22Club59

Coming late to this topic - a few thoughts having worked as a barkeep many years ago and now travelling extensively internationally on business and pleasure. Tipping expectations and norms are greater in New York (and other large cities) than throughout America and greater in London than throughout United Kingdom and greater in Paris than throughout France. Equally the tipping norms and expectations are greater in luxury establishments (like the Four Seasons or The Ritz or The Carlyle or a ShangriLa).

33 minutes ago, WesW said:

Generous Travel Agents (TA)  like the two posters above intimate, rebate a portion of their commission back to their clients.  We r fortunate that our TA rebates more than 10% back to us on every cruise. Our TA is in the top 5 travel agents for RSSC world wide.

Do you mean 10% of the RSSC charge or 10% of the commission (i.e. about 1.5% of the RSSC Charge?

TIA.

Does anyone have any experience with RSSC as to the best way, and the impact of, transferring booked cruises (for which deposits have been paid) from one TA to another (or to self booking) as a direct outcome of unhappiness with the service of a TA who was the booking TA at the time of the original booking and deposit payment. The plan being that the newly assigned TA will handle all subsequent details and payments. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and experience.

On a recent RSSC invoice of approx. $169,000 RSSC set a "Cruise Fare Commission" of approx. $28,000 (or about 16.5%) for a cruise in a Regent Suite. I discovered this when the TA by accident emailed me a copy of the applicable "Agency Statement." My sense is that such a commission rate is excessive and (i) enriches the TAs at the expense of RSSC, and (ii) unreasonably increases the prices we pay for such cruises; all for that not significant an effort by the TA. How do the members of the forum feel about this rate of commission and what rate of commission is being routinely paid - and what is the impact upon the cruise fares we all pay?

Is anyone aware of the dock used in Venice by SeaDream that could be the SDII  July 9 departure. TIA.

Huge disappointment! Two nights at each of three ports that so many have visited demonstrates a lack of initiative on the part of the planning staff. Whey not additional nights at ports in Cyprus and Crete, even if nights had to be spent at sea returning the following morning, would have made the altered itinerary far more worthwhile? I suspect we will cancel and believe that many others will also cancel.

Just had to cancel two booked cruises where the deposits paid exceed the cancellation cost. Now our TA advises that Regent can take up to 10 days to credit the amount due. Anyone had any experience of how long Regent takes and how they justify holding on to the money for so long?

It may be worth remembering what insurance is for: protection against risk that could had a severe adverse financial impact. We are all different in our capacity to absorb the cost of risks occurring. For me: ex US medical care and repatriation; umbrella liability policy protection; earthquake; loss of real property; are the risks I insure against. Other less financially damaging risks I essentially self insure. We each need to assess what out point of financial damage is and insure accordingly.

Except once, we have never had any issue about a QG cabin being stocked with what we asked for. Getting it refilled is eased by a friendly request to the Butler who we always tip on arrival, and then get the standard cabin charge removed. The one difficulty was when the Butler said that there was no more Dewars scotch - a popular and favorite brand. It turned out that there was more than one storeroom for liquor and it took a hotel manager to waive the policy of no inter storeroom transfers.

Thanks. Will be much appreciated as we leave in December 2015.

A report of experience with vibration, motion, noise, etc. of cabin 5196 on QE would be much appreciated.