CruisinChaos

I have done a number of Singles Cruises - with both major companies. You will find a mix of people who drink, and those who don't. Most of the daytime activities are not alcohol related, but are games and dance lessons. Since I am a drinker, I tend to mix with the other drinkers. On the 40+ singles cruises I would guess the mix would be about 35% heavy drinkers, and 65% minimal or non-drinkers.

They can't do anything with the pre-paid charges, but they could have removed the on board daily gratuities. I don't think the OP wanted to take those off (and basically give the service staff the shaft), if the pre-paid grats had already been refunded to his credit card.

Exactly - thanks for explaining it better than I could. The regular staff on the Navigator was excellent.

Have you nothing that shows you prepaid, and when? A credit card statement, or e-mail confirming you prepaid?

I showed them my Guest Ticket Booklet when I was on the ship, I printed it off just before driving to the pre-flight hotel. it showed that

it was pre-paid!

Can't you just tell guest services that you are unhappy with the service received and reduce your gratuities to the amount you previously prepaid?

I tried over a number of days on the ship to get everything put back to what it was - I could have reduced the gratuities to zero, but that would have only punished the hard working staff, that were excellent on the ship. I figured it was a Royal Caribbean head office problem and it should be an easy fix when I get home. I was wrong. I just will never pre-pay anything again.

I was on the Navigator of the Seas Transatlantic cruise on May 8th, 2016. I had booked this cruise the year before and pre-paid the gratuities in Canadian dollars. When I arrived on the ship, I found that the gratuities were showing up on my Sea Pass account. I tried to get this problem fixed on the ship, showing them that my gratuities were pre-paid - (I had my Guest Ticket Booklet with me.) Needless to say I had no luck getting it fixed on the ship. They said the gratuities were cancelled on May 5th, just a few days before the ship sailed, and when I was actually driving to my pre-flight hotel for the night. I told Guest Services on the ship, that I would get it fixed when I arrived home and my Credit Card statement arrives. I just got off the phone with Royal Caribbean - the difference in cost between my pre-paid gratuities, that was cancelled by "someone" unknown, and what I was charged was $62.75 Canadian. I expected either a refund, or a cruise credit, for this amount since Royal Caribbean had my pre-paid money for almost one year, before it was cancelled. They will not refund me the full amount, since the price of gratuities had gone up from the time I had paid for them, and when we cruised. I had booked everything through Royal Caribbean's website, and I knew the cost of the gratuities had gone up, so why would I cancel them three days before the cruise? This problem happened to other people in our group, not just me, and we all booked separately.

My honest opinion, although I cannot prove it, is Royal Caribbean cancelled my pre-paid gratuities, knowing that they could make about 30% more by doing this. At this point it is not about the small amount of money, but the principle of it. Why were the Pre-paid Gratuities cancelled in the first place just before the cruise?

Royal Caribbean is by far my favorite cruise line, but after dealing with first Guest Services on the ship, and then with head office on the phone, I think I will likely try Princess again.

Just a heads up that Pre-Paid Gratuities might be more of a headache than they are worth.

The concept is very simple.. once you have used up the cost of the drink package for the day, then the REMAINING drinks for that day are free. Break even is around 7-8 drinks.

Let's see you BUY the drink package so your drinks are free???...Now I've heard it all!.....:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

I buy the package because it is cost effective for me to do so - after I use up the cost of the drink package for the day - the remaining drinks for that day are "Free". The perk Diamond drinks at the restricted time period, and not buying the drink package, would not be cost effective.

Not really much of a perk, since I will already have free drinks since I always buy the drink package. Diamond level doesn't sound like it is of much use. I think the Diamond club space on the Navigator was much better when it was a sports bar.

technically no. the free drinks are for YOUR enjoyment as a D member. to do otherwise is violating the spirit of the perk at best and could be construed as abuse at worst.

 

of course I am sure a hundred people will jump in and tell you they are your free drinks to do with as you please or that they had no problem whatsoever 'sharing' the bounty.

I did not know about the free drinks, and will be Diamond on my Transatlantic cruise in May. Since I always order a drink package, can I use my three free drinks at a bar and give them to my friends, who will not be Diamond? I may stick my head in the Diamond Lounge, but likely will not attend more than once.

The Answer to your question is No. The good news and as you may already know, you (Diamond members) get 3 drinks each every night pre loaded on to your sea pass card so you can enjoy you friends company and your free drinks at any bar and don't need to squeeze it to a usually packed Diamond lounge. The free drinks are available at the same time cocktails are available in the Diamond lounge and not just any time of day. Enjoy.

Mahalia, you should consider a singles group cruise. There are two main companies that do them - just google singles cruises. I have been on five of them and am going on another one in January - on the Oasis of the Seas. They are a great way to meet other singles and you are guaranteed not to be the only single on the ship.

No married women allowed on a singles cruise.:):):)

Unless they follow the "Las Vegas" Law of the Sea ..... what happens on the ship, stays on the ship..... :D