We are thinking about taking a cruise.. How does it work? What is included. Do you tip for everthing?

Question

Or do you tip at the end, the start? Thanks!

Answer 1

Tipping happens at the end.  We were given envelopes for various staff - the waiters/table staff, bell boys/ushers etc. and gave them their tips at the end of the cruise - we were given guidance as to how much to tip and stuck with that.  Our boat could of done with up-dating but the staff were brilliant - really attentive and deserved their tip so much.

Answer 2

They provide you with a suggested tip rate for each of the people that have served you throughout the week.  Don't be surprised when they suggest tipping like 10 people, some of which you have never seen.

The tipping is always done at the end of the cruise, so make sure you keep some cash available at the end, or you'll have to charge it to your room account.

Answer 3

If you order a drink or eat in a speciality resturant 15% is auto added.

Standard amounts are otherwise add and the last night of the cruise.

Answer 4

I apologize in advance if this is an extremely long answer, but I think it will be well worth it. I try to enourage as many people as I know to venture into the cruising world as it is wonderful and its great as you have everything you could almost ever imagine. Even though cruising is not for everyone. I would highly recommend since I assume that you are first time cruisers that you book through a travel agent, and get some good deals but do your research first, go to the major travel sites, and pick your dates of travel and destinations, I would recommend the Caribbean, eastern, or southern, western is not one of my personal favorites but is a nice cruise, and depending on how long of a vacation you are going on depends on the price and destination as well. Another place I would recommend is Mexican Rivera or California Coast, Bermuda is also nice. As I said depending on dates of travel can determine the location, and I would highly recommend going on a 7 day cruise as they are the best. Anything longer is also wonderful to but with shorter cruises they just dotn give you the full experience. As for a cabin I would recommend an oceanview stateroom as they have a window and their not overly exspensive and budget does come into play when booking a room. Insides are cheaper, with no windows usually towards the bottom and also on the inside of the ship, very dark, and balconies are wonderful if you can afford them. Everything is included, meals and everything else except for gambling, drinks such as wine, beer, cocktails, and Coke products, but they offer coke cards that you can use so you dont have to pay for a coke every time and range around $30 and are great if you drink coke alot, especially if you have kids. As for tipping they require you to tip at the end of the cruise, and they require you to pay a certain amount per person per day, and its a little bit less for kids but you have to tip your waiter, assistaint waiter, chief housekeeper, housekeeper, maiter d, and a few other people, and depending on the service you can tip the required amount or more and they practically live on their tips so I wouldnt recommend tipping less. For adults I think its around $3.50 per person per day on a 7 day cruise to the housekeeper and the waiter, and asst waiter and housekeeper get a little less and so on but for a family of 3 or 4 I would say around $80 that migth be a little high but thast just an estimate, and they are well worth the tips, and most of them are foreign so they send as much money as possible back to their families in their home countries, and they are really wonderful and nice people. So I hope that answers your questions.

Answer 5

Most cruises you tip at the end--they give you an opportunity on the last day to settle with the ship Bursar.  Or, some cruises are "gratuity-included" so you don't have to worry about it.  Check in with a travel agent for details per cruise.

Answer 6

It really depends on which one you're taking. Some lines include gratuity in your overall cost, or charge $10 a day for gratuity, and pay everyone out themselves. Every cruise line is different, so look carefully at the web site of the one you're taking, or talk to your travel agent.

Answer 7

We paid ours when we booked the reservation and at the end of the cruise they gave us the check so we could put it in an envelope.  We separately tipped our waiters.

Answer 8

You've received some great answers to the questions about gratuities but as a first time cruiser, I thought you might like to know about the experience.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

All of your meals in the dining room or at the buffet are included in the price of your cruise. 24-Hour room service is also included. Your choice of tea, water, or juice, ice cream, 24-hour pizza are also included. Some of the cruise lines have specialty restaurants aboard. You can dine at any of them for a nominal per person charge. Las Vegas style shows, comedy shows, and a variety of other entertainment are included.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Spa treatments, gambling and the specialty restaurants are things you'll want to budget for. Gratuities can be included in the price of your cruise so you don't have to worry about paying them onboard. There are onboard shops that you can also purchase gifts at.

DAYS AT SEA

The days at sea are not boring in any way. The days are packed with everything from Bingo, dance lessons, game show competitions, food, music, exercise classes, and a whole lot more. Or you can do absolutely nothing but lay on deck and sip a mojito. It's really up to you. Do as much or as little as you like.

FORMAL NIGHTS

They are so much fun! Here's your chance to get all dressed up and head out for a night on the town. Enjoy a spectacular dinner and head over to one of the many nightclubs or bar for a great time of dancing and drinks!

PHOTOS

There are many opportunities to take formal portraits onboard. You'll find mini photo sets all around the ship at various times. You simply walk up, strike a pose and that's it. Once the photos are developed, you can view them at the Photo Gallery. The 8x10's are generally $20 each. So be prepared. Most people want them all.

I hope that gives you a basic idea. If you want to see a sample of the schedule of activities, visit my 360 page, send me a note and I'll send you one.