snikrap Posted September 15, 2018 #1 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Set to cruise the Caribbean in two weeks but checking up I find that I am expected to pay 9 dollars a day for service charge on the drinks package and 13 dollars a day gratuity that’s 22 dollars a day x two for myself and the wife 10 day cruise that’s 440 dollars is this the norm for American cruise lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryincork Posted September 15, 2018 #2 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Yes this is the norm. The crew relie on the service charge to earn a living. You are not expected to pay any additional tips. Sent from my VTR-L09 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965 Posted September 15, 2018 #3 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Don't know anything about the drinks pkg. service charge. But that is accurate info regarding daily gratuity for the crew. That's why I try to book during a 3 for free promo. On our upcoming 25 day cruise the gratuities will be $13.50 x 2 people x 27 days. That's $675. And I would never remove the gratuities. I don't tip extra, but I leave the daily automatic gratuities in place. Getting that included in a promotion is good perk. Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beg3yrs Posted September 15, 2018 #4 Share Posted September 15, 2018 The $9 a day on the drinks package is already included in what you paid for the package itself. This is true even if it was included as part of your booking, i.e. Sip N Sail. There will be no additional charge on your account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki'smommy Posted September 15, 2018 #5 Share Posted September 15, 2018 As above, the $9 per day is built into the cost of the drink package. You can, of course, decline to purchase the drink package, but you'll still pay 15% on any bar item. You will also be charged 18% on any spa items you purchase. Yes, we had $460 in room gratuities on our April cruise. It sure was nice to have comped grats in August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted September 15, 2018 #6 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Set to cruise the Caribbean in two weeks but checking up I find that I am expected to pay 9 dollars a day for service charge on the drinks package and 13 dollars a day gratuity that’s 22 dollars a day x two for myself and the wife 10 day cruise that’s 440 dollars is this the norm for American cruise lines The standard auto gratuity, hotel charge, is $13.50/pp/day or $130/pp a 10 day cruise. This is added to your on board account each day. If you are in a mini suite or full suite the charge is a few $$ higher. There is a 15% automatic gratuity charge for all beverage purchases. Since you purchased the Premium Beverage Package the actual price is $59.99/day plus 15% = $68.99/day. No further charges are incurred on the ship. If you are booked on the Sip & Sail promo where you received the beverage package, the gratuity is included and nothing further will be charged on board. This is standard for almost all cruise lines not just the ones that sail from the U.S. Some exceptions are based on the country of sale. I am aware that cruises sold in Australia and sailing in Australia include the hotel gratuity in the selling price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo222 Posted September 15, 2018 #7 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Package the actual price is $59.99/day plus 15% = $68.99/day. Interesting that one can't remove that 15%, but one can remove the daily hotel charge. What's with that, Princess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted September 15, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Set to cruise the Caribbean in two weeks but checking up I find that I am expected to pay 9 dollars a day for service charge on the drinks package and 13 dollars a day gratuity that’s 22 dollars a day x two for myself and the wife 10 day cruise that’s 440 dollars is this the norm for American cruise linesYes, it is normal. Amounts vary slightly from line to line. For instance some lines charge more for the alcoholic beverage package, so the gratuity is higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare c-boy Posted September 15, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Interesting that one can't remove that 15%, but one can remove the daily hotel charge. What's with that, Princess? why would you want to? ... oh wait ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo222 Posted September 15, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 15, 2018 why would you want to? ... oh wait ^ I'm not sure what you're implying, as you know nothing about me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky61 Posted September 15, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 15, 2018 I'm not sure what you're implying, as you know nothing about me... Just another poster being judgemental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted September 15, 2018 #12 Share Posted September 15, 2018 a reflection / opinion of a posters history and persona on cruise critic nothing more nothing less...:halo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo222 Posted September 15, 2018 #13 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Just another poster being judgemental. Personally, I think it would be a much fairer system if the hotel charge were mandatory. As it is, those who pay cover those who don't. Smells bad to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilot Posted September 15, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Interesting that one can't remove that 15%, but one can remove the daily hotel charge. What's with that, Princess? Yes, I agree with you. You shouldn’t be allowed to remove either. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo222 Posted September 15, 2018 #15 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Yes, I agree with you. You shouldn’t be allowed to remove either. Make it fair for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted September 15, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 15, 2018 I Agree. Make both mandatory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted September 15, 2018 #17 Share Posted September 15, 2018 might as well throw in the auto 18% spa extortion fee, also now about that 15% on drinks...how much time do you think that will add to the processing/paying for a drink request???:confused: beers ! :beer-mug::beer-toast: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ne1travel Posted September 15, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 15, 2018 The $9 a day on the drinks package is already included in what you paid for the package itself. This is true even if it was included as part of your booking, i.e. Sip N Sail. There will be no additional charge on your account. Thanks beg3yrs, I just happened to catch this thread and thought something new came up on us for our upcoming cruise with Sip N Sail Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted September 15, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 15, 2018 I Agree. Make both mandatory Also agree! Make both mandatory! (y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted September 15, 2018 #20 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Interesting that one can't remove that 15%, but one can remove the daily hotel charge. What's with that, Princess? Some cruise lines have a non-removable charge of 18% for every beverage, and some charge 18% of the menu price for every drink ordered even when you have purchased a drink package. I think Princess is being competitive and fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted September 15, 2018 #21 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Some cruise lines have a non-removable charge of 18% for every beverage, and some charge 18% of the menu price for every drink ordered even when you have purchased a drink package. I think Princess is being competitive and fair. What cruise line charges a gratuity per drink when it within a package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrak Posted September 15, 2018 #22 Share Posted September 15, 2018 The only time I've ever been angry on a Princess cruise was when I saw the big line of people removing the gratuities at the end of a cruise. Mind boggling. I agree that there shouldn't be an option to remove the gratuities but, since Princess does allow, one has to expect some folks to take advantage of the option. We booked two cruises under the Sip and Sail last year (not this time as they jacked the prices through the roof!) and had free drinks and free gratuities. On our 28 day Hawaii and South Pacific cruise the gratuities would have been $725.20 and the drink package was "valued" at $3,217.20. I was sooooooo happy to have those charges covered. However, if the gratuities hadn't been covered we still wouldn't have removed them. They don't add the gratuities onto cruised booked out of Australia but I believe they raise the price of the cruise to cover them so it comes out the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msmoger Posted September 15, 2018 #23 Share Posted September 15, 2018 I thought I read somewhere that if you book an Australian cruise from the U.S. you still pay the daily hotel charge. Is this not true? Also, is the rule the same for a cruise from New Zealand to Australia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrak Posted September 15, 2018 #24 Share Posted September 15, 2018 I thought I read somewhere that if you book an Australian cruise from the U.S. you still pay the daily hotel charge. Is this not true? Also, is the rule the same for a cruise from New Zealand to Australia? The relevant wording in my post above was "booked out of Australia". No matter where you sail if you book in the US they will add the gratuities. (Hope to sail with you two again sometime. :)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted September 15, 2018 #25 Share Posted September 15, 2018 I thought I read somewhere that if you book an Australian cruise from the U.S. you still pay the daily hotel charge. Is this not true? Also, is the rule the same for a cruise from New Zealand to Australia? It has been 6 or 8 years since we sailed around Australia. We (Americans) did pay the autotip. Australians (and I think Kiwis) did not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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