merissa123 Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 This is my first cruise, it's a bit exhausting figuring it all out, lol! We pre paid for our gratuity, but decided against the drink packages. From my understanding if we purchase drinks from the bar, the tip is built into the price? I understand we can tip extra, but just want to confirm. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 Yes, this is correct. Extra tip is discretionary. But always appreciated. If you are by the pool and someone brings you a drink...if you want them to come back - by all means TIP! They love cash of course. Who doesn't? LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 12 minutes ago, merissa123 said: This is my first cruise, it's a bit exhausting figuring it all out, lol! We pre paid for our gratuity, but decided against the drink packages. From my understanding if we purchase drinks from the bar, the tip is built into the price? I understand we can tip extra, but just want to confirm. Thanks Yes, when you pay for a drink, on the receipt you will notice that 18% gratuity is automatically added. Then there a separate tip line for extra if you want. Or you can tip cash as @Lindsay said. Lindsay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 By the way, this website is great for a first time cruiser. And Royal Caribbean is THE BEST cruise line! Here are some other websites you may want to check out: First and foremost, download the ShipMate app! You can find your cruise on there and it's awesome to talk to others in "Chat" that will be on your same cruise. There is also a count down. Plus, there is a feature where you can check out your ship and any other cruise line ships. It's a very cool app. Be sure to like them on Facebook too. https://www.cruisecritic.com/ http://royalportfolio.com/ <- AWESOME website showing all the Royal Caribbean ports, etc. I love this website! http://www.cruisetipstv.com/ https://cruiseradio.net/ https://eatsleepcruise.com/ http://www.cruisehabit.com/ And of course, make sure you go to the Royal Caribbean My Cruise page and enter your reservation #. You will have a dashboard there too. Lots more info there too! ENJOY! One of my favorite parts of a cruise vacation is the planning and anticipation leading up to the cruise! Jeff L, adidassler, Baked Alaska and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 Just now, Lindsay said: One of my favorite parts of a cruise vacation is the planning and anticipation leading up to the cruise! Me too !! Lindsay and Mrs. RoyalMoyal 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arebee Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 16 minutes ago, merissa123 said: This is my first cruise, it's a bit exhausting figuring it all out, lol! We pre paid for our gratuity, but decided against the drink packages. From my understanding if we purchase drinks from the bar, the tip is built into the price? I understand we can tip extra, but just want to confirm. Thanks I have found that if you frequent one bar (I like the Schooner) and tip a buck a drink, they tend to get a little heavy handed as time goes by and I usually get better service. They also remember what you drink and your name, which is nice. Orange Crush, MikeK, firebuck and 4 others 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 17 minutes ago, arebee said: I have found that if you frequent one bar (I like the Schooner) and tip a buck a drink, they tend to get a little heavy handed as time goes by and I usually get better service. They also remember what you drink and your name, which is nice. Oh boy, I better be careful in Sabor or I'll by day 3 I'll pick up my daily lunch Margarita, take two sips, and be wondering why it's dinner time all of a sudden! "I believe there are only two kinds of people in this world. Those who can drink tequila, and those who can never hear that word again!!" -- Steve McGrew LetsTryThisPlace, Lindsay and Baked Alaska 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merissa123 Posted March 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 okay thanks everyone! I also do enjoy the planning nearly as much as the vacation itself, but with the website being down recently and dealing with RC over charging me $1300, sometimes these mundane things get to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk-ultra Posted April 1, 2018 Report Share Posted April 1, 2018 I treat the automatic 18% gratuity as a baseline. I almost always tip pretty well in addition to that -- and (besides going to some folks who work really hard... 6 months without a day off), it never fails to get some really good service. Massive backlog at Schooner's? No problem. Want a double instead of a measured pour? No problem. Want your favorite beverage dropped off to you at the blackjack table without even having to ask? No problem. Wait staff, dealers, room attendants all appreciate being shown a little extra gratitude. I definitely feel like I get it back in being treated very well. Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBC Posted April 2, 2018 Report Share Posted April 2, 2018 I can see the argument for not tipping additional if you don't have a drink package, since you are paying the gratuity already and you likely are not looking for a lot of repeat service, otherwise you would have a drink package. I always buy one though, and I always bring $100 in ones on a week long cruise. Throw them in the safe, and take as needed throughout the week. Heading to sit by the pool for a few hours on a sea day, I will grab some ones and go. $2 on the first drink and a buck on the rest and you will never wait for a drink server to come by. After dinner and heading out to the shows and bars for the night, I will grab more and do the same. Bartenders pick up on the cash tippers real fast. Give them your card with the cash right when you are ordering, your drinks will be on point! Rented a bungalow at Labadee, the group of us pooled and gave the two attendants $10 each as soon as we arrived, as soon as the bar opened they brought us a cooler full of beer, and it was never empty. Took care of them both on the way out as well, and they couldn't have thanked us enough. To each their own, but if you have a drink package, I don't see how after spending thousands on a cruise, why an extra hundred makes any difference, especially when it will make your experience so much better. adidassler, SouthernYankee, Mrs. RoyalMoyal and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whenismynextcruise Posted April 2, 2018 Report Share Posted April 2, 2018 " I don't see how after spending thousands on a cruise, why an extra hundred makes any difference, especially when it will make your experience so much better. " I like your stlye @JBC and I could not agree with you more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sch Posted May 10, 2019 Report Share Posted May 10, 2019 Sooo to be clear, let's say you order a $14 drink at the bar. Then after that cost is an addition $2.52 on the check for 18% gratuity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted May 10, 2019 Report Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 hour ago, sch said: Sooo to be clear, let's say you order a $14 drink at the bar. Then after that cost is an addition $2.52 on the check for 18% gratuity? Yes, but the drink is somewhat unlikely to be $14 pre tip. Depending on the ship they tend to generally top off at $12 or $13. Some drinks are less. So that $14 drink is likely a $12 drink with 18% added making it $14.16. Or you are sailing in Europe and then they just charge you $14, and then they hide the tip in the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marti314 Posted May 10, 2019 Report Share Posted May 10, 2019 I find that if 2.00+ has been added to a price of a drink as automatic gratuity thats quite a tip for a single drink. Especially a beer where they pop the cap off and you pay 1.60 gratuity for it. Yes yes yes you can say but it goes to the stock folks and the cleaners etc.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantino Posted May 10, 2019 Report Share Posted May 10, 2019 4 hours ago, marti314 said: I find that if 2.00+ has been added to a price of a drink as automatic gratuity thats quite a tip for a single drink. Especially a beer where they pop the cap off and you pay 1.60 gratuity for it. Yes yes yes you can say but it goes to the stock folks and the cleaners etc.... I have to agree, if I roll up to the little cart outside the theater for a heineken, I have a hard time justifying a >18% tip. Not to be that person, but theres no chance for a tip to benefit me in this situation. he cant overfill my beer, he cant follow up with me for the next one. If I order a daquiri in the solarium from a person walking around, that is a bit different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marti314 Posted May 10, 2019 Report Share Posted May 10, 2019 Unless of course this is how its opened... Yes its terribly fake.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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