Emmski35

We have travelled the world on multiple cruise lines and never tipped beyond the daily deducted by the cruise line. We treat all the crew with respect and dignity, always have great service.

I agree so much with this...:)

I never tip extra for a drink.....the added tip, is more than sufficient, and in some cases way too much.

As far as the auto tips, I find in most cases they are enough. My very first cruise, I carried onto the ship, individual envelopes as recommended tips for each person. This was before people "bragged" on places like cruise critic on how much they tipped (bribed) to get something simple like some ice. Which by the way, is their job to do it, and not extra.

I agree with everything you say on here. We are very lucky to be able to afford a suite, but we never really ask for anything, in fact we'd rather be left alone. Room cleaned, some ice, that's it. But it doesn't mean we don't tip our steward and butler some extra at the end of the cruise, based on their attitude mainly. We had a butler one year who was pretty rude towards me (think pretty woman in the store hahaha, I got the feeling he felt I didn't deserve to be there, don't know why, just a feeling and he had a mean attitude) so at the end of the cruise as well as our pre paid tips, we had his tip waiting for him, he virtually chased us from the room and followed us for the tip. I'm not ashamed to say, he didn't get it and we used it to buy a bottle of wine in the airport and said a 'cheers' to him! Sorry if this is mean, but rudeness is not acceptable in my opinion.

I personally like getting dressed up for dinner. I am a woman in the construction industry, I very occasionally have to wear a hard had and PPE with steel toed boots, but for the most part I dress in suits or smart office wear when I'm in the office or visiting customers. But it's nice for me to spend the time doing my hair and make up and wearing a pretty dress, something sparky, putting a flower in my hair, stuff that I simply don't get time to do during the working week. It's not a chore to me, it's a pleasure and all part of my holiday experience. By the same token I love slobbing out during the day, cocktail in hand, no make up. What's relaxing and pleasurable for one person isn't for another. I would feel self conscious if I hadn't made the effort to look good for dinner, just my opinion! Oh and I've done 12 cruises, mostly with RCCL :)

Astonishing! I cannot understand how anyone in a service position could take it upon himself to act this way! :eek: Since we are in a "tell-all" environment on these boards, please, tell us, what ship were you on?!

 

And I am wondering this: why do you cruise in suites if you have no use for the butler? (who in this case, to his shame, clearly has no use for you!! :mad:) Is it to luxuriate in the size of your cabin and enjoy the suite lounge, etc? I've often wondered whether paying for a suite, if I could afford to one day, be worth it to me, since I, like you, don't think I would be able to put the butler to good use...

 

 

Wow, the level of "badness" of service you experienced is outside the limits of what I had imagined was possible on a cruise! :eek:

 

Kudos to you both for turning lemons into very refreshing-sounding lemonade!

It was our first (and last) cruise with P&O all the staff were a bit rude and strange! Nevertheless we enjoyed it! Celebrity and RCCL for us! In fact, one day to go for our next one. I'm sitting here staring at an empty suitcase, willing it to pack itself! ;) for us, the lure of the suite is as you said, it's the size and the lovely balcony, all the little extras. We really can do without the butler, but I know some people love that side of it. We love the ports of course, but we are not early risers on holiday and we love to luxuriate in our room, sunbathe on the balcony, bliss! Then of course, the bluddy butler comes along to give you a lecture on sun cream, tan lines and why didn't we answer the door when he came to deliver nibbles! Haha, I hope he's calmed down a bit since last year! :D

I serious love you!

We are the same. Need to check my cruise count but almost 3O sailed and have had a fab time

on all.

We sailed Quantum in April 2015 and had the cabin steward from hell!

When cabins opened, we headed down to discover our room wasn't even touched.

No problem..go up to the pool deck for an hour and chill.

Go back and discover stil not ready. No biggie..we are on a cruise.

Back to the cabin an hour later and the steward apologizes for the delay.

I give him my formal dress to be steamed for the following night and it doesn't reappear until 4 days later when I asked for it.

No biggie..we are on a cruise.

Forgets to leave us soap, towels, forgets to clean the room one day, no biggie..we are on a cruise.

It was a running joke with my sail mates on what he would do next.

He was never rude, just inept.

I never complained to the Hotel Director, kept my auto grats in place but when we rec'd the "envelope" for add'l grats, we laughed our heads off.

Hahaha, love this! There was a lot more went on with our butler that I'll not mention, that falls into the creepy category, but we didn't say a word, didn't complain, just avoided him on the last day (expected tips day haha) ran out of there and sampled every rum imaginable in the airport! :D he really deserved to have been complained about and his arse kicked off the ship if I'm honest, but when my partner raised a glass to him in the airport I've never laughed as much! :D

Now, I really hope this post doesn't offend anyone as it involved the dreaded tipping, but most years that we cruise, we get a suite that has a butler. I am extremely lucky that I'm able to cruise this way and appreciate and savour every single moment of our lovely cruises! Oh and for the record, we don't really utilise the butler, we are very easy going and just like to be left to our own devices, enjoy the room, the ship, the ports, we are no trouble! Anyway, last year our butler was just downright mean, particularly to me, I guess I look a bit younger than my age and he took it upon himself to lecture me at every opportunity on food, what I was wearing, on the tan lines I had and how that was unacceptable etc etc. Well, we turned this into a positive, it became a bit of a standing joke between myself and my partner, wondering what he was going to lecture me on that day! It actually made the cruise more fun and it gave us a bit of sport! Down to the tipping.....yes, he got his prepaid gratuity, but no, the extra money we set aside for him was spent in Barbados airport on booze, which made the flight home very nice for me as a nervous flyer, we even raised a glass to him! Nothing upsets us on our cruise, we love every moment and turn the negatives into positives! :)

I've just come back from a cruise, my 11th not wearing a lanyard (and proud) People that were wearing lanyards, particularly women, in evening gowns just looked stupid, it ruins your outfit. Never mind if it's sparkly, it looks daft! I'm not a fan as you can tell! Ok during the day I guess, not for me though and definitely not when you're all dressed for dinner! ;)

Greatfully, I found another whole large thread of people who also share my distaste for lanyards! I feel less ostracisized now! Lol. Maybe it's because I have to wear one every day at my job that I don't like them. Who knows. But now I have been called a snob, the fashion police, and some other choice things. And again I reiterate the only point I was trying to make is that they do not go with evening wear..... and I think the reason everyone gets in such a wad is because maybe just maybe, i am right and that you do feel a little silly wearing a string around your neck with a plastic room key credit card on it? But again.... If it makes you happy do it. I, however, will not waiver in my opinion that it looks ridiiculous with evening wear! :) :) :) :). Happy Cruising guys!

Cruise Kev, you have a friend in me! I am in total agreement with everything you say, in fact, you should be offended that some people virtually called you a snob, so it's ok for them to judge you for having an opinion, but not you to judge them for wearing a lanyard?! I hate lanyards, I've been on 10 cruises and never lost my card, not once. I feel I look good, like to wear nice things and choose nice outfits to wear on the cruise and categorically do not want a lanyard ruining my outfit, plus, like you I wear one for work, so, it's a reminder! Anyway, that's my opinion, I dislike the way they look on myself and others, but I'm not a hater, each to their own! :D

I agree with the OP, I've also been to this port...A LOT...so now we stay on board! We have a fab day, chilling out..:) jobs a gud un as they say where I'm from! :D

Ditto to all the above! The first time we did it we felt a little silly wondering what people would think. But we soon realised its OUR holiday and OUR choice and we do it every cruise now (as most of the ports we've been to before at least once). We have had table mates and even crew look at us as if we were daft for not going ashore, but honestly, it's so relaxing. Sleep late, wander round, something to eat, swim, read a book, nap, few cocktails (obviously!), love it! We always book cruises for the ship rather than itinerary. The cruise we are going on in 2 weeks has 7 sea days out of 14 and they are honestly our favourite, love exploring the ship and staing onboard! :)

Or pick at them constantly?! Damn....I replied....I'm off! haha....;)

Stop picking on the guy that mentioned security! This is what I sometimes hate about this forum (and love in equal measure, nowt better than a good fight on here!), people latch onto something and won't let go and pick on people, the thread loses all it's common sense. Please don't pick on me as I won't be replying, but just thought I'd comment, let the thread go back to its original question. :D

I have to disagree with this last comment, we had a butler on one cruise and all he did was hound us from morning till night and lecture us on the fact he'd been knocking on our door with snacks and we didn't answer, where were we?! the snacks had gone cold and he couldn't leave them because of health and safety. It didn't exactly make our cruise miserable, but we just wanted him to go away. We explained on the first day we were easy going, didn't want much, didn't really want disturbing, but if we asked for anything we knew where he was. We tipped him well at the end of the cruise, so no worries there. But where others would have loved this, we were sick of him chuntering on all the time, basically lecturing us on stuff. Anyway, rant over. It's all about what you want from a holiday, so I understand that it makes some peoples experience more rewarding, having this relationship with the crew on board. We have had butlers and room stewards before and since that have understood our needs, but there you go, each to their own! no haters please! :D

