Gratuities – not another price increase!

Gratuities – not another price increase!

It’s not something I think about before I take off on my holiday.

When you are budgeting for your spending money do you think about how much to save for tipping?

Most cruise lines have a recommended amount to budget for, others add the amount to your account but few actually included tips in the price of your cruise.

The cruise lines who include the tips within the price of the cruise tend to be the luxury brands like Regent and Azamara. Most of the River cruise lines also include the tips. Thomson cruises who are exclusive for the UK market also include tips within the cruise fare

Some cruise lines also let you pre pay the gratuities as a fixed amount. What do you think about this? Is pre paying for a service that you have not yet had something that you are happy about?

If you are taking your 1^st cruise this may sound a little strange but for regular cruisers it is a great way to budget and take the hassle out of worrying about who to tip.

The last cruise I went on the service was fantastic by every member of staff so I would have found it hard to tip individually. On the other hand on a cruiser with MSC I was so annoyed with a guy behind one of the bars that I took my tips off the final bill and just tipped the cabin girl and waiters in the restaurant.

It’s a shame because there are so many staff members who you don’t even see! The chefs and the invisible person who puts your case safely in your cabin.

Last week Princess cruises took the decision to increase the price of their gratuities for the second time this year! Seems a little extreme to me.

What do you think about gratuities/ tips?

I would love to hear what you think on this touchy subject!

Thanks for reading!

Love Rosie xxx