DISFANS3 Posted June 8, 2017 #1 Share Posted June 8, 2017 We will be going on the RCI Freedom in Jan 2018. I am looking to Prepay all tips this cruise. Is there a set rate you pay for each service - Housekeeping , Dinning ?? Just like to know correct amount per person.. Also if you Prepay do they pull the envelops out of your Cabin?? Thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbelc Posted June 8, 2017 #2 Share Posted June 8, 2017 We just tell our travel planner to add prepaid tips. If you booked through the cruise line, call customer service and ask for a breakdown. It's standard. Or you can just google it. They still put the envelopes in your stateroom in case you want to give a little extra to folks. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted June 8, 2017 #3 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Or you could ask on the RCI board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted June 9, 2017 #4 Share Posted June 9, 2017 Rates on gratuities are based on stateroom type. Sent from my SGH-M919 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbelc Posted June 9, 2017 #5 Share Posted June 9, 2017 Standard Cabin tips as of 5/1/2017 on RCI are $13.50 per person per day. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbelc Posted June 9, 2017 #6 Share Posted June 9, 2017 That is, per CRUISER per day. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted June 9, 2017 #7 Share Posted June 9, 2017 That is, per CRUISER per day. Sent from my iPad using Forums Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEGL Posted June 10, 2017 #8 Share Posted June 10, 2017 So questions about the prepaid for the drink packages. Do you still tip when you get drinks? How does that work cause when you sign the receipt it has a line for you to write in a tip. If you don't tip you look an ass but they don't know you prepaid the tips. I know last year when did the deluxe package it included the gratuity, however every time my husband got a drink he tipped. In the end I think we paid another $100+ in tips just for drinks. He was just getting whiskey on the rock - nothing fancy. How does everyone else handle that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisePack842 Posted June 12, 2017 #9 Share Posted June 12, 2017 So questions about the prepaid for the drink packages. Do you still tip when you get drinks? How does that work cause when you sign the receipt it has a line for you to write in a tip. If you don't tip you look an ass but they don't know you prepaid the tips.I know last year when did the deluxe package it included the gratuity, however every time my husband got a drink he tipped. In the end I think we paid another $100+ in tips just for drinks. He was just getting whiskey on the rock - nothing fancy. How does everyone else handle that? Through your cruise card, does the bartender know you have a package, therefore shouldn't charged? Or is there a wrist band you wear? I'm looking into a package on my up-coming HAL cruise. Leaning towards not getting one, having a bottle of Jim Beam delivered to our cabin, to off-set some of the bar expense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbelc Posted June 12, 2017 #10 Share Posted June 12, 2017 No wristbands and no Jim Beam in the room. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisePack842 Posted June 13, 2017 #11 Share Posted June 13, 2017 No wristbands and no Jim Beam in the room. Sent from my iPad using Forums Uh oh, I thought JB was the designated bourbon HAL delivers. Is it something better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted June 13, 2017 #12 Share Posted June 13, 2017 So questions about the prepaid for the drink packages. Do you still tip when you get drinks? How does that work cause when you sign the receipt it has a line for you to write in a tip. If you don't tip you look an ass but they don't know you prepaid the tips.I know last year when did the deluxe package it included the gratuity, however every time my husband got a drink he tipped. In the end I think we paid another $100+ in tips just for drinks. He was just getting whiskey on the rock - nothing fancy. How does everyone else handle that? RCCL adds 18% gratuities for each drink ordered. With that, I don't give additional tip for my ordered drink. Bar staff gets their added income from gratuities generated by the bar. They are not included in the daily gratuities charges according to bartenders I talked with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted June 13, 2017 #13 Share Posted June 13, 2017 If you buy a drink package, 18% is added to the cost of the package, so no additional tip is needed. We don't tip additionally per drink, but if we sit at a bar for a long time, we will tip a couple bucks when we leave. An additional $1 for each drink is a bit of "overkill", IMO! (Remember, you've already tipped 18%!!) That $13.50 pp per day covers your cabin attendant, waiters, ass't waiters and head waiters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisePack842 Posted June 14, 2017 #14 Share Posted June 14, 2017 That's great info. I wasn't sure how the tipping worked. I think HAL is 15%. Is everything else above the same with HAL, as far as who gets the daily gratuity, etc? Correct me if I'm wrong, but when I'm at the bar, I hand him my cruise card, and it gets charged to that? Would the drink package be embedded on it too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbelc Posted June 14, 2017 #15 Share Posted June 14, 2017 Yes. Your card is really all you need to buy anything on board, including shore excursions, spa, shopping from stores, non-included food/drink. People even use it in the casino. I use cash in the casino. It's acceptable. