Advice please - realistic shipboard credit for 7 day

[jrabbit]

I've read that you can charge your tips to your stateroom acct. Does that mean you could actually charges the tips to a credit card?

Yes. Everything on the ship gets charged to your room. You can pay off your room charge with cash, credit card, debit card, travelers check, first born, etc..

It was mentioned you get tipping envelopes (do they deliver them to your cabin or do you need to pick them up somewhere)?

Generally your room steward will place the gratuity envelopes on your bed the night before your last night of the cruise (i.e. 7 night cruise from Saturday to Saturday-last dinner Friday- you will get the envelopes delivered while you are at dinner on Thursday)

Also vouchers were mentioned (what does that mean)?

You can go to Guest Services and charge your gratuities (for the required tipped positions) to your room. They give you two slips of paper - one is a receipt for your records and the second is the voucher that you place in your tip envelope. You give Guest Services your room number and they KNOW who your server, asst. server, head server and room steward are. Their names/positions print out on the voucher so that you know which envelope to place each voucher in. Also, since tipping is not customary in Europe, sometimes the packages they purchase will include vouchers for the tips.

Who do you tip, how much?

Your Server (takes your food order and brings you your food), Assistant Server (takes your beverage order, brings the bread to the table and assists the server in delivering your food, head server (the person that makes sure that your server and assistant servers are doing their jobs. Also comes around on the last night and introduces them self and says "remember to tip me please” ) and Room Steward (Cleans up your room several times per day, brings you ice for your cooler, usually makes towel animals, turns down your bed and makes up the couch into a bed and sets up the pull down bed every evening. We've found these folks to be some of the nicest/friendliest people working for you.

Now for the how much (the following amounts are PER GUEST for THE ENTIRE cruise). This is from DCL's web site.
What about gratuities? (September 2004)
We'll make it easy. It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, may we suggest the following:


Per Guest per cruise______3-Night____4-Night____7-Night
......Dining Room Server___11.00______14.75______25.75
Dining Room Asst. Server____8.00______10.75______18.75
.Dining Room Head Server____2.75_______3.75_______6.50
..Stateroom Host/Hostess___10.75______14.50______25.25
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion

Now for your specific question:

Does the ship have seperate envelopes for each server and you divide the $$ equally? Or do you put the $$ in an envelope and then Disney splits it up amongst the servers?

YOU decide how much you want to tip each person. You then put that amount in envelope for each person.

 

[dizprincess27]

Jrabbit - Thank you your the best

 

[pdarrah]

Just another note on the "low" side for a 7-night cruise. We did the Western last October with 2 adults and our DS5. Our total (without tips) was just under $400. DH only had one "drink of the day" and did the wine tasting and I don't drink at all so that was a savings. We bought 2 photos at shutters and spent about $40 on souveniers. We might not have even spent as much as we did, but I won an $80 credit at Who wants to be a Mousketeer so we spent that on Bingo and I included it in our total. Our other expenses were Palo (Brunch, Tea & Dinner fees plus tips) and buying a case of water to have in the room and to take on excursions with us (next time, I'll buy a few bottles and bring them with us - we just didn't think of that this time.)

We didn't spend anything on the Spa, specialty drinks or the arcade. We may try some of these next time, but this first trip we just didn't have the time and didn't mind missing any of these.

pdarrah

 

[ljql_5969]

Just another note on the "low" side for a 7-night cruise. We did the Western last October with 2 adults and our DS5. Our total (without tips) was just under $400. DH only had one "drink of the day" and did the wine tasting and I don't drink at all so that was a savings. We bought 2 photos at shutters and spent about $40 on souveniers. We might not have even spent as much as we did, but I won an $80 credit at Who wants to be a Mousketeer so we spent that on Bingo and I included it in our total. Our other expenses were Palo (Brunch, Tea & Dinner fees plus tips) and buying a case of water to have in the room and to take on excursions with us (next time, I'll buy a few bottles and bring them with us - we just didn't think of that this time.)

We didn't spend anything on the Spa, specialty drinks or the arcade. We may try some of these next time, but this first trip we just didn't have the time and didn't mind missing any of these.

pdarrah

Thanks pdarrah! I am going to print your post out and show my husband! We are doing a 7 night eastern and was hoping to stay low too. We are bring a cooler on with drinks to avoid bar costs and will keep our souvenier buying low. We will also be skipping th spa and the arcade because I just think there are too many other things to do on the boat.

One question... Did you do any excursions or did you venture out on your own?

