boscobeans

Tip nothing

Tip everyone

Tip the suggested amount

Tip a lot more

Tipping policy is fair

Tipping policy is unfair 

After a few dozen cruises over the years and thousands of threads dealing with this topic, we now tip the required amount and always (there was one exception) go well above and beyond the daily charge.

We tip our bartenders and our drink servers with each drink

We give CASH because it has no calories, and no one is allergic to it.

I don't know and don't care how well their earnings compare with workers in the U.S.A., the Philippines or any other country in Asia or Europe.

I do know that of the three crew members that I have had long conversations with they are doing well and live their lives and those of their families above what they would be earning at home, in Panama, the Philippines and in Switzerland.

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

No, but it would make it easier to compare cruise pricing 

In Canada , taxes and port fees have to be included in the price , again making it easier to compare pricing 

 

 I have been shopping at stores that have been advertising "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" sales for 20 years.

Business is business and "Caveat Emptor" should always be our guide.

. 

19 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

The service fee for an up coming 21 day cruise for 2 is $860.00 CAD , doesnt appear so trivial amount 

They should just pay the staff a living wage to start with 

People can tip if they want to

Out of curiosity. 

If they added the $860 to the published cruise fare would that be any different as to whether you cruise or not?

20 hours ago, RoyalC said:

Someone says this for every increase. It's like slowly boiling a lobster.

How much were the standard grats. 2 years ago?

How much was a loaf of bread or a gallon of gas 2 years ago?

Sure---Not CLEARLY making the increase known to ANYONE AFFECTED is wrong, but is the increase really that out of line with what is getting to be the norm in this out-of-control inflationary economy?

I'm going to spend about 40% more in gas money getting to and from Bayonne than I did on our last cruise.

My $1.50 a day gratuity increase is just over 10%

Restaurants around here are adding 10-15% surcharges to all their prices (THATS TOTAL PRICE-NOT JUST THE TIP) and unlike a cruise ship if you don't like it, you can't take it back.

If I was a lobster (I do believe the experiment was done with frogs) I would know when it was too hot and get out of the water but since the water is just as if not much hotter in my everyday life the minor rate increase doesn't faze me in the least.

Now if I compare a 7-day tip increase of $21.00 (wife and I) to the total $3.500.00 cruise fare it really doesn't raise the temperature of the water enough to even discuss the matter.

Happy cruising to all.

.

1 hour ago, nelblu said:

  If I had gotten the announcement, I would have pre-paid the grats. for my September 3 sail.

"" *Guests who booked prior to July 15, 2022 can pre-pay gratuities before their sailing at the previous rates, which are $14.50 for standard staterooms and $17.50 for suites.""

Can't you still prepay at the old rate, as long as the booking was before the 15th ?

Six nights ?

Maybe the next time they roll the dice to make a choice they could at least use a die with seven sides? LOL.

On 7/24/2022 at 9:49 AM, John&LaLa said:

The one and only, Newcastle Brown Ale 🍺 

 

Actually got it stocked in the SL on our last Symphony cruise. The concierge earned a nice gratuity 😁

There is almost always ONE bar on each R/C ship we sailed on that has it on tap. That and  Blue Moon or Franziskaner (Celebrity) are my choices.

After the above it is just straight spirits.

Considering the increases we are faced with just buying a week's worth of groceries or 5 gallons of gas to mow our lawns this $1.50 a day seems almost inconsequential.

They are at least grandfathering the earlier rates for bookings made before July 15, 2022..

9 hours ago, billslowsky said:

You won't be the only adult wearing shorts in the MDR.

And that goes for every night of your cruise..

4 hours ago, jspitz1 said:

Hi, we have just booked Wonder of the Seas for September next year as the price was pretty good for a new ship.  Just wondering if it's quite risky to be going to the Caribbean during the middle of hurricane season.  Is there anyone who has travelled this part of the world late September and had great weather?  

A few times. Once we had to skirt around some weather and another we just sailed through it. 

There has been a tram on the dock there on all three of our visits.

2 minutes ago, swmichigan cruiser said:

 I also know she is very busy so I try to do a lot of the leg work before I contact her.

Excellent point.

We know what ship, when we want to cruise and a choice of categories and locations. 

I closed my own agency in 2003 and retired from the business. I searched around to find a good agent and finally after a while I found one.

Over the last 18 plus years and dozens of cruises the savings have been very substantial with reduced or very extended deposits. She takes care of our casino perks, insurance and all the other details. No charges for cancellations and always willing to make changes as we often must change dates.

