maui07

Just because you don't understand something' date=' doesn't make it crazy - it just means you don't understand. The cruise fare is just a fraction of the income for the cruiseline - they really want to get you on board to spend more money. They will probably not make anything further off a 6 month old (maybe pictures), while adults spend money on cocktails and the casino and shore excursions. There is no incentive to charge children less, so they don't. It sounds like a resort might be more to your liking.

 

The original poster was asking about grandchildren starting at age 7 and asking if they don't eat in the main dining room, do they have to tip the full amount. YES, because they will be eating and sleeping somewhere. People can certainly always find a reason not to tip, but cruising with a child clearly isn't one of them.[/quote']

I absolutely understand, I worked on cruise ships 3 years post college. There is nothing wrong with having an opinion on something. I truly don't understand why people get so worked up about it.

You bring your own towels & sheets and take the dirty ones home. Ahhh ya doesn't everyone? Unbelievable yes unbelievable!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Why is it unbelievable that a family bring their own (crib) sheet -something that the cruise line doesn't have and a baby towel? Not unreasonable at all.

What ever gave you the idea that children staying in the same cabin with their parents shouldn't be charged the same rate for gratuities every day? That's just crazy - if anything, I've always felt the children should be charged more as they create more of a mess in general. Having said that, gratuities should have been put into the budget BEFORE booking the cruise. Yes, it is expensive - but so is cruising. If you can't handle the expense, don't cruise. Lowering or eliminating gratuities for a child is also lowering or eliminating the earnings of the various staff members that serve them - essentially taking the food from their own children. Think that's fair? I think it's cheap and very, very sad. If you feel the kids' club staff should be tipped (which is not necessary as they are professionals earning a much larger salary), they can be tipped separately.

Hey to each their own opinion..To be honest I think charging a 6 month old the same you charge a 36 year old is crazy. And to think that the youth staff receive a much larger salary is insane. When I worked onboard for Celebrity and NCL (as a youth counselor), I earned $1250 a month/and a few tips. A waiter/cabin attendant/etc earns 3-4 times that amount, they also work twice to three times as much as a youth counselor. Its like comparing apples to oranges. No one is saying they want to eliminate all the tips but to adjust down a few bucks for a toddler/baby isn't a big deal. No one is taking food from the mouths of others. Trust me, the crew eat it up that so many people feel "so sorry" for them. Its not a bad gig, they know exactly what they are signing up for.

 

Unfortunately Carnival is also 6 months and up. We were on them last year with our 7 month old.

 

wow! that must have changed recently because it was 2, two years ago.

Are you saying that you're doing the steward's work, so you don't need to compensate him? His pay depends largely on the gratuities, as you know. If he finishes your nice, neat room quickly, it's not as if he can make extra money somewhere else. You are cutting into his income, and his family will feel the effects.[/QU

if he's only 20 months you shouldn't have to tip at all, almost all the mass market lines add tipping at 2 years of age. Happy sailing.

Sorry...."Actually" but you couldn't be more "wrong" if you're including RCI in your reply. Best not to give out information unless you're sure it's correct, as this could be very confusing to some once onboard !![/quote

 

My apologies, you are correct with RCCL, I hope I did not "confuse" people too much. NCL is 2, Costa is 3, MSC I Believe is 4, Carnival was 2, Princess was 2 as of our last cruise. With that being said, *most* mass market do not tip the same at all ages. For anyone to believe a 6 month old and a 56 year old require the same amount of service is unbelievable to me.

I have also posted the question on the Mex Riviera thread as well....thinking about a glass bottom boat to the arches and lovers beach then being dropped off at medano beach? Any other ideas? Is there anywhere on Medano that you can "get away" at all or is is crazy packed everywhere? Thanks.

Was thinking about taking a glass bottom boat to the arches/lovers beach and then heading to Medano beach since I have read that it is the "most swimmable" beach. Just worried about the mass amounts of people there. Can you get away at all there? The other option is a whale watch on the big pirate ship boat and then beach day. Any thoughts?

