KWong Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 So the wife and I decided to the UDP for our 6 night on Explorer. Obviously, that means that we are unlikely to eat in the MDR. So the question then is - how should we deal with the server gratuities that are automatically added to the onboard account? I'm not sure if we should be giving a tip to servers that we'll never see in the MDR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChessE4 Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 MDR staff work in other venues, such as Windjammer. I wouldn't change default gratuities. KWong and Baked Alaska 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 Your gratuities will be switched from the MDR to the specialty restaurants. You don’t have to do anything. KWong 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWong Posted April 23 Author Report Share Posted April 23 13 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: Your gratuities will be switched from the MDR to the specialty restaurants. You don’t have to do anything. According to the cruise planner gratuities were included in the cost of the UDP. Anyway, I will probably end up not touching the gratuities, but I have time to sort everything out. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 cancel your auto gratuity, no sense double paying since you were charged when you booked the UDP CanHardlyWait and PeloAl 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 21 minutes ago, TXcruzer said: cancel your auto gratuity, no sense double paying since you were charged when you booked the UDP Your auto gratuity goes to a lot more than just your MDR staff. Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 2 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: Your auto gratuity goes to a lot more than just your MDR staff. I am aware, I take care of those I feel deserve it on a face to face basis. CanHardlyWait 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 Just now, TXcruzer said: I am aware, I take care of those I feel deserve it on a face to face basis. That works for your room steward, but not the others that you'll likely never see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 1 hour ago, smokeybandit said: That works for your room steward, but not the others that you'll likely never see. I have no desire to go down that rabbit hole, we all know what happens; I am comfortable with my decision, I have been doing it this way since the advent of the auto gratuity. The OP asked how to deal with the gratuities, I gave a very prudent solution CanHardlyWait 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted April 23 Report Share Posted April 23 18 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: Your gratuities will be switched from the MDR to the specialty restaurants. You don’t have to do anything. If that is the case (I don't think it is) then why are additional gratuities added to the UDP? craftycruiselady 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
putinbay Posted April 27 Report Share Posted April 27 We had UDP on our Icon cruise, and we never set foot in the MDR or Windjammer. I removed the automatic gratuities and paid our room steward in cash. We had 2 non-suite rooms, so I paid him $120 in cash. I felt good about this decision, since the cost of UDP already included gratuities. I also added relatively small ($20) additional tips on our specialty dining meals... PeloAl, TXcruzer and CanHardlyWait 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChessE4 Posted April 27 Report Share Posted April 27 30 minutes ago, putinbay said: We had UDP on our Icon cruise, and we never set foot in the MDR or Windjammer. I removed the automatic gratuities and paid our room steward in cash. We had 2 non-suite rooms, so I paid him $120 in cash. I felt good about this decision, since the cost of UDP already included gratuities. I also added relatively small ($20) additional tips on our specialty dining meals... I understand, but the invisible crew got nothing. I just can't see that as an approach I would use. Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_Texas Posted April 27 Report Share Posted April 27 I wish more cruise lines would go to the Virgin Voyages approach where gratuities are not even a discussion. It’s frustrating that everything onboard has 18% added or $18 pp/day added then at the end you get the “Tip Tip Hooray” envelopes. I don’t mind taking care of others that take care of you but I am so often confused on RCL. When I started hearing that the daily gratuities were also compensation for back office hotel staff, cabin assistants, laundry staff, kitchen staff, dining room support staff, etc. I just started accepting that these charges should be regarded as a part of the cruise fare. PeloAl, Gilley and Baked Alaska 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeloAl Posted Saturday at 06:59 PM Report Share Posted Saturday at 06:59 PM 3 hours ago, ChessE4 said: I understand, but the invisible crew got nothing. I just can't see that as an approach I would use. This is such a tired argument… CanHardlyWait, TXcruzer and SheSellsSeashells 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXcruzer Posted Sunday at 06:18 PM Report Share Posted Sunday at 06:18 PM On 4/27/2024 at 10:43 AM, ChessE4 said: I understand, but the invisible crew got nothing. I just can't see that as an approach I would use. the invisible crew receives a generous paycheck commiserate with the job they do SheSellsSeashells, PeloAl and CanHardlyWait 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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