Using Ocean Now with Princess Plus

[Luv2CtheMouse9]

We will purchase the Plus package when we board here in a week.  Ocean Now looks convenient.  With Princess Plus, tips are included in the package price. If I use Ocean Now, I would think it is customary to tip additional for somebody bringing me a drink. For those who have used this service, did you add an additional tip into the app or did you hand them a few dollars in cash? 

I do not recall which one, but years ago a cruise line we took strongly urged not paying cash for tips.  Maybe that was because it is not easily shared with other crew members? 

[sabookkeeper]

24 minutes ago, Luv2CtheMouse9 said:

We will purchase the Plus package when we board here in a week.  Ocean Now looks convenient.  With Princess Plus, tips are included in the package price. If I use Ocean Now, I would think it is customary to tip additional for somebody bringing me a drink. For those who have used this service, did you add an additional tip into the app or did you hand them a few dollars in cash? 

I do not recall which one, but years ago a cruise line we took strongly urged not paying cash for tips.  Maybe that was because it is not easily shared with other crew members? 

We never used it for drinks as DH would just go to the bar.  We did use it for room service and always gave a couple of dollars cash as a tip.

[jagoffee]

4 minutes ago, sabookkeeper said:

We never used it for drinks as DH would just go to the bar.  We did use it for room service and always gave a couple of dollars cash as a tip.

I used it a few times for drinks last year.  (Once to our cabin).  IMO this process is better in theory than it is in practice.  

[startedwithamouse]

Room service we always give cash. 

[cosytoes]

We are from the UK and wouldn't give a tip with ocean now or drinks. while its nice, it's not expected in UK or Europe. 

Edited February 20 by cosytoes

[memoak]

Since you have the plus package grats are included. We only tip extra at the end of the cruise

[ccqueenanne]

Gave cash for deliveries to our room, but generally didn't tip extra for drinks ordered when out and about.

[suekel]

I tip room service.  I tip for drinks by the pool or in the casino, usually $1 per drink which leads to much better service.  Then at the end, I tip my steward, my favorite bartenders and the servers in the MDR if I have the same ones every night.  I budget usually $100 in extra tips.  

[RocknRoll22]

We used it for food delivery on the Plus package, and were charged separately for the food, as well as the tip. Doesn't seem to be any benefit of being on the Plus plan.

[memoak]

6 minutes ago, RocknRoll22 said:

We used it for food delivery on the Plus package, and were charged separately for the food, as well as the tip. Doesn't seem to be any benefit of being on the Plus plan.

It depends what you order. If you have Plus then no charge to order but the food has to be something covered by the plan. What food did you order and what charge did the screen show ?

[MissP22]

5 hours ago, RocknRoll22 said:

We used it for food delivery on the Plus package, and were charged separately for the food, as well as the tip. Doesn't seem to be any benefit of being on the Plus plan.

Depending on what food you ordered, there might be a charge. Not every item is included even if you had a package.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse9]

15 hours ago, memoak said:

Since you have the plus package grats are included. We only tip extra at the end of the cruise

Yes, that is true about the gratuities.  Having somebody locate you on the ship is a nice service they offer and different than going to the coffee bar, etc to get it yourself. We feel if we are blessed enough to go, a few dollars is not going to hurt us. 🙂 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

I have never, and will never, tip when using OceanNow. That is the point of it being included!

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

8 hours ago, RocknRoll22 said:

We used it for food delivery on the Plus package, and were charged separately for the food, as well as the tip. Doesn't seem to be any benefit of being on the Plus plan.

You must have ordered food that was not included.

 

There is plenty of options for food and drink that is included then there would ne no charge.

[Luv2CtheMouse9]

9 hours ago, suekel said:

I tip room service.  I tip for drinks by the pool or in the casino, usually $1 per drink which leads to much better service.  Then at the end, I tip my steward, my favorite bartenders and the servers in the MDR if I have the same ones every night.  I budget usually $100 in extra tips.  

Thank you for this comment, it prompted me to think. 😛 This is the first cruise we will be taking where we have a different MDR each night and the servers do not rotate/follow you to the MDR (like Disney). Over 10 days we will rotate between 3 dining rooms and not have the same servers each night. For our room steward and servers, we have always given extra gratuities for taking such great care of us. 

[avonlady6390]

There really is no reason to rotate dining rooms on princess they are all the same except decor menus are the same.

[MissP22]

49 minutes ago, Snaxmuppet said:

You must have ordered food that was not included.

 

There is plenty of options for food and drink that is included then there would ne no charge.

Yes, there are many items that don't have a charge but only if you have a package. If not there's a charge even for those like $14.99 (one time) just to use the app to order. 

[Luv2CtheMouse9]

29 minutes ago, avonlady6390 said:

There really is no reason to rotate dining rooms on princess they are all the same except decor menus are the same.

Thanks. I did not book it. My in-laws did and they want to "have something different" each night. 

[skynight]

Tips are included, generally would not provide a tip as I do not carry cash around with me on board. If I provided a tip it would be cash. Anything added electronically would wind up in the crew appreciation pool and not to the person delivering. 

[RocknRoll22]

10 hours ago, memoak said:

It depends what you order. If you have Plus then no charge to order but the food has to be something covered by the plan.

 

2 hours ago, Snaxmuppet said:

You must have ordered food that was not included.

We ordered Pizza and a salad, which was offered as a choice on the App. Hard to believe it wasn't a "covered" item, since it was a standard App choice, and not a special order.

 

When I asked about the charge at Guest Services, they tried to tell me that beverages were no charge, but they charge for any food delivery price. I don't believe that is correct, as they advertise Ocean Now as part of the Medallion and Plus perks. And the amount they billed to my folio was the actual food price in the App, not the Ocean Now one time $14.99.

[suekel]

4 minutes ago, RocknRoll22 said:

 

We ordered Pizza and a salad, which was offered as a choice on the App. Hard to believe it wasn't a "covered" item, since it was a standard App choice, and not a special order.

 

When I asked about the charge at Guest Services, they tried to tell me that beverages were no charge, but they charge for any food delivery price. I don't believe that is correct, as they advertise Ocean Now as part of the Medallion and Plus perks. And the amount they billed to my folio was the actual food price in the App, not the Ocean Now one time $14.99.

Pizza delivery is not free.  The price should have shown on your app.  

[t&atravel]

1 minute ago, suekel said:

Pizza delivery is not free.  The price should have shown on your app.  

A little change…pizza “delivery” is free with the package, it’s the pizza that has a charge.

[RocknRoll22]

1 minute ago, t&atravel said:

A little change…pizza “delivery” is free with the package, it’s the pizza that has a charge.

Who knew we would order such a exotic meal on a cruise ship, that they had to charge us extra for that specially prepared food (pizza and salad).

 

Let's just say, after numerous issues this week, Princess won't get high praises from us...

[suekel]

5 minutes ago, t&atravel said:

A little change…pizza “delivery” is free with the package, it’s the pizza that has a charge.

that is true 😄

[RocknRoll22]

5 minutes ago, suekel said:

Pizza delivery is not free.

I figured we might get the $14.99 one time Ocean Now fee for the delivery, but that wasn't it. They didn't charge for the delivery, they charged for the higher cost food.