Drink Package Service Question

[AlbertaCruisers]

So, I know that this topic gets beat to death, but I'm wondering if anyone has any specific thoughts relating to my questions below.

 

We have never got a drink package before. We are taking friends on their first cruise and we have both bought the premium package (Eclipse) and a friend of theirs that cruises a lot (but isn't taking this cruise with them) has them worried that we will get terrible service.

 

In trying to alleviate their concerns, my thoughts are as follows:

 

1. Without a drink package you have the option to tip extra, we often tip extra when we get good service ($1 a drink usually or more for really good service), but based on speaking to people, I think about 90% of people do not tip above the 15% that is added automatically.

 

2. Without the drink package, we have been told that the automatic 15% is pooled and split between all of the servers, but that if the customer adds anything extra on the extra tip line that goes directly to the server you tipped.

 

3. I have read a lot on here, from all the cruise lines, where people with the drink package actually feel they get better service when the servers find out they have the package. Any thoughts on whether that is universal or have some people reported getting terrible service?

 

4. So, I was thinking that the automatic 15% cannot be spilt equally can it? Say one server leans on the bar for the whole cruise and servers 100 drinks total and another server is doing a great job and serves 2000 drinks - there must be some recognition of that? Therefore, if you have the drink package and they don't think they are getting tipped extra because of that, but you are now an "easy target" that likely isn't saying no if they come and ask you if you want a drink, maybe that bumps up the # of drinks they serve? Any comments or thoughts?

 

Thanks for your time.

 

Sue

[dgparent]

As soon as they find out you are a Oiler fan they will stop serving you !

 

 

Just kidding, I have not had the package but you can still tip the server a buck or two, just like everywhere else if they know you tip they are sure to come back and give you great service. I am not sure about all the rest of your Q's

[AlbertaCruisers]

As soon as they find out you are a Oiler fan they will stop serving you !

 

Funny, as soon as I saw your comment I assumed you were from Calgary! Didn't expect that from some from NC!! :D

 

As for tipping extra, I didn't think you had to sign the slips when you had the drink package, so how would you tip? I'm not carrying money around!

[dgparent]

Funny, as soon as I saw your comment I assumed you were from Calgary! Didn't expect that from some from NC!! :D

 

As for tipping extra, I didn't think you had to sign the slips when you had the drink package, so how would you tip? I'm not carrying money around!

 

LOL I am originally from Northern Ontario :) I carry a bunch of ones with me, I have no idea how you will tip without carrying cash ?

[gosport11]

no slips involved,will have to use folding money if you want to tip,we gave 20 euros to the bar server and asked her to buy a drink in the crew bar for the rest of the staff in that bar :):)

[Oceanview77]

I had the drink package on the Eclipse last year and I never had any issue with the quality of service that I received. I think overall the X staff are very well trained to give all customers great service. I will say however that the staff is not thrilled about the drink packages because it does cut down on the "extra" tips they may normally receive. Before the drink package I would sometimes tip an extra dollar here and there. Now with no slip to sign there really isn't an opportunity to tip extra unless you ask them to print a slip in which case you can add an additional tip at that point. We did that with the bartender at the molecular bar at the end of our cruise because he had been great to us the entire week. Hope that helps.

[AlbertaCruisers]

Thanks for all the info!

[flames9]

Go flames Go (Sask Lad here)

[ILVet65]

We were on the Eclipse in Dec 2012 and we both had Premium Packages (wife had NA and I had alcohol). We got great service in every venue we went to...admittedly we took a stack of $1s (or you get change at Guest Services or the casino) and normally tipped one or two per round when they brought our cards back. When we walked into the Martini Bar or Al Bacio, the staff were heading our way as soon as they saw us. After dinner each night, a cappuccino with Baileys on the side appeared without ever having to ask after the 1st night. We will be doing the packages on our future cruises.

Have a great cruise!

Lisa and Gerry

[cardinals218]

On our cruise with six people on premium package we also took cash just for tips. We usually tipped a few bucks a round and received amazing service. We had a server at the pool bar who took very good care of us, every time we would walk out to sit in "our spot" in the smoking area he would just bring us our normal round. In the MDR, we tipped our sommelier and always had wine with dinner with no problems. Everyone in our group thinks the 15% Celebrity puts on top of the drink package is way below what we tip in a regular bar for what we drink so a few extra dollars here and there we feel are deserved.

 

Based on what we heard from other passengers with the package, no one had any service issues besides some bars running out of specific liquors.

[AlbertaCruisers]

Great info. Thanks!

[Mulege]

Had great service on Equinox, tipped last night to Martini Bar staff where I spent too much time according to my wife.

[Jem 12]

So, I know that this topic gets beat to death, but I'm wondering if anyone has any specific thoughts relating to my questions below.