We are lucky to have found her and always do better than with the cruise lines but do understand there are agents and agencies that do not perform as well as ours. 

I think she will be retiring soon, and we will look for another if we are still cruising. 

Unsweetened iced tea in the MDR. 

5 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

When were you on grandeur. I've read at least 4 posters recently who said WJ is not open for dinner. It's currently out of Barbados... I'm just afraid that they arent ready for a big jump in capacity oitmof texas.

March 7th 2020.  I am pretty sure the WJ was open as usual since on that cruise there were no Covid protocols that I can remember, just ports closing down on a day by day basis. 

On 3/7/2022 at 6:15 AM, Akkers said:

What they are not calling at all ports?

Also is WJ and other buffet stations open?

"We've sailed her many times out of Baltimore and our last was just prior to the Covid shut down in March." 

Last cruise prior to shutdown was on March 7th 2020

This was during the first week of the cruise ban when ports were afraid of Covid being brought in by the cruise ships. 

Very different now and we have been on two cruises since then with most ports open with some or no restrictions.

The Windjammer was open as usual.

50 minutes ago, little britain said:

Currently on board a 14n cruise then staying for 7n.

 

Ship is very tired. 
Service is patchy as if they are all trainees; but they are getting better. It’s now day 13 and despite asking every day they still don’t have a jug of skimmed milk at the tea station!  
There are 740 on board of which 328 are British, 280 USA, 57 Canada… ( with the majority being Brits on board you think they would know about cups of tea 🫖!!)

 

Food has been served hot in MDR, WJ is closed at night, but they have offered a brunch on several days in MDR.

Entertainment has not been good; the pool band guy can’t sing, neither can the Schooner Bar guy - but tonight they have a Jersey Boys tribute so it’s getting better.  Lots of quizzes and movies.

Wifi is poor. Cannot get connected in my cabin. 

Captain is invisible. CD is pretty lame too.
However,  the itinerary and ports have been brilliant! 

JMHO. 

We've sailed her many times out of Baltimore and our last was just prior to the Covid shut down in March. 

Our grand suite was very tired to say the least. It looked Like an old worn-out motel room from the 50's that never had an upgrade. Veranda door had no functioning lock and slid open when the ship rode over a swell. even after 2 repairs. Wind sound was very loud from leaky door gasket. A/C and heat had to be repaired twice, and the ceiling panel actually fell.

It was however an adventure since almost all the ports were closed and we basically had a cruise to nowhere but for 2 ports.  Spent a ton in the casino and still enjoyed the cruise, possibly due to the deluxe beverage package . .

Loved the old favorites like the schooner and had GREAT waiters in the MDR.

Entertainment was the usual, too loud. LOL

Crew was great, MDR food was great buffet was as always very good but Chops was a horror show.

Internet was very spotty. 

Just wish they had spent a little time on upkeep, not even on upgrade, just upkeep.

Sad to see her in such bad condition, and I am not fussy about some rust or a frayed or worn sofa or rug. 

9 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

If a lower deck is available you may want to consider it - any time you have something other than a passenger cabin above, there's potential for noise issues.

Great advice not only for the possible noise but also the veranda may be in the shade from an overhang and that's not exactly what some people would want.

7 hours ago, SG65CB said:

I read somewhere on these boards that the Oasis class ships, even though they are the largest, are not the most stable of the RC ships. Something about engineering decision tradeoffs. Maybe it also has to do with the height, the higher parts of the ship move more side-to-side and it's a tall ship. 

 

 

I can just imagine the tremendous force exerted by a crosswind against a SAIL 16 stories tall and a thousand feet wide, which in effect is the same as the Oasis. 

We have Spectrum service on our iPhones and with Voom we make and receive calls just like we were at home as well as email and texts all at no charge.

My travel agent calls and sets up the cruise for us..

We remember back when there was a shipboard newspaper delivered to your stateroom each morning on Celebrity. 

It had major news stories from the various wire services, weather for some of the U.S. cities, major sport's results and was great to go along with your room service breakfasts.

Now there are several news networks on your stateroom TV. 

YES.

And at every level and venue on every ship. 

8 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I've never had guest services charge to make change.

Same here, never been charged.

On the Anthem the casino has a machine that will break down bills to smaller denominations, that is when it works. LOL

If you are a sun lover remember the top veranda decks usually have very large overhangs from the above deck and are shady.