First timers: Dress, Tips, Which Line?

[Pentaxian78]

Hi

 

Am hoping for some advice regarding cruising.

 

At the moment we are looking around and are a little overwhelmed by how many different options there are and how little information is available on the various companies websites.

 

1. Is formal dress a must? The reason I ask is I get panic attacks when wearing a tie. Even if I leave top button open and lose fit the tie I struggle.
   
2. Do any lines do decent pricing for singles? Some that we have seen charge the same as for two people.
   
3. Why do cruise lines not pay there staff a decent wage and instead insist on passengers paying tips
   

 

Thanks

[Aquahound]

One, it sounds like NCL is the line for you.

 

Two, the wage thing is complicated and is mostly due to taxes and agent fees in the crew's home countries. Income earned from gratuities aren't taxed like salary, so the crew makes more money this way.

[navybankerteacher]

1 and 3 answered above. #2 requires an understanding of "decent", as well as what the cruise fare actually pays for.

 

The lines sell cabins, not bunks. So, if you travel alone you are still taking up a cabin, and not just the bunk and half the cabin. The lines often lose money, or just break even, on fares: their profit generally comes from on board spending - the same as much of the staff's compensation comes from tips. Neither on board spending or tips happen from the unoccupied half of a cabin sold to one person.

 

A "decent" fare is one you think is appropriate for the deal you are getting - do not confuse "decent" with "cheap" - the words have different meanings.

 

Finally, many lines offer single supplement fares at less than 200% of the individual fares. As with any other purchase, it pays to shop around.

[paul929207]

1. All lines offer an alternative for formal nights. Some don't have them. Others offer specialty restaurants and/or a buffet without formal dress.

 

A few ships have a few single cabins. A TA can help you find them.

 

2. you will find that hotels also charge the same for two people as for one person in a room.

[jocap]

There are single cabins on P&O's three large ships ( possibly on Princess which are the same build). Fred Olsen has some singles, as does Saga (but you have to be 50+). You could look at Cruise and Maritime, and NCL have a singles area..

All the UK ships have formal evenings, but you can eat in the buffet, or speciality restaurants, where the dress code doesn't count... you pay extra for specialities, ranging from £5 to £28.

Tipping isn't as burdensome on the UK ships; on Saga and Thomson it's included. No tipping on drinks.

Also there are a number of luxury ships where there's no formal dress code, and you might find a last minute reduced price on one of those...

[leaveitallbehind]

Contact a travel agency who specializes in cruises. They can best guide you to the cruise lines that best fit your preferences.

 

Most cruise lines charge their stateroom rates as hotels do, based on double occupancy. So if you are a solo cruiser you are charged the full / duoble occupance rate minus on person's taxes and other fees. Many cruise lines offer smaller single staterooms but the rate is still typcially higher than one persons rate would be with double occupancy, but less than the full single rate in a standard stateroom.

Aquahound best answered the wage question, but I will also add that the wage earned by most foreign born employees is typcially quite a bit higher than that which could be earned in their country, which is why so many choose the cruise industry for employment. The tips provide a suplement to that and that practice is an industry standard. The cruising public accepts that as part of the total cost of their cruise.

Edited June 26, 2016 by leaveitallbehind

[Quilting_Cruiser]

As previously posted, it sounds like NCL may be a good fit for you. There are no formal nights on NCL (they do have a couple nights called "Norwegians' Night Out" or something like that where some people will choose to dress up, but it's an option). In addition, the larger NCL ships have studio cabins. As previously pointed out, you don't pay 200% of the per person rate like you would if you booked a double-occupancy cabin. I've found it's usually about 150% and sometimes lower than that. Those in the studios have 24/7 access to the studio lounge where they can find peace and quiet as well as beverages and snacks. There's also a dedicated crew member who will arrange dining for solos who do not want to dine alone.

 

If you're really interested in solo cruising, take a look at the solo forum here on Cruise Critic where you'll find tons of information about solo cruising.

 

I won't even comment on the question about tips as it was explained well. Most of us just consider it part of the cost of cruising.

Edited June 26, 2016 by Quilting_Cruiser

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

There are a couple of NCL ships that have cabins for just 1 person. Also HAL's new Koningsdam has cabin for single cruisers.

Neither of these cruise require you do dress up for formal (gala) nights. Yes -- HAL no longer requires that men were a jacket and tie.

[cb at sea]

You don't have to wear a tie on ANY line....

 

Tips are how you show your appreciation for a "Job well done".. There is nothing weird about it. All the cruise lines now take care of it for you, so you don't have to "sully your hand" by giving those folks their tips. They will charge the tips to your account, and give them to the appropriate folks. No worries!

[Sauer-kraut]

You don't have to wear a tie on ANY line....

 

 

This is incorrect as Cunard specifies a necktie for MOST evenings or you are stuck in the buffet for dinner and in your cabin for the evening, a jacket is required for every evening, even informal evening.

[Dayenu]

Hi

 

 

[*]Why do cruise lines not pay there staff a decent wage and instead insist on passengers paying tips

 

Thanks

 

Do you know that your employer, or you if you own a business, pay taxes on payroll? Cruise companies found a way around it.

[OCruisers]

You'd probably be very happy with NCL. :)

[MsPoppadom]

...or Thomson (if you are from the UK), Royal Caribbean, Carnival etc. You don't have to dress up on formal nights. Long shirt and trousers is enough and if you want more casual there's always the buffet on the formal night.

 

Check out solo cruising threads but am pretty sure that in addition to single cabins (and supplements) there are some cruise lines that can match you with another solo traveller of the same sex and that way neither of you pays single supplement. Pretty sure it is Fred Olsen.

 

Like I said, check out single/solo cruising threads and speak to a cruise specialist TA :)