d t Posted November 1, 2010 #1 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Hi All. I tried hard to do my homework by searching this site and many others but could not find an answer. I booked a 9-day cruise on Royal Caribbean through WMPH because of an offer for free gratuities. My question is how does the ship know that I'm not supposed to pay gratuities? How will the crew know that I'm not stiffing them out of a tip when I don't pay at the end of the cruise? I asked WMPH and did not get an answer. So I asked Royal Caribbean, who told me to ask WMPH. I asked WMPH again and still did not get an answer. Since I did find a post on the internet about someone who got scammed by a "free gratuities" offer, I'm concerned that I'm encountering fraud in advertising because WMPH is not answering my repeated requests to answer a simple question. I guess they have no incentive to provide any customer service since I already paid in full. Could someone who has actually received free gratuities set my mind at ease please? Thank you all. Dan T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted November 1, 2010 #2 Share Posted November 1, 2010 (edited) If your travel agent has "pre-paid" your tips, they (the ship) will know. You will get "vouchers" on the last night to give to those who have served you. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Ask your TA for an invoice showing all of your payments and any benefits....they should be able to provide that to you. (I don't know what WMPH means) Edited November 1, 2010 by cb at sea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d t Posted November 1, 2010 Author #3 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Thank you to cb at sea for your response. I do have a confirmation email from WMPH, which is the name of my TA, showing itinerary, payment, names of travelers, etc, and, at the bottom of the email a statement saying Offer Details: This cruise includes the following bonus offer: Exclusive Offer: Free Gratuities on Balconies & Suites I was concerned because Royal Caribbean apparently doesn't know anything about WMPH's offer when I provided them (Royal Caribbean) with my reservation code and asked about the free gratuities. I chose WMPH over other TA's because of this offer! Thanks again. Dan PS. BTW, WMPH is supposed to stand for We Make People "Happy" (emphasis added). They definitely are not making me happy. Next time, I'll ask all questions before paying (to a different TA). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d t Posted November 5, 2010 Author #4 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Update: 02 Nov: received cruise documentation from WMPH (the TA) stating “No” under Prepaid Gratuities. Ugh! Sent them message asking why they are not honoring their offer and why they have been ignoring my two requests for help. 02 Nov: received this message from TA, “You are going to receive the Free Gratuities on your reservation. Once you get on the ship you can go to guest services and they will give you a print out showing that you have a credit on your onboard account. They will deduct the rate of gratuities per person every day from that onboard credit. You do not have to pay any other gratuities.” 04 Nov: received below updated invoice from TA with “Pre Paid Gratuities” added and showing as $0.00. PASSENGER PRICING DETAILS Description Pax 1 Pax 2 Pax 3 Pax 4 Pax 5 Cruise (includes taxes/fees) $x,xxx.xx $x,xxx.xx Insurance Declined Declined Pre Paid Gratuities $0.00 Passenger Totals $x,xxx.xx $x,xxx.xx Total Price: $x,xxx.xx Total Received: -$x,xxx.xx Final Payment Due $0.00 Final Payment Due Date 10/20/2010 05 Nov: Checked my online acct with Royal Caribbean, which still shows “No” for Prepaid Gratuities. I guess I better print the above invoice and show Guest Services when I board. I hope I won’t hear “That’s between you and your TA”. I asked Royal Caribbean and am waiting to hear back. It shouldn't have to be this hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nannynewknee Posted April 16, 2015 #5 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi folks, soz i am new to all these forums please bear with me. I know these gratuities are a pain but i have just booked a cruise with celebrity and they have stated free gratuities, does any body know if i book a drinks package will they be free from GRATS a well???? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Lloyd Posted April 16, 2015 #6 Share Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) No. Your free gratuities cover your room steward, wait staff and Maitre 'D for dining. Drinks at bars whether taken 'pay as you go' while onboard or as part of a drinks package have their own gratuity added (18%) at point of sale. If you buy a drinks package it will include 18% for gratuity. If you buy individual drinks on board you will charged for the amount of the drink plus an additional 18% grat. Edited April 16, 2015 by Mim Lloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtdlmc Posted April 17, 2015 #7 Share Posted April 17, 2015 02 Nov: received this message from TA,“You are going to receive the Free Gratuities on your reservation. Once you get on the ship you can go to guest services and they will give you a print out showing that you have a credit on your onboard account. They will deduct the rate of gratuities per person every day from that onboard credit. You do not have to pay any other gratuities.” [ It seems as though your TA is giving you an onboard credit equivalent to the cost of gratuities. Usually OBC from a TA does not show anywhere on any cruiseline documentation but if you go to guest services they will be able to see it on your account - many times OBC does not appear on your account until the second day of the cruise. As mentioned in the response from your TA, your daily gratuities will be charged to your acc't every day but will be covered by the onboard credit that your TA provides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glue34 Posted November 8, 2015 #8 Share Posted November 8, 2015 I am booked on NCl Breakaway Dec.13th. through ************ my invoice says free gratuities and OBC $25 how do I make sure I get this from NCL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marysue11 Posted November 11, 2015 #9 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Go to the guest services desk and ask Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KKB Posted November 13, 2015 #10 Share Posted November 13, 2015 But it is always wise to bring a print out of your reservation showing your perks JUST in case something isn't right once you get on board. Yes, if you buy a drink package, gratuities are included in it. We love our drink packages--and if we have some servers/bartenders who have been good to us during the cruise, we give them an extra $10 or $20 at the end of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renhelm Posted April 14, 2016 #11 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Yes RCCL's recent free gratuities offer is a scam. I looked up a cruise on a website that stated "free gratuities" and called the cruise travel agent to book it. They put me on hold and came back saying RCCL says I do not get free gratuities on it. We went back and forth several times and even with print outs and screen shots RCCL will not honor it. Then I looked up several online travel sights and all are offering the same free gratuities. I decided to book it online from costcotravel.com and they confirmed the free gratuities. Then I find out RCCL wont honor it even though my receipt says so. It's not the first time RCCL has lied to me. Last time I was on the ship already when I found out that I didn't get what they had promised. I have cruised enough be make Diamond Plus after the next cruise. I guess since they don't honor their offer I will opt out of gratuities and I will not book any excursions with them either. I will cancel the next 3 pre-booked cruises with them also, sad I really liked it on their ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bound4Bermuda Posted April 24, 2016 #12 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Yes RCCL's recent free gratuities offer is a scam. I looked up a cruise on a website that stated "free gratuities" and called the cruise travel agent to book it. They put me on hold and came back saying RCCL says I do not get free gratuities on it. We went back and forth several times and even with print outs and screen shots RCCL will not honor it. Then I looked up several online travel sights and all are offering the same free gratuities. I decided to book it online from costcotravel.com and they confirmed the free gratuities. Then I find out RCCL wont honor it even though my receipt says so. It's not the first time RCCL has lied to me. Last time I was on the ship already when I found out that I didn't get what they had promised. I have cruised enough be make Diamond Plus after the next cruise. I guess since they don't honor their offer I will opt out of gratuities and I will not book any excursions with them either. I will cancel the next 3 pre-booked cruises with them also, sad I really liked it on their ships. Are you in an inside? The free gratuities are only for oceanview and above. It was cheaper for me to upgrade from an onside to an OV to get the free gratuities. It may only be for certain sailing dates, as well, for instance may need to be within 2016. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHARTWICK Posted August 22, 2016 #13 Share Posted August 22, 2016 (edited) I wonder if there is a website that will alert cruisers to free gratuities specials or do we just need to watch our e-mails from the cruise lines, agents, etc.? I've just noticed a free gratuities special AND a lower rate for our October cruise from an on-line agent, but unfortunately I've missed out on it because I booked months in advance and I'm past final due date. If I could only predict the future! :) Edited August 22, 2016 by LHARTWICK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkard Posted August 23, 2016 #14 Share Posted August 23, 2016 We booked a cruise for 2017 last year when they had a Free Gratuties special. All our cruise documents show OBC equal to what our gratuties would be. The special was for ocean view and above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmedward Posted March 21, 2017 #15 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Does anyone know when RCCL will have a free gratuities promotion? Last year I was lucky enough to get it during their leap year sale, but they didn't have anything like that last month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young and Restless Posted July 6, 2017 #16 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Our free gratuities from Price Line was listed on the NCL website after you have your booking number. One warning be careful of the Drink Package , you will still need to pay gratuities on it and it was more expensive than it we had 2 drinks a day , we don't drink much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Now Traveler Posted August 16, 2018 #17 Share Posted August 16, 2018 This question makes me wonder about the whole gratuities thing. Obviously, if you get a "free gratuities" offer, the workers don't get stiffed, right? So either the travel agent or the cruiseline is picking up the expense on behalf of the workers. So when the gratuities are added to my account automatically, does it go into a fund that gets distributed to everyone? On my last cruise, I had automatic gratuities reduced to 0 and personally gave generous cash tips to everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted August 16, 2018 #18 Share Posted August 16, 2018 This question makes me wonder about the whole gratuities thing. Obviously, if you get a "free gratuities" offer, the workers don't get stiffed, right? So either the travel agent or the cruiseline is picking up the expense on behalf of the workers. So when the gratuities are added to my account automatically, does it go into a fund that gets distributed to everyone? On my last cruise, I had automatic gratuities reduced to 0 and personally gave generous cash tips to everyone. Yes, if you leave the auto gratuities in place they get distributed to the folks who are supposed to get it which is comprised of the traditionally tipped and tipped out staff. If you tip in cash some people who are supposed to get a portion might not receive it. The same applies if someone pays your gratuities for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted August 16, 2018 #19 Share Posted August 16, 2018 This question makes me wonder about the whole gratuities thing. Obviously, if you get a "free gratuities" offer, the workers don't get stiffed, right? So either the travel agent or the cruiseline is picking up the expense on behalf of the workers. So when the gratuities are added to my account automatically, does it go into a fund that gets distributed to everyone? On my last cruise, I had automatic gratuities reduced to 0 and personally gave generous cash tips to everyone. There is no such thing as 'free gratuities". The TA or the cruise lines are not paying them. You are. They are "included" in the fare you pay to take the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Now Traveler Posted August 16, 2018 #20 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Yes, if you leave the auto gratuities in place they get distributed to the folks who are supposed to get it which is comprised of the traditionally tipped and tipped out staff. If you tip in cash some people who are supposed to get a portion might not receive it. The same applies if someone pays your gratuities for you. Thank you. And in the case of a cruise line "free gratuities" sale, for the benefit of the staff, the cruise line fills in for what I didn't have to pay. Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Now Traveler Posted August 16, 2018 #21 Share Posted August 16, 2018 There is no such thing as 'free gratuities". The TA or the cruise lines are not paying them. You are. They are "included" in the fare you pay to take the cruise. And when $13.50 is added to my account daily, above the cruise fare, am I paying twice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted August 17, 2018 #22 Share Posted August 17, 2018 There is no such thing as 'free gratuities". The TA or the cruise lines are not paying them. You are. They are "included" in the fare you pay to take the cruise. The TA very well might be paying them, one would have to do a faux booking through the cruise line's website to figure it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted August 17, 2018 #23 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Thank you. And in the case of a cruise line "free gratuities" sale, for the benefit of the staff, the cruise line fills in for what I didn't have to pay. Right? As I understand it, yes. This takes care of your cabin steward and your wait staff. Bar and spa services have gratuities added to each purchase and these are separate from the daily gratuities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted August 17, 2018 #24 Share Posted August 17, 2018 And when $13.50 is added to my account daily, above the cruise fare, am I paying twice? If you had included gratuities (regardless of source) and are charged daily then it would appear that you are being charged twice. You would need to look at the invoice closely to make sure the $13.50 isn't being offset elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted August 17, 2018 #25 Share Posted August 17, 2018 And when $13.50 is added to my account daily, above the cruise fare, am I paying twice? Everytime I've had gratuities included as a perk, there has been a charge to my account and debit offsetting the charge. Net zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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