Paying for gratuities

[CruisinShips]

We booked our first cruise post "gratuities included".  Will there be a place to pre-pay them on the cruise planner...I don't see one now (11 mos out)?

[FeliciaB]

Not in the cruise planner.  If you booked through Celebrity there was a place when booking to pay them.  After the fact, you can call and pay them. I believe if you booked through a TA, you would call them and they can take the payment.  

I typically just let the gratuities get added daily during the cruise especially if I have additional OBC that I don't have specific plans for.  

[Ferry_Watcher]

I just booked a Celebrity cruise yesterday where gratuities were not included in the 'have it all' or whatever it was called (Beverage package and WiFi were included).  On the website it gave me an option of pre-paying gratuities ($370 for the two of us in the stateroom / 10 day cruise) in a "check this box" option.  I went ahead and pre-paid.

[CruisinShips]

Thanks.  I actually booked while on board, and then handed it off to my travel agent, and I don't recall either asking me if I wanted to include it.  Sounds like I can just call my TA.

 

 

[LB_NJ]

1 hour ago, CruisinShips said:

We booked our first cruise post "gratuities included".  Will there be a place to pre-pay them on the cruise planner...I don't see one now (11 mos out)?

Is there a reason why you want to prepay?

[CruisinShips]

3 minutes ago, LB_NJ said:

Is there a reason why you want to prepay?

Not really, lol, it's just that I am used to starting cruises with a positive account balance rather than a negative one...so I guess it's just that. Same reason I like drink and wifi packages and I tend to pre-book specialty restaurants and excursions for the most part.

[marshacruises]

1 hour ago, LB_NJ said:

Is there a reason why you want to prepay?

LB_NJ:  The best reason to prepay is to pay a lower amount IF the amount of gratuities goes up between the time you book and the actual cruise.  The gratuities did go up shortly after we booked our upcoming cruise and we had pre-paid the gratuities.  Between the two of us, I think we saved around $50 over the amount we would have paid if we waited to pay at the end of the cruise.

[OrtonPark]

Personally, I like stepping into vacation knowing I’ve already paid as many expenses as possible, often by saving up over time. 

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, marshacruises said:

LB_NJ:  The best reason to prepay is to pay a lower amount IF the amount of gratuities goes up between the time you book and the actual cruise.  The gratuities did go up shortly after we booked our upcoming cruise and we had pre-paid the gratuities.  Between the two of us, I think we saved around $50 over the amount we would have paid if we waited to pay at the end of the cruise.

if the tips go up after you have booked there is always  a "period of grace" where you have the option to pre pay at the original rate.

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, CruisinShips said:

Not really, lol, it's just that I am used to starting cruises with a positive account balance rather than a negative one...so I guess it's just that. Same reason I like drink and wifi packages and I tend to pre-book specialty restaurants and excursions for the most part.

if it works for you stick with it. Personally the longer my money is in my bank and not X's the better. Thankfully our Elite+ status means we never need a paid for WiFi package, nor a drinks package (we don't drink alcohol) and the thought of doing an X excursion leaves us cold. We book private guides in most ports (splitting the cost with another couple on the Roll Call), pay most of the tips through our Shareholder OBC and invest the rest of our spending money in the Casino. We always eat dinner in the MDR (Select Dining) as sharing tables at dinner is one of the main reasons we cruise. 

No right or wrong just personal choice.

[mickey89]

$400 tip for a 10day cruise is ridiculous. No wonder so many people CANCEL them.

[Ferry_Watcher]

22 minutes ago, mickey89 said:

$400 tip for a 10day cruise is ridiculous. No wonder so many people CANCEL them.

 

My gratuities are $370 total for a ten night cruise / two people in Aqua Class.  That is $18.50 per Aqua Class passenger / per day.  It is fair.  And we tip on top of that as well.  :  )

[hcat]

All due respect to previous post.   I hope this  does not turn into a "why pay grats, thread" .. There are enough of those threads that can be accessed for those who want that conversation   

 

Topic here was pre pay or add cost daily?

 

if they add them daily,  it clogs up the statement we check on the tv screen.  We'd go for pay ahead.. might save if  grat costs go up!

[Ex-Airbalancer]

29 minutes ago, mickey89 said:

$400 tip for a 10day cruise is ridiculous. No wonder so many people CANCEL them.

