Two question about paying gratuities (Vista)

[GerryL13]

So, the travel docs for the October Panama Canal cruise on Vista arrived this weekend. Being the "read the manual" kind of person I am, I sat down and read/scanned the 40+-page booklet. On the page describing what I can expect in my Veranda stateroom (B3) there is a confusing footnote: Under Gratuities it says "... a suggested gratuity of $18.00* per guest, per day will be automatically added to your onboard account." Okay. Understood that to be the case. But there is a footnote. * "Not applicable on Oct 16, 2023 Inaugural Panama Canal."

 

So that leaves me wondering precisely what is not applicable. The amount? The automatic addition? It would be too much to hope that it means gratuities are included on this booking, especially since I have not seen anything to that effect in my paperwork. Can anyone offer any insight into how to interpret this mystery footnote?  (And yes, I will try to reach them by phone later in the week.)

 

Related question: I've been going on the presumption that I can use cruise credits to pay gratuities. I haven't seen anything saying OBC cannot be used to cover gratuities, but neither have I see anything saying they can.

 

Thanks

[basor]

We are on the same sailing and had not seen that note but just received our docs and haven't studied too carefully.  We have gratuities included to loyalty so would not have been looking for that.

If you have OBC (not from booking under Simply More) than the credits can be used for anything (except gambling in the casino).

I would recommend that you call your TA (travel agent) and ask them to clarify as you indicated.

 

It should be a wonderful cruise as their Inaugural Panama sailing...see you onboard 

We embark in Montreal and will stay onboard for this one

[kibutzer]

14 hours ago, basor said:

We are on the same sailing and had not seen that note but just received our docs and haven't studied too carefully.  We have gratuities included to loyalty so would not have been looking for that.

If you have OBC (not from booking under Simply More) than the credits can be used for anything (except gambling in the casino).

I would recommend that you call your TA (travel agent) and ask them to clarify as you indicated.

 

It should be a wonderful cruise as their Inaugural Panama sailing...see you onboard 

We embark in Montreal and will stay onboard for this one

So excited, I know this is a hijack,I will be in an arm sling will be three weeks past setting a fractured arm. Glad there is staff to assist in Terrace and Waves.

[Grado]

On 9/4/2023 at 4:07 PM, GerryL13 said:

So, the travel docs for the October Panama Canal cruise on Vista arrived this weekend. Being the "read the manual" kind of person I am, I sat down and read/scanned the 40+-page booklet. On the page describing what I can expect in my Veranda stateroom (B3) there is a confusing footnote: Under Gratuities it says "... a suggested gratuity of $18.00* per guest, per day will be automatically added to your onboard account." Okay. Understood that to be the case. But there is a footnote. * "Not applicable on Oct 16, 2023 Inaugural Panama Canal."

 

So that leaves me wondering precisely what is not applicable. The amount? The automatic addition? It would be too much to hope that it means gratuities are included on this booking, especially since I have not seen anything to that effect in my paperwork. Can anyone offer any insight into how to interpret this mystery footnote?  (And yes, I will try to reach them by phone later in the week.)

 

Related question: I've been going on the presumption that I can use cruise credits to pay gratuities. I haven't seen anything saying OBC cannot be used to cover gratuities, but neither have I see anything saying they can.

 

Thanks

Hi there Texas. We are on this same cruise. Thank you for reading the 40 pages. I never noticed this footnote and I see you haven’t received any responses. Did you get anywhere with your phone call? Re: grats, I guess no news is good news. Like you, I haven’t seen anywhere that we are not permitted to pay grats with obc. Jan Gradowitz sjgrado yahoo

[mauibabes]

@kibutzer

You may not be the only one with an arm in a sling, just heard a good friend suffered a fall. They will be boarding in Montreal and be on until LA. Of course there will be staff there to assist you in any of the restaurants, especially Waves and TC. Let’s just say they will see you coming 😇👍🛳️

See you at the M&G in Miami when we board, helping with check in so say hello. 
Mauibabes

[1985rz1]

1 hour ago, Grado said:

Hi there Texas. We are on this same cruise. Thank you for reading the 40 pages. I never noticed this footnote and I see you haven’t received any responses. Did you get anywhere with your phone call? Re: grats, I guess no news is good news. Like you, I haven’t seen anywhere that we are not permitted to pay grats with obc. Jan Gradowitz sjgrado yahoo

When we get SBC (O's designation for OBC...purely semantics) instead of PPG (prepaid gratuities) from our TA, we use the SBC to pay the gratuities.

