Gratuities Included

[VermeulT]

If you sign up for a promotion to that includes gratuities, the cruise line still pays out the gratuities, correct? On our side, our account it will appear “free” but on the back end it really comes out of cruise cost? The line “eats” the cost… the overall amount out of pocket to me is whatever and however they want to call it. 
I just want to make sure the crew isn’t shorted because so many of them work so hard….

 

[julia]

The crew absolutely receives the gratuities!  Your onboard account will be charged and credited daily for the crew appreciation amount.

[VMax1700]

5 minutes ago, julia said:

Your onboard account will be charged and credited daily for the crew appreciation amount.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  There is another thread about them being charged to the account or not.  

[Bill B]

Whether or not the pax's account is debited (and then credited) the crew appreciation charges seems to depend on whether or not they were included in a promo, or they are paid in advance separately.

[Haljo1935]

And either way they're paid, yes, the crew still receives the gratuities. I cringe at the thought of a cruiseline pocketing monies intended for crew, even if that cost is charged off as a Marketing expense or other cost of doing business vs being collected from passengers.