Having an ahhh haaa moment over gratuities...

[Sunflower&Scientist]

Okay...I think I'm finally understanding this after reading another thread this morning. I did not get why people did not like prepaying the gratuities using MTD. We've not done MTD before and having that option sounded really good to us this cruise. Prepaying wasn't a big deal, we have to pay it so now or later isn't an issue. What has now hit me is that we have OBC and of course we would have used that.

 

So now what can we do with the OBC? We don't drink, or buy soft drinks or coffee, I'm not a shopper or buy things onboard, what can we use the OBC for? Can we use it for excursions? Anything else?

[LMaxwell]

 

So now what can we do with the OBC? We don't drink, or buy soft drinks or coffee, I'm not a shopper or buy things onboard, what can we use the OBC for? Can we use it for excursions? Anything else?

Any expense incurred onboard can be covered by OBC. You can cash the OBC out in the Casino for 5% fee. Forcing MTD guests to pay gratuities with final payment and not treat them equally to fixed timed dining guests (who CAN use OBC) is one of my biggest hangups with Royal.

 

They either need to treat MTD guests the same as fixed time dining, or remove the option to use OBC to pay gratuities altogether IMO (which will never happen)

[setsail]

Excursions

Spa

Bingo

Water/juice pkg

Photos

Internet

All SR's

Luggage valet

Edited June 11, 2014 by setsail

[marci22]

You can always cash out at the casino for a 5% service fee.

 

Forcing MTD guests to pay gratuities with final payment and not treat them equally to fixed timed dining guests (who CAN use OBC) is one of my biggest hangups with Royal.

 

I agree. Why not have the MTD tips charged in full on the first night instead? Because they want your money early.

Edited June 11, 2014 by marci22

[Ocean Boy]

You can use it for excursions provided that you purchase them on board the ship. If you pre-book them then you cannot use the OBC for those either. You can use OBC for anything that you buy on the ship. Your other option is to switch to fixed time dining so that you can use the OBC for your gratuities. I don't really understand why RCI doesn't give those with MTD the option to have the gratuities added to their seapass accounts. I understood the rationale when gratuities were handed out on the last night of the cruise but it does not make much sense any more.

[InsideCruiser]

I know that you can remove gratuities if they are not prepaid.

 

Can you remove them if they are prepaid and receive a credit?

 

Then apply them again and use the OBC?

 

We booked MTD during the WOW sale and are hoping to implement that plan ...

 

IC

[Clarea]

I know that you can remove gratuities if they are not prepaid.

 

Can you remove them if they are prepaid and receive a credit?

 

Then apply them again and use the OBC?

 

We booked MTD during the WOW sale and are hoping to implement that plan ...

 

IC

I don't believe pre-paid gratuities can be removed (or credited) once you are on the ship.

Edited June 11, 2014 by clarea

[irishgal432]

If it is from a TA, you can go to guest services and receive a refund. If it is from Royal, then as the other posters suggested cash out at the casino.

[Nebr.cruiser]

It probably varies with the kind of OBC you have, but we have so far always been able to get any OBC left at the end of the cruise in cash at the Purser's desk. I have heard that some types of credit is not refundable--either use it or lose it, but that hasn't been the case yet for us. It won't hurt to ask.

 

We don't spend a lot on board; don't drink, use the spa, shop, etc., usually don't take ship excursions, so sometimes we have some on board credit left. We mostly use it on internet packages and a couple of photos.

[InsideCruiser]

I don't believe pre-paid gratuities can be removed (or credited) once you are on the ship.

 

Thanks.

 

Can we switch from MTD to fixed time and have the gratuities removed from our invoice (we are before final payment)?

 

Then if MTD is available on the ship we could use our OBC towards the gratuities correct?

 

IC

[UCF_Knight]

I don't really understand why RCI doesn't give those with MTD the option to have the gratuities added to their seapass accounts. I understood the rationale when gratuities were handed out on the last night of the cruise but it does not make much sense any more.

 

I'm baffled about this as well. With everyone now being automatically charged gratuities every night, why still make MTD guests pay their gratuities 75 days early?

[UCF_Knight]

Thanks.

 

Can we switch from MTD to fixed time and have the gratuities removed from our invoice (we are before final payment)?

 

Then if MTD is available on the ship we could use our OBC towards the gratuities correct?

 

IC

 

You can certainly do this.

However MTD may or may not still be available when you get on the ship.

[megr1125]

I'm baffled about this as well. With everyone now being automatically charged gratuities every night, why still make MTD guests pay their gratuities 75 days early?

 

 

Because that would be common sense...and we know that 'common sense' and RC should not be used in the same sentence??:eek::D:confused:

[FLACRUISER99]

Okay...I think I'm finally understanding this after reading another thread this morning. I did not get why people did not like prepaying the gratuities using MTD. We've not done MTD before and having that option sounded really good to us this cruise. Prepaying wasn't a big deal, we have to pay it so now or later isn't an issue. What has now hit me is that we have OBC and of course we would have used that.

 

So now what can we do with the OBC? We don't drink, or buy soft drinks or coffee, I'm not a shopper or buy things onboard, what can we use the OBC for? Can we use it for excursions? Anything else?

