GRatuities confusion on prepaid gratuities and beverage package

So, I buy a beverage package, and pre pay gratuities before cruise @ $14.50 US per day pp. All paid up!? so I don't have to worry about a day by day accrual. My question is When I order my first drink or eat out at speciality dining, do I incure another amount of gratuities on my cocktail, or specialty dining or does my prePaid gratuities cover me for the cruise?

Specialty dining is not included in the 14.50 daily gratuity.

Some ports charge tax on beverage sales, so while it's not additional gratuity it is not included in the beverage package.

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You're not prepaying gratuities. You're prepaying the daily service charge. Gratuities are purely optional, unless you purchase a dining or beverage package, for which you are charged the 20% gratuity along with the package.

But if you purchase the beverage package, then you DO prepay gratuities for the drinks, right? You wouldn't tip the bartenders again since you've already paid 20% for those?

But if you purchase the beverage package, then you DO prepay gratuities for the drinks, right? You wouldn't tip the bartenders again since you've already paid 20% for those?

correct

But if you purchase the beverage package, then you DO prepay gratuities for the drinks, right? You wouldn't tip the bartenders again since you've already paid 20% for those?

Correct. At least, I wouldn't pay additional tips. There are many people who promote paying even more tips, but it is not necessary.

So, I buy a beverage package, and pre pay gratuities before cruise @ $14.50 US per day pp. All paid up!? so I don't have to worry about a day by day accrual. My question is When I order my first drink or eat out at speciality dining, do I incure another amount of gratuities on my cocktail, or specialty dining or does my prePaid gratuities cover me for the cruise?

Drinks (UDP). If you buy or get the Free at Sea Ultimate Beverage Package, you pre-pay gratuities on that package. If all of your drinks are under $15, then you will not pay anything more gratuities.

Note 1: If you purchase a drink that exceeds $15, the package will pay for the first $15 of the cost of the drink. You pay the difference plus 20% gratuity on the difference. For example, if you order a $17 drink, you pay the $2 difference + $0.40 additional gratuity for a total cost of $2.40.

Note 2: At your embarkation port, some local jurisdiction (e.g., Miami), require the payment of sales tax while you are in port.

Note 3: Most people carry some dollar bills to provide extra tips to your favorite bartender or waiter.

Specialty Dining (SDP). If you buy or get the Free at Sea Specialty Dining Package, you pre-pay gratuities on that package. If all of your specialty dining is consistent with the terms and conditions of the package, you will ot pay anything more in gratuities.

Note 4: If you exceed the SDP (e.g., order a second entree), you pay for that item that exceeds the SDP + 20% gratuity on that item.

Daily Service Charge (DSC). If you pre-pay your daily service charge, there is no additional gratuities/service charges to pay on board. This covers your room steward, dining room waiters, and behind the scenes personnel who help ensure that you have a wonderful cruise experience. If you are in a suite, it does not cover your butler or concierge.

Note 5: Most people leave a little something extra for their room steward for excellent service.

Summary. If you pre-pay your DSC, have a UDP, and have a SDP, and do not exceed the terms and conditions of the packages, then you could have a zero onboard bill.

So, I buy a beverage package, and pre pay gratuities before cruise @ $14.50 US per day pp. All paid up!? so I don't have to worry about a day by day accrual. My question is When I order my first drink or eat out at speciality dining, do I incure another amount of gratuities on my cocktail, or specialty dining or does my prePaid gratuities cover me for the cruise?

If you have prepaid for a beverage or dining package the service charges were paid before boarding the ship. If you are on a pay as you go status, the service charges are added to each purchase.

From the post above it seems like OP has a beverage package and service charges on that are covered. Not enough information is provided to determine if OP has a dining package.

Correct. At least, I wouldn't pay additional tips. There are many people who promote paying even more tips, but it is not necessary.

NO tips are NECESSARY other than on the packages.

NO tips are NECESSARY other than on the packages.

Additional tips are not necessary but are appreciated and well deserved.

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So, I buy a beverage package, and pre pay gratuities before cruise @ $14.50 US per day pp. All paid up!? so I don't have to worry about a day by day accrual. My question is When I order my first drink or eat out at speciality dining, do I incure another amount of gratuities on my cocktail, or specialty dining or does my prePaid gratuities cover me for the cruise?

Your gratuities for the promo packages were included in your total cruise fare. The $14.50/day covers your daily service fee (DSF). If you purchase a dining package or drink package they will at the same time charge you the gratuities on the package. If you purchase dinner at a restaurant (not a package) or if you purchase a drink at a bar (not a package) you would be charged at the time of that dinner or drink for both the purchased item and for gratuity. Unrelated to this is the tax. The taxes on the total cruise is included with your cruise fare when you pay for the cruise. If you order a drink whether it is covered by a promo package or not you will be charged tax for that drink if you are still with in the jurisdiction of an American port. You will not have to pay taxes on your drink if you are in international waters or at foreign port.

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Additional tips are not necessary but are appreciated and well deserved.

 

 

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Additional/extra tips are NOT deserved! If you have already paid 20% tip either on a drink package OR on the receipt per drink, no additional cash tip is deserved. It has been paid ... in abundance.

Just FYI: They're not gratuities. That money doesn't go directly to the workers. That money gets pocketed by NCL and then NCL uses part of that money to give workers "incentives". Just a point of clarification. It's not like when you go out to a restaurant and the 20% you put on the check goes directly to the waiter.

We are cruising again in August and we didn't get a drink package. I did not pre pay gratuities either. I found that we had been pre-paying and then giving the people serving/waiting/helping us an addition 20% tip. I rather give the money directly to the staff helping us so I know they are getting it.

One point I find true is for the most part the bartenders do not expect, nor do they pressure for extra tips and seem more than happy and enthusiastic to serve you drinks under the UBP. I tend to tip a bartender that went way above and beyond at the end of the cruise.

However, it seems to me like the specialty dining waiters ARE looking for additional gratuity on top of the 20% but it is always up to you.

We are cruising again in August and we didn't get a drink package. I did not pre pay gratuities either. I found that we had been pre-paying and then giving the people serving/waiting/helping us an addition 20% tip. I rather give the money directly to the staff helping us so I know they are getting it.

Won't they charge you gratuities anyway and you have to ask for a refund later by talking to a head manager? I thought this system of paying who you want on your own in cash instead of daily service charge was not an option?

Just FYI: They're not gratuities. That money doesn't go directly to the workers. That money gets pocketed by NCL and then NCL uses part of that money to give workers "incentives". Just a point of clarification. It's not like when you go out to a restaurant and the 20% you put on the check goes directly to the waiter.

The dsc is a gratuity. Here’s a letter I received from Ncl explaining it. Staff are permitted to accept additional cash tips for exceptional service and certain positions are excluded from dsc as mentioned by previous posts.

Won't they charge you gratuities anyway and you have to ask for a refund later by talking to a head manager? I thought this system of paying who you want on your own in cash instead of daily service charge was not an option?

I honestly have no idea. I booked through the Casino and she asked me if I wanted to pre pay gratuities. I said no. Hopefully it doesn't bite me in the butt later.

I honestly have no idea. I booked through the Casino and she asked me if I wanted to pre pay gratuities. I said no. Hopefully it doesn't bite me in the butt later.

It is my understanding that even if you do not prepay them, you will still have them added to your account while on board and then charged to your credit card.

I honestly have no idea. I booked through the Casino and she asked me if I wanted to pre pay gratuities. I said no. Hopefully it doesn't bite me in the butt later.

Watch your daily charges on your cabin. The DSC (Daily Service Charges) will be added to your account each day.

Additional/extra tips are NOT deserved! If you have already paid 20% tip either on a drink package OR on the receipt per drink, no additional cash tip is deserved. It has been paid ... in abundance.

This offends me!!

Tipping is a personal choice. You have obviously chosen not to tip beyond what is required by the cruise line & that works for you but it isn't up to you to tell the rest of us how to spend our money.

Some of us choose to tip more because we think it IS deserved & we want to show the people taking care of us that we appreciate them & all they do to make sure our cruise is the best it can be.

Just FYI: They're not gratuities. That money doesn't go directly to the workers. That money gets pocketed by NCL and then NCL uses part of that money to give workers "incentives". Just a point of clarification. It's not like when you go out to a restaurant and the 20% you put on the check goes directly to the waiter.

So this is a model which other than US countries use. They collect money by charging customer full amount and distribute them among workers by themselves. I am fine with this.

20% is adequate amount, so I am not sure I will add anything on top.

This offends me!!

 

Tipping is a personal choice. You have obviously chosen not to tip beyond what is required by the cruise line & that works for you but it isn't up to you to tell the rest of us how to spend our money.

 

Some of us choose to tip more because we think it IS deserved & we want to show the people taking care of us that we appreciate them & all they do to make sure our cruise is the best it can be.

I think the problem is that when somebody says that bartenders deserve it sounds like a rule for everybody to follow. Like a statement.

1) Gratuities are never deserved automatically unless service warrants it. We pay them because we use NCL's service and play by their rules. They are rising... and 20% is basically top of what is paid even in US. We still pay it.

But when people say that somebody deserves an additional tip on what is already charged...

2) NCL reads these boards. They will raise autograts more and more because of what they read here.

I really wish cruise companies would charge smaller amounts to cover "people behind the scene" and let people a choice to personally give gratuities to people who directly serve them.

But if you purchase the beverage package, then you DO prepay gratuities for the drinks, right? You wouldn't tip the bartenders again since you've already paid 20% for those?

I do, but no one is ever required to tip (other than amount added to the cost of the the packages).