Coach from Las Vegas to Los Angeles port and drinks and Gratuity charges

[skynight]

3 hours ago, technoman said:

 I seem to remember that tips used to be 8-12% it

 

Never remember in my long lifetime including my youth. Restaurant gratuities always were considered the standard of 15%. In the last 10 or so years it has moved to to 15 to 20%. Some restaurants, not many, add the service charge to the bill. Others add a service charge for large parties, say maybe 8 to 10 or more dining together. It varies. They is no exact standard.  

[Ptroxx]

27 minutes ago, skynight said:

Never remember in my long lifetime including my youth. Restaurant gratuities always were considered the standard of 15%. In the last 10 or so years it has moved to to 15 to 20%. Some restaurants, not many, add the service charge to the bill. Others add a service charge for large parties, say maybe 8 to 10 or more dining together. It varies. They is no exact standard.  

You’re beating a dead horse with this guy.   
 

waiters in the UK make about the same as they do here in the US but they don’t make tips.   So how is that paying there workers better that they don’t have to tip.  Lol.   

how can someone survive on 9-12.00 an hour.  
My guess is they are working 3 jobs to make ends meet.    

guess that’s why they a lot of people ride bikes in Europe.  Can’t afford a car. 

so glad I’m here in the US.  Life could be a lot different.  

[SantaFeFan]

35 minutes ago, Ptroxx said:

You’re beating a dead horse with this guy.   
 

waiters in the UK make about the same as they do here in the US but they don’t make tips.   So how is that paying there workers better that they don’t have to tip.  Lol.   

how can someone survive on 9-12.00 an hour.  
My guess is they are working 3 jobs to make ends meet.    

guess that’s why they a lot of people ride bikes in Europe.  Can’t afford a car. 

so glad I’m here in the US.  Life could be a lot different.  

 

And why waiters in the UK are some of the most surly of any I have ever experienced. Poor, unfriendly service seems to be a badge of honor in the UK. Of all my dozen plus visits to the UK or Scotland, the service there was about the worst of anywhere I have ever visited - and I have been to 40 plus countries in my travels. Other than the service, it's a great country to visit. But the service? Ugh! 

[Ptroxx]

9 minutes ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

And why waiters in the UK are some of the most surly of any I have ever experienced. Poor, unfriendly service seems to be a badge of honor in the UK. Of all my dozen plus visits to the UK or Scotland, the service there was about the worst of anywhere I have ever visited - and I have been to 40 plus countries in my travels. Other than the service, it's a great country to visit. But the service? Ugh! 

I have to agree 100%.  

I’ve been to about 11 countries so far.

The the UK has always been the worst service.  
Just don’t understand how everyone from the UK say oh we pay better that’s why we don’t tip.   That’s a joke.   🇺🇸

[Mike45LC]

The OP seems fixated on the 18% that Princess charges as a tip for beverages.  As already pointed out, this incredibly excessive charge is already built into the Plus and Premium Plans.  

 

When I don't have the Plus Plan, I buy the Soda and More (or whatever it is called today) Plan, for $10 per day, plus that obscene 18%.  So over a ten day cruise, that works out to an additional $18 per person.  That is over and above the $14.50 per person per day gratuity for the cabin steward, dining room staff (waiter and busboy), and whoever else is included in the pool.  

 

I think I can afford to pay that extra $18 ($36 for two of us!) given the cost of cruising.

 

I live in Las Vegas, and I am offered free drinks by the casino staff whilst I am gaming.  So I don't pay for drinks here at home.  But the very limited experience I have had with drink prices on board a cruise ship, the cost of cocktails seemed reasonable to me -- even with that 18% added on top!

[Jldevlin]

We used to do these package deals years ago ..  sailing from Vancouver to L A then the bus picks you up at the port and drives you to Las Vegas to your hotel and then to the airport,   You would just be doing it in reverse. They stop halfway at Barstow which has a few stores and some fast food places. Not sure if they stop there still but that is how they used to do it.  

[technoman]

Ok i take all your points and i have experienced poor service and surly waiters in the US too because quite frankly in some places the tips are taken as a given and taken for granted. Waiters in the US can be paid well below the minimum wage i.e $2 -3 dollars per hour which is not the case here where it is legally over £9.50 here for the national living wage. Anyway i can see how you culture vultures feel about this but let me tell you i will not have a problem going to customer services and having the gratuity  reduced by 50% because i think it is too much and if i feel the cabin steward has been exceptional will tip a nominal amount extra. 

[caribill]

On 8/16/2022 at 11:32 AM, cr8tiv1 said:

I am not aware of a Princess sponsored coach from Las Vegas to LA Harbor.  You would still need to find your way to the port from wherever the drop off point is.  In addition, I would think you would  have to catch the coach a day before then stay at a hotel for the night.

 

The suggestion to fly day of, on Southwest, to LGB (Long Beach) is s good suggestion.  

 

I interpret what the OP posted as saying he/she has booked a package tour that includes time in Las Vegas, the Princess cruise, and the bus from Las Vegas to the ship.

 

So flying or any other means of getting to the ship would be replacing transportation that already is included in the tour package.

 

By the way, if it truly is a six hour bus ride from Vegas hotel to the ship, that would be quicker than flying which involves getting to the airport early and then also, after claiming luggage, getting from the airport to the ship.