How much do you spend?

[dennisamor]

18 percent gratuity ... even when you open your own cabin fridge and take out a drink. Don't know about you, but I reckon this is a blatant rip-off! Akin to squeezing every last cent out of you that RCI can get away with :mad:

[DISFANS3]

If you get good service, extra tip....

[XForeverYoursX]

Dennisamor, tipping a bartender 18% isn't a rip off. They get paid pennies

 

 

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[marci22]

Dennisamor, tipping a bartender 18% isn't a rip off. They get paid pennies

 

Then tip what you like. Why are you asking for opinions?

[travelin_nat]

Try calling Royal and ask them about pre-paying the tips. If they can't handle it for you (which they should) they will tell you how. Like others, we add extra bar tips to the receipts. We bring extra cash for our cabin steward and wait staff. I don't worry about head waiter, etc. I've never paid cash for anything on the ship (with the exception of the gratuities I mentioned). I always assumed you have to pay for everything with your sea pass card - I must have been mistaken.

 

How much you spend is completely up to you - you can spend thousands, or you can spend next to nothing - just depends how disciplined you are. :) You will be able to keep an eye on your expenses on your tv so you don't have an unpleasant surprise at the end of the cruise.

[dreadpirate3]

Don't worry, it won't cost you $1000, unless you gamble more than you think! Besides the $55 gratuity, you will want to have some extra $1.00 bills on hand for your favorite bartenders and some extra $5-10 for your waiters and cabin Steward, as they work so hard and you will want to adopt them into your family by time it is over, you'll see! Also depending on what your excursions are, or on your own, cab fare, etc. I usually don't spend more than $100 on a 4 day cruise if that! Enjoy!

 

This is what we do, at least $40 between our waiters and steward in addition to the prepaid gratuities.

[MizDemeanor]

Do what is 'right' for you. What anyone else does is irrelevant and runs the gammut from take tips to zero to tip to dot.dot.dot.

 

If you want to do what might be right to the staff, then accept the prepaid gratuities and the gratuies included in Beverage and Dining and don't go to guest relations to have anything removed.

 

If you want to reward personalized and/or exceptional service to you percceived to be over and above the 'pool' that is included in the daily gratuities noted above....

 

Then do as you wish and dot.dot.dot....:)

 

If you are looking for suggestions for dot.dot.dot....just ask.

[kalliekae]

We have always said that one can spend as much as they want or as little as they want. Since we prepay our specialty dining, excursions, tips, and water package, we don't usually have to bring too much cash. On our last cruise, we still had $100 OBC on the last night so we booked Izumi and made sure we had drinks to use it up. We never go to the casino or spa. You will need singles for tipping room service if you use it. We always bring extra money for our cabin attendant, porters, cabbies, and extra money to use in ports. Keep track of what you are spending via the account listing on your cabin TV and you won't overspend. Most of all, enjoy your first cruise!

[LMaxwell]

If you bought a drinks package you have already been charged a gratuity based on the price of the package.

 

Your daily gratuity for cabin and dining services is automatically charged.

 

If you feel someone provides excellent service you can give them extra cash. If the service is standard, you decide if it warrants extra. You're in the service industry so you'll be able to tell.

 

Senor Frogs is a rip off; skip. You can find MUCH better places that aren't a tourist trap for less money.

 

Gambling is entirely up to you to budget for.

[cruzin76]

I'm a server so 18% really is the minimum I normally tip. I'm not needy but i reward great service.

 

I booked through Expedia :/

 

 

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Unless you are in a suite 13.50 will be charged daily to your account whether you prepay or not. That is for room service and food service, We all know that is not 18 percent. Let your heart be your guide,