Tipping issues on Princess Australia

[scperk]

We are just off a cruise on the Dawn Princess from Sydney around New Zealand..We understood when we booked this cruise that the tips were in cluded within our cruise fare as we paid more for this cruise than we normally pay....The second day into this cruise we had hotel charges appear on our sign & sail..When we went down to find out what they were we were informed they were gratuities..We asked why they were charging up tips and we were informed that they charged them to the Americans & Canadians but not the Australians or New Zealand cruisers...They told us they only charged us tips because it was our "custom" to tip but the australians & New Zealand were not being charged "tips".......Dennis

[GHDPeter]

Hi Dennis, did you book through the US - Princess.com or Travel Agent?

[scperk]

Hi Dennis, did you book through the US - Princess.com or Travel Agent?

We booked thru our US travel agent and were told our tips were included in our cruise fare...There were lots of Aussies on our Trans-Pacific that did not get the price drops that we got on the Carnival Spirit because they booked thru Carnival Au.......Dennis

[Alessandrina]

Hi Dennis, we'll be on Dawn next year -we are Canadian.

What is the tipping rate you were charged? Is it the same as in the USA (11.50-12$).

Cheers.

[scperk]

Hi Dennis, we'll be on Dawn next year -we are Canadian.

What is the tipping rate you were charged? Is it the same as in the USA (11.50-12$).

Cheers.

Yes it was $11.50 per day per person and you can remove them...It was my understanding that all the servers and room stewards are on a salary and they don't depend on the tips....Dennis

[Alessandrina]

Thanks for your reply.

How was the cruise? The food? Did you have a good time on that ship? The Aussies/Kiwis were a fun bunch/nice passengers?

Cheers.

[waltd]

It's unfortunate that your travel agent gave you bad information. Since you were paying the tips you might have found another cruise for less.

[scperk]

Thanks for your reply.

How was the cruise? The food? Did you have a good time on that ship? The Aussies/Kiwis were a fun bunch/nice passengers?

Cheers.

The ship is older and hard to learn to navigate..The aft elevator only goes down to 7, the mid-ship elevator only goes from 5 to 8....Our dining was 5 mid-ship so we had to got down to 7 or 8 and walk to the Atrium and cach the elevator down there or walk the Atrium stairs..The food was not nearly as good as Carnival but you got to remember they get their supplies in Australia..We stayed in Sydney for 7 days before this cruise and could not believe the prices for everything, I was told it was the second most expensive city in the world... The casino is very small, two blackjack tables, one pontoon blackjack(just like Fun 21 on Carnival,two roulette wheels and half the amount of slot machines..Most people were nice but not as friendly as Americans, you have to learn to walk on they left side as thats the side of the road that they drive on also..The service was good as I've ever gotten on any ships and the dining room service was very fast although we had one table next to us that was empty...Dennis

[Waynetor]

We had the same thing last year on the Sea Princess out of Sydney. Passengers from Australia or New Zealand were not charged the service fee while all others have it added dialy. The reason is laws in Australia require all in pricimg so the fee is built into their upfront cruise cost.

[windsor26]

When Carnival Princess Australia were made to pay their staff the minimum wage the gratuities were removed from the cruises which commenced in Australia but of course if you book through Australian offices you will pay more than in the USA Also of course there is no 15% gratuity added to drinks either.

When Princess first came to Australia there was a 10% gratuity on the drinks which the waiters told us was increased by the company to a 15% so that they were not short changed but at that time they were on the low wages of the other ships.

 

I believe that the pursers desk is of the opinion that the USA customers have booked through USA TA's and therefore paid less so they think they can add on the gratuities.

 

I believe they are also wrong in assuming that NO Australians or UK people trip WE DO and have in our own land for taxis and restaurants and etc. but it is not compulsory and we know the servers get a good wage anyway

[highheel girl]

Never heard of tips being included in a US fare.

[highheel girl]

duplicate post

[scperk]

Never heard of tips being included in a US fare.

This was not a US fare, we had to book thru Princess.com.au...But my issue is why we are charged gratuities and not Aussie & Kiwis.....Dennis

[windsor26]

Never heard of tips being included in a US fare.

 

I actually said the opposite - that if you booked in USA they would add you daily tips when you boarded but if you paid the higher Australian price they would not :D:D

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

This was not a US fare, we had to book thru Princess.com.au...But my issue is why we are charged gratuities and not Aussie & Kiwis.....Dennis

 

If you booked with Princess Australia, I would have taken the tips off. If you booked with a US TA, you would have gotten a cheaper price, I would have left the tips on. We tip extra anyway and pay the gratuities in the US, so irrespective to us. The service is worth it. :D

[scperk]

If you booked with Princess Australia' date=' I would have taken the tips off. If you booked with a US TA, you would have gotten a cheaper price, I would have left the tips on. We tip extra anyway and pay the gratuities in the US, so irrespective to us. The service is worth it. :D[/quote']

The service was great but it was my understanding when I booked was the gratuities were included in the cruises fare..I think all cruise lines should include the gratuities in the cruise fare and that way no one could remove them..I always give my steward and servers extra during the cruise ...I sent Princess customer relations an email yesterday and do not expect a response until monday or tuesday.....Dennis

[caribill]

We booked thru our US travel agent and were told our tips were included in our cruise fare...

