Leann1980 Posted September 23, 2018 #1 Share Posted September 23, 2018 When on your cruise do you pay for tips during your cruise or on your way off the boat? I have been told by my sister and father that in order to get off the boat you have to make these payments. Does anyone have any insight on this to clear my worries about how this works beforehand. Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted September 23, 2018 #2 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Tips will be added to your account daily...your bill is settled when you leave. The tips cover your cabin attendant, waiters, ass't waiters, and head waiters. Bar tabs will have 18% added to the cost of any drink (or package).....no further tips are needed. Room service isn't covered by the tips they charge...so if you use room service, $1-5 is common, depending on how much they have to carry! This isn't unique to RCI...all of the major cruise lines do it like this nowadays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leann1980 Posted September 23, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Tips will be added to your account daily...your bill is settled when you leave. The tips cover your cabin attendant, waiters, ass't waiters, and head waiters.Bar tabs will have 18% added to the cost of any drink (or package).....no further tips are needed. Room service isn't covered by the tips they charge...so if you use room service, $1-5 is common, depending on how much they have to carry! This isn't unique to RCI...all of the major cruise lines do it like this nowadays. What if you pay for tips and gratuity with your bill with cruise how does that work. Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rguy123 Posted September 23, 2018 #4 Share Posted September 23, 2018 You need to rewrite the last question so we can figure out what your asking. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leann1980 Posted September 23, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted September 23, 2018 You need to rewrite the last question so we can figure out what your asking. Sent from my iPad using Forums MY last question is I paid for tips and gratuity with my cruise there is a option on Royal Caribbeans site to do so. I am not asking if I do that does that cover me a tips and gratuity for the cruise or will I still need to pay a bill getting of the boat at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missymo Posted September 23, 2018 #6 Share Posted September 23, 2018 I assume you mean if you prepaid your tips and gratuity when you paid your final payment. If so, you will get receipts to give to the MDR and cabin staff the day before disembarking. Put them in the proper envelopes provided (with any extra tips you may want to add) ,and give to the wait staff etc the last evening at dinner. Give to Cabin attendants or leave the envelopes in your cabin when you leave. Should you eat at other venues beside MDR, We usually give cash tips at each meal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leann1980 Posted September 23, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted September 23, 2018 I assume you mean if you prepaid your tips and gratuity when you paid your final payment. If so, you will get receipts to give to the dining and cabin staff the day before disembarking. Put them in the proper envelopes provided (with any extra tips you may want to add) ,and give to the wait staff etc the last evening at dinner. Give to Cabin attendants or leave the envelopes in your cabin when you leave. Should you eat at other venues beside MDR, We usually give cash tips at each meal.Thanks so much Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted September 23, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 23, 2018 I assume you mean if you prepaid your tips and gratuity when you paid your final payment. If so, you will get receipts to give to the MDR and cabin staff the day before disembarking. Put them in the proper envelopes provided (with any extra tips you may want to add) ,and give to the wait staff etc the last evening at dinner. Give to Cabin attendants or leave the envelopes in your cabin when you leave. Should you eat at other venues beside MDR, We usually give cash tips at each meal. HUH? Whether you pre-pay your gratuities or have them added to you bill, there is nothing to give to the crew. The tips are automatically distributed to the proper people based on the info posted on the RCI site. ALL wait staff are compensated from the auto gratuities. You do not need to tip in any eating venue, unless you feel you want to, typically based on service above and beyond the normal level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted September 23, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Normally, you put a credit card on file when you check in (online or at the port). The last night, they charge your card for any charges on your account. You can set up cash account, and then you have to go to Guest Services before you get off the ship and pay your account. Or they will not let you off the ship. Your account will include you daily gratuities (unless you pre-pay them), plus any other charges on board. Drinks (if you did not buy a drink package), dining in the specialty restaurants, photos purchased on board, items from the shops, excursions, etc. Basically, on board the ship, you will not pay directly for