First timer- would appreciate help!!

[Fooblade]

Im taking my first cruise on the Miracle in July. I am a little confused about details like tipping and the formal nights. Am I right in thinking that tips are added to you final bill and cash can be given out during the cruise for extra tip?

How do the formal nights work and is a tux necessary or will a dark suit suffice?

 

Any info about these questions or the Carvival Miracle in general would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

[KellyJean]

You can have all of your tips added to your S&S account or you can pay cash.

 

Suit and tie will suffice for formal night if you do not care to wear a tux.

 

Kelly

 

My Cruise Pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/kfrancis5

 

Cruise Critic Partae Pirates Cruise

 

Carnival Miracle 02/13/05

Sovereign of the Seas 9/21/03

Brilliance of the Seas 11/09/2002

Paradise, 9/01/2001

Atlantic, 12/1991

[marklodi]

From Carnival's Site:

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>What is the tipping policy onboard?

 

Guests can pay their shipboard gratuities in one of two ways:

 

1. Reverse Gratuity Policy - For our guests' convenience, we automatically add the recommended gratuities to the onboard Sail & Sign account on embarkation day.

 

Guests will have the discretion to adjust these gratuities based upon the level of service received during the cruise. This includes the option to adjust gratuities (up or down) for any individual on the Dining or Housekeeping staff. In order to do so, the guest will need to visit the Information Desk on board.

 

2. Pre-Paid Gratuity Policy - Gratuities are pre-arranged and paid at the time of booking or any time up to two weeks prior to the sail date.

 

All guests on each booking must prepay the gratuities, with the exception of children under two. The pre-paid gratuities can not be removed once the booking has been ticketed. The guest will not have the option to adjust the gratuities (up or down) based on the level of service received during the cruise.

 

The dollar amount of the gratuities will appear in the Miscellaneous Charge field on the booking. The guest copy on the cruise ticket will indicate if gratuities have been paid.

 

The total amount will be $10 per guest, per day, which breaks down as follows:

 

 

$5.50 pp/pd for Dining Team Service (Headwaiter and Waiter)

$1 pp/pd for Bistro Service (Waiter/Cooks)

$3.50 pp/pd for Cabin Services (Cabin Steward)

Tipping the Maitre D' is strictly at guest's discretion, based upon services rendered. For guests who wish to extend this gratuity in cash, an envelope will be available on the last evening of the cruise.

 

Tipping still applies regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or utilizing room service.

 

Bar Waiters, Deck Stewards and Bell Boys - Certain personnel, as noted above, may be tipped as service is rendered. A 15% gratuity is automatically added to beverage purchases which the guest may adjust appropriate to the service received.

 

Note: Guests under two years of age are not required to extend gratuities.

 

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

And

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Is there a dress code for the dining room?

 

Depending on the length of the cruise, either formal dress or casual resort wear is required in the Dining Room. The dress requirement for children is the same. For those not wanting to dress up, the Lido restaurants are open nightly (with the exception of the last evening of the cruise), and have a casual dress code. Formal Wear: tuxedo (optional); suit and tie; sport coat, tie and slacks; evening gown; cocktail dress; pantsuit Casual Resort Wear: sport shirts and slacks; dresses; skirts; pantsuit NOTE: Shorts, t-shirts and bathing attire are not permitted in the Dining Room during dinner.

 

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Have a great cruise!

 

Mark ºoº

 

5/9/04 Pride Cruise - 1st Cruise!

 

Visit our Webshots Gallery

 

[darkauf]

Go Mark - I find you everywhere.

 

The tips are usually put on your sail and sign card. This way the crew knows they are not going to get stiffed. You can up your tips on your card or lower it. What we usually do is leave the recommended amount on the sail and sign card and then tip extra in cash on the last evening. The extra tip is for the waiter and bus person if they did their job and the room steward if he was really good too. Sometimes we don't tip anything extra than what was recommended. It is all up to you.

 

On most ships, more than 50% of the men wear tuxes. If you have one, wear it, if you don't, don't bother to rent one. It isn't necessary. It looks so nice on the two dress up nights seeing the men in their finest as well as the women. My husband hates his tux but always brings it. He usually changes after dinner before the show. We are on the late dinner so he keeps it on until after 10:00 at night.

 

Enjoy yourself.

 

Darlene

 

Sensation 4/2001

Victory 12/2001

Spirit 12/10/2002

Zuiderdam 5/7/2003

Legend 12/7/2003

Pride 5/9/2004

Royal Caribbean - Radiance of the Seas - 10/24/04

Celebrity Constellation - 4/9/05

[GottaLuvCruising]

Fooblade,

 

We've sailed with Carnival 8 times (9th is this month). From our experiences, I'd say less than 25% of the gentlemen actually wear tuxes. Perhaps 50% wear a dark suit. The other 25% wear a sports coat or just a shirt & tie.

 

Carnival's formal nights tend to be less formal than other lines (which suits us just fine).

[Jenks7980]

On our Triumph cruise we saw less than a handful of men in tuxes.

 

Tammy

 

Grandeur 10/99

Grandeur 10/00

Triumph 3/04

[darkauf]

Must depend upon which cruise you are on. We always see a lot of men in tuxes. We also see a lot of men in suits and a few who are dressed for the beach at all times. I say if you have it, wear it...why not. It is only twice on the ship for a number of hours and dressing up does wonders for the ego.

 

It's your call

 

D & L

 

Sensation 4/2001

Victory 12/2001

Spirit 12/10/2002

Zuiderdam 5/7/2003

Legend 12/7/2003

Pride 5/9/2004

Royal Caribbean - Radiance of the Seas - 10/24/04

Celebrity Constellation - 4/9/05

[bjkeen]

To tux or not to tux that is the question. My dh wears a nice suit. As long as you are dressed up on the formal night it doesn't matter.

 

Becky

http://community.webshots.com/user/bjkeen100

 

Miracle Cruise

 

May Eastern Caribbean Carnival Cruise 2006

Miracle 2004

Pride 2003

Regent Rainbow

Sensation 2000

Fantasy 1996, 2001

 

[pazooter]

Bruce wears a very nice suit, bought especially for cruising and always looks fabulous. A tux is not necessary, though quite a few will be wearing them. As Becky commented, just be dressed up nicely and you'll be fine. Cathy

 

 

 

 

Until our **STAR** search

Seattle to Alaska on NCL Star

June 27, 2004

 

Fantasy 12/25/03

Inspiration 4/13/03

NCL Majesty 12/27/02

Jubilee 3/23/02

Norwegian Sea 11/23/01

[Fooblade]

Thank you everyone for your information.

 

So on the two formal nights a dark suit sill suffice. What about dinners on the other 5 nights- Is a tie required then or is it just long pants and a button down shirt?

 

Does anyone recommend the casual dinners or is it wise to attend every scheduled dinner time?

 

Thanks again

[serene56]

you dont have to eat in the dining room. There are other places that you may wish to try out. The pizzeria, the deli, even the buffet. No tie is needed on the casual nights. Khacki pants and a collared shirt will do fine.

 

Even though you do not eat in the dining room it is expected for you to tip as these people that are serving you here are the same people that work in the dining room. (its just their nights off)

 

I like the dining room because I like the feeling of being waited on all week.

 

Going NOWHERE

 

 

Miracle, February 13, 2005

Legend, October 22,2004

Voyager August 31,2003

Victory September 22,2002

Regal Empress,June 2001

Sensation,August 2000