Gratuities for 1 year old on Oasis?

[BekkaW]

Thanks. I imagine this is true but I'll wait and see. As for the taking a bed and seat of another person, I don't think this is true. LO is in cabin with us. AND we are paying full fare for her which seems outrageous.

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Are you sure? The third person in a cabin is usually discounted (regardless of age).

 

There have been previous posts where people thought they were paying full fare because they were looking at an average, but when they looked closely at the invoice it was clear that the 3rd person was indeed discounted.

[LeesSummitCruiser1]

I know they are automatically included. Do you pay them in full? Why or why not?

 

 

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Your one year old will get more attention and better service than you will.

[topnole]

I'll repeat. They have to empty your diapers. That alone warrants the full tip. Most adults don't leave diapers full of poop and pee in the waste. Your attendant has to do stuff for lil ones they dont have to do for a typical young adult. We barely used our attendants before we had kids. Tip them full fare or more IMO. If you don't like the cost of cruising with a baby then don't cruise but please don't cheap out on the hard working crew.

[Pstreet12]

That's absurd. The people you tip are doing so much for your child - I'm very neat. Other than making the bed and leaving clean towels, there is little cleaning up. Does this mean I should tip less? To even consider this would make me a very cheap person indeed.

 

 

Well said. All we ever leave for the steward to do is give us towels, make the bed, and bring us ice. However, the bathroom is cleaned for us, the carpet is vacuumed, the balcony is checked---and the ice arrives twice a day every day. All those services are provided with a smile. Should we tip less because we don't leave papers piled everywhere and clothes scattered and bathroom articles piled all over the counter? That would be absurd.

 

And children do create messes; it's in the nature of being a child. Even those who aren't in diapers (which are an incredible burden to have to deal with) are messy. Any steward/dining room server who has deal with a child earns the tip allotted--and probably more.

[adamrosie]

By your logic we should Also be charged for a 4th person in our cabin because we are a party of 3 and we are not maximizing the number of ppl who can technically fit so we are denying the cruise revenue, correct?

 

 

 

 

 

Adamrosie,

 

 

 

Your logic escapes me but I will add this : Each passenger (pax) represents a revenue stream, whether it be an adult, teen, of child. They are a pay pax, albeit discounted from the first two. As many have so astutely pointed out that your child will make a mess which could entail anything from crumbled cereal from the Windjammer, to grinding cookies into the carpet, spilling milk or juice, or smearing a soiled diaper on the wall. Any of which the cabin steward will have to clean up. Then, there's the diner dining in the MDR where the waiter and assistant waiter will undoubtedly attempt to keep your child entertained while you and your husband/wife try to enjoy dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

When dinner is finished, and you decide to attend the main show in the theater and your child cries uncontrollably, should everyone in the surrounding area receive a credit for an interrupted show?

 

 

 

If you feel that your child takes up no room on the ship, sleeps in your bed, doesn't require a high chair in the MDR, or, by your logic, really isn't there and therefore should pay no gratuities, then perhaps if the ship was going down, the child should be left behind because he/she is really not there?

 

 

 

Gratuities are for EVERYONE. Even though I didn't gamble in the casino,use the flow rider, or water slide, should the attending staff not share in the gratuities? They were all facilities there for me to use. It's like me sending Royal a bill for the cabin attendant sleeping with my wife. They say he never did, and why am I billing $1000. My response could be, well she was there and you COULD HAVE.

 

 

 

 

 

This, adamrose, this is your logic, or lack thereof. Perhaps you should simply go to an all-inclusive where kids are free. But then you'll still moan about having to pay for airfare.

 

 

 

I actually don't have to pay airfare until my kid is 2. And your snark and meanness is not helpful.

 

 

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[Tommy3putts]

I know they are automatically included. Do you pay them in full? Why or why not?

 

 

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I love these threads for the entertainment value. It's clear to me the OP was designed to set fire to yet another useless heated debate on tipping. And yes I love to read them.

 

In the end no one will change anything on these debates. Those who want to deprive hard working cruise line employees of well deserved and earned money will continue to do so without a second thought. Those of us who appreciate the employees and look forward to getting to know them and recognizing their service with monetary compensation will continue to do so regardless of the age of the passenger.

[adamrosie]

I love these threads for the entertainment value. It's clear to me the OP was designed to set fire to yet another useless heated debate on tipping. And yes I love to read them.

 

In the end no one will change anything on these debates. Those who want to deprive hard working cruise line employees of well deserved and earned money will continue to do so without a second thought. Those of us who appreciate the employees and look forward to getting to know them and recognizing their service with monetary compensation will continue to do so regardless of the age of the passenger.

 

 

 

After reading all people's feedback, I've come to 2 conclusions: 1) It's important to tip ppl for all that they will (hopefully) do to help me and my baby and 2) many of you are unnecessarily mean and judgmental.

 

 

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[ATC cruiser]

If you really want to start a debate, bring your kids into the Diamond lounge during happy hour[emoji41]

 

 

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[juju2454]

After reading all people's feedback, I've come to 2 conclusions: 1) It's important to tip ppl for all that they will (hopefully) do to help me and my baby and 2) many of you are unnecessarily mean and judgmental.

