RoyalC

Royal Caribbean offer 4 free drinks for Diamond, 5 for Diamond Plus (me), and 6 per day for Pinnacle. It resets at midnight everyday. The Crown lounge is for Diamond and above, unless stated otherwise (if there are too many Diamonds, then they are cut out). Drinks in the lounge go against the limit. They also offer free internet (amount depends on level), a free 8 x 10 photo, discounts on other photos ($10 per photo on my last cruise), a repeater party with alcohol. Also included are near daily hor'devres in Cabin, 4 bottles of water, bottle of.wine or gift (Diamond Plus) and extra beverage. There are many other benefits too. Wish Carnival did similar but I'm sailing on Carnival soon. Looking forward to see how the food offerings compare.

Thank you both for your replies

Got an offer and sailing next month on a 16 day cruise as a result (because of Caesar's status being Diamond). In order to get another offer (free cruise/pay taxes type) sometime after the cruise, how many points should I rack up generally speaking?

It's paid in full. $100 deposit per person given back in OBC. Sailed Carnival 2X long time ago- they don't have any record of it. Yes, offer came from submitting Caesar's info to Carnival. No new offers exist but may call Carnival one more time to see what happens if I cancel (if the offer would come back).

Got a casino offer via match from Caesar's Diamond and booked a cruise that is 2 months out now. So if we cancel, I am guessing you cannot rebook another offer since it is done and no new offers show up currently? Would Carnival replace it with another offer possibly if it is cancelled? It's a long cruise (!6 days) and would like something shorter due to cruise mates work. Thanks

That's not how card counting works

So with the half off they are offering I booked the Fire Line and am interested in the Coaster/Aqua park combo too. The first zip line is offered at 8:00. I chose 9:00. The other excursion offers times. I assume you can do the coaster at any time and the time is for the aqua park? I also want to get chairs at Columbus Cove. Should I head over there before 9:00 and come back for the zip line or book a different time for the zip line? Both excursions are half off so interested in both.

Those people should be paid regular salary. Otherwise why don't we pay for the cruise director, pursers, casino staff, engine room people who make the ship go forward, captain, Jason Liberty, etc.

It's $252 for two people for a 7-day cruise. RCL loves when people say it's only a few bucks, it's only a few amenities removed, etc. This has been going on for years now, but people accept it. Add your high cruise taxes and it is around $600 to step on board without cruise fare, flights (for most), hotel (for most), transfers (for most). Excursions are not cheap either.

They can actually make more than 10X with all the cabins assigned. Two months off per contract.

This is not the reason because people have opted out of tips since the beginning of cruising. If they think raising the tip price is going to compensate they are mistaken. You already see numerous people on social media saying they are removing tips now. I would guess they move to the old system of cash, which puts a smile on everyone's face. I've also heard from several crew that their tips are reduced if they do not receive a high average rating for the cruise. So where does the money go then? Royal is hush on this. But people can do whatever makes them feel good, then boast about it on cruise critic lol (look at me!) I mean serious, if everyone was like the tippers on CC, these workers would be rich!

Fair share is subjective. Some people never use the dining room (yes, some staff are in there but they do not service like they used to outside of clearing plates mostly). Some people I've known have never used room cleaning. Yet, some people are pigs (their messy rooms) and eat every meal in the dining rooms (breakfast when available, lunch and dinner). Other cruise lines offer included tips. Many choices are still available either on the cruise, or with another line. If they make tips mandatory, people will jump ship so to speak.

Look at your assessment letter- it tells you.

Wait a day or two when the lines are not so long and before bedtime. No wait lol.

When you book there are terms you can look up just like I looked this up. The original post you quoted did not use the word optional- you did. So yes this info is available. When you book you are not required to prepay tips. You also have the option to purchase insurance via the booking process- but you do not have to. The "option" to remove is the same as not paying, or paying cash in lieu of the set amount charged to your credit card account.

"In the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard and will be able to do so until the morning of their departure. Guests who have pre-paid their gratuity will not see a daily charge during their cruise."

And I will be shorting the stock because it will feel so much better. Hopefully rates continue to increase too. I like stocks when they are cheap, and in the meantime I earn bank interest for once.

That is what happens when you hire a finance guy as CEO and not a marketing guy.

On the other hand they have no problem filling positions. Positions that REQUIRE crew to pay their own way to the ship (long expensive flight- at least one way). They pay for their internet too. They leave families to do this. Do the math and it is good money. This whole pay everyone fairly has some merit but also fuels inflation in a never ending upward spiral. In the States you have to realize it is not just $15 per hour- it is the added social security, work comp, unemployment insurance, etc. This all goes up when wages go up. Then prices go up and we complain people do not make enough so we have to raise wages again.

Guest services gives you the exact amount/breakdown but some is vague. They provide dollar amounts. The do not break out behind the scenes. Some places do pool tips now. I never see the same waitstaff at those places- wonder why. Perhaps this also means dishwashers are not being paid a proper wage and being placed under the minimum wage for tipped employees which is almost nothing- like that of a ship worker.

No one can dictate anything of course. There are some guidelines to tipping but it is mostly vague. I think the room steward is specified on a list you can obtain from guest services. In the past the main waiter is always tipped the same as the room steward so you can extrapolate that. Royal Caribbean needs to come clean on where exactly the money goes- it is not listed in their quarterly reports. As I mentioned in another post, I tip cash and the principals are all very happy afterward (after knowing the amount they received). It is usually a little above par. Sometimes more than that if they serve my D+ drinks in the dining room. In the past, auto-grats did not exist so no one was getting paid from auto tips behind the scenes. I guess they were paid a fair wage then? So what changed?

Americans would start taking these jobs then. Cost off living on a ship is super low. Lot of take home. Travel. Good for young people.

So they literally split 1.60-3.20 per day between at least 3 people?

So the people that remove grats do not tip at all? Not true

Behind the scenes are supposed to be paid a regular salary. At least that is how it works in some countries. Royal has you pay their salary. For example, the cooks that cannot cook bacon or some food properly.