Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ships?

[drron]

Dare I say the USA suite occupiers are very heavy tippers to individuals. Even well before the service is provided. Which is in my books, bribery.

May be but they do run the risk of staff thinking that's all it will be.

 

[YSSY]

Sounds bizarre
Why only some, if the tips were that large and evenly distributed wouldn't all of them make more?

Presumably also though the officers are on a salary, whilst the staff only get paid when they are on voyage?

So typically with US cruises, they would get the fixed gratuity which is through the passengers account and split evenly, Plus, individual gratuities which are given directly from the guest. US passengers were by and far the best for these guys, most of the crew wanted to stay on cruises with predominantly USpax.

As for officers on salaries, with many of the cruise lines this is true, but not all. Many of the contracts are offshore so conditions beyond the basic salary are pretty poor.

 

[SydneySwan]

I remember the sigh of disappointment from our Indonesian room steward when he realised we were Australians and not Americans as he showed us into our suite on the first day of a Holland America cruise.

 

[cqtiger]

My HAL suite steward was useless so maybe he didn't try as I was an Aussie. He certainly got a bad review on my feedback.
The suite concierge gets the best tips as they are worth there wait in gold and will do anything you want.
Suite guests pay more in automatic gratuities than normal cabins and an Australian I dont have a great desire to tip over the automatic tips usually $50 pp but I dont usually require extra services . Many Americans demand there pound of flesh from the steward and tip accordingly when they get it.

 

[moa999]

Having never been on a cruise, what extras/pound of flesh are people getting for these additional tips?
Mini-bar refills? Dinner/show reservations if they've been too slow?

 

[cqtiger]

All of the above and more Priority disembarkation, afternoon tea on the balcony fruit baskets laundry etc

 

[moa999]

So essentially a bribe to a lowly paid worker to encourage them to break company policy or steal food/drink and provide it to you for gratis.
How American.

 

[Pushka]

All of the above and more Priority disembarkation, afternoon tea on the balcony fruit baskets laundry etc

These come with the suite booking anyway and not anything to do with the steward and any tips Paid.

So essentially a bribe to a lowly paid worker to encourage them to break company policy or steal food/drink and provide it to you for gratis.
How American.

There isn’t any need to steal food as it’s free anyway. I guess Americans would describe it as ‘better service’ and that might mean you don’t wait as long as others for drinks at the bar for example. Or stronger coughtails. It’s all a bit moot for us as we usually get drinks package where everything including high quality alcohol and spirits is free on that package. But for others not on the package them yes, it makes a difference. It is a bribe if it’s paid to ensure that kind of thing but that isn’t exactly breaking company policy either.

We got on really well with a foursome of two gay couples from Toronto. We still see them years later. Anyways. They got served extremely quickly at the bar. No tipping required. I ask no questions. But I did get a lot of dirty looks when I was with them and did not have to wait long at all to be served.

 

[k_sheep]

Never thought I would be researching cruises, but here I am, looking at Antarctica cruises! Have done many small boat adventures and dive liveaboarads but never had anything with more than 20 people on it. Gonna be a culture shock!

Suspect I'll end up on another around Iceland / Fjordland / Svalbard too.

Most the ones I'm looking at are all-inclusive though so at least don't need to worry about drinks costs etc.

 

[Pushka]

Never thought I would be researching cruises, but here I am, looking at Antarctica cruises! Have done many small boat adventures and dive liveaboarads but never had anything with more than 20 people on it. Gonna be a culture shock!

Suspect I'll end up on another around Iceland / Fjordland / Svalbard too.

Most the ones I'm looking at are all-inclusive though so at least don't need to worry about drinks costs etc.

You need to check in with @love_the_life and I think it was @Flying mermaid

 

[cqtiger]

These come with the suite booking anyway and not anything to do with the steward and any tips Paid.

Certainly as long as the steward and concierge is available and how quickly it takes for them to respond

 

[Pushka]

Certainly as long as the steward and concierge is available and how quickly it takes for them to respond

Priority embarkation is well before you meet any of the service crew.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Never thought I would be researching cruises, but here I am, looking at Antarctica cruises! Have done many small boat adventures and dive liveaboarads but never had anything with more than 20 people on it. Gonna be a culture shock!

Suspect I'll end up on another around Iceland / Fjordland / Svalbard too.

Most the ones I'm looking at are all-inclusive though so at least don't need to worry about drinks costs etc.

I am not a cruise person, but Antarctica was worth it

 

[cqtiger]

Priority embarkation is well before you meet any of the service crew.

That’s why I said disembarkation but I think you are missing the point. So I’ll leave it at that.

 

[Pushka]

That’s why I said disembarkation but I think you are missing the point. So I’ll leave it at that.

I’m not. I’ve acknowledged that handing over the cash might earn you extra alcohol. Sorry I did not read ‘disembarkation’ but the only issue I had with that was with Cunard and I hadn’t booked a suite. On Celebrity, Princess and Viking we have nominated the time we wanted to disembark and that is the time we were allocated. No cash needed. And not booked in a suite either. The suites for Celebrity come with all manner of improvements including Tender priority and Theater reservations which are relevant but again you don’t have to hand over the cash if booked in a suite. And you did say Suite I think () and not cabin which is where the difference is. No extra tips needed for those in suites to get more than the service I’d need.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

On Silversea which is an "all inclusive " line you dont have to pay for anything once you are board if you dont want to. It doesnt matter what suite you are in.
We have over 300 nights on SIlversea and have 5 more cruises booked. It suits us. We like the way things run. We like the staff and how they are treated and they are happy. Yes we tip our butler and room attendant, but anyone who brings me a coffee in bed at 6am deserves a tip We also donate to the " crew welfare fund"
You can drink in any of the bars or restaurants, or in your suite - your fridge is stocked with want you want on arrival. There is no signing for drinks, unless you pick "top shelf wine or spirits" but we have found no need for this.
Everyone has the same opportunity to book restaurants on line 60 days out from cruising. Same with port tours. Disembarkation is organised by time - you choose the time you want to leave and if you want a transfer to the airport or a taxi ordered, or you can do your own thing.
We are happy with Silversea and will continue sailing with them - we have tried a couple of other lines but they just didnt meet our expectations.

 

[drron]

Though we do get an on board credit by booking through a Virtuoso agent.And if mrsdrron doesn't spend it in the shop I get to enjoy a good bottle of red.
So we have had 20 cruises and I got my red once.

 

[SydneySwan]

Though we do get an on board credit by booking through a Virtuoso agent.And if mrsdrron doesn't spend it in the shop I get to enjoy a good bottle of red.
So we have had 20 cruises and I got my red once.

Congratulations on getting your bottle of red at least once. Was the shop closed on that cruise?

 

[drron]

No it was on the Silver Explore with a small shop.We had $US1200 OBC and she just ran out of things to buy especially as the shop was being resupplied at our destination so limited choices.

 

[Pushka]

I think the only thing I’ve bought on a ship has been a watch and shot glasses. And a Cunard bear I think. Oh. And a bracelet that I lost when I left the ship. That was sad.