boscobeans

Tip nothing Tip everyone Tip the suggested amount Tip a lot more Tipping policy is fair Tipping policy is unfair After a few dozen cruises over the years and thousands of threads dealing with this topic, we now tip the required amount and always (there was one exception) go well above and beyond the daily charge. We tip our bartenders and our drink servers with each drink We give CASH because it has no calories, and no one is allergic to it. I don't know and don't care how well their earnings compare with workers in the U.S.A., the Philippines or any other country in Asia or Europe. I do know that of the three crew members that I have had long conversations with they are doing well and live their lives and those of their families above what they would be earning at home, in Panama, the Philippines and in Switzerland.

I have been shopping at stores that have been advertising "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" sales for 20 years. Business is business and "Caveat Emptor" should always be our guide. .

Out of curiosity. If they added the $860 to the published cruise fare would that be any different as to whether you cruise or not?

How much were the standard grats. 2 years ago? How much was a loaf of bread or a gallon of gas 2 years ago? Sure---Not CLEARLY making the increase known to ANYONE AFFECTED is wrong, but is the increase really that out of line with what is getting to be the norm in this out-of-control inflationary economy? I'm going to spend about 40% more in gas money getting to and from Bayonne than I did on our last cruise. My $1.50 a day gratuity increase is just over 10% Restaurants around here are adding 10-15% surcharges to all their prices (THATS TOTAL PRICE-NOT JUST THE TIP) and unlike a cruise ship if you don't like it, you can't take it back. If I was a lobster (I do believe the experiment was done with frogs) I would know when it was too hot and get out of the water but since the water is just as if not much hotter in my everyday life the minor rate increase doesn't faze me in the least. Now if I compare a 7-day tip increase of $21.00 (wife and I) to the total $3.500.00 cruise fare it really doesn't raise the temperature of the water enough to even discuss the matter. Happy cruising to all.

. "" *Guests who booked prior to July 15, 2022 can pre-pay gratuities before their sailing at the previous rates, which are $14.50 for standard staterooms and $17.50 for suites."" Can't you still prepay at the old rate, as long as the booking was before the 15th ?

Six nights ? Maybe the next time they roll the dice to make a choice they could at least use a die with seven sides? LOL.

There is almost always ONE bar on each R/C ship we sailed on that has it on tap. That and Blue Moon or Franziskaner (Celebrity) are my choices. After the above it is just straight spirits.

Considering the increases we are faced with just buying a week's worth of groceries or 5 gallons of gas to mow our lawns this $1.50 a day seems almost inconsequential. They are at least grandfathering the earlier rates for bookings made before July 15, 2022..

And that goes for every night of your cruise..

A few times. Once we had to skirt around some weather and another we just sailed through it.