Another Unannounced Change??

[cublet]

1 hour ago, Julma said:

or worse, lifeboats

Hello,

 

Tenders will remain free for those prepared to row - using the tenders' engines comes with a fee plus gratuities for the guy doing the steering.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[terrydtx]

12 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

Yes we usually get the same Luminae waiter and assistant waiter for the entire cruise.  I have been told multiple times that the tips are pooled and split with the entire Luminae Team.  No matter if you tip them individually.  Same for the Retreat Lounge bar staff.  Everything pooled.  But I believe the sommelier is not considered part of the Luminae team so tip separately.

I will most likely will be allocating some of the funds for a butler to the cabin attendant as they will be working harder than ever without help from the dedicated butler. I have seen our butler helping out the attendants many times as they work in tandem.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

Do you leave a group tip for the Luminae team?

I cash tip one waiter on the last day, though I know that it's just a group tip. I can hand it to anyone in the dining room (besides the sommellier--they're bar staff, not Luminae staff), including the Maitre 'd and the end result is the same.

[terrydtx]

1 minute ago, RichYak said:

I cash tip one waiter on the last day, though I know that it's just a group tip. I can hand it to anyone in the dining room (besides the sommellier--they're bar staff, not Luminae staff), including the Maitre 'd and the end result is the same.

Good idea, I will be allocating more from my butler tip jar to the whole Luminae team.

[Jeremiah1212]

The increase to 20% was mentioned in the same document that discussed the increase to the daily gratuities as of July 11th. 

[horseymike]

1 hour ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

Tenders will remain free for those prepared to row - using the tenders' engines comes with a fee plus gratuities for the guy doing the steering.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

Effective immediately , those who row will be charged an extra fee and 20% gratuity for fitness class at sea 😁

[terrydtx]

3 minutes ago, horseymike said:

Effective immediately , those who row will be charged an extra fee and 20% gratuity for fitness class at sea 😁

Make rowing part of the Aqua Class spa amenities.

[MamaFej]

4 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Only if you want to book a place on one for the first 3 hours. LOL

At Bay of Islands, New Zealand in April, it took over 2.5 hours just to get the folks with tendering priority off the ship. Folks were not at all happy. We weren't in a hurry, so we went ashore later, even though we qualified. X probably could have gotten away with charging for the earliest tenders. Don't tell them I said that. 

 

For our next visit in October, we have booked a ship tour (unusual for us). 

 

I'm not sure that a tender port which can only handle one docked tender at a time is a great idea for a large ship. Again, they didn't ask me. 

 

 

[terrydtx]

4 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

At Bay of Islands, New Zealand in April, it took over 2.5 hours just to get the folks with tendering priority off the ship. Folks were not at all happy. We weren't in a hurry, so we went ashore later, even though we qualified. X probably could have gotten away with charging for the earliest tenders. Don't tell them I said that. 

 

For our next visit in October, we have booked a ship tour (unusual for us). 

 

I'm not sure that a tender port which can only handle one docked tender at a time is a great idea for a large ship. Again, they didn't ask me. 

 

 

We are doing the NZ cruise in January on the Edge in the Retreat. Our experience in the past with Retreat priority tendering is the Retreat Lounge hosts escort you down to the front of the tender line, did this not happen on your cruise?

Edited August 1, 2023 by terrydtx

[phoenix_dream]

17 hours ago, keesar said:

 

When I made the reservation and was checking out, there was a notation of a 20% gratuity being added.  I did have a choice to "cancel" or to proceed.  I chose to pay the increase.  I did have a choice.  

 

 

 

 

 

How about the idea that any gratuity should be a choice and not an obligation.  If it is required, it is not a gratuity, it is the price.  The worst change was earlier when they raised the specialty dining prices (which previously included gratuities) and then added an 18% gratuity charge on top of that.

Edited August 1, 2023 by phoenix_dream

[MamaFej]

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We are doing the NZ cruise in January on the Edge in the Retreat. Our experience in the past with Retreat priority tendering is the Retreat Lounge hosts escort you down to the front of the tender line, did this not happen on your cruise?