 

 

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Which sadly is what happens on many threads, This group is suppose to be helpful, but too many have cruised too many times and think that they are just the epitome of perfection as cruisers. They then take that as permission to be rude and snarky when a simple question was asked:o. I came here years ago to get information, yet time and again I see nothing but people attacking someone, WHY? what is the point? What did you prove by being so nasty? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:.

I miss the helpful people that use to be here :(

[trev71]

You know all those stinky diapers? Your room steward is having to deal with them.

 

Need a high chair in the dinning room? The wait staff will have that setup and ready for you. Need a bottle warmed? They'll do that too.

 

At the Windjammer and your little one spills cheerios all over the place? Someone is cleaning that up.

 

I'm sure you'll have reasons why none of that applies, but really you should just consider auto-grats to be part of the cruise fare and forget about it.

 

 

above answer explains it all

[perditax]

After reading all people's feedback, I've come to 2 conclusions: 1) It's important to tip ppl for all that they will (hopefully) do to help me and my baby and 2) many of you are unnecessarily mean and judgmental.

 

 

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You seem to have been a member here for a long time. Surely you've seen these kinds of threads before? I've only been around (on and off) a couple of years and I have to have seen this kind of question, or one very like it, at least fifty times.

[gliles]

I see. Again, I'm fine with paying the underpaid and overworked staff. I can't say the same for the nickel and diming cruise line. In the awful event we would actually need a lifeboat, LO would sit on my lap and wouldn't take up any space. A 1 year old does not use nearly as many resources on the ship as an adult. She doesn't eat as much as an adult, doesn't take up space in the theaters or casino, cannot take up space in the pool, and the lovely nursery for which I'm very grateful, charges extra for taking care of her. I don't think a kid should travel for free, but I think a discount of some sort is reasonable to expect.

 

 

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They also don't contribute to the drink purchasing, the bingo, the casino, photos, or any of the other revenue generating things that cruiselines count on. I can see how you feel that you shouldn't have to pay the full amount but I think if you really consider everything, you'll realize that you should. Excursions are typically discounted for children so there's that.

[StknCPA]

They also don't contribute to the drink purchasing, the bingo, the casino, photos, or any of the other revenue generating things that cruiselines count on. I can see how you feel that you shouldn't have to pay the full amount but I think if you really consider everything, you'll realize that you should. Excursions are typically discounted for children so there's that.

Strictly in theory, the sales from drinks, casino, photos, etc. go to the corporation while gratuities go to the employees. A reduction or increase in the former should not necessarily impact the latter.

 

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[SRF]

Strictly in theory, the sales from drinks, casino, photos, etc. go to the corporation while gratuities go to the employees. A reduction or increase in the former should not necessarily impact the latter.

 

Drinks get gratuities added. I have no idea about the photos.

 

But true, the casino does not generate gratuities.

[marci22]

We have been told for years that RCI does not count the gratuity rates as revenue.

Not sure what you are getting at. Whatever they call it, Royal is counting on X amount of tips in order to pay their workers and still make a profit.

 

Tips are the major portion of salary for many workers onboard. We are also paying 'behind the scenes crew', whatever that means. I'm sure they have it figured out that they have to collect X tips from X amount of people in order to operate their business and make the profit they want. If they don't, they will make it up somewhere else.

[Big_G]

After reading all people's feedback, I've come to 2 conclusions: 1) It's important to tip ppl for all that they will (hopefully) do to help me and my baby and 2) many of you are unnecessarily mean and judgmental.

 

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My only advice to you is walk away from the keyboard, upon boarding remove automatic gratuities, and finally, tip appropriately at the end of the cruise. No one will be the wiser. Happy sailing.

[Punchy]

After reading all people's feedback, I've come to 2 conclusions: 1) It's important to tip ppl for all that they will (hopefully) do to help me and my baby and 2) many of you are unnecessarily mean and judgmental.

 

 

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Good conclusions. Gratuities by definition are optional. It should be no one business but their own if they pay them or not.

[davekathy]

I know they are automatically included. Do you pay them in full? Why or why not?

 

 

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Good conclusions. Gratuities by definition are optional. It should be no one business but their own if they pay them or not.

 

Sounds like the OP is curious.

[Grandma Dazzles]

I know they are automatically included. Do you pay them in full? Why or why not?

 

 

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Gratuities are not automatically included, unless you booked in the UK or Australia. I believe pricing and packages there include gratuities.

 

If you booked in the US, you may choose to prepay your gratuities, or they are billed to your Seapass account daily. Full gratuities are billed for each person in the cabin, regardless of their age. Incidentally, if there are three of you in the cabin, I believe you would have paid a third person rate, not a "full rate."

 

As far as gratuities for the baby, I agree with other posters. Children/babies are messy and the staff works very hard to make your cruise, and theirs, enjoyable. Although you may choose to remove the gratuities, please don't.

 

Have a good cruise!

[BNBR]

I see. Again, I'm fine with paying the underpaid and overworked staff. I can't say the same for the nickel and diming cruise line. In the awful event we would actually need a lifeboat, LO would sit on my lap and wouldn't take up any space. A 1 year old does not use nearly as many resources on the ship as an adult. She doesn't eat as much as an adult, doesn't take up space in the theaters or casino, cannot take up space in the pool, and the lovely nursery for which I'm very grateful, charges extra for taking care of her. I don't think a kid should travel for free, but I think a discount of some sort is reasonable to expect.

 

 

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A 1 year old also does not purchase upcharge meals, isn't drinking alcohol or purchasing anything, and is generally free on excursions. 1 year old don't gamble in the casinos, either. All the more reason a 1 year old should be charged full fare to offset the losses in additional revenue a cruise factors in when setting fares.

 

But again, all that does not matter one bit. Not only does the 1 year old not spend any more money, they take a spot on the ship for someone who may very well spend more. Fares are set based on capacity of the ship, not the room. A ship is only allowed to sail at a specific capacity, whether the soul is 1 year old or 40. I sail with my 2 young children (2 and 4 years old) and happily pay full fare and would never dream of reducing the gratuity. In fact, I really appreciate the discounts (free) on the excursions and may tip the guides a little extra for it.

[gerif]

Good conclusions. Gratuities by definition are optional. It should be no one business but their own if they pay them or not.

While they may be optional by definition, like it or not they still constitute a portion of the workers' pay. If you opt to eliminate or reduce your expected compensation to the crew, can you really look them in the eye and tell them why you choose to not pay?

[BNBR]

Good conclusions. Gratuities by definition are optional. It should be no one business but their own if they pay them or not.

 

Correct, but when people start sharing their immoral and disgusting behavior on a discussion forum, they are not shielded from public scorn.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Depends on the child and the parents. For example, have you ever looked at the floor by a restaurant table after someone with kids has left? Sometimes it is a disaster, sometimes not. Generally more messy than a table that does not have children. Perhaps less messy than a table if drunk adults.

 

I used to tip extra when I went out with my kids even though they were pretty well behaved. That is because try as we might, we probably left the table more messy than my friends and I (without kids) would have.

 

I hear some of the requests people make on board, and I've never made requests like that. I think I am probably a low maintenance passenger, but I don't expect to adjust my gratuity.

 

My point is, it's different from person to person--child or not. The cruise line has no way of knowing if a particular passenger is higher or lower maintenance than usual. They don't know if a parent will carefully roll diapers and put them at the bottom of the trash can or just take them off and fling them towards the can. From my perspective, I can see why the gratuity remains the same amount.

 

What remains is for you to adjust the gratuity if and how you see fit.

 

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Those examples are the "cost of doing business"...just like any restaurant.

 

Yes...kids should be well-behaved and as tidy as possible for dining, but as most folks know, that doesn't happen all the time. Nonetheless, it's also something already accounted for in 'dining clean-up". I've seen enough adult sloppy/messy eaters to know it's not exclusive to kids either.

 

We are traveling with a 20-year-old young adult and 4-year old grandsons next time...and there's no way we can begin to reason justification for the 4-year-old gratuity that would exceed $100+ - rest assured...we will contest that amount.

 

In contrast...we have no issue paying the "normal" rates, including for the 20-year old. We've been known to even pay extra when warranted by the service levels. So this becomes an issue of principal, not actual dollars with us.

[sanger727]

OP, I think you are just starting to realize why a cruise isn't as good a value as other things when young children are involved. Certainly, in almost very other thing you may do, you 1 year old will be free. Unfortunately, on a cruise ship, the child still counts as a 'body' in terms of a lifeboat seat - whether or not they would actually literally use a seat. Cruise lines price based on capacity, not use of services. This is why solo cruisers almost always pay the same rate for a cabin as two people. They aren't consuming twice the food and taking up twice the space. They are charged because them taking a whole room reduces the number of people the cruise line can sell to. So they pay for that.

 

Your child being on the boat reduces the capacity of the boat by 1 person, so they expect you to pay for that. Usually the 3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin are at a reduced rate from the 1st and 2nd, but that's regardless of age.

 

To be perfectly honest, the cruise line would prefer that the third person in your room be an adult who is going to spend money on alcohol, gambling, and shopping. They aren't excited about having a child in the room simply because they will use less. The cruise lines don't make money off the cabin rates. I watched a behind the scenes show and they actually lose on the sailing or just break even based on the cabin rates. They need onboard spending to make a profit. And your third passenger won't have any onboard spending.

 

Should you have to pay more because of this? No, they understand that children of a variety of ages sale and it all evens out in the end. But don't expect any discounts for your child either.

 

 

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[SRF]

Not sure what you are getting at. Whatever they call it, Royal is counting on X amount of tips in order to pay their workers and still make a profit.

 

Tips are the major portion of salary for many workers onboard. We are also paying 'behind the scenes crew', whatever that means. I'm sure they have it figured out that they have to collect X tips from X amount of people in order to operate their business and make the profit they want. If they don't, they will make it up somewhere else.

 

Just like restaurants in the US.