Powersboyee2

I think people would be much less likely to give extra tips to favorite servers if they knew that it's all strictly pooling. Because then you are not really rewarding personal service, you are paying (pooling) for the guy who didn't tip.

I believe this also is part of the reasoning behind the overall decline in service at not only the bars, but the MDR…

Not understanding that at all. So if I give a server in specialty restaurant money, they have to pool it? If I tip my lunch waiter at WJ, he has to pool it?

True story.... Again I'm speaking with a small amount of insider knowledge here knowing someone who works on a ship.

It's actually a terminable offense if anyone gets caught keeping cash tips. ANYONE. Watch close if you tip at a bar ever. Goes straight into a bucket behind the bar.

Hence why the whole auto grats makes the most sense. Period.

And I hope that one day you learn to do what you think is correct, without having to judge others in order to feel important.

I thought you didn't want to argue with a "bully"? Seems to be quite the opposite.

Believe me, cruise critic is not something that would make me feel important lmao. Nor is it a goal.

What is correct IMO is keeping the tips on your account to properly pay the staff who works their tails off. You think differently. That's your opinion to which you are entitled to.

My opinion is that it's shady to do so.

You are the one who argued against my opinion.

How is this my problem?

 

When anyone complains about Royal cutting this, or changing that, lots of people jump in and say, 'don't get mad at them, they do what's best for the bottom line'. But when a customer doesn't want to do something that is OPTIONAL, some people get all bent out of shape.

Lol. I hope someday you will get it.

It seems like you are penalizing the employees who have no say in how their employer compensates them (other than to quit, since they can't unionize).

 

Also even if Royal wanted to change it (let's say they raised base wages by increasing fares), they would be at a competitive disadvantage in the industry. So it is not as simple as just changing things up.

Exactly.... Thank you for understanding what I was trying to say. Not the best with words sometimes lol. And definitely not a bully. Just feel bad for the staff affected by people not tipping.

It's not shady. Tipping is optional. Many people want to tip those who serve them directly. Royal makes this rule. Right now, some people auto tip, some tip as they wish, and some don't tip. Royal approves of this. It works for them. That's all we need to know.

If you see tipping as optional in a "serving or service" based industry, you are clearly not from the USA?

The percentage of people who remove there auto grats is around 1-4% depending on the sailing. There is indeed a list printed off of people who have opted out, and the staff is made aware. I've seen it actually, having known someone who works on a RCCL ship.

So yes, it IS shady because those tips are part of people's wage whom you will never even come into contact with on the ship. By removing them you take away part of their wage.

The whole reasoning behind doing the auto grats was because of people like yourself who stiffed their staff on "voluntary" tips that they depend on.

It is a way to be able to pay the staff more.. And not just the customer facing staff.

Shady to remove them IMO. Just sayin. Why not just leave them on and not worry about tipping then at all? And if someone delivers above and beyond service, reward them at the end. That's the way it's supposed to work.

My all time least favorite cruise director.

Agreed... kinda old and boring. Yaaaaaawn

In all honesty I really think it depends on the ship. I have sailed on many with the Premium Package and it is not consistent across the fleet.

For example... Last month, April 9-16 on Oasis, they printed out a receipt for every single drink I ordered. I usually left 1$ extra. The next week, April 18-23 on Independence... I never once had a bartender print out a drink receipt. I would then just hand out ones when I deemed the service good.

Again, I feel like it depends on that ships policy. Not sure of any other explanation.

Something happened to get download speeds in the MBs+ range - I don't think that's possible with the old Internet. It may not be up to full Voom as no one reported 20+MBs speeds, but something happened.

I've experienced those speeds on the old system periodically and was able to sometimes and I mean "sometimes" do FaceTime on Indy a few weeks back. The coverage around the ship was definitely spotty at best in a lot of areas. Having to disconnect and reconnect was almost an every use occurrence. [emoji849]

I still don't believe independence… I was on just a week or two ago and none of the new equipment was installed so I find it hard to believe.

What I do believe is that they are selling the same old Internet and calling it voom even until they get the new equipment.

