reallyitsmema Posted July 8, 2013 #526 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Unless you are in My Time dining the tips are listed as "suggested". That means you could tip whatever you want or can afford. I wouldn't give up the cruise because of it because they likely won't refund any of the costs and it could be a chance of a lifetime for you. Tom No, they aren't. They are charged to your sea pass account daily unless you have MTD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marielco Posted July 8, 2013 #527 Share Posted July 8, 2013 HA HA I smell a set up. You can't possibly be serious.:eek:If this is a joke LOL iT is funny.:) On the chance you are not joking....:confused:.....Please start from the first thread and read what the fine folk here on CC have to say. At this point just about every angle has been covered. Why on earth would you jump on this poster. The situation outlined is perfectly possible. Maybe in your world everyone has lots of money and has never been unemployed. But in the real world it happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
storm1of4 Posted July 8, 2013 #528 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Taking a cruise is not an entitlement...If you can afford it. you go. No jumping. Anyway the person said the cruise was not free because he/she was supposed to pay for things like tipping. Sounds like one should thank their God for the opportunity and find a way to afford the trip. Not make their fortune a misfortune for the soul caring for them for 7 days. In fact if there are any entitlements here, it' the steward ... he is entitled to expect that if he does his job and meets and exceeds expectations he will receive compensation that includes the gratuity RCI is adding to your sea pass account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halos Posted July 8, 2013 #529 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Yes, there are many on these boards that believe just that. I am not one of them. I believe in merit based pay - tips included. Equal compensation brings everyone down to the lowest common denominator and that is a job poorly done in most cases. Gina TOTALLY agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishDMBF Posted July 9, 2013 #530 Share Posted July 9, 2013 HA HA I smell a set up. You can't possibly be serious.:eek:If this is a joke LOL iT is funny.:) On the chance you are not joking....:confused:.....Please start from the first thread and read what the fine folk here on CC have to say. At this point just about every angle has been covered. I have read the thread from the beginning. It is not a set up. We are in a Family cabin. It gets to me that most people think that everyone can afford a cruise. While most people can, there is a small percentage that wind up on one that can't. I am going to be in that percentage. I never said I was removing the gratuity. All I said was its a lot of money when you don't have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mr walker Posted July 9, 2013 #531 Share Posted July 9, 2013 there are some people (not just here, but on all the boards ) where i think "hell i can just click ignore on this fool, but some poor sob has to live next door to them , work in the cubicle next to them, are related to them and has to deal with them on a daily basis" yikes!!!!!!!!!!! :) like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
storm1of4 Posted July 9, 2013 #532 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I have read the thread from the beginning. It is not a set up. We are in a Family cabin. It gets to me that most people think that everyone can afford a cruise. While most people can, there is a small percentage that wind up on one that can't. I am going to be in that percentage. I never said I was removing the gratuity. All I said was its a lot of money when you don't have it. I could not agree with you more! :) Enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Geegitz Posted July 9, 2013 #533 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Where do you come up with this stuff? :confused: My daughter works on a cruise ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Geegitz Posted July 9, 2013 #534 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I can't believe anybody here has never seen their waiter from MDR working the buffet the next day. Nobody in Food and beverage just works in one venue. Except management. Sound like a lot of people on this thread remove their tips. Sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyitsmema Posted July 9, 2013 #535 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I can't believe anybody here has never seen their waiter from MDR working the buffet the next day. Nobody in Food and beverage just works in one venue. Except management. Sound like a lot of people on this thread remove their tips. Sad. Read the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted July 9, 2013 #536 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I can't believe anybody here has never seen their waiter from MDR working the buffet the next day. Sure I have. I've just never seen him cleaning the pool. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveru621 Posted July 9, 2013 #537 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I can't believe anybody here has never seen their waiter from MDR working the buffet the next day. Nobody in Food and beverage just works in one venue. Except management. Sound like a lot of people on this thread remove their tips. Sad. I have to admire your persistence. After getting caught stiffing the bar staff, you continue to accuse others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ifoundmydream Posted July 9, 2013 #538 Share Posted July 9, 2013 There is such a lot of cultural difference on this thread, I think that is the issue in general, rather than a general 'etiquette of cruising'. I think if people would deal with tips/ service charge etc they way they would do outside of a cruise then all will be well. One point though, being able to go on a cruise doesn't mean you have loads of money. We can just about afford this cruise (in fact my parents are paying for my daughter) because of other commitments. We really had to spend a long time looking for the best deal and to us it has to remain the best deal. But I'm sure we'll still have a lovely time and whatever we decide we will have a good relationship with the crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen2 Posted July 9, 2013 #539 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I have read the thread from the beginning. It is not a set up. We are in a Family cabin. It gets to me that most people think that everyone can afford a cruise. While most people can, there is a small percentage that wind up on one that can't. I am going to be in that percentage. I never said I was removing the gratuity. All I said was its a lot of money when you don't have it. Enjoy your cruise and tip what you can.