Cruises, Cruise Deals & Cruise Holidays

We just got back from a 7 night cruise on the splendour and found that paying each person with the envelopes supplied on the last night is best, you then tip the person's you want to reward, and not people that possibly didn't even serve you! I would worry more about the cost of the drinks first! they where outrageous!! Also look closer at the time of your departure flights as you are put off the ship first thing in the morning, no matter what time your flight is ( if you are flying to your departure port) we had to spend 5hrs in Venice airport!!

sorry keep remembering what people have told me, buy your drinks packages when you get on board as they are supposed to be cheaper than paying up front, at mo on RCI site the lowest wine package for 10 bottles is £161, although this could change if rates change.Apparently they give you leaflets when you board ship with better deals on.

just a quick one, this is my first cruise and i have been told by frequent cruisers to pay onboard account in dollars, watch the rate at home buy some when the rate is good and take them with you, i think RCI set up your account with $500, which goes down as you use your sea pass you can check your balance in your room, if its getting low just add some more dollars, at least this way you have no final bill at the end of your trip, if you run out of dollars towards end let them charge this small amount to your credit card this way you wont incur a lot of charges, apparently RCI do not offer a good excange rate.If you are going to pay by card let your card issuer or bank convert it for you, so tick box b on your sea pass form.

hi we are travelling on IOS in sept, and i am going to request envelopes to be placed in room at end of cruise, a friend of my did this and only paid a fraction of what RCI ask them to pay up front, this was because they only put money into the envelopes of the people who actually gave them service, ie room attendent, waiter, she said one envelope was for a lady who walked round the restaurant and asked if their meal was ok and that is all she did they never put in hers.Dont pay up front why should you pay for service that you have not yet had it might not meet your standards ,apparently on each envelope they reccomend the amount you put in,I certainly would not pay gratuties on behalf of my children after all it is you who look after them during your cruise perhaps RCI should pay you.