Different Type of Tipping Question

[Cruzin Grandma]

We generally pre-pay our tips so as not to have so many daily charges on our folio, however, on our up coming cruise we have a large amount of non-refundable OBC and would like to use that for tips.  Has anyone asked Passenger Service to charge your folio for the entire suggested amount at one time so as not to see daily charges?  I honestly do not want have to do the daily math to know how much OBC is remaining. Please do not let this escalate into a tipping debate or question my reasoning for this. Thanks in advance.

[nukesubsailor]

2 minutes ago, Cruzin Grandma said:

We generally pre-pay our tips so as not to have so many daily charges on our folio, however, on our up coming cruise we have a large amount of non-refundable OBC and would like to use that for tips.  Has anyone asked Passenger Service to charge your folio for the entire suggested amount at one time so as not to see daily charges?  I honestly do not want have to do the daily math to know how much OBC is remaining. Please do not let this escalate into a tipping debate or question my reasoning for this. Thanks in advance.

I doubt that the ship will change its bookkeeping program's daily accounting so that one passenger can avoid seeing daily charges.  Non-refundable OBC is used first to offset charges.  Your cruise personalizer credits and payments section tells you what the total gratuity cost will be for the cruise and how much non-refundable OBC you will have.  From that you can see if that non-refundable OBC will cover your total gratuity cost.  

There are things I would rather be doing on a cruise than auditing my folio every day.

[skynight]

If this is important to you just ask at passenger services. Personally I don't see the purpose. You can do the math yourself and you will know how much OBC you have for other expenses. 

[WisCruiser2]

You don't have to do the daily math, just check your account and the math is done for you. 

[frugaltravel]

2 hours ago, nukesubsailor said:

I doubt that the ship will change its bookkeeping program's daily accounting so that one passenger can avoid seeing daily charges.  Non-refundable OBC is used first to offset charges.  Your cruise personalizer credits and payments section tells you what the total gratuity cost will be for the cruise and how much non-refundable OBC you will have.  From that you can see if that non-refundable OBC will cover your total gratuity cost.  

There are things I would rather be doing on a cruise than auditing my folio every day.

I audit my account almost daily. It is very possible to get erroneous charges on your account and they can be settled much easier of you notice them early.

[richsea]

We've also prepaid our tips in the past to smooth out monthly payments. I don't know if they'll charge them all at once, but when you check your folio during the cruise, it should tell you what your debit or credit remaining is, so no need for math. 

Enjoy your cruise!

Edited October 18, 2019 by richsea

[voljeep]

32 minutes ago, richsea said:

We've also prepaid our tips in the past to smooth out monthly payments. I don't know if they'll charge them all at once, but when you check your folio during the cruise, it should tell you what your debit or credit remaining is, so no need for math. 

Enjoy your cruise!

I 'think' the math part is figuring out during the cruise how much 'more' is going to be deducted for the remaining days from the current showing balance ...

[satxdiver]

23 minutes ago, voljeep said:

I 'think' the math part is figuring out during the cruise how much 'more' is going to be deducted for the remaining days from the current showing balance ...

 

Very true with the daily gratuities being added every late day.  With the advent of putting the folio on my smart phone, I watch the folio several times every day particularly after I buy something to make sure the amount posted was what I purchased.  They do make errors and it is easier to catch them immediately.    

[Pierlesscruisers]

4 hours ago, Cruzin Grandma said:

We generally pre-pay our tips so as not to have so many daily charges on our folio, however, on our up coming cruise we have a large amount of non-refundable OBC and would like to use that for tips.  Has anyone asked Passenger Service to charge your folio for the entire suggested amount at one time so as not to see daily charges?  I honestly do not want have to do the daily math to know how much OBC is remaining. Please do not let this escalate into a tipping debate or question my reasoning for this. Thanks in advance.

 

While I doubt that they'll do the "one time charge" thing you want done with your gratuities since their set-up has it done daily by computer, what will happen is at the end of the cruise, they will add up all of the charges (e.g. gratuities, purchases, excursions, etc.) into one total sum, they will then subtract the total of all the non-refundable OBC from that total sum of charges. If there is still an amount due, they will then subtract the total of all the refundable OBC from the amount still due. If there is still an amount due, it will be charged to your credit card. If, however, you still have refundable OBC left over, a check will be sent to you (or if the amount is under $25, you can go to Guest Services the morning you leave the ship and pick up what is left there.

 

Tom

[frugaltravel]

Are those who prepay tips to "even out the payments" just undisciplined enough to put money into a savings account and not spend it? I can't think of another reason but would love to hear others' thoughts.

[voljeep]

24 minutes ago, frugaltravel said:

Are those who prepay tips to "even out the payments" just undisciplined enough to put money into a savings account and not spend it? I can't think of another reason but would love to hear others' thoughts.

we pre-pay the gratuities if it is not a provided perk ...