It did, I'm sure. We were not in a suite, and were not in a hurry. I should have been more clear. I was referring to the priority tendering afforded to elgible level Captain's Club members. Tuscan was overflowing into the Ensemble Lounge with folks waiting. When many hundreds of people have priority, very few actually have priority. After our relaxing morning, we headed down to Tuscan, where priority tendering was just wrapping up. On our way to the tenders the CC host mentioned how angry some folks had been. 

[hcat]

7 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

In Belize the tender crew requests tips over the PA system

it was a very long slow ride...

[NutsAboutGolf]

2 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

It did, I'm sure. We were not in a suite, and were not in a hurry. I should have been more clear. I was referring to the priority tendering afforded to elgible level Captain's Club members. Tuscan was overflowing into the Ensemble Lounge with folks waiting. When many hundreds of people have priority, very few actually have priority. After our relaxing morning, we headed down to Tuscan, where priority tendering was just wrapping up. On our way to the tenders the CC host mentioned how angry some folks had been. 

 

In my experience, it's a lot more about the how many sea days are on the sailing and how long the ship in the tender port...Generally if you have a port day before and after the tender port day and your all aboard is later, its doubtful you'll have hundreds waiting.  I did a sailing with Mez, San Diego and the tender port of Cabo where it tenders from 7am-2pm if I remember correctly.  Only time I can recall an absolute cluster of everyone wanting to be on a tender ASAP

[NutsAboutGolf]

4 minutes ago, hcat said:

it was a very long slow ride...

 

It was just so random, no one used the PA at all yet until we're almost to the ship then someone comes on the PA speakers and says "if you had a great time in Belize say Yeaaaaaah!"  Then something like show your appreciation to the tender crew who keeps you safe 🙄.  Most of us were somewhat confused if it was a some kind of joke as it was just so random.  In all fairness the Belize tender crew did help people who needed onto the ramp/tender, yet the icing on the cake was a Belize tender guy stood by the exit gangway ramp on the tender boat with his hand out while 3' behind him the X crew were the ones on the ramp "keeping us safe" by helping those who needed assistance.  Maybe this isn't against any rules but the execution was just strange

[MamaFej]

12 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

In my experience, it's a lot more about the how many sea days are on the sailing and how long the ship in the tender port...Generally if you have a port day before and after the tender port day and your all aboard is later, its doubtful you'll have hundreds waiting.  I did a sailing with Mez, San Diego and the tender port of Cabo where it tenders from 7am-2pm if I remember correctly.  Only time I can recall an absolute cluster of everyone wanting to be on a tender ASAP

I'm sure that's part of it. It was a long itinerary, with many sea days, during the school year. That, I imagine, increases the percentage of higher-level CC members. Also, Bay of Islands had just a small dock. Only one tender was docking at a time, rather than two or three in differing stages of loading/unloading. 

 

This was on cruise 5 of a 5 cruise, 82 day trip. We were pretty chill, but I do have a bit of sympathy for those who weren't. However, I don't think they should have taken it out on crew who had no control over the situation. 

[Northern Aurora]

4 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We are doing the NZ cruise in January on the Edge in the Retreat. Our experience in the past with Retreat priority tendering is the Retreat Lounge hosts escort you down to the front of the tender line, did this not happen on your cruise?

 

We have tendered at the Bay of Islands, and they handled Suite/Retreat guests the same as Suite/Retreat guests are handled at other tender ports.  We reported to the Retreat Lounge, and were escorted to the very front of the tender lines by one of the concierges.  

 

[terrydtx]

35 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

We have tendered at the Bay of Islands, and they handled Suite/Retreat guests the same as Suite/Retreat guests are handled at other tender ports.  We reported to the Retreat Lounge, and were escorted to the very front of the tender lines by one of the concierges.  

 

Good to know as we booked a private tour that day, and I thought it should work like any other tender port for Retreat Guests. Thanks for the confirmation.

[mahdnc]

On 7/31/2023 at 2:23 PM, jelayne said:

Did I miss something?  I just was in the Cruise Planner to book the Roof Top Grill on our upcoming Edge cruise and the gratuity has changed from 18% on reservations we booked as recent as 3 weeks ago to now 20%.

 

Is this another unannounced change they hope  we won't notice?

 

 

Here is a 2 page gratuities flyer that was issued this year, but no further clues on exactly when it was issued: link

 

The first page mentions that an 18% gratuity is automatically added to specialty dining and spa purchases.  The second page has several FAQs that clearly declare a 20% gratuity.

