PostcardJar

Here is the bottom line:

Staff are paid in large part through gratuities--a method of paying that happens in the US (whether right or wrong). In this model, the gratuities are not "extra for good service" but are part of the basic remuneration schedule for the staff. Extra tips are possible and appreciated-but not expected.

Thus, X is now simply charging more for the cruise...they need to make sure the staff are adequately paid and in some markets can't trust that people will pay the gratuity. This makes absolute sense in markets like the UK and Australia. Staff will know they are receiving a fair wage and that a few will tip extra.

I'm glad that X is making this change to protect its staff.

I've seen this cube advertised here before, so I guess some people are using them.

 

One of my favorite cruise tricks is to take a Euro adaptor and use the Euro outlets to charge my cell, heat my dual current electric curlers and hair straightener. This frees up the U.S. outlet for other things. I also purchased a white noise machine that has a Euro plug and we use both while traveling in Europe and on the ship.

I was just going to say this very thing! This is a fantastic idea...cell phones and computers typically are dual voltage, so buy a plug adaptor and then your US outlets are freed up for other things. We have iPhones and a Mac computer. These can be plugged into the European outlets--if you have the adaptor plug. It does not have to be a voltage adaptor, just a plug adaptor.

Well at least in one respect (and I suspect maybe a couple others), your facts are incorrect. The staff MUST maintain an on shore residence (and not just a mailing address). I believe that proof is required (lease, etc). I know this because my son was offered a position (albeit as part of the entertainment crew), and was told this is required of all staff. Couple that with how much time is spent away from home AND the average work day (14-15 hours, frequently broken up very small rest periods throughout the day) and number of work days (non whole days off at all for the entire contract) the earnings per hour are paltry. Your analysis leaves a lot to be desired in order to provide a complete picture.

Agreed. Remember that many working on ships are supporting a family at home. No number of free meals and free housing (in a windowless room with a bunkbed and a stranger) for the worker can provide for the child of the worker at home who needs a roof and a meal.

The bottom line is this: Celebrity is a US based line, and gratuities are a part of the salary (as they are for many service workers in the US) per the culture and customs in the US. Given this fact, it is impossible to apply a different culture's set of expectations and have the workers receive a fair wage no matter how much you want to do so.

If you want to show your appreciation for excellent service, you give more than the minimum gratuity. But the minimum gratuity is what is needed to ensure the workers are compensated fairly. I'm glad that X is including the gratuity out of Australia in the cruise fare if that country is one where gratuities aren't typically given and is a place where people remove gratuities from their bill. The staff deserve to be paid.

In our experience, all drinks at World Class bar were included. That said, we look at the premium package as something that allows us to drink what we enjoy without worry of running up a huge bill. We have a couple cocktails, and a glass or two of wine with dinner--and maybe a cocktail after dinner if we go to the show. Throughout the day we drink pop and specialty coffee as well as bottled water. When we add it all up, we have saved money. But we never really drink to excess, either.

I was able to get some from a member here from last year (if you search you will see her email address), but new ones would be fun!

 

22 days for us:D

22 days for us, too! Have you joined the roll call? See you on board!

So I'm starting to get this. A princess ship which is a line based in america sails from china to Australia

All grats are non existant, the fare is in aud, it is still classified as an American ship.

So therefore people should contact the concierge desk and ask to pay grats.

 

And going by your theory.

MDR.

A $20 tip per diner_

So those people serve say20/25 people a night.So every night they should be creaming 400/500 dollars in tips.On a 10 day cruise,its $4000/$5000 a cruise just in tips.

Yep $80/100,000 a year on 20---10 day cruises just in tips from the mdr.

 

Now that's the gig, isn't it.

No need to contact the concierge desk to pay gratuities--they can be given in person.

And let's take a closer look at my theory...

The gratuities don't go to just the waiter. They go to the waiter, the people who run the food, the sommelier, and the people who work behind the scenes.

These people work for seven months at a time, away from their families, and their children. Every day they work hard to make each guest feel special and welcome. And by every day, I mean every day for seven months with no day off working 11-12 hours/day across a split shift meaning they never have more than 6-7 hours to sleep at any given time in their bunkbed in a small, windowless room they share with a complete stranger.

Yes, I think anyone willing to do that deserves a good paycheck.

But it isn't $20/day they receive. It's $13.50. And that goes not just to the wait staff but to the cabin attendant, asst. cabin attendant, and others we probably don't know about.

All that wonderful service, and people decline even with the knowledge that this is how these friendly, helpful, hardworking people are paid. People take advantage of the service, bask in the wonderful treatment, and then take money out of the pockets of the staff.

As I said before, if you can afford the cruise, please tip the staff. They depend on it.

Great videos! We loved the Equinox and will be in St. Maarten right after Christmas...so these are great!s

A couple of things...

Doesn't matter where the ship is sailing from...it is a line based in the US on the US tipping structure. In addition, the ship sails under the flag of Malta, so I'm sure that has an effect on how wages are paid, as well. While Australia pays servers a living wage, that does not happen in the US--the gratuity is needed.

I'm glad to see the gratuities included in the fare to ensure the staff are compensated--when 900 people (one third of the vessel) declines gratuities, it hurts the staff tremendously. I hope that X considers adding this structure to other routes, as well, to ensure staff are adequately paid.

I look at it like this: the staff has worked hard to make sure I enjoy my vacation. I paid a lot for it...but if I can afford to cruise, I can also afford the $13.50/day in gratuities. And, for what it's worth, $13.50/day is cheap by US standards for what you get. Dinner in the MDR is probably worth $100--so a typical US tip for that would be $20. It's a bargain.

