I recieved a gift ... all expenses paid cruise, gratuities included. After receiving my docs, I called Carnival asking if "coupons" (which I have read somewhere, would be provided for me to place in the tip envelopes) for prepaid tips were available. Their answer was no. What should I do? This is my first cruise, I want those who deserve tips to receive them, but wonder if they will ever see the prepaid tips. Thanks in advance for your advice.
Although I am not crazy about this way of doing it, this is how it is now done. We just returned Sunday ourselves. They used to give vouchers, I wish they still did, I would feel better too.
Don't worry, that is the policy.
On those ships that add tip to your s&s card they no longer give vouchers to those with prepaid tips. Those who recieve the tips (waiters, cabin stewars) get a computer print out detailing tips on s&s card and prepaid, so they will know that you have tipped.
Thanks jedgar. Your explanation helps. After reading about the low wages, I wanted to make sure that the waiters and stewards get the prepaid tips, plus any extra that I may add. Thanks!
Location: Wisconsin....about 100 miles south of the Frozen Tundra and 70 miles east of Camp Randall
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Re: Prepaid Gratuities?
If your tips are prepaid, you can check your sign and sail account on the interactive TV and see if the tips have been added to your account (I did this and it was the FIRST thing on my S&S card statement) - you can always go the the pursers desk and adjust the amount upward or you can do what I did, which is give the person or persons who went above and beyond for you is to give them an envelope with extra money in it - I told the people I did this for that it was above and beyond what I had already paid on my S&S card.
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Crown Princess 1/18/14....the NEW Me, Myself and I cruise!
We asked our waiter about the prepaid tips and he told us he would get it in a couple of months, where as they use to get it on the last night of the cruise. We were on the Imagination the first of the month. We did not prepay our tips but on a 4 day cruise they charged 39.00 a person for the tips this included all except the maitre'd and he ended up not getting a tip from a lot of people because people didnt read the carnival caper about him not being included in the tips charged to your sign and sail card. In the past there were envelopes for everyone to be tipped so when you were getting the tips straight you had the maitre'd in hand to. They did leave a envelope for him but we forgot and I heard other people talking about this too. That is when we asked our waiter if he would get his tip and thats when he told us in a couple of months.
We didn't want to do the prepaid, but in the end we did. Good thing, otherwise our room steward would have never gotten one, since we never saw him (or her..who knew?)
Also, I really didn't like the way they strong armed you into tipping the maitr'd. If they are going to include the grat do the whole 9 yards. I did tip the waitstaff in the casino on the last night since they gave me the best service.
We are first time cruisers. Our cruise is for 14 days. The Carnvial cruise book says the gratuites on certain ships are added to your Sign & Sail card. How do you know which ships? This next questions said dumb so here goes..... if you do not prepaid or add to the Sign & Sail card do they provide envelopes or do you need to bring you own.
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Carnival Triumph Cruise to NoWhere Oct 02
Carnival Spirit Nov 03 Panama Canal Transit
Carnival Victory Cruise To NoWhere Jun 04
Celebrity Horizon Sept 04 Bermuda
Carnival Liberty Sept 05 Western Mediterranean
Ask here for to find out if your ship is participating in the auto-tip program. Someone who was very recently been on whatever ship you ask about is bound to be able to provide you with the current and proper answer. If the auto-tipping is not done then they will leave envelopes in your cabin near the end of the cruise. You may also obtain these envelopes at the Pursers desk. We personally prefer to tip in person with the envelopes and always have the auto-tips removed and tip with the envelope method. It's a personal thing and we like to reward personally.
Jim
From reading the responses on this thread I think many do not know what a prepaid tip is. It is not the automatic tip that is added to your sail & sign account. It paid at the time of booking or at time of final payment or some time between. (hence prepaid)
For norfork-carl on ships that have the automatic tipping they do not provide envelopes for additions to gratuities. On one ship I was on they did provide an envelope for the Maitre d' as they are not included in the gratuities package.
Do you know if the Triumph has auto paid tipping? We wish to pay according to the service and will ask that the tips be removed if this is the case. Do we need to bring envelopes?
How much should one tip the maitre d? We have prepaid (at the time of booking) our other tips. Are there any others that are not covered under the prepaid tipping?
Merry,
There was auto=tipping last time I was onboard but that could have changed. It will be noted in the "Capers" daily letter and you can check you S&S account for the charge. All that is necessary is to wander down to the Pursers desk sometime when it isn't busy during the week and request that auto-tips be removed and that you would like envelopes to tip in the traditional manner. They will happily do that for you.
Jim
We traveled on Celebration last October to Mexicoi, great trip, great ship! Out tip coupons were included with our tickets from the travel agency that we book through. Worked great for the cabin steward and waiters.
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Prepaid Gratuities?
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