I just received my e-doc’s for my upcoming sailing in August and it looks like gratuities are increasing. It states:
Gratuities
A $16.00 per guest, per day gratuity will automatically be added to each guest’s SeaPass® account for our dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to give you the best possible cruise experience. Suite guests will see a $18.50 daily gratuity.
Guests who prepaid gratuities prior to boarding their cruise will not see a daily charge onboard.
An 18% gratuity is also automatically added to beverages, room service, and the mini bar. Beverage gratuities are pooled and shared by various dining and beverage service staff. An 18% gratuity is also automatically added to spa and salon purchases. Gratuities for other service personnel are at your discretion.
*Guests who booked prior to July 15, 2022 can pre-pay gratuities before their sailing at the previous rates, which are $14.50 for standard staterooms and $17.50 for suites.
I know of several people on my sailing who have called RC reservations, Crown and Anchor or club royale and have been told that they have no knowledge of an increase in gratuities and they will leave a note on your reservation that you called. Another good reason to have a good travel agent.
I don’t have an issue with the increase, except maybe the higher increase on regular rooms in comparison to suites, my issue is the way RC communicated the increase. I would think that a separate email should have been sent out to all existing reservations of the increase. Also, as it appears that no one working the phones at RC know about this, I’d think that it might have been better to inform them first of the change. Especially since they’re giving you the option of prepaying at the booking rate.
Still looking forward to cruising no matter the rate.