Royal and Explorer of the Seas

[davenew]

Hi there,

just booked on Explorer OTS for Med in September, this is after a 5 year sabbatical on P&O, and a lot has changed in that time.

 

Do RCI still have formal nights on a 14 nighter.

Also, without starting a war, do people remove obligatory tipping at Guest Services and reward your personal servers and cabin crew?

This seems to be the norm on P&O and MSC

 

Many thanks

[Sancho_proudfoot]

Yes they do still have formal nights. On a 14 night cruise, there will be 3. However these are now a "recommended dress", and in no way enforced, so you will see everything from full tuxes and ball gowns to shorts and flipflops. That said, out of Southampton, more people tend to dress formally than, say, in the Caribbean.

 

Lots of guests do cancel out the automatic gratuities, as it can add a hefty lump onto your account. However, saying on here that you intend to do so will get you flamed for "stiffing the staff".

 

Just sayin'.......

[gerif]

41 minutes ago, Sancho_proudfoot said:

Yes they do still have formal nights. On a 14 night cruise, there will be 3. However these are now a "recommended dress", and in no way enforced, so you will see everything from full tuxes and ball gowns to shorts and flipflops. That said, out of Southampton, more people tend to dress formally than, say, in the Caribbean.

 

Lots of guests do cancel out the automatic gratuities, as it can add a hefty lump onto your account. However, saying on here that you intend to do so will get you flamed for "stiffing the staff".

 

Just sayin'.......

Formal dress has always been “suggested” so there has never been anything to “enforce” other than an actual rule against things like shorts and sleeveless shirts on men. 

 

Yes, some cheapskates do remove automatic gratuities, thereby depriving staff of a portion of their wages. I feel it’s a deplorable practice, but one is free to do as they please. The staff is aware of what passengers do this. 

[hallux]

Rather than removing the automatic gratuity/service charge I have just given folks that have gone above and beyond an additional cash tip.  I've had some waiters that got a VERY good tip from the entire group I was with because they supported the special dietary needs of members of the group throughout the trip.

 

I also give some extra cash to the room steward, even if I never see him/her (almost better this way).  If the bed is fixed up, room cleaned, towels taken care of and none of my stuff stolen I really don't care if I see them.