Sea Princess gratuaties

[busseltoncruisers]

Can any recent Sea Princess cruisers advise if Princess automatically include the daily gratuity in the cruise fare on a Sea Princess sailing to/from Australia similar to Sun and Dawn Princess or will this be added daily to our account ??? thanks...

[tickford]

That's already included in your fare.

[busseltoncruisers]

That's already included in your fare.

 

Thanks Tickford. I can't find any mention of gratuities anywhere in my booking.

[The_Big_M]

Thanks Tickford. I can't find any mention of gratuities anywhere in my booking.

 

"Gratuities

For our Australian guests, when sailing on cruises departing from Australia aboard Sun Princess, Dawn Princess or Sea Princess, a daily gratuity amount will no longer be added to your on board account. You are welcome to reward our on board crew for exceptional service, however, tipping is not required."

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/onboard/experience.jsp

[johndon]

I would have expected the overall cruise fares to have increased with gratuities now being added to the fare but a comparison of NZ cruise fare costs before gratuities were added to the fare show that the fares NOW are cheaper than BEFORE the gratuities were added into the fare

I think the increased competition from the many more cruise companies now working the Australian cruise market has forced the fares down all round

The dropping of forced gratuities by Australian Princess is an example of people power winning out over Company policies even though it took 2 or 3 years to achieve

 

John

[busseltoncruisers]

"Gratuities

For our Australian guests, when sailing on cruises departing from Australia aboard Sun Princess, Dawn Princess or Sea Princess, a daily gratuity amount will no longer be added to your on board account. You are welcome to reward our on board crew for exceptional service, however, tipping is not required."

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/onboard/experience.jsp

 

In September the Sea Princess is heading up to Singapore and then will go in dry dock. We are boarding in Singapore returning to Fremantle. Would this apply to us ?? Is there anywhere out there that did the 2nd leg of this years Fremantle to Fremantle cruise.

[The_Big_M]

In September the Sea Princess is heading up to Singapore and then will go in dry dock. We are boarding in Singapore returning to Fremantle. Would this apply to us ?? Is there anywhere out there that did the 2nd leg of this years Fremantle to Fremantle cruise.

 

As she's still based out of Australia at that time, it would be the same. They wouldn't change remuneration and tipping agreements for a single cruise.

[busseltoncruisers]

As she's still based out of Australia at that time, it would be the same. They wouldn't change remuneration and tipping agreements for a single cruise.

 

Now that makes sense. This is such a reasonably priced cruise and sailing into Perth makes it even better.

Thanks

[The_Big_M]

This is such a reasonably priced cruise and sailing into Perth makes it even better.

Thanks

 

Yes, the homeward ones are the best.

 

You can bring back whatever you want without worrying about luggage, and relax on arrival instead of spoiling it with airport transfers and lengthy flights. :)

[travaustralia]

We flew to Hong Kong and sailed on Sun Princess, last month, to Sydney. The onboard currency was USD and we were charged $11.50 pp per day grats. Check if the onboard charges are in $A or $US. Think that will be the decider.

[The_Big_M]

We flew to Hong Kong and sailed on Sun Princess, last month, to Sydney. The onboard currency was USD and we were charged $11.50 pp per day grats. Check if the onboard charges are in $A or $US. Think that will be the decider.

 

The past 7 months she's been in Asia though, so the USD has been the currency there. She was still in USD as it was the last cruise of that season.

 

Worthwhile checking with their office to confirm, but I still wouldn't expect them to make a single cruise mid-Australia season in USD.

[dizzy1948]

In September the Sea Princess is heading up to Singapore and then will go in dry dock. We are boarding in Singapore returning to Fremantle. Would this apply to us ?? Is there anywhere out there that did the 2nd leg of this years Fremantle to Fremantle cruise.

 

Are you on the Oct 17th Singapore to Fremantle leg?

[sayaguru]

Did you book through an Australian travel agent?

 

If you booked through an overseas travel agent your gratuities will be added onboard.

They are only included from Aussie agents (they don't trust us to pay them). :D

[busseltoncruisers]

Are you on the Oct 17th Singapore to Fremantle leg?

 

Yes. We are going to Bali with the family for a milestone birthday and will fly to Singapore when the kids and grandkids fly home. Then we will have a nice relaxing cruise home.

[busseltoncruisers]

Did you book through an Australian travel agent?

 

If you booked through an overseas travel agent your gratuities will be added onboard.

They are only included from Aussie agents (they don't trust us to pay them). :D

 

We booked through Princess direct (Aussie website).

[Aus Traveller]

Did you book through an Australian travel agent?

 

If you booked through an overseas travel agent your gratuities will be added onboard.

They are only included from Aussie agents (they don't trust us to pay them). :D

Gratuities are not charged for Australian/NZ guests, whether they book through a TA or direct with Princess. Tips were removed on 1st May 2011, not because Princess didn't trust us to pay them, but (they stated) it was because it wasn't the usual custom in Australia.

 

For some reason, Princess charges American and UK passengers the usual auto-tip. I wonder if it is so they don't get the idea that our system is better. :D:D (I don't want to start a tipping debate.)

[lyndarra]

Gratuities are not charged for Australian/NZ guests, whether they book through a TA or direct with Princess. Tips were removed on 1st May 2011, not because Princess didn't trust us to pay them, but (they stated) it was because it wasn't the usual custom in Australia.

 

For some reason, Princess charges American and UK passengers the usual auto-tip. I wonder if it is so they don't get the idea that our system is better. :D:D (I don't want to start a tipping debate.)

 

Aus Traveller is correct. We aussies cruised Sydney/New Zealand last month and when chatting to a UK cruiser we were surprised, and they were disgusted, that they had to pay the gratuities on top of their fare.

[GUT2407]

Aus Traveller is correct. We aussies cruised Sydney/New Zealand last month and when chatting to a UK cruiser we were surprised, and they were disgusted, that they had to pay the gratuities on top of their fare.

 

 

But remember we Aussies are, in all probability, paying at least the same [probably more] than those booking from the USA and tips on top. Basically those ships based in Australia build tips, taxes and port fees into the fare whereas some others quote a lower fare and then ad all these extras on in one way or another [tips either pre paid or day by day].