Cygneagile

We are booked on a Diamond Princess late January 2013.

2 other ladies are coming with us. We do have 2 cabins with balconies.

My cousin is concern that her friend may try and smoke on the balcony. What inconsideration. Princess cruises advised that a 250.00 fine will be charged to the passenger’s cabin. I advised my cousin that her friend will be charged not her.

Does anyone see this as an accurate interpretation of the ruling and fine?

So can I state now that all Princess cruise ships are not allowing smoking on the balconies.

We are booked on a balcony for Diamond Princess in September to Alaska. She contacted Princess Head Office early in March and they advised her that not all ships were following this policy.

I believed that all Princess cruise ship are now adopting this no smoking policy on the Balconies.

I do not smoke but she does. Oh boy she is in for a big surprise.

Confused.

Julie

Transfer are handle by outside contracts that is why they are so expensive.They cruise ship has to make their money the bus, the drive, the guide and the Bus Company. You figure it out. That makes the cost so high.

I only buy the transfers when the port is further that the cost of a taxi. Most of the time we are either 2 or 3 people travelling.

Any cruise leaving from Porte Rico, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa or cities where the airport is close to the Port, we take a taxi, The above cities are ones that can just cost about 10 to 12 dollars per 2 passenger. That includes tips for the luggage. So transfer would not be warranted.

Twice, I believe we took a flight to Miami and then took the transfer to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

Our September cruise from Whittier we are taking the transfer from Anchorage to the port. We are seniors and it would be too much for try and get a taxi or shuttle. On our return to Vancouver we will be taking a taxi from the Port to Airport.

I have contacted the City of Vancouver for this information. They advised me that the traffic during noon hour is usually heavy and to expect it to take 30 to 45 minutes to the Airport. We may ask for a flat fee or take a shuttle that is usually a flat fee.

Some of our Mediterranean Cruises we also took the ship transfer because we were not familiar with the country.

I find that the transfer are expensive for the short haul. But, they may be worth it for the longer distances. It is easy, luggage taken care of and no worries.

What wonderful news. 2 for 1 drinks and the infamous bread pudding. A visit to the Crows nest is a must now. I can hardly wait.

We are booked on Zuiderdam April 12 and I will have to copy these tid bits so I can take advantage of them. Breakfast in the cabin is a must for us. We tip the waiter 2 dollars. We are three in the cabin so we believe that is just. If we order a hot breakfast we will tip 3. Most of the time we just order coffee, cream and fresh fruit. I am so looking forward to this.

I rained all day yesterday (Toronto) and then we were hit with another 3-4 inches of snow during the night. Where is spring? Even the birds are tired of the snow.

We are light sleepers and always made sure that we had cabins above and below us. On one cruise we had a service elevator across the hall. About 5 am every morning we heard loading and unloading. Loud noises! Now we make sure that there are cabins across the hall also.

Yep that is the way to go. cabins above and below you. Not to close to the service elevators. Sometimes you can not tell from the pictures of the decks. When the centre of the ship is blank then you know is it s service area. But sometimes they are far enough away that you do not hear anything.

Julie

It all boils down to the individual comfort. I do not like tipping in any circumstance. This service industry depends on the customer to pay their workers a decent wage. This is not right. You take the job with your eyes wide open. When on a cruise, the staff is underpaid or does not have a salary at all. Why, because the cruise line can get away with it. We go in for a 7 or 14 day cruise and will probably never see them again. This is not the same as going into the same restaurant and seeing the same waiters and bar staff.

The staffs are like puppets and actors they smile and work hard to insure your pleasures are all met. And they are very good at their job. Sometimes I sense that their attentions too automatic and artificial. And they will be the same for the people getting on after you. Smiles and smiles. Yes, they work hard, but face it folks, they choose to be on a cruise ship for any reason what so ever. We never fill out the comment card. If that is the way the tips are distributed then that is their problems not mine. Think about how the cruise would be if they had a decent wage and we tipped according to their services. This would be great.

But we all take different paths in life and taking a job on a cruise ship is their choice. I do not have to analyze why they take it or if this is a better life than what they have or if they are sending every cent home to their family. This is their business and not ours. We can be examining their motives till we are blue in the face. It is their lives.

I know I will probably be shot down by this post but I respect all approaches to this topic and admire your right to voice your opinions. And because, some of us have to save for a while for these wonderful cruises, we should appreciate all comments and not judge anyone for their attitude towards this testy and sensitive subject.

It is a done deal. Tipping is here to stay. So Deal with the best way you can. That too is O.K.

Cruiselines spend hundreds of millions building ships and then expect passengers to boost low paid workers pay by forcing auto tips regardless of service recieved!!

