Robjame

6:30 to 9:00 in Waves Grill, not Terrace - Riviera now

These times differ on sea days. Today a sea day Waves - 9 am Horizons - 11 am Martinis - 1 pm Grand Bar/Casino Bar -12 noon

We have met several staff who are not joining Vista until the contract after Vista sails because, if they join before the first cruise, there are no gratuities to share.

Orv et al: The single malts that have been added to the bar menu are included in The Prestige Beverage Package. Catch 22 - not all are on board yet -Oban, Cragganmore, Balvenie - I did have a double Macallan $34 + 20% before lunch for research purposes

Horizons:

Hang on to your suspenders: We just spent a half hour talking to a bar tender Bar tenders and assistant bartenders do NOT participate in or share in the gratuities. They are salaried. If you tip within the system, they do not get any of that - none of the 20% drink fee, none of your 18 (23) % daily gratuity, none of the added tip you put on the bar tab when you order a drink. If you give the bar tender cash, he does keep that. The bar waiter DOES participate in the tips which is why a bar tender will encourage you to order through a bar waiter. Lesson - tip in cash - order through a bar waiter

As of this morning info - prestige package costs $30 pp pd after you have acquired the House Select Package whether by OLife or pre purchase or purchase on the ship.

Hang on to your suspenders: We just spent a half hour talking to a bar tender Bar tenders and assistant bartenders do NOT participate in or share in the gratuities. They are salaried. If you tip within the system, they do not get any of that - none of the 20% drink fee, none of your 18 (23) % daily gratuity, none of the added tip you put on the bar tab when you order a drink. If you give the bar tender cash, he does keep that. The bar waiter DOES participate in the tips which is why a bar tender will encourage you to order through a bar waiter. Lesson - tip in cash - order through a bar waiter

Orv I will check on that and report back.

Definitely a bar tender in this case. One thing I would love clarified is - if I am in the club level to get free gratuities, does O actually pony up the money? If you are in a PH that could be a considerable amount of money. No conspiracy theory just curious.

Unless it were to try to get more money in the hands of those for whom it was intended…. But I do get your point.

Pretty much as you say. I guess not really knowing how the $ are distributed, whether o withdraws an administrative fee, who actually pays for prepaid gratuities associated with Oceania Cub levels, all make the process suspect. Last night a Casino Bar, the bar tender placed a tip in a tip box much as you see a restaurants back home. Is this new? We prefer to reward individually though to now we do participate in the suggested group gratuity.

Thank you. You are very generous with my money…..😀 Huge? 50% price increase is huge in my books, especially when there is no way out - I think the pay it and grin is known as the bend over philosophy of money management. For those who have opined without a sound understanding, the House Select package is more than wine and beer at meals, it is the route to the Prestige Package… and the only route. To purchase the Prestige you must have passed through the House Select. This is a major reason some of us take it as our OLife.

With the increase in the packages and the increase in the bar menu prices, I can’t see a continuation of the generous policy of bringing wine and spirits aboard. We’ll see.

New rules. New game. If the House Select is taken as the OLife, what are th charges then and can it now be prepurchased?

No where near Your $54000 US calculation or $73000 CAD

2 people = $20 27 days = $540 100% = $54000 Hmmmmmm

Some have changed already, some start tomorrow. I will photograph all as the time goes on.

We are on the poop deck

I have a feeling this might be a topic at the Meet and Greet this evening! Feel free to contact me.

7009 but it is part of what they call Line 2. they told us that someone on floor 11 is responsible for jamming the toilet and everyone (especially at the lowest level) suffers

Email me and I will reply robertjames7022 at aol dot com

Riviera has arrived Miami - 5:40 - Terminal J

What would you do? Oh I know…. Bow to the extortion of a cost increase breaking the contract. Pretty easy to sit there unaffected, particularly when you don’t even pay your own gratuities. I repeat - the situation is resolved for me.