Vasco da Gama - Gratuities not included?

[pkwessel]

Hi All,

 

Just had a friend return from a quick 3 night cruise on board CMV Vasco da Gama, round trip from Adelaide. Apparently you cannot remove the gratuities and are forced to pay $12 pp per night! Just trying to find out if this is correct, as we are going on her in the new year and will make a big hole in our budget.

 

 

 

[denny girl]

Yes it is on the CMV website where you can read all conditions relating to their cruises. Or your travel agent should inform you.

Vasco Da Gama
AUD $12 per person per night (this amount reduces to $10 per person per night for cruises of greater than 16 nights duration). CMV Additions packages allow guests to book and pre-pay gratuities at a reduced rate.

All service charges and gratuities are collated, so a portion goes to each crew member, who helps to make your cruise special. This is not only distributed to your cabin steward, waiter or bar attendant but also between the hidden stars behind-the-scenes, such as laundry operatives and kitchen staff, who you might never get to meet in person. Passengers wanting to reward a specific crew member for exceptional service are at liberty to additionally reward the individual.

[nnps]

It may be on their web site but if the cruise was bought in Australia, the gratuities would have to be included in the final total price according to Australian consumer law. It is illegal to show something for sale plus additional costs. I remember these rules coming in when GST started, as they were designed to avoid the American experience where prices were displayed as one amount but then taxes or extras were added. It is illegal to have a price plus GST (or gratuities). The whole cost has to be given as one inclusive total.

 

Most cruise lines get away with it by claiming that gratuities are optional. Legally, you can't be made to pay them in Australia. Of course they may still charge you and then you have the fight to get them to reimburse them. 

 

NCL have similar policies which is one of the reasons I won't cruise with them, although I have heard that you can force them to reimburse gratuities compulsorily taken.

[Big Kev]

CMV is a British line...  gratuities are some of the lowest you will get on any cruiseline...  (Most USA lines near $20USD/day)   On CMV,  pre-sail purchase of  a beveridge package includes those gratuities...   Also, no gratuities added for beveridges themselves...  Best to pre-pay and further discount applies...

[MicCanberra]

Good to now, will check it out for our 2012 cruise.

[Bpos]

11 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Good to now, will check it out for our 2012 cruise.

 

You have missed the boat, 2012 sailed by seven years ago!

[RosieCanberra]

1 hour ago, Bpos said:

 

You have missed the boat, 2012 sailed by seven years ago!

Hahahahahaha!  We sail January 2021. I'm looking forward to trying a new cruise line. 

[MicCanberra]

12 hours ago, Bpos said:

 

You have missed the boat, 2012 sailed by seven years ago!

Damn phat fingers,

[Beejay4016]

We've opted for the drinks package. For less per day than any drink package we've bought on Celebrity or HAL we get our daily gratuities included - and on our 10 night cruise we only pay for nine. I considered it a real bargain.