Any thing that you charge on your Seapass.

[Ocean Boy]

Any expense incurred onboard can be covered by OBC. You can cash the OBC out in the Casino for 5% fee. Forcing MTD guests to pay gratuities with final payment and not treat them equally to fixed timed dining guests (who CAN use OBC) is one of my biggest hangups with Royal.

 

They either need to treat MTD guests the same as fixed time dining, or remove the option to use OBC to pay gratuities altogether IMO (which will never happen)

 

I wonder if RCI's ultimate repsonse to this issue would ever be to charge everyone up front for gratuities instead of letting fixed time diners have the option to have them added to their seapass accounts? That would prevent any OBC from ever being used to pay gratuities.

 

And no, before anyone jumps on me I am not advocating that RCI do this. I just raise the possibility as a thought.

[InsideCruiser]

You can certainly do this.

However MTD may or may not still be available when you get on the ship.

 

Understood, thanks.

 

I know this will sound odd but we will have trouble spending $200 OBC. No gambling, no drinking, no onboard shopping, no ships excursions. Maybe the beverage package with the specialty coffees. :p

 

Might be worth switching to fixed time, but I do enjoy MTD ... :(

[Clarea]

I'm baffled about this as well. With everyone now being automatically charged gratuities every night, why still make MTD guests pay their gratuities 75 days early?

I'm guessing that it has something to do with the ability to remove daily tips. Probably they (better than anyone) know their limitations in the IT department and don't trust that they could keep track of who has MTD and who doesn't with regard to removing daily tips.

[LMaxwell]

Understood, thanks.

 

I know this will sound odd but we will have trouble spending $200 OBC. No gambling, no drinking, no onboard shopping, no ships excursions. Maybe the beverage package with the specialty coffees. :p

 

Might be worth switching to fixed time, but I do enjoy MTD ... :(

 

Just go to the Casino on the first night and cash out in that case.

[Ocean Boy]

Understood, thanks.

 

I know this will sound odd but we will have trouble spending $200 OBC. No gambling, no drinking, no onboard shopping, no ships excursions. Maybe the beverage package with the specialty coffees. :p

 

Might be worth switching to fixed time, but I do enjoy MTD ... :(

 

It doesn't sound the slightest bit odd. If you want to tell us where you got the OBC from we may be able to tell you if you can simply have it refunded to you and then you won't have to worry about this matter.

[sunsetbeachgal]

We tried to switch from traditional to my time the first day we boarded, and were told it was full.

 

I also do not care to prepay gratuities for service that hasn't been provided.

Edited June 11, 2014 by sunsetbeachgal

[Ocean Boy]

I'm guessing that it has something to do with the ability to remove daily tips. Probably they (better than anyone) know their limitations in the IT department and don't trust that they could keep track of who has MTD and who doesn't with regard to removing daily tips.

 

Seriously? You think RCI knows the limitations of its IT department??:rolleyes::rolleyes::eek::eek:

[InsideCruiser]

It doesn't sound the slightest bit odd. If you want to tell us where you got the OBC from we may be able to tell you if you can simply have it refunded to you and then you won't have to worry about this matter.

 

WOW sale. :mad:

 

But I just read through the thread more carefully and noticed the option to cash out at the casino for a 5% charge.

 

Problem solved. Convert $200 OBC into $190 cash and keep MTD. :D

 

Thanks CC!

[LMaxwell]

I'm guessing that it has something to do with the ability to remove daily tips. Probably they (better than anyone) know their limitations in the IT department and don't trust that they could keep track of who has MTD and who doesn't with regard to removing daily tips.

 

Do you really believe that Bob? They can track people pretty well in regards to spending and what benefits they have, selections they have made, etc. They won't even give guests proof of OBC they have (unless you know exactly what type of invoice to ask for and from who) but don't seem to have a problem delivering that OBC. I'm not saying you are wrong or inaccurate, your guess is valid as anyone elses, I just don't buy that this would be a bigger issue for IT than any other type of interaction.

 

I don't think it has to do with removing tips. I think it's all about "the float". RCI wants money up front. The more money they get up front the better their quarterly reports look. If everyone booked specialty dining ahead of time and paid, that's pure profit because it is months ahead of time and they haven't incurred the expense of even purchasing the food or paying out the gratuity to staff. RCI, and other cruise lines, love to make the guests their bank. Which is fine. It's a business. Doesn't mean we all love the idea though.

 

Frankly, that is why I find the discrepancy between MTD and fixed time guests in how they are treated to be so off putting. It can't be rocket surgery for their IT team.

[molly361]

WOW sale. :mad:

 

But I just read through the thread more carefully and noticed the option to cash out at the casino for a 5% charge.

 

Problem solved. Convert $200 OBC into $190 cash and keep MTD. :D

 

Thanks CC!

 

There you go!!!! That's the way to do it. That OBC would be non-refundable, use it or lose it.

[Ocean Boy]

WOW sale. :mad:

 

But I just read through the thread more carefully and noticed the option to cash out at the casino for a 5% charge.

 

Problem solved. Convert $200 OBC into $190 cash and keep MTD. :D

 

Thanks CC!

 

Good plan!:)