Europeans Guests 2nd class?!

[cica]

I book last June for 8 friends of my from Serbia and from Germany. I had no problem to book cruise for them and they pay price like all of us. I always have guest from Europe and have no problems. I book try Internet with Royal Caribbean.
I will never go with anybody else but RCC.

[Caribiccruiser]

Hi Cica,

that worked last year until October 2009.
Ask now your travel agency - you will be surprised !!!

[cica]

I'm surprise. To bad.I don't have travel agent. I go try Royal Caribbean web cite.

[Caribiccruiser]

Cica,
good luck , I hope RCCL will that restrictions delete !

[Caribiccruiser]

Originally posted by Caribiccruiser:
Cica,
good luck , I hope RCCL will delete their own restrictions

[queenofcruzin]

Ok, I am diving in here, and please don't hate the messenger. Europeans are notoriously bad tippers, and I have even gone on some UK cruise websites using relatives addresses there. The websites seem to proudly tell cruisers that removing the daily gratuities is the first thing to do. I have been told that the reason for the extra monies is to offset for this. I do not want to paint a broad brush here, I have many relatives in UK, and we have discussed tipping too. They seem to believe we LAVISHLY tip at 15%. I personally have many Europeans in my 30 years of cruising, and have enjoyed their company. Tipping is a great source of disagreeable conversation with everyone, North Americans and European alike. Sorry if I offended anyone, that it not my intention. Just trying to give you the reasons I have been told.

[Caribiccruiser]

Haha,
that is not the question.
I took always the prepaid tipping option and gave some more for exellent service.
May be you do not understood the intention of my request.
It is not fair to charge europeans more than all other passengers.
I know some US-Citizens which are bad tippers too !!!!!!

[queenofcruzin]

I know, I know, please know I am not trying to criticize. I know many people who are horrible tippers, nothing to do with sex, race, or ethnicity. But I was trying to answer why you are being asked to pay more, that is truly why the cruise companies are NOT allowing you to book like you used to, according to my sources. It seems to me that with the pre-paid tipping it has taken the sting out of the tipping, my last two cruises in Oct and Feb it was almost a non-issue.

[Caribiccruiser]

Ah, bad tipping is the reason for higher prices !
Clever, I must be an idiot, pay higher prices and choose the prepaid option plus extra tipping for good service !
Really great !
Update
Yesterday I received an email from RCCL Germany. The got orders to check the rates and compare with other (travel agency)rates.
The result: They can't give lower rates !!!

There are travel agencies which give very lower rates or special onboard credits for my cruise. All the same conditions !!!
Nobody should book directly with RCCL - just book on the internet with an travel agent.

[queenofcruzin]

I didn't expect my post would be welcomed, I personally love going on a cruise to meet people from all over !