 

So I can only conclude that the gratuity increase occurred sometime between the writing of the first and second pages....

[terrydtx]

5 hours ago, MamaFej said:

It did, I'm sure. We were not in a suite, and were not in a hurry. I should have been more clear. I was referring to the priority tendering afforded to elgible level Captain's Club members. Tuscan was overflowing into the Ensemble Lounge with folks waiting. When many hundreds of people have priority, very few actually have priority. After our relaxing morning, we headed down to Tuscan, where priority tendering was just wrapping up. On our way to the tenders the CC host mentioned how angry some folks had been. 

We will need the Retreat priority tendering for our Bay of islands port stop in January, we booked a private small group wine tasing and lunch tour.. We have to meet at the wharf at 10:00am that morning.

[terrydtx]

11 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

Here is a 2 page gratuities flyer that was issued this year, but no further clues on exactly when it was issued: link

 

The first page mentions that an 18% gratuity is automatically added to specialty dining and spa purchases.  The second page has several FAQs that clearly declare a 20% gratuity.

 

So I can only conclude that the gratuity increase occurred sometime between the writing of the first and second pages....

The new gratuity increases went into effect when they raised the daily gratuity charge for cabins, around July 23.

[MamaFej]

31 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

We will need the Retreat priority tendering for our Bay of islands port stop in January, we booked a private small group wine tasing and lunch tour.. We have to meet at the wharf at 10:00am that morning.

I'm confident that Retreat priority will serve you well. 

 

It occured to me after posting earlier that only having one spot for tenders may have been related to the cyclone that had devastated parts of the north island as well as Tonga and other islands in February. Perhaps BoI normally has more than one spot. Heck, even tiny, uninhabited Mystery Island had four spots. 

 

Of course, this is nothing more than speculation on my part. Enjoy your cruise!

[Northern Aurora]

3 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We will need the Retreat priority tendering for our Bay of islands port stop in January, we booked a private small group wine tasing and lunch tour.. We have to meet at the wharf at 10:00am that morning.

 

 

Terry-- let me again state that you will not have an issue.  While we are Zenith we also travel in Suites.  You will not have an issue at Bay of Islands.  

[hcat]

This was posted by Scrapcreator on the current APEX live thread: 

 

"We went to the Captain’s Club Coffee Lounge for breakfast and was told it’s only on sea days. So we ended up at Cafe Al Bacio.
 

Our welcome note says daily. Is this a new change? We’ll have to find out."

 

I have asked them to post more info if they find out why.  This would def be a big cutback of an ELITE perk.  The lite bkfst would be more crowded on sea days, loss of opportunity to see the Cap Club rep, and one less venue for bkfst which includes mimosas and cappucino.

(Not everyone rushes off the ship for every port)

[hcat]

13 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

It was just so random, no one used the PA at all yet until we're almost to the ship then someone comes on the PA speakers and says "if you had a great time in Belize say Yeaaaaaah!"  Then something like show your appreciation to the tender crew who keeps you safe 🙄.  Most of us were somewhat confused if it was a some kind of joke as it was just so random.  In all fairness the Belize tender crew did help people who needed onto the ramp/tender, yet the icing on the cake was a Belize tender guy stood by the exit gangway ramp on the tender boat with his hand out while 3' behind him the X crew were the ones on the ramp "keeping us safe" by helping those who needed assistance.  Maybe this isn't against any rules but the execution was just strange

seems a bit heavy handed to me!

Like the people who used  "offer" to hold your stuff  to keep it dry at the falls in Jamaica

[cublet]

28 minutes ago, hcat said:

This was posted by Scrapcreator on the current APEX live thread: 

 

"We went to the Captain’s Club Coffee Lounge for breakfast and was told it’s only on sea days. So we ended up at Cafe Al Bacio.
 

Our welcome note says daily. Is this a new change? We’ll have to find out."

 

I have asked them to post more info if they find out why.  This would def be a big cutback of an ELITE perk.  The lite bkfst would be more crowded on sea days, loss of opportunity to see the Cap Club rep, and one less venue for bkfst which includes mimosas and cappucino.

(Not everyone rushes off the ship for every port)

Hello,

 

There isn't a date on the document but from X's website the CC Benefits still show:

 

 

Regards,

 

Cublet