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It takes time for your ship to dock, get cleared by local authorities, and prepare for disembarkation. If all goes to plan, you could start disembarking by 7AM, but unexpected delays could cause a later disembarkation time. Speaking of excursions, it isn’t necessary to book excursions through Royal Caribbean. While booking shore excursions on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website is convenient, you might find more options (or lower prices) by booking through independent tour operators. Due to the popularity of excursions on an Alaska cruise, they can fill up quickly, so it’s important to book excursions well ahead of time.
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They will set up the travel cot (pack n play) each night, puree food as requested, clean up at mealtimes and much more. Guests still have some decisions to make about whether to pay the gratuities before or after the cruise, and whether to tip any extra on top. While not obligatory, extra tipping is a thoughtful way to acknowledge the staff’s additional work and care in accommodating your specific needs.
Culinary Adventures You’ll Never Forget
It doesn't help that tipping etiquette and different cruise line policies on the practice can be baffling. Whether you're wondering how much to tip a cruise porter or the waiter on a cruise ship, there is a lot of gray area. That's why Cruise Critic's experts have broken down when to tip, how much to tip and whom to tip. Read on for our tips on tipping, so you won't be lost at sea when it comes time to show your appreciation for the cruise crew. Applying this charge automatically helps streamline the recognition process for the crew members who work to enhance your cruise. We hope you find the gratuity to be an accurate reflection of your satisfaction and thank you for your generous recognition of our staff.
Why should I prepay gratuities?
Should your cruise encounter rough seas, an itinerary change, or another unforeseen circumstance, there’s a chance a showtime could get canceled or rescheduled. Booking reservations for earlier in the week ensures you have wiggle room in case of an unanticipated schedule change. Watching a ship tour will help make your first few days onboard stress-free, as you will already have a general understanding of what is offered onboard, as well as the location of popular venues. On my Alaska cruise last June, it was nearly 80 degrees on several port days—I spent the day sweating while walking around Skagway. Having packed only long sleeve shirts and pants for my Alaska cruise, I regretted not bringing more lightweight clothing. Regardless of where your cruise starts and ends, it’s always better to plan transportation logistics ahead of time to avoid any surprises and confusion upon arrival.
You SHOULD bring small bills
If you cannot take unpaid time off, you might still be able to take a short trip. There are plenty of places within the United States (as well as in Canada and Mexico) where you can jet off on a Thursday or Friday and get back in time for work on Monday or Tuesday morning. Depending on your ability to overcome jet lag and what flights depart from the city you live in, you might even be able to swing a weekend trip to Europe. The passport card cannot be used to travel by air outside the United States. It can only be used for land and sea travel beyond the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region and Bermuda. However, for added security we recommend that you carry a valid passport with you.
Royal Caribbean Raises Gratuities By $2 Per Person, Per Day - TravelPulse Canada
Royal Caribbean Raises Gratuities By $2 Per Person, Per Day.
Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You SHOULD know what gratuities cover
Just as Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable in terms of rain and snow, you may also encounter surprisingly warm weather, particularly in the peak summer season. This is another reason why layers are so important—you never know when you’ll need that t-shirt over your winter jacket. If you live in a warm climate or don’t wear winter jackets often, consider purchasing gently-used cold weather gear at a thrift shop or on eBay. There’s really no need to spend hundreds of dollars on new winter gear just for an Alaska cruise, especially if you’re traveling with children who will quickly outgrow clothing.
Unless you plan on doing some serious trekking in each port, there’s no need to bring hefty hiking boots or rain boots. A pair of sneakers made from a water-resistant material will keep your feet dry and warm under most weather conditions. Therefore, booking a flight too early in the day could cause you to miss the flight if you encounter delays. Stressing over making it to the airport in time is not worth it; instead, the general rule of thumb is to avoid booking flights before noon. Although your cruise itinerary might say you arrive at 6AM on disembarkation day, this does not mean you can get off your ship at 6AM.
You SHOULDN’T forget cash on shore excursions
Do not tip the captain or other ship officers -- they are already well compensated, and the gesture would more likely be a source of embarrassment than flattery. If you find yourself on a winning streak in the ship's casino, remember to reward your dealer as you would on land -- there's no standard for tipping dealers, so use your discretion based on your winnings. If you don’t have small bills, you can ask Guest Services to break down larger bills. Simply bring a $20, $50, or $100 bill to Guest Services and they will be happy to give you change.
I spent more than $1500 on a 4-night cruise. Here's what everything cost, from a $350 dog sitter to $43 for onboard ... - Royal Caribbean Blog
I spent more than $1500 on a 4-night cruise. Here's what everything cost, from a $350 dog sitter to $43 for onboard ....
Posted: Fri, 10 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Are Gratuities Included In Off-Ship Excursions Organized By Royal Caribbean Cruises?
At most lines, you can pay your service charges before sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board. The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers.
If you don’t receive good service during your cruise, you can ask for the gratuities to be removed or reduced. To do this, you would need to go to the Guest Services desk on the morning of your departure and explain your reason. Royal Caribbean gratuities for infants may seem high, but when you think about it, the crew members do a lot of work for each baby, perhaps even more than for an adult.
Every Royal Caribbean ship has a lineup of full-scale entertainment everyone in the family can enjoy—several even have shows across four “stages,” the air, ice, water and theater. There are deck-defying acrobatics, slacklining, high diving and more by Olympic-level performers at AquaTheater; ice skaters at Studio B, and the list goes on. For the inside scoop on all things entertainment—like the best seats in the house—we tapped head of entertainment Nick Weir and former Royal Caribbean acrobat Sydney Brown. American guests are used to the idea of tipping, and so are more comfortable leaving larger tips for Royal Genies than maybe some other guests would be. So I’ve scoured Facebook groups and popular cruise forums to find out how much people tend to pay their Royal Genie as a tip.
Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. To ensure you don’t miss out, consider booking a later dinner time, or simply eat dinner elsewhere on the nights the sailaway overlaps with your dining time. The Windjammer buffet can be an excellent place to enjoy dinner in Alaska, as the buffet has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the venue, in addition to outdoor seating on select ships. Even though booking shore excursions is popular on an Alaska cruise, you can still have a great time in port without an organized tour. If you’re on a budget (or would simply prefer to explore without a large group), research which activities are offered in each Alaskan town.
Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to be a useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean crew members work extremely hard throughout their multi-month contracts, and gratuities are a way to reward them for providing amazing service. Nonetheless, it’s helpful to know the basic rules of photography before setting sail. Practice taking pictures at home and watch a few beginner photography tutorials on YouTube to ensure you have the skills needed to take that perfect shot. Alaska’s landscapes are spectacular, so you’ll want to brush up on your photography skills before your cruise.
Prepaying gratuities can help you relax onboard as you don't get the daily gratuities added to every purchase you make. You may be wondering whether it’s a good idea to remove the automatic gratuities and instead tip cash to crew members like your dining room service team and cabin steward. This is because some of the crew members that benefit from the automatic gratuities are ones you’ll never have the chance to meet face-to-face. They are not part of the cruise fare, which is standard practice for mainstream cruise lines. You may be wondering how Royal Caribbean divides these gratuities among the crew members.
He daily gratuities are all your expected to pay, whether that is for drinks or specialty restaurants. While gratuity amounts are automatically set, you can request adjustments if you feel that the service was unsatisfactory. They get distributed among crew members who provide passenger-focused services, such as the dining staff and the room steward. Service gratuities are daily charges that you’ll encounter on nearly every cruise line, including Royal Caribbean.
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