Your Time Dining and Prepaid Gratuties

[Gypsywych]

I emailed my TA today because I forgot to ask for YTD. She mailed back that she'd change it promptly, but I'd have to prepay the gratuities because that was now a Carnival policy.

 

I usually prepay my gratuities before we go, because I don't want them on my S&S bill. I like having everything paid for before we go, but to require them to request YTD?

 

Does anyone know why?

[mosaic_mom]

On my last cruise, I had YTD and didn't have to prepay gratuities. I just booked the Miracle for next year and chose YTD and wasn't told I had to prepay gratuities.

[DEBnGAB]

Same here...booked for Sept with YTD and no pre-pay (pay before we get on the ship) of gratuities.

 

I am not aware of such a policy from CCL.

[sparkscruiser]

It is not an option as far as I know - you can check the Carnival site - I think it is so some folks do not stiff the wait staff. Seems fair enough to me.

[Gypsywych]

See, that's what I thought.... we didn't have to prepay last September.

 

Does anyone know if this is a new policy?

[stewpapa]

Maybe the TA was thinking of Royal Caribbean. They require prepay of tips with My Time Dining

[luv2cruzfrmtx]

We just booked our Triump for October and got YTD. We were asked if we wanted to prepay our gratuties but it was not required for us to do so.

[candigirl41]

I agree I think the TA is thinking of Royal Caribbean.

 

Candi

[sparkscruiser]

We were told by our PVP if we did that dining option we would be required to prepay - but we always do anyway, so it made no difference. Possibly they will not let you remove tips from your Sail and Sign after it's charged to you? They must have changed it when I wasn't paying attention, LOL!:o

[katiel53]

It would not surprise me that Carnival is following Royal Caribbean's policy. I still think, if it is true, that they are discriminating against those of us who choose to use My time/Anytime dining. I have to say we always tip at least the minimum, but why should we have to pre-pay tips for our cabin steward when others on the ship are allowed to remove all tips and pay what they want? To me, it is discrimination.

 

I do believe that ALL PASSENGERS should have to pay a non-removable "service charge", (with a few exceptions like NCL has) but to penalize some of us for choosing to not have to be in the dining room at a certain time is ridiculous.

[babyblue78]

We just cruised on Freedom in February, had ATD and pre-pay gratuity was not required. We also have since booked Fantasy for August, again with ATD and no pre-pay gratuity required.

[lovecruzing]

I too believe your agent is thinking about royal caribbean as I too just changed my dining time from early seating to my time dining on my miracle sailing for November and inquired about pre-paid tips as I thought it was required but was told it was not. I went ahead and paid it in any event as that is one thing less I will have to deal with.

 

Bevie

[klmorg]

OP, your TA is wrong. You do NOT have to pre-pay gratuities for anytime dining with Carnival.

[serene56]

It would not surprise me that Carnival is following Royal Caribbean's policy. I still think, if it is true, that they are discriminating against those of us who choose to use My time/Anytime dining. I have to say we always tip at least the minimum, but why should we have to pre-pay tips for our cabin steward when others on the ship are allowed to remove all tips and pay what they want? To me, it is discrimination.

 

I do believe that ALL PASSENGERS should have to pay a non-removable "service charge", (with a few exceptions like NCL has) but to penalize some of us for choosing to not have to be in the dining room at a certain time is ridiculous.

 

 

When sailing the pride- we spoke to the waiter that had a few tables for anytime dining. He said many remove their tips and he sees nothing for many of those tables each week.

 

 

He has worked as a waiter for 23 years and does not like the any time dining the way it is working.

 

(when people report back about bad service, unfriendly waiters- I wonder if this is the reason why)

[swimmom32]

We just booked the liberty and werent even asked about pre-paid Gratuties..We didnt pay up front either on our Destiny Cruise back in December...