Prepaid Tips

[TaraLeigh99]

Prepaid Tips - Is there a standard per person rate for a 7 day cruise?

Our cruise is all reserved and we are going in tomorow to pay the deposit etc.

Tara

[Dwayne]

Yes, is $10 per person per day that is charged to Sail & Sign.

[TaraLeigh99]

Thanks!

Now we just need to pick a flight... boy are the prices all over the place! So far, much better deal for us to fly out of Seattle instead of Vancouver, CA.

Do most of you book the air at the same time as your cruise? I would love to wait for a deal but am afraid that if we do we could end up not getting flights for the days we need - lol.

Tara

[Cruise Fanatic]

If you are flying in the same day of your cruise I would recommend checking out the cruise lines air program. I find for San Juan the cruise lines air is often similar to what you can find on your own. The cruise lines air will also include airport/ship transfers. Coming from your area though I would also recommend flying in the day before. You can also check the cruiselines pre package for that. This is your first cruise and you want everything to run smoothly. Even if taking the cruise lines air is a bit higher it may be worth the security. Also don't forget to take out travel insurance. Happy cruising.

[TaraLeigh99]

Thanks for the tips

We did get insurance... we ended up booking our flights seperate as Carnival does not offer air with the cabin we chose (we are in a guaranteed balcony, not assigned).

We also prepaid the gratuities so they won't be on our Sail & Sign.

So $599 canadian including taxes each from Seattle to San Juan - seems good.

Wooo Hooo! Can't believe we are going...

[cckids]

Here is a suggestion as soon as you get on the ship have the tips removed from your sign and sail card. I prefer to give the room steward $10 on the first day and let him know immediately that you would like to always have ice in your room and a specific amount of glasses. Throughout the cruise I make sure I give my steward tips here and there, even leaving a thank you card 2 or 3 times on a 5 day cruise just as appreciation.

We prefer to tip according to the service we receive, not prepay or should I say tip according to the service you hope to receive.

During the Celebration cruise in August 2006 our service was good at first then went bad and then worse. We met a couple on the ship that had a steward that never provided ice in the bucket and didn't clean the room until after 1PM one day. Then removed the tip from the sign and sail card on day 3.

[Dwayne]

I hope that the "couple" forgave he/she for not having ice and having to make their room up one day after 1pm. I am sure they were out of the cabin in time for them to make it up, and they did not come in between the morning and night service and find melted ice as the reason this person lost their income.

I tip according to service also, but part of that is understanding how things work. I don't understand how the service got worse. They make your bed and clean your bathroom.

If no one showed up to do these things, they should have called the Information Desk. It does happen I hear. Has never happened to me.

I know my Steward's schedule, and He knows mine. He/She always have worked and been there for me.

Have had not so great Stewards. But have never stiffed them for the service they did provide.

[Cruise Specialist]

Originally posted by cckids:
Here is a suggestion as soon as you get on the ship have the tips removed from your sign and sail card. I prefer to give the room steward $10 on the first day and let him know immediately that you would like to always have ice in your room and a specific amount of glasses.

cckids, if the original poster pre-paid their gratuities, they cannot have them taken off the sign and sail card, since it will not be on the card as a charge. They should receive a note in their cabin stating that their gratuities have been prepaid. They are free to leave additional tips to those who go beyond their expectations though.

[TaraLeigh99]

Thanks... That is what we were thinking of doing.

I like the idea of the prepaid tips because we don't have to worry about it 'all' the time. But I also like the idea of additional tips when we are happy with the service.

I just hope that our room steward will be aware that we have also prepaid tips?

[Dave]

Don't worry, the steward will be aware of it. Either the cruise line tells them or they have "ways" of finding out.