Watch out on the new tipping way

[mommabean]

This is not totally true. You can add prepaid gratuities to your booking at the time you make the reservation and prepay the gratuities at final payment. Vouchers for tips will then be automatically sent to your cabin.

 

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that cruisinggator2 meant that RCI has never added gratuities to your seapass card "automatically". This form of tipping needs to be requested at some point.

 

On the other hand, Carnival doesn't add it automatically at final payment but DOES add it automatically to your sign and sail card when you board. The only way to remove it and tip in cash is to wait at guest relations and have the charge removed.

[Mark_K]

Well, we don't have a atm card either. We either carry cash or credit card. I know we may be unusual but at home we are usually close to a bank and when traveling, a credit card usually works.

Coudn't you have used the cash you had for tips and used your credit card for all the expenses needed to get home? I guess I don't understand the needing cash to get home part, nearly everybody takes credit cards.

[Cruising89143]

This is not totally true. You can add prepaid gratuities to your booking at the time you make the reservation and prepay the gratuities at final payment. Vouchers for tips will then be automatically sent to your cabin.

 

I'm talking about the every day way that RCI works. They do not automatically add the gratuities to your account the way that some cruise lines like Carnival and HAL do. Yes you can have them added at the time of booking or you can have them added once on board but RCI does not just do it without your consent.

[Cruising89143]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that cruisinggator2 meant that RCI has never added gratuities to your seapass card "automatically". This form of tipping needs to be requested at some point.

 

On the other hand, Carnival doesn't add it automatically at final payment but DOES add it automatically to your sign and sail card when you board. The only way to remove it and tip in cash is to wait at guest relations and have the charge removed.

 

Thanks and that is exactly what I was trying to say!!!!!:)

[DJAM]

I did contact Royal shortly after we sent the check and they said they didn't get it. hmmm

At this point I believe that you shouldn't be too concerned whether or not your tips were recieved and distributed but should be aware that you have exposed yourself to the possibility of having your idenity stolen. If the check did get to the proper people ( waiter, stateroom attendant etc . ) and the possibility of predisposition of nefarious activity exists, your check can become more valuable to them than the amount written on the face of it. They now have access to all of your personal info, including a bank routing number and account number . Good luck - so much for trying to do the right thing . :eek:

[DiamondPlusCruiser]

My fiancee and I would like to do pre-paid before we sail - how do we go about doing that? Should I call RCI?

 

Thanks

 

Call your TA if you have one or RCI if you booked direct and ask them to include prepaid gratuities in your reservation. You will pay this at final payment and receive the vouchers in your cabin.

[phoenix1181]

At this point I believe that you shouldn't be too concerned whether or not your tips were recieved and distributed but should be aware that you have exposed yourself to the possibility of having your idenity stolen. If the check did get to the proper people ( waiter, stateroom attendant etc . ) and the possibility of predisposition of nefarious activity exists, your check can become more valuable to them than the amount written on the face of it. They now have access to all of your personal info, including a bank routing number and account number . Good luck - so much for trying to do the right thing . :eek:

 

Is it really necessary to try to scare the OP? Although the scenario you’re describing is possible (anything is), it’s also highly unlikely. The check was sent to RCI and your insinuation that an employee would jeopardize their job and has the means and desire to use it for fraudulent purposes is uncalled for.

 

There certainly are things we can all do to try to avoid identity theft. When the day comes that we can’t send a check to a large corporation, we’re all in trouble!

[Schplinky]

Is it really necessary to try to scare the OP? Although the scenario you’re describing is possible (anything is), it’s also highly unlikely. The check was sent to RCI and your insinuation that an employee would jeopardize their job and has the means and desire to use it for fraudulent purposes is uncalled for.

 

There certainly are things we can all do to try to avoid identity theft. When the day comes that we can’t send a check to a large corporation, we’re all in trouble!

 

I agree! I also think there is something vaguely racist about presuming all of "those" people from other countries will swindle you. When you give your credit card to a waiter in a restaurant here, do you worry about the fact that they have your card (expiry and all), your signature and the secret code on the back of the card? I doubt most do but for some reason, when we're traveling, some people act as though the people who are serving them so well must be just waiting to swindle them. Sad.

[cin7609]

My fiancee and I would like to do pre-paid before we sail - how do we go about doing that? Should I call RCI?

 

Thanks

 

Log on to RCCL and check in on line. Even if you used a TA you can do this. Check the box to pre pay your tips and you are done.

[DJAM]

Is it really necessary to try to scare the OP? Although the scenario you’re describing is possible (anything is), it’s also highly unlikely. The check was sent to RCI and your insinuation that an employee would jeopardize their job and has the means and desire to use it for fraudulent purposes is uncalled for.