anything with cash or credit card. You room key (called a Sea Pass on RCI) is your "charge card" for all on board purchases. The only cash you will use onboard would be for additional tips or to use in the casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeyJeg171431 Posted September 23, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Hi, We are sailing on Allure of thr sea in January, 2019. We have booked the Ultimate dinning package and Ultimate drink package. Do you still have to tip the wait staff? Sent from my SM-G955W using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lajbec Posted September 23, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Hi, We are sailing on Allure of thr sea in January, 2019. We have booked the Ultimate dinning package and Ultimate drink package. Do you still have to tip the wait staff? Sent from my SM-G955W using Forums mobile app Your tips/gratuties/service fee is the same as explained above. It is either assessed to your onboard account daily or you could have chosen to prepay when you book your cruise. A separate 18% gratuity was added to your purchase price of the dining and drink package when purchased those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayTea Posted September 24, 2018 #12 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Thanks so much Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app Please ignore that explanation given by Missymo. It refers to a process that Royal Caribbean discontinued several years ago. Today, guests who have prepaid their gratuities are no longer given chits/receipts to be placed in envelopes. Nowadays, the prepaid gratuities are distributed directly to the staff by Royal Caribbean. As someone else mentioned, you can give extra gratuities to those staff that you think deserve them. Towards the end of the cruise, the stewards may leave envelopes in your stateroom for this purpose. You are free to ignore these envelopes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted September 24, 2018 #13 Share Posted September 24, 2018 When on your cruise do you pay for tips during your cruise or on your way off the boat? I have been told by my sister and father that in order to get off the boat you have to make these payments. Does anyone have any insight on this to clear my worries about how this works beforehand. Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app Ship, not boat. all cruise lines that charge daily gratuities/service charge operate essentially the same way. they are added to your account daily unless you pre pay. you must have a zero balance before you can leave at the end of the cruise. doesn't matter if the balance is due to a large bar tab, or the $15-ish per per person per day gratuities.( More if you are in a suite) Royal, specifically, allows you to run up $250 a day in charges before cutting off your on board spending privileges unless you have a credit card on file( never use a debit card) pre paying allows you to take all the worry about who should be tipped and how much. they did all the thinking for you. furthermore, that is ALL you need to pay. anything else should only be given out of you feel it is truly warranted. the daily charge covers all meals or snacks in included venues( MDR, Windjammer Buffet, Poolside, etc) and your cabin steward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted September 24, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Hi, We are sailing on Allure of thr sea in January, 2019. We have booked the Ultimate dinning package and Ultimate drink package. Do you still have to tip the wait staff? Sent from my SM-G955W using Forums mobile app yes you are still charged the daily fee. this covers ALL options for meals/snacks. you will still be eating breakfast lunch and the occasional snack, right? then you need to leave the daily fee alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggtjr Posted September 24, 2018 #15 Share Posted September 24, 2018 I assume you mean if you prepaid your tips and gratuity when you paid your final payment. If so, you will get receipts to give to the MDR and cabin staff the day before disembarking. Put them in the proper envelopes provided (with any extra tips you may want to add) ,and give to the wait staff etc the last evening at dinner. Give to Cabin attendants or leave the envelopes in your cabin when you leave. Should you eat at other venues beside MDR, We usually give cash tips at each meal.I just sailed RCI Liberty of the Seas and did not get receipts to put in the envelopes for my pre-paid gratuities. However, we give some extra to room steward and waiters for an excellent job well done Sent from my SM-G892A using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggtjr Posted September 24, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 24, 2018 HUH? Whether you pre-pay your gratuities or have them added to you bill, there is nothing to give to the crew. The tips are automatically distributed to the proper people based on the info posted on the RCI site. ALL wait staff are compensated from the auto gratuities. You do not need to tip in any eating venue, unless you feel you want to, typically based on service above and beyond the normal level. It is customary to tip in the Specialty restaurants Sent from my SM-G892A using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimA75 Posted September 24, 2018 #17 