 

We have never got a drink package before. We are taking friends on their first cruise and we have both bought the premium package (Eclipse) and a friend of theirs that cruises a lot (but isn't taking this cruise with them) has them worried that we will get terrible service.

 

In trying to alleviate their concerns, my thoughts are as follows:

 

1. Without a drink package you have the option to tip extra, we often tip extra when we get good service ($1 a drink usually or more for really good service), but based on speaking to people, I think about 90% of people do not tip above the 15% that is added automatically.

 

2. Without the drink package, we have been told that the automatic 15% is pooled and split between all of the servers, but that if the customer adds anything extra on the extra tip line that goes directly to the server you tipped.

 

3. I have read a lot on here, from all the cruise lines, where people with the drink package actually feel they get better service when the servers find out they have the package. Any thoughts on whether that is universal or have some people reported getting terrible service?

 

4. So, I was thinking that the automatic 15% cannot be spilt equally can it? Say one server leans on the bar for the whole cruise and servers 100 drinks total and another server is doing a great job and serves 2000 drinks - there must be some recognition of that? Therefore, if you have the drink package and they don't think they are getting tipped extra because of that, but you are now an "easy target" that likely isn't saying no if they come and ask you if you want a drink, maybe that bumps up the # of drinks they serve? Any comments or thoughts?

 

Thanks for your time.

 

Sue

 

Hi Sue

 

We have always found the service excellent when we have had a drinks package (usually non alchohol) however now that Celebrity have given free packages to most passengers who are now booking and some lucky ones who had booked previously, I do wonder what the service at Al Bacio will be like, hopefully they will add extra staff and machines?

 

We usually give some extra dollars to our favourite servers at the end, except at the Elite event where we tend to tip daily.

 

Also if you have paid for your package have you tried to get it comped as most people seem to have been sucessful. Enjoy

[AlbertaCruisers]

Hi Sue

 

We have always found the service excellent when we have had a drinks package (usually non alchohol) however now that Celebrity have given free packages to most passengers who are now booking and some lucky ones who had booked previously, I do wonder what the service at Al Bacio will be like, hopefully they will add extra staff and machines?

 

We usually give some extra dollars to our favourite servers at the end, except at the Elite event where we tend to tip daily.

 

Also if you have paid for your package have you tried to get it comped as most people seem to have been sucessful. Enjoy

 

Thanks for the information and yes, we had prepaid for the premium package and this week we did manage to get the 123 Go sale deal. Because our room went up in price by $1200 we had to downgrade to an ocean view in order to take advantage of the deal, but between the downgrade of room and the free beverage package (with the $322 upgrade fee to premium for 2 weeks) we saved $2000 per couple. Everyone is very excited about that!

 

Sue

[one9marine]

We were on the Eclipse in Dec 2012 and we both had Premium Packages (wife had NA and I had alcohol). We got great service in every venue we went to...admittedly we took a stack of $1s (or you get change at Guest Services or the casino) and normally tipped one or two per round when they brought our cards back. When we walked into the Martini Bar or Al Bacio, the staff were heading our way as soon as they saw us. After dinner each night, a cappuccino with Baileys on the side appeared without ever having to ask after the 1st night. We will be doing the packages on our future cruises.

Have a great cruise!

Lisa and Gerry

ILVet65, Welcome Home,Brother.

[CaroleSS]

We've never had the drinks package (ok this is our first time onCelebrity) and we are anxious to see how they compare to other lines.

 

My husband is for the most part a VERY generous tipper! While on cruises, he almost always give a buck or two to the server each round. On other lines, we've found that the servers see him coming and scramble to wait on him....they know him by name and many times, just meet him when he come in (say on HAL in the Crow's Nest), drink in hand!

 

Not that it matters, but we always prepay out gratuities and always give the cabin steward an extra $20 on the first day and usually more at the end. We have always heard a happy "good morning Miss Carole/Mr Bob" by our cabin steward.

 

Our last cruise was with RCCL. He tripped as usual, but we really noticed a difference between them and HAL. No one called him by name, the servers seemed not to care about the extra tip and at times he had to hunt for a server and/or a bartender! Similarly, our cabin steward never called us by name.....it was as if we didn't exist!

 

We are hoping this was an anomaly and that the staff are more attentive on Celebrity. I certainly don't expect special treatment, but a pleasant "Good morning" costs nothing. Just wondering if is a sign of the times, or just an "off" cruise. Guess we will find out in 40 days! :cool:

[C&F]

Hi Sue

 

We have always found the service excellent when we have had a drinks package (usually non alchohol) however now that Celebrity have given free packages to most passengers who are now booking and some lucky ones who had booked previously, I do wonder what the service at Al Bacio will be like, hopefully they will add extra staff and machines?

