JTBCruiser Posted December 26, 2023 #1 Share Posted December 26, 2023 This will be the first time for us to have the Cheers package and have a few questions. Are tips automatically included in the package or do we tip separately for each drink? I'm assuming the package covers alcohol, soda, specialty coffee and fresh squeezed juice, is this correct? Any other advice to offer for the first timer? Thx in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mz-s Posted December 26, 2023 #2 Share Posted December 26, 2023 https://www.carnival.com/drink-packages/cheers-package/cheers-SUM When you purchase Cheers you'll be charged an 18% gratuity. That covers your tips for all drinks all cruise. If you wish to tip above and beyond, you can but it is not necessary or expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginger123snaps Posted December 26, 2023 #3 Share Posted December 26, 2023 I'm reading up on this as well. Looks like fresh squeezed orange juice in Havana and Main Dining Room are excluded. Not loving all these restrictions. I just purchased bottomless bubbles for my boys and water bottles are excluded...which is crazy to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted December 26, 2023 #4 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Bottomless bubbles is only soda, not water. Plenty of tap water available. Unlike other cruiselines, Carnival doesn't have a package "in between" bottomless bubbles and Cheers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mz-s Posted December 26, 2023 #5 Share Posted December 26, 2023 11 minutes ago, ginger123snaps said: I'm reading up on this as well. Looks like fresh squeezed orange juice in Havana and Main Dining Room are excluded. Not loving all these restrictions. I just purchased bottomless bubbles for my boys and water bottles are excluded...which is crazy to me. You bought an endless soda package and you're upset that things other than soda aren't included? I guess it takes all kinds. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginger123snaps Posted December 26, 2023 #6 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Who said 35 minutes ago, mz-s said: You bought an endless soda package and you're upset that things other than soda aren't included? I guess it takes all kinds. Who said anybody was upset? Again, "It's crazy to me that water is not included"....but you are right it "takes all kinds" when you get responses. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezal Posted December 26, 2023 #7 Share Posted December 26, 2023 https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1106/~/cheers!-beverage-program Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theanoy Posted December 26, 2023 #8 Share Posted December 26, 2023 If one of your ports is Half Moon Cay the cheers package does not work on the island. You also have to buy one drink at a time. Enjoy your cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mz-s Posted December 27, 2023 #9 Share Posted December 27, 2023 10 hours ago, TreyB said: While “not necessary or expected” the automatic 18% gratuity charged at the time of purchase is divided and distributed among all servers at the bars. If you decide to add an additional tip at the bar, that money goes 100% to the bartender taking care of you. I’ve had this confirmed by numerous bartenders across many different ships. I always add $1 per drink at the bar. Believe me when I tell you that this small gesture will get you treated right. It's true that an individual bar waiter's share of your Cheers gratuity is quite small, but they also get a share of everyone else's gratuity. So it comes out in the wash. That's the beauty of a pooled gratuity system. Tipping extra above and beyond the automatic gratuity is entirely up to your individual wish. While in the past yeah I think I got better service because I tipped extra, I'm not sure that's as true as it used to be. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ninjacat123 Posted December 27, 2023 #10 Share Posted December 27, 2023 My experience is that tipping extra helps when you frequent a bar or place, like Serenity. The Serenity servers have kept an eye on us for refills. 😊 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted December 27, 2023 #11 Share Posted December 27, 2023 I've done it both ways, tipped extra and not left a tip and haven't noticed a difference in service at all, it's always been top notch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserbrianj Posted December 28, 2023 #12 Share Posted December 28, 2023 8 hours ago, sparks1093 said: I've done it both ways, tipped extra and not left a tip and haven't noticed a difference in service at all, it's always been top notch. Likewise...and if "treated right" means stronger drinks...i've never not seen a bartender not use a jigger when making a drink. Alchemy perhaps, but those are much stronger drinks in general. Anyway, that's my two cents. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mz-s Posted December 28, 2023 #13 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Basically what we're saying is, tip extra if you wish. But don't feel like you need to tip extra to get good service. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted December 28, 2023 #14 Share Posted December 28, 2023 10 hours ago, ninjacat123 said: My experience is that tipping extra helps when you frequent a bar or place, like Serenity. The Serenity servers have kept an eye on us for refills. 😊 2 hours ago, cruiserbrianj said: Likewise...and if "treated right" means stronger drinks...i've never not seen a bartender not use a jigger when making a drink. Alchemy perhaps, but those are much stronger drinks in general. Anyway, that's my two cents. Treated right means you get "seen", called frequently by name and if your drink order never changes, a good bartender will set you up with a nod. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted December 28, 2023 #15 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Just now, TreyB said: You should watch a little closer. Yes they use a jigger, but sometimes that bottle keeps pouring after the jigger is emptied. 😉 The collars are what limits a pour but all Alchemy Drinks are free poured. Don't think I have seen those folks measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplelife Posted December 29, 2023 #16 Share Posted December 29, 2023 This is true with pay-by-drink as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayorDrafty Posted December 30, 2023 #17 Share Posted December 30, 2023 On 12/27/2023 at 9:16 PM, Elaine5715 said: Treated right means you get "seen", called frequently by name and if your drink order never changes, a good bartender will set you up with a nod. This. I was such a regular on Pride in February, the bartenders at the Atrium would wave at me and say "Hey MayorDrafty" when I simply walked by. I would sit down and almost immediately have a Titos and ginger ale placed in front of me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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