Gratuities on Beverage Package?

[tonkie]

Sorry if its been asked before but I couldn't find the answer:o

 

So my question is, I have a drinks package, do I still get charged the 18% gratuities on each drink I get?

 

Thanks in advance for any help:)

[cruisenfever]

Sorry if its been asked before but I couldn't find the answer:o

 

So my question is, I have a drinks package, do I still get charged the 18% gratuities on each drink I get?

 

Thanks in advance for any help:)

The 18% is added into the total price of the beverage package.

[cb at sea]

No..there is no 'cost" to the drinks in the package, so 18% of what? They charge 18% on the PRICE OF THE PACKAGE....

[idkanything]

Actually, I've been wondering the same. If I get the drink package, which I have, then the bartender/server who I'm getting the drink from doesn't get a part of that money.. I feel like I need to tip THAT PERSON specifically. So, now I'm tipping twice (which is fine, they deserve it - they work hard!), but do I do that every time I get a drink? That just added like a ton of money to the end of the cruise bill, which is what I was trying to avoid in the first place. Do I give them money at the end of the cruise? Do I give them some at the start? What if I end up going to different places? Do I give every person $20 bucks at the start?

 

I am making this tipping thing so difficult. LOL

[MichaelCMTX]

In our Beverage Package experience, as in non-package, regular bar experience, if you find a bartender who treats you well, give them a little something extra periodically and make them a regular during your trip.

 

Bars where the initial experience wasn't the best weren't revisited. So you walk a little to get to a good bar. There are plenty of them, right?

 

There were a couple bartenders at the Plaza Bar on Indy who'd have DW's drink ready soon as they saw her come into the WJ. By day 4 they were giving me drinks even though only DW had the package. ;)

Edited August 15, 2015 by MichaelCMTX

[casinostreer]

Here's how I understand it. (Others - feel free to jump in.)

 

The $49 - $54 per day that you pay for the beverage package already INCLUDES the 18%. So the bartenders aren't NECESSARILY expecting tips over and above that. When they ring in a drink - it's under their name and they get a cut of the 18%.

 

When you find a great bartender - or you love a specific bar and want to set the tone with the staff - I recommend giving them a little something extra ($1-$2 per drink or maybe $5 after a couple of rounds.) Of course it's totally optional - but it certainly makes them feel like you appreciate them - and you'll probably end up getting even BETTER service from them.

 

We had a LOVELY bartender at the Champagne Bar (we'll miss it) named Erwina - after a few modest tips (as stated above) she would bend over backwards to make sure we had what we wanted.

 

(Sorry to digress. We had the premium package last cruise on FOS - but this time we're going with the Ultimate so we can try things like "Fresh Squeezed Screwdrivers" or "Baileys & Kahlua Cappuccinos" or REAL "espresso martinis")

[Havingfun2010]

Like most things on the ship, the tips are prepaid, and shared. How they share them, is really non of my concern. I feel the ship, and their policies will handle it justly.

 

For bartenders etc, I'm usually all over the ship. However, I do usually end up in the Pub on the ship in the evening. Since I usually get beer and it's easy than I feel the 18% is just tip. However, in the past, and at the end of the trip, if I feel they were pleasant, and took the time to say hi and remember me, than I would hand them an extra $20 and say thanks. But I do that for others as well. I don't pre tip anyone. It's based on service, and the end results.

[George C]

I will tip a extra dollar or 2 with most drinks, they seem to remember you when you do , always bring lots of singles and fives when I cruise.

[casinostreer]

I will tip a extra dollar or 2 with most drinks, they seem to remember you when you do , always bring lots of singles and fives when I cruise.

 

We do the same thing. We actually clean out the cars of change and our "change bowl" and bring it to the coin counting machine on land and use that as some tip money. It usually depends when the last time we traveled was - but last time it ended up being $180 - that was MORE than enough for shuttle drivers, porters, bartenders, casino servers, etc. When we change from coins to bills - we usually ask for all $1s and $5s.

 

Agreeing with the above poster - certain things like sodas, opening beers, bottled water - we are okay with the prepaid 18% gratuity. If they make me a complicated dirty martini and the like - we give them a little something extra.

[RadioRob]

Agreed with others above.

 

When you buy the drink package itself, RCCL adds an 18% service fee that is divided among the staff. So that $55 a day Ultimate package is really $65 a day basically.

 

During my trip, I found myself hanging out at the main pool and going to the main pool bar quite a bit. I got to know one of the bartenders there (Noah) and he was great. I always made sure to tip an extra buck a drink because I only ordered more complicated things (typically all frozen drinks). Even when things were busy, Noah would have a drink ready for me almost immediately.

 

Was it REQUIRED on either side? (After all, my gratuities were already pre-paid.) Absolutely not. Was it appreciated by both sides, I'm pretty sure it was. :)

[Capella Black]

As above, we generally used the same 4 bars (yes, 4, we drink a lot on holiday), which meant the same main 4 bartenders. For every pair of drinks we would tip $1. That's peanuts, but it's less peanuts than most people (so we were told by one of said staff), and shows our appreciation.

[casinostreer]

Agreed with others above.

 

When you buy the drink package itself, RCCL adds an 18% service fee that is divided among the staff. So that $55 a day Ultimate package is really $65 a day basically.

 

During my trip, I found myself hanging out at the main pool and going to the main pool bar quite a bit. I got to know one of the bartenders there (Noah) and he was great. I always made sure to tip an extra buck a drink because I only ordered more complicated things (typically all frozen drinks). Even when things were busy, Noah would have a drink ready for me almost immediately.

