Pre-pay tips for 2021 cruise?

[okeytaco]

If I go ahead now and prepay the tips for a 14 day cruise in 2021 and they raise them (yet again!) will I have to pay the difference?

[Biker19]

21 minutes ago, okeytaco said:

If I go ahead now and prepay the tips for a 14 day cruise in 2021 and they raise them (yet again!) will I have to pay the difference?

No. In the past when grats went up, there was a grace period during which you could pay the current rate. 

[Ken at the beach]

51 minutes ago, okeytaco said:

If I go ahead now and prepay the tips for a 14 day cruise in 2021 and they raise them (yet again!) will I have to pay the difference?

You don’t actually pay for them now.  You can add them to your reservation but they get paid at final payment.  Like Biker stated, adding them to the reservation locks the rate in.

[okeytaco]

Cool! I thought that would be the case but just wanted to check with you guys.  I've always added them when I made the reservation but didn't this time since it was 2 years away.  I never realized it wasn't charged immediately so that's good information to know.  If they continue to raise gratuities a dollar a day per person every year and continue to raise the price of the drinks,  with the $56 I save by locking in the price today I might actually be able to buy a couple of margaritas! 😝 Well,  I'm off to "get 'er done!"  Thanks for the replies!

[fscool]

If I pre-pay my tips now will they use the exchange that is currently locked in my cruise-planner or will it be the exchange rate at the end of the cruise?

[Biker19]

7 minutes ago, fscool said:

If I pre-pay my tips now will they use the exchange that is currently locked in my cruise-planner or will it be the exchange rate at the end of the cruise?

The exchange rate at the time of payment. 

[Ken at the beach]

10 minutes ago, fscool said:

If I pre-pay my tips now will they use the exchange that is currently locked in my cruise-planner or will it be the exchange rate at the end of the cruise?

If you add your gratuities to your reservation today then it will lock in the exchange rate in use today.  It’s a slightly different exchange rate than they use in the cruise planner. 

Edited June 8, 2019 by Ourusualbeach

[fscool]

ok, just so I am clear.  My locked in exchange rate in my cruise planner is 1.28 or so.  Currently the exchange rate is sitting around 1.34.  Are you saying that if I pay today then it is charged at 1.34?  

[Ken at the beach]

3 minutes ago, fscool said:

ok, just so I am clear.  My locked in exchange rate in my cruise planner is 1.28 or so.  Currently the exchange rate is sitting around 1.34.  Are you saying that if I pay today then it is charged at 1.34?  

I don’t know the exact rate but in the past they have used different rates for gratuities and cruise planner purchases. The rates are usually set for a 3 month period.

 

Call and ask what the gratuities are and you can figure out the exchange rate. 

Edited June 8, 2019 by Ourusualbeach

[Ken at the beach]

The current gratuity conversion for a 7 night cruise in CDN is $130.04 

[Thorben-Hendrik]

3 hours ago, okeytaco said:

If I go ahead now and prepay the tips for a 14 day cruise in 2021 and they raise them (yet again!) will I have to pay the difference?

Gratuities are optional - you can adjust any time! 👍

[Coralc]

I would pay now. Gratuities may go up again between now and then. 

Edited June 8, 2019 by Coralc

[Biker19]

8 hours ago, Coralc said:

I would pay now. Gratuities may go up again between now and then. 

But the exchange rate could improve to wipe out any potential increase (which would be subject of endless threads here on CC).

Edited June 8, 2019 by Biker19

[Wine-O]

10 hours ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Gratuities are optional - you can adjust any time! 👍

Not really.  You can remove them altogether or add to them, but you can't adjust them.

 

My understanding is if you prepay gratuities, you would be grandfathered if they increase, but in actuality, they won't be charged to your credit card until final payment.  🍷

[Thorben-Hendrik]

1 hour ago, Wine-O said:

Not really.  You can remove them altogether or add to them, but you can't adjust them. 

OK that's true - but you can remove 1 passenger and leave others or you can remove all and have a real 💵 saving! 👍

[not-enough-cruising]

For the life of me I will never understand why someone wants to pay a gratuity BEFORE knowing the level of service received to base the gratuity on. 

[wolfcathorse]

9 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

For the life of me I will never understand why someone wants to pay a gratuity BEFORE knowing the level of service received to base the gratuity on. 

1) Our experience (14 years) has been that RCI's service has been pretty consistent fleet wide.

2) We like to have as much of the cruise paid for before we sail. We no longer come home to a large credit card bill. 

3) If the service was exceptional, we will personally tip extra cash to the worthy recipient.

[livylotte]

I'm not sure you can lock the exchange rate in but you can lock the price.   There is a box you can tick when you check-in that gives you the option of having RC do the conversion or your own bank do it.  In our experience we have always found our bank to have the better rate.

 

I like to have everything paid for in advance of my cruise and for that reason I buy the drinks package and spend nothing in the speciality restaurants, shops or casino.  However, I don't like to tip upfront - it doesn't seem right somehow.  I prefer to have the tips added to my sea pass account daily and settle on board at the end of our cruise.  For the first time ever this year I tipped our room attendant extra - he was a cut above any attendant we have ever had. 

Edited June 8, 2019 by livylotte

[taglovestocruise]

3 hours ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

OK that's true - but you can remove 1 passenger and leave others or you can remove all and have a real 💵 saving! 👍

Why are you so inclined to screw over the crew that waits on you day in and day out.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

2 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

Why are you so inclined to screw over the crew that waits on you day in and day out.

Not talking about me - but the OP gets all exited to save  56$ fron his tips - so why not go all the way?👍🤔

[soremekun]

@Thorben-Hendrik I love reading your posts in these tipping threads and how you don't care what other posters say about/to you.

[taglovestocruise]

6 hours ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Not talking about me - but the OP gets all exited to save  56$ fron his tips - so why not go all the way?👍🤔

👍 happy cruising TH

[okeytaco]

9 hours ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Not talking about me - but the OP gets all exited to save  56$ fron his tips - so why not go all the way?👍🤔

I'm guessing you don't attend the comedy shows on board since you obviously don't understand humor!!😛

[gatour]

On 6/8/2019 at 11:24 AM, not-enough-cruising said:

For the life of me I will never understand why someone wants to pay a gratuity BEFORE knowing the level of service received to base the gratuity on. 

You are probably someone who never worked in a service industry, where tips are considered part of the salary.

 

What do you do for a living?  Is it providing a service.  i.e. tax preparation, air conditioner mechanic etc.  If so are you willing to work for tips since your customers don't know the level service you will provide BEFORE knowing the level of service you provide.

[not-enough-cruising]

30 minutes ago, gatour said:

You are probably someone who never worked in a service industry, where tips are considered part of the salary.

 

What do you do for a living?  Is it providing a service.  i.e. tax preparation, air conditioner mechanic etc.  If so are you willing to work for tips since your customers don't know the level service you will provide BEFORE knowing the level of service you provide.

I work in a job that pays me based on the amount and quality of my work. 

I don’t expect anyone to pay me before I render services. 

I am incentivized to do my best every single day.