We are going on a Disney cruise again this Summer and the tips are NOT added automatically. We are having a dinner at the upscale, adults only restaurant on board and the "upcharge" includes the gratuity. It's all clearly spelled out.With most cruise ships, they are now automatically putting the per day tip on your card at boarding time. The only way to adjust this is to go to the purser's deck to have it removed, and you'll feel like a heel doing it.
Generally speaking, $11.50 a day is a bargain when you consider the kind of service you're getting. We often leave an extra tip in our room for the cabin steward if he/she has done a good job. These people wait on you hand and foot and they get very little salary or days off.
When you're onboard, you will not be able to use money. EVERYTHING will be added to your onboard account/credit card. The bars will automatically add a tip to each drink. Careful of your bar tab. It adds up quickly! Salon & spa services are not included in the $11.50 day tip.
Also, carefully read about what some cruise lines are doing now with "freestyle" or upgraded restaurants. Those restaurants are not included with your cruise fare. You must pay extra for them and an additional tip for the waitstaff. I hate those type of cruise ships. I'm so used to the all inclusive nature of the cruises in the past. Now those were great deals!
Where are you thinking of going??.
It's $23/day as there are 2 of us going. I was just wondering as we've never been on a cruise.With most cruise ships, they are now automatically putting the per day tip on your card at boarding time. The only way to adjust this is to go to the purser's deck to have it removed, and you'll feel like a heel doing it.
Generally speaking, $11.50 a day is a bargain when you consider the kind of service you're getting. We often leave an extra tip in our room for the cabin steward if he/she has done a good job. These people wait on you hand and foot and they get very little salary or days off.
When you're onboard, you will not be able to use money. EVERYTHING will be added to your onboard account/credit card. The bars will automatically add a tip to each drink. Careful of your bar tab. It adds up quickly! Salon & spa services are not included in the $11.50 day tip.
Also, carefully read about what some cruise lines are doing now with "freestyle" or upgraded restaurants. Those restaurants are not included with your cruise fare. You must pay extra for them and an additional tip for the waitstaff. I hate those type of cruise ships. I'm so used to the all inclusive nature of the cruises in the past. Now those were great deals!
Where are you thinking of going??.
Todd.. stop cruising on Carnival (or maybe it was NCL).i have only been on one cruise but my room steward just cleaned my room and made my towels into animals. He seemed nice and was freindly but I would not have kicked him $22/day. Even $10/day was over what I left, I am sure. oops.
I am surprised that it is RCL. The animal thing is mostly Carnival and NCL. The lower-end lines.It was a Royal Carribean cruise, and it was a while ago. I guess I did not ask for any extras. And we left in the morning and came back to change quick. Then we were out again so we probably never noticed. It was a short cruise, and I probably was oblivious.
I tip 15% or more to waitresses etc but I am way remiss in tipping my housekeeper. I need to step it up..
We are in fact starting from Rio.Well if you go by Rio, stop in and say hi.
My folks did a transatlantic on the Cunard line a few times. Mixed reviews from them. Not bad but it is a different feel.
Sort of makes me want to book a cruise!.
Even though it is associated with TA, I have to point out how helpful the www.cruisecritic.com website was in planning our first cruise. You will find answers to absolutely everything there, broken down by cruise line. The tipping criteria is different for each line. We've done Royal and pre-paid tips and then also left extra when service was good. BEST and MOST RELAXING vacation EVER!!!It's $23/day as there are 2 of us going. I was just wondering as we've never been on a cruise.With most cruise ships, they are now automatically putting the per day tip on your card at boarding time. The only way to adjust this is to go to the purser's deck to have it removed, and you'll feel like a heel doing it.
Generally speaking, $11.50 a day is a bargain when you consider the kind of service you're getting. We often leave an extra tip in our room for the cabin steward if he/she has done a good job. These people wait on you hand and foot and they get very little salary or days off.
When you're onboard, you will not be able to use money. EVERYTHING will be added to your onboard account/credit card. The bars will automatically add a tip to each drink. Careful of your bar tab. It adds up quickly! Salon & spa services are not included in the $11.50 day tip.