I can't believe that this is an ongoing thread… What a joke… Unsubscribe!

I'm sorry but what am I missing? Print your tags out and put them onto your luggage. Am I mistaken? Do we really need "special tags" and "special holders" for them? Believe me, I am a spoiled man but j :confused::confused:ezzzzzzzzz.

I'm pretty simple as well. But as for the tag holders, they are AMAZING though. No need to worry about the tags coming off. Just fold them and slide them in. Take them out.. throw away... and put the next cruises in lol. So nice.

Is is me but does anyone else find it annoying that Rccl is advertising this fleet wide and it is not available.

Yeah, pretty sad. Can't say surprising though, considering the way they have been treating us as of late.:eek:

Confirmed from Matt, at a certain blog, whom is aboard Navigator this week, that voom is NOT installed or ready. I repeat, NOT on Navigator. Another bait scheme from Royal :mad:

Wow band I'm sure. Definitely old news.

don't know what you are comparing to as the others in the same class are either 6 or 8 night

Agreed. By far cheapest 7 nighters. [emoji849]

So what is the chance that we get an Oasis class chip in Galveston? is the channel to shallow? Is the ship to wide? Galveston almost always sails full and the price is always a bit higher then in Florida. Chance for tons of money to be made by RCCL. :D

I could have sworn Liberty sailings out of Galveston are by far the cheapest 7 night cruises Royal offers. Am I crazy in thinking that?? Only reason I prefer Florida is because airfare to Houston is stupidly over priced, plus it's an hour at least from the port.

But yeah, no chance for an Oasis class.

Huh? Please translate.

I understood....

Thanks - is interesting to know that is can be installed while sailing. My next cruise is in August. Was it obvious to customers that they were installing it on the Freedom while sailing? If so, we might have to track the installations by ship. If not, perhaps it is already installed on the ships (or will be by the date offered).

I believe it was obvious as they were installing more of the ball dome things that house the satellites.

Also usually they have that area closed off and usually some sort of description posted as to what they are up to, especially if it is something to improve customers experience etc etc.

Thanks everyone for your replies! I feel Royal should be more honest with the marketing surly it's false advertising to offer a VOOM surf and stream package on a ship that doesn't have VOOM so they know full well even if your paying more for the stream aspect you won't get it!

Voom is cheaper than the old wifi prices. SO either way it's a better deal than the old wifi prices even if it is not voom. Speed will not be there like with voom, but if you would like them to change it back to the old marketing and charge you more, I'm sure they could work something out.

Well admitting that what you have put forth is 'heresay' is a start; but it also should be the end of it (IMO), since it accomplishes little comfort to those who have sailings booked.

 

 

 

I don't know the information Royal had, so I can't speculate on what the events were that happened....and this can only add angst to those affected...can this all be done is the time frame allotted now.....all we can say is, 'we will see'.

Some people appreciate a little inside info. Others (you) need to just chill, and not bite their heads off for only sharing what they were told. Her source is much closer to the situation. That you or I am, that's for sure.

Bon voyage from Indy peeps! We are heading out right now behind Serenade. I will have, I estimate,677 responses on this thread to read when I'm back.

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I just made Emerald on my last cruise, and I think it will be a good 5 years before we make Diamond.

 

 

 

I'm going to miss the Welcome Back parties. I know some people thought they were boring, but we liked the introductions of the senior officers.

 

 

 

I wonder how long the changes will last? RC got rid of the wait staff entertainment in the MDR. We never had any sort of conga line or towel waving on the Freedom in 2014 or the Brilliance in 2016.

 

 

 

In talking to other passengers, they all said the same thing, they missed the towel waving and the introduction of the executive chef and other senior chefs.

 

 

 

Guess what? We had all of that on the Majesty last month.

 

 

 

I could see that if enough C&A members who are Emerald and lower complaining that the only party is the captain's reception for all passengers, RC might rethink the move.

There was also entertainment on oasis last week in the MDR. We never ate there, but I saw it and heard the music walking by one evening.