Kids' Club Gratuity Charge?

[Jack & Monica]

Is anyone familiar with a $60 per child gratuity for using the kids' clubs? Is this something new?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No. It doesn't exist. The people who published about it got their facts wrong.

 

[MunFam]

Gosh, I wish the kids club workers were allowed to receive gratuity...they MADE our trip for us!!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

No. It doesn't exist. The people who published about it got their facts wrong.

Yeah, and, if you go all the way through their report, you can find the little disclaimer at the end that they figured out that was really the "regular" gratuities. Not related to the kid's club.

 

[bcwife76]

youtube REALLY needs to take that stupid video down.

 

[Jack & Monica]

Phew, thanks guys! This site is the best!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You will be charged tips for your MDE team and stateroom host. No tips for Kid's Club.

 

[egesicki]

I seem to recall several threads where tokens of appreciation for Oceaneers CMs are mentioned. I write a thank you note and give them all my beach read books. Actually helps me too, freeing up room for FE stuff.

 

[diznymom]

I've read that they love magazines. They are out of touch with the real world and they love to read about what's happening in the world.

 

[EASchechter]

I seem to recall several threads where tokens of appreciation for Oceaneers CMs are mentioned. I write a thank you note and give them all my beach read books. Actually helps me too, freeing up room for FE stuff.

Oh, that's a good idea. I'm going to a romance writer convention in July, and I know I'll come home with a lot of free books. I can bring some of those for the CMs.

 

[scgustafson]

Just to clarify, the $60 in gratuities that were charged per that wretched youtube are not for the Oceaneers Club/Lab, but are the standard $12/night gratuities charged for all guests, no matter their age. These people were on a 5-night cruise, hence the ($12/night x 5-nights =) $60 gratuity that appears under their child's name on the bill. The $12 per night per guest is broken down as $4/night for the stateroom host(ess), $4/night for the server, $3/night for the assistant server, and $1/night for the head server. Of course, guests are welcome to go to Guest Service and adjust these amounts for each position to help reflect the level of service received compared to just good service. Each guests tips will be shown under their name on the final bill.

 

[CandleontheWater]

One thing that surprised me when we got the bill was the charge for the magic bands for the Oceaneer club. At no point did anyone tell me there was a $13.95 charge for the bands, and I didn't see it in any of the paperwork or general research that I did before the cruise. We ended up loosing a band at Castaway Cay and I went and got another for my son, and even when I got a replacement, no one told me they were going to charge me ANOTHER $13.95. I just assumed it was like magic bands, that they are complimentary and would be replaced with no trouble. It didn't break our vacation, but I wish I had known up front!

 

[bbel]

One thing that surprised me when we got the bill was the charge for the magic bands for the Oceaneer club. At no point did anyone tell me there was a $13.95 charge for the bands, and I didn't see it in any of the paperwork or general research that I did before the cruise. We ended up loosing a band at Castaway Cay and I went and got another for my son, and even when I got a replacement, no one told me they were going to charge me ANOTHER $13.95. I just assumed it was like magic bands, that they are complimentary and would be replaced with no trouble. It didn't break our vacation, but I wish I had known up front!

The info about the $12.95 charge is on the registration forms (yes in small print but still there) that you sign to say that you read it all....just saying...

 

[over50visits]

The info about the $12.95 charge is on the registration forms (yes in small print but still there) that you sign to say that you read it all....just saying...

Have you read the cruise contract that you sign to say you read it all? Including your general average contribution (that you are not entitled to receive), and the wonderful paragraph 18?

Just saying…it isn't nice to hide significant things (such as a charge not otherwise disclosed or highlighted) in small print. "You signed it" may be legal, but not ethical. They should not do that.

 

[GOOFY D]

They have always explained that to us when we checked in to receive the magic band as well. It shows up almost immediately on your bill so if you get a print out before the last night, you will see the charge. If you return it before midnight on the last night, they will refund the charge.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Have you read the cruise contract that you sign to say you read it all? Including your general average contribution (that you are not entitled to receive), and the wonderful paragraph 18?

Just saying…it isn't nice to hide significant things (such as a charge not otherwise disclosed or highlighted) in small print. "You signed it" may be legal, but not ethical. They should not do that.

I don't remember the charge for the band being hidden. I knew about it on our first cruise and I'm not one to read all the "fine print". Either it was fairly prominently shown on the registration page or we were told about it when we picked up the band.

 

[squirk]

Where is this wretched video? I am curious to see what else these people got wrong.

 

[NS8VN]

Wretched video posted here: Gratuity for Oceaneers Club/Lab?

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.)

Normally I would be more understanding of mixups like that, but it is not difficult to put annotations in the video rather than some little 'correction' in the description that few people read and those watching on mobile have to go out of their way to find. Given the number of people who have mentioned it here (you aren't the first Jack and Monica, you won't be the last) it is pretty clear how well that is working. They also seem pretty indignant that people are getting angry at them for stating something that is untrue, which is funny in itself. If you are going to offer up a "Tips, Tricks, and Fees" video then it is on you to get the story correct before presenting it as fact.

 

[Quellman]

Gosh, I wish the kids club workers were allowed to receive gratuity...they MADE our trip for us!!!

I noticed this when I went to guest services a few weeks ago, they have a place for you to add in seemingly any cast members name and add an amount. i didn't do it, but i suspect it would allow to to tip person in an otherwise untipped role.

 

[squirk]

Wretched video posted here: Gratuity for Oceaneers Club/Lab?


Normally I would be more understanding of mixups like that, but it is not difficult to put annotations in the video rather than some little 'correction' in the description that few people read and those watching on mobile have to go out of their way to find. Given the number of people who have mentioned it here (you aren't the first Jack and Monica, you won't be the last) it is pretty clear how well that is working. They also seem pretty indignant that people are getting angry at them for stating something that is untrue, which is funny in itself. If you are going to offer up a "Tips, Tricks, and Fees" video then it is on you to get the story correct before presenting it as fact.

Thanks for the link. I don't know if I have it in me to subject myself to 28 minutes of potential aggravation.