mfs2k

Youve never done a sailaway from New York City I guess. lol

That's worth $20 to me on a 10 day cruise. And definitely worth more to me than a picture in front of a life preserver.

I suspect unsold cabins from agency blocks revert back to the cruiseline 90-120 days before sailing so they can be sold.

I suspect there's a chance if I hand a bartender a $20 bill at a bar I expect to visit frequetly during my cruise, I might get a little better service than he/she might typically give. Maybe not, but that's what I think.

The inherent definition of "gratuities" makes them gratuitous, and thus unequal. If you're referring to mandatory service charges, then that's different.

That's awful. You may have to search manually. I sailed on Carnival Jubilee in 1986. Maybe you'll find my old posts before there was an intenet for mortals.

Another way to look at it is the answer to this question: Do you tip extra for YOU or for the bartender? Many people tip extra at the beginning of a cruise to the bartenders at the bar they expect to visit often. Personally, if I do this, I'm hoping my pours of bourbon on the rocks will be a little more generous than the standardized recipe calls for. They usually are if I know the bartender and they like me. A relationship between a generous tipping customer and a heavy handed bartender is often symbiotic. It benefits both. A bartender who recognizes you and likes you might also save you a few moments and pulll him/her away from their bartender tasks and making your drink. I like when they stop fiddling with the POS terminal and greet me with a smile and my preferred drink placed in my hand.

boom

Maybe it’s a small cliff which will make you late but not injured.

What do you do when you go to a new city for a day? Do you take a tour or explore on your own? I understand why one would want to use a cruise ship tour when you're travelling far from the ship, but for nearby tours, I suggest TripAdvisor for guidance, or google. There's a lot of scare tactics employed by cruiselines to get your to book through them, but if you plan to return to the ship 2 hours or more before departure, you'll likely be fine unless you fall off a cliff or into a ravine.

Haven’t any of you ever worked with tipped servers or bartenders? I’ve worked with many over my entire long career in various positions in the hospitality industry (never cruise lines though) and most are hyper focused on their tips. Maybe it’s different outside the US. I’ve worked with many NYC bartenders who would only be satisfied if an additional tip was left regardless of the policy.

How do you know they don’t have a tiny letdown feeling if they don’t get an extra rip ?

I wonder if the tipping differs based on which port the ship departs from...

I have read many posts about passenger expectations and practices regarding bar tipping, but: I'm curious what the expectation is from the bartender's perspective: They expect an additional tip because most people leave something extra. or They are pleasantly surprised if they get an additional tip because it's unusual. or They're too busy to think about tips. What do you think?

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Is this math right? A limit of 15 drinks regardless of what you're drinking 12 oz bottle of beer (0.6 oz alcohol) 5 oz glass of wine (0.6 oz alcohol) 1.5 oz 80 proof liquor (0.6 oz alcohol) 0.6oz x 15 drinks = 9 oz of alcohol for $59.95 per day. 9 oz of alcohol is equivalent to 22.5 oz of vodka A 750ml bottle of vodka is 25.4 oz So the daily limit is almost the equivalent of a 750ml bottle of vodka per day. Personally, my liver is ok with the limit.

agree. More likely the algorithm is simply generating more offers for you and you're equating it to PVP control. Kind of like banging on the slot machine. When one bangs and gets a jackpot, one is inclined to assume banging had something to do with it.

I don't remember

You're missing the point. I'm not comparing costs. I'm comparing every consumer's vacation options.

Hamburger ($28) and 2 beers ($12 ea) in Midtown Manhattan is $67 including tax ($4.60) and 20% tip ($10.40).

There's a huge difference between the cost of the included drinks vs the revenue the cruise line would receive if guests purchased drinks. The cost per drink is nominal ($1 to $3), whereas the top-line revenue they are giving up when they include beverages can be $12-$20 per drink. There's a lot of cost/benefit analysis which they would have to take into consideration when making these decisions.

Well, yeah... It's a vacation. Cruiselines don't just compete with other cruise lines. They compete with all other vacation options. I hear some people actually do something called a land vacation. The all-inclusives I've stayed at in the past 15 years (Secrets Resorts) had free wifi and free beverages. It's pretty costly to populate a large resort with wireless access points and provide the wifi backbone and high speed internet from an ISP. Yet these resorts include wifi and it's an attractive amenity. I'm curious why there are so many here who defend vigorously the practice of selling low priced cabins then tack on high priced add-ons. For those of us who want premium wifi, a beverage package, and specialty restaurant experiences, it's not a cheap vacation. I guess for those who don't drink, don't want wifi, and are satisfied with main dining, and perhaps a cabin without a view, they can have that too, but it seems like a 2nd class experience to me. To each his own.

It’s evolutionary and competitive. What was included yesterday may not be included tomorrow. And vice-versa. Carnival didn’t charge for internet on my 1980’s cruises and calling home on the ship-to-shore phone was super expensive. Skeet shooting off the ship stern was costly.

I used to carry down a lounger from the pool deck to my regular balcony cabin on the first morning of the cruise and I'd keep it there all week. I got a few strange looks, but no one took it away or locked me up in a naughty room.

Personally, I think my work and home life would be a nightmare without electricity, internet access, winter heat, cell service, gas for my car, or fresh water supply for more than 3 days. Would I survive? Sure. Would I be unhappy? Yep. I do believe internet in 2024 belongs with the other utilities. It's not a luxury for me anymore. It's necessary for me. If you want your cruise to be a camping experience, enjoy.