[kibutzer]

1 hour ago, mauibabes said:

@kibutzer

You may not be the only one with an arm in a sling, just heard a good friend suffered a fall. They will be boarding in Montreal and be on until LA. Of course there will be staff there to assist you in any of the restaurants, especially Waves and TC. Let’s just say they will see you coming 😇👍🛳️

See you at the M&G in Miami when we board, helping with check in so say hello. 
Mauibabes

Sorry to hear about your friend . So excited. Rethinking excursions and clothes.  Traveling with another couple. Cleared by ortho to go. Husband is excited because staff will now take over most of his support duties. Can't wait to meet new folks and see old friends.

B

Edited September 17, 2023 by kibutzer

[TFree]

On 9/4/2023 at 4:07 PM, GerryL13 said:

So, the travel docs for the October Panama Canal cruise on Vista arrived this weekend. Being the "read the manual" kind of person I am, I sat down and read/scanned the 40+-page booklet. On the page describing what I can expect in my Veranda stateroom (B3) there is a confusing footnote: Under Gratuities it says "... a suggested gratuity of $18.00* per guest, per day will be automatically added to your onboard account." Okay. Understood that to be the case. But there is a footnote. * "Not applicable on Oct 16, 2023 Inaugural Panama Canal."

 

So that leaves me wondering precisely what is not applicable. The amount? The automatic addition? It would be too much to hope that it means gratuities are included on this booking, especially since I have not seen anything to that effect in my paperwork. Can anyone offer any insight into how to interpret this mystery footnote?  (And yes, I will try to reach them by phone later in the week.)

 

Related question: I've been going on the presumption that I can use cruise credits to pay gratuities. I haven't seen anything saying OBC cannot be used to cover gratuities, but neither have I see anything saying they can.

 

Thanks

Just as a point of information, we are on the following Panama Canal cruise (November 3-19).  Seeing your post caused me to take a look at the booklet.  Ours says (p. 19): ". . . suggested gratuity of $18.00 per guest, per day" will be added.  There is a footnote, but it refers to NZ and AU bookings.  So whatever is different for your Panama Canal cruise, it is for your cruise only.  If you find the answer please report back.

 

Tom & Judy

[basor]

18 minutes ago, TFree said:

Just as a point of information, we are on the following Panama Canal cruise (November 3-19).  Seeing your post caused me to take a look at the booklet.  Ours says (p. 19): ". . . suggested gratuity of $18.00 per guest, per day" will be added.  There is a footnote, but it refers to NZ and AU bookings.  So whatever is different for your Panama Canal cruise, it is for your cruise only.  If you find the answer please report back.

 

Tom & Judy

Could possibly be because our Panama Canal cruise (16OCT - 01NOV) is the inaugural transit of the canal .  We are on the prior cruise from Montreal to Miami so I will check onboard for an answer.

[LHT28]

On 9/4/2023 at 7:07 PM, GerryL13 said:

So, the travel docs for the October Panama Canal cruise on Vista arrived this weekend. Being the "read the manual" kind of person I am, I sat down and read/scanned the 40+-page booklet. On the page describing what I can expect in my Veranda stateroom (B3) there is a confusing footnote: Under Gratuities it says "... a suggested gratuity of $18.00* per guest, per day will be automatically added to your onboard account." Okay. Understood that to be the case. But there is a footnote. * "Not applicable on Oct 16, 2023 Inaugural Panama Canal."

 

 

Have you asked  your TA  or Oceania rep?

 

 

[Muckyduckway]

Where exactly is the footnote you mention? As UK customers we don't get anything but promotional booklets in the mail.

I waded through the plethora of email attachments we received at the time but didn't notice that; any extra direction would be much appreciated.

[basor]

1 minute ago, Muckyduckway said:

Where exactly is the footnote you mention? As UK customers we don't get anything but promotional booklets in the mail.

I waded through the plethora of email attachments we received at the time but didn't notice that; any extra direction would be much appreciated.

It is in the booklet sent with the luggage tags, etc.   I don't believe they are mailing them out to customers outside of North America any more...once we board, all of us will find out what it means.  Since we have pre-paid gratuities due to loyalty, I didn't notice.

