Nixieh Posted April 5, 2018 #1 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Firstly, this is not intended as another discussion on removing gratuities. I will not (and never would) do that as I know that all crew staff work extremely hard for the customers, get paid a pittance and rely on the tips and I strongly feel that the tips are a part of the cruise cost and, as such, should always be paid. I have been reading various threads about the advantages and disadvantages of pre-paying gratuities and I have summarised what the threads seem to suggest below: Advantages Paid before leaving for cruise so don't have big bill at the end and if you are not from the US (like us) you can pay in your own currency before the cruise so avoiding currency fluctuations and potential foreign currency transaction fees from your bank. Disadvantages You could be getting the interest on the money in your bank account up until the end of the cruise. My question is, will the room steward know that the tips are already prepaid or not? I want to prepay for the reasons stated above but I read a worrying thread in which someone talked about poor attitude from the room steward after he was given a cash tip (in addition to the prepaid gratuity) as the poster believed the steward may have thought the additional cash tip was instead of the auto gratuity. In that thread, it was suggested that people buy an OBC to cover the tips instead but I would prefer just to prepay the tips so I just want to make sure there are not likely to be any other issues with me doing that. Thanks for any insights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbsie65 Posted April 5, 2018 #2 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Firstly, this is not intended as another discussion on removing gratuities. I will not (and never would) do that as I know that all crew staff work extremely hard for the customers, get paid a pittance and rely on the tips and I strongly feel that the tips are a part of the cruise cost and, as such, should always be paid. I have been reading various threads about the advantages and disadvantages of pre-paying gratuities and I have summarised what the threads seem to suggest below: Advantages Paid before leaving for cruise so don't have big bill at the end and if you are not from the US (like us) you can pay in your own currency before the cruise so avoiding currency fluctuations and potential foreign currency transaction fees from your bank. Disadvantages You could be getting the interest on the money in your bank account up until the end of the cruise. My question is, will the room steward know that the tips are already prepaid or not? I want to prepay for the reasons stated above but I read a worrying thread in which someone talked about poor attitude from the room steward after he was given a cash tip (in addition to the prepaid gratuity) as the poster believed the steward may have thought the additional cash tip was instead of the auto gratuity. In that thread, it was suggested that people buy an OBC to cover the tips instead but I would prefer just to prepay the tips so I just want to make sure there are not likely to be any other issues with me doing that. Thanks for any insights. Always pre-pay - just paid for our June cruise. Shows as paid on invoice & I am sure the only way the steward would find out was if this was removed for whatever reason & they questioned his 'level' of service because of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sillyjilly Posted April 5, 2018 #3 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I wouldn't let missing interest rates deter you. They are practically nil at this time. I like pre-paying so I can drink more without a guilty conscience. :evilsmile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted April 5, 2018 #4 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Disadvantage. What f service is Really really really bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crochetcruise Posted April 5, 2018 #5 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Disadvantage. What f service is Really really really bad Then you should ask to speak to whoever is in charge of Housekeeping, and report the problem/s so they can investigate and take the appropriate action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted April 5, 2018 #6 Share Posted April 5, 2018 It is pretty much the same as pre-paying any obligation. You get it out of the way and don't worry about having the funds when it would be due. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted April 5, 2018 #7 Share Posted April 5, 2018 If you are not from the US there could be an exchange rate advantage or disadvantage. Otherwise it's up to you. Do what makes you feel most comfortable. The Crew does not care if you pre-pay or get billed at the end of the voyage. They get their share either way. I would not worry about interest rates. The amount is less than 2 cents/week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted April 5, 2018 #8 Share Posted April 5, 2018 prepay - unless you have non-refundable OBC that will be applied before any refundable OBC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deliver42 Posted April 5, 2018 #9 Share Posted April 5, 2018 The interest you are missing on a 7 day cruise may be as high as 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majortom10 Posted April 5, 2018 #10 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Definition of gratuity is a reward for good service. How can you prepay for service you have not yet received and might be good or bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expat Cruise Posted April 5, 2018 #11 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Never would prepay a gratuity if you prepay it no longer meets the definition of gratuity. Always remove the daily service fees and tip those who I feel have earned a tip. How could anyone prepay sine it is gratuity from the Princess information: "the amount of the gratuities is up to your own decision. Many passengers, however, ask for some recommendations." and "our crew members will provide you with excellent service, but many of them will remain invisible. In order to do justice to all our crew members who care for your well-being, a discretionary gratuity...." Again Princess clearly says discretionary so no one could really know what is correct until after services have been provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonyy7 Posted April 5, 2018 #12 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I usually have OBC for gratuity and some wine so I don’t prepay so that can be used up. And they have your credit card so you don’t have to do anything at the end of the cruise if you have a balance. I see no advantages on board in prepaying anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie3fan Posted April 