Gratuities are a fancy word for tips and they are not mandatory. Tip what you want to whom you want when you want. It’s the cruise lines responsibility to pay their staff, not yours!
Couple of comments: - Always make sure that you have the necessary entry permits and/or visas for all the countries the ship will be visiting. You be denied boarding if your paperwork is missing something. And some visas make take days or weeks to obtain. Especially important for non USA passport holders sailing on an American cruise line - the cruise line may not know what is required for you. - If you desire a specific spa treatment, you may want to book prior to the cruise. On embarkation day they may have specials, but that doesn't help if all the time slots convenient for you are booked up (speaking from experience!)
Thanks for watching. Among the mainstream cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Line has the best spas. Carnivals are okay, and many Royal Caribbean ships don't have thermal suites.
Don't ever use the steam and sauna rooms out of the 7 cruises I have been on I used the steam and sauna rooms 3 times and those 3 cruises I was sick starting the day before I left the cruise. for the next 1-2 weeks after. So I even though I love to use them I don't want to run the risk of sickness bc of using them.
@@bigsosa6920 Same here. I usually get the thermal suite pass on NCL. Plenty of people end up getting sick after every cruise I've been on and most of them do not go to the saunas. My guess is there's no connection and if someone only got sick on the cruises they used it I'd say it's a coincidence, just like if there were 3 cruises you went to the steak restaurant and then link that with getting sick.
Your forgot to mention that you can turn the automatic gratuities off, and pay them yourself to whomever you want in the amounts you like. Or not at all, though this to me is unconscionable.
Have done several - Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland Amerca, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess. Never bought the alcohol drink package. Just buy a la carte.
11:58: Carnival limits to "ONLY" 15 alcoholic drinks per day." 3-5 drinks a day causes liver damage OMG I hope these cruisers understand what they're doing to their bodies. We're looking forward to our Bahamas Cruise on RCL in December and somehow we'll survive bringing just one bottle of wine on board.
This is such a good video - so many people think there's nothing to do before embarkation day, so I'm sure this will help so many people out there!
You have a great voice over voice. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much, this was extremely helpful!! I took notes. 🤓
Glad it was helpful! When are you cruising?
@@Eatsleepcruise1 Just booked my June 2025 cruise. I'm so excited!
we always have cruises which included the flight, the transfer is included to take us to the port.
Gratuities are a fancy word for tips and they are not mandatory. Tip what you want to whom you want when you want. It’s the cruise lines responsibility to pay their staff, not yours!
Look to see if booking an inclusive package is right of you? I good Travel Advisor will help you decide.
Thanks!
Couple of comments:
- Always make sure that you have the necessary entry permits and/or visas for all the countries the ship will be visiting. You be denied boarding if your paperwork is missing something. And some visas make take days or weeks to obtain. Especially important for non USA passport holders sailing on an American cruise line - the cruise line may not know what is required for you.
- If you desire a specific spa treatment, you may want to book prior to the cruise. On embarkation day they may have specials, but that doesn't help if all the time slots convenient for you are booked up (speaking from experience!)
Great tips. Carnival offers their spa packages room is worth it ? Still looking into royal Caribbean
Thanks for watching. Among the mainstream cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Line has the best spas. Carnivals are okay, and many Royal Caribbean ships don't have thermal suites.
Is it good idea GTY,we are going on December 30,2023 on Jewel of the seas?
Don't ever use the steam and sauna rooms out of the 7 cruises I have been on I used the steam and sauna rooms 3 times and those 3 cruises I was sick starting the day before I left the cruise. for the next 1-2 weeks after. So I even though I love to use them I don't want to run the risk of sickness bc of using them.
Last 3 cruises I used the steam room everyday
@@bigsosa6920 Same here. I usually get the thermal suite pass on NCL. Plenty of people end up getting sick after every cruise I've been on and most of them do not go to the saunas. My guess is there's no connection and if someone only got sick on the cruises they used it I'd say it's a coincidence, just like if there were 3 cruises you went to the steak restaurant and then link that with getting sick.
Same here. Every day, every ship, pay good money for the privilege, never a problem - knock on the wood
Your forgot to mention that you can turn the automatic gratuities off, and pay them yourself to whomever you want in the amounts you like. Or not at all, though this to me is unconscionable.
Hi Don
Only 15 alcoholic drinks per day? I would never come close to that limit.
That’s for the Carnival drink package. Some cruise lines have no limit. 🍺 🍷. Which cruise line do you typically sail with?
Have done several - Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland Amerca, Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess. Never bought the alcohol drink package. Just buy a la carte.
11:58: Carnival limits to "ONLY" 15 alcoholic drinks per day." 3-5 drinks a day causes liver damage OMG I hope these cruisers understand what they're doing to their bodies. We're looking forward to our Bahamas Cruise on RCL in December and somehow we'll survive bringing just one bottle of wine on board.
@sethmorris4860 On Anthem of the Seas??
Do you judge in person also or only on the internet, keyboard warrior.
The average threshold alcohol intake to produce liver injury is 40 g/day to 60 g /day (3 to 5 drinks) in men but only 20 g/day (
So go take some milk thistle and worry about the liver inside of you elsewhere. 😂
@@fuser1994 I think I'll stay and probably won't have to worry about getting on the liver transplant list.