When did the gratituites increase?

[molly361]

3 hours ago, little britain said:

I don’t think so!
If they see you loaded obc to your account then cash out; they can freeze your card. They froze mine because they had seen I hadn’t played/ they said the “rules” are you must play at least 25%. 
So if you have a chunk of obc then take it all out at once then don’t bother going to the casino 🎰 again! 

They froze mine once as well but they told me you had to play 10%.  It only got frozen for a couple of days which is kind of weird.

[DirtyDawg]

13 hours ago, soremekun said:

Some threads: "I tip $100 to my stateroom attendant" in addition to other brags.

 

This thread: "$1.50 per day increase?  Quick, let's lock in the lower rate!"

That's what I thought when I started reading this thread a few minutes ago. Great minds do think alike! 😁.

 

(Of course so did Lloyd and Harry but let's not go there.😉)

 

 

[not-enough-cruising]

8 hours ago, yogimax said:

So if you receive average service in a restaurant you use that as an excuse to not tip?

No, the dynamic on a land based restaurant is completely different.  I will however adjust my tip lower than what i normally would do for "average" service

Edited July 30, 2022 by not-enough-cruising

[flamingos]

It is indeed interesting to see how many people are upset about an additional $21 per cabin for a 7 day cruise.  

[Tlbecker1]

5 hours ago, little britain said:

I don’t think so!
If they see you loaded obc to your account then cash out; they can freeze your card. They froze mine because they had seen I hadn’t played/ they said the “rules” are you must play at least 25%. 
So if you have a chunk of obc then take it all out at once then don’t bother going to the casino 🎰 again! 

We had this happen, but it was only for 24 hours.  We had a $600 OBC and we just kept taking it out each day.

[soremekun]

45 minutes ago, flamingos said:

It is indeed interesting to see how many people are upset about an additional $21 per cabin for a 7 day cruise.  

The crew work so hard!

They were out of work during the pandemic!

 

So, $21 is no problem then, right?

[njkruzer]

Thanks everyone. 

[boscobeans]

20 hours ago, RoyalC said:

Someone says this for every increase. It's like slowly boiling a lobster.

 

How much were the standard grats. 2 years ago?

How much was a loaf of bread or a gallon of gas 2 years ago?

Sure---Not CLEARLY making the increase known to ANYONE AFFECTED is wrong, but is the increase really that out of line with what is getting to be the norm in this out-of-control inflationary economy?

 

I'm going to spend about 40% more in gas money getting to and from Bayonne than I did on our last cruise.

My $1.50 a day gratuity increase is just over 10%

Restaurants around here are adding 10-15% surcharges to all their prices (THATS TOTAL PRICE-NOT JUST THE TIP) and unlike a cruise ship if you don't like it, you can't take it back.

 

If I was a lobster (I do believe the experiment was done with frogs) I would know when it was too hot and get out of the water but since the water is just as if not much hotter in my everyday life the minor rate increase doesn't faze me in the least.

 

Now if I compare a 7-day tip increase of $21.00 (wife and I) to the total $3.500.00 cruise fare it really doesn't raise the temperature of the water enough to even discuss the matter.

 

Happy cruising to all.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

I wonder why they increased the services fees to the guest in steerage by $1.50 but  if you’re in a suite it is only $1 🤔

[CruisingHogFan]

It’s amazing the amount of selfishness and entitlement that’s in this group. I really hope I never meet a lot of you on a cruise that want to complain about a $1.50 per day increase or removing tips in general.
 

It’s embarrassing as a society and if you really can’t afford to tip maybe you shouldn’t be going on a vacation to begin with and save your money.

 

 

[StolidCruiser]

17 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Yes it is a fact you have taken many cruises; so have I. That is where your facts end, and your personal opinion creates bias. 

The crews contract guarantees the salary, that’s a fact.

Whether or not you participate in the auto tip a no bearing on this salary, that’s a fact. 

The cruise-line won’t tell you the amount that is shared (or if it is shared) with these positions , that’s a fact. 

Please substantiate your statement of fact regarding the salary construct of employee contracts do not consider the daily gratuity/ service charge arrangement subscribed to most every mainstream cruise line.

 

(I know your facts to be wrong and look forward to you re-educating me on what I know to be accurate.)

 

 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

On 7/29/2022 at 6:51 AM, Biker19 said:

There wasn't one - the increase happened in the last couple of days. The edocs from 7/24 have the old rate - updated docs from yesterday have the new rate.

I know it’s only a few dollars but it really irritates me. When I booked the cruise I looked at everything online and it showed the old rates. Now that we are booked all of a sudden the rates change? Their website stills lists the old rates.  Like I said it’s only a few dollars but it’s irritating.

[StolidCruiser]

5 hours ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Yeah and while we're at it, let's ask him why the CSRs don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground. 

After getting a response, hopefully one would be asked the same question in return about passengers.

[livingonthebeach]

1 minute ago, StolidCruiser said:

After getting a response, hopefully one would be asked the same question in return about passengers.

 

Fair enough.  Some of the passengers can get unruly, wild, obnoxious and drunk, however we don't have to deal with them unless they are traveling with us. We do have to deal with the CSRs though, unless we go through a good TA. 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

17 hours ago, critterchick said:

I booked a cruise on Wednesday and the confirmation still says $14.50/17.50. But the edocs that were issued yesterday say $16.00/18.00. I'm waiting on hold for the group department to see what they have to say.

