not-enough-cruising

I’m going to tip the way I ALWAYS have. cash and cash only

I fail to see the correlation. Money spent on specialty dining, drink package, or internet shows a tangible ROI, daily auto gratuity does not. The one thing all these things have in common is they are all 100% voluntary to participate in.

It will be going up mid November

Where did you get 10% remove the charge? I firmly believe it’s higher than that.

This model does NOT reward exceptional service. This model rewards everyone equally.

You can't do that. The auto gratuity is an all or nothing proposition. You can pre pay before Nov 11 at the existing rate

You have to call Royal if you booked direct, or call your TA

Because (many) people will pay it. I bet fewer accept this than did the last increase.

You aren't subsidizing anyone. Gratuities are going up because enough passive passengers just suck it up and go along. You want it to change? Do something about it, put your foot down and refuse to participate.

Same as all the other lines, that is the point.

ONLY if you pre-pay before Nov 11

All those that opted out before will continue to do so, plus more will do it now; Royal isn't accomplishing what they think they are.

VIrgin really isn't competing with Royal, Carnival or NCL, its a completely different demographic. Virgin obviously isn't concerned about posting a rock bottom fare to their website to entice bookings.

Will never happen, not on USA embarkation at least. It took legislative action to force the airlines into pricing transparency, I can't imagine them getting involved in this.

I did not pay the old rate, I surely will not be paying the new rate.

All that nonsense to “solve” a problem that really does not exist. How many bags offloaded from cruise ships monthly? How many go home with the wrong person? The % is infinitesimal.

Have never been charged a corkage fee in 25 years

That’s hilarious

And if the steward is still performing the same number of “services per day” then it absolutely doesn’t matter.

It is irrelevant because a ship NEVER sails at double occupancy, never ever ever. Regardless of how many people are onboard the number of rooms to clean remains the same. I am sorry, but your insinuation that the amount of passengers on board has an affect on the housekeeping is just silly. The number of crew members cleaning has not changed dramatically. They may be assigned to other areas than staterooms, but the staff is there

Find me a cruise ship that considers double occupancy to be full occupancy. The assessment of passengers on board is incorrect and irrelevant

Insurance would never invoice the offending party. They would expect that one pays to have their luggage returned, then the policy holder submit receipts for possible reimbursement

I've yet to experience British night, I think I may have the opportunity in March on my Odyssey 8 day

That is exactly the problem with Mexican night

Whatever you do, SKIP Mexican night in the MDR; it is absolutely horrible