When did the gratituites increase?

[babyblue78]

So all these cash tippers walk around the Windjammer and tip the hardworking folks in there?!?  Somehow I doubt it.

 

 

[critterchick]

35 minutes ago, critterchick said:

I booked a cruise on Wednesday and the confirmation still says $14.50/17.50. But the edocs that were issued yesterday say $16.00/18.00. I'm waiting on hold for the group department to see what they have to say.

 

And the group rep hadn't heard of any increase. I did a mock booking for another cruise today and the $14.50 rate is on the confirmation. The rep said he thought it might be a glitch (as if that ever happens, lol), but we shall see.

Royal really need to notify TAs and passengers alike if they are going to raise their rates. I can see Guest Services being overrun and that's not fair to anybody.

[coaster]

Glitch... Nice response. Bet those of us who board in late August and beyond get charged the higher rate if we don't prepay or jump through hoops to call the clueless reps to prepay to lock in the lower rate. I don't blame the reps, just Royal corporate  for setting them up for failure.

Edited July 29, 2022 by coaster

[cruisegirl1]

3 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

No, in order to get the old rates you have to prepay them

Thank you. 
m

[critterchick]

11 minutes ago, babyblue78 said:

So all these cash tippers walk around the Windjammer and tip the hardworking folks in there?!?  Somehow I doubt it.

 

 

I don't walk around the WJ, but I do leave a tip for the table server and whoever brings me my libations. On cruises where we have dinner in the WJ, we will give the manager an envelope on the last night to be shared with the crew there.

[bonsai3s]

54 minutes ago, babyblue78 said:

So all these cash tippers walk around the Windjammer and tip the hardworking folks in there?!?  Somehow I doubt it.

 

 

We do. We walk around the Windjamner (and around the ship)...at the end of each cruise...and give each of the crew members (who provided us with outstanding service) extra tips.

We use the "Tip tip Hooray" envelopes from guest services. 

 

[yogimax]

27 minutes ago, bonsai3s said:

and give each of the crew members (who provided us with outstanding service) extra tips.

 

Do you also tip those who provide good or average service with tips or is it just for the "outstanding" few?

[bonsai3s]

2 minutes ago, yogimax said:

Do you also tip those who provide good or average service with tips or is it just for the "outstanding" few?

Just the outstanding many.

 

* Also, we've never removed gratuities. 

[coaster]

1 hour ago, critterchick said:

I don't walk around the WJ, but I do leave a tip for the table server and whoever brings me my libations. On cruises where we have dinner in the WJ, we will give the manager an envelope on the last night to be shared with the crew there.

Tipped the bar server often who worked at Rita's bar on Serenade even with a drink package. Made good drinks and delivered to our table aft of WJ. Never would remove the service charge even if the increase is kind of sneaky and the details on what sailings it applies to is not so transparent.  Royal corporate just needs to release details about this rate increase and not  try to hide it once you get edocs.

Edited July 30, 2022 by coaster

[coaster]

Again,  the service fee increase should not be a mystery. Finding out once you get edocs 30 days before your cruise is a little too late. Royal corporate needs to come clean on this increase.

Edited July 30, 2022 by coaster

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, babyblue78 said:

So all these cash tippers walk around the Windjammer and tip the hardworking folks in there?!?  Somehow I doubt it.

 

 

Because those people are being paid a VERY fair wage for the work they do, and most of them get their tips when they of their MDR duties.

[footzz]

3 hours ago, karena1 said:

nope, not an issue.  I have mine booked through April 2024 with the old rate.  When it is increased, I will pay for it.

RCCL LOVES to have customers that will pay whatever they 'suggest' is a reasonable gratuity. 

Edited July 30, 2022 by footzz

[not-enough-cruising]

54 minutes ago, yogimax said:

Do you also tip those who provide good or average service with tips or is it just for the "outstanding" few?

Gratuities are not for "average"

[Another_Critic]

Just now, not-enough-cruising said:

Gratuities are not for "average"

But many encourage average by tipping for average.

[coaster]

Extra tipping makes sense when you feel the need. Just rather get back to why the standard service/gratuity fee seems to have increased for some and not other's. Website and reports of those booking cruises now still state the fee is lower than those getting edocs with a higher rate.  Royal should have a common standard to avoid this confusion. Royal reps have no clue which does not help.

Edited July 30, 2022 by coaster

[yogimax]

1 hour ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Gratuities are not for "average"

So if you receive average service in a restaurant you use that as an excuse to not tip?

[brillohead]

11 hours ago, njkruzer said:

Just looked at our edocs that arrived today and has the new gratuities.  Was planning on using our obc to pay them but don't think I can prepay using them.  Already booked an excursion and not planning on much else.  If I remember there's a way to get those nonrefundable obc from the casino,  correct?  How?

Here you go -- just screenshot this and take it to the casino with you:

 

[perfect match]

Thanks for the info. It’s too soon for us to have our cruise docs for our September yet. Also wondering if we can prepay grants for our April cruise. I’ll be following to see how it goes. 

[coaster]

Again, someone here on CC staff please investigate this and post it as a news story. You have unique connections to corporate at Royal. Should not be such a mystery as some folks are paying less and other's more for sailings starting late August with this the new service fee now showing in edocs.

 

Reps with Royal are clueless for those of us that have called. Reps are stating we pay whatever the lower fee when we booked prepay or not. They are not aware of any increase. The edocs say otherwise. Prepay or you will be charged extra. 

Edited July 30, 2022 by coaster

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

Here you go -- just screenshot this and take it to the casino with you:

 

Or simply ask a member of the Casino Staff and they will happily help you do it.

[little britain]

1 hour ago, the penguins said:

Or simply ask a member of the Casino Staff and they will happily help you do it.

I don’t think so!
If they see you loaded obc to your account then cash out; they can freeze your card. They froze mine because they had seen I hadn’t played/ they said the “rules” are you must play at least 25%. 
So if you have a chunk of obc then take it all out at once then don’t bother going to the casino 🎰 again! 

Edited July 30, 2022 by little britain

[Biker19]

11 hours ago, flamingos said:

I'm doing B2B. August 21 has the $14.50; August 28 has the $16.00

If your 8/21 edocs ever update for whatever reason, it will likely also have the new amounts. The change happened between the time your 8/21 and 8/28 edocs were issued, like Tuesday/Wednesday of this week. 

[livingonthebeach]

2 hours ago, little britain said:

I don’t think so!
If they see you loaded obc to your account then cash out; they can freeze your card. They froze mine because they had seen I hadn’t played/ they said the “rules” are you must play at least 25%. 
So if you have a chunk of obc then take it all out at once then don’t bother going to the casino 🎰 again! 

 

That's exactly why you shouldn't ask an attendant -- just follow the directions posted above. It works -- done it several times on different ships. 

[nelblu]

Hey, here's an idea, let's all send Bayley an e-mail asking for clarification as his people don't know what is going on.🤣

[livingonthebeach]

2 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Hey, here's an idea, let's all send Bayley an e-mail asking for clarification as his people don't know what is going on.🤣

 

Yeah and while we're at it, let's ask him why the CSRs don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground.