robintry

You're booking a suite and are upset over an increase of $0.95 PPPD?

You missed the point! I resent tipping anyone upfront for services I have not received. Paying this ahead for what may or may not be clean cabins and polite and efficient dining experiences amounts to $32 a day, so I question why the guest does not have the option of deciding who gets what.

Recently received an e-mail from Royal Caribbean regarding an upcoming cruise. It informs us that as of June 1 we will be billed a service charge of $15.95 per person per day for our cruise. Personally, I think this is presumptuous. On Brilliance we have twice had a head waiter who is nasty and for whom we wouldn't tip a cent. We've also had staff who are fantastic and for whom we would tip excessively. Gratuities should definitely be left to the discretion of the guest. If Royal Caribbean has been unhappy with gratuities to the personnel, they should pay higher wages and not have to sock it to the guest. This e-mail states "$15.95 per day for suite." I called Royal Caribbean to ask if it was only $15.95 total for the suite or per person, since the e-mail isn't clear. The answer was that it was per person.

Is anyone else unhappy with this? Are other cruise lines doing the same?