cruzsnooze

Too many people bought the cards so they went down to 8%. Keep your mouth shut if you want to keep a perk intact. Next I'm sure they'll go to 5% . Princess was the only card to be diminished, none others were downgraded to 8%

It would take an awful lot to drink $60-$80 . A 6 pack of water prepaid is $7.08 which includes the gratuity. I usually purchase this water bottle package and change my mini bar to 20 diet cokes. Diet cokes 6 for $11. If you don't use sugar the juices and ice creams are not going to be consumed. If you drink alcohol it probably pays to get a package.

Every ship I've been on has a laundromat. They are on many decks so if one is buy you can go to another deck. You purchase tokens in a machine using your cruise card or medallion and it's dispensed. I forget how many tokens for a wash or dry.

A six pack of water paid in advance is just $7.08 total. The internet is about $30 daily for multiple devises This doesn't come close to what you'd pay for the drink packages since you stated you don't drink. . Gratuity is at your discretion and I adjust the amount down ward. If you're wondering why there is a plethora of threads about it.

There in lies the issue. For those that don't drink for reasons of health, abuse of alcohol, liver disease or anything else the package doesn't work and previous resources are removed.

Actually if you look at their fare and do the conversion rate they do not pay more as one would suspect if they had the crew appreciation included. The one AUS couple I know even book through a US agency because US TA's give perks and in Australia and Europe they do not. In Europe it is reported they do not have refundable deposits so it seems logical they would want to book with a US agency on their charge cards.

I know they take a 10% administration fee. The cruise director clearly falls into the entertainment category which is listed as part of the pool. Even the internet cafe crew are revenue generating. What you want to happen and what really happens is two different things. They are not bound by any US labor laws since they register their ships abroad to avoid US taxes and regulations.

I've ordered a glass every cruise and it's been on the menu since the beginning of time. It's also the wine they finish with at the wine tasting. Look at the dessert menu wines not the regular wine menu

Because the policy clearly states revenue generating departments which those are. " The Shops of Princess offer more than just accessories and sundries you may have left at home. Shop on board and benefit from incredible tax-and duty-free savings off suggested U.S. retail prices on fragrances, cosmetics, jewelry and gifts, apparel and liquor. In addition to our everyday savings, we bring you special promotions throughout the cruise. Once on board, please check for times and locations of these exciting events by accessing JourneyView™ on your mobile device. Plus, Elite Captain’s Circle members receive an extra 10% discount in the Shops of Princess– no exclusions!"

It's not a savings if you don't drink or are diabetic and can't consume a gazillion calorie dessert

Nope, suites pay. I just got an email from my CVP which stated I pay in a full suite for delivery too. Mini suites are in my future since the suite perks are non existent but the fare is so much higher.

They have Errazuriz a late harvest wine that is sweet like Moscato listed as a dessert wine.

It goes to people who didn't serve you. An example would be the photo dept which I don't use or the shop keepers or the photographer..........and others

But it's not a land based and US values don't apply as has been brought up over and over again. The crew come from countries where the dollar goes much farther and the tax structure is not like ours. The crew get room and board and transportation to the ship.

I don't have to go to any other cruise line since the crew appreciation is merely a suggestion and I go to guest services and reduce it to a reasonable amount. The exception to reducing them is if it's bundled into a beverage package which is one reason these packages are pushed so aggressively.

The money goes first to Princess who deducts an adm fee. The money we pay as Americans supplements the fleet wide areas such as OZ and New Zealand who don't tip. The money does not go to the crew on the ship who serviced you. Onboard revenue includes shop keepers, cruise director and their staff (think revenue Bingo) and shore excursions , photo's and on and on............most everything is revenue generating

Everyone else has been deceived about these tips too. I've been beating a dead horse about this rip off for years because the crew gets the same regardless of what amount you give in the name of gratuity. The crew salary is based on longevity, reviews, department and incentives. The number of crew now added to the list is quite large.

Interesting article on MSN today. I'm not voicing an opinion merely posting the link. https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tips/cruises-are-increasingly-adopting-the-strategy-of-budget-airlines-get-ready-to-pay-more-for-all-the-extras/ar-AA1exFvA?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=981b4405140740858e75eab304a349e0&ei=11

I was merely pointing out that Americans perceive tips differently then Princess as per IRS definition. The operative word being Perception. Since we do not have any say in who gets our gratuity or in what amount it is really not a gratuity. My perception is the crew appreciation is a fare increase with less transparency.

It was never free but it was included in your cruise fare, now it is not if you call or use the TV it is $5 per order. The room service paper menu for breakfast will still be included with no extra fee.

The IRS does not have jurisdiction but the cruise caterers to US and is head quartered in SoCal and relies on US VALUES. I was pointing out what we consider a tip is not what we anticipate with the cruise.

Crew appreciation went up too if you allow Princess to do the daily automatic. $16 - $17- $18 . Get less service for higher crew appreciation. .

Crew Appreciation What does one category get over another to warrant a tiered approach? I've googled and researched who really gets this money and the cruiseline uses a lot of it for their own bottom line and calls it adm fees and account fees. I'm reading that crew are gty'd a certain salary and the gratuity only serves to bring it up to that salary and does not increase or decrease their salary. I'm not sure how to interpret this paragraph but it seems that Princess is using a service fee model and calling it tipping so they determine how much to distribute but I'd like to hear from someone who knows more. The IRS explained that in order for a charge to be qualified as a tip, it must be determined by the customer, who decides who receives the tip and how much to pay. A tip must also be made free from compulsion and should not be the subject of negotiations or dictated by employer policy. On the other hand, service charges include automatic gratuity placed on large dining parties, banquet event fees, cruise trip packages, hotel room service charges and bottle service charges. What is “Crew Appreciation”? A crew appreciation is a daily amount added to your onboard account, which is shared among the many members of our crew in hotel, dining and entertainment throughout the fleet who help make your cruise experience special. The daily amount of the Crew Appreciation is based on stateroom category. Stateroom Category Daily amount per guest Interior, Oceanview and Balcony $16 Mini-Suite and Reserve Collection $17 Suites $18

Hopefully we follow suit and charge Europeans

I had that cabin on the discovery earlier this year. I disliked it and tried to change cabins but it was a full sailing. The slanted ceiling made the cabin feel small. There were 2 very small closets. You couldn't sit at the desk and have someone get onto the balcony without getting up it's so small. The walk to the concierge was a mile long. The walk to anywhere was quite long. You may love it but I didn't.