Cruise Gratuities - To pre pay or not pre pay! That is the question???

As you all can see I have been asked the Rate my service section about the tipping policy for MSC & NCL Cruses, so I have outlined some information below. I will do the other cruise lines later, but for now I hope this information answers the questions from Mr Heinrich Esterhuysen.


Tipping is a personal matter and your own judgment is the best guide. Different cruise lines operate different policies

For your convenience MSC Cruises do have what’s known as a recommended daily rate which will be applied to your on board account, this is split between all the staff on board. This is down to the length of your cruise and where you went, for instance a Mediterranean, Northern Europe or Westbound Transatlantic will carry a 7Euro per day per person recommended amount. Caribbean and Eastbound Transatlantic is $12.00 per day per person. Under 14s do not pay the ‘Gratuities’, ages 14-17years will pay 50% of the recommended amount. This is subject to change and depends on the currency used on board. You do have the right to make changes to this by contacting the Guest Relations Manager whilst on board. 15% is automatically added to drinks.

Regarding the Gratuities for Norwegian Cruise line they also operate a per person recommended amount - $12.00 per day per person, with NCL you do also have the opportunity to pre pay these 9at a slightly reduced rate) if you would like to pre pay them, let me know prior to departure a minimum of 14days and I can add them to your booking. Alternative this will be added to your on board account. You can request to have these removed if you so desire, but the reason for the fixed rate is so that the crew are encouraged to work together as a team to create the best environment for passengers then this money is split between restaurant staff, stateroom attendant and behind the scenes staff. Anyone over the age of 3 years pays the gratuities with NCL.


*Where your service charge has been pre-paid before departure, refunds are not available on board and you must apply for a refund, if applicable, after your return home by writing to our Guest Relations department.*


Personally – I’m a big fan of pre paying gratuities as I feel, if its incorporated in to the price of your cruise, it generally makes the on board bill at the end of the cruise much more palatable. Also if someone has gone especially out of their way for me, I may slip them and extra few quid or five as a little extra!


What do you think? To pre pay or not Pre pay, that is the question!!

TOP FIVE CRUISE COMPANIONS:

Chatting to some colleagues at cruise.co.uk it everyone seems to have a dinner party list, you know the one, which five people would you invite to dinner, alive or dead. So I thought I might give it a cruise twist and see who we would all like to spend a week with sailing the seas. Rules: You do not HAVE to share a cabin, for those who appreciate it – If Brad Pitt is on your list you can share if you like – It all Hypothetical of course!! I’m not a genie – I cannot actually guarantee these people to be on your next cruise, but I thought it would be interesting to see who would be on your list!

Ill kick us off with mine:

1) Curtis – My other half, yes its cheesy, yes it’s a bit romantic, BUT I’ve done three cruises without him as he prefers the British in land waterways to the open ocean. I'm going to tack Family into this one as well, My mum is best friend and I know I would always have a good time with her beside me, wherever we were going

2) Princess Diana. I was deeply moved by her passing and would love to ask her about life as a Royal and especially her humanitarian work for aids charities and especially with the up coming Royal Wedding, it would be lovely to hear her advice for Kate.

3) J K Rowling – I am a bit of a book worm, I love nothing better than getting down to a good book, especially one of a series, where the characters are more realistic and I find myself thinking about them as if they are real people, Id love to find out what inspired her to write the first Harry Potter and where all her fantastic imagination comes from. Maybe get a few tips and start writing myself.

4) Lee Mack – The comedian and star of the sitcom – Not Going Out… If you have not seen any of the fourth series, you need this in your life, his one line wit and sarcastic remarks and hysterical and as a northern lad, I could imagine we could have a night out or two. Lee Mack is currently my favourite comedian and I saw him on Alan Carr's chatty man last night – So funny.

5) One for the ladies – I know he old enough to be my father (And maybe some more) and If my Mum was with me there would be a fight for his attention, Art Malik!! He is so cool and sophisticated and as the gorgeous Ruben in Holby City all those years ago, his voice makes me melt, so on days when the sea may be rough and I need a calming influence, perhaps I could get him to read to me!

So I have laid out my thoughts - Your turn, whose is your top five?

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE TO A NEW PARTNER'SHIP'

Royal Caribbean have a new project under the wings, Project Sunshine is a new collaboration between Royal Caribbean and German ship yard Meyer Werft, they have and agreement in place to build their latest generation of Ocean Liners, the first one will be launched in 2014 with the option for second vessel for 2015

the new ship will come in at 158,000 tonnes, just a fraction bigger than the Southampton based ship, Independence of the Seas. Will carry 4,100 guest (double occupancy) The 'Class' of the ship is yet to be announced.

Ive been thinking about which class I think the new ship should be and I think a new take on the Vision class of ships might be a good idea. Vision class, ships of Light, and do some really great itineraries, so a bigger vessel would work really well in this Class.