Ours also show $14.50/$17.50. I don’t mind an increase but don’t tell me one thing when I pay and then change it after.  

[the penguins]

18 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Yes it is a fact you have taken many cruises; so have I. That is where your facts end, and your personal opinion creates bias. 

The crews contract guarantees the salary, that’s a fact.

Whether or not you participate in the auto tip a no bearing on this salary, that’s a fact. 

The cruise-line won’t tell you the amount that is shared (or if it is shared) with these positions , that’s a fact. 

Your fact 3 is definitely wrong. As others have posted and I stated. Royal does publish a breakdown. You can collect the breakdown in printed form from Guest Relations.

But to clarify out of 💲14.50

💲3.55 cabin steward.

💲6.25 dining room

💲4.70 other hotel services.

Royal also confirm no fees or deductions are made.

Auto Grats are not hidden.

If you don't agree you should perhaps consider a cruise line that doesn't impose them - which of course doesn't exist as the most expensive lines Silversea, Regent etc simply add them to the cost.

By not paying you do reduce the amount crew receive because their "pay" is made up of contracted "salary" and "tips". The people that suffer are the ones at the bottom of the pile (laundry for example) who have no way of making up the money and you have no way of paying them. 

 

 

 

 

 

[goldfish65]

Seems like a trivial amount of money to be irritated about whether or not they gave any advance warning of the increase. 

[footzz]

11 minutes ago, goldfish65 said:

Seems like a trivial amount of money to be irritated about whether or not they gave any advance warning of the increase. 

No kidding. That's less than the cost of one lug nut for a Lamborghini.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

13 minutes ago, goldfish65 said:

Seems like a trivial amount of money to be irritated about whether or not they gave any advance warning of the increase. 

The service fee for an up coming 21 day cruise for 2 is $860.00 CAD , doesnt appear so trivial amount 

They should just pay the staff a living wage to start with 

People can tip if they want to

[not-enough-cruising]

49 minutes ago, the penguins said:

Your fact 3 is definitely wrong. As others have posted and I stated. Royal does publish a breakdown. You can collect the breakdown in printed form from Guest Relations.

But to clarify out of 💲14.50

💲3.55 cabin steward.

💲6.25 dining room

💲4.70 other hotel services.

Royal also confirm no fees or deductions are made.

Auto Grats are not hidden.

If you don't agree you should perhaps consider a cruise line that doesn't impose them - which of course doesn't exist as the most expensive lines Silversea, Regent etc simply add them to the cost.

By not paying you do reduce the amount crew receive because their "pay" is made up of contracted "salary" and "tips". The people that suffer are the ones at the bottom of the pile (laundry for example) who have no way of making up the money and you have no way of paying them. 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER hotel services is far from transparent. This is not a true breakdown. 
 

my point is correct. 

 

see post #153 for the fact regarding your laundry statement

Edited July 30, 2022 by not-enough-cruising

[the penguins]

16 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

The service fee for an up coming 21 day cruise for 2 is $860.00 CAD , doesnt appear so trivial amount 

They should just pay the staff a living wage to start with 

People can tip if they want to

It's always good to compare apples with apples.

Take the cost of your cruise and add the tips.

Now compare that cost to as close a cruise as you can find on a line that doesn't require tips. 

Now it's your choice as to which you book.

[boscobeans]

19 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

The service fee for an up coming 21 day cruise for 2 is $860.00 CAD , doesnt appear so trivial amount 

They should just pay the staff a living wage to start with 

People can tip if they want to

Out of curiosity. 

If they added the $860 to the published cruise fare would that be any different as to whether you cruise or not?

[the penguins]

3 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

OTHER hotel services is far from transparent. 
 

my point is correct. 

I am sorry it doesn't give the name of the guy in the laundry or the person who washes your actual plates. You claimed Royal doesn't declare the amount that is shared - clearly they do. 

Sorry your not happy.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

1 minute ago, the penguins said:

It's always good to compare apples with apples.

Take the cost of your cruise and add the tips.

Now compare that cost to as close a cruise as you can find on a line that doesn't require tips. 

Now it's your choice as to which you book.

That is what I always , I been finding Celebrity All inclusive pricing to be pretty good deals lately 

I have 2 cruise book in 2023 , a spring and fall transatlantic, at $135 CAD pp, with drinks , tips , Wi-Fi and taxes , one with $500 OBC and the other with$710 OBC 

our TA has had some very good group pricing 

[karl_nj]

1 hour ago, CruisingHogFan said:

It’s amazing the amount of selfishness and entitlement that’s in this group. I really hope I never meet a lot of you on a cruise that want to complain about a $1.50 per day increase or removing tips in general.
 

 

Corporations should be transparent regarding extra fees, including service fees.  If the service fee increases, they should update their website and any associated documents issued.  If RCL decides to bring back the fuel surcharge (which is still mentioned as a possibility in the cruise contract) they should inform their customers.

 

1 hour ago, CruisingHogFan said:

It’s embarrassing as a society and if you really can’t afford to tip maybe you shouldn’t be going on a vacation to begin with and save your money.

 

 

I just want to know what service fee I'm going to be charged for my upcoming cruise.  My edocs still say $14.50/day, so I'm a bit confused about when this fee is going to increase.  It sounds like the customer service reps at RCL are also in the dark.

 

I'm not sure why you are assuming this has anything to do with tipping.  Even if the service fee has increased, I don't plan to lower the additional cash tips that I give my room steward and waiters.