 

Lets assume 2000 adults are charged 50 euros each for a 7 day cruise,Raising a cool 100,000 to be shared amongst the crew.Assuming every single crew member receives an equal share and there are 1000 crew members,Each person receives 100 euros in tips..Whilst i agree its a handy payment ..Why should it fall on hard pressed passengers who are being fleeced left right and centre!!

Good point.

the euro will only cost you 1.30 or less. the cost of our tips on our 11 day cruise on the costa atlantica was only 6 euros a day which converted into $90 canadian per person which is very reasonable. less than 6 months ago the euro was worth 1.65

My email from Costa Cruise line stated 5 euros a day. But they did note on my email subject to change without notice. But even at 6 euros

it is quite reasonable. Now would be a good time for me to buy. I was quoted 1.3452 on Monday's close. One can not complain on that.

I have just received an email for the Costa line about the Gratuities and yes they still call it that. For cruises to Europe that are over 8 days the suggested amount is 5.00 Euro per day per adult. This is very reasonable.

We are going on the Costa Luminosa in September to Portugal, Spain the Canary Island and a few other ports. This amount seems to be less that the suggested amount for Caribbean cruises. I wonder why.

it wouldn't make any difference. then people would complain that it cost more.

So true. But then these are the challenges we meet every day.

I intend to enjoy my cruise. I am not there to find fault with anything.

Since I love pasta, I know the food will be good.

Julie

You know before even stepping onto the gangway what the scenario is regarding tips/service charge or whatever euphemism is used. I can understand a novice cruiser who is uninitiated, and thus inexperienced, in the formalities of the onboard tipping phenomena to be unprepared for the realities of this aspect of cruising.

I spent this past winter in New Zealand where tipping is included in the price of all restaurant meals. It's a novel idea to which I subscribe and endorse completely. Perhaps the cruise lines should stop dancing arround this issue and amalgamate the tips into the total cost of the cruise.

Now that would make more sense. All staff would get a higher salary to start with. I totally agree with this approach.

Then we can put this topic of conversation to rest.

In my books a Gratuity is a small gift, (money), given to somebody such as a waiter as thanks for service given. It is the part that we need to give this in order to supplement their salary that bothers me. And yes I know they need it. But it is like putting the horse before the cart. That is why I would prefer reserving the service charge as they call it, until the day is over and then justify the tip.

And yes, the Head waiters, for each table sections know who has opted out for the automatic tipping and who has not. They have a list. This was stated to me on my last cruise. The reason being was that the 4 or us showed up every night for dinner. The other 4 passengers we hardly saw at all. We did have a nice chat with our head waiter and gave him more. But this was because it was worth it for the excellent service and friendship he gave us. Not because it was compulsory.

That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Enjoy your evening.

Julie

as you say, they do work hard. if you can't afford the service charges, you shouldn't be cruising. perhaps they should be including it (like they do for europeans and aussies, who then complain about the fare being higher) but the do not.

 

pay up or stay home.

This is a forum of ideas and concerns. No one should shoot down a cruise mate for what they believe in or for voicing their opinions.

I have been cruising for over 25 years and have never and I say it again never not tippped whether automatic or individual. It part of the cost and you account for it at the very beginning.

Shhhhh what else can I say

as you say, they do work hard. if you can't afford the service charges, you shouldn't be cruising. perhaps they should be including it (like they do for europeans and aussies, who then complain about the fare being higher) but the do not.

 

pay up or stay home.

This is a forum of ideas and concerns. No one should shoot down a cruise mate for what they believe in or for voicing their opinions.

I have been cruising for over 25 years and have never and I say it again never not tippped whether automatic or individual. It is part of the cost and you account for it at the very beginning.

Shhhhh what else can I say

i don't know what you are hoping to accomplish by tipping in cash. it has been discussed at length that when you remove the tip, then tip in cash, the money must be turned into the pool. if you leave the tip in place, and wish to tip extra the individuals get to keep the extra.

 

btw - i believe on my last costa cruise (9/2009) it was called a service charge.

The Costa Luminosa is using the EURO as the dollar on the ship.

Being a Canadian this may amount to about 15 to 16 dollars a day.

That will make it 171.00 CND for the 11 night cruise. I do believe

that this is just over the top.

If this is going to be automatic they, for goodness sake, should include it in the cost of the cruise period. As with your cruise and flight all services and taxes are added on and you get the full cost.

To charge it every day on your account is ridicules. I tip when a tip is due and give gladly. These people work extremely hard and deserve it.

Julie

Being a Canadian and since I will cruise on Costa in September this information is very good. On other threads the tipping is now being called a Service Charge. So should we prefer to tip our cabin and dinning room staff with EURO's, we will be able to do this providing we advised the Guest Services ahead of time. We intend to put down a cash deposit ( EURO) for our cabin. This is for drinks and shopping. Not the Service Charge (aka tipping)

Julie