There are some really good Mediterranean based Vision Class ships at the moment, the Grandeur of the Seas and the Splendour of the Seas are both really popular at the moment. Vision Class ships

Features of the Vision Class ships:

Dance the night away at their world-class nightclub
Sample cuisines and wines from around the world in a spectacular two-storey dining room
Play poker, craps or blackjack at our Vegas-style casino
Have a drink at one of eight bars and lounges
Relax in our adult-only Solarium
Have a massage at our Day Spa & Fitness Centre
Give your children a holiday to remember with our Adventure Ocean® Youth Programme

Royal Caribbean are keeping their lips sealed on this at the moment, they have said that the new ship will be a something for everyone type of ship with more personal space, lots of dining venues and great place for families looking for a wide variety of activities to suit all the generations of their family


Does anyone have any suggestions as to which class of ship deserves a new sister?

How to make a cruise booking. - Dear Brenda.

I have been asked on the rate my service section, to the left of this, how to make a booking, well... there are a number of options.

1) Telephone me directly on my free phone number - 08004086144

2) Email me - nadinel@cruise.co.uk
3) Telephone the cruise.co.uk main line if outside the UK - +441213122809

Let me know the ship, the sail date, how many travellers and or if your require flights.

I am in the office today until 6pm (Sunday 13th Feb) and next week I'm in 9-5.30.

Let me know how I can help you.

Cruise Joke to make you smile!!

A magician was working on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The audience would be different each week, so the magician allowed himself to do the same tricks over and over again. There was only one problem: The captain’s parrot saw the shows every week and began to understand what the magician does in every trick.



Once he understood that, he started shouting in the middle of the show:

“Look, it’s not the same hat”

“Look, he is hiding the flowers under the table!”


“Hey, why are all the cards the Ace of Spades ?”


The magician was furious but couldn’t do anything; it was the captain’s parrot, after all.


One day the ship had an accident and sunk. The magician found himself on a piece of wood, in the middle of the ocean, with the parrot, of course. They stared at each other with hate, but did not utter a word. This went on for a


day, and another, and another.


After a week the parrot finally said: “OK, I give up. What’d you do with the boat?”

Ilfracombe the Cruise port... its Devonly exciting

WOW!! Holland America ships are now set to make Ilfracombe in Devon one of their ports, the BBC has reported that MV Rotterdam & MV Prinsendam will be visiting the south coast. Ilfracombes economy will be boosted massively by the new sector to the tourism industry which is paramount for many of the locals there.

The last ship to dock in Ilfracombe was back in 2006 and according to the BBC the harbour master said ‘Its fantastic news and they were all looking forward to it’
I’m a firm believer that the smaller ship should be visiting smaller ports – like the ideas floating around for Cardiff bay to be a luxury liner port. I for one certainly look forward to seeing the Itineraries that will incorporate Ilfracombe!!

To read the full story click here

Anyone have any suggestions for UK ports?

Missing Cruise ship member

Yesterday one of my colleagues at cruise.co.uk brought to my attention that the body of a young Polish musician, a crew member of the world famous Allure of the seas was found dead, washed up in the Island of Cozumel, where it is suspected that she may victim of an awful violent crime.
Monika Markiewicz aged 32 had suffered a blow to her head, although the cause of death is listed as drowning, I'm guessing she was unconscious as she entered the water, police are treating her death as suspicious and investigating if this may or may not be a homicide. Although I personally find it hard to comprehend that accidentally she ended up in the water and Royal Caribbean have themselves said that there are indications she was involved in a violent crime
I always seem to happen across the sad news – perhaps someone could send me some good news – Any recent happiness in your lives?

Christmas comes late at Cruise.co.uk

As everyone is well aware December we had some awful weather that interfered with travel arrangements and work commitments countrywide for about a week. On the first day of the Snow – Saturday 18th Dec Cruise.co.uk were due to go and see ‘The Greatest’ Take That tribute band, unfortunately due to inches of snow the show was delayed and guess what – TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT – Ladies and gents…. Take that as you have never seen them before – Because it’s not them!!

We have rescheduled to event and its back on for tonight, so I’m ‘pray’ing’ that’s its doesn’t snow and we can ‘Take that and party’ Lets see how may take that singles I can squeeze in here - ‘Babe’ I’m sure we will hear ‘A million love songs’ tonight, ill have to try my best to ‘shine’ on the dance floor, ‘could it be magic’ tonight for any of the singletons here looking for love, ‘It only takes a minute’ and ‘patience’ will be required… ‘why cant I wake up with you?’ after we have been ‘ up all night’ it would be the 'greatest day’

This is starting to get daft! Can anyone tell I'm excited? I hope it’s a good night, I want to be zoomed back to 1993 when I started high school and everyone had the take that duffle bags and pencil cases and you were not allowed to like the same member as your friends, just incase you ever did meet them and one of them really did fall in love with a school girl hehehe – God bless the fact that Jason Orange was my favourite – I didn’t have to fight many girls off that one – I loved all the dance moves and have been known to replicate them on occasions of severe peer pressure and alcohol… This will NOT be happening this evening lol…

Have a great weekend all. I'm back on Monday!