Tipping Question

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Lady Hudson said:

That is true.  However, crew have told me that if the auto grats are removed, they are required to report any cash tips.  What happens from there, who knows.  Crew have also told me that they are getting more $ in grats since the auto tips were put in place so they like them.   But to each his own.  I will continue to have my gratuities put on my credit card account and give some extra tips the last day.  Katherine 

I agree with you.

Prepay or auto-pay gratuities is the best and most convenient way as that is what the crew and RC want then if anyone is outstanding if you want to give them a cash tip to show your appreciation.

 

[vacationlover_mn]

On 3/19/2019 at 12:36 PM, sft429 said:

Hard to get the employees to genuflect when you don't hand over the tips in person.  

?? Wow.

[katiel53]

10 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

I fully admit that I stopped reading around page 4.  But I only have one question...and I don't really care what you tip or how you tip.... but WHY does anyone want to carry hundreds of dollars in cash around to tip the crew when all you need to do is keep it on your account, or prepay?  I mean, when I go to a cruise and fly, I always go a few days early.  I have to carry enough cash for other expenses, why carry an extra $200 or more for tips when you don't have to?    And then if you end up not bringing enough, do you pay the high ATM fees on the ship?  Spend your last shore day searching out a bank to get extra cash?  Take an advance on your credit card?  And why spend ANY of my cruise in the Guest Services line when not needed?  

We cruised prior to AutoTips.  It was a total pain to make sure we carried enough cash to cover all the tips.  But, to each his own.  

As I stated previously, so far I haven't removed my tips and I don't carry around a lot of cash.  I do use the ATM as my bank reimburses me for any/all ATM charges and I need cash to play in the casino as well as the additional tips I give out.  I am not taking out cash advances on a credit card, just money out of my checking account.

 

It's not any problem for me to go to the ATM onboard to get cash, so not everyone fits into your description.

Edited March 22, 2019 by katiel53

[sft429]

15 minutes ago, vacationlover_mn said:

?? Wow.

 

Oh for heaven's sake.  The discussion after that post about sarcasm and irony didn't explain it?  

[Lady Hudson]

35 minutes ago, katiel53 said:

As I stated previously, so far I haven't removed my tips and I don't carry around a lot of cash.  I do use the ATM as my bank reimburses me for any/all ATM charges and I need cash to play in the casino as well as the additional tips I give out.  I am not taking out cash advances on a credit card, just money out of my checking account.

 

It's not any problem for me to go to the ATM onboard to get cash, so not everyone fits into your description.

 

I would be worried about getting caught off guard if the ATM is not working.  It has happened.

[katiel53]

32 minutes ago, Lady Hudson said:

 

I would be worried about getting caught off guard if the ATM is not working.  It has happened.

Then I guess I might be better off not being able to play in the casino because I won't give them 5% to use my credit card, lol.

[clean1owner]

13 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

I fully admit that I stopped reading around page 4.  But I only have one question...and I don't really care what you tip or how you tip.... but WHY does anyone want to carry hundreds of dollars in cash around to tip the crew when all you need to do is keep it on your account, or prepay?  I mean, when I go to a cruise and fly, I always go a few days early.  I have to carry enough cash for other expenses, why carry an extra $200 or more for tips when you don't have to?    And then if you end up not bringing enough, do you pay the high ATM fees on the ship?  Spend your last shore day searching out a bank to get extra cash?  Take an advance on your credit card?  And why spend ANY of my cruise in the Guest Services line when not needed?  

We cruised prior to AutoTips.  It was a total pain to make sure we carried enough cash to cover all the tips.  But, to each his own.  

 

A couple $100 bills takes up virtually no space in my pocket. If I'm already carrying $500-$1000 in cash for the trip, another $200 is nothing.

I don't schedule my time so tightly that I can't afford 1-2 minutes at Guest services. I probably walk past the desk 50 times over the coarse of the trip. Also, on the last night, they have piles of tipping envelopes just sitting on a table. Might take all of 5 seconds to grab a few.

[clean1owner]

12 hours ago, Lady Hudson said:

  I remember the days of sitting on the bed with various envelopes trying to get the right amount in each envelope.  The memory is not a fond one.  Katherine

 

 

I remember it taking less than 2 minutes and no problem whatsoever. 

[clean1owner]

3 hours ago, Lady Hudson said:

 

I would be worried about getting caught off guard if the ATM is not working.  It has happened.

 

 

The lady doth worry too much, methinks.