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Short and simple- if you paid gratuities when you booked, you are not required to pay anything additional at the end of the cruise. If you do not buy anything in the shops, or get any extra drinks, etc, you can walk off the ship without anything on your bill. If you buy extras, they are scanned to your Sea Pass card, that you get upon boarding. You can pay cash for any of these extras at the end, or let them go to whatever credit card you may have attached to your Sea Pass. If there was exceptional staff that you want to tip extra, you do so as you wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted September 24, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Regarding gratuities and how they are paid, t's very simple: 1. If you prepay you gratuities prior to the cruise, there are no more gratuities required on board. Drinks have the gratuity automatically added as part of the drink bill. 2. If you wait to pay them on board, they are automatically charged daily to your stateroom account, which is then charged to your credit card on the last night of the cruise. 3. If you do not prepay them or want to opt out of having gratuities paid automatically, you must do so by requesting this directly with Guest Services on board on the first day, then you will be expected to pay the recommended amount in cash at the end of the cruise to your stateroom attendant and wait staff. If you choose this route, please be sure and pay the gratuities - envelopes will be provided. Additional gratuities can be paid at your discretion or option in cash but are not required. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted September 25, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 25, 2018 It is customary to tip in the Specialty restaurants Who's custom? If you read the info, the specialty restaurant charge INCLUDES gratuity. I will tip extra, if the service above and beyond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Walt Posted September 25, 2018 #20 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Who's custom? If you read the info, the specialty restaurant charge INCLUDES gratuity. I will tip extra, if the service above and beyond. The cruise lines I've been on present a bill at the end of a meal in a specialty restaurant and leave room for a gratuity after the total charge (fee and any beverages), so the cruise line kinda makes the tip a customary item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted September 25, 2018 #21 Share Posted September 25, 2018 The cruise lines I've been on present a bill at the end of a meal in a specialty restaurant and leave room for a gratuity after the total charge (fee and any beverages), so the cruise line kinda makes the tip a customary item. In the same manner as when you order a drink there is an additional space for a gratuity and then a total line. This would be an additional one as the gratuity is shown and included in the total charge above the gratuity and total lines. It is the same with the specialty restaurants in terms of adding a gratuity there. While it may not display the gratuity as part of the total, at least with RCI and Celebrity, the up charge includes the tip. So your point is valid in terms of the cruise line kind of making the tip a customary item when with drinks and specialty restaurants it is included in the charge. However in reality any additional would be optional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manchester123 Posted September 26, 2018 #22 Share Posted September 26, 2018 Hi we are going on a cruise on sunday and is it best to book for the shows as soon as we get on the ship also my mum is in a wheelchair so how pratical is it that we can all seat together when watching the shows as there are 7 of us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted September 26, 2018 #23 Share Posted September 26, 2018 It would help to know what ship you are on as booking shows in advance only necessary and available to do on certain RCI ships such as Oasis class that have multiple entertainment venues, and some of the Freedom class ships, in particular those similar to the Oasis class that feature the Broadway based shows. On those ships it is best to reserve theater times in advance through your on-line cruise planner to assure the days and times you want to see those productions. Similarly with Oasis class ships with the small Comedy Club venue and Aqua Theater water shows. You can also book on board through your stateroom interactive TV. On the other ships simply show up 20 minutes or so ahead of the show time for seating and you should be OK with your group, and there is dedicated accessible seating areas as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted September 26, 2018 #24 Share Posted September 26, 2018 Just because it is on the slip, doesn't make it customary. It if your choice if want to tip EXTRA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwayneb236 Posted September 26, 2018 #25 Share Posted September 26, 2018 We always pre pay, Just have it rolled into the cruise cost. We never eat in the MDR so no reason to give any extra there. But we do tip extra a good room steward and bartenders well if we feel we get good service. Most times we do. We know we don't have to but we enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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