prepay gratuities

[sexyaznboy]

I'm trying to decide whether to call my TA to have my gratuities prepaid for a cruise in May on Radiance. I just don't like the hassle of figuring things out when I'm on my trip. I don't know why but I just find this part really stressful! Any advice?

[cruiseguy1016]

I figure it out before I go and put money in envelopes for the individuals that are to receive it. Then, if someone does a better than expected job, I add more to it on the ship. I like to personally hand the envelope to the recipient so I can say "Thank You".

[readytolose]

For my first cruise and now the one I have booked I had the gratuities added to my "bill" when I booked. I liked knowing they were paid for and taken care of before we left for vacation. I was still able to add extra for those I felt deserved more but the bulk of the money was already paid for and that was one less thing I had to worry about paying for.

 

I was free to spend my money on other things like drinks and the casino!!

[NancyIL]

I try not to pay for anything before I have to! It isn't difficult to instruct RCI to add the gratuities to my shipboard account once I'm on the ship. That way I pay for them AFTER the cruise, when I get my credit card bill, instead of several months before the cruise.

[sunsetme]

if you prepay grats do they charge you immediately? maybe I will use my rcl visa to do this now.

[lady_cruiser]

Think of it this way - it is one less charge that you will have to worry about since you will have already paid for the gratuities ahead of time.

[wrp96]

Instead of worrying about it, use this handy tip calculator http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com to figure out the cash tips.

[Aprille]

if you prepay grats do they charge you immediately?

Not unless you have already paid in full. Otherwise it is just added to your balance.

[TPKeller]

if you prepay grats do they charge you immediately? maybe I will use my rcl visa to do this now.

If you prepay, then they charge you at the same time you make your final payment.

 

If you charge tips to your seapass card, then they just add it to the bill you get at the end of the cruise, which would be due with your next regular credit card payment.

 

If you pay in cash, then yes, use the Cruse Tip Calculator to take all the mathematical stress away! :) (WRP beat me to it!!)

 

Theron

[wrp96]

If you pay in cash, then yes, use the Cruse Tip Calculator to take all the mathematical stress away! :) (WRP beat me to it!!)

 

Well you did such a great job setting it up, it would be a shame not to point people to it!!

[cmalibu1]

For us these are always just added on anyways. I dont like the hassle of figuring things out either, but if you tip extra at the end, thats another hassle anyways?!?

[donaldsc]

In other words, you want to make the cruise company an interest-free loan of your gratuities instead of trying to handle the really difficult task of figuring it out at cruise time.

 

Does this make any financial sense to anyone at all?

 

DON

[TPKeller]

In other words, you want to make the cruise company an interest-free loan of your gratuities instead of trying to handle the really difficult task of figuring it out at cruise time.

 

Does this make any financial sense to anyone at all?

 

DON

No, it doesn't... however, "financial sense" is not the only criteria by which such an action is evaluated. There are plenty of folks who are nitty-gritty detail oriented, who find the benefit of having that little box checked off ahead of time to be well worth the small amount of interest they could have otherwise earned.

 

Everyone is different, and I'm glad we have these forums to provide the information that allows each person to properly do what suits them best. :)

 

Theron

[cb at sea]

Why is it so hard to figure out? Multiply the number of days by the recommended tip, double it (if there are 2 of you) and there you have it!

[Merion_Mom]

In other words, you want to make the cruise company an interest-free loan of your gratuities instead of trying to handle the really difficult task of figuring it out at cruise time.

 

Does this make any financial sense to anyone at all?

 

DON

 

At the interest rates that banks are paying these days, how much interest are you going to earn in a month on $200?

[marle7]

You should also be aware that if you pre pay gratuities and for some reason have horrible service, and don't want to tip, you're stuck. You'll have to fight with head office to get it back.

[NancyIL]

On our AOS cruise 2 weeks ago, I got a letter in the cabin about charging gratuities to my seapass account. The amounts were already figured. I listed the names of the passengers in my cabin whose gratuities were to be charged to my account. Then I signed it and handed it to someone at Guest Services. Not too difficult.

[readytolose]

In other words, you want to make the cruise company an interest-free loan of your gratuities instead of trying to handle the really difficult task of figuring it out at cruise time.

 

Does this make any financial sense to anyone at all?

 

DON

 

Perhaps it not that it is so difficult to figure out, rather a convenience to have it done and over with. Or in my case a way to pay some of the stuff ahead of time so I don't have a huge credit card bill when I return.

 

Plus the small amount of interest my bank is paying right now isn't worth the hassle of me wasting my time during vacation to take care of it.

[readytolose]

You should also be aware that if you pre pay gratuities and for some reason have horrible service, and don't want to tip, you're stuck. You'll have to fight with head office to get it back.

 

I can't imagine having service so bad that I would not want to pay the little bit of gratuity that they receive.

[SelectSys]

I'm trying to decide whether to call my TA to have my gratuities prepaid for a cruise in May on Radiance. I just don't like the hassle of figuring things out when I'm on my trip. I don't know why but I just find this part really stressful! Any advice?

 

From a strictly financial perspective it is best to wait until the last possible momment to pay a bill. As was said in many posts, the cruise lines make it really easy to pay on board. This is what we do plus adding in some extra cash for good service. The one person I rarely tip extra to is the head waiter. With rare exception has the head waiter ever made a difference or showed too much interest in us.

[marle7]

I can't imagine having service so bad that I would not want to pay the little bit of gratuity that they receive.

 

It's happened. In fact to me. Only one of the categories on the prepaid gratuities, but I couldn't recind that one and still pay the others. I couldn't recind them at all. I do not prepay anymore, ever.

[NancyIL]

Perhaps it not that it is so difficult to figure out, rather a convenience to have it done and over with. Or in my case a way to pay some of the stuff ahead of time so I don't have a huge credit card bill when I return.

 

 

My huge credit card bill is from paying off the cruise 2+ months before the ship sails. My onboard account is relatively small in comparison - even with gratuities added. However, I'm sure the cruiselines do appreciate all the people who prepay their gratuities months in advance.

[mobgirl]

Our gratuities are included in the fare as a perk for booking with an online TA. :)

[donaldsc]

At the interest rates that banks are paying these days, how much interest are you going to earn in a month on $200?

 

But multiply $200 by the number of ships by the number of people who may prepay and that is a hefty sum for the cruise line. Do you really think that they put it in a bank account?

 

DON

[pmfan]

Do whatever works best for you. If you prefer to have them paid before you cruise by all means prepay.:)