Princess What Are You Doing ?

What is it most people who cruise have a gripe about? – Tips/Gratuities.

Always an interesting conversational item when pricing a cruise or booking the holiday, most Britts simply refuse to pre pay tips when booking a cruise, it is just something we are not used to and dont like, now if your one of our American friends you simply see no problem and get on with it.

I get various replies when asking if they want to pre pay the tips  and replies range from;

• I dont see why we should supplement their wages
• I want to see what sort of service I receive first
• I would rather pay who I want

So it will come as an annoying piece of news to you to know that Princess Cruise are going to be raising the rate of Tips they “recommend” their clients pay.

For the second time this year, Princess Cruises is raising the amount it suggests passengers tip their waiters, cabin attendants and other service workers. At the minute the current level is $12.95 a day, but Princess have advised Inside, Outside and balcony cabin is going to raise to $13.50 a  day from December and people in Mini Suites are going to presented with $15.50 per day.

Now the good news is you CAN adjust it when you are on board the ship Tips are automatically added to your bill for “convenience” as a guide and can be altered.

I think it is going to be very interesting to hear comments from passengers getting ready to go on board and indeed hear the grumbles when they return- Also it would be nice to know what the staff on board the ships think.

Trouble is its not just Princess who have increased them this year Celebrity, Carnival and Royal Caribbean have also jumped on the band wagon.

Let me know your thoughts…