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SINGLE HSC/TIPPING THREAD (Previously "Why are gratuities not included in Fares?")


wannagonow123
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It has been more than a decade since we used traveler's checks. It was on a caribbean cruise and I think we were the only people using them and the looks we got trying to cash or use them were incredible. They ended up being more work and so we never used again. But I agree they provide a measure of security.

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Do you guys have this much discussion about tipping every time you dine out or go on holidays? It seems stressful haha.

Especially strange as Hal has removed any confusion on the matter by introducing the hsc.

If it makes you feel better to give extra go for it, simple

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

A lot of energy is expended on the topic.

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I'm old fashioned. I get travelers' checks for my casino cash, tips, and incidental needs. In this age of pick pockets and other thieves, I seldom carry more than a couple hundred in cash.

 

Now that's funny, I commented sometime back during a similar thread that I carried TC's for the same reason and got criticized because they are outdated? We take some cash, CC's, and TC's.

I carry Travelers' Cheques all the time. Never know when they will come in handy, and they have for me. They are easily cashed at the ship's Front Desk---never a problem or a strange look.

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A few thoughts. Regarding TCs, they are obsolete in most of the world but still accepted on some (not all) cruise lines. So if folks want to cash TCs aboard the lines that still accept them they are fine. But do not even think about cashing a TC in Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico, etc. because most places (including banks) will not longer accept the ancient things. The world has adopted ATMs...(which is why we carry 3 different ATM cards (each drawn on a different bank) when we travel). But unlike some here, we tend to not take cruise line excursions (we do our own thing) and we take extensive land driving trips (where TCs would only be good to paper the walls of WCs).

 

As to tipping on cruise ships, we have been outspoken on CC (since the beginning of CC) and previously on Prodigy, Aol, Genie, and all those other old fashioned blogs. We think the cruise line tipping schemes are ridiculous, misleading, a marketing tool, etc. Cruise lines can advertise a lower price because items like tips are simply omitted from the price. All the other stuff you hear is a lot of baloney. These days, most of the mass market lines simply pool all the tips (mostly mandated) and distribute them according to their own secret formula. If you do not believe that the distribution is secret, try asking for the real formula. So when you pay those tips (usually added onto your daily charges) some of it might go to the poor guy folding sheets in the laundry, some will go to your steward, and some of it will go to the worst steward on the ship (who you have never met or seen). An outstanding steward or waiter will get the same cut as the worst steward or waiter. They are not really "tips" but simply hidden price increases to your cruise fare.

 

And now we get the "tip do gooders" who feel obligated to tip even more then the daily auto tips. No matter how much the cruise line would charge for daily "gratuities" these "tip do gooders" would feel obligated to tip even more! Bless them :). We actually tipped more, before they started forcing us into daily auto tips. Now, if the cruise line wants to play these tipping games, we will play their game! Yes, we pay our autotips without protest. But the cruise lines created this "monster" and we will not get conned into the game where they keep increasing auto tips,,,and we keep increasing extra tips! It is just silly and plays on the guilt felt by many fellow Americans (we are good at feeling guilty) about not tipping enough. We admire the Aussies since they have not been sucked into this silly tipping world and simply believe that folks should be paid an appropriate wager for their job....period!

 

So, do we tip extra? Yes...but only when we get extraordinary service that is way beyond the norm. And these days, that kind of service is rare. That being said, our cabin stewards on our recent Prinsendam cruise were so good that we rewarded them appropriately.

 

Hank

Edited by Hlitner
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  • 2 weeks later...

I just booked our first cruise on HAL for next May. I'm now reading all of the fine print/details. It indicates that there is a $13 per day per guest Hotel Service Charge. Is this in addition to the $60 per day shipboard account or is it part of the cruise price or is it a totally separate charge?

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The $60 per day is a hold against your credit card, to make sure you pay your bills on board. It is released once any charges you have, including your hotel service charge, are accepted by your credit card company.

 

Placing a hold is a common practice in the travel industry, done by hotels, rental car companies and others all the time.

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So, the service charge is something that is automatically added to your card each day?

 

Debited to your onboard account everyday and then charged to your credit card along with any other purchases, shore excursions, etc as a total at the end of the cruise.

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Debited to your onboard account everyday and then charged to your credit card along with any other purchases, shore excursions, etc as a total at the end of the cruise.

 

Do they hold the $60 on a day-by-day basis? I thought they hold it all on the first day when you board.

 

As CruiserBruise said, holds are very common. It's just that few places tell you they're doing it.

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The service charge is separate. The $60 per day is not really charged to your card; it's just a hold on that amount to assure the cruise line your credit card can cover anticipated expenses.

 

 

They also don't put a $60 hold on your card each day. Depending on the length of the cruise they break it up over time. The hold amount can also be increased based on your actual spend. For example if you book a bunch of Shore Excursion when you board, the next hold they place will reflect your increased shipboard account balance.

Edited by drowelf
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They also don't put a $60 hold on your card each day. Depending on the length of the cruise they break it up over time. The hold amount can also be increased based on your actual spend. For example if you book a bunch of Shore Excursion when you board, the next hold they place will reflect your increased shipboard account balance.

 

Thank you. Is this done even if you use OBC?

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The majority of the Hotel Service Charge goes to your cabin stewards and dining room stewards. The rest is divided up among all the people behind the scenes like the kitchen workers, the laundry workers, people you see cleaning, etc.

 

Whenever you buy a cocktail, glass of wine, bottled water, you will be charged a 15% gratuity. That tip is divided among all the bar staff.

 

We keep the Hotel Service Charge in place so that we can give extra tips to those whom we fell have made our cruise an enjoyable one.

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We travel as a family of 4 so pay 4 HSCs. When doing the electronic check in we register a CC for DH and I but mark cash for DD and DS. We also specify that the children have no ability to charge anything to their room cards. Then we buy enough OBC to cover the total HSC for the voyage. We have never been asked to show the $120/day for the children.

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Understand that the HSC went up last December.. Is it now $12.50 per person per day for Balcony cabins?
On the newest 7 ships, yes. On the oldest 7 all balconies are Suites, and the HSC is $13.50/p/d
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Understand that the HSC went up last December.. Is it now $12.50 per person per day for Balcony cabins?

On the newest 7 ships, yes. Also $12.50/p/d for OV and Insides. On the oldest 7 ships all balconies are Suites, and the HSC is $13.50/p/d Edited by jtl513
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On the newest 7 ships, yes. On the oldest 7 all balconies are Suites, and the HSC is $13.50/p/d

 

We're on the Zuiderdam...Is that new or old..IMO it's old so is a VF Balcony considered a suite? Now I'm really :confused:

Edited by serendipity1499
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We're on the Zuiderdam...Is that new or old..IMO it's old so is a VF Balcony considered a suite? Now I'm really :confused:

 

 

 

Vista and below would be $12.50, Sig's and above $13.50!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Now that's funny, I commented sometime back during a similar thread that I carried TC's for the same reason and got criticized because they are outdated? We take some cash, CC's, and TC's.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I carry Travelers' Cheques all the time. Never know when they will come in handy, and they have for me. They are easily cashed at the ship's Front Desk---never a problem or a strange look.

 

We also take Travelers Checks & cash them at the front desk.. Never had a problem or strange look either..

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We're on the Zuiderdam...Is that new or old..IMO it's old so is a VF Balcony considered a suite? Now I'm really :confused:
Any VF cabin is a not a suite and has a $12.50/p/d HSC.

 

Zuiderdam is the 7th newest ship. In order, Koningsdam, Nieuw A, Eurodam, Noordam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, and Zuiderdam. The 7 oldest are the 4 R class, the 2 S class, and the Prinsendam.

Edited by jtl513
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