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ifoundmydream Posted July 9, 2013 #540 Share Posted July 9, 2013 We have a cruise upcoming but it was gifted to us as an extended family cruise/reunion. I have been unemployed and we are in the process of moving for a new job. Smack bang in the middle of all this is our cruise. While I am looking forward to some relaxation, the tips going on our seapass account is killing me. The cruise was gifted but we were told gratuities would come out of our own pocket. It will be me, my spouse and 3 kids in the cabin for 7 days. $420 is more money than I have. Good ways of saving money (in my opinion). - get the kids a soda package, this means you won't have to buy them any drinks and that will take the stress away, and will probably cost you less than if you are staying at home for food and drink. - research the ports before you go, stay on deck if you are in the middle of no where, but some you can definitely walk to or even catch local transport - if you drink, limit this, take a couple of bottles of wine on board and perhaps the small wine package. If you don't drink alcohol there is free tea, coffee, lemonade (I think), water available all day. - check your account every day. You can still have a lovely time, just tip what you can, and enjoy what you have paid for already which is the cruise. Xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ifoundmydream Posted July 9, 2013 #541 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Well, one of our differences is I hate being waited on. I'd much rather get up and get my own food than have someone bring it to me. Even when the waiters in the Windjammer offer to get us drinks I decline and go get them myself. Funny, I was talking about this with my husband last night. I don't like being waited on either, I find it really awkward. I end up helping them by moving plates and generally making it more hassle for the staff. I would go and wash my plate too if there was an option, maybe it's because I've camped so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquanaut1 Posted July 9, 2013 #542 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Good ways of saving money (in my opinion). - get the kids a soda package, this means you won't have to buy them any drinks and that will take the stress away, and will probably cost you less than if you are staying at home for food and drink. - research the ports before you go, stay on deck if you are in the middle of no where, but some you can definitely walk to or even catch local transport - if you drink, limit this, take a couple of bottles of wine on board and perhaps the small wine package. If you don't drink alcohol there is free tea, coffee, lemonade (I think), water available all day. - check your account every day. You can still have a lovely time, just tip what you can, and enjoy what you have paid for already which is the cruise. Xx Bravo! Like ! Also re the kids - bring a bottle of squash on board . And sports bottles. Keep them active , get them to go to adventure ocean and the evening stuff for them ( Ie johnny rockets eves - save you paying the cover fee ) They will love It Steer them away from Ben n jerry and Utilise the free frozen yoghurt by the pool . Re - in port , just go for a wander on foot or local transport , it's amazing what treasures you may find . I think its wonderful that you have been given a cruise as a gift , and you will still have the most amazing time without breaking the bank . Xx Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted July 9, 2013 #543 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Where do you come up with this stuff? :confused: My daughter works on a cruise ship. Ok, then where does she come up with this stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted July 9, 2013 #544 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Let some people type long enough-you can really get a feel of true character around here!! :eek: You got that right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterBill99 Posted July 10, 2013 #545 Share Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) I can't believe anybody here has never seen their waiter from MDR working the buffet the next day. Nobody in Food and beverage just works in one venue. Except management. Sound like a lot of people on this thread remove their tips. Sad. But they're always at the same place for dinner, aren't they? And that's where their tips are based on, unless someone decides to slip them a dollar or two during other meals. You won't have a server in the MDR for main dinner seating one night and the WJ the next night. Edited July 10, 2013 by MisterBill99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Within temptation Posted July 10, 2013 #546 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Agree totally that many staff operate in different venues, and the great ones deserve to be rewarded by their company and us as passengers. However, lets not get carried away in this, our last cruises on Serenade and Mariner had some exceptional service mixed with dire service. I will reward staff who excel but not others who do not and are visibly not delivering the service expected. If you do reward poor service that is your choice, not Royal Caribbean's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debde Posted July 10, 2013 #547 Share Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) But they're always at the same place for dinner, aren't they? And that's where their tips are based on, unless someone decides to slip them a dollar or two during other meals. You won't have a server in the MDR for main dinner seating one night and the WJ the next night. A concept many can not grasp here, and why I have no idea. If I'm eating every night in the WJ and return to the same table and the same server each night-that is my dining room wait staff and that is where I want my tips to go. Not some server in the MDR I have never seen. Or- If I eat every night in a specialty restaurant and give them extra for any breakfast or lunch meals, why not? I'm sure they worked somewhere else too. Edited July 10, 2013 by Debde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigboffs Posted July 10, 2013 #548 Share Posted July 10, 2013 While some may choose to paint all service on RCCL ships as exceptional, our experience over the years is that this is not so. Even tho the vast majority of service personnel are in fact praiseworthy, on occasion we have had some that were at best poor. It is illogical to reward those bad with a gratuity which is given for good service provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiel53 Posted July 10, 2013 #549 Share Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) We just returned home tody from our 12 night Baltic Cruise onboard the AOS. It was our first RCI cruise and it was fabulous!!!!! We asked to have our gratuities removed (which totalled $432). We do this because we like to tip the staff ourselves- When all is aid and done- between the kids club, cocktail waiters, MDR staff and room attendant- we ended up tipping more than $700-- I do believe we are the exception. We know people that removed their gratuities and tipped less than $200 for all staff for the 12 dAYS. iT REALLY IS UNFORTUNATE. I think that those who only tipped $200 were really cheap. I am a firm believer in making the tips a non-removable service charge. I believe that was the policy we had on NCL. They had the service charge and if there were a problem, they would try to rectify the problem and if they couldn't, then and only then would that part of the tips removed. I am not trying to say YOU paid the at least the minimum you should have paid to the wait staff etc, because the difference between the requested $432 and the over $700 is about $300. If you had several drinks, the tips for those add up quickly, Even a couple of drinks a day per couple would come to close to a minimum of $5- $10 per day x 12 days. If the kids had a soda card, there was a gratuity on that too. I don't know how much you tipped the kids club etc. It's none of my business how much you gave to person x y or z, but although it sounds like you really tipped a whole lot more, that may or may not be. JMO. Edited July 10, 2013 by katiel53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted July 10, 2013 #550 Share Posted July 10, 2013 A concept many can not grasp here, and why I have no idea. If I'm eating every night in the WJ and return to the same table and the same server each night-that is my dining room wait staff and that is where I want my tips to go. Not some server in the MDR I have never seen. Or- If I eat every night in a specialty restaurant and give them extra for any breakfast or lunch meals, why not? I'm sure they worked somewhere else too. I think we do understand. You can't fool us. We know what removing tips means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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