 

The service was great but it was my understanding when I booked was the gratuities were included in the cruises fare.. ...I sent Princess customer relations an email yesterday

 

The mis-information about tips came from your travel agaent, not from Princess. You need to send an e-mail to your travel agaent.

[highheel girl]

This was not a US fare, we had to book thru Princess.com.au...But my issue is why we are charged gratuities and not Aussie & Kiwis.....Dennis

 

I agree, if you booked it at the Aus rate/policy then it should have been no different for you then any other passenger. :cool:

[scperk]

The mis-information about tips came from your travel agaent, not from Princess. You need to send an e-mail to your travel agaent.

Have you done a cruise out of Australia and I'd believe my TA before I believe someone on a cruise board...Dennis

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

The mis-information about tips came from your travel agaent, not from Princess. You need to send an e-mail to your travel agaent.

 

Have you done a cruise out of Australia and I'd believe my TA before I believe someone on a cruise board...Dennis

 

I am sorry but I agree with caribill..... your TA has given you the wrong information, blame them. There has been much discussion on the Australian/NZ board on CC that the new gratuities policy in regards to tips being part of the fare seems to only pertain to Australian and NZ citizens, irrespective of where you booked as the Purser's office onboard doesn't know where your booking actually originated from, or is too lazy to look, they just see American citizen and charge accordingly.

 

I can't understand though why your TA would have booked with Princess AU, my TA (who is in the US) books with Princess US when I am doing an Aussie cruise. Did they actually tell you they booked with Princess AU?

 

I know you are unhappy that this has happened but if you felt wronged you should have just taken the tips off..... over and done with. BUT If your booking was indeed with Princess US you more than likely received a cheaper fare and were expected to pay the gratuities.

[scperk]

I know you are unhappy that this has happened but if you felt wronged you should have just taken the tips off..... over and done with. BUT If your booking was indeed with Princess US you more than likely received a cheaper fare and were expected to pay the gratuities.

Even if I did book Princess US In my thoughts they should have charged ALL passengers gratuities or NO passengers gratuities..Because I understand the ship's employees are all on a salary on cruises out of Australia...I really think it's something Princess thinks they can do to nickle & dime their passengers...I'm still awaiting my answer from Princess customer relations and will post their response here....Dennis

[scperk]

Still waiting a response from Princess customer relations, I kinda doubt they are going to answer my question....Dennis

[Bizziecruzer]

The ship is older and hard to learn to navigate..The aft elevator only goes down to 7, the mid-ship elevator only goes from 5 to 8....Our dining was 5 mid-ship so we had to got down to 7 or 8 and walk to the Atrium and cach the elevator down there or walk the Atrium stairs..The food was not nearly as good as Carnival but you got to remember they get their supplies in Australia..We stayed in Sydney for 7 days before this cruise and could not believe the prices for everything, I was told it was the second most expensive city in the world... The casino is very small, two blackjack tables, one pontoon blackjack(just like Fun 21 on Carnival,two roulette wheels and half the amount of slot machines..Most people were nice but not as friendly as Americans, you have to learn to walk on they left side as thats the side of the road that they drive on also..The service was good as I've ever gotten on any ships and the dining room service was very fast although we had one table next to us that was empty...Dennis

Are you saying that the "supplies in Australia" are substandard or just different choices than available in America?

[scperk]

Are you saying that the "supplies in Australia" are substandard or just different choices than available in America?

I'm just saying they were different..The cuts of meat were definately different than I am accustomed to and we stayed in Sydney for 7 days before we sailed on this cruise..I just could not believe the prices for food and beverages in Australia..We were told Sydney was the second most expensive city in the world..And there were only 183 Americans on-board..I did an MSC cruise several years ago and I was totally surprised at what they served for breakfast and that ship got it's supplies in Miami...Dennis

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

I'm just saying they were different..The cuts of meat were definately different than I am accustomed to and we stayed in Sydney for 7 days before we sailed on this cruise..I just could not believe the prices for food and beverages in Australia..We were told Sydney was the second most expensive city in the world..And there were only 183 Americans on-board..I did an MSC cruise several years ago and I was totally surprised at what they served for breakfast and that ship got it's supplies in Miami...Dennis

 

Yes, I understand what you are saying because whenever we go to the US, the food is not what we usually eat. I think the general population here eats more fresh fruit and vegetables than meat. When we went to the US for the first time for a month, we were both craving badly a huge plate of cooked vegetables by the time we got home.

 

Basically, what I am saying is, that of course you will find the food different here than in the US, otherwise what is the point in travelling, you wouldn't expect the food to be the same in India or China for example.

 

I agree that it is more expensive than the US to eat out in Aust and living in Sydney especially is very expensive, however, the wages are a lot higher overall.

 

When you travel, just embrace the local customs and food of where you are..... I know it is what makes the trip worthwhile for us, otherwise you may as well stay at home so you don't have to get out of your comfort zone. :)