gliles Posted August 24, 2017 #1 Share Posted August 24, 2017 I know, you are all grabbing your popcorn. The deal we got with our TA said "Tips Included" and we are leaving from Australia so now I am wondering if that's the same as Prepaid tips? The whole Australia thing confuses me and it's an online TA and while I am really happy with them and have been for many cruises, I am not sure they understand my question and I'd like your thoughts. We are generally overtippers in our home life and on cruises we never remove the auto tips and we tip extra for every drink and meal and of course room service as well as daily for the room but we also like to try to pay for everything big in advance so we come back with no vacation debt like we did when we were younger. Feels good. So can anyone explain to me the deal with the tips for Australia cruises? We are US and our TA is US. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 24, 2017 #2 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Ask the TA for Royal's Guest Copy of your booking confirmation. That should confirm if you have prepaid tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliles Posted August 24, 2017 Author #3 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Ask the TA for Royal's Guest Copy of your booking confirmation. That should confirm if you have prepaid tips. I have that and it says "Tips Included" but I can't really discern if that's the same as prepaid. I just want to plan appropriately. Thanks though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 24, 2017 #4 Share Posted August 24, 2017 I have that and it says "Tips Included" but I can't really discern if that's the same as prepaid. I just want to plan appropriately. Thanks though. This is Royal's invoice, not a travel agent's? If so, I've not seen that terminology. Could be it's different for Australian cruises. Could be tips are included in the price of the cruise and not a separate line item. If it's really Royal's invoice, then the tips are included and you've got nothing to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crzndeb Posted August 24, 2017 #5 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Does the cruise originate and end in Australia? Normally on ships there, the gratuity is built into the fare, since Australia is normally a non tipping country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted August 24, 2017 #6 Share Posted August 24, 2017 This is Royal's invoice, not a travel agent's? If so, I've not seen that terminology. Could be it's different for Australian cruises. Could be tips are included in the price of the cruise and not a separate line item. If it's really Royal's invoice, then the tips are included and you've got nothing to worry about. We always book through our local TA and pay prepaid gratuitys. On the RC confirmation it actually shows the £amount we have paid under prepaid gratuitys. There has never been any confusion and RC have never tried to add on autotips on the ship so they obviously have a system in place that they know who has prepaid their tips. Sent from my Kestrel using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BekkaW Posted August 24, 2017 #7 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Yes it's different in Australia. The published cruise fare already includes full gratuities. For example in the US it might say (I'm making up the numbers) Cruise Fare $1500 Gratuities $500 Total = $2000 In Australia it will say Cruise Fare $2000 *Service charges for dining staff and stateroom attendants are included in your fare But this is usually only for cruises booked in Australia, priced in Australian dollars. I'm a bit surprised that you're getting this from a US agent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 24, 2017 #8 Share Posted August 24, 2017 ... But this is usually only for cruises booked in Australia, priced in Australian dollars. I'm a bit surprised that you're getting this from a US agent This part was my confusion. I've also never heard that with a cruise priced in USD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redrobo Posted August 24, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 24, 2017 "Tips included" is just a different way of saying Pre Paid tips . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted August 24, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 24, 2017 That's right...since Australians don't normally "tip", they include the cost of the gratuities INTO your fare, so you don't have to think about it. You're good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted August 24, 2017 #11 Share Posted August 24, 2017 It will be real obvious on the second day if/when the grats show up on your bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaflamingo Posted August 24, 2017 #12 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Seems to me that "tips included" means that the cruise fare or promotion includes tips. "Prepaid" tips are separate because you are actually paying them, they aren't part of the promotion of fare. Reading the OP's post, it appears that they were booked under a promotion that included gratuities. I would take the invoice with me that shows payment and promotion and includes the words "tips included" and if they try adding tips to the daily account, show them the invoice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann2 Posted August 24, 2017 #13 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Yes it's different in Australia. The published cruise fare already includes full gratuities. For example in the US it might say (I'm making up the numbers) Cruise Fare $1500 Gratuities $500 Total = $2000 In Australia it will say Cruise Fare $2000 *Service charges for dining staff and stateroom attendants are included in your fare But this is usually only for cruises booked in Australia, priced in Australian dollars. I'm a bit surprised that you're getting this from a US agent Seems some lines are doing this also for cruises booked in Europe. Wish everyone did this. Service Charge - Costa Germany - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifesaver1984 Posted August 25, 2017 #14 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Your minimum tips are included in your fare. I've done two cruises, both where I voluntarily "prepaid" tips. Read this as I could have gone to Guest Services and removed them. The recent change in Australia means that these "prepaid" tips are included as part of the cruise fare so in theory you can't go and get them removed. In theory. I haven't (and wouldn't) attempt it myself. Don't be alarmed, all your tips are covered. If you wish to tip above RCL's "suggested" tips that you have already paid for, go ahead. I'm sure the crew would love it Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now