JT2

The price on my balcony guarantee has gone up 43% since I booked it the beginning of August. Maybe they readjusted the cost due to moving from Brilliance to Independence....

Just a friendly reminder not to make any decisions until they do formally announce the change.
I'd hate to see anyone make a pre-emptive change and then regret it later because the specifics ended up being different.

Sure hope that isn’t true! I have an awesome corner GS on Brilliance this coming summer! 

Excellent! I've got an 8 day scheduled next June with 3 sea days and Labadee, challenge accepted.
US Army Trained.

I always slip a $10 to the server on the first night when they open up a bottle of wine I brought on board. While I've never encountered a a corkage fee yet, this makes for some incredible service as the week progresses. I also like to give our cabin steward $20 on the first day as well...it's amazing what that investment will do for you during the rest of the cruise.

I always bring along some small bills and tip often. While the 18% is spread out to all the staff, showing extra appreciation at a point of service pays just seems like the right thing to do with all that those folks have to do for relatively low pay. Never gotten bad service when I didn't tip but, if you do, it is noticed and feel like you get even better service. 

I would suggest that if you have a spot that you expect to hang out in more than others (for me, the Solarium) - then I would tip nicely on the first day and let them know that they'll be seeing a lot of you.  Cash is best, but however you do it, just do it.  Also, if you're lounging around or in the hot tubs, and a waiter comes and services you, he should get a good tip, as well.   In this case, he's doing all the work.
 
For me (and I'm not a guy with much disposable income), if we get to go into ports and not be on an excursion, I intend to be a tipping fool.   After all, they're the ones who have really taken it on the chin all these months.  
 
I'm just so excited to be able to go (hopefully in 74 days) that I'll be the most thankful, masked-up person onboard!

I didn't say everyone should tip. You are absolutely correct that we've already paid the gratuities and, like you, I notice no less service if I don't. But I do feel good about doing so and I'm sure the staff member feels good about getting it, so no harm. Not sure why you think that "spoils the market". I'm as average folk as you can get, I uploaded a spreadsheet to see if getting the drink package was worth it and balcony is splurging for us.

I always bring along some small bills and tip often. While the 18% is spread out to all the staff, showing extra appreciation at a point of service pays just seems like the right thing to do with all that those folks have to do for relatively low pay. Never gotten bad service when I didn't tip but, if you do, it is noticed and feel like you get even better service. 

When I travel internationally I research before leaving home and I strive to follow local cultures and expectations.  I am a visitor in their country, it's the least I can do.   I don't try to learn all the socioeconomic factors involved or try to understand healthcare systems, taxation, wage laws and so on.  I research what the locals do and do my best to follow their lead.
It's not my place to judge other cultures, traditions or expectations so I don't.  The U.S. is different than many regions.  Which is better or right is a complex question.  Tipping norms vary by region.  I probably overtip in other countries now including Canada.  That's better than failing to meet local norms and expectations.
When sailing mass market cruises or "the big three" it is distinctly an American experience.    Rightfully so, America made the cruise industry what it is and even small foreign lines benefit from that momentum.  
Tipping beyond the included gratuity is a choice no different than tipping anywhere in the world.  Everyone is free to choose an approach they are comfortable with.  I choose to exceed the included DX gratuity that I consider to be low even by Canadian standards when I travel there.  You're money, you're choice.  

We tip in Canada too, just saying...

The people working on these ships are busting their butts doing whatever they can to make us comfy, happy, and entertained while working 16+ hour days, and I highly (and boy do I mean HIGHLY) doubt even half of us are even polite to them, so the very least we can do is tip.  
For what it's worth, I worked my way through college by waiting tables at a national chain diner where I worked 12 hour shifts not being tipped, being spit on, verbally abused, GROPED, and looked down on because "it's minimum work", so I get incredibly angry (it's been 13 years since I waited tables!) when I see this.  To you it may be just minimum work, but to them it's their lifeline and how they are feeding their families, and it sure as heck isn't your job to judge.  And that brings me to my next point, why are we looking down on grocery store clerks?!  They are essential workers where I live and are the reason why my grocery stores are open, therefore I can feed myself and my other half, and in my honest opinion, can't get paid enough considering the amount of harassment I see them get every time I get groceries the last seven months. 
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

Excellent! I've got an 8 day scheduled next June with 3 sea days and Labadee, challenge accepted.
US Army Trained.

