umbluemusic Posted October 3, 2015 #26 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I'm a budget oriented person, so I'm prepaying them now. We still bring extra for our wait staff and steward, as well as some of the servers if we see them regularly, but we can't afford to cruise often and $40 is $40 - if I can save it and pay now, I will! Thanks for the heads up, OP - I totally wouldn't have checked it and then when I went to prepay gratuities before we left I'd be off on my budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treven Posted October 3, 2015 #27 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I agree, this ain't no big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMM34667 Posted October 3, 2015 #28 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Can you prepay your gratuities before you pay off your cruise? My January cruise final payment is in November. Can I prepay now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcur Posted October 3, 2015 #29 Share Posted October 3, 2015 (edited) Interesting that they would announce this in the final days of their "3 For Free" promo that includes free gratuities. Edited October 3, 2015 by pcur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskaGolden Posted October 3, 2015 Author #30 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Can you prepay your gratuities before you pay off your cruise? My January cruise final payment is in November. Can I prepay now? Yes, we paid our gratuities months ago for our January 2016 cruise. But final payment isn't due until later this month. We needed a few extra points for an on-board credit on the Princess Rewards Visa card so we paid the gratuities to get the points and then the credit. We just realized we can get another on-board credit after final payment. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted October 3, 2015 #31 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I guess in regions where they just include them in the fare, fares will go up $2 a day, not a big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisequeen4ever Posted October 3, 2015 #32 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I was worried this day would come after hearing about the big increases on other cruise lines. If they had just increased them by $0.50 or $1.00, I wouldn't even be commenting, but this was a hefty increase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potstech Posted October 3, 2015 #33 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I have no problem with paying another $1.95 per night. However, I don't think Princess should change the price for people who have already booked. I agree. That will be $1.45 for balcony and below 12.50 to 13.95. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMM34667 Posted October 3, 2015 #34 Share Posted October 3, 2015 You know what? I am not going to prepay now. I would save about $20 on my upcoming 5 day January cruise. I spend more than that daily on scratch tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyla Posted October 3, 2015 #35 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I appreciate the info. There are 6 of us cruising in January so it's definitely worth it to prepay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonbru Posted October 3, 2015 #36 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I appreciate the info. There are 6 of us cruising in January so it's definitely worth it to prepay. I know it is not much per day but I have to save and budget for my holiday and this will mean I have pay more....I think I will prepay for my january trip too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted October 3, 2015 #37 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Thanks for sharing. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprinkles Posted October 3, 2015 #38 Share Posted October 3, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the heads up Alaska. I spent yesterday organizing my Feb 3rd cruise. I just went ahead and pepaid gratuities. Not trying to be cheap, I always tip room steward and others extra, don't mind the increase in the future. But like someone else said $40 bucks is $40 bucks. Thanks again. Happy sailing everybody! Tammy Edited October 3, 2015 by sprinkles Content Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron the Rev Posted October 3, 2015 #39 Share Posted October 3, 2015 We have a January 10 day cruise coming up, so the increase adds up to $40. Not a big deal, but $40 is $40. I prepaid. Thanks for the info! Janet P.S. We always tip extra as determined by the level of service. No worries!;) Same here. Tipping is not a problem for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndersFoul Posted October 3, 2015 #40 Share Posted October 3, 2015 We booked our January 3rd cruise with the gratuities paid for with the Princess deal, are they going to honor the deal and cover the full amount or will we have to pay the difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGuy25 Posted October 3, 2015 #41 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Just FYI ... I hadn't heard about this increase (I don't have an issue with it) and wanted the "official" word before I prepaid. Here's what's on the Princess website in the Onboard Experience section: "To simplify the tipping process for our guests, a discretionary gratuity of $12 per person for mini-suites and suites, and $11.50 per guest in all other staterooms per day (including children) will be automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Effective on voyages departing on or after January 1, 2016, the gratuity charge will be $13.95 per guest for mini-suites and suites, and $12.95 per guest for interior, oceanview, and balcony staterooms. This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted October 3, 2015 #42 Share Posted October 3, 2015 11% is quite a COLA It really isn't COLA. It is that on other cruise lines that have a higher auto-tip, crew can receive more compensation. In order for Princess to maintain a crew that is at least equal to crew on other lines, Princess needs to match or better their compensation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
framer Posted October 3, 2015 #43 Share Posted October 3, 2015 If they manned up they would have just made it $13 and $14. Wimpy pricing IMHO. Sorry on stuff like that I hate 95 cent pricing. framer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatcruiseisnext Posted October 3, 2015 #44 Share Posted October 3, 2015 (edited) I was worried this day would come after hearing about the big increases on other cruise lines. If they had just increased them by $0.50 or $1.00, I wouldn't even be commenting, but this was a hefty increase. Hefty? You are kidding, right? The staff works very hard. Prices have gone up everywhere for everything. This is nowhere near "hefty" increase. Edited October 3, 2015 by whatcruiseisnext Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carole_T Posted October 3, 2015 #45 Share Posted October 3, 2015 It is posted under Gratuities under FAQ: ONBOARD EXPERIENCE. Of course, everyone should be expected to reread the FAQ every couple of days to make sure nothing has changed.:rolleyes: Right!! You know I'm all over that!!:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseNut24 Posted October 3, 2015 #46 Share Posted October 3, 2015 How do we know Princess wont charge the additional gratuity amount if we pre pay? Did not see this under the FAQ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfields1814 Posted October 3, 2015 #47 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Thanks for the information. I just prepaid and saved about $70. I usually tip a bit extra at the end of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renmar Posted October 3, 2015 #48 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Hefty? You are kidding, right? The staff works very hard. Prices have gone up everywhere for everything. This is nowhere near "hefty" increase. What is "Peanuts" to one person might be "Hefty" to an other. Who are we to decide for other people? Theo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palolake Posted October 3, 2015 #49 Share Posted October 3, 2015 This is probably a stupid question but will the payment be charged to our credit card now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted October 3, 2015 #50 Share Posted October 3, 2015 This is probably a stupid question but will the payment be charged to our credit card now? If you pre-pay? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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