golf2005

We just got off the Island Princess. We tipped the standard amount included in our room charge. Our table neighbors went to guest services and asked NOT to be charged that amount because they were going to tip directly. After I saw the reaction of the staff as they were tipped, I wondered if I had chosen correctly, or should I have asked for the standard tip to be reduced so I could tip some of that amount directly to the staff that served us. The only exception was giving $20 to our room service guy because he was awesome and cheerful and our kids (in the room across from us) tormented him by ordering more and more for each breakfast as the week went on.

 

After I got home it turned out that my VP's daughter worked on a Princess ship for 6 years. What an eye opener. Staff gets paid horribly, gets horrible food, looooong hours, miniscule quarters. I am guessing many of you know this, but I didn't really take the time to question how the staff is compensated. I guess what I am trying to say is that I don't really like the fact that Princess (and other cruise lines) use our fixed gratuity to pay staff enough to work for them. I guess I assumed our gratuity was paid over and above a reasonable salary.

 

Our dining staff and room steward were just okay, but they worked hard and I now wish I had given them a tip personally rather than leaving it to Princess to give them a reasonable amount.

Read on previous posts that if a passenger cancelled the auto-charge,

the waiter and/or room attendant receiving a direct tip is required to forfeit his tip by turning it in to his supervisor. Apparently, this must be the case since I gave an extra tip to our waiter and his assistant they both asked for my cabin number. I should have asked them why they needed to know my cabin number.

The bottom line is....people shouldn't be so cheap about tips by cancelling the room charge. . They are hurting the people who serves them.

I would like to know about a limo service as well. I definitely don't want to take the train while dragging luggage. We have paid 90 euros in Europe to take a taxi rather than trains. Without luggage would not be an issue, but with luggage, no way. Also, you get to see more if you go by limo/bus/van. Just go with enough time so you don't miss the ship :rolleyes:

Check out----Narita Express. Excellent train service ( so I've read), lots of room for luggage. We will be taking Narita Express from the airport to Shinagawa. Train also goes all the way to Yokohama.

Their website( NEX) has a lot of info as well as photos of their trains.

We are planning 3 day post-cruise ourselves, but will be based in Osaka. We have been to Kyoto before on a cruise. We would have liked to stay in Kyoto, but staying in Osaka made more sense as we will have a lot of luggage. If your heart is set on staying in Kyoto and you are disembarking at Osaka, remember the subways and train stations are not as easy to navigate as one may think. They are huge and quite crowded. Don't think of using public transportation during commute hours when you have luggage.

There are about 4 train stations where you can catch trains to Kyoto in Osaka. It is about a 10 min walk from the cruise terminal to the subway station. The better option is to catch a taxi to take you to the train station that is nearest to your hotel in Kyoto. The trains are really light rail and more akin to subway cars. There is not much storage space for luggage.

I've read a number of posts about a luggage carrier service. I think it is worth checking it out.

We spent 5 nights in Tokyo this summer and stayed at the Best Western Astina within walking distance of Shinjuku Station. The hotel is not fancy. The rooms are small but very clean. We got 5 nights for the price of 4 and breakfast was included. The breakfast was not fancy but enough to get us going in the morning. There is free wifi in the lobby.

 

If you are a baseball fan, check to see if there are any games while you are in town. We saw a game at the Tokyo Dome.

For those who are interested, there is a KRIsPY KREME at the Shinjuku Shopping Mall.

Yes. The Cruise Line Board is above the Ports Of Call.

To alwayslost----enjoyed reading your review. May I suggest that you post your review under the Cruise Line Board--( not Roll call). I'm sure it would get a lot of read and the information would be most helpful.