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Heads Up - Substantive change in Gratuity wording


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I like the part about the mini bar.   Ummm....huh???  😉 

 

So happy they did away with those things a long time ago.  Almost every cruise they added a small annoying charge AFTER we left the ship.  😠

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I can't wait to see what this thread degenerates into when the usual suspects show up and start their name calling and bragging about how much they tip.

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I mean I love a good thread on gratuities and who pays it, who doesn't and see the completely different approaches to it across the globe from places and cultures that don't tip to those that do. 

 

Off to get some popcorn, back in a minute. 

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3 hours ago, island lady said:

I like the part about the mini bar.   Ummm....huh???  😉 

 

So happy they did away with those things a long time ago.  Almost every cruise they added a small annoying charge AFTER we left the ship.  😠


The only one I can think of now are the ones in certain cabanas on CoCo Cay.  If you have the drink package the drinks are included, but if you don’t maybe they charge the grats there. 

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1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

I can't wait to see what this thread degenerates into when the usual suspects show up and start their name calling and bragging about how much they tip.

Ya know what's funny- I see SOOOO many posts about people claiming they leave cash on the bar after every drink and throw 20's at the bartenders... I just got off and I think I saw 2 one dollar bills on the bar all week. 

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3 minutes ago, Scottdalfonso said:

Ya know what's funny- I see SOOOO many posts about people claiming they leave cash on the bar after every drink and throw 20's at the bartenders... I just got off and I think I saw 2 one dollar bills on the bar all week. 

Last week in Boleros, the bartender broke $50 bill into 2 20’s and 10 1’s out of his tip jar, so someone is tossing them cash.😇

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18 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:


The only one I can think of now are the ones in certain cabanas on CoCo Cay.  If you have the drink package the drinks are included, but if you don’t maybe they charge the grats there. 

After RCI charges more for 8 hrs of cabana use than they do for a week on the ship you have to pay extra for what is stashed in the minibar?

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37 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

After RCI charges more for 8 hrs of cabana use than they do for a week on the ship you have to pay extra for what is stashed in the minibar?


if you don’t have the drink package the answer is yes. Equality for all. 😂

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14 hours ago, orville99 said:

It no longer quotes a price per day, This was the old wording:

 

To facilitate the crew recognition process, a $16.00 USD gratuity ($18.50 USD for Suite guests) is added to each guest’s SeaPass account daily. This gratuity is shared amongst the dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams.

It just means they don't have to change the wording/edit the statement.  They can just edit/update the link.

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1 hour ago, orville99 said:

Last week in Boleros, the bartender broke $50 bill into 2 20’s and 10 1’s out of his tip jar, so someone is tossing them cash.😇

Some do to buy what they think is better service or upgraded liquor.  

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1 hour ago, Scottdalfonso said:

Ya know what's funny- I see SOOOO many posts about people claiming they leave cash on the bar after every drink and throw 20's at the bartenders... I just got off and I think I saw 2 one dollar bills on the bar all week. 

I’ve noticed that for awhile now.  We always tip, which is maybe why I notice no one else seems to be even giving a dollar now.


The only time I ever saw someone tip a 20 was in the suite lounge on day 1 and I heard the guy say he only tips on day 1. But that wouldn’t work in a bar unless it’s the only bar and only server you’ll use. In the suite lounge it’s different I guess.

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16 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

When they announce a gratuity increase there is a short time one can  pre pay for existing sailings at the old rate. 

When they announce an increase you can add them at the old rate at any time up until a couple days prior to sailing.  There is no limited time to add them. 

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3 hours ago, orville99 said:

Last week in Boleros, the bartender broke $50 bill into 2 20’s and 10 1’s out of his tip jar, so someone is tossing them cash.😇

That was lucky.  I've been told  they are not allowed to make change and am directed to GS or the casino. 

 

M

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Posted (edited)
40 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

When they announce an increase you can add them at the old rate at any time up until a couple days prior to sailing.  There is no limited time to add them. 

Now that the actual rates are buried in a link and no longer visible on the invoice, they could change them at any time without anyone knowing until they actually sailed. And, the way the statement is now worded, they don’t have to inform anyone when they do.

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1 minute ago, orville99 said:

Now that the actual rates are buried in a link and no longer visible on the invoice, they could change them at any time without anyone knowing until they actually sailed.and the way the statement is now worded, they don’t have to inform anyone when they do.

Personally I think you are reading way too much into this.  Royal has always been upfront about gratuity increases and has always allowed people the opportunity to lock in at the lower rates.  I don't see that changing andbi certainly fo not see them not telling guests of a gratuity increase. 

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I look at prices; I know the latest gratuity amount and add that in; if it looks OK, I book.

 

I have no idea (but, I really do, and I'll shut up about that) why all this nefarious intentions by RCCL are in question here. Not my experience in the last half century, and it's all being accounted for in my text messages from my credit card bank. Also, my account if I choose to look at it in the app or on my cabin TV.

 

(she says, puzzled.......)

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2 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

I’ve noticed that for awhile now.  We always tip, which is maybe why I notice no one else seems to be even giving a dollar now.


The only time I ever saw someone tip a 20 was in the suite lounge on day 1 and I heard the guy say he only tips on day 1. But that wouldn’t work in a bar unless it’s the only bar and only server you’ll use. In the suite lounge it’s different I guess.


My experience has been completely different. In the last month plus I have been on Radiance, Independence, Grandeur and Enchantment. I have seen plenty of people tip cash ($1 by far the most common) at multiple bars on every ship. This observation could be the result of spending a lot of time at bars during a cruise. 

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6 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:


The only one I can think of now are the ones in certain cabanas on CoCo Cay.  If you have the drink package the drinks are included, but if you don’t maybe they charge the grats there. 

 

Won't catch me anywhere near those cabanas.   I travel with my own Cabana boy.  😄 😄 

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Well, the real change is exactly what is mentioned in the first sentence: In certain markets they are no longer allowed to automatically charge a voluntary daily gratuity so they indeed stopped doing this (for a while already actually). The German market is one example. Only legal alternative would be to make it a mandatory service fee and to include it in the quote like e.g. MSC does it now. 

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