Ret MP

I too am not looking to argue. Mostly looking for clear and precise information. As an IC, as you put it and I thank you for that, much shorter, the person paying my wage has the right to tell me, the position I will be working (as long as I'm qualified for it and I agreed to the terms and conditions of the contract), what my days off are, what shifts I will work, and what activity I'll be doing. That has nothing to do with HOW I do it. And that's the legal hurdle, being told how to do your assigned task. Just as one example: A stateroom steward is told to clean a stateroom and to what standard, he/she is not told that the restroom must be done first or that a mirror must be cleaned by using left to right or vertical strokes with a cleaning cloth. Just that the mirror must be cleaned to certain standards/the stateroom must be cleaned to certain standards. Yes, U.S. Citizens and residents who are crew members of RCCL are required to pay U.S. Federal Income taxes and I've posted links to that issue. Also, as a retired active duty U.S. Army soldier, I can tell you that I had to pay taxes to the IRS every year that I was stationed overseas (war zones excluded). Cruise ship workers are not exempt from reporting and paying income taxes if any are due. It's been many years since I was in personnel manager/resource manager and I'm sure many many things have changed. But, the above (the past few posts) is part of my past experiences and knowledge AND what I've researched recently. But, I could be wrong.

As I understand it, most, if not all, workers on a RCCL ship are "Independent Contractors", not traditionally defined as "Employees". "While payroll employees of a company receive a W-2 form, anyone who works for themselves on a regular basis typically receives a 1099 tax form – and if they work for several entities, they may receive a lot of 1099s. But even people who aren't independent contractors may receive 1099s for a variety of reasons, such as reporting prize winnings, investments and retirement distributions to the Internal Revenue Service". I was an Independent Contractor working for a few large trucking firms (one at a time, of course). They hired me to move cargo from one place to another, what time to pick it up, and what time to deliver it, to be safe and care for their equipment using their schedule of maintenance, and they provided the equipment to do so, a truck. However, they did not tell me how to change gears, how to turn the truck, how hard to press on the gas, how to wash the windshield, what kind of vacuum to use, etc. Therefore, I was an Independent Contractor. I'm sure the ship's crew is the same way, they provide a service/profession but aren't told how to do their tasks, just that a task has to be done to certain standards. And, the crew will tell you that they work on a contractual basis, not full-time employee status. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-defined The general rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done. Again, I'm no lawyer. I can only go by my own experiences and what I've read.

Exactly, that's why I went to some effort to point out that there is a difference between "Corporate Income Tax" and "Individual Income Tax". I believe we are on the same sheet of music.

If taxes are withheld, I'd bet a dollar to a donut that a form, I believe it to be 1099 of some sort, will be issued. I only used the 1099 MISC as an example (it was the first to pop up in my search engine). There are many.

Exactly. Also covering ended contracts that weren't filled for one reason or another, if no qualifications and certifications are required.

As Biker said, not likely. I can speak from experience, no they aren't waiting for you to enter the ship again. I guess if you make prior arrangements or communicate your approach to the ship with extenuating circumstances, it's possible. But, I've/we've never been escorted back on the ship at Ports of Call.

A 1099 is given to none employee "Independent Contractors", which I believe all workers on RCCL are. I guess there could be exceptions. Federal Income tax can be held from "Independent Contractors". See block 4:

This is my home as it looks when I'm not at home. There are also 5 or 6 security lights that come on when motion is detected, one is solar-powered. If I'm out for only an hour or two or three, it takes more energy to get the house back to the desired temp if I shut the HVAC off and then on again when I come home again:

