minn0315 Posted January 11, 2011 #1 Share Posted January 11, 2011 We last cruised on RCCL 4 years ago. This new cruise for us, Oasis, January 15, required prepayment of gratuities. Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bevomom Posted January 11, 2011 #2 Share Posted January 11, 2011 We last cruised on RCCL 4 years ago. This new cruise for us, Oasis, January 15, required prepayment of gratuities. Why? Did you select My Time Dining perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted January 11, 2011 #3 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I agree you selected MTD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted January 11, 2011 #4 Share Posted January 11, 2011 When you choose MTD, you have to prepay your tips, as you may not have the same servers everynight. It's for YOUR convenience...so you're not trying to divy up tips to a zillion different folks at the end of the cruise. If you do traditional dining, you can still pay your tips in cash at the end of the cruise as you'll have the same waitstaff nightly. Be aware that the pre-paid tips will take care of your room attendant, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRacanoUK Posted January 11, 2011 #5 Share Posted January 11, 2011 We actually like the pre-paid tips. We always do traditional dining, but it's just easier to not have to worry about having the right cash at the end of the cruise. We always tip the suggested amount or more anyway so it's not that big of a deal. I heard once on here that they were doing it because of the increased number of Europeans going on cruises these days. Tipping isn't as ingrained in their culture as it is ours. So many of them didn't tip at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiggypooo Posted January 11, 2011 #6 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I agree. Much easier to have it done before you leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minn0315 Posted January 11, 2011 Author #7 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Thanks to everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypo Posted January 11, 2011 #8 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Prepaid tips also improves the cash-flow picture for RCCL, as they are using your money for 10+ weeks prior to your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovethatmouse63 Posted January 11, 2011 #9 Share Posted January 11, 2011 We don't like pre-paying gratuities. We like to tip for the service we get. If we get good service we tip very well,if not then we adjust the tips. Sorry, that's just how we feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennbr9 Posted January 11, 2011 #10 Share Posted January 11, 2011 We don't like pre-paying gratuities. We like to tip for the service we get. If we get good service we tip very well,if not then we adjust the tips. Sorry, that's just how we feel. Guess you won't be doing MTD then. Then you have the choice.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karena1 Posted January 11, 2011 #11 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I love MyTime dining and have no issue whatsoever in pre-paying my tips. One less thing I have to take care of on the cruise. We always tip more than the recommended anyway, so now instead of taking all the cash for the tips we just add what we want to the prepaid amount and put it in the envelopes. Works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbirdhouse Posted January 12, 2011 #12 Share Posted January 12, 2011 So if you want to pay in cash, when do you get the envelopes? Do they have a drop box at guest services? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sushigirl Posted January 12, 2011 #13 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I do not understand prepaying tips 3 months early. Charge them to my sea pass on the first day, no problem. If I called a restaurant for reservations and they told me I had to prepay the tips when I make the reservation, I would go somewhere else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LovesCruising Posted January 12, 2011 #14 Share Posted January 12, 2011 So if you want to pay in cash, when do you get the envelopes? Do they have a drop box at guest services? Envelopes will be left in your cabin prior to the last night - by your steward. If you need additional envelopes you can get them at guest services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsPete Posted January 12, 2011 #15 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I do not understand prepaying tips 3 months early. Charge them to my sea pass on the first day, no problem. If I called a restaurant for reservations and they told me I had to prepay the tips when I make the reservation, I would go somewhere else!You could make the same argument about pre-paying your meals, entertainment, etc. three months in advance. It's the way the cruise line payments are set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixCruiser Posted January 12, 2011 #16 Share Posted January 12, 2011 So if you want to pay in cash, when do you get the envelopes? Do they have a drop box at guest services? Yes, they will put out a box on the last day. ### Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXASMUNK Posted January 12, 2011 #17 Share Posted January 12, 2011 The drop box is NOT for tips. If you choose the cash method, the envelopes are left in your cabin, you add cash and hand out the last evening in the MDR. Leave the envelope on the bed for your cabin steward when you go to dinner that evening. You can get extra envelopes at Customer Service and your end of cruise survey get deposited in the drop box...it is well marked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemylab Posted January 12, 2011 #18 Share Posted January 12, 2011 You could make the same argument about pre-paying your meals, entertainment, etc. three months in advance. It's the way the cruise line payments are set up. Same thing can also be said about all-inclusive resorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johanna7 Posted January 12, 2011 #19 Share Posted January 12, 2011 We had My Time Dining at the Oasis of the Seas and went to our assigned dining room each evening and had the same table and the same 2 waiters (waiter and assistant I guess) every night. I don't mind paying in advance for the gratuities as it makes our seapass account at the end much less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebJ14 Posted January 12, 2011 #20 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Prepaid tips also improves the cash-flow picture for RCCL, as they are using your money for 10+ weeks prior to your cruise. I don't pay them with my final payment. I go back and pay them about 10 days before sailing. Less cash to drag with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LovesCruising Posted January 12, 2011 #21 Share Posted January 12, 2011 The drop box is NOT for tips. If you choose the cash method, the envelopes are left in your cabin, you add cash and hand out the last evening in the MDR. Leave the envelope on the bed for your cabin steward when you go to dinner that evening. You can get extra envelopes at Customer Service and your end of cruise survey get deposited in the drop box...it is well marked. Exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGenie Posted January 12, 2011 #22 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Perhaps a dumb question, but can the tips be paid afterward when you settle your account. I received a stateroom credit when I booked that I planned to use to pay tips, specialty restaurant charges, drinks, etc. I want to use that balance against charges incurred on board, then pay any difference I owe with my credit card when settling up. Am I thinking right? First time on RCI, but this is how things were done on Disney. Your guidance is appreciated...Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistergq Posted January 12, 2011 #23 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Perhaps a dumb question, but can the tips be paid afterward when you settle your account. I received a stateroom credit when I booked that I planned to use to pay tips, specialty restaurant charges, drinks, etc. I want to use that balance against charges incurred on board, then pay any difference I owe with my credit card when settling up. Am I thinking right? First time on RCI, but this is how things were done on Disney. Your guidance is appreciated...Thanks! If you are not doing my time dining, you can elect for prepaid trips while you are on the cruise. If you are doing my time dinning, then you are charged at the time you sign up for MTD. If you wait until you are on the cruise ship, then you have a chance that you will nto get MTD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGenie Posted January 12, 2011 #24 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I'm sorry I wasn't more clear with my question: Doing traditional dining...not My Time Dining. Am I correct to presume gratuities can be charged against my stateroom account, and the credit I got when booking? I want to charge my tips to my stateroom account...at the end of the cruise, not before I receive good service (horse before the cart). Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajathree Posted January 12, 2011 #25 Share Posted January 12, 2011 If you eat at a lot of the specialty dining venues pre-paid gratuities are not a good choice. I used to always do MTD (which I think is great)...however I find that I eat at specialty dining all but maybe just 2 nights out of a week. I just can't see doing pre-paid gratuities anymore in my case....so I now just stick to traditional dining with no pre-paid gratuities and tip as I go to whom wait's on us that evening in whatever venue we dine in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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