rs45thompson

On 3/5/2024 at 4:26 PM, QTBabyNurse said:

WOW. I'm seriously embarrassed for those of you who choose to take a cruise but are too cheap to compensate the crew who service your needs. 

In my case I agree with tipping the room steward, bartenders and dinning room staff. I normally get great service and they deserve it. I disagree with them expanding it to others that they should be paying a wage too.  It should not be my responsibility to supplement the wages of those that wash the linen or vacuum the common area, etc.  I don't do it at a hotel and I shouldn't be doing it on a ship.  Everyone is entiled to their opinion and that is mine.  

In saying that I will admit that I prepay my gratuities so I don't have to worry about it.

8 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I leave $5 a night in my hotel room, they can choose to keep it, or pool it..I don’t care. 
 

I cruised during the envelope days, half empty MDR’s were common on the last night..

I agree with tipping room steward, dinning room staff, bartenders.  I do that at home and when I travel on land.  I don't agree with tipping all the others.  Just my personal opinion.

On 2/28/2024 at 2:28 PM, sheezsmith said:

So all the crew that clean up after you, hallways, stairways, restrooms etc get nothing, if you can afford a cruise, you can afford to pay all of the crew a small gratuity!! 

I'm curious.  Do you tip the same people at a hotel?  Do you find the people cleaning the stairways and hallways, restrooms etc and give them a tip?  If not then why should we on a cruise ship?  A tip is supposed to be a thank you for a service well done, not something you are forced to give to someone you haven't even met.  

1 minute ago, wrg said:

Another question here. Our family of four will be in two cabins. We have reserved seating in the MDR for the second seating and want to ensure that the four of us sit together nightly. How should we go about making this request? Thank you.

 

Have your travel agent link your reservations.  If you don't have a travel agent call Royal Caribbean and have them link the two reservations.

Thanks for the suggestion.  Changed to deck 10.

I am booked in this room December 16. Has anyone sailed in 12185 yet on the Apex?  Do we know about the noise yet? Hopefully it is underneath the hands, so no noise early in the morning.😊

We did the Chef's table on the Celebration.  Had a great time!  I want to say it was about $100 per person.  You meet at the Coffee shop and they walk you to the galley.  You get a galley tour and an appetizer and then they show you how to make the melting chocolate cake.  They then take you into the Chef's table room.  You have no problem hearing the Chef.  Here are some pictures.

IMG_2332.HEIC IMG_2338.HEIC IMG_2339.HEIC IMG_2341.HEIC IMG_2345.HEIC

Sometimes they call them in groups, like A01-A03 but if not it isn't that long between them.

19 hours ago, Dwright826 said:

Sister will be sanding with her birth certificate and driver's license. Question is, will it be an issue that her drivers license has her married name and her birth certificate has her maiden name? 

Things may have changed but when I used my BC and ID they told me to bring my marriage certificate to bridge name.  

1 minute ago, dreamer321 said:

If you're talking about complementary beverages it's coffee, hot tea (using tea bag & hot water), ice tea, lemonade, juice in the morning from dispenser.

 

If you're talking about drinks you can purchase then anything in stock.

Thank you! Yes, I meant what drinks are complementary.

Does anyone know what drinks are included on the Apex if you didn't get the all inclusive package?

9 hours ago, LLindaC said:

We’ve been on about 40 cruises, 5 lines. The last Carnival cruise I took was a nightmare…I will just leave it there. Look at the number of ships which have had mechanical problems. 

All cruise lines have had mechanical issues.  Ships, cars, trains they all break down and have to be fixed.  Maybe you hear about Carnival a little more because they have more ships I believe.  It happens.

Is it cheaper to book in advance or are there deals to be had onboard?

This will be our second trip to Saint Marten.  The first time we did Bernard's Tours and loved it.  This time we want to go to Marigot, enjoy a pastry and do a little shopping at the market.  I would also like to get some of this GuavaBerry Rum I have heard about.  Which is the the best and cheapest way to accomplish this?  Is it doable?  My first thought was the water taxi but in researching found it didn't go this far.  Second thought was to take a taxi, does anyone know the current price?  I have read that it is possibly a 45 minute ride?  Do you know where I can find the GuavaBerry Rum?  I saw the emporium was closed permanently.  Thanks in advance for your help.

