Automatic tips?

[pjlee3333]

Is Royal Caribbean going to automatically posting of tips to your onboard account if you don't prepay them? I just received the invoice for a cruise in early May showing the final payment and it had the following on it that I don't remember seeing on prior invoices for the same cruise or any of the other cruises we've done on Royal.

 

A $12.00 per person per day gratuity will be automatically added to each guest’s SeaPass® account on a daily basis to be shared by Dining Services Staff, Stateroom

Attendants and Other Housekeeping Services Personnel that work to enhance the cruise experience. Suite guests will see a $14.25 daily gratuity. Guests who prepaid

gratuities prior to boarding their cruise will not see a daily charge onboard. A 15% gratuity is also automatically added to beverages, mini bar, spa & salon purchases.

 

I'm not againt tipping at all but just surprised I hadn't heard about this change.

[NorbertsNiece]

Gosh.

First I've heard of.

[Roadsofa]

Sounds like you might have My Time Dinning; it includes tips automatically.

 

Neil

[setsail]

Mtd?

[pjlee3333]

No, not mtd since it lists us as having 6 pm dining. Also, doesn't mtd require payment of tips with final payment - which has already been made.

[cruisenfever]

Sounds like you might have My Time Dinning; it includes tips automatically.

 

Neil

Don't think so.........

 

A $12.00 per person per day gratuity will be automatically added to each guest’s SeaPass® account on a daily basis to be shared by Dining Services Staff, Stateroom

Attendants and Other Housekeeping Services Personnel that work to enhance the cruise experience. Suite guests will see a $14.25 daily gratuity. Guests who prepaid gratuities prior to boarding their cruise will not see a daily charge onboard. A 15% gratuity is also automatically added to beverages, mini bar, spa & salon purchases.

These are the current gratuity guidelines.

 

$5.00pp per day for Housekeeping Staff ($7.25 if in a GS or above)

$3.75pp per day for Waiter

$2.15pp per day for Assistant Waiter

$0.75pp per day for Head Waiter

$11.65pp per day ($13.90pp per day if booked in a GS or above)

[cruisenfever]

No, not mtd since it lists us as having 6 pm dining. Also, doesn't mtd require payment of tips with final payment - which has already been made.

Yes it does.

[pjlee3333]

Thanks. It wouldn't be the first time something from shoreside was incorrect which is why I was checking here. I usually do round tips up to $12.00/day when calculating a budget for math ease what I need to allow for.

[NorbertsNiece]

Mtd

 

Is Royal Caribbean going to automatically posting of tips to your onboard account if you don't prepay them? I just received the invoice for a cruise in early May showing the final payment and it had the following on it that I don't remember seeing on prior invoices for the same cruise or any of the other cruises we've done on Royal.

 

A $12.00 per person per day gratuity will be automatically added to each guest’s SeaPass® account on a daily basis to be shared by Dining Services Staff, Stateroom

Attendants and Other Housekeeping Services Personnel that work to enhance the cruise experience. Suite guests will see a $14.25 daily gratuity. Guests who prepaid

gratuities prior to boarding their cruise will not see a daily charge onboard. A 15% gratuity is also automatically added to beverages, mini bar, spa & salon purchases.

 

I'm not againt tipping at all but just surprised I hadn't heard about this change.

 

Clearly warning guests who have prepaid that they won't be charged again.... bizarre.....

[NorbertsNiece]

Found this on the UK site :

 

How can I pay tips?

 

For the convenience of guests, pre-paid tips may be arranged online or added to your booking by your travel agent or Personal Cruise Specialist, before your sailing date. If you have opted not to pre-pay your Service Charge before your cruise, then for all sailings that commence after 1st March 2013, for your convenience we will automatically add a $12.00 per guest per day* service charge to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. * For suite guests the daily charge will be $14.25c. Alternatively, you may pay in cash at the end of your cruise directly to the crew members you wish to recognise for their service (If you require an envelope for the crew member concerned, please see the Guest Relations Desk).

Please note, we no longer provide the pre-paid gratuity vouchers at the end of the cruise.

[cruisenfever]

Found this on the UK site :

 

How can I pay tips?

 

For the convenience of guests, pre-paid tips may be arranged online or added to your booking by your travel agent or Personal Cruise Specialist, before your sailing date. If you have opted not to pre-pay your Service Charge before your cruise, then for all sailings that commence after 1st March 2013, for your convenience we will automatically add a $12.00 per guest per day* service charge to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. * For suite guests the daily charge will be $14.25c. Alternatively, you may pay in cash at the end of your cruise directly to the crew members you wish to recognise for their service (If you require an envelope for the crew member concerned, please see the Guest Relations Desk).

Please note, we no longer provide the pre-paid gratuity vouchers at the end of the cruise.

Thanks Linda. Wonder how long it will take before they start doing that on this side of the pond.:)

[NorbertsNiece]

Thanks Linda. Wonder how long it will take before they start doing that on this side of the pond.:)

 

This isn't cruise specific..... it would appear to have started....

 

ETA : Managed to get into the US website :

 

Q: Are gratuities automatically added?

 

A: Gratuities are at the discretion of each guest. Royal Caribbean does not automatically add gratuities to guest accounts. Only those guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will continue to have their gratuities added to their account.

 

Now I'm confused......

[Langley Cruisers]

ETA : Managed to get into the US website :

 

Q: Are gratuities automatically added?

 

A: Gratuities are at the discretion of each guest. Royal Caribbean does not automatically add gratuities to guest accounts. Only those guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will continue to have their gratuities added to their account.

 

Now I'm confused......

 

The US website is notoriously slow at making necessary changes. They allow 2 bottles of wine per stateroom now but they were slow to update the website, as noted in several threads here some time ago.

[cruisenfever]

This isn't cruise specific..... it would appear to have started....

 

ETA : Managed to get into the US website :

 

Q: Are gratuities automatically added?

 

A: Gratuities are at the discretion of each guest. Royal Caribbean does not automatically add gratuities to guest accounts. Only those guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will continue to have their gratuities added to their account.

 

Now I'm confused......

If they do implement that procedure over here, it may take a while for the website on this side of the pond to get updated.:D

[karen11g]

I will pay suggested tips (and probably then some), but just curious: If someone pre-pays at lower than the suggested level, does RC add more tip in??

[Clarea]

I will pay suggested tips (and probably then some), but just curious: If someone pre-pays at lower than the suggested level, does RC add more tip in??

You can only prepay tips at the suggested level. It's all or nothing.

[ORANGEinINDY]

Found this on the UK site :

 

How can I pay tips?

 

For the convenience of guests, pre-paid tips may be arranged online or added to your booking by your travel agent or Personal Cruise Specialist, before your sailing date. If you have opted not to pre-pay your Service Charge before your cruise, then for all sailings that commence after 1st March 2013, for your convenience we will automatically add a $12.00 per guest per day* service charge to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. * For suite guests the daily charge will be $14.25c. Alternatively, you may pay in cash at the end of your cruise directly to the crew members you wish to recognise for their service (If you require an envelope for the crew member concerned, please see the Guest Relations Desk).

Please note, we no longer provide the pre-paid gratuity vouchers at the end of the cruise.

Interesting this is slightly different than the OP's

First they indicate "we will automatically add a $12.00 per guest per day* service charge"

Then... they say "Alternatively, you may pay in cash at the end of your cruise directly to the crew members you wish to recognise for their service"

[molly361]

My guess is that it will start shortly on this side of the pond as well.:)

 

Isn't RCL the only mainstream line that still gives the option of cash or charged tips?? I think all others put them on automatically