kirtihk

As I wrote on multiple occasions, some (including me) in general don't need to clean it at all by someone else (by doing it yourself); however, it doesn't change the fact of expectation of such a service while on vacation when you just want to totally relax couple (or a few) times a year.

I will sound repetitive: whatever is called tips/ gratuities/service charge (and tax for that matter, by the way) shall be included in a product price regardless of whether it is a cruise, a restaurant item, haircut, whatever else - you like it/accept price you buy it - no issue. Then there will be no stingy upon experiencing such a product. Why is it so difficult to accept this concept is beyond of my comprehension? In the end one pays the same amount of money (as with tip being paid separately) but having much better overall total outcome (no need to think/calculate/guess every single time per each purchase).

That means it also was wrong across all cruise lines for decades until a few years ago when they started to do auto-charge to the pool of employees, wasn't it?. Previously, they were giving recommendations just for 4 particular crew members (including specifically cabin cleaning personnel) on what tip percentage would be in cash at the end of a cruise per each individual meaning no one else was getting any tips from the total tip recommendation. Everyone who cruised in those days knows it. per person.

Is cruising a kindergarten?

People must simply compare every single item from a long list prior to Shmandemic with the current one, and the majority is not in favor of the latter.

Absolutely! Including luxury cruise lines (from a personal experience 6 weeks ago). That's a spirit! And this is how we do cruising. Voayge, Voyage!!!

Some cruise lines allow to use OB prior to sailing, and some don’t (Seabourn, for example).

It's not possible not to have an opinion. When one doesn't care, it's that's person opinion, too, nevertheless. Voyage, Voyage!!!

Funny or not, it's actually typically true on any cruise line all the time: a waiter carefully observing a table for the last person to finish any course prior to bringing the next one (or giving a dessert menu for that matter).

I agree. Eden is the best! I spent hours there (on the Edge) every day during our 2 cruises in April-May 2019 15-day Transatlantic crossing and February 2022 7-day Caribbean. We booked 2 more - 10-day April 2024 on Beyond and 7-day April 2025 on Ascent.

You will enjoy the cruise. We were on the 16-day Christmas on the Canal Dec 20 - Jan 5 Splendor cruise, and it was perfect. The orchestra was the best, especially their nightly 10:30 pm personal performance after the main show in the Meridian lounge (manager Wesly who is so energized while performing, 3 Ukranian members (especially, guitarist Yevgeniy) and all others are great)!

We were on 16-day Christmas on the Canal Dec 20 - Jan 5 Splendor cruise, and even though most people kept lounges forever, there was plenty of them available between pool deck and the deck above it.

Oh, I didn't see your comment before I replied to the comment on my previous statement. Thank you!

By my observation, now, the word "entitled" is abused so much, actually (as many other "innocent" words). That's what is a corrupt culture (brought up by irresponsible people) is these days. Voyage, Voyage!!!

Unfortunately, I noticed that. I came to US 32 years ago from a country where math is an important school subject (similar to South Korea); so, I was shocked by what I observed here. Besides, I'm mathematician by nature (a special math and physics school since I was 6). Voyage, Voyage!!!

I stated while being on our March 8 - 25, 2020 shmandemic cruise on Ponant Le Soleal (South Pacific crossing from Eastern Island to Tahiti) and 've been repeating over and over since then that this is what will occur if setting from your second sentence happens. And, haplessly, it happened.

I also call it nonsense for any tips charged in US. It should be included in a product price (meal item in a restaurant, hair-cut, whatever). You see a price, you accept it, you buy it, you use it, the end.

That's right ... as of today ... we shall see how others proceed ...

Precisely! - they don't call it "gratuities" anymore; it is the "service charge" now. My agent told me that 1. now one cannot adjust it on the ship for any reason regardless of whether prepaid or being paid on-going on the ship, and 2. it goes to the entire crew pool; so, who knows what they actually do with it in terms of distribution among personnel.

Thank you! Exactly my point!

right ... and increasing gratuities at the same time. That was my point. Norwegian just increased theirs: $20 per/day for up to balcony (from $16 that was also implemented recently from $14.50 previous), and $26 above balcony (family of 4 in 14-day cruise would pay almost $1,500 just in tips). That's roughly 40-60% increase in <1 year!!! From the other point, these days air is almost $2,000 per person economy to fly to Europe for a cruise, but that's a different story...

It doesn't matter. 2 people with $10 p/hour (working 12 hours p/day) vs 1 person with $20 p/hours (also working 12 hours p/day) with 20% tip in each case would produce the same $48 total tip. Arithmetic's since forever ... PS. The above example is extreme. In reality 1 person performing double-work during the same amount of working hours (even if it is possible to begin with) would get most likely in the best-case scenario around $15 p/hour instead of $10, not double ($20); so, as I wrote in my original statement, there must be gratuity decrease per passenger.

Hmmm,... Seems the opposite of a logical outcome - wouldn't staffing shortage mean a supposed decreased gratuities (less personnel - less compensation to deal with)?

Not only to the crew. We noticed even on luxury cruise lines how food from lunches and dinners (including both buffets and restaurants) ends up (in different forms of further preparation) next day in buffet lunches and dinners. For example, today there is a meat cut, tomorrow a Shepperd pie made of it. We've been seeing this functionality everywhere (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, Ponant, Regent, Paul Gauguine). I'm sure it's because of a conveyer routine being implemented in the kitchen.

and before January 1, 2023 was not there cost management?