Cheers package

[CruizinSusan70]

7 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Also keep in mind the "fresh squeezed juices" at Sunday Brunch are not included in Cheers.  When in doubt, ask before ordering😉

As well as the fresh squeezed OJ on the ships in the fleet with a Havana Bar.

[IslandHppy]

We had a strange thing happen. I wanted to upgrade a cheap paid close in booking from inside to ocean view.  The only rate they could find/book for OV was including free Cheers.  (Trying to book the plain inside to OV upgrade gave an "error" to two different agents.  The cheapest OV cabin was like $514 and the rate with Cheers was $549.  We don't drink much/at all.   So at the end of the cruise, assuming we get a bottle of water or two all week, what will be on our onboard folio?  Do we pay 18% on the whole retail value of Cheers?   Or 18% per drink/order?  Or is the 18% included as part of the fare?  

[ninjacat123]

3 hours ago, IslandHppy said:

We had a strange thing happen. I wanted to upgrade a cheap paid close in booking from inside to ocean view.  The only rate they could find/book for OV was including free Cheers.  (Trying to book the plain inside to OV upgrade gave an "error" to two different agents.  The cheapest OV cabin was like $514 and the rate with Cheers was $549.  We don't drink much/at all.   So at the end of the cruise, assuming we get a bottle of water or two all week, what will be on our onboard folio?  Do we pay 18% on the whole retail value of Cheers?   Or 18% per drink/order?  Or is the 18% included as part of the fare?  

I don't know the answer to your question, but that sounds like a great deal!

[Knights on the Beach]

4 hours ago, IslandHppy said:

We had a strange thing happen. I wanted to upgrade a cheap paid close in booking from inside to ocean view.  The only rate they could find/book for OV was including free Cheers.  (Trying to book the plain inside to OV upgrade gave an "error" to two different agents.  The cheapest OV cabin was like $514 and the rate with Cheers was $549.  We don't drink much/at all.   So at the end of the cruise, assuming we get a bottle of water or two all week, what will be on our onboard folio?  Do we pay 18% on the whole retail value of Cheers?   Or 18% per drink/order?  Or is the 18% included as part of the fare?  

 

If you click on the rate details, it doesn't specify?

[IslandHppy]

28 minutes ago, cruisemom2 said:

 

If you click on the rate details, it doesn't specify?

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-deals/vifp-club/past-guest-offers-RU1/terms.aspx

[Madermh]

Hello,  just curious for those who get the Cheers package if you add addition gratuity on top of what is paid when you buy the package, no judgement either way?  I typically add a dollar or two but, I think it’s more because I’ve always done so when out at a bar.
 

Also, A deeper question is, if you do add an extra tip, does that money go directly to the server, or does it end up in a large bucket that’s split after the cruise amongst all the staff?

 

Thanks!

[Purvis1231]

If you give it in cash, it goes to the server. If you put it on the receipt, they told me it too goes directly to the server also but some on her will dispute this. 

[ninjacat123]

It's easier to add  the tip to the receipt but I think I will carry singles with me for next cruise.  I always tip out in cash (on top of pre-paid gratuities) to my room steward and MDR staff so why not tip my favorite bartenders in cash?😄

Edited August 14, 2022 by ninjacat123

[simplelife]

When I have a prepaid package, I take a stack of ones  and give them out as warranted - not for every drink, but if they provide extra attention, they come to me rather than me going to the bar, they also bring a water, etc.

[CruisinLJ]

Much like simplelife, I take a stack of $1 bills to tip extra.  I know that I get better service after I've picked my favorite bartender/server/the coffee bar person.  And I know they very much appreciate the cash.

[CruizCuz]

I also tip an extra dollar (or $2) per drink.  I take enough one's to count out 15 each morning and put them with my Sail & Sign card.  Then I always know how many drinks I've had and when I'm getting closer to the 15 drink max (no judgement please).  If I have special bartenders and servers, I usually tip them extra during or after the cruise.  For exceptional service, I write a thank you note (pack of 8 from Dollar Tree/$1.25) and include $5's, $10's or sometimes a $20, along with a handwritten note of appreciation.  This is not to pressure anyone.  This is what I do and feel it's well worth it for the amazing service!