I don't care if I see them at all and (I am not bragging here) I've been on a few where we've had our own butler and I'm not bothered if I see them either, just a quick intro will probably do with our needs and wants. I don't really want to make small talk with them, they are at work and I am on holiday and I always feel that if they are always hovering round they are just seeking more of a tip etc (just my opinion). I want to be left alone, as long as I have ice and fresh towels and my room is made up, I am not bothered! :D

I've never understood the lanyard thing. Maybe it's a UK versus US thing? No offence meant, but I hate the way they look, plus I wear one at work, so I don't want a reminder! Anyway, each to their own, but they're not my cuppa tea! :D

Solent Richard (my spell check wanted to change it to silent by the way! Ha!) I have read your review, it was excellent! I agree with everyone else here. I have been on 10 cruises, 1 with Cunard, 1 with Celebrity and the rest with RCL. I am 40 (in a month, yikes) and my partner John is 57. We have enjoyed every single one of them. We like good food, good drink, relaxing, a nice room and lots of fun! It's what you make it I believe. Some of the reviews we've read about the ships we've been on have been dire! We would not have booked half of them if they were to be believed. One woman complained that her husband got stung by a bee and marked the whole cruise as a 1! We are sailing Britannia in 3 weeks and I have to admit I was very concerned reading the reviews, but not now. I'm so excited to see the beautiful ship, excercise my legs seeing as the lifts are such an issue and generally have a fab time with my other half! Enjoy your cruise and make it one to remember. I know we will!

2!!!! I am beside myself with excitement....:D

Ahhhh, I love this! And so it descends into the maelstrom....sat chilling with a glass of wine, which my server (husband) so kindly poured me, enjoying this thread and no, I didn't tip him, the only tip I ever give him is to always remember to take an umbrella in case of rain.. :o

hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh, I love the dress code threads! My guilty pleasure! In fact I'm sitting here trawling through cruise critic when I should be doing laundry for our cruise next week!! :D

I personally like the prepaid gratuities, pardon my French, but I can't be a**ed on the last night to go running around looking for my head waiter and room steward etc etc, it's the last night and sometimes all we do is eat in the buffet and go for a few drinks and do our own thing! Maybe it's a uk thing, but I find the whole thing really cringey. I do tip for room service and of course if I catch my butler/room steward on the last night we always give them something for good service if we feel the need, but for us, pre paid is the way to go! :D

Pretty dress in a great color - and on sale! Be sure to take pictures for us to see when you return. Have a great cruise!

Thank you! It looks good on, covers the lumps and bumps! If I can get my other half to take a photo I will put it on, he's a bit of a grump when it comes to pics! :D

I have been on a few cruises, but always like to buy something new! We sail in a little over a week. Found this on sale at £40, couldn't resist. Lovely fabric, small side split and cut out back detail..love it! :o

These are making me chuckle! I have edited my post as I feel it would probably offend people, I know I was a it when it happened haha... I am learning how sensitive folk are on these boards! However I have enjoyed laughing at these! :)

Great pictures.

Those steps look dangerous to me.

Fabulous pics! Those steps ARE dangerous, I have been on the Mariner, beautiful ship, but wearing stilettos after one or two cocktails...take the elevator! :p

Hi, Betty,

 

My eyebrow issue is for another day :). Right now I'm very, very interested to read about someone using L'Oreal Preference. My natural hair color was strawberry blonde, but that was many, many years ago. Age and gray have not helped my red color :)

 

Sooooooooooo, I'm getting tired of spending soooo much to have my hair colored professionally and have been thinking about L'Oreal. Do you like it? How does the color turn out? I really want strawberry blonde but NOT orange. Please, please give me your review of your color.

 

Thank you so much.

 

Lynn

If its any help I am 37 and my hair is mousey brown with a couple of greys poking through! I use either loreal or clairol in number 8, medium golden blonde I think it's called, comes out quite strawberry blonde. I then use red coloured shampoos like shaders and toners, not sure what the equivalent is in America to go a bit redder. Everyone comments on it, in a good way I think! Not sure my other half is keen, but hey ho! Those are the products I recommend. Loving this thread by the way, I am cruising in less than 2 weeks and have all my outfits planned, maybe just a wee bit more shopping! Haha...:D