I'm taking a cruise on RCCL's Splendour of the Seas stopping in Dubrovnik (Croatia), Kusadasi-Ephesus (Turkey), Santorini (Greece), and Corfu (Greece). I'm not sure whether it is best to take Royal Caribbean's shore excursions or to explore on my own. Any thoughts on the best things to do here would be greatly appreciated!RCCL cruise excursions or independently explore?
I do know that RCCL ups the price when you book excursions with them. It may be easier to book them with RCCL first and not worry about it when you get there...but I do know that when you get off the ship you will have plenty of opportunity to find the same type of excursions at a much lower price then booking it through RCCL. Basically it boils down to...."Do you want to pay more for booking it in advance? Or look for a better deal when you get there?" But if you don't want to do any excursions and explore on your own, it would be cheaper, but it would most likely be better to have someone who knows the area showing you around then you just going off and exploring an area you are not familiar with. HAVE FUN! Greece is going to be amazing!
You'll pay more by booking your shore excursion thru RCCL but it'll be hassle free and you'll get back to the ship on time.
Independently exploring or booking a tour through your own research will definitely save you $$ but will take some time to research...and you need to make sure you get yourself back to the cruise on time!
I've done both and personally prefer exploring on my own or booking a small tour operator directly. Pros and cons to both.
Enjoy Greece.RCCL cruise excursions or independently explore?
IMO, a great part of the answer lies in how long you're in port, and how far from the port you think you might like to go. I personally would not go further than an hour from the port on a non-ship excursion, and would plan to be back at the ship at least an hour before sailaway if I took a non-ship excursion. That way if something goes wrong (traffic jam, flat tire, etc), I have some wiggle room in my schedule.
My experience has been that it is cheaper and better to explore on your own, or make your own arrangements when you get into port. You do have to be very aware of the time, and plan to be back on ship at least an hour before they tell you.
Friday, March 9, 2012
I am going on a cruise- The Majesty of the Seas (RCCL) to be exact. I pre paid gratuities, do I still need....
To tip anyone, or do the pre paid graruities cover everyone?I am going on a cruise- The Majesty of the Seas (RCCL) to be exact. I pre paid gratuities, do I still need....
Here are the gratuities you might want to pay in addition...
- Room service. The RCI menus say tipping is "at your discretion" but I'd say a dollar or two each time is appropriate
- Tour guides if you go on any excursions
- Porters at the pier, if you don't carry your own luggage
- Tips for exceptional service ... totally at your discretion and not expected beyond what's pre-paid
FYI, as Tinker said, 15% is automatically added at the bar, but RCI also adds an "additional tip" line when you sign. A little bold, but you can use it if a bartender is really good.
Hope that helps.
your fine, except if someone does an exceptional job and you really want to show your appreciation. We've been on several cruises and one time we had the best room steward and so we gave her a little extra. She really went above and beyond!I am going on a cruise- The Majesty of the Seas (RCCL) to be exact. I pre paid gratuities, do I still need....
If you have prepaid there is no need to tip anyone, it will all be taken care of.
Have a great cruise
PREPAID GRATUITIES DO COVER ALL REQUIRED TIPPING: If you prepaid gratuities you took care of your room steward, waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter. Whenever you buy a drink on ship, alcoholic or soft drink, a 15% gratuity will be added to each tab at that time. So you will be tipping as you drink. Even though you have prepaid to tip all of the appropriate people, you can add more if you want to recognize great/exceptional service. When you get each drink order the 15% is added automatically but you can add still more if you want.
When you arrive at the port the people who take your luggage to put it on the ship should be tipped, like $1. a bag, because they do not work for the cruise line, they work for the port. They take your bag to the ship's door to be loaded by ship's personnel who then carry it to your cabin door.
Since you prepaid the gratuities, you are covered for all of the staff. As someone esle said, if you get exceptional service, you can always give a little more but it is not required.
Of course, you will be paying the 15% tip automatically when buying soda or drinks. That is not covered by the prepayment. It is added to your shipboard account.
I agree with everyone above pre-paying gratuties covers tips to everyone on the ship..in bar it will be added automatically......but maximum people pay extra tips to their room attendant if they like their work....you will get a special carrd from your room attendant on the last day of your cruising, where u can pay and give feedback to her/his services.
Well the required tiping has been done but youll still have to use comon sence and tip some one if theyre do something special for you. But dont overdo it or youll spent much of your dollars for nothing. So my advice is to use common sence but you are not forced to tip any one. Johan
Here are the gratuities you might want to pay in addition...