 

There certainly are things we can all do to try to avoid identity theft. When the day comes that we can’t send a check to a large corporation, we’re all in trouble!

The purpose was not to scare the OP but to make them aware. The purpose of these message booards is to help people. The possibility of this scenario is not " highly unlikely ". Most identy theft and fraud scams originate overseas. RCI is international. Their employees are international. Their employees relatives and friends are international. Do not assume that their employees like the customer. They actually loathe you. Cruise lines are " The third world Navy".

The day IS here when " we cant send a check to a large corporation " whether you realize this or not. My post was to bring to light a scenerio which the OP may not have thought of and for you to state that my so called " insinuation " is uncalled for actually counterproductive to the thread.

Perhaps your style of post and input would be more helpful in a discussion debating the dining room desert menu or why a certain food was not included in the midnight buffet. ;)

[Schplinky]

Do not assume that their employees like the customer. They actually loathe you. Cruise lines are " The third world Navy".

 

 

I think this says a lot more about you than the crew...

[DJAM]

I think this says a lot more about you than the crew...

Yeah , I have a response , WHAT ?????

[Schplinky]

If you truly think the crew hates you, why would you sail? If you suspect them their friends and their associates of plotting against you, why would you sail? They are in your room among your things. Good grief!

It all seems a bit paranoid.

[DJAM]

If you truly think the crew hates you, why would you sail? If you suspect them their friends and their associates of plotting against you, why would you sail? They are in your room among your things. Good grief!

It all seems a bit paranoid.

I think you are getting a bit off base here. In one of your posts you have called me a racist and you had also introduced the term " those people" and attributed that to me. The term " Third world navy " is commonly used when describing the cruise lines and their recruitment policies across political and sociological spectrums. How dare you attack me. Not every cruise line employee is happy to serve you, if you believe that he / she does, you need to remove your tinted glasses. You now call me paranoid and question why I choose to sail ? You have taken my statements about a potential problem and have spun them into something which may seem to fit an underlying agenda that you feel the need to push. The statement quoted above is your imagination running away with some preconcieved notion of who I am, how I live, and how I sail ,In which you feel the need to voice an opinion about. You do not know anything about me other than my signature here, how dare you pre judge me.

[MakinGold]

Sorry, DJAM, but I must agree that you started it all with a paranoid, alarmist post.

[Schplinky]

I think you are getting a bit off base here. In one of your posts you have called me a racist and you had also introduced the term " those people" and attributed that to me. The term " Third world navy " is commonly used when describing the cruise lines and their recruitment policies across political and sociological spectrums. How dare you attack me. Not every cruise line employee is happy to serve you, if you believe that he / she does, you need to remove your tinted glasses. You now call me paranoid and question why I choose to sail ? You have taken my statements about a potential problem and have spun them into something which may seem to fit an underlying agenda that you feel the need to push. The statement quoted above is your imagination running away with some preconcieved notion of who I am, how I live, and how I sail ,In which you feel the need to voice an opinion about. You do not know anything about me other than my signature here, how dare you pre judge me.

 

How dare I judge you? Dd you not post the phrases "Do not assume that their employees like the customer. They actually loathe you." That was a very broad and judgmental statement about people we have come to enjoy over the course of our cruises and I feel more than justified at being offended by it. You presume to know their motivations better than the OP or me. I'm not sure what gives you insight into their souls.

 

I find those phrases and your illogical conclusions about cruise staff ("Most identity theft and fraud scams originate overseas. RCI is international. Their employees are international. Their employees relatives and friends are international.") as incredibly offensive and xenophobic. It's like saying that child porn is a problem. It is usually perpetrated by men with computers. Therefore, all men with computers are to be mistrusted. Your statement makes a paranoid jump to the point where all foreigners working on ships are potentially criminals and I do find that offensive and yes, racist.

 

I do not wear tinted glasses but I also did not rush in to warn the OP that she should be worried about the information of her personal information because of her trust in the people that served her, and who clearly she regarded well enough to try and tip.

[Happy ks]

Sorry but no excuses,staff may have given a good service,but you failed them,this all could have been done 24 hrs before the final day.

 

She stated she didn't know until the last morning, right before disembarkation. She thought the tips were going to be automatically added. So, be nice to her, she doing a whole lot more and has been a lot more conscientious than many others would be. She didn't have to come on here and admit her mistake and she's asking for advice, not to be scolded for her error.

 

Gingee, it looks like you have another RCI cruise planned. Since you feel so badly about this, why not over-tip the next staff and tell them why. It all evens out.

[shipknotshore]

Before you cruise and you enter in your info. for your set-sail pass (for RCI) I believe they ask if you would like to pre-pay your tips. This would explain why some have thought they pre-paid their tips without having to fill out the form after they boarded.

