Punchy

Using the term "stiffed" isn't misleading. I don't know a single person that thinks one cheap self-centered cruiser removing tips means all the crew now worked the week for free.... Don't be silly. Everyone knows what it implies and individual people do stiff the crew.

 

Are you suggesting the tips don't even go to the crew? It just goes towards their guaranteed rate and that's it? This is groundbreaking information. If that's the case, I suggest everyone immediately stop all gratuities since it makes no difference!!!!

If everyone did it certainly would change the labor market for cruise employees. My only question for you, If someone removes the RCCL auto/suggested tips but then distributes the same amount of money to the crew members of their choosing at the level of their choosing does that make them a cheap self-centered cruiser?

I'm not sure many here would suggest leaving full automatic gratuities if you were to receive service that didnt' justify at least the base auto-gratuity. Now, I am also not sure many here have ever had service from their base staff - dining room, room stew, etc... that justified removing tips. But if so, hey, you are fully justified removing a portion of the tip and the cruise line can distribute however they want. That's just how it works. Hopefully if you were dissatisfied with the service, you would bring it up with guest services and make sure they are aware.

I would add I don't trust RCCL IT dept to be able to separate out the auto-tips if there was a specific reduction so if I ever were to flex down on the tipping they all have to be canceled.

If the infant didn't go, perhaps the people in the two cabins next-door could have gotten by with just one cabin. However, since the infant took up the triple-occupancy space, they had to book two cabins.

 

Tipping is calculated in as part of the overall compensation package for the crew members. If you were being honest with yourself, you would realize that you simply resent a company for being profitable in a capitalist economy. (Whether it is envy because you're not as wealthy as you think you should be, jealousy because your company went under, or some other crazy reason - only you can know.) However, you're using that resentment as justification to stiff the hard-working employees who have no say in how their compensation package works. You really should stick to vacations in countries or environments where tipping is not customary.

A good capitalist doesn't spend "optional" money for the same level of service. The issues I have with the auto-tips are that one can only flex up but not down if the level of expected service is not met. Since they are distributed by a formula one cannot provide feedback with their wallet to specific employees if service is found lacking. One has to remove all auto-tips if they want to speak with their wallet.

Sounds like the OP is curious.

Yup, and the answer is its optional and no one's business. If you choose to share your choice of not paying, meeting the suggested optional charge, or paying above it, its up to you. My suggestion is to not share any of that information publicly.

After reading all people's feedback, I've come to 2 conclusions: 1) It's important to tip ppl for all that they will (hopefully) do to help me and my baby and 2) many of you are unnecessarily mean and judgmental.

 

 

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Good conclusions. Gratuities by definition are optional. It should be no one business but their own if they pay them or not.

I don't have first hand experience so discount everything I say. RCCL casino is pretty old school as far what and when to award something. There is some tracking but the Casino host seem to have a lot of discretion on what to comp and dismiss. There for having a personal relationship and reminding them that you are in the casino on a regular basis will go a long way for the comps.

Also, They will wave the 5% fee if you get up to the free drinks stage.

Got the RCCL for the initial reward but the rewards are low compared to other cards out there.

I have annual travel insurance plan that runs a little over $1K. I travel a bunch both for work and pleasure and this way it just hits all the bases without doing it trip by trip.

With the bionic bar, RCCL has the technology to link beverage dispensing to a card. Why they force people into a carrying a cup around is more around discouraging consumption IMHO than providing a service.

Here is a pretty simple hack to make your sea pass work at the freestyle machines.

The things excluded are Izumi's hibachi section, Chef's Table, Bottomless galley brunch and Johnny Rockets.

All other specialty dining is included. I did see RCCL raise the price recently on the 7 day cruises.

Just my guess, The Double Double program that corp is on has been mapped pretty well to the discretionary spending on the boats, as in dining, shopping, excursions. etc... They haven't figured out the right mix for the Casino player yet and it doesn't seem to be a priority either.

Sailing on Harmony in December. Booked the ultimate dining package when it was released at $168 a person. Looking at the cruise planner its now $203 for the same cruise and benefits.

Thanks Weespeed, I am on my first RCCL cruise in December also on a casino comp. Your hits and misses with the casino host are helpful for my planning and expectation setting.

I thought the common theme was finding a table.

My wife won $50,000 on Power Ball last month. That grew our net worth.:D

Very select group. ;)

Just wondering, has anyone grown his wealth by gambling in a casino, just like legendary investors Warren Buffett and Robert Kiyosaki have grown their wealth in the stock market and real estate?

Yes, but its a very select group, unlike the stock market where any fool can make money.

Thanks @weespeed, my favorite type threads. I hope the tables are good to you on the boat. I am still amazed how people can derive a person's core values and motivations from 343 words. I wish I had that type of clairvoyance.

For those who get the package strictly for the "no bill at the end", couldn't you take the money you'd spend on the drink package and deposit it (either via OBC or somehow) and then let that "pay" for your drinks through the week? I get that there's some value to not having to pay individually, but if you only drink 1-2 drinks a day...

Done that method as well. It works but then you have a running calculator in your head if you are at your limit or not.

4 per cabin if you go through security separately.

In true economic terms the drink package is never worth it. I can buy almost 2 cases of whiskey for the price of the drink package and have a hell of a party at home. Since, I won't be home and entrusting my time to RCCL, the drink package becomes worth it from a ease of pricing for my cruise. I hate having a bill for anything at the end of a vacation because I want it all done ahead of time. I do drink but probably won't break even or get ahead on the cost but the piece of mind that I don't have to question myself if I want that drink or not during vacation is worth the package for me.

The taste is equally proportional to how much you have had to drink that evening.

Also, wake noise makes it hard to talk on the balcony with each other. I didn't like the aft balcony cabin.

Its a design flaw. The royal IQ message app uses the same communication/network strategy as Apple's imessage. The developers were lazy and copied apple's architecture. The will have to rewrite the royal iq app to "fix" it but since IT isn't this company's strong point don't expect it anytime soon.

Bottom line: if you have an apple phone, turn on airplane mode, connect to ships wifi and your texting will work with other apple devices for sure.

Just goes to your risk tolerance. 99.9% of the time there is no reason to bring your passport off the ship, however if anything goes sideways it makes getting back home so much easier.

Its a little overkill with cruises but I do register my trip with the state department anytime I leave the country.