On 2/18/2023 at 12:59 PM, cruisingcows said:

Mr. Whitaker did respond to me and mentioned that he has been having difficulties with his e-mail.  We are booked with him for April 2nd.  I will follow up on here if you are intersted.

 

I would be interested to hearing about your experience.  Also, what was the price?

We are in the same boat.  We are in our early 50's with a 17 year old son.  We like Carnival, with Royal being a close second.  On Carnival Celebration (my favorite ship) the kids were running up and down the hallway at 11-12:00 at night.  On Mariner we had kids running (almost knocked a lady over) and preteens pushing buttons and running out of the elevator.  Hoping Celebrity will be better.  

3 hours ago, garyl62 said:

Missed the ship coming in, but nice view from our hotel room. Off to breakfast and a quick walk along the beach before boarding in 3 hours! 

Nice view!

15 hours ago, Incognito1 said:

If you tip with Visa cards, they don't go into the pool (because they're not cash.)  It also allows those excellent cruise members that you're tipping to purchase something online for family back home.

 

I don't think there is one RIGHT way to tip, regardless of what some of the more vehement posters think (and post over and over ad nauseum).  Do what you feel is the right thing, and quit trying to guilt/shame/call out others who hold a different opinion.  It's your money; I'm not going to tell you how to spend it.

I didn't think about the Visa Gift Cards.  That is a great idea!

17 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

So, you didn't read the above posts?  Your cash tips will then be turned in.  

I tipped who I wanted to tip.  Once I hand the money over it is no longer mine and they can do with it what they will.  At that point, it is no longer my concern.  

9 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

If you have or are experiencing less service then it is because of changes made by Corporate, not the employees providing the service. If you want to take this out on them that's your business, but I don't think that it is the right thing to do. You'll give them cash and then they'll have to use their off time to hand it in as they are required to do and it will still go into the pool.

In my opinion, if enough people remove gratuities that will show how unhappy we as cruisers are with the changes.  If we pay it and keep on, nothing will change.  They will just keep taking and taking and giving us less. They are trying to see where the breaking point is and I am at mine.  Not enough to stop cruising but enough to take notice.

9 hours ago, audcc77 said:

Problem is … I used to not care where any of these tips go.  Whatever. 🤷‍♀️
 

Now that I’m getting less services for more money, I do. 

Yes, didn't really think about it.  I mean I paid the auto gratuities and paid a little extra if they did a fantastic job.  Now with the increase in gratuity, the once a day cleaning, the 2 hour plus dinners I want to know where my money is going. I think for the first time when I go on my cruise in November I am going to stand in that awful line and remove my gratuities.  I will then pass it out to those who I want to tip.  I'm going old school.

On 2/12/2023 at 1:47 PM, EngIceDave said:

Think of this logic...

 

You go to Disney World, go all through the park, but you decide that the only person who deserves to be paid is that one girl who buckled your seat belt on Space Mountain for you.

 

She deserves it because she was hands on with you.

 

Never mind all the people who run the ride, secures your safety, it's cleanliness and assists that young lady who helped you.

 

But only she is to be paid.

 

Yes, she is the only one to be paid.  I think as Americans we forgot what a tip is.  We over-tip and tip for everything.  I do the auto gratuity but totally disagree with it.  This is the definition of a  tip:

1. 1. 

   a sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services.

   "he never leaves a tip"

    

   It is my money I worked for and I should decide who to tip and how much.  It shouldn't be mandatory and I shouldn't be made to feel guilty if I don't want to tip everyone on the ship.  When I go into a restaurant I tip my waitress.  I don't tip the cook, the dishwasher, or the person who seats me.  When I stay in a hotel I don't tip the people who clean the sheets or the person who checks me in.  I leave money for the person who cleans the room.  

    

   At this point on cruise ships, we aren't tipping but supplementing salaries and that is not the definition of a tip.  Maybe that is why they have changed the name to service charge.

    

   This is my opinion and I'm sure others have differing opinions.

    

On 1/22/2023 at 6:58 PM, drakes2 said:

There is a big difference.

 

We will have to agree to disagree.  Have you been on a carnival cruise?

On 1/17/2023 at 4:47 PM, horseymike said:

Maybe they thought they were on Carnival ?

I have never experienced this on Carnival. I don't know why people dump on them.   They are no different than any other cruise line. 

Thank you for sharing.  Love seeing the old Capers.