Gratuities - Diamond Princess

[triple7tahoe]

We sail on the Diamond on March 2-Tips and onboard in AUD, March 16 continue to Tassie and back still in AUD, then Sydney to Perth will be in USD. Will not leave Australia until flight home from Perth--Any idea why last leg is not in AUD?

[rickays]

We sail on the Diamond on March 2-Tips and onboard in AUD, March 16 continue to Tassie and back still in AUD, then Sydney to Perth will be in USD. Will not leave Australia until flight home from Perth--Any idea why last leg is not in AUD?

 

Sydney to Perth is part of the repositioning cruise back to Japan via Singapore - so it would convert back to a US ship. The cruise is sold as full cruise Sydney to Tokyo, or segments Sydney to Singapore or Sydney to Perth.This would make it confusing for someone booking the Sydney to Perth cruise as nowhere in the booking process does it tell you that charges would be in US$ and gratuities need to be paid. For Diamond Princess all cruises that start and finish in Australia have gratuities included in price so you would assume that if you book Sydney to Perth then gratuities are included.

[Wastegirl]

I wonder how difficult it would be for the web site developers add to the web page something that recognises what country you are from and up pops a box during the booking process stating something like "as this is classified a non Australian cruise the account will be in US$ and gratuities at $?? per day per person will be added to your account".

 

If it hadn't been for Cruise Critic I would have been very surprised on my first cruise as I used my normal TA who at that time was not a cruise specialist and did not know about gratuities either. Fortunately CC educated me and I did not embarrass myself :D But if the AUD had not been high at that time, the extra cost may have tipped me over the edge with my budget.

[GUT2407]

I wonder how difficult it would be for the web site developers add to the web page something that recognises what country you are from and up pops a box during the booking process stating something like "as this is classified a non Australian cruise the account will be in US$ and gratuities at $?? per day per person will be added to your account".

 

If it hadn't been for Cruise Critic I would have been very surprised on my first cruise as I used my normal TA who at that time was not a cruise specialist and did not know about gratuities either. Fortunately CC educated me and I did not embarrass myself :D But if the AUD had not been high at that time, the extra cost may have tipped me over the edge with my budget.

 

 

Actually it would be pretty simple, but so would a lot of the things that are wrong on various cruiseline sites.

 

I'd love to see each cabin showing the actual configuration of that cabin, sofa near window or near door (when appropriate) which way the bed faces, Bathroom left or right of the door there must only be half a dozen combinations per cabin type so wouldn't be hard, just needs the will to do t.

[Hoonose]

I wonder how difficult it would be for the web site developers add to the web page something that recognises what country you are from and up pops a box during the booking process stating something like "as this is classified a non Australian cruise the account will be in US$ and gratuities at $?? per day per person will be added to your account".

 

They can and have used such a pop-up in the past.

 

The Sun Princess has operated in Australia for several years. Last year she spent a season in Japan before returning to Australia in October 2014. Prior to booking the repositioning cruise from Hong Kong to Sydney I rang Princess to check what onboard currency would apply on this cruise. I was assured that since it was the Sun Princess then the currency would definitely be Australian dollars. I still had my doubts because I couldn't imagine that the ship would operate in Japan using AUD but still went ahead with the booking a couple of days later.

 

Sure enough, the first time I used the Cruise Personalizer I was confronted with a pop-up asking me to acknowledge that I understood that the onboard currency was USD before I was able to proceed into the personalizer. This is the only time I have encountered such a pop-up so I can only assume that it was an issue for this particular cruise since Australians made up over 1700 of the 1900 odd passengers. The point I am making is that it is possible to provide the advice, it's just a pity that it was provided after the booking was made and not before. I would have still gone ahead with booking in either case but a bit of honesty doesn't go astray.

[caribill]

Australians made up over 1700 of the 1900 odd passengers.

 

I have always found Aussies to be normal, very friendly people, not odd at all.

[Hoonose]

I have always found Aussies to be normal, very friendly people, not odd at all.

 

Yep, that fits me to a T but I'm not sure about the rest of them.:)

[OzKiwiJJ]

I presume it will be the same when Golden repositions up to China next April. Rats! USD on board costs and extra for gratuities may be a deal-breaker for us. :(

 

Princess really should make it very clear during the booking process when things change from normal Aussie fares etc.

Edited October 8, 2015 by OzKiwiJJ

[GUT2407]

I have always found Aussies to be normal, very friendly people, not odd at all.

 

 

Whereas I've always found Aussies to be odd, not normal at all.

[Marsvirgo]

Hi I agree with you I had the same thoughts as I have also only cruised on the sun, sea and dawn princess as well as P&O previously and the thought of having to paying extra is a bit painful, but if I have to I will even though it does go against my beliefs of only paying people their dues for a job well done to those who serviced my room, wait staff if they are deserving but I also didnt know that the tips are distributed as they are. It is too close - just under 6 weeks to cancel my cruise but I will continue to book through princess as they are always helpful and informative (except for this) and i never have any problems

[Marsvirgo]

Me too and that is exactly what we will do!