lovedecruise Posted October 18, 2023 #1 Share Posted October 18, 2023 Hi, because I am from NZ and we don’t have much of a tipping culture down under, our gratuities have always been included in the fare when we have sailed out of Australia or NZ. This time round, the ship is repositioning to Aust from the USA so we have a daily rate of $16 pp to pay. It is a five night cruise but when I multiply this amount by 5 and adjust the exchange rate, it appears we are paying less if we prepay before boarding. Is it normal to pay less if you pay before boarding rather than at the end of your cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outerdog Posted October 19, 2023 #2 Share Posted October 19, 2023 If you are asking whether there is some sort of discount for paying early versus paying on board with your folio, then no. In a typical closed-loop US cruise, the amount is the same whether pre-paid or on the folio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cr8tiv1 Posted October 19, 2023 #3 Share Posted October 19, 2023 (edited) How does the ship do a repositioning from US to down under in 5 days? Outerdog answered your question. Could Princess have a different rate exchange in your favor? Is it attached to the fare (plus insurance and taxes)/not usually in US. Insurance? Taxes? Hmmmmm Edited October 19, 2023 by cr8tiv1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovedecruise Posted October 19, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Thank you for your answers. The ship is on its way from LA and is coming down under for the summer season. It will pass through Auckland, where we will pick it up, for the last five days of the cruise, on its way to Sydney. It is still in US currency etc but when it sails out of Sydney later that afternoon, there won't be daily gratuities added to the folio and the currency on board will be Australian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Snaxmuppet Posted October 19, 2023 #5 Share Posted October 19, 2023 I thought daily gratuities were added for every day of any cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTraveller Posted October 19, 2023 #6 Share Posted October 19, 2023 (edited) Not a direct answer for you but I am Australian and when cruising elsewhere in the world other than Australia and NZ when I compare the cost of prepaying gratuities it is often (but not always) at a better exchange rate than the current exchange rate. Do your sums to see if it is better to prepay or wait until you are on board. Also if you have OBC the gratuities can be paid or partially paid using your OBC if you wait until on board. Have a great cruise! Edited October 19, 2023 by PurpleTraveller 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovedecruise Posted October 19, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Cruises based in Australia seem to have the gratuities included in the fares. From experience this applies to Princess and Celebrity cruises. I’m not sure about other cruise lines. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WECRUISEUK Posted October 19, 2023 #8 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Hello,just like your culture,we in the u.k. are not overly keen on tipping and when on board go straight to the main reception and adjust the amount to zero.Do that and then if you really feel the urge to tip for exceptional outstanding service,great.Certain cruise lines in the u.k.,P&O,M.S.C. and SAGA all have tips included. Is it cheaper to pay before or after? You could always do what we do and give what you feel is justified. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelers36 Posted October 19, 2023 #9 Share Posted October 19, 2023 17 minutes ago, WECRUISEUK said: Hello,just like your culture,we in the u.k. are not overly keen on tipping and when on board go straight to the main reception and adjust the amount to zero.Do that and then if you really feel the urge to tip for exceptional outstanding service,great.Certain cruise lines in the u.k.,P&O,M.S.C. and SAGA all have tips included. Is it cheaper to pay before or after? You could always do what we do and give what you feel is justified. Ouch. 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted October 19, 2023 #10 Share Posted October 19, 2023 2 hours ago, Steelers36 said: Ouch. Are you Princess crew, if so, do tell, i have loads of questions 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelers36 Posted October 19, 2023 #11 Share Posted October 19, 2023 2 hours ago, antsp said: Are you Princess crew, if so, do tell, i have loads of questions I am tempted to say YES just to find out what your questions are. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rick&Jeannie Posted October 19, 2023 #12 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Hey...I've been told that I was an honorary crew member! What do you want to know? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted October 19, 2023 #13 Share Posted October 19, 2023 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said: Hey...I've been told that I was an honorary crew member! What do you want to know? It was a joke, if you have any questions our daughter works on a cruise ship, not Princess but HAL Edited October 19, 2023 by antsp Any 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelers36 Posted October 19, 2023 #14 Share Posted October 19, 2023 4 minutes ago, antsp said: It was a joke, if you have any questions our daughter works on a cruise ship I would venture that a lot of specific Q&A would relate to the cruise line, so if not Princess, may not be as helpful here. What's her role and what does she think of guests who remove the daily CA fee? 