When did the gratituites increase?

[njkruzer]

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Via the slot machine - download the OBC to it and cash out.

Thanks.

[little britain]

An 18% gratuity is also automatically added to beverages, room service, and the mini bar. 
 

Mini bar??! 

[gavvy]

Just had my E docs and it states that its now $16.pp per night.  If I booked before June 2022 I can contact my Travel agent and pre pay at the old rate of $14.50

 

 

As I had no notification of this I will remove all tips on my account and give the reason that RC increased them without my knowldge, I will then tip just the people who I have deemed given good service.

 

Im not against a tip increase, I am against it being shown in the small print of a 20 word document 4 weeks before departure, that is really bad form.

 

[CruisingHogFan]

3 minutes ago, gavvy said:

Just had my E docs and it states that its now $16.pp per night.  If I booked before June 2022 I can contact my Travel agent and pre pay at the old rate of $14.50

 

 

As I had no notification of this I will remove all tips on my account and give the reason that RC increased them without my knowldge, I will then tip just the people who I have deemed given good service.

 

Im not against a tip increase, I am against it being shown in the small print of a 20 word document 4 weeks before departure, that is really bad form.

 

So you are going to punish the hardworking crew that makes your cruise enjoyable for a change they had nothing to do with??

That is really bad form and I would be embarrassed……

[RoyalC]

6 hours ago, boscobeans said:

Considering the increases we are faced with just buying a week's worth of groceries or 5 gallons of gas to mow our lawns this $1.50 a day seems almost inconsequential.

 

They are at least grandfathering the earlier rates for bookings made before July 15, 2022..

Someone says this for every increase. It's like slowly boiling a lobster.

[gavvy]

No- RCL is by sneekly doing this with no notification

 

And i did say I WILL TIP- just those who provide me service, not a blanket tip to god who's who with probably a processing fee by RC

 

I'n not against tipping and I will Tip- I wont be screwed over by sneeky T&C which where I come from are deemed illegal

 

 

As I had no notification of this I will remove all tips on my account and give the reason that RC increased them without my knowldge, I will then tip just the people who I have deemed given good service.

 

Im not against a tip increase, I am against it being shown in the small print of a 20 word document 4 weeks before departure, that is really bad form.

 

[gavvy]

4 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said:

So you are going to punish the hardworking crew that makes your cruise enjoyable for a change they had nothing to do with??

That is really bad form and I would be embarrassed……

And shame on you for accepting this... if you ordered a coke at $1 only to be told sorry its not $1.50 you be happy, I know I wont.

 

I pay the price given not a price changed in the small print- with absolute no idea where that money ends up- nobody on here for sure can state where all that tip money goes

 

I'd rather tip those that provide service....Isn't that what the defination of a tip is???

[F27TW]

3 minutes ago, gavvy said:

No- RCL is by sneekly doing this with no notification

 

And i did say I WILL TIP- just those who provide me service, not a blanket tip to god who's who with probably a processing fee by RC

 

I'n not against tipping and I will Tip- I wont be screwed over by sneeky T&C which where I come from are deemed illegal

 

 

As I had no notification of this I will remove all tips on my account and give the reason that RC increased them without my knowldge, I will then tip just the people who I have deemed given good service.

 

Im not against a tip increase, I am against it being shown in the small print of a 20 word document 4 weeks before departure, that is really bad form.

 

 

100% agree with you. 

[not-enough-cruising]

8 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said:

So you are going to punish the hardworking crew that makes your cruise enjoyable for a change they had nothing to do with??

That is really bad form and I would be embarrassed……

Not punishing the crew, they are still going to tip, just doing it their preferred way.

[RoyalC]

2 minutes ago, gavvy said:

And shame on you for accepting this... if you ordered a coke at $1 only to be told sorry its not $1.50 you be happy, I know I wont.

 

I pay the price given not a price changed in the small print- with absolute no idea where that money ends up- nobody on here for sure can state where all that tip money goes

 

I'd rather tip those that provide service....Isn't that what the defination of a tip is???

I've found the crew is VERY happy to get a tip in cash at the end of the cruise.

[bonsai3s]

16 minutes ago, njkruzer said:

 If I remember there's a way to get those nonrefundable obc from the casino,  correct?  How?

Correct.  Pretty easy.

mac_tic has detailed instructions.

 

You pick a slot machine. Tap your seapass card and simply follow the prompt.  Your birthdate is usually the password.  It will ask you how much you'd like to play and you are good to go.  The casino host can also give you paper instructions.

 

* For C&A members D and above...you'll have "promotional" amounts of up to $6.  In addition, if you visit the casino in the first 2 days of your sailing, all passengers regardless of C&A status will qualify for a mystery amount...$2 to $100.  Note: We have been told that the $100 is rarely given...and it's usually just the $2.