I'm not a lawyer and some of the references here and others are very technical legal readings. However, I think the premise of the discussion is on "Income Tax", "Individual Income Tax. From what I've read, and I freely admit that I may be wrong, the income tax referenced in the links pertains to Corporate income, not personal/individual income. And, again I could be wrong, the U.S. does require all U.S. Citizens and Residents to file and pay their legal obligation of taxes (which could be none). If the employer withholds income tax from an employee's paycheck, which I believe Royal does, the employer is obligated to report (1099) and submit those withholdings to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. I've read several articles that state just about the same as this: "Taxes on Cruise Ship Employment Income Crew members are responsible for any taxes due to their country of origin. Only United States citizens or employees that reside in the USA will have US federal taxes deducted from their pay." Cruise lines pay no taxes (other than an individual income tax of its U.S. Citizens/residents) to the U.S. directly. If the ship is registered in a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the U.S. the cruise lines pay that country and then the country pays the U.S. after all the +/-'s are added up and adjusted or vice versa. Once again, all the above, some of the above, or none of the above may be wrong. It's just my reading of things.

Their world HQ is in Miami. The ships are "registered" in the Bahamas, at least some or many, a tax gimmick. They have many many many regulations and laws, including tax laws, that apply to them on the ships that cruise out of and/or visit U.S. ports and have U.S. citizens/residents working for them on their cruise ships. EDITED IN: Yes, RCCL is incorporated in Liberia. https://www.royalcaribbeangroup.com/contact-us/

I totally agree with the premise. However, that is only true if the waitstaff and/or Steward(s) are honest. That's not an indictment, I'm sure the vast majority of them are honest people. But, there is that 10%.

Yep. I doubt seriously that the official policy of RCCL is for the Steward(s) to leave a card in slots to defeat the system they have installed.

Technically, all one needs to do is cut/tear out a piece of cardboard from a Coke (or whatever) carton. It doesn't matter what the shape is as long as it goes all the way into the receptacle.

I'd be all for a less formal wine bar. I'd also like to see Mead in the wine bar. Of course, I'd like to see a good craft beer selection included in it.

Oh so true. What a waste of time that show is! My opinion, of course.

I've cruised out of Galveston a couple of times. But, before the big shutdown. Galveston, for RCCL, has a brand new terminal I've read many comments/reviews about the new terminal, and about 99% of them have been positive. I'll be cruising out of there in January 2024 and can't wait. I understand parking is easy and convenient but a little pricey. Wish I could provide more info.

I use the hotel room key that I was given at the hotel the night before embarkation. If I don't stay at a hotel the night before, I use my DAV card and hope I don't forget it, haven't so far.

YES, exactly! It's about the cheapest activity on the ship. Well, except for the theater, comedy club, Aquat Theater, etc, etc, etc.............

Yep, that's my point. We are on the same sheet of music.

I hope you enjoy it and I'm looking forward to your review!

And that is precisely the root of my problem with Rustbucket. Thank you for that!

I have said here many times that you can cruise on any ship in Royal's fleet one week and the same ship a week or two later and it can seem like a completely different ship. Why? Because the crews change constantly. If you had the best steak in the world this week, it may be the worst next week because that particular chef went to another ship or home, between contracts. Hell, cabin service may be totally different between the forward part of the ship vs., the aft part of the ship! Why? Because the Stewards aren't the same people and their supervisor(s)/manager(s) are probably different people. To be honest, that's the way I like it, not the bad food or service part. I wouldn't want every ship and every restaurant to be cookie-cutter. A little variance is good, as far as I'm concerned. As we all know, different ships in the same class are different, especially the Oasis Class ships. And I like it. I don't think the above is unique to RCCL, either.

John Lydgate I usually pay no attention to food reviews. It's way too subjective. By mistake, I've responded to a few reviews. No longer. Some just can't understand that we all have different tastes and expectations. That, I'll point out, though.

I have never spent a cent at the BB. I'm a big-time tech geek wannabe. HOWEVER, I don't see the draw to it. I've watched it doing its thing many times and just don't have the desire to use it.

So, how many bottles of wine should a suite guest be allowed to bring on a RCCL ship? I mean, if the cheapest cabin sold is, let's say, about ~$50.00 - $60.00 per night and each of the of age occupant can bring a bottle of wine on the ship, how many bottles of wine should a, for example, Star Class, cruiser who pays as much as, or more, than ~$1,000.00 per night, be allowed to carry on the ship.