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted October 19, 2023 #15 Share Posted October 19, 2023 6 minutes ago, Steelers36 said: I would venture that a lot of specific Q&A would relate to the cruise line, so if not Princess, may not be as helpful here. What's her role and what does she think of guests who remove the daily CA fee? She is cruise staff and enrichment, she is salaried and not part of the tip pool 15 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said: Hey...I've been told that I was an honorary crew member! What do you want to know? It was a joke, if you have any questions our daughter works on a cruise ship 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted October 19, 2023 #16 Share Posted October 19, 2023 She is cruise staff and enrichment, she is salaried and not part of the tip pool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccasionalSanta Posted October 19, 2023 #17 Share Posted October 19, 2023 6 hours ago, WECRUISEUK said: Hello,just like your culture,we in the u.k. are not overly keen on tipping Which explains why restaurant workers in the U.K. (and other like countries) are happy to serve tourists from the U.S. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lady Arwen Posted October 19, 2023 #18 Share Posted October 19, 2023 2 minutes ago, OccasionalSanta said: Which explains why restaurant workers in the U.K. (and other like countries) are happy to serve tourists from the U.S. I have to admit that in Canada we tip everyone everywhere we go and even more than necessary. I tip our dog groomers more than some people tip their cabin stewards. Not unusual for clients in higher end salons in Toronto to tip their stylist $100.00+ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted October 19, 2023 #19 Share Posted October 19, 2023 6 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said: I have to admit that in Canada we tip everyone everywhere we go and even more than necessary. I tip our dog groomers more than some people tip their cabin stewards. Not unusual for clients in higher end salons in Toronto to tip their stylist $100.00+ If my haircut is $16 - I round it up to $20 If my haircut is $10.99 with a coupon - I round it up to $20 Tipping is so out of control - I got asked to tip on an A/C repair! We get PLUS and now Premier on our cruise in 2024 - includes CA which can't be removed. We tip our cabin steward extra, as we do the people in Vines When Princess prices us out of the Packages - "IF" and that's a HUGE "IF" - stop reading here because you may not like what I am going to post. We will still tip our cabin steward and Vines well - as any specialty dining, or casual dining - NOT the mdr. We will remove the automatic grats from out account - sorry Princess - that's on you, not us 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rick&Jeannie Posted October 19, 2023 #20 Share Posted October 19, 2023 2 minutes ago, voljeep said: Tipping is so out of control - I got asked to tip on an A/C repair! That's a new one on me...tipping for a quoted repair service. 🙄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lady Arwen Posted October 19, 2023 #21 Share Posted October 19, 2023 1 minute ago, voljeep said: If my haircut is $16 - I round it up to $20 If my haircut is $10.99 with a coupon - I round it up to $20 Tipping is so out of control - I got asked to tip on an A/C repair! We get PLUS and now Premier on our cruise in 2024 - includes CA which can't be removed. We tip our cabin steward extra, as we do the people in Vines When Princess prices us out of the Packages - "IF" and that's a HUGE "IF" - stop reading here because you may not like what I am going to post. We will still tip our cabin steward and Vines well - as any specialty dining, or casual dining - NOT the mdr. We will remove the automatic grats from out account - sorry Princess - that's on you, not us I agree 92% with you. Not all in on the other 8%, sorry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted October 19, 2023 #22 Share Posted October 19, 2023 3 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said: I agree 92% with you. Not all in on the other 8%, sorry. No problem at all - I don't agree with everything "ANYONE" posts on these forums😉 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted October 19, 2023 #23 Share Posted October 19, 2023 I'm from the UK so tipping is a so so subject, I leave the auto tip on but very rarely tip extra, however, Princess makes tipping a personal choice, so no one should be attacked for their own personal decision 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted October 19, 2023 #24 Share Posted October 19, 2023 2 minutes ago, antsp said: I'm from the UK so tipping is a so so subject, I leave the auto tip on but very rarely tip extra, however, Princess makes tipping a personal choice, so no one should be attacked for their own personal decision Not really - It would be a personal choice when Princess reinstitutes the BEST. SALE. EVER. terms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antsp Posted October 19, 2023 #25 Share Posted October 19, 2023 6 minutes ago, voljeep said: Not really - It would be a personal choice when Princess reinstitutes the BEST. SALE. EVER. terms Not sure what that relates too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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