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BunnieBear

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Posts posted by BunnieBear

    Zumba (or similar) on Norwegian Jewel (Alaska)

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Hi Connie. I did but there wasn't any Zumba. There was a morning stretch/dance some mornings but our itinerary was very port intensive so we were usually queuing to get off the ship before it started. To be honest it was probably just as well because by the time we disembarked in Vancouver we were pretty shattered!! Have a great time. We loved the ship!

     

    Sent from my GT-I9505 using Forums mobile app

    Do You Have To Dress Formal For Specialty Restaurants

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    This forum is actually the only place you'll hear comments about how others dress. When on the ship people just keep quiet & bite their tongue.:)

    Of course they'll complain to the head waiters from time to time and we all know how much good that does. :rolleyes:

    There was a man in his 20s holidaying with an older couple, perhaps his parents, and he wore nylon football shorts day and night. I just assumed the airline had lost his luggage and wouldn't begrudge him a restaurant meal.

     

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    Bucket List Ports?

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    I have to say that my favorite port of call has been the Faroe Islands, a place I didn't even knew existed until I booked the VOV.! As for bucket list places remaining, it is really hard to choose a number one. I want to see Antartica, St. Petersburg, Greek Isles, the Northern Lights and on and on and on. Too many places and not enough time and money!!!
    I really don't think a cruise would be the best way to experience Greece. The joy of Greek holidays is having time to mooch around at your own restful pace and spend long evenings of food and music under the stars, not have to work to a timetable.

     

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    Tips

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I have seen both terms in restaurants. In the US, according to the IRS, there is a significant difference between a "tip" and a "service charge". That may be why people are confused about what NCL is doing, but NCL isn't using the official, IRS sanctioned language, and they and other cruise lines don't have to. For the IRS, a tip must never be a fixed amount added to a bill; the customer must have the full discretion to determine if a tip is given and the amount of the tip. No matter what they call it, in the US, any amount added to the bill as a "tip" by the company or server is actually a service charge. That distinction is important for reporting of the tip or service charge income as explained in that second link.

     

    If you see "An 18% gratuity is added for parties of six or more" the statement, while legal to use, is actually referring to what is legally a "service charge" in the US.

    Net result is the same though isn't it? Albeit staff would be taxed on their tips of they come through as a service charge. Or is that why NCL is registered in the Bahamas for different taxing maybe?

     

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    Tips

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    No one is saying you should tip any crew member any amount at any time. Even NCL says that tipping is 100% options. FYI I have NEVER seen at a restaurant "10% service charge" added but I have often seen something like "10% tip added for parties of # or more". It is irrelevant anyway what others say and hoe they use the terms fee. Again I am not at all saying you 'should' or 'have to' tip anyone also I am not saying anything at all to 'guilt trip you' into tipping. We should all tip (or not) as we please. It is, however, a very lame excuse for anyone to say that something along the lines of "I don't tip because the DSC covers that".
    Vocabulary differences only. The terms Service Charge & Tips being interchangeable. My point being we have already tipped.

     

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    Tips

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Why are you worried so much about how much they make? They work hard, and deserve all they can get.
    I work hard too. It takes a lot of saving up to go away so those that choose to guilt people into tipping in addition to the DSC annoy me. Service Charge = Tips. If you see "10% Service Charge Included" on a restaurant bill it's to let you know you don't need to tip.

     

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    Tips

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I was wondering the same thing. There are far more many people making my trip a good one that I DON'T see than the ones I do see. I want them ALL to be compensated fairly and appropriately. I also don't believe that anyone walks around a cruise ship with wads of cash for tipping at every service opportunity. That seems ridiculous on the face of it.
    I didn't see any cash at all in 10 days on board - unless those tipping the barmen had better slight of hand tricks than a magician. Can you imagine how many drinks they serve in an hour? If everyone tipped a $ a drink on top of the share they get of the 18% DSC applied to the drinks they'd be taking home more than the captain!

     

    Sent from my GT-I9505 using Forums mobile app

    Tips

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    I tip whenever I get a drink, be it the bar tender or the server. It's a service they are giving me, and in my opinion, they deserve a tip. The same with specialty restaurants. At the end of the cruise, I will give extra to my cabin steward and wait staff if on set dining with the same people. If you don't like this, then tuff.
    So you don't tip the cleaning staff, the kitchen etc? Just those lucky to be in the prime customer facing roles? It's fairer to stick with the DSC

     

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    "Free" drinks package - do we now have to pay 18% service charge?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    This makes no sense either since the alcoholic version costs more! What on earth is the rationale behind this? We are big coffee drinkers and we're shocked to find out coffee drinks aren't included. Coffee drinks are even more important to us then alcohol, and to us an even bigger reason to get the drink package - which we reserved before we were aware of this. Guess I'll have to get used to drinking spiked coffee first thing in the morning!
    Wonder whether you can smuggle on a Nespresso machine? [emoji477]

     

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    "Free" drinks package - do we now have to pay 18% service charge?

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    This makes no sense either since the alcoholic version costs more! What on earth is the rationale behind this? We are big coffee drinkers and we're shocked to find out coffee drinks aren't included. Coffee drinks are even more important to us then alcohol, and to us an even bigger reason to get the drink package - which we reserved before we were aware of this. Guess I'll have to get used to drinking spiked coffee first thing in the morning!
    It wasn't good. Sugary fake cream rather than real and too much sugar in the base. The purpose of the sugar in the coffee is to make the liquid cream float - moot point when it's spray cream.

     

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