Also, carefully read about what some cruise lines are doing now with "freestyle" or upgraded restaurants. Those restaurants are not included with your cruise fare. You must pay extra for them and an additional tip for the waitstaff. I hate those type of cruise ships. I'm so used to the all inclusive nature of the cruises in the past. Now those were great deals!
Where are you thinking of going??.
OK, this is going to sound hokey but we're looking at the TCM cruise. (Classic movies) It looked like fun. And there are a lot of classic movies filmed 'on' boats.
http://www.tcmcruise.com/
Looked at the prices, tho, and it seems a bit high for 2 of us for 4 days as we also have to get to FL. So, I might look at a different cruise instead.
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I did notice that the drinks provided are only coffee & tea. Everything else you have to buy. It would take some more investigating on my part.Yes and you will be tipping at every turn to everyone. Nothing is free on a cruise any more. Don't know which line you are thinking of but if you want to eat in the nicest restaurants, that will cost you extra as well. I think you even have to pay for non alcoholic drinks now on some ships. They nickel and dime you to death. We did not enjoy our cruising experience. Guess it is because we are not party people. Do not drink or gamble or hang out on the dance floor so not much else to do except sit on the deck and watch the ocean. We did enjoy our land tours..but again...you pay extra for it all..
To some extent that is true. Our agent often gives us a stateroom credit and we usually get some other credits. We don't drink much. And you will most likely see me drinking unsweetened ice tea or water on the ship. I actually had to specifically go out and spend some of the credit that we had on our last trip because you can't take it with you. We also very rarely will do ship tours, instead organizing our own or just walking around on our own. And you don't pay extra for shows and that. We have very rarely gone to the specialty restaurants. The cruise we are going next doesn't charge for the specialty dining, but it's a very small ship as well and a luxury line.Yes and you will be tipping at every turn to everyone. Nothing is free on a cruise any more. Don't know which line you are thinking of but if you want to eat in the nicest restaurants, that will cost you extra as well. I think you even have to pay for non alcoholic drinks now on some ships. They nickel and dime you to death. We did not enjoy our cruising experience. Guess it is because we are not party people. Do not drink or gamble or hang out on the dance floor so not much else to do except sit on the deck and watch the ocean. We did enjoy our land tours..but again...you pay extra for it all..
It's $23/day as there are 2 of us going. I was just wondering as we've never been on a cruise.With most cruise ships, they are now automatically putting the per day tip on your card at boarding time. The only way to adjust this is to go to the purser's deck to have it removed, and you'll feel like a heel doing it.
Generally speaking, $11.50 a day is a bargain when you consider the kind of service you're getting. We often leave an extra tip in our room for the cabin steward if he/she has done a good job. These people wait on you hand and foot and they get very little salary or days off.
When you're onboard, you will not be able to use money. EVERYTHING will be added to your onboard account/credit card. The bars will automatically add a tip to each drink. Careful of your bar tab. It adds up quickly! Salon & spa services are not included in the $11.50 day tip.
Also, carefully read about what some cruise lines are doing now with "freestyle" or upgraded restaurants. Those restaurants are not included with your cruise fare. You must pay extra for them and an additional tip for the waitstaff. I hate those type of cruise ships. I'm so used to the all inclusive nature of the cruises in the past. Now those were great deals!
Where are you thinking of going??.
OK, this is going to sound hokey but we're looking at the TCM cruise. (Classic movies) It looked like fun. And there are a lot of classic movies filmed 'on' boats.
http://www.tcmcruise.com/
Looked at the prices, tho, and it seems a bit high for 2 of us for 4 days as we also have to get to FL. So, I might look at a different cruise instead.
.
That doesn't seem hokey, it looks like fun. It does seem a bit pricey though, especially if you don't want an interior cabin. Do you have any frequent flyer miles to get to FL? That's how we really save on our vacations.Alibi Ike said:It's $23/day as there are 2 of us going. I was just wondering as we've never been on a cruise.
OK, this is going to sound hokey but we're looking at the TCM cruise. (Classic movies) It looked like fun. And there are a lot of classic movies filmed 'on' boats.
http://www.tcmcruise.com/
Looked at the prices, tho, and it seems a bit high for 2 of us for 4 days as we also have to get to FL. So, I might look at a different cruise instead.