[Lady Hudson]

Yup!  I am a worrier. 😁

[papaflamingo]

22 hours ago, springfire said:

I am on vacation, I always bring extra cash with me.  Having extra tip money for tips to give directly to the crew always works best for me.  I think it's great that you prefer to prepay or keep it on your account, it is all about your choice.   You make it sound difficult to pay in cash when it is a very easy thing to do.  I have never seen or heard anyone looking for a bank or taking out a cash advance for a credit card to pay tips.  I would not be surprised if someone used one o those high fee ATM machines, I am always surprised to see people pay those fees.

Sorry, guess you misunderstand.  I don't like carrying hundreds of dollars around on vacation if I can avoid it.  The Auto tip allows me to avoid it.  I do carry some cash for extra tips as I feel warranted.  But I don't like to have to have a few hundred for standard tips, cash for cabs, etc.  Cash for tours, drinks on shore, shopping, incidentals, etc.  Just my choice as you said.  I've got better things to do on a cruise than stand in line at Guest Services to have the tips removed, pick up envelopes for everyone who deserves the standard tip, Searching out crew members who would share in the tip pool, etc.  Again, just my choice. If that's how you want to spend your vacation, knock yourself out.  
Serious question, I worry about having large amounts of cash on me when I travel.  Any tips on the most secure way to carry it? 

[holiday-shrek]

13 hours ago, Lady Hudson said:

 

I would be worried about getting caught off guard if the ATM is not working.  It has happened.

So what🙄

[papaflamingo]

17 hours ago, time4u2go said:

It's really not that difficult to do so.  To start with for that amount, it only requires bring on a couple of bills, then getting change as you need to...easily done.

Fair enough.  Of course I'd rather not stand in the line at Guest Services to change a couple of hundred dollar bills when I don't need to.  I'd rather enjoy the cruise.  We were on Allure last week.  The GS line was always long.  Guess we all have our priorities.  Oh yeah, I'd also rather not have large sums of cash, even if they're only a few hundred dollar bills, on me when I travel.  But that seems to just be my choice.  

[time4u2go]

1 minute ago, papaflamingo said:

Fair enough.  Of course I'd rather not stand in the line at Guest Services to change a couple of hundred dollar bills when I don't need to.  I'd rather enjoy the cruise.  We were on Allure last week.  The GS line was always long.  Guess we all have our priorities.  Oh yeah, I'd also rather not have large sums of cash, even if they're only a few hundred dollar bills, on me when I travel.  But that seems to just be my choice.  

You can also get change in the casino.

[papaflamingo]

14 hours ago, katiel53 said:

As I stated previously, so far I haven't removed my tips and I don't carry around a lot of cash.  I do use the ATM as my bank reimburses me for any/all ATM charges and I need cash to play in the casino as well as the additional tips I give out.  I am not taking out cash advances on a credit card, just money out of my checking account.

 

It's not any problem for me to go to the ATM onboard to get cash, so not everyone fits into your description.

I was just stating a generalization.  Honestly, I don't really care how you choose to pay tips.  If you want to hand cash to everyone, go for it.  I was simply suggesting that I don't like carrying around a lot of cash if there is anyway to avoid it, and I don't want to waste my cruise time in Guest Services line and I don't want to get caught short and have to go to an ATM or get a cash advance.  Just my choice.  It's your cruise, do as you like. 

[papaflamingo]

11 hours ago, clean1owner said:

 

A couple $100 bills takes up virtually no space in my pocket. If I'm already carrying $500-$1000 in cash for the trip, another $200 is nothing.

I don't schedule my time so tightly that I can't afford 1-2 minutes at Guest services. I probably walk past the desk 50 times over the coarse of the trip. Also, on the last night, they have piles of tipping envelopes just sitting on a table. Might take all of 5 seconds to grab a few.

Well I suppose I could put a couple of $100 bills in my pocket when walking around the ship so that when I happen to pass Guest Services and there is no line I can get the bills changed. 

Nah... I'd probably forget and jump in the pool with them in my pocket.  Think I'll just keep the auto tips in place and not have to worry about it. 

Edited March 23, 2019 by papaflamingo

[time4u2go]

3 minutes ago, papaflamingo said:

Well I suppose I could put a couple of $100 bills in my pocket when walking around the ship so that when I happen to pass Guest Services and there is no line I can get the bills changed. 

Nah... I'd probably forget and jump in the pool with them in my pocket.  Think I'll just keep the auto tips in place and not have to worry about it. 

