Gratuity for Oceaneers Club/Lab?

[barbarossa_hoosier]

I recently watched this video, in which the couple described a (previously undisclosed?) gratuity of $60 per child for the "kids club" (see 24:10):

The video description says: "A quick correction. Towards the end of the video we mention a $60 fee per child. Those are the normal children's gratuities for a 5 day cruise, not a kids club fee." So, I think that answers the question. But I thought I'd post it here anyway. (Maybe someone else will have the same confusion, and this thread can hopefully help answer it.)

Even if true, I wouldn't really much mind; we're just trying to pre-pay as much as possible for our cruise next year (including gratuities), so I'd like to know if I need to account for this as well. (We have a travel agent; I should also ask him about this.)

 

[Geomom]

This video has been mentioned on the board before. There is no fee for the kids clubs.

Gratuities for the cruise are $12/guest/day. They cover stateroom host ($4), server ($4), assistant server ($3), and head server ($1). If you have 4 people in your stateroom, you pay $48/day. You can certainly pre-pay them, or just pay at the end of the cruise.

 

[wilkeliza]

Just confirming there is 0 fee for the kids club. Everyone's standard gratuity is charged per a night and their name so some think it is kids club when it is actually for room host, head server, server, assistant server. You will see this on your folio even if you prepay I believe but it'll say paid or have a positive and negative matching total.

 

[msmama]

There is a charge for the band they get but it is refunded if/when you return it. ($12 I think but someone else should probably confirm).

 

[JW9DVC]

This is an optional gratuity for the kids club staff. Not mandatory just like the rest of the gratuity on the ship. You can pay more for every single one and less for all of some as you see fit.

JW

 

[wilkeliza]

This is an optional gratuity for the kids club staff. Not mandatory just like the rest of the gratuity on the ship. You can pay more for every single one and less for all of some as you see fit.

JW

Unless it has changed kids club staff is not suppose to take cash tips and you can not add it into your folio. They can recieve food and magazines as gifts but not cash.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is an optional gratuity for the kids club staff.

What the couple talk about in the video they are wrong about. There is no fee or gratuity for the club/lab. As far as I know the club/lab staff are UNtipped. If you force it on them, as far as I know, it goes into a general fund for them. It doesn't stay with the counselor, and you have to absolutely insist that they take it. Those counselors are on a different pay scale than room attendants, servers, etc.

The couple doesn't understand what they are being charged for, and had to be contacted by way more than one person to get them to put that disclaimer in the description (and comments, I believe). Too bad they can't edit out the bad info.

 

[barbarossa_hoosier]

Thanks for clarifying/confirming, all!

Our plan is to prepay the suggested gratuities, and then take extra cash for tipping (porters, room service, etc.) and additional gratuities. (Since we've never cruised before, we want to make sure we cover all the bases, and if some of our wait staff, etc. go above and beyond, we want to be able to recognize their service accordingly.)

 

[elvispursley]

Ok, I couldn't handle it anymore...I had to leave a comment under their video. Thanks to @Geomom for the reminder on how the daily gratuities are broken down as I didn't feel up to searching for the info. I remember trying to plan my very first cruise and watching videos. That piece of info about a fee/gratuity for the kids club would've really A) made me not want to use the kids club and/or B)confused the heck out of me!

They "tips" they are providing in the comments section is also a little concerning. They are advocating taking power strips (and when questioned about it, they mentioned they were "allowed to" but when they looked the info up, they realized the strips weren't technically allowed, but you could "rent them."

The couple doesn't understand what they are being charged for, and had to be contacted by way more than one person to get them to put that disclaimer in the description (and comments, I believe). Too bad they can't edit out the bad info.

They may not be able to edit the video, but they sure could put a written message below their video stating that they were incorrect about x, y, z.

 

[barbarossa_hoosier]

They "tips" they are providing in the comments section is also a little concerning. They are advocating taking power strips (and when questioned about it, they mentioned they were "allowed to" but when they looked the info up, they realized the strips weren't technically allowed, but you could "rent them."

I know I'm getting off-topic here, but regarding power strips: would this pass muster, or would I be better off with something like an Anker 4-port USB charger?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know I'm getting off-topic here, but regarding power strips: would this pass muster, or would I be better off with something like an Anker 4-port USB charger?

No, it's a surge protector. Surge protectors are not allowed.

 

[barbarossa_hoosier]

No, it's a surge protector. Surge protectors are not allowed.

Thanks for the clarification. I seem to see claims all over the place.

 

[elvispursley]

This! But we had a multi-port portable charger we used (that was just basic, no surge protector).

 

[JW9DVC]

I know I'm getting off-topic here, but regarding power strips: would this pass muster, or would I be better off with something like an Anker 4-port USB charger?

Possibly, I would do it but I make
My own rules
Lol

 

[elvispursley]

Possibly, I would do it but I make
My own rules
Lol

Been reading too many threads re. CC and beer?? Sorry, couldn't resist (and if you don't know which thread I'm referring to, just ignore me)!

 

[barbarossa_hoosier]

Been reading too many threads re. CC and beer?? Sorry, couldn't resist (and if you don't know which thread I'm referring to, just ignore me)!

Heh. I saw that thread. But I'm trying my best to follow the rules.

 

[elvispursley]

LOL. Good to know you've not been corrupted yet

 

[Geomom]

There is a charge for the band they get but it is refunded if/when you return it. ($12 I think but someone else should probably confirm).

Yes, it's $12.95 if you keep their magicband from the oceaneer club/lab. You get refunded if you return it the last night.

 

[KdKyA]

They have edited it in the video description that they were mistaken about the gratuities. Honestly, they need to pull the video down and edit the video then resubmit it since no one reads the descriptions and rarely reads the comments on videos.

 

[clten]

This video drives me crazy with how inaccurate many of their statements are. They did one cruise and are now posting like they are experts - which they clearly are NOT. I feel bad for people who haven't cruised that are combing the web looking for helpful info and run into this video. It's really a disservice to the people they are "helping" and they should just remove it but I'm sure they are just looking for an easy paycheck from You Tube.