Tipping on Dawn Princess when in Australia New Zealand

[cruisefan2012]

Is tipping expected on Princess Cruises when on this cruise in Australia & New Zealand ?

 

I`m British and tipping is not expected in the UK like it is in America

 

Also does Princess add a "service charge" on Australian ships for drinks?

[likeadisguise]

People on Australia-based ships (when the onboard currency is in Australian dollars) are treated differently with the daily hotel charge depending on which Princess office they book from (which is based on where you live, you can't just randomly book through another office). If you live in AU/NZ and book through the AU/NZ office, gratuities are included in your fare, so you aren't charged the daily fee. If you book through the US or UK office, you do have the daily charge.

 

I think everyone still pays a service fee on drinks, but someone else can probably confirm that for sure, because I'm not positive.

[paul929207]

When we were on the Dawn Princess about 3 years ago, there was no autotip for passengers from Australia and NZ. there was an autotip for all others.

 

There was no gratuity added to drink prices. However, the price of drinks were about 50% higher than on other Princess ships. Personally I would have rather paid the 15% tip on the lower drink prices.

[beg3yrs]

When we were on the Dawn Princess about 3 years ago, there was no autotip for passengers from Australia and NZ. there was an autotip for all others.

 

There was no gratuity added to drink prices. However, the price of drinks were about 50% higher than on other Princess ships. Personally I would have rather paid the 15% tip on the lower drink prices.

 

That was our experience on the Dawn Princess as well.

 

Agreed about the druthers on the drink prices but, Princess will charge what the market will bear and the majority of the passengers on those cruises will pay and pay and pay for their drinks!

[caribill]

 

There was no gratuity added to drink prices. However, the price of drinks were about 50% higher than on other Princess ships. Personally I would have rather paid the 15% tip on the lower drink prices.

 

Is that 50% true when you convert US $ pricing to Australia $ and add a 15% tip?

 

In other words, a $9.95 US drink + 15% tip = $11.44 US = $16.00 AUS at today's exchange rate.

 

Would the price on the ship be 50% higher than $16.00 AUS?

[icat2000]

Is that 50% true when you convert US $ pricing to Australia $ and add a 15% tip?

 

In other words, a $9.95 US drink + 15% tip = $11.44 US = $16.00 AUS at today's exchange rate.

 

Would the price on the ship be 50% higher than $16.00 AUS?

 

No it would not. I think from memory the cocktails where AUD 12? Someone might be able to clarify who has been on the ship more recently.

[crochetcruise]

No it would not. I think from memory the cocktails where AUD 12? Someone might be able to clarify who has been on the ship more recently.

 

When Princess Cruises announced that the All-Inclusive-Beverage-Packages was to be available for cruises of 8 nights in Australia at AUD$59 per day, the price of a Cocktail was mentioned as AUD$14.

 

My reference pricing of 08/27/2015 is: $73.75 per day, think that might be a currency conversion thing, I was on the US site.

Unlimited Soda & More Package AUD$8.69 per day

.On Board and Casino Credits seem to be divide the US price by 4 and multiply by 5 to get the AUD price.

Photo package of $50 = AUD62.50.

Canapes of Chilled Shrimp AUD 17.50 for 12 pieces

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries AUD 10.00 for 4 pieces (may get 2 of these, as I'm inviting a friend for Cocktails in my Window Suite and we both like strawberries!)

 

The Gift Services prices are still in USD pricing, so I've divided by 4 and multiplied by 5 to get a reasonable cost price. Am planning to take most of the spending money as On Board Credit with Back Up Supplies as Casino Credit. Saw I need to plan for a 3 night cruise to get On Board Credit from the Future Cruise Certificate, well I only knew about the 2 night Melbourne-Sydney and vice versa, it was wonderful to find the November 11, 2016 cruise being 3 nights.

 

Sailing from Sydney, we come past the Naval Dockyard, and with 2 generations of family members serving in the Royal Australian Navy, it'll be pretty special!

 

Am closely monitoring prices to keep savings level with costed spending. HTH.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[ozsailor]

Just got off Dawn Princess on Wednesday just gone (9 Mar 16). We got the all inclusive drinks package at $59 AUD per day. I was sceptical about drinking that much but we managed fine, as it is all drinks all day so the mineral water at meals and coffees as well as bottled water to take ashore was included. We discovered we liked Martini's which we would not have normally drunk but hey may as well try them. We booked through the Aussie office and there were no hotel charged and no added 15% on drinks (although we didn't pay for them anyway). Drink prices were (AUD) $5.5O for Dos Equis, $5.95 for VB, $8 for a Golsch. Glasses of wine were $8 - $10 and the cheapest bottle was about $28. Basic cocktails were $9.95 and premium ones were $13.95 so under the $14 limit for the drinks package.

[GUT2407]

Just got off Dawn Princess on Wednesday just gone (9 Mar 16). We got the all inclusive drinks package at $59 AUD per day. I was sceptical about drinking that much but we managed fine, as it is all drinks all day so the mineral water at meals and coffees as well as bottled water to take ashore was included. We discovered we liked Martini's which we would not have normally drunk but hey may as well try them. We booked through the Aussie office and there were no hotel charged and no added 15% on drinks (although we didn't pay for them anyway). Drink prices were (AUD) $5.5O for Dos Equis, $5.95 for VB, $8 for a Golsch. Glasses of wine were $8 - $10 and the cheapest bottle was about $28. Basic cocktails were $9.95 and premium ones were $13.95 so under the $14 limit for the drinks package.

 

True it always comes down to what you drink and how many of them.

 

And yes you include the coffee and water etc and it is really not hard to break even, or better.

[cr8tiv1]

People on Australia-based ships (when the onboard currency is in Australian dollars) are treated differently with the daily hotel charge depending on which Princess office they book from (which is based on where you live, you can't just randomly book through another office). If you live in AU/NZ and book through the AU/NZ office, gratuities are included in your fare, so you aren't charged the daily fee. If you book through the US or UK office, you do have the daily charge.

 

I was so confused. Thank you for the simple clarification. I am on the Golden next summer. She is "based" in Australia. I called Customer Service and was told I would have auto-tip. My personalizer is showing converted US to AUD charges/credits. My portfolio is in AUD. There will be a 1.5% conversion rate unless I let them know before I leave the ship (my bank card will take care of it). The confusion was that she is leaving from Los Angeles and so wasn't sure what the basis for the auto-tip would be.

 

It makes so much more sense now. So glad someone can put confusion into simplistic terms for me.

 

Thank you.

Edited March 12, 2016 by cr8tiv1