You can also get change in the casino.

 

You're trying to make it sound like getting change is difficult and time consuming.  It's really not.

Edited March 23, 2019 by time4u2go

[papaflamingo]

6 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

You can also get change in the casino.

I understand that.  Again, I guess I'd rather simply not have to have cash on me while I'm traveling, and I'd rather not have to make the time to go change bills to split up tips to crew members when another, totally hassle free option, is available.  Not criticizing, just not my desires while on a cruise.  

[papaflamingo]

1 minute ago, time4u2go said:

You can also get change in the casino.

 

You're trying to make it sound like getting change is difficult and time consuming.  It's really not.

I never said it was difficult.  It's just unnecessary.  My bigger point is that when traveling, I try to carry as little cash as possible.  I use credit cards when I can and when traveling abroad I carry small amounts of local cash.  I'd rather pay the small ATM fee in Europe than walk around with large amounts of cash regardless of how many bills it is.  Even with a safe in a hotel room you still have travel to and from the hotel to carry  that cash securely.  My choice.  I have traveled extensively in various parts of the world.  Pickpockets are a concern in many countries.  I simply don't want the exposure when I can have the auto tips at no effort by me.   

In the "old days" when tips were not automatic, and foreign transaction fees on credit cards were high, we always carried the cash to the cruise.  More than once we'd find things we wanted to spend money on but didn't plan for, and we didn't bring enough cash, so we would have to either have a cash advance added to our bill or find an ATM.   So when autotips became the norm, it made it very easy.  I like "very easy" when on vacation.  Again..simply my choice. 

[clean1owner]

1 hour ago, papaflamingo said:

  
Serious question, I worry about having large amounts of cash on me when I travel.  Any tips on the most secure way to carry it? 

 

I split mine up between my checked bag, my carry on, and my front pocket.

[papaflamingo]

Just now, clean1owner said:

 

I split mine up between my checked bag, my carry on, and my front pocket.

Thanks.  

[masterdrago]

While reading through this old thread, as I'm looking for a way to prepay gratuity, I looked at the cruise vacation receipt on our upcoming trip. I see no line for gratuity but there is one for taxes, fees and port expenses - $392.38. Would that line include our $18.50/pp/pday room gratuity of $259? Or is the gratuity added to our suite cost on a daily basis?

[brillohead]

3 minutes ago, masterdrago said:

While reading through this old thread, as I'm looking for a way to prepay gratuity, I looked at the cruise vacation receipt on our upcoming trip. I see no line for gratuity but there is one for taxes, fees and port expenses - $392.38. Would that line include our $18.50/pp/pday room gratuity of $259? Or is the gratuity added to our suite cost on a daily basis?

The gratuity will be added to your on-board account daily unless you call (Royal if booked directly, your Travel Agent if you used one) and pay the gratuity in advance.  It will be a separate line item on your booking invoice.  If you pay it in advance, it won't be charged to your account daily on the ship.  

I don't pay mine in advance because I use my OBC to cover part of the cost.  Then I just pay the difference that my OBC didn't cover at the end of the cruise.

[masterdrago]

11 minutes ago, brillohead said:

The gratuity will be added to your on-board account daily unless you call (Royal if booked directly, your Travel Agent if you used one) and pay the gratuity in advance.  It will be a separate line item on your booking invoice.  If you pay it in advance, it won't be charged to your account daily on the ship.  

I don't pay mine in advance because I use my OBC to cover part of the cost.  Then I just pay the difference that my OBC didn't cover at the end of the cruise.

OBC. Excellent idea. We will have a large heaping of that due to total overspending on the RCI BOA credit card we got last June when we booked the cruise.  So if we want to call and prepay, we can or just let it get added daily. And I just found this...

"The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. As a way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience."

Edited May 4, 2019 by masterdrago

[brillohead]

OBC that is from RCI as part of the booking process (included with your cruise fare) can now be used in advance of the cruise to purchase things in the Cruise Planner (drink packages, excursions, etc.). 

Other OBC (from your Travel Agent, from the credit card, etc.) doesn't get added to your on-board account until after you start your cruise, so it can't be used for advance purchases in the Cruise Planner.  

I use OBC from Royal to pay towards my soda package or Wi-Fi before the trip, and then use the OBC from my travel agent to pay towards my gratuities on board.  I'm a "bad" customer in that I spend VERY little, if any, money during the cruise itself -- I organize my own port excursions, and don't buy merchandise or ship tours or classes or spa visits on the ship.