General Cruise Discussion

[Flashback]

Which line?

All lines bought from the UK (AFAIK) include tips. Not sure about other country POS's?

 

[Pushka]

In fact, I would put all non-UK POS (and AU possibly?) cruises into LCC, as tips are never included. The thing I liked about booking a Caribbean cruise in the UK is that tips etc. etc. etc. were all included, so nothing more to pay. It really grinds my teeth every time I go to the US........

Tips are included for Australians on celebrity cruises when booked on au website. But not on Princess I believe. So it's a cruise line decision here it seems.

 

[RooFlyer]

What's your angle @Quickstatus ? Trying to choose a cruise / cruise line, or just curious?

 

[tgh]

Rating or even grouping cruise ships and the cruise experience in general is mostly about personal perception.
One persons F quality experience is anothers y….

 

[odysseus]

I wouldn't put any in LCC (maybe overseas ferries would be closest).
Any cruise line you'll still always get the essential basics so there's nothing you /have/ to pay for. Luggage is included. Meals included. Entertainment and so on. It's just the degree of optional extras, so P&O+ would be (international full service) Y at a minimum.

More akin to hotels where the inclusions are similar for the most part, just the size of the cabin, and a few extra inclusions changes.

 

[odysseus]

Tips are included for Australians on celebrity cruises when booked on au website. But not on Princess I believe. So it's a cruise line decision here it seems.

Very much. They weren't previously included on Celebrity or Royal either, but they changed that about a decade or so ago.

Still other mainstream cruiselines here don't include tips so you still pay them extra onboard such as NCL, Cunard and some others.

 

[ksthommo]

Going to give Azamara a go in October, tips/gratuities included in fare.
Standard spirits, beers and wine also included.

 

[Quickstatus]

If tips are not included what's tippable and amount?

 

[Pushka]

If tips are not included what's tippable and amount?

Up to $20 usd a day pp.

 

[p--and--t]

Up to $20 usd a day pp.

Plus on some ships every drink purchase has an automatic 15% tip loading additional to the menu price

 

[Quickstatus]

Up to $20 usd a day pp.

How does that work if everyone expecting a tip?

 

[drron]

Rating or even grouping cruise ships and the cruise experience in general is mostly about personal perception.
One persons F quality experience is anothers y….

Absolutely. Just go to cruise critic and there are plenty who will tell you that the line that they cruise is the best of the Luxury lines.
I was one of those for Silversea but no longer.

We started 2024 with 7 cruises booked to mid 2026. We only got to cruise one of them. The other 6 were cancelled by Silversea. Only 2 with a valid reason. One going through the Suez and the one before it. However they had first changed it by putting 6 days between the two when it had been back to back. The only compensation was we could cancel the Suez an get 10% off the first cruise.

Now everyone knew that the first cruise would be cancelled but although they stopped selling the cruise they only officially cancelled it in November. We did get 15% of replacement cruises. We booked because we had a 7 night complimentary cruise certificate which we applied to a cruise in September. That cruise will earn us a 14 night complimentary cruise so we have booked a 14. Night cruise in 2026.

The last cruise canceled was from Mumbai to Capetown at the end of the year. It had been picked for the itinerary. However Silversea are basically withdrawing the classic fleet from Africa out to 2027. This has led us to strongly considering a Crystal cruise from Mumbai to Mombasa next January.

 

[tgh]

"All inclusivity" was once a powerful marketing tool for the pseudo luxury lines (Silversea Seabourn Regent).
Other middle level lines then started offering beer and wine with meals.
Then the pseudo lines reduced their offerings to $20 reds and suddenly there was not a lot of difference in grog terms .
The pseudo's still offer unlimited spirits and that attracts some.
All lines buy frozen food in bulk and ship it around the world, the differences are mostly in presentation..the same cow contributed the steak but the sauces vary...

 

[Disco]

So on some cruise ships, there are sections/amenities only accessible to class of travel/cabin?

?VV = Virgin Voyages
?NCL = Norwegian cruise line

Where does Hurtigruten sit?

Im assuming the class categories mentioned above is not only cabin but amenity/ambience?

Where does Hurtigruten sit and also Viking?

 

[RooFlyer]

If tips are not included what's tippable and amount?

How does that work if everyone expecting a tip?

Again, what's your angle? Curious, or researching a booking? Cruise lines and experiences MUCH more diverse from airlines, so knowing your want will help meaningful replies.

For instance, you can tip individually, or the 'crew fund', built in, or not at all, depending on your cruise. That's the reason for your asking?

 

[Pushka]

How does that work if everyone expecting a tip?

It goes on to your account. The tipping question is a minefield in US cruise discussion forums. Add on the Brits reluctance and it's a hoot. And many tip for service before the service, eg in bars to get extra service. Also known as a bribe but don't call it that or you get slammed. The one time we got the best service was when we met up with a male same sex couple and we hung out with them a lot. They were great fun. And the bartenders would serve me promptly once they worked out we were friends with them.

 

[tgh]

We palled up with a US couple and had a lot of fun, but I was puzzled by the obsequious service (they could ask for anything).. they even had their own table in La Terrazza
Turns out the male had lobbed a seriously massive tip on boarding...

 

[p--and--t]

We palled up with a US couple and had a lot of fun, but I was puzzled by the obsequious service (they could ask for anything).. they even had their own table in La Terrazza
Turns out the male had lobbed a seriously massive tip on boarding...

Seen similar. On the day of boarding this guy went to the bar asked the servers name, struck up a conversation, passed some money over the bar and said words to the effect hope you will look after me well for the next 14days

 

[drron]

We palled up with a US couple and had a lot of fun, but I was puzzled by the obsequious service (they could ask for anything).. they even had their own table in La Terrazza
Turns out the male had lobbed a seriously massive tip on boarding...

We have cruised with an Australian couple twice who give a large donation to the cruise fund. Fortunately we get on with them very well So service definitely not the usual.
And when we first cruised there was an American couple who basically lived on Silversea. All the crew loved them as they would shout the crew excursions. Those that couldn't go would get a seriously good catered lunch. For some reason they loved us so we were known as the friends of and so possibly why we really enjoyed SS. Sadly they are no longer with us.

 

[Quickstatus]

Curious

you can tip individually, or the 'crew fund', built in, or not at all, depending on your cruise

Tip individually I understand but how does one tip to crew fund?