[njkruzer]

UPDATE:  On the phone with C&A now.  No knowledge of an increase in gratuities.  On hold while she tries to solve problem.  Says when she looks at cruise and how much for our cruise it shows the old rate.  Will keep everyone posted.

[coaster]

Just now, njkruzer said:

UPDATE:  On the phone with C&A now.  No knowledge of an increase in gratuities.  On hold while she tries to solve problem.  Says when she looks at cruise and how much for our cruise it shows the old rate.  Will keep everyone posted.

I figured there would be confusion regarding this. The need to call and tieup the reps will only increase hold times also.

[rudeney]

While I do not like the runaway inflation we are experiencing, I have no issues with gratuities increasing.  It seems that every time I go out to eat, restaurant prices have gone up again and since I still tip a percentage of the price of the meal, the servers are continuing to get their "raises", so the ship's crew should, too.

 

If anyone wants to whine about it, the real issue is that suites only went up $1 while all others went up $1.50.  

[gavvy]

This is what is on page 11 of a 22 page Doc... its small and hidden

[njkruzer]

49 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Via the slot machine - download the OBC to it and cash out.

Thanks.

[Another_Critic]

20 minutes ago, bonsai3s said:

You pick a slot machine. Tap your seapass card and simply follow the prompt.  Your birthdate is usually the password.  It will ask you how much you'd like to play and you are good to go.  The casino host can also give you paper instructions.

FYI - There is no "transfer" option on some of the older ships (e.g., Enchantment).  You have to charge your SeaPass at the window and there is a 5% or 6% (can't remember) fee.

[njkruzer]

The website still has old amounts.

[la_croisiere_s'amuse]

Great news for the cruise we booked on July 16th. 😒

 

Seriously though, I really don't object. Absolutely EVERYTHING is increasing in price lately.  We can argue until the cows come home about whose fault that is, but certainly isn't the hard-working crew members who are usually supporting families at home in economies that are struggling worse than ours. I'm happy to give them a little extra hand.

 

And, as has been pointed out: anyone who feels they've been dealt with unfairly has options. 

[livingonthebeach]

47 minutes ago, little britain said:

An 18% gratuity is also automatically added to beverages, room service, and the mini bar. 
 

Mini bar??! 

 

And don't forget the Bionic Bar robot that spills half your drink for an extra 18% on your tab. Mini bar?  I thought they discontinued that years ago? If they ever bring it back I expect a 20% tip each time for getting my own drinks.

[megs193]

6 hours ago, LEMJMcC said:

There is no such thing as gratuities within RCI; they are service fees and are at the mercy of RCI's whim.  Unless of course you request that automatic "gratuities" are removed from your account once onboard and truly tip those whose service deserves it out of pocket.
 

I need more info on this. Does the crew not receive all of the gratuity?  If this is the case I would rather remove them and bring more cash to give the gratuity that way but I would worry about the “behind the scenes” people not getting their full

tip. 

[RoyalC]

5 minutes ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said:

Great news for the cruise we booked on July 16th. 😒

 

Seriously though, I really don't object. Absolutely EVERYTHING is increasing in price lately.  We can argue until the cows come home about whose fault that is, but certainly isn't the hard-working crew members who are usually supporting families at home in economies that are struggling worse than ours. I'm happy to give them a little extra hand.

 

And, as has been pointed out: anyone who feels they've been dealt with unfairly has options. 

It is wonderful but will all the rate increases banks are still literally paying .01% in interest- I've never seen that before. Your dollar you earned before is getting trashed.

[gavvy]

1 minute ago, megs193 said:

I need more info on this. Does the crew not receive all of the gratuity?  If this is the case I would rather remove them and bring more cash to give the gratuity that way but I would worry about the “behind the scenes” people not getting their full

tip. 

This is the thing...and my point, nobody knows what happens to the pool of 'tips' I doubt..but have no proof that 100% of your money goes to those that provide service.  I have always accepted the auto tip in the past, but now I think I will tip those that provide me with that frontline service

[la_croisiere_s'amuse]

2 minutes ago, megs193 said:

I would worry about the “behind the scenes” people not getting their full

tip. 

Precisely, that's the main issue. We typically pay a bit extra to our cabin attendant, MDR wait staff and anyone else who has made a big difference in our cruise, but we rest easy knowing that the dishwashers and such are also being taken care of.

 

I'm not a Royal employee nor do I have any spies at corporate, but to the best of my knowledge, the idea of "Royal taking a cut" is nothing more than a conspiracy theory.  People whom I trust have said that the daily amount is divided among various positions within the service staff. 🙂 

[publicpersona]

6 minutes ago, gavvy said:

This is the thing...and my point, nobody knows what happens to the pool of 'tips'

 

Exactly. Some of those commenting in this thread are assuming that every penny of the hidden increase in the service fee goes to the hardworking stateroom attendants, servers, etc.

 

Having cruised with Royal more than 30 years, I would never ever make that assumption.