Eduardo Rodriguez Posted May 21, 2017 Report Share Posted May 21, 2017 It's my First time at Royal Caribbean and I should know about tre gratuity policy. Are the gratuities obligatory? If It is not and I don't want to pay, or I want to pay to specific workers, what should I do? Can I ask them not to charge it? When is this possible? Thank you very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted May 21, 2017 Report Share Posted May 21, 2017 It depends on the itinerary. In some itineraries, the gratuity is charged/prepaid as party of the booking. In others, it's charged daily and can be removed by request at Guest Services. Personally, I'm off the opinion that they should not be removed and have conceded that they're the price a cruising as the fee covers both those who directly serve you and many others that provided service to you indirectly. FManke, dejagatkins, MikeK and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arebee Posted May 21, 2017 Report Share Posted May 21, 2017 We usually pre pay the gratuities but if we get a good room steward we will tip an additional $10 per day. Also, I'm a Schooner person so I hang there ALOT. I bring some $1s and tip as I see fit to the bar staff. You would be surprised how better the drinks get. Gears and FManke 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 6 hours ago, arebee said: We usually pre pay the gratuities but if we get a good room steward we will tip an additional $10 per day. Also, I'm a Schooner person so I hang there ALOT. I bring some $1s and tip as I see fit to the bar staff. You would be surprised how better the drinks get. I don't drink anymore, but when I did, I liked to tip $10 or more right off the bat. You'd be surprised how well that works. Sometimes, that's all that was needed for the night. I've found this also works especially well at weddings and such with open bars. I've had bartenders look past others in front of me to take my order. Still do it, just with soft drinks now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 To make things simple, there's nothing extra you need to do to properly provide gratuities. Royal Caribbean will automatically charge you each day of your cruise a gratuity rate that covers the basics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clmsnskr Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 I don't think they are obligatory. However, if you don't want to pay them (or want to pay less than they charge), then you have to opt-out at guest services once you get on board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHStoneman Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 If you were a repeating dining patron at a local restaurant in your home town and refused to tip.....I can guarantee the quality of service would diminish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BopRN Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 We always do the automatic tipping and almost always give our room steward and Head waiter and Ass't waiter a cash gift on the last evening. It has never occurred to us to have our tips removed because they work SO hard for us. HOWEVER....last year .we were on a Carnival cruise (because of the itinerary). We were at a table for 10 but only 4 of us showed up. Our 2 waiters were the LAZIEST crew we have EVER experienced on any ship and it was pretty much a dining nightmare the whole week. The 1st night, they were attentive of course...but it went all downhill from there. A dirty used butter dish graced our table...we were served COLD coffee....they quit even asking if we wanted coffee(seems they wanted to call it a day!)....the ass't waiter did ALL the serving while the Head guy wrapped silverware for the next day.....we were given a "sigh" if we wanted more of something or heaven forbid, a second dessert.....had to ask for water and drink refills.... seconds of rolls were never offered.....chicken strips were served with no dipping sauces so the asst waiter informed us he had to "go all the way to the kitchen" like it was a HUGE deal...and even then, it took forever...the list goes on and on. When all the other waiters were creating fun for their guests with singing, dancing, jokes, etc , ours were standing in the corner and didn't even participate in the whole staff entertainment. They never greeted us friendly on any evening until the last....BUT on the last evening, they were all smiles and couldn't do enough for us! $$$$ in their eyes, I'm sure. We truly felt cheated in many ways! The dining experience makes or breaks a cruise for us. So we gave them quite a surprise....the 4 of us marched down to Guest Services...described to the attendant how our week was in the MDR and she said Yes, we absolutely needed to remove the tips for these 2 guys. So we did! They reimbursed each stateroom $100! We hope they felt the pain! RestingBird 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigHouseFootball Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 Gratuities are not obligatory. You do not have to play them. Or, If you don't like the rate the Royal has in place per day, or if you would rather tip in cash on the last day then simply head to guest services and have the auto gratuities removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arebee Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 So, if you paid up front and decide you want them removed do you get OBC or does it go back to your credit card? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigHouseFootball Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 I'm not sure on that...I would think that if you prepaid that you wouldn't be able to get them back, but I have no idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jticarruthers Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 Typically the logic seems to be if you prepay before getting on the ship then you are only eligible for OBC on the ship but all things are uncertain with RCI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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