 

I don't ever use the ATM machine on board but can't you get cash by using a credit card??

[Jeka]

This is not totally true. You can add prepaid gratuities to your booking at the time you make the reservation and prepay the gratuities at final payment. Vouchers for tips will then be automatically sent to your cabin.

 

We always prepay, it's a lot easier and it insures you don't accidently stiff anyone. Usually include additional cash tip for room steward, head waiter and sometimes assistant waiter.

[Schplinky]

 

I don't ever use the ATM machine on board but can't you get cash by using a credit card??

 

Most credit cards allow that if you know your PIN but I would not recommend it. The interest is charged from the instant you take the money out, not the statement date. That said, in an emergency, it can be a life-saver if you're pressed for cash.

[petel]

Before you cruise and you enter in your info. for your set-sail pass (for RCI) I believe they ask if you would like to pre-pay your tips. This would explain why some have thought they pre-paid their tips without having to fill out the form after they boarded.

 

I don't ever use the ATM machine on board but can't you get cash by using a credit card??

 

The sign is the casino says you can get up to $2200 per day on your ship pass. That will probably cover most tips :)

[shipknotshore]

The sign is the casino says you can get up to $2200 per day on your ship pass. That will probably cover most tips :)

 

I really only asked about the ATM/Credit Card for Gingee....she said she only brings cash and a credit card with her.

 

I understand that using the casino to get cash is a much better way than the ATM as it shows up on your Credit Card statement as a RCI charge, not as a cash advance. (I've not done that either..just read about it.):p

 

Yeah, I'll do the $2200.00 tip when you let me know how they reacted to getting that amount. :eek: It would be fun to have unlimited funds and give huge tips.

[Gingee]

Let's see if I can remember everything.

 

First of all our next cruise is Carnival - not Royal. For the life of me, I guess we misunderstood the tipping on this last cruise. It was not intentional, that's for sure to rip these guys off. We did at least tell the waiter and the room attendant about it. I know that doesn't pay the bills but at least they know why.

 

We couldn't go to the casino (if I even knew about the possibility) because we were in port and everything usually closes down.

 

Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!Don't take my identity.

 

We couldn't use our cash for the way home because we were staying in Galveston another night and we needed cash for the taxis, the train tips (we were taking the train home) and other non-credit card events.

 

I am still hoping the check will show up somehow. I am going to try to contact Royal again.

[LadyRose]

OK... This is my DH and my 1st Cruise (RCI, Freedom of the Seas, 03/02/08, 7 night) and I am REALLY confused about tipping :confused:

 

At dinner, are gratuities added?

Drinks (DH and I don't drink and will be getting a Soda Pass)?

Other times?

 

I found something on this site to calculate the gratuities and that comes to:

Waiter-$50.00

Assistant Waiter-$28.00

Suite Attendant-$81.00

Headwaiter-$11.00

 

But when and how do we give this and is it in place of OR added to other gratuities?

 

:confused: :confused: :confused:

[MakinGold]

OK... This is my DH and my 1st Cruise (RCI, Freedom of the Seas, 03/02/08, 7 night) and I am REALLY confused about tipping :confused:

 

At dinner, are gratuities added?

Drinks (DH and I don't drink and will be getting a Soda Pass)?

Other times?

 

I found something on this site to calculate the gratuities and that comes to:

Waiter-$50.00

Assistant Waiter-$28.00

Suite Attendant-$81.00

Headwaiter-$11.00

 

But when and how do we give this and is it in place of OR added to other gratuities?

 

:confused: :confused: :confused:

 

You have your choice of adding it to your SeaPass, prepaying before you even leave, or using cash. Either way, they'll deliver envelopes to your cabin near the end of the cruise. If you pre-paid or charged gratuities to your SeaPass you'll get vouchers to put in the envelopes.

 

There is no need to pay gratuities in the dining room as you go along. They are not expected. The envelopes at the end of the cruise are expected. Most people present the envelopes to their servers on the last night of the cruise.

 

Gratuities are automatically added to all purchased beverages, including soda cards and wine "packages".

 

Modest tips are appreciated for room service at the time of delivery. You'll get a myriad of opinions about how much, but generally a couple dollars each time you use room service is adequate. There may be a few other times you might want to tip a little extra here and there, such as at specialty dining restaurants. A tip is included in the surcharge, but if you want to tip a little extra for great service, you would do so at the end of your meal, as you won't necessarily see that server at the end of the cruise. Some people like to tip a favorite bartender. This is not necessarily expected, as all drinks do have a tip added automatically, but is a nice gesture for someone who has given you good service. This can be done as you go along or at the end of the cruise.

 

I'm sure I've missed some points here and there, but that should give you the idea.