 

[LiserAnn]

So I guess it's possible to keep costs low! I tend to be budget minded but on vacation we do like to enjoy ourselves. I just want to be prepared. Thanks again!

 

[marycaym]

We just came back from the 2/5 eastern and our ship bill was about 900.00, we are four - 2 adults & 2 kids (5 & 7). 900.00 = tips, wine package (much better deal than ordering one bottle each night, & if you don't finish it they will hold it for you for the next day or you can take it with you when you leave the dining room), photos (if you are going to buy more than about 5 photos, check into the photo packages), alcohol (most were drinks of the day and the two for ones - note the 2 for ones are not advertised, just ask, for example every day before noon you got 2 blood marys for about 6.00). We did not let the kids do the arcade, we did not play bingo and only spent about 50.00 on souveneirs - we have been on the DCL before so we only bought a couple of pins, a christmas ornament & magnet, etc. One spa package for me - if you don't want to get roped into buying the spa's pricey products, write "no sales pitch" on the bottom of the form you are given when you arrive at the spa. Although, the spa products are nice they are very, very pricey.

Go to guest services & check your print out about 2 days into the cruise, if you are owed any onboard credits, TA credit or disney visa credit - make sure they are there. We were to get a 50.00 disney visa credit, it was not there and the CM had to call and take care of it for us.

Have a great time!

 

[pdarrah]

oops! You're right, I didn't mention excursions.

We did them on our own. We were on the Western and since it was October, we went to Costa Maya instead of Grand Cayman. We walked to a "secret garden" in Key West (I believe the admission was $7 each donation). We did our own trip to the ruins (with other DISer families) at Costa Maya (I think about $100 for the 3 of us). We snorkeled with Eagle Ray Divers at Cozumel ($125 for the 3 of us + taxi fare & tip)

Total for excursions was about $260.

pdarrah

 

[ISCRK]

Great Idea! My kids love sparkling cider, and like to toast with DH and I while drinking the real stuff. Can you bring it on board? That would be a great way to toast the cruise at the send-off party at the start of the cruise. We've sailed on the Magic once before (2002), and were discrete with own "beverages." Does anyone think we could do this?

 

[LiserAnn]

Great Idea! My kids love sparkling cider, and like to toast with DH and I while drinking the real stuff. Can you bring it on board? That would be a great way to toast the cruise at the send-off party at the start of the cruise. We've sailed on the Magic once before (2002), and were discrete with own "beverages." Does anyone think we could do this?

It's my understanding you can bring your own *whatever* onboard. People have said they've brought bottled water, bottles of wine (which they cork themselves and bring to the dining room to have served with their dinners), beer and other alcohol. Based upon that I doubt there'd be an issue with sparking cider.......

 

[Aisling]

I was afraid to read this thread, not wanting to see the huge amounts of money it's possible to spend on the cruise. But I guess it's better to be prepared. I, too, was shocked by the high amounts. I was thinking $500 for our family of 4 on the 7 day, and even that was a lot. But I see how fast things can add up. This cruise is going to be EXPENSIVE taking every expense into account, from ressie to airfares to transportation to tips to souvenirs to excursions on and on. After this, I think I'm going back to good ole WDW where I cabn get great room codes and not have to be shocked at the expense!

 

[cntkg1]

Wow...First Time Cruisers are also a bit shocked! Just my hubby and I on the cruise. We put money on the side for tips $200.00, Excursions $200.00, and other spending money of $1000.00. We aren't drinkers either, don't plan on Palo or the Spas, so I'm thinking this will be more than enough for pictures and souveniers for our kids we are leaving at home.

I read on one of these posts about tipping on excursions? I wasn't prepared for that? Who do we tip, how much, and do we have to?

We were given a $150.00 shipboard credit from our travel agent. What does that mean?

Geeez, can you tell we're First Timers?

 

[cntkg1]

Also read here that people are bringing their own soda and water on the ship in coolers. I'm taking it that they are people that drive their own cars to the Port and bring their coolers from home? If we are flying and staying overnight at the airport in Orlando, this wouldn't work would it? I have a collapsible cooler that I could bring along, but how would we get it on the bus with us?

