Newbee to cruising...have ?s and advice needed please

[admepo]

Hello everyone! My name is Melanie and my husband Adam and I booked our first cruise ever on DCL for Aug. 28, 2004 Western cruise for our 7 year wedding anniversary (without the kids)!!!! I read tons of posts and see how wonderfully knowledgeable and helpful you all are! So a quick thanks already for the info I have acquired just reading posts! I purchased the Passporter's Guide before we booked and added REAS on when we booked. I do have a few questions and would like any advice on what we have already figured on:

First our anniversary falls on the 29th in Key West port so we were thinking Palo's that night around sunset (is that possible???) and turn down service as well. Then Monday to book the breakfast in bed and couples massage at the spa. Thursday would be Palo's brunch (that is offered on days at sea only????). We also were thinking of requesting the rotation PLA. Any advce on any of these things???

We were considering one or two small excursions in each port something like snorkeling or kayaking. We are really excited about checking out the Tulum Ruins in Cozumel. Did anyone who went to the ruins have any opinions to share?

Other questions I have would be tipping at Palo and the spa - how much is appropriate????

I apologize for asking anything that has been covered continuously, but I am trying to do my homework on all of this!

I am SOOOO excited about this and can not wait to go on the cruise. Reading everything everyone writes gets me more excited by the moment! Can't thank you enough again for all of the help already and anything else anyone has to offer is greatly appreciated!!!

Melanie

 

[webray]

At the spa...20% is normal..just like at a restaurant..hubby and I tipped our person $50 each because we really liked them.

At Palo...that is like eating in a fine dining establishment. The meal would probably cost you in the area of $200, if you have the great server we did. We tipped him $100 each time because he was outstanding. On the wonder..at palo, our server was not as good..he got the normal 20% of what we thought the dinner would cost...no special treatment from him at all.

 

[Princess49]

I hope you're getting the REAS package- as that sounds like what you described. Then you can have the rotation you want & your choice in times & days of the spa & Palo- I would do this ASAP though as we made our REAS ressies closer to the trip & many times were taken already. We tipped $30 each for our couples massage & an additional $50 in Palo. The service in Palo was outstanding ! & I would have loved to leave more- but had a car payment to come home to A cm from Palo came to our room to pick up the bottle of champagne left in the gift basket , he brought it to Palo where it was chilled & we enjoyed it throughout our dinner then ordered a few glasses of dessert wine. We originally planned out our day as- Friday-(nassau) explore nassau, back to the ship 2pm for couples massage, show then drinks & dinner at Palo, turndown service fri night, champagne breakfast in bed on Sat morning. We ended up changing our spa appointment to Sat evening after CC- because we anticipated spending more time on Nassau. It worked out great because we relaxed al day on CC & would have ben sad to get back on the ship but we had our massages to look forward to! Good luck & Happy anniversary!

 

[invaderzim]

We were told that the $10/pp you pay for the Palo's reservation (which is included in the REAS package) WAS the tip and that no furthering tipping was required.

 

[ivanova]

Originally posted by invaderzim
We were told that the $10/pp you pay for the Palo's reservation (which is included in the REAS package) WAS the tip and that no furthering tipping was required.

no further tipping is REQUIRED, that is correct. But if the service is outstanding and you feel the server deserves more of a tip, you can tip an additional amount to the server.

 

[scrapperjill]

Hmmm...I haven't given much thought to tipping for spa treatments or Palo's....I too understood the tip was the service fee (for Palo's)..I guess I could see tipping additional if the service was totally exceptional...but OMG an additional $50-100 ...WAY to far out of my budget.

I guess I'll have to start setting more aside for tips.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

First of all, welcome to the dis boards, you've come to the right place! DH and I did the Myan ruins of Tulum last year when we took the Carnival cruise. We really enjoyed it and if you do decide to go, face the ocean and look at the shape of the ground. You'll notice a distinct, bowl shape to it. They believe this is where a meteor once struck!

The tour we were on stayed 2 hours at the ruins and then went on the an ecological water park called Xel-hia (shell - ha). Two hours at the ruins were plenty. I don't think I would care for the tour to last longer but just my opinion.

 

[whnim64]

Stupid question... I know that you can put the 'suggested' tips on your charge at the end of the cruise, but do you tip at Palo, spa, etc. in cash, or does it go on your on-board charge account.

 

[invaderzim]

We've always tipped the spa and Palo's cash at that time and never charged it to our room card. I think you can charge it though, but someone else may be able to answer that question.

 

[ciadriamom]

Can't speak for Palo's but spa tips can be added to the bill and charged to KTWW card.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by admepo
We are really excited about checking out the Tulum Ruins in Cozumel. Did anyone who went to the ruins have any opinions to share?

Dd wanted to go to the Tulim Ruins as she had studied Mayan civilizations last year in 3rd grade. Ds (now 7) could have cared less, so dd and dh went to the Ruins while ds and I went to a dolphin encounter (more up ds's alley)

Dd and dh said the Ruins were very interesting and they were glad they did the excursion, but feel no need to ever do it again. There was a lot of travel time involved. From DCL you get onto a ferry, take that 35 minutes to Mexico's mainland. Then you board a bus for an hour. Then you get to the Ruins. Their tour guide talked and talked and sometimes they wandered off and looked around then rejoined the group.

You are given beach time, although dh said the waves were VERY big and dd was only allowed to go in a short distance. Also there are NO ammenties on the beach (chairs, umbrellas, etc) so dh was unsure what to do with all the stuff. There were lots of native Mexican kids running around on the beach and swimming. Not a one of them was wearing a bathing suit....all swam in their underwear--ya know what wet underwear looks like?

When the tour was done they had to go in reverse back---hour long bus ride, 35 minute ferry. They made it back JUST in time for our early dinner.

Again, they enjoyed the journey and the Ruins. If the Ruins are something that interests you, you'll probably have a good time.

HTH
p.s. welcome to the DIS!

 

[Princess49]

We never carried cash with us. put it all on the KTTW card. But I would watch your account as they charge, then credit you see http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=572228 this will help you out. No additial tip is required- our service was outstanding!!! Have fun!!

 

[Mary Anne]

Welcome Admepo! I will be on that cruise with you too!

There is a thread on the cruise meet board for our trip. Please drop by and say hello there!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=5607205#post5607205post5607205

We're under the 100 day mark now! It'll be here before you know it.

 

[GUNER]

We just did the may 8 western. I have to reccomend the cabana massage on cc. They have a couples cabana. I did it just myself and it was better than excellent. As for your roatation I would prefer APL that way you are in Lumiere's for both formal nights. Especially with no kids with you. I beleive they usually put adults with no kids on that rotation.

 

[invaderzim]

Is there actually a number you can call to discuss your dining rotation and request a certain seating?

 

[cathyscrapper]

Also curious how to get in touch with someone about seating.
We are vacationing with good friends and are booked through two different TA. Just wondering who I needed to contact to have same seating rotation and same table.