5, 2018 #13 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I'll prepay the grats if I get a notice that the rate is increasing and that I'll lock in the lower rate by prepaying. Or if my credit card is running a deal where I might get back a bigger reward on travel during a certain time period prior to my cruise dates. Otherwise I'll pay onboard, knowing I saved the 2 cents interest I'd have lost by prepaying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIJOY Posted April 5, 2018 #14 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Firstly, this is not intended as another discussion on removing gratuities. I will not (and never would) do that as I know that all crew staff work extremely hard for the customers, get paid a pittance and rely on the tips and I strongly feel that the tips are a part of the cruise cost and, as such, should always be paid. I have been reading various threads about the advantages and disadvantages of pre-paying gratuities and I have summarised what the threads seem to suggest below: Advantages Paid before leaving for cruise so don't have big bill at the end and if you are not from the US (like us) you can pay in your own currency before the cruise so avoiding currency fluctuations and potential foreign currency transaction fees from your bank. Disadvantages You could be getting the interest on the money in your bank account up until the end of the cruise. My question is, will the room steward know that the tips are already prepaid or not? I want to prepay for the reasons stated above but I read a worrying thread in which someone talked about poor attitude from the room steward after he was given a cash tip (in addition to the prepaid gratuity) as the poster believed the steward may have thought the additional cash tip was instead of the auto gratuity. In that thread, it was suggested that people buy an OBC to cover the tips instead but I would prefer just to prepay the tips so I just want to make sure there are not likely to be any other issues with me doing that. Thanks for any insights. If I have OBC I wait to pay gratuity if not I prepay, I like stepping off the ship with 0 balance on my CC. I have not noticed any difference in service, some stewards are better than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubynic Posted April 5, 2018 #15 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Nixieh - are you from the UK ?? If so the exchange rate for any prepaid items will be fixed based on when you booked your cruise. With Brexit there have been some large fluctuations (I have one cruise at $1.25/£1 and one at $1.42/£) If it is a good rate then I would prepay; if the current rate is better then I pay on my credit card. Hope this makes sense !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nixieh Posted April 5, 2018 Author #16 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Thanks everyone for the helpful posts and advice. Sorry I really didn’t mean to stir up a controversial topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nixieh Posted April 5, 2018 Author #17 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Nixieh - are you from the UK ?? If so the exchange rate for any prepaid items will be fixed based on when you booked your cruise. With Brexit there have been some large fluctuations (I have one cruise at $1.25/£1 and one at $1.42/£) If it is a good rate then I would prepay; if the current rate is better then I pay on my credit card. Hope this makes sense !! Yes I am from the Uk. Great point about the rate being fixed when you book. How can I find out what ‘my rate’ would be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubynic Posted April 5, 2018 #18 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Yes I am from the Uk. Great point about the rate being fixed when you book. How can I find out what ‘my rate’ would be? Easiest way is to look in your Personalise how much it would cost to purchase On Board Credit. The £ amounts quoted are for $25, $50 and $100 respectively so you can do the calculation from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Hag Posted April 5, 2018 #19 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I like to prepay everything that I can. I enjoy a vacation more if it's totally paid for or nearly totally paid for before we go. If I needed the amount of interest I'd get on the gratuities total, I wouldn't be able to afford to cruise anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRabbit Posted April 5, 2018 #20 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Then you should ask to speak to whoever is in charge of Housekeeping, and report the problem/s so they can investigate and take the appropriate action. Agree, we have never, ever had a single problem that could not be resolved, and all were resolved talking only to the steward. We have also never left a cruise without upping the tips to the room steward and wait staff, as they have all been excelent. As for pre paying, we have always paid at the end so we have a single bill to resolve. If there was an advantage that helped us such as exchange rate, we wouldn't hesitate to save a few bucks so we can tip more later. Another CC member has mentioned giving his waiter a $15 dollar tip at the end of the cruise for every time he wasn't charge a corking fee. We do the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avcruz Posted April 6, 2018 #21 Share Posted April 6, 2018 If I have OBC I wait to pay gratuity if not I prepay, I like stepping off the ship with 0 balance on my CC. I have not noticed any difference in service, some stewards are better than others. This. And the fact that if I pre-pay in CAD I usually get a better exchange rate than having them charge to my credit card in USD and converted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky TGO Posted April 6, 2018 #22 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Thanks everyone for the helpful posts and advice. Sorry I really didn’t mean to stir up a controversial topic. Don’t be sorry. This happens every other day on Cruise Critic..:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie3fan Posted April 6, 2018 #23 Share Posted April 6, 2018 Don’t be sorry. This happens every other day on Cruise Critic..:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:Tony And also the other every other days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky TGO Posted April 6, 2018 #24 Share Posted April 6, 2018 And also the other every other days! I totally agree with you. :D Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyaewa Posted April 6, 2018 #25 Share Posted April 6, 2018 This. And the fact that if I pre-pay in CAD I usually get a better exchange rate than having them charge to my credit card in USD and converted. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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