 

Was it REQUIRED on either side? (After all, my gratuities were already pre-paid.) Absolutely not. Was it appreciated by both sides, I'm pretty sure it was. :)

 

 

We always found that to be the case as well. We had two or three cocktail servers in the casino that would actually fight over who got us our drinks first. We had the beverage package and drink in the casino for "free" - and we only tipped around $1 per drink (or even every other one.) If we missed a night in the casino they said that they were looking for us. :-)

[Sherri914]

Okay. So this puzzles me a bit. We pay 18% on the package price, whether we consume 1 drink per day or 20 drinks per day (:eek:). Meaning for the Premium package on a 7-day cruise they have $8.82/day (or $61.74/week) in bar tips to disburse on my behalf. How is that accomplished?

 

I'm just curious - not that it matters much either way I guess - but are the individual bartenders and bar staff given their "18%" tip on every individual drink I purchase under the package? And if so, then what happens if I don't break even? Where do the excess tips I paid in advance go (meaning who gets them)?

 

OR - does the entire bar staff receive a portion of that $61.74 no matter what?

 

I just wish I understood how they divvy these things out. Again, not that it matters either way I suppose. I'm just curious though. I'd like to know the bartenders I actually visit will be receiving the 18% I paid in advance.

[RadioRob]

Okay. So this puzzles me a bit. We pay 18% on the package price, whether we consume 1 drink per day or 20 drinks per day (:eek:). Meaning for the Premium package on a 7-day cruise they have $8.82/day (or $61.74/week) in bar tips to disburse on my behalf. How is that accomplished?

 

I'm just curious - not that it matters much either way I guess - but are the individual bartenders and bar staff given their "18%" tip on every individual drink I purchase under the package? And if so, then what happens if I don't break even? Where do the excess tips I paid in advance go (meaning who gets them)?

 

OR - does the entire bar staff receive a portion of that $61.74 no matter what?

 

I just wish I understood how they divvy these things out. Again, not that it matters either way I suppose. I'm just curious though. I'd like to know the bartenders I actually visit will be receiving the 18% I paid in advance.

 

There is no way to give 18% for each and every drink poured. My understanding is that it varies by ship... either the total pool for that cruise from the fee being split equally among the bartenders, etc or that it's done based on the percentage of drinks rang in for each bartender. Either way, they're not getting 18% for each individual drink poured.

[tonkie]

Thanks all for the replies

 

As the general census is that I wont be charged another 18% for every drink, it now seems my drink package has just got better:D

 

I will be tipping accordingly, but as my wife has not got a drinks package, me think that it might cost me more than mine:eek: :D

[nolesrule]

Absolutely you do get charged 18% gratuity on every drink you buy with the drink package. Take a look a the receipt.

 

Drink price when using the package is $0.00. 18% gratuity on $0.00 is $0.00.

 

:p:D

[champagne123]

Absolutely you do get charged 18% gratuity on every drink you buy with the drink package. Take a look a the receipt.

 

Drink price when using the package is $0.00. 18% gratuity on $0.00 is $0.00.

 

:p:D

 

Ha ha ha.

 

Hey neighbor.....I live in Panther Valley:D

[casinostreer]

Thanks all for the replies

 

As the general census is that I wont be charged another 18% for every drink, it now seems my drink package has just got better:D

 

I will be tipping accordingly, but as my wife has not got a drinks package, me think that it might cost me more than mine:eek: :D

 

You are correct. Once you pay for the package, (the $54 or $65 or whatever package you choose) you will not be charged anything else when you get a drink. Unless your drink or liquor exceeds the maximum allowed per drink - which is usually only a handful of really old liquors or gigantic beers. We didn't order anything that was in excess of the maximum, though my sister ordered a few premium wines in the MDR and specialty restaurants that she paid the difference on. It was usually only $2 or so per glass. (I hope that makes sense. :-))

[quirty30]

I had the Ultimate Package on the Oasis a few weeks ago. I tipped an extra buck or 2 on occasion, especially when I was at the pool in the solarium and the servers were bringing drinks to me and I didn't have to get them myself. Or if I sat at a bar for a while and struck up a conversation with the bartender. I thought it was quite interesting that some venues would never give me a receipt to sign while others did. Very inconsistent. When signing that receipt, you almost feel guilted into another tip, but for a simple glass of wine or a bottle of water, I just wasn't going to buy into it. Bottom line is no extra tip is required with the packages; it's entirely at your discretion.

[Gordo]

I will tip a extra dollar or 2 with most drinks, they seem to remember you when you do , always bring lots of singles and fives when I cruise.

 

 

We did the same thing when we purchased the premium package last year. And often we would have our favorite drinks waiting for us.

[mollyeilis]

Like most things on the ship, the tips are prepaid, and shared. How they share them, is really non of my concern. I feel the ship, and their policies will handle it justly.

 

I agree with you.

 

Not saying we never tip extra, but we certainly don't feel we *have to*.

 

 

Okay. So this puzzles me a bit. We pay 18% on the package price, whether we consume 1 drink per day or 20 drinks per day (:eek:). Meaning for the Premium package on a 7-day cruise they have $8.82/day (or $61.74/week) in bar tips to disburse on my behalf. How is that accomplished?

 

I'm just curious - not that it matters much either way I guess - but are the individual bartenders and bar staff given their "18%" tip on every individual drink I purchase under the package? And if so, then what happens if I don't break even? Where do the excess tips I paid in advance go (meaning who gets them)?

 

OR - does the entire bar staff receive a portion of that $61.74 no matter what?

 

I just wish I understood how they divvy these things out. Again, not that it matters either way I suppose. I'm just curious though. I'd like to know the bartenders I actually visit will be receiving the 18% I paid in advance.

 

Doesn't matter. We don't know, and an employee who talks about it shouldn't be talking about it; therefore, I don't trust their answer. It's not our business. We pay our percentage and we're done. If we choose to tip extra that's our choice! But don't stress about it.