I wonder if Celebrity has it noted on people’s profile if they remove gratuities at the end of the cruise which is than used on future cruises 🤔

I also think it terrible to remove the base gratuities , since 99% of cruises know it is really a service charge and part of the staff wages 

[PTC DAWG]

1 hour ago, mickey89 said:

$400 tip for a 10day cruise is ridiculous. No wonder so many people CANCEL them.

I knew it was coming…

[Salt Lifer]

I prepaid gratuities for an upcoming charge because a.) I like the idea of tips being distributed to many people that help make my trip wonderful, even those behind the scenes whom I may not interact with, and b.) it is just a little easier logistically.

 

That said, I always tip my room stewart a little extra for good service, and will do the same for my waiters if I get the same ones throughout the week.  My concern is, do these people have access to a list to know that I have participated in the pre-tip program?  I would hate to give them a smaller tip (because a big chunk of it was already pre-paid) and they think I stiffed them or that I didn't appreciate their service.

 

I was thinking maybe adding a note in with the cash saying that although I had pre-paid gratuities, I wanted to give them a little extra for helping to make our week extra special.  How do you all that prepay handle this?

[Salt Lifer]

3 hours ago, mickey89 said:

$400 tip for a 10day cruise is ridiculous. No wonder so many people CANCEL them.

In fairness, is $40 a day split between many people for going above and beyond really excessive?  

[the penguins]

6 hours ago, Salt Lifer said:

I prepaid gratuities for an upcoming charge because a.) I like the idea of tips being distributed to many people that help make my trip wonderful, even those behind the scenes whom I may not interact with, and b.) it is just a little easier logistically.

 

That said, I always tip my room stewart a little extra for good service, and will do the same for my waiters if I get the same ones throughout the week.  My concern is, do these people have access to a list to know that I have participated in the pre-tip program?  I would hate to give them a smaller tip (because a big chunk of it was already pre-paid) and they think I stiffed them or that I didn't appreciate their service.

 

I was thinking maybe adding a note in with the cash saying that although I had pre-paid gratuities, I wanted to give them a little extra for helping to make our week extra special.  How do you all that prepay handle this?

the crew all know so don't worry just give extra to whoever you chose to.

[mickey89]

17 hours ago, the penguins said:

the crew all know so don't worry just give extra to whoever you chose to.

That's why everyone cancels their gratuities on the last evening, avoids any difficulties

[Flafun888]

Can anyone tell me when X last raised gratuities rate? Was it in past few months or longer than that? Just wondering if that 18.50 rate (non-suite rate) has been around a while and due for a bump or likely to hold at least for the next few months since it was increased recently?

 

Last time I sailed X years ago, it was about $14/day: haven't kept track of the increases.

Edited March 21 by Flafun888

[cruisestitch]

48 minutes ago, mickey89 said:

That's why everyone cancels their gratuities on the last evening, avoids any difficulties

Not everyone does that. Only an ungrateful few who do not mind stiffing the crew members who worked so hard for them to have a good cruise.

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, mickey89 said:

That's why everyone cancels their gratuities on the last evening, avoids any difficulties

absolute rubbish. The vast majority pay the "auto grats". As it's impossible to pay all the staff who are included in the system individually (for example Laundry staff or the staff in the public restrooms) anyone who doesn't has to accept that a considerable number of the crew will have worked for less money than they should have had.

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, Flafun888 said:

Can anyone tell me when X last raised gratuities rate? Was it in past few months or longer than that? Just wondering if that 18.50 rate (non-suite rate) has been around a while and due for a bump or likely to hold at least for the next few months since it was increased recently?

 

Last time I sailed X years ago, it was about $14/day: haven't kept track of the increases.

the current level of tips per cabin grade along with how the tips are allocated is attached below.

[Flafun888]

20 minutes ago, the penguins said:

the current level of tips per cabin grade along with how the tips are allocated is attached below.

thank you for posting - appreciate it! I was really asking WHEN was the last time they raised them? Just wondering what the odds are of another increase by summer? Or if they've just been raised recently?

[Baw531]

2 hours ago, mickey89 said:

That's why everyone cancels their gratuities on the last evening, avoids any difficulties

Shame on them .