time4u2go

Exactly!

That's considered to be an entree???

What question do you want me to answer? You said you wanted me to describe the accommodations. I referred you to YouTube videos where they are described. Would you like me to transcribe what the crew members say in the videos? I NEVER said the accommodations were luxurious. I certainly wouldn't want to live in one of those rooms. None of this changes the fact that for these crew members, the cost of living on a cruise ship is zero.

Their room on the ship. There's YouTube videos showing what they look like if you want to see. I never attributed any value to their accommodations. I pointed out that the crew does not pay for them.

They don't live at the ports of call. They may get off the ship to buy a few items, or just as a break, but it's not like they have to pay for a place to live or even for food. They don't even have to get off the ship. Their "accomodation, meals, and medical" are all free to them on the ship, paid for by the cruise line. The cruise line pays for them to travel to and from their assignments. I think many of us are also wondering why service charges keep going up. Many suspect that some of that money isn't going to the staff.

Then what location do you think should be used in determining their cost of living? Their cost of living on the ship is zero. If not their home country, then where?

Are you saying the person went overboard because the prices went up, but that they were asleep when they went overboard? Confused.

I think one problem is, how is a "living wage" defined? A living wage in what country? In the country the crew member is from?

Pull up the details of your cell phone bill online. Is it showing calls that you didn't make or is it not showing any calls?

Simple solution: Wait until the end of the cruise to remove the gratuities.

Exactly. Some don't seem to understand this.

But since the tip is a percentage of the items being purchased, the tip automatically goes up as those items go up in price. Seems like it's double dipping for the tipping percentage to go up while the items it's based on also are going up in price.

EXACTLY!

Why 20%? The typical percentage used to be 15%. I've always wondered why it went up.

Amsterdam.

Huh? I was responding to someone that asked if there were Hampton Inns for under $200 in major cities.

Your query made me curious, so I did a search for Hampton Inns under $200 in several major cities and found the following quantities. Obviously the rates will vary for different times of the year. Los Angeles: 14 Houston: 33 Dallas/Ft. Worth: 40 Atlanta: 27 Boston: 6 Chicago: 6 Orlando: 19 So it does appear that there are definitely Hampton Inns for under $200 in some major cities.

Then you will not have Sorrento's or Cafe Promenade.

I was wondering the same thing.

Lol I interpreted the thread title entirely differently.

They discovered that the menus lacked variety so they decided to add a list of menu items that stays the same every day? Um...ok.

What ship are you on?

Great question.

Do we know if the OP's ship has a Sorrento's or a Cafe Promenade?

It seems like most on here would be in favor of including the tips in the fare. If your supposition is true, then it seems like more people should remove the tips in order to force the cruise line in that direction.