I have found mixed information about Cabo's whale season. We will be in Cabo April 5th, what are the chances of seeing whales if we book a whale watch. I have read their season runs through mid march but I have also seen a few local companies offering whale watching until April 15th, thoughts?

Will be in cabo next month with my hubby and 3&6 year old. Is there anywhere quite on Medano beach? Thanks

Hubby, myself and our 3&6 year old will be in cabo next month. We would like to take a trip out to see the arches and then be dropped off at the beach. What should I expect to pay for this?

You should always tip based on what you feel is right for the services you received. We will be taking our 20 month old on his 2nd cruise next month and will most likely give more to some services and less to others. He has a peanut allergy so even though he will not eat much, I hope they go a little extra mile to accommodate him and therefore will give a bigger tip to the wait staff, but for other services may give less based on that he wont watch the shows, or use any of the activities. We will use our own sheets for him, and towels, etc in the room as well.

if he's only 20 months you shouldn't have to tip at all, almost all the mass market lines add tipping at 2 years of age. Happy sailing.

I think it depends on cruise line when tipping begins.

 

As to the original question we have always left tips in place for our kids. As a matter of fact often tip more if they are in their own cabin.

 

We find the crew you see does more for them than the adults, and tips also do go to those you do not see. We think about tips as part of the overall cost when booking. They truly should be called a service charge, not tip or gratuity.

 

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

My bad, I should have said all the mass market cruise lines begin at 2, we have sailed on Celebrity, NCL, RCCL, Princess, and Carnival and they have all been 2. Also, that may be true for messy teenagers/tween but to have to tip the same as an adult vs a 2 year old there is a HUGE difference in service given/used. You really can't even compare the two and I don't they think should be lumped in the same category. Lucky for me, I can still adjust my gratuity as I see fit for for my two and five year old and giving some to the youth staff instead. Call me crazy.

Sorry...but everyone pays the same gratuities regardless of age, 6 month old infant - 100+ year old adult.

Tipping starts at two actually.

actually not true, tipping starts at 2 years old.

I have cruised several times with my kids who are currently 2&5. I reduce the tips (for my children) and give the difference to the youth staff, you know the ones that are actually providing my children more of a service. With that being said, I pick up our room, make the bed, put the bunk away, pack the crib away everyday, etc. With 4 of us in the cabin, it needs to be clean and tidy and I do 99% of it before the attendant arrives. Flame away. Ps. I also used to work on cruise ships and have worked in the service industry for 15 plus years and don't feel one bit sorry about it. Flame away...

No, they don't. We have the same dilemma for our cruise out of LA, we are just bringing the carseats because we need to get from LAX to San Pedro and back and no one will take us without carseats as per California state law (uber or a shuttle service. I'm sure Florida may be similar.

Thanks! I actually hate nutella, no problems here. :)

Haven't cruised NCL in 2 years and was curious if they still had the crepes station during the evening buffet. Thanks.

When I was a youth counselor on ships tips were much appreciated and not very common unfortunately. Most parents would give a tip to the counselor at the end of the week on the last night of service. All tips are then pooled from the staff and distributed evenly. Tip as much or as little as you see fit, it really isn't "expected." Just a nice acknowledgement to know you were appreciated.

Is this thread a joke? The kid's club is open 12 out of 24 hours in the day, what more do you want? Incredible. Why bother bringing your kids?

Local time. We sailed princess last feb in Mexico.

Yes, you can drop off the 3 year old, no, they don't need to be potty trained-they do not change diapers though, they give you a pager if there are any accidents. Yes, they are usually pretty good with autistic children. Many of these questions are answered under the NCL website FAQ under kids program. Good luck. We are sailing in April with our 3&6 year old.

I was a youth counselor on NCL and Celebrity many years ago (12) and this was never allowed. We did combine some age groups during off season when the kid count was extremely low. They do combine groups in port as there are far less participating on these days.