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEGL Posted June 19, 2017 #16 Share Posted June 19, 2017 If you buy a drink package, 18% is added to the cost of the package, so no additional tip is needed. We don't tip additionally per drink, but if we sit at a bar for a long time, we will tip a couple bucks when we leave. An additional $1 for each drink is a bit of "overkill", IMO! (Remember, you've already tipped 18%!!) That $13.50 pp per day covers your cabin attendant, waiters, ass't waiters and head waiters. I agree. We got in a bit of a fight about it while on board after like day 4 when I found out he had already tipped $83 ON TOP of what we already tipped with the 18% gratuity. By the end of the cruise we spent over $100 on additional drink tips. He said he feels rude if he doesnt add in a tip to the receipt he signs, and I get that to a degree. I know we are not the only ones not tipping (since we already tipped with the added 18% gratuity) but just wondering what most people do so I can tell him, lol. He adds a tip for every drink he orders even though he knows it was already paid when we got the package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisePack842 Posted June 27, 2017 #17 Share Posted June 27, 2017 (edited) So I'm getting that, unless you buy a drink package, tipping the bartender directly is the only way they get tips. Then if you have a package, does a receipt even need to be printed out? Maybe a receipt that just shows me how many drinks I have left on my package? Is 15 usual allotment, per person, per day? Edited June 27, 2017 by cruisePack842 clarity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIJOY Posted July 20, 2017 #18 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Does the $13.50 cover room service? I always give a tip but am curious if the people bringing room service got part of the Gratuity pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisePack842 Posted July 25, 2017 #19 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Does the $13.50 cover room service? I always give a tip but am curious if the people bringing room service got part of the Gratuity pool. Yes, I'd like to get an answer too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maven3 Posted July 25, 2017 #20 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Does the $13.50 cover room service? I always give a tip but am curious if the people bringing room service got part of the Gratuity pool. No, the $13.50 does not cover food brought to your room. Tips for room service are usually done with cash. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenf70 Posted July 26, 2017 #21 Share Posted July 26, 2017 We will be going on the RCI Freedom in Jan 2018. I am looking to Prepay all tips this cruise. Is there a set rate you pay for each service - Housekeeping , Dinning ?? Just like to know correct amount per person.. Also if you Prepay do they pull the envelops out of your Cabin?? Thanks... We are cruising Oasis of the Seas in January 2018...I've added my gratuities to my reservation and was told $94.50 for 7 days ($13.50 daily). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maven3 Posted August 11, 2017 #22 Share Posted August 11, 2017 We are cruising Oasis of the Seas in January 2018...I've added my gratuities to my reservation and was told $94.50 for 7 days ($13.50 daily). RCCL charges $13.50 pp/day in a regular cabin, $16.50 pp/day in a suite. It has been my experience recently that they are only leaving one or two envelopes, your room steward will give you more if you ask. Their website tells you the breakdown, there is also a list of employees that the tips go to on the cruise contract. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisePack842 Posted August 23, 2017 #23 Share Posted August 23, 2017 RCCL charges $13.50 pp/day in a regular cabin, $16.50 pp/day in a suite. It has been my experience recently that they are only leaving one or two envelopes, your room steward will give you more if you ask. Their website tells you the breakdown, there is also a list of employees that the tips go to on the cruise contract. Sent from my iPad using Forums My HAL contract does not address tipping, but I did see elsewhere that the per day tip goes to room stewards, waitstaff, and all the rest of the crew we don't see or interact with. Does not include bartenders, but my drink package covers them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maven3 Posted August 23, 2017 #24 Share Posted August 23, 2017 My HAL contract does not address tipping, but I did see elsewhere that the per day tip goes to room stewards, waitstaff, and all the rest of the crew we don't see or interact with. Does not include bartenders, but my drink package covers them. Yes, the drink packages cover the minimum tips. If you are going to use one bar a lot, if you add an extra dollar or two, you will generally receive faster, better service. Sent from my SM-G900P using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted August 23, 2017 #25 Share Posted August 23, 2017 AFAIK RCI includes 18% in the per drink price also. And room service, except continental breakfast, is not longer free unless you are in a suite (not Jr Suite). I am not sure if a tip is included in the $7.95 room service charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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