[Madermh]

17 minutes ago, CruizCuz said:

I also tip an extra dollar (or $2) per drink.  I take enough one's to count out 15 each morning and put them with my Sail & Sign card.  Then I always know how many drinks I've had and when I'm getting closer to the 15 drink max (no judgement please).  If I have special bartenders and servers, I usually tip them extra during or after the cruise.  For exceptional service, I write a thank you note (pack of 8 from Dollar Tree/$1.25) and include $5's, $10's or sometimes a $20, along with a handwritten note of appreciation.  This is not to pressure anyone.  This is what I do and feel it's well worth it for the amazing service!

I just read this to my wife, she said that’s such a good idea, I should do that as well, so she can periodically count my $1’s to see how many I’ve had 😂!

[Daddyfto]

Come on your're already paying 10 times what a drink costs plus 18% gratuity when you buy the package ?

Do you really think the staff think your special..they don't

Edited August 14, 2022 by Daddyfto

[Sgwscruiser]

Always take a stack of $1’s for tips.  If you are writing a thank you note, it would be a good idea to mention the persons name when you do a review that you get from Carnival or leave it with guest services, so it would get to their Boss

[Madermh]

10 minutes ago, Daddyfto said:

Come on your're already paying 10 times what a drink costs plus 18% gratuity when you buy the package ?

Do you really think the staff think your special..they don't

From my experience, the staff works their tails off.  I tip because I know how little they get paid and how many hours they work.  Do I think my dollar tip is going to get me special treatment at one of the lido bars on a sea day when it’s three people deep all trying to get a drink, no.  

[Daddyfto]

1 minute ago, Madermh said:

From my experience, the staff works their tails off.  I tip because I know how little they get paid and how many hours they work.  Do I think my dollar tip is going to get me special treatment at one of the lido bars on a sea day when it’s three people deep all trying to get a drink, no.  

Yes they work their tails off and  almost all are awesome ...but pick one ...Prepaid Gratuities so its fair for all or grease the skids to the crew that are part of your cruise

[Daddyfto]

Just now, Daddyfto said:

Yes they work their tails off and  almost all are awesome ...but pick one ...Prepaid Gratuities so its fair for all or grease the skids to the crew that are part of your cruise

Also I'm paying 7.00$ plus 18% for a beer that costs Carnival less than a dollar which is good as I'm a stock holder 

[CruzCra-Z]

22 minutes ago, Daddyfto said:

Yes they work their tails off and  almost all are awesome ...but pick one ...Prepaid Gratuities so its fair for all or grease the skids to the crew that are part of your cruise

and why exactly does anyone need to pick just one? (although I must say I have no idea what "grease the skids" means) I love to tip extra. If you're not an extra tipper then that's you.  Enjoy your cruise either way.

[icft]

1 hour ago, Daddyfto said:

Come on your're already paying 10 times what a drink costs plus 18% gratuity when you buy the package ?

Do you really think the staff think your special..they don't

 

40 minutes ago, Daddyfto said:

Yes they work their tails off and  almost all are awesome ...but pick one ...Prepaid Gratuities so its fair for all or grease the skids to the crew that are part of your cruise

I understand what you are saying and it is a valid point of view. I also appreciate the change from the virtue signaling that usually pops up when the subject of tips comes up. So I have no problem with what you have said and it is possible we would be thinking the same if we didn't cruise often or cruised often but on different ships. However that is not our situation.

 

We live near New Orleans, don't like to be treated like cattle by the airlines and TSA, and consider a cruise to be the equivalent of our neighbors going to their fishing camp in Grand Isle for a week every now and then. So we only sail out of New Orleans on the Glory and to keep away from the college drunks don't sail in the summer months or on spring break. So we will have five or six cruises on the Glory within eight months or so. This last year we had the same steward on all but one cruise (we always book a room on our favorite hallway and once our steward was out with covid) and our favorite drinks waiter in the casino was on all our cruises.