- Room service. The RCI menus say tipping is "at your discretion" but I'd say a dollar or two each time is appropriate
- Tour guides if you go on any excursions
- Porters at the pier, if you don't carry your own luggage
- Tips for exceptional service ... totally at your discretion and not expected beyond what's pre-paid
FYI, as Tinker said, 15% is automatically added at the bar, but RCI also adds an "additional tip" line when you sign. A little bold, but you can use it if a bartender is really good.
Hope that helps.
your fine, except if someone does an exceptional job and you really want to show your appreciation. We've been on several cruises and one time we had the best room steward and so we gave her a little extra. She really went above and beyond!I am going on a cruise- The Majesty of the Seas (RCCL) to be exact. I pre paid gratuities, do I still need....
If you have prepaid there is no need to tip anyone, it will all be taken care of.
Have a great cruise
PREPAID GRATUITIES DO COVER ALL REQUIRED TIPPING: If you prepaid gratuities you took care of your room steward, waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter. Whenever you buy a drink on ship, alcoholic or soft drink, a 15% gratuity will be added to each tab at that time. So you will be tipping as you drink. Even though you have prepaid to tip all of the appropriate people, you can add more if you want to recognize great/exceptional service. When you get each drink order the 15% is added automatically but you can add still more if you want.
When you arrive at the port the people who take your luggage to put it on the ship should be tipped, like $1. a bag, because they do not work for the cruise line, they work for the port. They take your bag to the ship's door to be loaded by ship's personnel who then carry it to your cabin door.
Since you prepaid the gratuities, you are covered for all of the staff. As someone esle said, if you get exceptional service, you can always give a little more but it is not required.
Of course, you will be paying the 15% tip automatically when buying soda or drinks. That is not covered by the prepayment. It is added to your shipboard account.
I agree with everyone above pre-paying gratuties covers tips to everyone on the ship..in bar it will be added automatically......but maximum people pay extra tips to their room attendant if they like their work....you will get a special carrd from your room attendant on the last day of your cruising, where u can pay and give feedback to her/his services.
Well the required tiping has been done but youll still have to use comon sence and tip some one if theyre do something special for you. But dont overdo it or youll spent much of your dollars for nothing. So my advice is to use common sence but you are not forced to tip any one. Johan
How do you get a job in a casino on RCCL?
go to their website.
Try http://www.gamingfloor.com as well, they have the latest vacancies on all cruise lines. Don't work for Carnival cause they suck.
Try http://www.gamingfloor.com as well, they have the latest vacancies on all cruise lines. Don't work for Carnival cause they suck.
RCCL payment options, will they cancel my cruise?
I want to book a cruise with rccl in november, the deposit is 200, and final payment is due by oct 1st., only a day away, will the cancel my cruise if i pay the $200 deposit and the final payment isnt on time ?how does it work?RCCL payment options, will they cancel my cruise?
If you mean that the cruise is November 2009, then forget about a deposit as you must pay the full amount when you book. There is a payment schedule for all Royal Caribbean cruises and the final payment is generally due within 60 days of the cruise. So just plan to pay the whole amount and yes they will cancel you if you do not pay it.
The reason your total payment is due one day after your deposit is because Oct 1st is less then 60 days in advance. Most cruises ask for you to pay in advance at least 60 days before the cruise. Some like Princess ask for final payment 90 days in advance. So for a short notice such as this cruise, then, yes final payment is due Oct 1st and if you do not make the final payment, then they will cancel you for this cruise. I was canceled in less then 24 hours because they did not receive my check. I had to rebook and start over. It took them like 10 days before they finally found my check. Now I pay by credit card only.RCCL payment options, will they cancel my cruise?
They have the option of canceling your cruise if you don`t follow the rules.
The cruise line is trying to fill cabins with paying bodies. Your cruise is like a month away, so they require payment due to reserve your cabin.
I suggest you contact RCCL and explain your situation before a possible cancelation.
Hope I helped
Perhaps you should call them an ask! Call whoever you booked the cruise through. It's important to get accurate information from a reliable sourece because you may loose your deposit.
If you mean that the cruise is November 2009, then forget about a deposit as you must pay the full amount when you book. There is a payment schedule for all Royal Caribbean cruises and the final payment is generally due within 60 days of the cruise. So just plan to pay the whole amount and yes they will cancel you if you do not pay it.
The reason your total payment is due one day after your deposit is because Oct 1st is less then 60 days in advance. Most cruises ask for you to pay in advance at least 60 days before the cruise. Some like Princess ask for final payment 90 days in advance. So for a short notice such as this cruise, then, yes final payment is due Oct 1st and if you do not make the final payment, then they will cancel you for this cruise. I was canceled in less then 24 hours because they did not receive my check. I had to rebook and start over. It took them like 10 days before they finally found my check. Now I pay by credit card only.RCCL payment options, will they cancel my cruise?
