poider Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 G'day again, I think I have been over this before but I am a little unclear and cannot find all info. I have looked at some photos of menus and see the drinks prices etc If the menu says (for Example) a martini is $12.00 is that the full price, I have heard that the tips are added. are the prices written on the menu inclusive of tips? scenario 1, I look at the menu and see martini $12, I order a $12 martini and get charged $12 scenario 2, I look at the menu and see martini $12, I order a $12 martini and get charged $13.80 scenario 3, I look at the menu and see martini $12 + 15% tip I order and pay $13.80 scenario 4, I look at the menu and see martini $13.80 inclusive of 15% gratuity and I pay $13.80 scenario 5, I look at the menu and see martini $12, I order a $12 martini and pay $12, then at the end of the cruise I get a bill for all of the tips that are yet to be added to my account? how transparent are the tips that are included / automatically on bar prices? if a martini is $12 does that mean before automatic tips it would have been $10.44 + 15% = $12.00 Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcarney Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 scenario 2, I look at the menu and see martini $12, I order a $12 martini and get charged $13.80 That one. The menus list the base price w/out tip. The receipt you have to sign will have the drink, a line item for the tip, and another line for an additional tip if you are so inclined to add more. Enjoy your martini. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poider Posted September 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Thank you bcarney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tylor Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 Hi Peter, Unless the process is different in Australia, all bar orders automatically get 15% added to the total for tip. There is no need to tip extra unless you feel the need to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted September 11, 2014 Report Share Posted September 11, 2014 That one. The menus list the base price w/out tip. The receipt you have to sign will have the drink, a line item for the tip, and another line for an additional tip if you are so inclined to add more. I'm not sure if this is true on European sailings. I was under the impression that the bar prices were higher, at least for sailings out of Southampton, and no extra gratuity was charged. (Essentially, the prices were raised to factor in a hidden gratuity.) Edited to add... You are right for most sailings, however. I just wanted to add an exception that I believe may exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSoxFan Posted September 12, 2014 Report Share Posted September 12, 2014 Also, at least in the US, drinks purchased in port are subject to local sales tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I'm not sure if this is true on European sailings. I was under the impression that the bar prices were higher, at least for sailings out of Southampton, and no extra gratuity was charged. (Essentially, the prices were raised to factor in a hidden gratuity.) Edited to add... You are right for most sailings, however. I just wanted to add an exception that I believe may exist. I think you may be correct. I've been reading a lot of reviews for European sailings on RCI and one of the complaints is the high price of drinks at the bars. I think they may preload the service fee into the cost of the drink instead of adding on afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Seems confusing....purchase a drink package and no worries.....tax and tip all included in your daily package..and if your paying almost $15 for ONE martini....a $55 package seems like a no brianer to me....and eliminate the guess work and surprise at the end of the cruise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonD Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 The cost of the drinks are slightly higher on EURO sailings, and yes they do still add 15% service. In addition they add VAT (value added tax) onto the price. So if you sail out of Spain you pay a 10% VAT on top of it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poider Posted February 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Well having been on our cruise I must say it was not at all what i was worried about, we prepaid for a drinks package about mid price and it is all handled very well by the bar people and waiters etc. There is a sticker placed on your sea card and all you do is present your sea card to the bar people waiters etc and tell them what you want, they will tell you before they get the drink wether or not you will need to pay any more, so you can just choose a cheaper drink, but we bought the premium package and I was never told that My drinks were not covered. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 The only exception I found to this, poider, was at the juice bar on the Jewel. They did not inform me that it wasn't included, which was surprising as they were on Celebrity. While fresh squeezed juice is included, it's only that found in the Windjammer. Overall, I was disappointed by the package compared to the similar one offered on Celebrity for the same price. On Celebrity, they gave you large bottles of water, whole cans of soda (unopened if you wished), and the juice bar venue, along with yogurt sundaes, was included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poider Posted February 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 we were able to get unopened cans of soft drink, the freshly squeezed juice was extra in the main dining room. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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