Prepaid Gratuities

[TWooley75]

I'm new to cruising. I prepaid the gratuities during the booking process. If you prepay the gratuities and then purchase a deluxe drink package, since gratuities are in included with the drink package, are we paying double gratuities for our drinks? Thanks!

[Hoski]

No your prepaid gratuities are for dining staff, room steward and behind the scenes staff.  The gratuities on the drink package are for the bartenders and servers. 

[TWooley75]

Thank you

[Tmorin]

How much are the gratuities for the dining staff staff room steward etc?  Is it a set rate like 18% for drinks or depends on what you pay for the cruise?

[TheJones]

11 hours ago, Tmorin said:

How much are the gratuities for the dining staff staff room steward etc?  Is it a set rate like 18% for drinks or depends on what you pay for the cruise?

$14.50 per person per day for non-suite staterooms & $17.50 for suites

[Hagar]

It used to be broken down so we knew the amounts and exactly where things went (or were supposed to go at least) but now there is a "back of house" bucket that some of the coin goes into.

 

Celebrity increasing daily rate this year so stay tuned>>>>>>>>>>>

[FManke]

We always tip on top of the pre-paid gratuities when warranted. A couple of bucks here and there go a long way and the hardest workers aren't always the ones who get the lions share of the tips. That's just us.

[1Cruiser1]

I cancelled my pre paid gratuities and instead tipped accordingly to the waiter directly etc. 
 

Then again I am European and tipping is not something we do over here.

[FManke]

Just now, 1Cruiser1 said:

I cancelled my pre paid gratuities and instead tipped accordingly to the waiter directly etc. 
 

Then again I am European and tipping is not something we do over here.

Going to Europe for the first time this fall. This will be hard for me. Just not used to that. I just have to realize, that's not how they do it.

[Spang1974]

1 hour ago, 1Cruiser1 said:

I cancelled my pre paid gratuities and instead tipped accordingly to the waiter directly etc. 
 

Then again I am European and tipping is not something we do over here.

In my opinion it depends where in Europe, it is definitely something I do when it is appropriate. 

[Spang1974]

1 hour ago, FManke said:

Going to Europe for the first time this fall. This will be hard for me. Just not used to that. I just have to realize, that's not how they do it.

If you feel they deserve a tip please do. Not everywhere or every occasion warrants it but in my opinion I would never say it’s “just not done”.

[FManke]

Just now, Spang1974 said:

If you feel they deserve a tip please do. Not everywhere or every occasion warrants it but in my opinion I would never say it’s “just not done”.

And from what I've read it's not all the same throughout Europe. We'll be in England, Italy, Greece and Montenegro for parts of our trip. It's a lot to keep straight.

[Spang1974]

Exactly, it is a bit confusing. Like I said if you think they deserve it, go ahead, they will appreciate it. I always tip if the service was adequate, even when it’s not expected. 

[ChessE4]

15 hours ago, Tmorin said:

How much are the gratuities for the dining staff staff room steward etc?  Is it a set rate like 18% for drinks or depends on what you pay for the cruise?

If you look at the break out of the tip money, you'll see that for the dining room staff to get 18% (in the aggregate), the daily meal value is $47-$50 (about $9 per person per day for the wait staff and the balance for Stateroom Attendant/Housekeeping in non-suite rooms).  If you price out all of the meals, snacks, and free drinks you consume it's probably at least $50 value, if not more for "resort prices".  Normally, the service we receive is worth a 20% tip, so we give a cash gift at the end in most cases - not a lot, but enough to make up the difference.  What you do is up to you.  Have a great cruise!

[Tmorin]

13 hours ago, TheJones said:

$14.50 per person per day for non-suite staterooms & $17.50 for suites

Does that include kids??  We have 5 of us in a suite. (2 adults 3 kids)

[WAAAYTOOO]

59 minutes ago, Tmorin said:

Does that include kids??  We have 5 of us in a suite. (2 adults 3 kids)

Yes.  Everyone pays gratuities 

[Hypno3]

Ok I'm super confused now! 1st timer cruiser this year August on Explorer of the Seas. Are gratuities not included in the cabin/cruise cost? (Im in Australia). Understand the drinks package is extra...

[Neesa]

@Hypno3, that is correct, the gratuities are not included in the price. They are 14.50 pp in a cabin or 17.50 pp in a suite per night. You can choose to pre-pay them any time before you sail or with final payment or wait and they will be charged to your on board account, payable at the conclusion of your sailing. So yes the gratuities are also "extra" Knowing this I just factor it into the cost of my sailing. Enjoy your cruise!

When you experience the amazing people on this line working so hard to make your vacation so special, maybe like a handful of us you will actually want to give a little more, I was shocked at the constant desire from the crew to make sure every aspect of our sailing was amazing, we wanted for nothing! I brought some little thank you cards to slip a bit of cash in with a heartfelt note, they also leave you an envelope at the end if you so desire. 

Edited February 13, 2020 by Neesa
added thought

[Hypno3]

13 minutes ago, Neesa said:

@Hypno3, that is correct, the gratuities are not included in the price. They are 14.50 pp in a cabin or 17.50 pp in a suite per night. You can choose to pre-pay them any time before you sail or with final payment or wait and they will be charged to your on board account, payable at the conclusion of your sailing. So yes the gratuities are also "extra" Knowing this I just factor it into the cost of my sailing. Enjoy your cruise!

When you experience the amazing people on this line working so hard to make your vacation so special, maybe like a handful of us you will actually want to give a little more, I was shocked at the constant desire from the crew to make sure every aspect of our sailing was amazing, we wanted for nothing! I brought some little thank you cards to slip a bit of cash in with a heartfelt note, they also leave you an envelope at the end if you so desire. 