 

with much soul searching, and sleepless nights ... we decided to forego the 3 cents earned in our passbook savings account ...

 

now ... letting the IRS have a no-interest loan by getting a refund ... well, that's totally unacceptable !!

[frugaltravel]

10 minutes ago, voljeep said:

we pre-pay the gratuities if it is not a provided perk ...

 

with much soul searching, and sleepless nights ... we decided to forego the 3 cents earned in our passbook savings account ...

 

now ... letting the IRS have a no-interest loan by getting a refund ... well, that's totally unacceptable !!

So you are saying there is no rhyme or reason? I can accept that.

[voljeep]

8 minutes ago, frugaltravel said:

So you are saying there is no rhyme or reason? I can accept that.

it's strictly personal Sonny, nothing to do with business ...with apologies to the Mario Puzo...

 

and depends on how much OBC we have ...

[CynCyn]

5 hours ago, frugaltravel said:

Are those who prepay tips to "even out the payments" just undisciplined enough to put money into a savings account and not spend it? I can't think of another reason but would love to hear others' thoughts.

I just like to know that everything is covered and I can just enjoy my vacation.  I usually make the payment a few weeks before I cruise when I purchase my water.

[cruzsnooze]

4 hours ago, CynCyn said:

I just like to know that everything is covered and I can just enjoy my vacation.  I usually make the payment a few weeks before I cruise when I purchase my water.

Put the amount you have in excess on a slot machine via your room charge. Play a few dollars in the casino and then cash out.

[geoherb]

9 hours ago, frugaltravel said:

Are those who prepay tips to "even out the payments" just undisciplined enough to put money into a savings account and not spend it? I can't think of another reason but would love to hear others' thoughts.

 

Sometimes people from other countries prepay to take advantage of a favorable exchange rate.

[NSWP]

A little birdie told me some pax are going to Customer Services on board and removing the 18% service charge on drinks they have purchased in the ship's bars and dining rooms, this is in addition to removing the daily auto gratuity of $16 or so.   Now you can see why P&O UK include all gratuities, (daily and drinks gratuities) in cruise fare - non negotiable.   Princess Australia does the same.  😮

Edited October 19, 2019 by NSWP

[Aus Traveller]

6 minutes ago, NSWP said:

A little birdie told me some pax are going to Customer Services on board and removing the 18% service charge on drinks they have purchased in the ship's bars and dining rooms, this is in addition to removing the daily auto gratuity of $16 or so.   Now you can see why P&O UK include all gratuities, (daily and drinks gratuities) in cruise fare - non negotiable.   Princess Australia does the same.  😮

Wow. I didn't know it would be possible to remove the 18% service charge on drinks.

 

The system in Australia and the UK where gratuities are included in the base price (original fare and drinks) is much fairer to everyone.

[caribill]

23 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Wow. I didn't know it would be possible to remove the 18% service charge on drinks.

 

 

It is not possible.

[Aus Traveller]

10 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

It is not possible.

I couldn't see how or why the admin on the ship would refund that 18% when it would be a lot of work.

[NSWP]

17 hours ago, caribill said:

 

It is not possible.

It is and it was on a Princess ship operating from Southampton to east coast of US/Canada only a few weeks ago.

One pax reported he received $800 back in drink gratuities after he enquired whether the 18% was a tax or gratuity and many followed.

 

Go to Princess Roll Calls - Majestic Princess, have a read of post 1251, Majestic Princess Repositioning Cruise 12 February 2020 re info I am referring to.  Sorry I did not know to put up the link.

Edited October 19, 2019 by NSWP

[NSWP]

17 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I couldn't see how or why the admin on the ship would refund that 18% when it would be a lot of work.

Not that hard if it was demanded.  Check of on board accounts and remove the 18% drink gratuity from the a/c.

[Aus Traveller]

1 minute ago, NSWP said:

It is and it was on a Princess ship operating from Southampton to east coast of US/Canada only a few weeks ago.

One pax reported he received $800 back in drink gratuities after he enquired whether the 18% was a tax or gratuity and many followed.

My goodness! By my calculations, he had to have a drinks bill of $4,444 for the gratuity to reach $800.  He was a heavy drinker.

[NSWP]

5 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

My goodness! By my calculations, he had to have a drinks bill of $4,444 for the gratuity to reach $800.  He was a heavy drinker.

If you go to Princess Roll Calls, Majestic Princess 'Repositioning cruise 12 February 2020, check out post No.1251.

[hobbyfarmer2]

On 10/18/2019 at 1:19 PM, frugaltravel said:

Are those who prepay tips to "even out the payments" just undisciplined enough to put money into a savings account and not spend it? I can't think of another reason but would love to hear others' thoughts.

We are from Canada and prepaid gratuities on our upcoming b2b on Sky Nov 10 because the exchange rate changes.