Last Minute Questions - docs & tipping

[BarbSutto]

We leave in a couple of days - yay! Our TA told us we needed to bring all documentation to the port including the pics we took of ourselves to upload. What is the best method to take these? Print them off on paper or get 4x6 photos?

Also - we prepaid gratuities but if we want to give additional - can we pay additional through the onboard account and how?


Thanks!

 

[erionm]

Also - we prepaid gratuities but if we want to give additional - can we pay additional through the onboard account and how?

You could put the extra in the envelopes provided. Otherwise, you would have to go to Guest Services and have the amounts adjusted.

 

[TRTRguy]

You do not need to print out pictures of yourself. Just bring your citizenship documentation (passport, etc.) and your port arrival form.

 

[happycamper47]

As TRTRguy said you do not need the pictures. If they don't like the ones you uploaded they will take new ones.

 

[kiford]

You could put the extra in the envelopes provided. Otherwise, you would have to go to Guest Services and have the amounts adjusted.

Also - we prepaid gratuities but if we want to give additional - can we pay additional through the onboard account and how?

I always go to GS to add more. This way I know it goes into their account, they don't need to deposit the cash themselves and, most importantly, if I don't see them on our last day I know they'll get it. Our Assistant Server on our last cruise hurt her leg so we weren't able to see her at the end of the cruise and our room steward was running around doing other things. I think the whole process only took 5 minutes in total at GS and despite being the last afternoon was not very busy.

They don't actually get the gratuities until the end anyway so if you want to add more, GS just reprints the cards and charge the whole amount to your account which is offset by what you prepaid so effectively only the additional amount is added to your account.

 

[pelequeen]

I’m going to jump in to ask some last minute questions too!

Once on board, I head to guest services for reservations/availability for alcohol tastings? Do I inquire about Palo at guest services too? Or dining somewhere?

I think I saw somewhere I might be able to make one or more of these requests via the app once connected to port/ship WiFi?

I was able to snag one seat for mixology on a cancelation and I’m hoping that gives me some persuasion for a second seat for my DH.

 

[kiford]

I’m going to jump in to ask some last minute questions too!

Once on board, I head to guest services for reservations/availability for alcohol tastings? Do I inquire about Palo at guest services too? Or dining somewhere?

I think I saw somewhere I might be able to make one or more of these requests via the app once connected to port/ship WiFi?

I was able to snag one seat for mixology on a cancelation and I’m hoping that gives me some persuasion for a second seat for my DH.

There's usually different places that they have set up specifically for things like tastings, dining, etc. and you'll be told where to go in the Navigator app, although it doesn't hurt to ask about tastings at GS as we've done that before and been able to sign up there on previous cruises. But I don't think they'll handle dining changes or Palo. Ther might be some other things through the app too. We were able to sign up for the ship's tour for the next day on the app but that's the only thing we looked at.

You might try checking out the Navigator app when you're in the terminal as you can connect from there. You might be able to find out if you can book tastings through the app.

 

[BarbSutto]

I always go to GS to add more. This way I know it goes into their account, they don't need to deposit the cash themselves and, most importantly, if I don't see them on our last day I know they'll get it. Our Assistant Server on our last cruise hurt her leg so we weren't able to see her at the end of the cruise and our room steward was running around doing other things. I think the whole process only took 5 minutes in total at GS and despite being the last afternoon was not very busy.

They don't actually get the gratuities until the end anyway so if you want to add more, GS just reprints the cards and charge the whole amount to your account which is offset by what you prepaid so effectively only the additional amount is added to your account.

Thanks for the info. I load our OBA with Disney gift cards so just makes more sense to adjust their gratuity that way versus cash...

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Kwami]

One thing to keep in mind if you head to GS to change your gratuities is that if you've already received the paper with the original gratuities, then they'll want that back before they print you a new one with the new values.

Also, there's a separate place to go for dining changes, but that place seems to vary. And they close after a certain time in the afternoon, too, so don't wait to find them.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I wanted to add extra tips last week on the Fantasy. It was very easy. I went to Guest Services 2 days before our cruise ended, they printed out a copy of our tip sheet with spaces for me to alter any of the tips I wanted. A new perforated tip sheet was then printed for me with the updated tip amounts on it. The additional tips were charged to my onboard account. Took only a few minutes to do.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Gratuities - near the end if the cruise, a (usually tan) sheet of paper is placed in your stateroom. It lists the names of your various servers and room attendant, with their associated tip. (These are tear-apart sheets).

(But you can modify your gratuities at any point.)

Also, if you’ve prepaid gratuities, the tear-apart sheet of paper listing gratuities and recipients may be green rather than tan. At least that has been our experience. If I add more at Guest Services, they reprint the form on tan paper.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[sadiecatie]

Related question - if you prepay and/or add to the tip amount through GS (rather than cash), what do you do with the envelopes? Are you expected to deliver them to each person? Leave them in your stateroom?

 

[TRTRguy]

Related question - if you prepay and/or add to the tip amount through GS (rather than cash), what do you do with the envelopes? Are you expected to deliver them to each person? Leave them in your stateroom?

Your supposed to give them to each person, kind of a sign of personal gratitude. Although it is not required and they will still receive the tips

 

[scrappinginontario]

Related question - if you prepay and/or add to the tip amount through GS (rather than cash), what do you do with the envelopes? Are you expected to deliver them to each person? Leave them in your stateroom?

We give envelope to each person and share our appreciation of them in person.

 

[Flossbolna]

Related question - if you prepay and/or add to the tip amount through GS (rather than cash), what do you do with the envelopes? Are you expected to deliver them to each person? Leave them in your stateroom?

I seem to remember that there is a drop box at guest services as well where you can leave them in case you don’t see the person before you leave the ship. But anything charged to your account should go to the person anyway.

In case you have a change in one of the tipped position (new server for example). You might want to make sure the zip is assigned properly.

And some CMs also have a stage name that is quite different from their real name, so I usually verify names with CMs if there seems to be something odd.

 

[Marc D]

I seem to remember that there is a drop box at guest services as well where you can leave them in case you don’t see the person before you leave the ship. But anything charged to your account should go to the person anyway.

The drop boxes are for the survey, not the tipping enveloppes. You can discard them if you do not meet the CM before leaving the ship. The CM receives the amount regardless of the enveloppe as it is all handled for them in the background.

 

[kiford]

One thing to keep in mind if you head to GS to change your gratuities is that if you've already received the paper with the original gratuities, then they'll want that back before they print you a new one with the new values.

I wasn't asked to hand mine back. Just fill in a form with the changes.

Related question - if you prepay and/or add to the tip amount through GS (rather than cash), what do you do with the envelopes? Are you expected to deliver them to each person? Leave them in your stateroom?

I usually leave the envelope for my room steward on the desk, so it's seen, but that's why I pay via account rather than cash. This way, I know for sure that they get the money regardless of whether I'm able to give the envelope in person. I usually try to give the envelope to my servers at breakfast and to the head server on the way out of the dining room on disembarkation morning. But, again, I don't always know if I'll see them. I have once added cash (long story as to why we didn't do it on account) and he'd been reassigned so I gave it to Guest Services to make sure it got to him. Hopefully it did!