Thank you, so this is USD? and where in the cruise planner do I find this please

[Neesa]

Yes, I believe this is USD listed. It is not listed on cruise planner, to pre-pay if you used a Travel agent they will arrange it, if not you must call Royal to pay ahead of time. I wish it was on cruise planner also. If you go to the RCCL website and place gratuities in the search it will direct you to the amounts charged at this time. Hope this helps! 

[berkeleykel]

I may be wrong but I thought I read that if you book on the Australian site the price already factors in gratuity.

[Spang1974]

39 minutes ago, berkeleykel said:

I may be wrong but I thought I read that if you book on the Australian site the price already factors in gratuity.

+1

[JimnKathy]

21 hours ago, FManke said:

We always tip on top of the pre-paid gratuities when warranted. A couple of bucks here and there go a long way and the hardest workers aren't always the ones who get the lions share of the tips. That's just us.

We do the same whenever we experience an amazing interaction with a RC employee. The positive karma created with staff members by being generous with gratuities enhances the entire trip. 

[Atlantix2000]

11 hours ago, Hypno3 said:

Ok I'm super confused now! 1st timer cruiser this year August on Explorer of the Seas. Are gratuities not included in the cabin/cruise cost? (Im in Australia). Understand the drinks package is extra...

As others have mentioned, it does depend on the regional rules where you booked your cruise.  Most people on this site are in the US so we know those rules best (and yes, we pay the gratuities separately either before the cruise or as daily charges).  In other regions, the gratuities are built into the total cost and you won't see a daily charge.  What makes it especially confusing is if I book an Australian cruise using the US website, I get the US rules and I will see a lower price but have to pay gratuities.  If I book that same cruise using the Australian website, I should see a higher price but no gratuities.  (Assuming the other posters are correct that Australian rules are gratuity built-in.)

[Matt]

16 hours ago, Hypno3 said:

Ok I'm super confused now! 1st timer cruiser this year August on Explorer of the Seas. Are gratuities not included in the cabin/cruise cost? (Im in Australia). Understand the drinks package is extra...

I’ve been told by other Aussies that gratuity is included with bookings made in Australia 

[Hypno3]

14 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

As others have mentioned, it does depend on the regional rules where you booked your cruise.  Most people on this site are in the US so we know those rules best (and yes, we pay the gratuities separately either before the cruise or as daily charges).  In other regions, the gratuities are built into the total cost and you won't see a daily charge.  What makes it especially confusing is if I book an Australian cruise using the US website, I get the US rules and I will see a lower price but have to pay gratuities.  If I book that same cruise using the Australian website, I should see a higher price but no gratuities.  (Assuming the other posters are correct that Australian rules are gratuity built-in.)

Wow you would think they'd just make it standard one way or another! but it's a win for me as an Aussie. I rang RC as I wanted to pay for my cousins drinks package  as a surprise gift (they are in Italy and have booked from Italy) - proving to be near on impossible as each region has different rules

 

[Ampurp85]

@Hypno3 I can understand why each country would have different rules considering how laws vary across each region. In the USA we get away with paying people who work in the service industry below minimum wage. In Egypt you literally tip for everything, the UK not so much. I think if you compare everything you will see that it works out to be the same. However it does suck that RCC wouldn't take your money to hook up your cousins

[bomle]

I believe it has something to do with the legislation in the different countries. 

Here in Scandinavia it is prohibited to advertise a price and then afterwards demand people to pay extra in form of gratuities. The price we see on the website must always be the finale price. 

[1Cruiser1]

In the UK if a bill comes to £65.54 for example, you give them £66. 

Thats the only sort of tipping we do. Obviously some times you might give them an extra £5 but its very rare. 

The price is the price. Hence why I don't agree with gratuities personally, the company should be paying its employees the correct living wage and not having them rely on gratuities. On my recent cruise I tipped the room attended $15 as she was exceptional. The bar staff got a $1 tip after every 4th drink in the same place and the waiter/assistant waiter in the main dining got $10 each as they served us every night. 

Gratuities are a big no no in my opinion, a bit like a service charge on a bill. If they want you to pay extra then include it in the main price from the offset. 

[Spang1974]

16 minutes ago, 1Cruiser1 said:

In the UK if a bill comes to £65.54 for example, you give them £66. 

Thats the only sort of tipping we do. Obviously some times you might give them an extra £5 but its very rare. 

The price is the price. Hence why I don't agree with gratuities personally, the company should be paying its employees the correct living wage and not having them rely on gratuities. On my recent cruise I tipped the room attended $15 as she was exceptional. The bar staff got a $1 tip after every 4th drink in the same place and the waiter/assistant waiter in the main dining got $10 each as they served us every night. 

Gratuities are a big no no in my opinion, a bit like a service charge on a bill. If they want you to pay extra then include it in the main price from the offset. 

No judgement here, everyone is different, I am not trying to change anyone.

I'm in the UK and I am the opposite, It's rare I don't tip at least a £5 on a £65 dinner bill. If I feel they deserve it they get a tip.. I look at it as if it was me doing that job or giving that service, what would I deserve.  I think it's different every situation you are in, exactly why it can be so confusing for persons travelling in the UK and EU.

The company should pay their staff a living wage (minimum wage is not a living wage), but unfortunately Cruise companies (at least the service staff) don't, and the staff depend on tips, just the way it is. I think we will see tips included in the UK cruise prices (along with an increase) in the future.