We have booked our first cruise and got gratuities and tips included in the price.what does that mean ? ?

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Lew

The gratuities and tips that you have prepaid cover what you would be expected to give to the Maitre'D, your table waiter and his assistant, and your stateroom attendant.
You will still have to pay 15% extra on the cost of very drink that you are served from any of the bars and even the bottled water that is left in your room.
The only advantage of using the prepay option is that you know exactly how much your total cruise fare will be before you sail.
The disadvantage is that if you receive poor service from anyone, you have to go to the Pursers Desk to get you tips adjusted. It's so much bother that hardly anyone bothers.

Cheryl B

On a cruise you are expected to pay your stateroom attendant, waiter, wine waiter etc a fixed amount per day in tips. It's to make up for the crap wages they receive from the cruise companies. A lot of companies automatically add it to your bill and you pay it at the end of the holiday. I always opt out of it as if I don't receive good service I am not going to tip, I pay them in cash on the last night of the holiday, they usually leave an envelope for you to put it in.

The Tank

Tips and gratuities are the voluntary payments that you make to waiters, taxi drivers etc. in return for good service.
The legal status of these is that they ARE VOLUNTARY. You cannot be made to pay them. That is literally what the word "gratuity" means - it is a payment made for "free".

Normally restaurants and suchlike who "insist" on a "service charge" and add it to your bill "for your convenience" do this to make up for paying low wages.

The company are trying to get you to fork out about 15% over and above the cost of the cruise ticket to pay for the tips in advance. In theory this money will go to the crew who serve you (waiters, stewards, cabin maids etc.).

You must NOT now feel obliged to tip any waiter or steward on board, even if they hold out their hand and look all doe eyed at you - because you have already done so.

Because you have paid this in advance you won't be able to withold the tip if you get bad service.

If you search hard enough in the small print you will probably find what element of your price is actual "fare" and what is the "voluntary" gratuities. You probably could take issue with the company and refuse to pay this but I bet hardly anyone does for fear of souring their relationship.

It's a very nasty practice and should be illegal, but apparently it isn't.

seventy

I agree with other answers but if it's Princess their bar staff are paid $800 a month which is less than Â£400 at present, for long hours about 11 hour shifts. They only get a few hours off if the ship is docked and only if they are in between their shifts which means going without sleep if they want some fun ashore. They do get part of the service/tips charge incorporated in the bill but it is still nice to give them a tip as they serve you. The staff are not well paid by any stretch.
I left some dollars for our cabin 'man' he was really nice, a Philipino and I'm sure they get even less than bar staff. So be generous.

Tivogal

the T/A you used or the Travel company gave you a bonus by prepaying the gratuities/tips on board.
If they had not, you would have at least 10.00 per day per person to pay.
this does not include any drinks from the bar which they automatically add on a tip already.

have a wonderful time on your cruise.

paranoidtaxi

it means you dont have to give any of the staff a tip for doing something for you for example you dont have to give the guy who takes your bags to your cabin any money

Stargatebabe

Some of the other answers did point out some nasty practices on cruise ships vis a vis tips added to the bill at the end. What many folks don't realize is that every time you order a bar drink they automatically add a gratuity and a line to add more gratuity. I'd be careful.

What most of these folks work for are the comment cards praising them. If they get three or more good comments they get a bigger share of the communal tips and extra days off. Ask about it on board. Make sure you show them how nicely you commented about them so they know you did it. Man, you will see them dance a different tune around you if you do it regularly.

As for the tips added to the bill, they are nominal considering all the service onboard which you don't "see" below decks. By charging this daily tip amount, you avoid taxes on the fare for this small sum. I usually tip the cabin steward extra and the maitre d' of the restaurant I frequent most at the beginning and middle of the trip to ensure extra good care. These folks don't make a huge living by our standards and a few extra dollars go a long way. In a regular hotel, I tip the maids anyway every day a few dollars so whats a couple more for all the extra I get all day on a ship? I also tip our concierge extra at the middle and end of the trip. We get great service as a result.

Little V

It means you are not obliged to leave a tip while you're on the cruise (e.g. at meal times, etc.), though of course you can still do so if you wish.

theamericanbombers

It means that the people on board have been given extra money for there service as a tip and don't need to be tipped although you can still tip them anyway. It just makes the service easier then carrying around money.

dan

no tips on drinks!! becuase the drinks are mor expensive!!!

if you going on a cruise you should get some florida flasks!
its the easiest way to smuggle alcohol on the cruise!

cruises like to over charge on drinks!! which i think it soo not fair! your stuck buying their pricy drinks!!!

100% plastic passes through Xrays!

www.floridaflasks.com

TREVOR L

I have cruised with Cunard, they issue you with a card (which is linked to your credit/debit card at the booking in terminal) which you use for all on-board purchases, at the end of the voyage, your credit card is automatically billed with your account and includes a charge of about $13/day per person to cover tips.
You can if you want, tip separatly as well, we usually give our room steward and personal waiters something at the end of the voyage.
Note that drinks etc. bought on board will also have a service charge added

ggcj.new1

I agree totally with Cheryl B, as I work on the cruise ships (not in the passenger services department) and see the other side. Opt out and pay the people that personnally serpersonally good service, they will apreciate this appreciatell encourage the other staff to be better as they get a part of the big pot of tips and can get away with mediocre service.

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