US cruiser cruising on Royal out of Southampton questions

[Docbizarro]

I’m from the US but will be leaving on a Mediterranean cruise leaving out of Southampton, England next month (Independence - RCCL). I have a few questions

 

1) What currency should I be tipping on board when I wish to tip extra in cash? (USD, euros, pounds?)

 

2) What currency is accepted in the casino? I know typically you’ve had to use cash so how does this work in this situation?

 

3) What are some of the earliest times people have been able to board on embarkation day?

 

4) I’ll be staying at the Holiday Inn in Southampton, can you walk from the holiday inn to the ship?

 

5) Is it customary to tip the porters you drop off your bags with when boarding the ship from a UK sailing? If so, how many pounds?

 

6) What currency will prices on board be listed as?

 

7) it’s my understanding that sailings from the UK include the gratuity in the listed price of drinks (as in it’s built in), how would the drink package work in this case? Typically on a freedom class ship has a max of $12 covered by the package, how would this work with them listing the prices with the included gratuity?

 

thank you!

[MicCanberra]

4 hours ago, Docbizarro said:

I’m from the US but will be leaving on a Mediterranean cruise leaving out of Southampton, England next month (Independence - RCCL). I have a few questions

 

1) What currency should I be tipping on board when I wish to tip extra in cash? (USD, euros, pounds?) Whatever you like, they will except anything but the on board currency will be USD.

 

2) What currency is accepted in the casino? I know typically you’ve had to use cash so how does this work in this situation?

USD as per usual or from a casino account which can have money transferred into it from your on board account

3) What are some of the earliest times people have been able to board on embarkation day? 10am, my experience was on the Navigator though.

 

4) I’ll be staying at the Holiday Inn in Southampton, can you walk from the holiday inn to the ship? It depends on which dock the Indy will be at but if the usual one for Royal, then yes, 

 

5) Is it customary to tip the porters you drop off your bags with when boarding the ship from a UK sailing? If so, how many pounds? I put our bags on the conveyor belt myself, so didn't tip. tipping in the UK is not customary but I am sure they would accept it.

 

6) What currency will prices on board be listed as? USD

 

7) it’s my understanding that sailings from the UK include the gratuity in the listed price of drinks (as in it’s built in), how would the drink package work in this case? Typically on a freedom class ship has a max of $12 covered by the package, how would this work with them listing the prices with the included gratuity? The same cocktails and drinks would be included, (probably around $14 now) just ask the bar staff if the drink you want is included or not.

 

thank you!

See my comments, enjoy.

[John Bull]

11 hours ago, Docbizarro said:

I’m from the US but will be leaving on a Mediterranean cruise leaving out of Southampton, England next month (Independence - RCCL). I have a few questions

 

1) What currency should I be tipping on board when I wish to tip extra in cash? (USD, euros, pounds?)

Unless it's the end of the ship's Southampton season, any of those currencies - a good way to use up unspent £ or €

 

2) What currency is accepted in the casino? I know typically you’ve had to use cash so how does this work in this situation?

Don't use it, but pretty certain it' USD.

 

3) What are some of the earliest times people have been able to board on embarkation day?

Usually about 11.30, but you might be lucky

 

4) I’ll be staying at the Holiday Inn in Southampton, can you walk from the holiday inn to the ship?

Yes, about 300 yards. And if your hotel room  is at the back it'll overlook terminal & ship. (Southampton has 4 terminals spread along the waterfront, this applies only to City cruise terminal - RCI, Celebrity, NCL, and a few others.)

 

5) Is it customary to tip the porters you drop off your bags with when boarding the ship from a UK sailing? If so, how many pounds?

No. Nor elsewhere in Europe.

 

6) What currency will prices on board be listed as?

USD.

 

7) it’s my understanding that sailings from the UK include the gratuity in the listed price of drinks (as in it’s built in), how would the drink package work in this case? Typically on a freedom class ship has a max of $12 covered by the package, how would this work with them listing the prices with the included gratuity?

Yes, no grats added to drinks prices. Can't help re packages.

 

thank you!

 

And because RCI knows that we Brits like our early-morning cuppa tea, on sailings out of Southampton your cabin will have a kettle and tea-makings. But no coffee in the cabin, RCI don't seem to know that a lot of us prefer an early-morning coffee - so bring a jar of your favourite instant (or steal decaff sachets from the buffet)

 

JB