Prepaid Gratuities -what exactly does that include?

[!MSteacher]

We booked an Alaskan cruise for the end of July.  Because we are celebrating our 20th anniversary, we chose to have all the perks (premium drink, internet, and prepaid gratuities).  However, will I still be expected to tip when I order a drink?  If so, is the tip a set amount? 

[Fogfog]

No

Your grats for your bev package are included in that package.

The Grats item is for the per person per day grats that get divided among cabin stewards, waiters etc

 

You are not obligated to pay any other grats

 

Happy Anniversary!

Edited July 7, 2019 by Fogfog

[!MSteacher]

WOW! Thank you for the quick reply!  

[cruisestitch]

The gratuities include tips to waitstaff, room stewards.  The drinks package includes tips and nothing further is expected.  Extra tips are always appreciated.

 

If you buy a bottle of wine, which is not covered by the package, they will tack a tip onto the price. If you have a spa treatment or a hairdressing appointment they will tack a tip onto that price.  Wine and liquor tasting are not included in your package, and they will be adding tips to those.

 

if you order a very expensive glass of wine or liquor, above the price point of your package, you will pay the difference, plus gratuity.

[TxCityKat]

If you order food from Room Service, please give a few dollar bills to the person delivering your order. Those folks are NOT included in the pre-paid gratuities.

Edited July 7, 2019 by TxCityKat
Fat fingers & skinny keys!

[!MSteacher]

1 minute ago, TxCityKat said:

If you order Room Service, please give a few dollar bills to the person delivering your order. Those folks are NOT included in the pre-paid gratuities.

Absolutely!  

[momjkm]

46 minutes ago, TxCityKat said:

If you order food from Room Service, please give a few dollar bills to the person delivering your order. Those folks are NOT included in the pre-paid gratuities.

For a cruise from Rome to Venice: dollars or euros?

[cruisestitch]

Either would be fine.  

[marshacruises]

3 hours ago, momjkm said:

For a cruise from Rome to Venice: dollars or euros?

Since the ship runs on the US dollar system, tips in US dollars would be the best.  That said, euros and other monies are easily converted by the ship, we exchanged our leftover British pounds into US dollars last month on the Edge.  If you have US dollars, don't pay the conversion fees to change to euros unless you want to use them on excursions or in-port shopping.  We found most places accept credit cards so we did not need many euros on land.

[cruisestitch]

If the ship will be in Europe for a while, Euros are useful to the crew, who do go shopping and out to eat on their minimal time off.  As the ship transitions to the US, euros are less useful because they have to pay conversion fees.  Once in the Western Hemisphere, stick to tipping in dollars if you can.

[aml3679]

Each drink includes an 18% tip, therefore, we give a tip to room service and in the coffee bar only.  

[cruisestitch]

The drink gratuity was recently raised from 18% to 20%

[peter1956]

Did they raise the gratuity instead of giving a pay rise to their staff?

Edited July 14, 2019 by peter1956

[Miaminice]

5 hours ago, peter1956 said:

Did they raise the gratuity instead of giving a pay rise to their staff?

 

Since the gratuities are the major factor of the crew‘s income it is a raise!

Edited July 14, 2019 by Miaminice