 

We usually give some extra dollars to our favourite servers at the end, except at the Elite event where we tend to tip daily.

 

Also if you have paid for your package have you tried to get it comped as most people seem to have been sucessful. Enjoy

 

Very good point I hadn't thought of! We may not see the effect for a few months as many (of course not all) people booking now may be booking for a few months down the line. I'm wondering if we'll start to see service slip, not BECAUSE people have drink packages, but as a result of overload.

[boston_scientist]

At cafe al bacio, where the drinks are included with some of the non-alcoholic packages, they often insist on serving you at a table. I would assume that the gratuity included in the package covered the barista (who I gave a small additional tip, 10 euro, at the end of the cruise), but not the server, who I would tip $2 after delivering the first round of beverages (and snacks) to the table.

[C&F]

We've had the package for the last two years and have had excellent service. If I find a particularly friendly bartender, I'll either tip a $5 up front of a few drinks or just maybe a $1 each time I get a round. Most are friendly and courteous and go the extra mile, so I tip as I would on land. This goes for the wandering drink waiters as well. Of course being nice to them usually results in good service as well, but cash ALWAYS works, lol. I just carry a few bucks around in my pocket. If I go in the pool, who cares if it gets wet!

[Mrs_Tiki]

We have done the Premium Alcohol Package for our last 2-3 cruises and have never noticed any decline in service. In fact, at times it has seemed almost easier for the servers, particularly the sommeliers in Blu.

 

We don't tip extra per drink, but if we frequently receive great service form a particular server, will tip them extra at the end of the cruise.

[BRUCENLYNN]

We've never had the drinks package (ok this is our first time onCelebrity) and we are anxious to see how they compare to other lines.

 

My husband is for the most part a VERY generous tipper! While on cruises, he almost always give a buck or two to the server each round. On other lines, we've found that the servers see him coming and scramble to wait on him....they know him by name and many times, just meet him when he come in (say on HAL in the Crow's Nest), drink in hand!

 

Not that it matters, but we always prepay out gratuities and always give the cabin steward an extra $20 on the first day and usually more at the end. We have always heard a happy "good morning Miss Carole/Mr Bob" by our cabin steward.

 

Our last cruise was with RCCL. He tripped as usual, but we really noticed a difference between them and HAL. No one called him by name, the servers seemed not to care about the extra tip and at times he had to hunt for a server and/or a bartender! Similarly, our cabin steward never called us by name.....it was as if we didn't exist!

 

We are hoping this was an anomaly and that the staff are more attentive on Celebrity. I certainly don't expect special treatment, but a pleasant "Good morning" costs nothing. Just wondering if is a sign of the times, or just an "off" cruise. Guess we will find out in 40 days! :cool:

 

I think you'll find that Celebrity is the best in the industry! Regardless of whether you have tipped extra or not they are there to serve and make your cruise the best. We always give more than the standard daily gratuities because it is well deserved. I have never had a cabin steward that didn't do everything possible to make my cruise experience the best. We also buy the premium drink package and are treated well so we treat the servers/bartenders well!

 

HAL is a whole different experience which is why after two cruises with them we will not go back! If they aren't being indifferent then they are being downright rude!

 

I hope you enjoy your cruise with Celebrity! :)

[startrek77]

Thanks for the information and yes, we had prepaid for the premium package and this week we did manage to get the 123 Go sale deal. Because our room went up in price by $1200 we had to downgrade to an ocean view in order to take advantage of the deal, but between the downgrade of room and the free beverage package (with the $322 upgrade fee to premium for 2 weeks) we saved $2000 per couple. Everyone is very excited about that!

 

Sue

 

Are you saying they let you upgrade the free package from classic to premium?

 

You just had to pay the difference?

[CaroleSS]

Lynn,

I hope we are pleasantly surprises with Celebrity!

 

I will say that all our HAL cruises stand out as having had THE best service, with us being quite disappointed with RCCL. We didn't expect too much from Carnival, and weren't disappointed...:eek::eek::eek:

 

Guess each ship is different, each itinerary is different and the staff on each is different. Might make for a great (informal) survey to see if there are any similarities for when service is good and when it's bad!

 

As I said before, we look forward to the exemplary service Celebrity is supposed to give....we will continue to tip either way.

[AlbertaCruisers]

Are you saying they let you upgrade the free package from classic to premium?

 

You just had to pay the difference?

 

Yes, with 123 Go sale they include the Classic package and you can upgrade to premium for $11.50 per person per day. Great deal if you were buying the package anyway. We had paid around $1748 for 2 people for 14 days. That gets refunded and now we pay $322 for the upgrade for 2 people for 14 days. And we are saving over 600 on the room.