I didn't say everyone should tip. You are absolutely correct that we've already paid the gratuities and, like you, I notice no less service if I don't. But I do feel good about doing so and I'm sure the staff member feels good about getting it, so no harm. Not sure why you think that "spoils the market". I'm as average folk as you can get, I uploaded a spreadsheet to see if getting the drink package was worth it and balcony is splurging for us.

My math was wrong, we'll only be in Aruba and Curacao plus Labadee so 4 days at sea. Right now price for DBP is $61 at 20% off so will wait to see what Black Friday/Cyber Monday brings. I checked out your blog, loved it, very informative! 

My first sailing was an 8-nighter on Freedom of the Seas like @JT2 is taking, including 3 port days plus a stop in Labadee. I did a semi-live blog of that (link in signature) and gave my daily drink tallies there; definitely came out ahead with the package. Didn't even have to drink that much, but that trip the DBP was only $42/night -- a price I haven't seen in a heck of a long time now.

Excellent! I've got an 8 day scheduled next June with 3 sea days and Labadee, challenge accepted.
US Army Trained.

100% in agreement, we tip on every drink..  I dont think $3.00 here and there makes a huge difference, not even on my bar bill.

I didn't say everyone should tip. You are absolutely correct that we've already paid the gratuities and, like you, I notice no less service if I don't. But I do feel good about doing so and I'm sure the staff member feels good about getting it, so no harm. Not sure why you think that "spoils the market". I'm as average folk as you can get, I uploaded a spreadsheet to see if getting the drink package was worth it and balcony is splurging for us.

This is also why I think wait staff around the world loves the US because we automatically tip.  I lived for 3+ yrs in the UK.  I have traveled across Europe and Australia, I know they have a VAT, but as Americans we still leave another tip on top of the bill.
OBTW, I am a military wife (DH is now retired)  guess what?  If you purchase groceries on base/post you actually do tip the baggers.  They are paid min. wage.  They bag your groceries and walk them out to your car, plus put them in.  So yep, in some parts of the US we tip grocery workers.  They are paid min. wage.   We also pay a 5% surcharge for shopping at the commissary.  
I honestly, do not tip at the bars in the pool.  However, we love Schooners and go there for pre-dinner cocktails.  We tip there, not to get better service, but bc after a few days they are our "local" bartender.  They remember our orders and as we pony up to the bar they ask your usual, followed by the order.  They also would go in the back and bring us a cup of nuts or snack for us.
Finally, I don't think it is about the tip per se.  I think it is about respect.
We all forget that while we are having fun, they have personal lives that have to be placed into the back of their mind.  They have to smile, and maybe they just heard their parent thousands of miles away was diagnosed with cancer.  Yes, they signed up for it, but they are still humans with emotions, yet expected to serve us all with a smile.  
Let's also be honest.  I get the 18% argument, but really, you pay how many thousands for a cruise, not including airfare, and we are now talking about maybe 5 bucks a day for a bartender? I say 5 going with 5 alcoholic beverages.  What is that 1% of your cruise cost?
 
 

I didn't say everyone should tip. You are absolutely correct that we've already paid the gratuities and, like you, I notice no less service if I don't. But I do feel good about doing so and I'm sure the staff member feels good about getting it, so no harm. Not sure why you think that "spoils the market". I'm as average folk as you can get, I uploaded a spreadsheet to see if getting the drink package was worth it and balcony is splurging for us.