 

I guarantee you they remember us. When the first time you walk down the hallway where your room is located the steward runs up, greets you by name and gives you a hug or when the drinks waiter in the casino sees you passing through the casino before it opens and asks for your folio number so he'll have it when the casino opens you kind of know those folks will be treating you well. And I don't think it is really because of the tips. We feel no need to pump up our egos with huge tips. A couple of dollars on free drinks and ten dollars from each of us on the last day lets them know you appreciate them. Of course they like folks who appreciate them and of course we like those who go out of their way to make our cruise nice. The tips are to show appreciation to those who have gone out of their way for us and the recipients correctly take it as a signal that we appreciate them and naturally think those who appreciate them are special.

 

 

[ninjacat123]

I had 2 Alchemy bartenders recognize me from a cruise I took with my DH in January to a cruise I took with my mom in April.  They asked me where my DH was and I said "someone needs to stay home and work".  I appreciate all the hard work and remembering of names that the Carnival staff does.

[NYcruzzer]

5 hours ago, IslandHppy said:

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-deals/vifp-club/past-guest-offers-RU1/terms.aspx

 

Usually when you purchase Cheers for cruises departing from NY or TX Cheers starts on day 2. Does same resriction apply on NY or TX cruises if you get the Cheers included as a perk ?

[vwrestler171]

I usually add $1 too, but there have been times that the drink is essentially thrown at me so they don't get an extra tip.  There have been bartenders that see that my drink is about gone and already have another ready for me and I will take care of them.  Some also use my Cheers package to offset the cost of a drink for my daughter, so I will add what the drink would've cost, to the tip.  

[CruizinSusan70]

1 hour ago, NYcruzzer said:

 

Usually when you purchase Cheers for cruises departing from NY or TX Cheers starts on day 2. Does same resriction apply on NY or TX cruises if you get the Cheers included as a perk ?

Yes, Cheers starts at 600 am on day two for any cruises embarking from NY or TX.

[ULCajunCruiser]

I know this is not the popular opinion, but I hate it when people on these boards repeatedly claim they get "preferential" treatment from bar staff because they drop $5 when ordering there first drink.

 

I think it just arrogant on their part, and they're really only tooting their own horn!!  Bar staff do not (and as a matter of fact are not allowed) to ignore guests in favor of others.  It just doesn't happen, at least not regularly!!  Staff would be in serious trouble if they were reported doing so, it's just not worth it to them.

 

I find I get great service by smiling, being nice and interacting with the staff.   And before we all go off the deep end on how cheap I am, I handed out over $300 in extra tips on the last day of my cruise last month.   I never got the impression that they were unhappy with me for not leaving that $1 every drink.  But you should have seen how appreciative they were when I searched them out on that last day and handed them that little envelope!!!

[icft]

31 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

I know this is not the popular opinion, but I hate it when people on these boards repeatedly claim they get "preferential" treatment from bar staff because they drop $5 when ordering there first drink.

 

I think it just arrogant on their part, and they're really only tooting their own horn!!  Bar staff do not (and as a matter of fact are not allowed) to ignore guests in favor of others.  It just doesn't happen, at least not regularly!!  Staff would be in serious trouble if they were reported doing so, it's just not worth it to them.

 

I find I get great service by smiling, being nice and interacting with the staff.   And before we all go off the deep end on how cheap I am, I handed out over $300 in extra tips on the last day of my cruise last month.   I never got the impression that they were unhappy with me for not leaving that $1 every drink.  But you should have seen how appreciative they were when I searched them out on that last day and handed them that little envelope!!!

I recall reading a post quite a while back where someone said they tipped their steward $20 or $30 the first day of each cruise and got great service as a result. My thought was "you paid them to think you thought so little of them that they could be bribed and they gave you good service anyhow."

 

I agree, over-tipping up front when you have no experience with their level of service is crass. Save the expressions of gratitude to near then end when you know who deserves special appreciation. Though when I get free drinks I do tip a couple of bucks like I would have been automatically charged if I paid for the drink. I could be misinformed but I was told years back that the waiter gets only a token amount on free drinks.