hard enough or there is a language problem at the desk:eek::)

[chesterbear]

The staff are not allowed to work for Peanuts any more, too many have nut allergies now.;)

 

 

Mrs Gut goes down every couple of days to see if she can get a different cabin mate.:eek::D:cool:

 

It's remarks like this that contributes to my inability to take 99% of the posts on this forum too seriously [emoji854]

 

Peanuts are not my favourite but so maybe there working for macadamias?

 

And my cabin mate is an imaginary cat. He's trying to talk nicely to the room fairy so I can room with an imaginary unicorn [emoji882] instead.

 

 

[emoji6]

 

 

 

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[mrs and mrs]

It's remarks like this that contributes to my inability to take 99% of the posts on this forum too seriously [emoji854]

 

Peanuts are not my favourite but so maybe there working for macadamias?

 

And my cabin mate is an imaginary cat. He's trying to talk nicely to the room fairy so I can room with an imaginary unicorn [emoji882] instead.

 

 

[emoji6]

 

 

 

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Finnally an intelligent post for the day.;)

[MicCanberra]

It's remarks like this that contributes to my inability to take 99% of the posts on this forum too seriously [emoji854]

 

Peanuts are not my favourite but so maybe there working for macadamias?

 

And my cabin mate is an imaginary cat. He's trying to talk nicely to the room fairy so I can room with an imaginary unicorn [emoji882] instead.

 

 

[emoji6]

 

 

 

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Sounds like the medication is very strong:p

[caribill]

I just purchased my RC cruise two days ago, it asked me if I wanted to incorporate gratuities into the fare. I chose yes, because if you choose no, they will still add the gratuities onto your daily tab and you'll simply have to pay it at the end. So, you CAN choose not to incorporate it into your upfront fare, but why would you?

 

So I could use OBC to help pay for the gratuities.

[chesterbear]

Sounds like the medication is very strong:p

 

 

My dosage is a private amount between me and the psychiatrist and/or veterinarian. [emoji882][emoji74][emoji106]🏻

 

 

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[GUT2407]

My dosage is a private amount between me and the psychiatrist and/or veterinarian. [emoji882][emoji74][emoji106]🏻

 

 

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Don't laugh about veterinarians, I spent three weeks in hospital on horse tranquilliser (literally) the doctor kept asking me was I feeling things crawling on me, seeing cockroaches on the ceiling and walls, hallucinating etc.

 

No such luck.

[makawe]

Ah but did you consider that the hallucination was actually you in the hospital bed saying to the doctor that you weren't hallucinating?