Please tip the staff. They have earned it.

This drives me nuts, just got back from time in USA and the price you see is not the price you pay.

 

why cannot the ticket price include the tax? i don't need to know how much tax i'm paying when i cannot change it.

 

the ticket price is generally a nice round number

 

 

eg $3

 

then i have to scrabble around for some small change like 13c

 

or 67c etc.

 

why not have a round number including the tax?

Our state governments want to be sure that the amount of the sale is taxed properly--in fact, businesses are prohibited from including tax in the price. Instead the price of the item must be separate from the tax so that the state knows they are receiving the proper amount of tax.

We've been on four different X ships (never Solstice) but the beds are the same on all of them I think. I'd agree they are firm but not hard...and we also slept very well. They say they are "queen" beds, but I think they seem a little bigger.

The shower isn't huge but it is certainly manageable.

The coffee is just coffee like you'd get in any buffet...nothing special. With most beverage packages, you get specialty coffees included which are very good.

Room service has a good menu and breakfast is very tasty. We enjoy eating on our balcony in the morning.

We were in Eclipse for 14 nights last summer. The ship was very stable. My wife can have motion sickness, but had no problem at all.

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I think you would like Celebrity a great deal. There are very few children and the ships are very nice. Ask for a Solstice class ship like the Eclipse or the Equinox. I think you'll find the food is very good and if you stay in an Aqua Class cabin you are given access to the spa area. More importantly, in Aqua Class you have access to the restaurant Blu which features "clean cuisine" and is supposedly a little more healthy. If you are stay in a suite while on Celebrity, you have access to Luminae, another private restaurant but could also still go eat in Blu if you wanted

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Check the pricing, and then ask yourself if you like drinks like martinis...if so, it might be worth the splurge to the Premium package. If you are okay with the things included in the classic package, that works, too.

Keep in mind that with the premium package, if you buy a more expensive wine/glass than what the package covers, you pay only the difference. With the classic package, you'd pay full price.

You could also check the cost of two Sky Suites instead of the Royal Suite. You'd have many of the amenities you'd get in the RS like butler service, Michael's Club, and Luminae (which I think makes the suite a must.) You would not get things like complimentary set-up of a mini-bar in the suite--though with the premium beverage package and Michael's Club, who really needs that?

Just a thought.

Thanks, everyone, for the replies! That helps us with our planning. I think we'll board early, enjoy the ship and the amenities, eat an early dinner, do the drill and enjoy the sail away. Can't wait...less than 4 weeks!

We are scheduled to sail on the Summit on the Dec. 24 holiday cruise. The departure time from San Juan is 8:30 p.m. This brings a couple questions to mind:

1. How does that work with the muster drill? Usually the drill is shortly before, but that would be during dinner. Do they do the drill early, or does the dinner schedule change?

2. That is a later departure time than we've had for other cruises. Are we still able to board shortly before noon? (Let's be honest, we just want on the ship!)

Thanks in advance for any information.

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Don't hang damp stuff in the bathroom..it will take FOREVER to dry. Hang damp items on a hanger, and hang the hanger from the AIRVENT in the room! 5 hours, max dry time!

Great tip! I've made a note of that one! Thanks!

They won't make it more than about 8 steps on the ship before they are given a glass of bubbly to welcome them aboard. They can sip that and head to any bar where they will find their drinks package in full effect.

Sea days and embarkation as I recall (on Eclipse) and Luminae was absolutely wonderful and exceeded every expectation. It is one of our favorite restaurants whether on sea or on land--we love it.

For fancy French cuisine, go to Murano. The food is very rich. My wife and I prefer Tuscan Grille. A fun meal is to be had at QSine--they will serve things in ways you never imagined. We really like the filets and my wife loves the disco shrimp and the lava crab.

Visit the restaurants on embarkation day. They give little tours but are mostly trying to fill up their bookings and often offer discounts if you make a reservation. You can also often find waiters from these restaurants outside OceanView cafe (deck 12, aft) at lunch offering discounts.

Enjoy--the Eclipse is a beautiful ship.

The MCC looks at pictures of the suite guests so that they get to know them. On my last cruise, we rarely went to Michael's club. I did go there for better internet access several days into the cruise, and a bartender politely asked to see my sea pass card to verify I was in a suite since he didn't recognize me. I was happy to oblige as I understand that is one of his jobs.

We asked specifically...non-suite guests may join...$10 for breakfast, $20 for lunch, and $30 for dinner. It is billed to the people in the suite.

Can you upgrade at any point of the cruise and only be charged from that point

 

Does everyone in the cabin have to upgrade as wife likes martinis and wine and we have read that to get a martini at martini bar you need premium package

 

thanks

You can upgrade--I've heard people say within the first three days, and I've heard at any point, so I'm not sure...ask when you board. You both don't have to upgrade...each of you has your own account.

Hi,

This is our first X cruise. We're in a Sky Suite and have 'Celebrity Select Dining'. On the cruise planner it shows where we can make dinner reservations. One of the options is for Celebrity Select. Does that mean it's for Luminae? Do we need reservations or can we just walk-in?

Thanks for helping out a newbie!

Barb

You can go to Luminae anytime. Or the MDR. Or Blu. You're in a suite. You choose. It's nice.

If you need help, the host at Luminae can help you, and so can the concierge in Michael's club. But Luminae is awesome, and you'll be very very happy there.

We've been to Qsine three times...it is a fun place. Pace yourself and the idea of asking for smaller portions is a good one. The presentation is a blast.