Royal Carribean Cruise, anyone been ?

[foodie]

Has anyone been on a royal carribean cruise ? I have just booked for july 08 on there new ship (being launched may08) independance of the seas, i'm really excited !!
Just a bit puzzled by the tips ! With this being an american ship you have to tip everyone, i don't have a problem with this as used to doing this in the states. But you can prepay your tips for £294 for a family of four before you go, just wondering if anyone has done this and how it worked as opposed to tipping in person?
For anyone who thinks crusing is for old folks check out the royal carribean website it looks amazing!!!!
Thanks in advance :d:

[Scotty]

WE are doing RCL in October - have previously done P&O, Princess and Disney. Parents have also done Fred Olsen and Thomson. They all have plusses and minuses. Really looking forward to it.
Regards the tipping - I always pre pay or put it on the room charge, unless the kids are in the room with us in which case I reduce the amount a bit. This year they have their own cabin but will be told to keep it tidy - you wouldnt believe the state some people leave their cabins in - you can see in when the stewards are making up the rooms in the mornings!

[budgie]

Did our first cruise last summer and had a fantastic time - 2 adults , 2 teenagers
We paid our tips at the end of the cruise as it didnt feel right to prepay for a service yet to be seen!
We went on the legend of the seas and although its one of their older ships we loved it and would go with RCL again
We didnt do any of the excurssions as we like to make our own way around and it was also alot cheaper!

[*source*]

Hiya :wavey:

We are going on Freedom of the Seas in Nov. I didn't pre-pay our tips as I was on the phone with 3 different travel companies trying to get the best deal. It was amazing what they deducted... but, having researched the etiquette on the cruise critics forum (at length!) I think I will just phone the company I booked with and add the tips on. It is TOO complicated for me!!! :o:

My parents in law just decided to accompany us and I got them a great price and pre-paid tips and also onboard credit of $100 so they are pleased with that and we are pleased to have some babysitters to hand :D

Independance looks AMAZING. Are you doing a Med cruise with them? I know they booked up fast if it is that one so congrats on getting a space :D

[Suzieq]

We are doing a cruise with them in July.

We are on "The Majesty Of The Seas" on 27-Jul-2007 around the Med. We have pre-paid our tips.

I will try and do a trippie with pics for you .

[truesdpr]

Just looking to book a short 4 day cruise with RCL next March form Fort Lauderdale and am currently getting quotes, looking for the best deal. We'll be on Navigator Of The Seas which looks nice. Anyone got any good places to try? Have some quotes already but would be interested in hearing who you have booked with in case I've missed any!

Pam.
:wavey:

[disneybabe]

We have been on two Princess Cruises and thanks to some advice of a friend who had already been on a cruise, we just went to the Pursers desk on the first day and asked for the gratuity (prepaid tipping) to be taken off our onboard bill. I prefer to give my tips to people who i feel deserves it and also I like to give it personally. Also I think their view on amount of tipping is a little excessive per person. There was a long queue at the pursers desk so loads of people must do that.

[carolynn38]

I am also doing Freedom this Christmas - not been before and really excited. Everyone I have spoken to re the tipping says it is a LOT easier to pre-pay gratuities before you go.

By the way, have you checked out www.cruisecritic.com - a great site with a brillian forum section od RCI. I have a quick look every week.

[Jan]

Pam - we booked our September Legend cruise with vacationstogo.com A lovely lady called Diane Hadley is our TA there. (They're in Texas.) We got it cheaper than Cruise Value Center AND we got a shipboard credit of $100 each.

I think we will pre-pay the tips. Saves having to think about it at the end.

[truesdpr]

Mnay thanks Jan - used them for our Carnival Cruise and they were very good. Have got a cheaper quote somewhere else (not much cheaper though) do may just go with them again but they did want me to pay the full amount to get the onboard credit and I wasn't too keen to do that at the moment.

Pam.
:wavey: