Radiance of the Seas Gratuities

[terrydavidphoto]

Hi folks. I am taking a cruise from Sydney to Honolulu in April 2012, and am wondering if tipping/gratuities are compulsory with Royal Caribbean? Are they added to my on-board account? Can they be removed? We prefer to tip our own personal wait staff.

 

Any other tips/comments about this ship would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks for your help.

- Tex

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I am sure others will come and add to this ,

to either confirm or deny...

but it is my understanding that if you have Anytime Dining, the gratuities are compulsory,

and if you have Traditional Dining you can remove them ,

and then tip as you please.

[BrusselsGirl07]

Yes, I agree. If using mytime it is compulsory. If you do choose to prepay gratuities, you will be given envelopes with little notes saying you have prepaid. If you don't prepay, I believe you still get the envelopes, but you are then expected to tip in cash. We were on the 2009 Christmas cruise and everything you bought had a 15% tip added. They did not do this on the 2010 Christmas cruise.

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

Yes absolutely correct. Only the Traditional dining option allows you to remove the Gratuities because you will have the same waiters serve you every night in the dining room so therefore you can tip them as you wish.

Jillybean:)

[terrydavidphoto]

Thank you for all your great information. My travel agent was trying to tell me I had no option, but to pay for they fully, up front.

 

I will now only tip my daily waiters.

[yamcrzr]

We're considering this cruise as well. I was just wondering, is there any chance you'd be cruising with children. We will have a 14yo and an 11yo and I'm just a little concerned with due to the duration of the cruise that there may not be too many kids on board.

 

Cheers

Sharon

[terrydavidphoto]

Hi Sharon. No children in our group I'm sorry. It is myself (29), girlfriend (22) and best mate (26) in a triple (deck 8). Then Mum and Dad in a twin (deck 2).

 

Cheers,

- Tex

[The_Big_M]

 

I will now only tip my daily waiters.

 

Tips are intended to go to your room attendant as well.

[terrydavidphoto]

Tips are intended to go to your room attendant as well.

 

Of course. You are most certainly right!

[Molly Doble]

HI

Glad this was posted it has just answered my question as well. We are looking at Jan 2012 and we have never been on a RCCL ship so we think it will make a nice change.

 

Tania:)