Drinks prices out of Australia - do they add gratuity?

[Scottygirl1]

Hello - I'm just wondering whether the prices of drinks on sailings out of Australia have added gratuities? I know that on P&O Australia there were no gratuities added. I'm trying to find the "real" price of drinks for our Ovation of the Seas cruise. I realise all prices will be in US dollars. Thanks :)

[Clarea]

Hello - I'm just wondering whether the prices of drinks on sailings out of Australia have added gratuities? I know that on P&O Australia there were no gratuities added. I'm trying to find the "real" price of drinks for our Ovation of the Seas cruise. I realise all prices will be in US dollars. Thanks :)

I believe that the drink prices on RC cruises based out of Australia already have the gratuity included.

[Scottygirl1]

I believe that the drink prices on RC cruises based out of Australia already have the gratuity included.

 

Thank you - I presume then that they would be a little more expensive? It's so frustrating not being able to find a price list for cruises out of Australia.

[Clarea]

Thank you - I presume then that they would be a little more expensive? It's so frustrating not being able to find a price list for cruises out of Australia.

Yes, it's been my experience that they add a dollar or two to the drink prices to accommodate the gratuity.

[CoopColbie]

You'll never find a total price list for drinks coming out of Australia, because they fluctuate with the exchange rate.

[Scottygirl1]

You'll never find a total price list for drinks coming out of Australia, because they fluctuate with the exchange rate.

 

But all the drinks are in US dollars on the ship so no exchange rate involved. I was just wondering if gratuities were included in the price paid or added on :) I was just asking if anyone can remember from a cruise they had taken.

[The_Big_M]

As above, prices for drinks here include gratuities. They are not charged extra.

 

The price for the drink is comparable to the US price, but rounded. So e.g. if the original US price was US$12, it would be likely rounded to US$14 here (14.16 incl tip). Whereas a US$10 drink would become US$12 (instead of 11.80.)

[soak01]

We have sailed on both Rhapsody and Voyager on cruises from Sydney and each time the gratuities were included in the price of drinks (i.e. the price on the menu was what we paid). I think that this a requirement of Australian Consumer Law.

[Scottygirl1]

As above, prices for drinks here include gratuities. They are not charged extra.

 

The price for the drink is comparable to the US price, but rounded. So e.g. if the original US price was US$12, it would be likely rounded to US$14 here (14.16 incl tip). Whereas a US$10 drink would become US$12 (instead of 11.80.)

 

Thank you!! That was exactly what I thought - that it would be included but more expensive.

[CoopColbie]

But all the drinks are in US dollars on the ship so no exchange rate involved. I was just wondering if gratuities were included in the price paid or added on :) I was just asking if anyone can remember from a cruise they had taken.

 

There's an exchange rate when you actually have to pay it - when you fork over the cash or let your bank do the conversion. So what the cost of the actual package is dependent on the exchange rate of the day.

[DT1304]

It's been a couple of years since I last cruised out of Sydney on RCCL.

 

From my recollection, tips were included in the drinks bill, but clearly indicated as a separate charge.

 

Also I think we used Australian Dollars on my cruises out of Sydney, but were given US Dollars in Casino winnings. All bills for extras were in AUS $ I think.

[Scottygirl1]

I have this off the Royal Caribbean website "The currency used onboard all Royal Caribbean International ships is US Dollars" .

 

My question was not about the alcohol package, rather individual drinks bought on board. I think it was answered above when it was said the price is increased to include the 18% gratuity.

[mr walker]

My question was not about the alcohol package, rather individual drinks bought on board. I think it was answered above when it was said the price is increased to include the 18% gratuity.

 

Your question was correctly answered by some posters, and others provided incorrect information. This is the internet after all :D

 

The menu price for drinks on RC Australian sailings is in USD & includes T&G's. We did a relocation cruise (Vancouver to Sydney via Hawaii). On turnaround day in Honolulu the drink menus were changed out in all locations on the ship, changing from prices without T&G's to prices including T&G's. If you check the little code number on the back of the menu, there will be an 'A" added to the number, indicating that this menu is for Australian cruises, even the one leaving Hawaii for Sydney!

 

The menu price difference is, as someone posted, rounded a little to keep the numbers 'nice', but is the T&G added only, nothing to do with exchange rates, phases of the moon etc.

 

Happy cruising

[Scottygirl1]

Your question was correctly answered by some posters, and others provided incorrect information. This is the internet after all :D

 

The menu price for drinks on RC Australian sailings is in USD & includes T&G's. We did a relocation cruise (Vancouver to Sydney via Hawaii). On turnaround day in Honolulu the drink menus were changed out in all locations on the ship, changing from prices without T&G's to prices including T&G's. If you check the little code number on the back of the menu, there will be an 'A" added to the number, indicating that this menu is for Australian cruises, even the one leaving Hawaii for Sydney!

 

The menu price difference is, as someone posted, rounded a little to keep the numbers 'nice', but is the T&G added only, nothing to do with exchange rates, phases of the moon etc.

 

Happy cruising

 

Thank you - I think my question has been well answered now. It's great to have fellow cruisers who have experience with this.

[Retired nanny]

Enjoy yr cruise scottygirl. I go november this year and have been trying to get the whole gratuity thing sorted with varying answers. I intend to ring RC direct tomorrow and try and get it from horses mouth. I believe prices were going up jan 1st 2018. So much easier to go P and O.

[soak01]

Pretty simple really. All drink prices on Australian sailings on RCI even though they are in USD include the 18% gratuities to comply with Australian Consumer Law. If you want to tip the waiter over and above that its up to you. We normally get the drinks package which includes gratuities anyway, but will usually give a few of our favourite waiters a bit extra on the last night.

 

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