WBPC May 6th 2013 Wonder

[Diznyfan68]

I think the 2008 Eastbound went to Cartegena as well.

Yes we did

 

[Brixton]

I feel better about safety in Cartagena than in parts of Mexico, but I think living near the border skews my impression.

Does anyone remember "Romancing the Stone"...

 

[*tinker*bell*]

We're here too at caribbean beach club. Eating at sci fi diner as I type!

Thanks. Tonight is Ohana. I love that place then off to Splitsville for the big drink. Can't wait.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Jealous of both of ya'll wish I could be down in florida enjoying the parks instead of here hiding from the pouring rain! Have fun

 

[Chaopolis]

Howdy again! Okay... I hear all this and that about TIPPING. And I've seen some pretty big numbers... and those were just for the 7-night cruises.

For those of you that have done these biggin' 14-nighters, what is the appropriate amount of money to set aside for tipping?

(We're trying to budget everything, and we know it's gonna be a big chunk... so i figured I'd ask you kind people)

 

[clukas]

$12 per day per person for the "expected" tips (cabin steward, server, assistant server, head server) plus a few dollars here and there for room service, or anyone else you think should be rewarded.

On my families last cruise my family (2 adults, 2 kids) spent about $750 in gratuities, which didn't include anything off the ship such as excursions.

It sounds like a lot but they do take good care of us.

Howdy again! Okay... I hear all this and that about TIPPING. And I've seen some pretty big numbers... and those were just for the 7-night cruises.

For those of you that have done these biggin' 14-nighters, what is the appropriate amount of money to set aside for tipping?

(We're trying to budget everything, and we know it's gonna be a big chunk... so i figured I'd ask you kind people)

 

[granmaz]

I think the 2008 Eastbound went to Cartegena as well.

I thought so too but couldn't be bothered finding the old threads to see!!

Yes we did...

Did you enjoy it? Were you the first DCL ship to dock there?

Does anyone remember "Romancing the Stone"...

I do indeed. Great fun film.

 

[Meghatron]

Howdy again! Okay... I hear all this and that about TIPPING. And I've seen some pretty big numbers... and those were just for the 7-night cruises.

For those of you that have done these biggin' 14-nighters, what is the appropriate amount of money to set aside for tipping?

(We're trying to budget everything, and we know it's gonna be a big chunk... so i figured I'd ask you kind people)

Like PP said, the DCL recommendation is $12 per person per day to cover your stateroom host, head server, server, and assistant server. That $12 gets broken down in different amoubts to each of them.

For you and your wife, that's $336 for the WBPC. We have yet to experience service that's anything less than fantastic, so we always end up tipping more; if you want to tip more or less you just go to Guest Services and adjust it to what you want.

Since we'll have our kids with us, ours go up to $672+. That's not counting the $1 bills we bring for porters and room service, plus a few larger bills in case we have really good excursion guides. Any spa and bar tips get charged to our onboard account at time of service.

 

[Chaopolis]

Like PP said, the DCL recommendation is $12 per person per day to cover your stateroom host, head server, server, and assistant server. That $12 gets broken down in different amoubts to each of them.

For you and your wife, that's $336 for the WBPC. We have yet to experience service that's anything less than fantastic, so we always end up tipping more; if you want to tip more or less you just go to Guest Services and adjust it to what you want.

Since we'll have our kids with us, ours go up to $672+. That's not counting the $1 bills we bring for porters and room service, plus a few larger bills in case we have really good excursion guides. Any spa and bar tips get charged to our onboard account at time of service.

Is it recommended to have all these gratuities in cash? or is it chargable?

 

[Crissup]

Most common method is for them to go on your shipboard account.

Sent via my iThingy

 

[Mom323]

Howdy again! Okay... I hear all this and that about TIPPING. And I've seen some pretty big numbers... and those were just for the 7-night cruises.

For those of you that have done these biggin' 14-nighters, what is the appropriate amount of money to set aside for tipping?

(We're trying to budget everything, and we know it's gonna be a big chunk... so i figured I'd ask you kind people)

Here is a handy tip calculator.

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

 

[Meghatron]

Is it recommended to have all these gratuities in cash? or is it chargable?

We bring cash for room service, porters, and excursion guides. Everything else gets charged to the KTTW.

 

[Diznyfan68]

Here is a handy tip calculator.

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

I've used this for every cruise!

 

[Chaopolis]

Here is a handy tip calculator.

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

Thank you. That IS very helpful.

 

[kmitchel]

We bring cash for room service, porters, and excursion guides. Everything else gets charged to the KTTW.

Silly question, but why do you bring cash for room service when you can charge it? Is it a convenience thing for you or do they prefer getting cash?

We used to bring a bunch of singles, but we stopped once we learned we chould just charge it to the room. I think my son was 9 when he learned how to tip and sign for room service!

 

[Jackson's grammie]

Either way works fine. I find it easier to just have a bunch of singles handy.

 

[Brixton]

We bring small bills for all of the "extras"...bartenders, porters, especially nice dr waiters on sea day lunches, guides, room service waiters, and anyone who goes above & beyond. We also use cash for Palo waiters, but everything else goes on KTTW.

Meghatron's post helps - I thought it'd be more than $672, but hadn't done the math.

 

[granmaz]

I have just booked our flights back from Long Beach to NY. The only other main item to book is our hotel in Miami for 3 nights and I am on to that now. Then just any transfers we want to book and DL park tickets to organise. Oh and car parking for 5+ weeks down at Southampton cruise terminal.

Those going from the ship to DL, are you taking Disney transport or booking a car transfer? The first PC we booked a car and it worked quite well and second time we did the Disney transfers which were fine, but of course you all pile out of the bus as quick as possible once there and try and rush to check-in to be front of the line!! Both times the lines were fairly long to check in and of course only the lucky ones had rooms ready(not us either time!!!) By the time you have checked in, waited in another line to dispose of your bags, had a restroom stop and freshen up, it was just about lunch time.

 

[LindaBabe]

GOOD Morning, Happy Cruisers!

No cruise news here. Thank heavens I got all my planning done BEFORE we decided to move, because all my time is spent packing, organizing, and running to Lowes. The new Carpeting comes today. The painting is almost done. Still need to order a new smooth top stove, clear out the packing materials and stage the house. I'm gonna NEED this cruise!

Happy Day, all!

 

[cwdefouw]

Those going from the ship to DL, are you taking Disney transport or booking a car transfer? The first PC we booked a car and it worked quite well and second time we did the Disney transfers which were fine, but of course you all pile out of the bus as quick as possible once there and try and rush to check-in to be front of the line!! Both times the lines were fairly long to check in and of course only the lucky ones had rooms ready(not us either time!!!) By the time you have checked in, waited in another line to dispose of your bags, had a restroom stop and freshen up, it was just about lunch time.

We are doing the Disney Transfers. Lunch time is about what time we are planning on heading over to Disneyland Park. Trying to plan for anything earlier is probably overly optimistic.

 

[granmaz]

We are doing the Disney Transfers. Lunch time is about what time we are planning on heading over to Disneyland Park. Trying to plan for anything earlier is probably overly optimistic.

That is true though if you are early dining and get on earlier buses or have an early pick up by car then you might get into the park earlier.

On our first PC we were late dining so therefore a later breakfast time on the final morning. We had a car booked and it was waiting for us, but by the time we arrived at the Grand Californian, some of our friends who had been on early dining so an earlier breakfast and disembarkation were already making their way over to the park!!

Half a day in the park is such a waste of a day's ticket really.