doklea Posted August 20 #1 Share Posted August 20 Anyone heard that prices are increasing on gratuities at end of August? Haven’t been able to confirm if true. Wanted to pay gratuities with gift cards but customer service doesn’t seem to know how to handle multiple cards. Trying to confirm or will wait till onboard on September 7 and go to guest services. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memoak Posted August 20 #2 Share Posted August 20 20 minutes ago, doklea said: Anyone heard that prices are increasing on gratuities at end of August? Haven’t been able to confirm if true. Wanted to pay gratuities with gift cards but customer service doesn’t seem to know how to handle multiple cards. Trying to confirm or will wait till onboard on September 7 and go to guest services. There appears to be a $1 increase per day. Not any amount to concern anyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kywildcatfanone Posted August 20 #3 Share Posted August 20 29 minutes ago, doklea said: Anyone heard that prices are increasing on gratuities at end of August? Haven’t been able to confirm if true. Wanted to pay gratuities with gift cards but customer service doesn’t seem to know how to handle multiple cards. Trying to confirm or will wait till onboard on September 7 and go to guest services. Everything goes up regularly now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyj Posted August 21 #4 Share Posted August 21 1 hour ago, doklea said: Anyone heard that prices are increasing on gratuities at end of August? Haven’t been able to confirm if true. Wanted to pay gratuities with gift cards but customer service doesn’t seem to know how to handle multiple cards. Trying to confirm or will wait till onboard on September 7 and go to guest services. Call again to get another agent. I have not had issues using multiple Princess gift cards over the phone. I recently upgraded/added Premier package to my sailing that was paid in full. Used multiple gift cards and some had leftover balances from not being used fully on previous transactions and agent had no issues. My understanding is rate is going up effective 8/31, so if you want to pre pay to save $1/day per person, you need to do BEFORE 8/31. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacMadame Posted August 21 #5 Share Posted August 21 19 hours ago, doklea said: Anyone heard that prices are increasing on gratuities at end of August? Haven’t been able to confirm if true. Wanted to pay gratuities with gift cards but customer service doesn’t seem to know how to handle multiple cards. Trying to confirm or will wait till onboard on September 7 and go to guest services. You can pay with gift cards on the website. No need to call customer service and be frustrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzbw Posted August 21 #6 Share Posted August 21 Are the $1 CE increases covered by the Premier and Plus packages? We have the Plus 60 packages. Maybe the answer is stay tuned and wait for Princess to answer in a news release! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzbw Posted August 21 #7 Share Posted August 21 Sorry it's Crew Appreciation, not CE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Raider Posted August 21 #8 Share Posted August 21 30 minutes ago, Cruzbw said: Are the $1 CE increases covered by the Premier and Plus packages? We have the Plus 60 packages. Maybe the answer is stay tuned and wait for Princess to answer in a news release! From what we’ve been told onboard, the plus package will handle the increase without increasing the price of the package, at least for now. The premier package will go up by $10 a day pp but will include unlimited specialty dining and cocktails. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunsetme Posted August 22 #9 Share Posted August 22 one more reason to get the plus package as you never know when gratuities will increase 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzsnooze Posted August 22 #10 Share Posted August 22 On 8/20/2024 at 4:25 PM, doklea said: Anyone heard that prices are increasing on gratuities at end of August? Haven’t been able to confirm if true. Wanted to pay gratuities with gift cards but customer service doesn’t seem to know how to handle multiple cards. Trying to confirm or will wait till onboard on September 7 and go to guest services. The suggestion might increase but it is still at the passengers discretion to adjust or eliminate them. I personally reduce mine to $10 PP PD which is what I believe actually goes to crew after Princess takes their admin fee and does employee of the month and employee incentives and employee party. Many report removing them and using cash to the crew that actually serves them. It is entirely up to you to do as YOU see fit. Now the cheerleaders will start posting......................................................... 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teechur Posted August 22 #11 Share Posted August 22 (edited) 12 minutes ago, cruzsnooze said: The suggestion might increase but it is still at the passengers discretion to adjust or eliminate them. I personally reduce mine to $10 PP PD which is what I believe actually goes to crew after Princess takes their admin fee and does employee of the month and employee incentives and employee party. Now the cheerleaders will start posting......................................................... Got my popcorn in the microwave...cracking open a beer! Edited August 22 by Teechur punctuation repair 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRLD Posted August 22 #12 Share Posted August 22 (edited) 38 minutes ago, cruzsnooze said: The suggestion might increase but it is still at the passengers discretion to adjust or eliminate them. I personally reduce mine to $10 PP PD which is what I believe actually goes to crew after Princess takes their admin fee and does employee of the month and employee incentives and employee party. Many report removing them and using cash to the crew that actually serves them. It is entirely up to you to do as YOU see fit. Now the cheerleaders will start posting......................................................... Not cheerleading only stating the facts. The only subtracted fee is for credit card charges which run about 3% at most for a company the size of Princess. So for an example if CA is $17 then the most going to credit card fees, if your account is paid by credit card, would be 51 cents. If you cut the amount you still pay credit card fees on the amount you do pay. Because it is under US accounting regulations all money received except for the actual credit card fees must go to the crew that are members of the pool. The law that requires that also requires that it must be optional. So one can do what they want. Though it is rather amazing how some feel like they have to attack the program to justify what their choices are. Edited August 22 by TRLD 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STLCARDS82 Posted August 22 #13 Share Posted August 22 1 hour ago, TRLD said: Not cheerleading only stating the facts. The only subtracted fee is for credit card charges which run about 3% at most for a company the size of Princess. So for an example if CA is $17 then the most going to credit card fees, if your account is paid by credit card, would be 51 cents. If you cut the amount you still pay credit card fees on the amount you do pay. Because it is under US accounting regulations all money received except for the actual credit card fees must go to the crew that are members of the pool. The law that requires that also requires that it must be optional. So one can do what they want. Though it is rather amazing how some feel like they have to attack the program to justify what their choices are. So basically, it's wrong to question the system? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted August 22 #14 Share Posted August 22 1 hour ago, cruzsnooze said: The suggestion might increase but it is still at the passengers discretion to adjust or eliminate them. I personally reduce mine to $10 PP PD which is what I believe actually goes to crew after Princess takes their admin fee and does employee of the month and employee incentives and employee party. Many report removing them and using cash to the crew that actually serves them. It is entirely up to you to do as YOU see fit. Now the cheerleaders will start posting......................................................... Hence the move to all inclusive where gratuities can't be pulled 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRLD Posted August 22 #15 Share Posted August 22 13 minutes ago, STLCARDS82 said: So basically, it's wrong to question the system? One can question the system. Attacking the system to justify ones decision to cut the CA is not questioning the system. Have no issue with discussing the pros, cons, the features, how it ties into crew contracts, how it evolved to where it is todays. The benefits of it for crew, cruiseline and passengers vs doong away with it and it all getting rolled into fares. On the other hand comments that someone cut/eliminate the CA because Y reason when the reason is trying to undercut the vslidity of the program with little or no info that supports that the reason is valid is not questioning. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzsnooze Posted August 22 #16 Share Posted August 22 Princess is foreign flagged and does not follow US labor laws. The policy of who gets into the pool has way too many people like "revenue generating" crew. I don't care to tip the Bingo callers or , or the entertainment crew, the cruise director and his staff? My opinion is validated by Princess hence the ability to reduce the amount I wish to donate to their overhead. My opinion is just as valid as anyone else's. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadn13 Posted August 22 #17 Share Posted August 22 The price is currently $16 and it’s increasing to $17, Is this correct? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRLD Posted August 22 #18 Share Posted August 22 1 hour ago, cruzsnooze said: Princess is foreign flagged and does not follow US labor laws. The policy of who gets into the pool has way too many people like "revenue generating" crew. I don't care to tip the Bingo callers or , or the entertainment crew, the cruise director and his staff? My opinion is validated by Princess hence the ability to reduce the amount I wish to donate to their overhead. My opinion is just as valid as anyone else's. Actually since all of the cruise holding companies are on the US stock exchange they must follow US accounting regulations. One of those regulations deals with gratuity pools such as the CA system. The system provides several benefits, but also requires that all funds except for actual credit card fees must go to the members of the pool, another requirement is that the payments must be optional. Because it is optional that is your choice. Still is funny that you feel you have to attack the program to justify your choice. So now you are changing from the money doesn't go to the crew to there are too many people in it What no data to support your opinion that the crew really only gets moderate percentage of the CA. The Cruise Director and other officer level personnel are not part of the pool. The pool contracts are non officer personnel all on the hotel side. I certainly enjoy the work done by many of the people you mentioned when i am onboard ship. I guess you must not go to any of activities put on by the lower level CD staff, or ever get helped by anyone at the excursion desk. I consider their work contributing to the enjoyment of my cruise. I even appreciate those that make sure the sheets and towels that i use are clean. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julia Posted August 22 #19 Share Posted August 22 That poor dead horse... 🐎😢 Now, who wants to debate dress codes? 😅 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare trbarton Posted August 22 #20 Share Posted August 22 This posting has gone in so many different directions that it’s challenging to track it from the original posting/question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted August 22 #21 Share Posted August 22 2 hours ago, TRLD said: Actually since all of the cruise holding companies are on the US stock exchange they must follow US accounting regulations. One of those regulations deals with gratuity pools such as the CA system. The system provides several benefits, but also requires that all funds except for actual credit card fees must go to the members of the pool, another requirement is that the payments must be optional. Because it is optional that is your choice. Still is funny that you feel you have to attack the program to justify your choice. So now you are changing from the money doesn't go to the crew to there are too many people in it What no data to support your opinion that the crew really only gets moderate percentage of the CA. The Cruise Director and other officer level personnel are not part of the pool. The pool contracts are non officer personnel all on the hotel side. I certainly enjoy the work done by many of the people you mentioned when i am onboard ship. I guess you must not go to any of activities put on by the lower level CD staff, or ever get helped by anyone at the excursion desk. I consider their work contributing to the enjoyment of my cruise. I even appreciate those that make sure the sheets and towels that i use are clean. Excellent - now post exactly who is covered under the CA and what % goes to that department This will be the defintive and final answer needed to determine future threads 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
that Posted August 22 #22 Share Posted August 22 On 8/20/2024 at 4:46 PM, memoak said: There appears to be a $1 increase per day. Not any amount to concern anyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
that Posted August 22 #23 Share Posted August 22 @memoak can I ask the source of increase info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need-a-vacation Posted August 22 #24 Share Posted August 22 4 minutes ago, that said: On 8/20/2024 at 4:46 PM, memoak said: There appears to be a $1 increase per day. Not any amount to concern anyone So will they increase the price of the plus or premium package to accommodate the CA increase, and by how much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
that Posted August 22 #25 Share Posted August 22 Just now, Need-a-vacation said: So will they increase the price of the plus or premium package to accommodate the CA increase, and by how much? Do Not know source of info on any Crew Appreciation increase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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