[LHT28]

1 minute ago, basor said:

It is in the booklet sent with the luggage tags, etc.   I don't believe they are mailing them out to customers outside of North America any more...once we board, all of us will find out what it means.  Since we have pre-paid gratuities due to loyalty, I didn't notice.

So you have the footnote  in you documents ?

Perhaps  they are waiving the  Gratuities ??

[basor]

Just now, LHT28 said:

So you have the footnote  in you documents ?

Perhaps  they are waiving the  Gratuities ??

Yes, I found it after someone mentioned it.   That is what I am thinking since it is the Inaugural Panama Canal cruise....

[pinotlover]

I have a highly professional Travel Agent and know how to use her. It’s Monday afternoon, I’d already have an official response for this question, via that highly professional Travel Agent, from Oceania. No guess work required.

[basor]

53 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

I have a highly professional Travel Agent and know how to use her. It’s Monday afternoon, I’d already have an official response for this question, via that highly professional Travel Agent, from Oceania. No guess work required.

Didn't want to bother her since ours are already pre-paid so not a big deal for us - one way or the other.

[GerryL13]

4 hours ago, LHT28 said:

Have you asked  your TA  or Oceania rep?

 

 

My listed "TA" is actually my sis-in-law. She and my brother are paying for the trip. She is a registered TA but not a professional practitioner. 

 

[Muckyduckway]

8 hours ago, basor said:

It is in the booklet sent with the luggage tags, etc.   I don't believe they are mailing them out to customers outside of North America any more...once we board, all of us will find out what it means.  Since we have pre-paid gratuities due to loyalty, I didn't notice.

Let's hope it refers to waived gratuities. That would be a really nice "gift". It would be a great boost to our cocktail budget 😉

Edited September 19, 2023 by Muckyduckway

[PaisleyMello]

I read my boarding booklet, and the footnote is placed directly after “$18.00” — so I’m thinking the amount for the inaugural Panama Canal sailing could be more than $18.00 — hopefully less or zero!

I have booked a shore excursion for my friends and us, through Viator/Cay Tours to see the Queen Elizabeth II botanical gardens on this Panama Canal sailing - for October 18. I’m hoping others of you on this sailing will join us. 

[sandpiperbay]

On the Panama Canal cruise too, but haven’t received any docs yet. Did get an email from my TA when asked about this earlier. Included info on excursions etc.. But not much more ( ie. no luggage tags). Should I call Oceania.

[CoolChile]

23 hours ago, PaisleyMello said:

I have booked a shore excursion for my friends and us, through Viator/Cay Tours to see the Queen Elizabeth II botanical gardens on this Panama Canal sailing - for October 18. I’m hoping others of you on this sailing will join us. 

@PaisleyMello, you might want to return to our roll call.  You haven't posted in months or emailed me to attend the M&G.  At any rate, the roll call is where you should post about your tour -- much more likely to get some uptake there. 

 

Linda 🌶️

[CoolChile]

21 hours ago, sandpiperbay said:

On the Panama Canal cruise too, but haven’t received any docs yet. Did get an email from my TA when asked about this earlier. Included info on excursions etc.. But not much more ( ie. no luggage tags). Should I call Oceania.

 

Tom, you must get on your TA again.  Was your "blue book" (not blue anymore) delivered to them and not forwarded to you?   A little late for the booklet, but do not worry!  You will have no problem getting luggage tags at the pier.  The baggage guys will fill them in for you and all will be well. 

 

The rest of the booklet is a nice read, especially if you're new or newish to Oceania, but not essential.

 

What IS essential is getting the Final Cruise Vacation Summary (it's done by Oceania) FROM YOUR TA.   Also have your boarding pass when you arrive at the Port.

 

See you at the M&G!

Linda 🌶️

[CoolChile]

22 hours ago, sandpiperbay said:

On the Panama Canal cruise too, but haven’t received any docs yet. Did get an email from my TA when asked about this earlier. Included info on excursions etc.. But not much more ( ie. no luggage tags). Should I call Oceania.

 

I forgot to say, Oceania is unlikely to talk to you as you have a TA.  Time for a new one.

[sandpiperbay]

Ok thanks. Yah I learned luggage tags can be gotten at the pier. This is our 5th cruise with Oceania and have always received the booklet, but you’re right, not really necessary. Thanks and see you at the M & G. 😎