They have the option of canceling your cruise if you don`t follow the rules.
The cruise line is trying to fill cabins with paying bodies. Your cruise is like a month away, so they require payment due to reserve your cabin.
I suggest you contact RCCL and explain your situation before a possible cancelation.
Hope I helped
Perhaps you should call them an ask! Call whoever you booked the cruise through. It's important to get accurate information from a reliable sourece because you may loose your deposit.
Rccl Cruise Director Ken Rush anyone know what ship he is on?
I love Ken Rush! He was our cruise director when we went on our honeymoon last October '07 on Liberty of the Seas. During the cruise, he mentioned that that was his last cruise with Liberty of the Seas. He will be working in the RC office in Miami, then would later on go to Independence of the Seas, which I think starts in May 08 for transatlantic cruises.Rccl Cruise Director Ken Rush anyone know what ship he is on?
Go to the Royal Caribbean board at CruiseCritic.com. Click on "Boards" at the top of the page, then the RC board. You can do a search with his name or you could post the question there. To post questions, you have to join CC but it's free.Rccl Cruise Director Ken Rush anyone know what ship he is on?
He's not on Liberty of the Seas....was just on there a month ago and the cruise director was James Andrews.subway application yamaha atv
Go to the Royal Caribbean board at CruiseCritic.com. Click on "Boards" at the top of the page, then the RC board. You can do a search with his name or you could post the question there. To post questions, you have to join CC but it's free.Rccl Cruise Director Ken Rush anyone know what ship he is on?
He's not on Liberty of the Seas....was just on there a month ago and the cruise director was James Andrews.
My husband and I just booked a cruise on rccl, and now my friend and her husband would like to come along.....?
We would like to dine together, is there anyway that we could eat at the same table, I know that we could have the same seating ( main seating). We never cruised with friends and we both want to eat together. Is this possible?My husband and I just booked a cruise on rccl, and now my friend and her husband would like to come along.....?
Yes, you can do that and you have two options. First, you DO NOT have to wait until you are on ship to have your dining arrangements together. When the other couple books they should request that their reservation be linked with your reservation. OR, you can call RC and request that the two reservations be linked and that you sit at the same table. You can even request a table for 4 and they will try to accommodate you. Depending on the ship there will be tables for 4, for 6, or for 10/12. You can request a table for 4 or a small table vs a large one if that's what you prefer. All you will need is both reservation numbers, full names of the persons the reservations are in, and the date of the cruise.
If you do not complete the linking before your cruise begins, then you can do as the others suggested and go to the main dining room when you first board the ship and request that you be seated together. Both you and your friends will need to be present to make that change request.
Sure, as soon as you get on board go see the maitre'd. This is a simple thing that they do all the time.My husband and I just booked a cruise on rccl, and now my friend and her husband would like to come along.....?
No problem at all. Once on board, just go to the head maitre'd and ask to be seated together. You will see all kinds of people doing similar things. Just be sure when your friends book that they ask for the same dinning time as you did(early or late seating).
Happens all day long...Just talk to the maitre'd but make sure they book same Dinner time
Yes - cross reference your bookings and you'll be all set!
Have a great cruise.
Yes you can do it once you are on the ship, but sometimes you have to wait a night because all of the tables are already set for that first night. (I had that problem) Just call up RCCL and see if they can put you together now. Cruising with friends is the BEST! I did it last year.
Once you get on board, talk with someone in the dining room. Usually they can help you out. You can always eat at other places on the ship too. There is usually a number of restaurants or the Lido where you can sit anywhere you wish.
No, no, no, never mind getting onboard and seeing the maitre'd. All you have to do is advise your travel agent and they will contact the cruise line so they can cross reference you and the other couple. This way it's taken care of before you even get onboard.
Yes, you can do that and you have two options. First, you DO NOT have to wait until you are on ship to have your dining arrangements together. When the other couple books they should request that their reservation be linked with your reservation. OR, you can call RC and request that the two reservations be linked and that you sit at the same table. You can even request a table for 4 and they will try to accommodate you. Depending on the ship there will be tables for 4, for 6, or for 10/12. You can request a table for 4 or a small table vs a large one if that's what you prefer. All you will need is both reservation numbers, full names of the persons the reservations are in, and the date of the cruise.
If you do not complete the linking before your cruise begins, then you can do as the others suggested and go to the main dining room when you first board the ship and request that you be seated together. Both you and your friends will need to be present to make that change request.
Sure, as soon as you get on board go see the maitre'd. This is a simple thing that they do all the time.My husband and I just booked a cruise on rccl, and now my friend and her husband would like to come along.....?
No problem at all. Once on board, just go to the head maitre'd and ask to be seated together. You will see all kinds of people doing similar things. Just be sure when your friends book that they ask for the same dinning time as you did(early or late seating).