First Timers,
Nancy and Chuck

 

[princesspumpkin]

Ok, I just had to post after reading all of the replies. We (me, DH and DD-8) traveled with two other families. Each of those families (one with two adults, three kids, the other with only two kids) spent around $900 for a 4 day cruise. My family only spent - $72 First, we were on a tight budget. Second, we don't drink a lot (DH and I purchased one drink each). Third, we didn't purchase excursions (have been to Nassau many times, CC is an excursion in itself and the ship - well you know - there's plenty to do). Took our own camera - so no Shutters pics. We spent $$ on Bingo, Palo, two drinks, floats on CC and the internet cafe (to print boarding passes for flight). Of course, that is only our onboard account (which doesn't include tips). So, I guess you could call us frugal. But since this was my 14th cruise, I have already had the $800 stateroom bill and didn't ever want to see one of those again. Like everyone else said, it all depends on how your family vacations.

 

[Sneezy63]

It's my understanding you can bring your own *whatever* onboard. People have said they've brought bottled water, bottles of wine (which they cork themselves and bring to the dining room to have served with their dinners), beer and other alcohol. Based upon that I doubt there'd be an issue with sparking cider.......

OK, wait....if you bring your own bottle of wine, and you open it in your room, then you can just carry your opened bottle of wine with you into the dining room? I was under the impression that the "corkage fee" has to be paid whether they actually remove the cork for you or not. (Sort of like a detterent from people bringing their own wines.....like "Ok, if you really love your own wine then bring it and we'll charge you a little something, but we'd rather you buy OUR wine.")

Does anyone know what the scoop on this is? Also, how much is the corkage? Anyone know? (I plan on bringing wine onboard to enjoy in our stateroom but maybe I'll bring a little extra for dinner, too!)

 

[Aisling]

My family only spend - $72

princesspumpkin!! You're my kind of girl! I just like to see that it's POSSIBLE not to spend thousands in extras. Ok, now I can breathe again!

 

[ljql_5969]

Ok, I just had to post after reading all of the replies. We (me, DH and DD-8) traveled with two other families. Each of those families (one with two adults, three kids, the other with only two kids) spent around $900 for a 4 day cruise. My family only spend - $72 First, we were on a tight budget. Second, we don't drink a lot (DH and I purchased one drink each). Third, we didn't purchase excursions (have been to Nassau many times, CC is an excursion in itself and the ship - well you know - there's plenty to do). Took our own camera - so no Shutters pics. We spent $$ on Bingo, Palo, two drinks, floats on CC and the internet cafe (to print boarding passes for flight). Of course, that is only our onboard account (which doesn't include tips). So, I guess you could call us frugal. But since this was my 14th cruise, I have already had the $800 stateroom bill and didn't ever want to see one of those again. Like everyone else waid, it all depends on how your family vacations.

Yeah! Thank you princesspumpkin! So, you went on the Eastern. For how many days. Was there a public beach that you went to in Naussau?

Thanks!

 

[LiserAnn]

OK, wait....if you bring your own bottle of wine, and you open it in your room, then you can just carry your opened bottle of wine with you into the dining room? I was under the impression that the "corkage fee" has to be paid whether they actually remove the cork for you or not. (Sort of like a detterent from people bringing their own wines.....like "Ok, if you really love your own wine then bring it and we'll charge you a little something, but we'd rather you buy OUR wine.")

Does anyone know what the scoop on this is? Also, how much is the corkage? Anyone know? (I plan on bringing wine onboard to enjoy in our stateroom but maybe I'll bring a little extra for dinner, too!)

I asked on another thread if you could open it in your room and bring it to dinner and in that thread people said yes...this was a while back. However, if you bring a bottle and want it opened by the server, I remember reading they charged between $10-$15, can't remember the exact amount because it wasn't important to me as I wasn't going to use that service. You might want to start another thread asking the question about corkage...people might not see it in this thread.

Lisa

 

[pixiefaery]

im sorry, im new here.... what is a "ship board credit"?

Valerie

 

[bonnielynn]

What is REAS?

 

[LiserAnn]

Shipboard credit = when you get on board the ship you're given a KTTW (key to the world) card which serves as your key but also since the ship is cashless, you charge everything to your room using the KTTW card. So, when you board, they take your credit card # and I think they charge $500 in advance (they'll refund you whatever you don't use), or you can give cash. But you can also choose to establish a shipboard credit BEFORE you board by giving DCL the money in advance of your cruise, which is what we're doing. So, I was asking everyone what they thought was reasonable so that we have the right amount of money put into our shipboard credit account in advacne of our cruise. That way our costs are "set" (so to speak) and we won't have to worry about a huge bill at the end of our cruise. You're not required to do this in advance of your cruise, that's just our choice.

REAS = Romance Escape At Sea Package , it's an add-on to your cruise. It costs $339 per couple and includes a gift basket, a couples massage, romance turndown service once and a champagne breakfast once. It allows allows you to book your spa and Palo's ressies in advance.