Happens all day long...Just talk to the maitre'd but make sure they book same Dinner time
Yes - cross reference your bookings and you'll be all set!
Have a great cruise.
Yes you can do it once you are on the ship, but sometimes you have to wait a night because all of the tables are already set for that first night. (I had that problem) Just call up RCCL and see if they can put you together now. Cruising with friends is the BEST! I did it last year.
Once you get on board, talk with someone in the dining room. Usually they can help you out. You can always eat at other places on the ship too. There is usually a number of restaurants or the Lido where you can sit anywhere you wish.
No, no, no, never mind getting onboard and seeing the maitre'd. All you have to do is advise your travel agent and they will contact the cruise line so they can cross reference you and the other couple. This way it's taken care of before you even get onboard.
Going on RCCL IN MAY ANY TIPS FOR KIDS?
I am going on a cruise in may with 4 kids.Age 8 to 16.Ports of call are coco kay , Nassau, and key west.Can you just do your own thing as some trips seem expensive or do you recommend guided tours at ports.Going on RCCL IN MAY ANY TIPS FOR KIDS?
Coco cay is their private island. It is a good day to plan on enjoying the beach. They will have a bar-b-que on the beach as well as volleyball and a few other free activities. There is also some shopping available so you might want to take a few dollars with you. Nassau isn't much to see or do, especially for the kids. Key West is your best destination for things to do. The trips offered by the ship are very expensive. When you get off the ship, there will be a lot of tour guides offering various tours for much less than the ship. They are usually better and it is always so much nicer to go with a small group. With the ship tours, the groups are usually very large.
One excursion I recommend is in Key West, and it's not terribly expensive. It is a tour of the island on an open-air trolley, and takes you to the one beach, to the southern-most part of the continental US, to Hemingway's house, and through the historic homes areas. There is a guide with very good narration you can hear well, and there are NO bad seats. You don't stop, but get a very good overview, and get back to the wharf in time for plenty of shopping and poking around. I did that on my first visit to Key West, and thought it was a great introduction. (When you're there, take a look for water bowls set out for dogs in the entryways of almost all bars and restaurants -- they are very dog-friendly there!)Going on RCCL IN MAY ANY TIPS FOR KIDS?
yes, defiantely get a tour they are so much fun to see the beauty of the island. If you don't get a tour booked there will be nothing to do. This happened to me where we did not book a tour and we wished we would have!
Personally I would do my own thing. I've been on some of the tours they offer and I learned they take up most of your day. One excursion I did, the bus I was on was in a traffic jam for 2 hours. And we were suppose to have 3 hours of shopping time but by the time we got there we had 15 minutes. Also I don't like hearing lectures all the time. So now what I do is I do research about the places where I am going and find cheap transportation to get there. I learned too that doing this is cheaper. Sometimes the tours they offer are too expensive and you can get ti cheaper by just booking it yourself.
Coco cay is their private island. It is a good day to plan on enjoying the beach. They will have a bar-b-que on the beach as well as volleyball and a few other free activities. There is also some shopping available so you might want to take a few dollars with you. Nassau isn't much to see or do, especially for the kids. Key West is your best destination for things to do. The trips offered by the ship are very expensive. When you get off the ship, there will be a lot of tour guides offering various tours for much less than the ship. They are usually better and it is always so much nicer to go with a small group. With the ship tours, the groups are usually very large.
One excursion I recommend is in Key West, and it's not terribly expensive. It is a tour of the island on an open-air trolley, and takes you to the one beach, to the southern-most part of the continental US, to Hemingway's house, and through the historic homes areas. There is a guide with very good narration you can hear well, and there are NO bad seats. You don't stop, but get a very good overview, and get back to the wharf in time for plenty of shopping and poking around. I did that on my first visit to Key West, and thought it was a great introduction. (When you're there, take a look for water bowls set out for dogs in the entryways of almost all bars and restaurants -- they are very dog-friendly there!)Going on RCCL IN MAY ANY TIPS FOR KIDS?
yes, defiantely get a tour they are so much fun to see the beauty of the island. If you don't get a tour booked there will be nothing to do. This happened to me where we did not book a tour and we wished we would have!
Personally I would do my own thing. I've been on some of the tours they offer and I learned they take up most of your day. One excursion I did, the bus I was on was in a traffic jam for 2 hours. And we were suppose to have 3 hours of shopping time but by the time we got there we had 15 minutes. Also I don't like hearing lectures all the time. So now what I do is I do research about the places where I am going and find cheap transportation to get there. I learned too that doing this is cheaper. Sometimes the tours they offer are too expensive and you can get ti cheaper by just booking it yourself.
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