Room Service Question

Hi, I'm new to this group, but some of the names are familiar from other
newsgroups.

We're booked on the Sapphire Princess sailing to Alaska next June. I
was on one cruise years ago, but I had nothing to do with the booking or
finances so I'm pretty clueless.

My question is about room service on the ship. I just discovered we
sail through Tracy Arm Fjord from 6 to 10 in the morning, so not being a
morning person I'm curious about just getting something simple sent to
the room and sitting out on our balcony. I know there's some fancy
balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I mean. On the Princess
web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I still don't
quite get the tipping process. Do you never hand out cash and settle it
all at the end, or do you tip for room service? Also, since we're
probably not the only ones who are going to do this, can we arrange for
it the night before? Any other tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Marcia

On 9/6/09 7:33 PM, in article , "Marcia
R." wrote:

On the Princess
web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I still don't
quite get the tipping process. Do you never hand out cash and settle it
all at the end, or do you tip for room service?

Most if not all cruise lines nowadays prefer a cashless system. Gratuities
may be charged (and are in fact by default charged) to your onboard account
and include tips for cabin steward, dining room staff and room service
people; the default aggregate is about $10-13 (depending in cruise line and
cabin category) per person per day. Tips for alcoholic drinks of 15-18% are
also added to the onboard account.



Also, since we're
probably not the only ones who are going to do this, can we arrange for
it the night before?

You will be able to make your breakfast selections on a form that you'll put
on the outside of your cabin before retiring.
Enjoy your cruise.

In article ,
"Marcia R." wrote:


balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I mean. On the Princess
web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I still don't
quite get the tipping process. Do you never hand out cash and settle it
all at the end, or do you tip for room service?

For room service, I generally tip $1 a person. Each cabin will have a
room service breakfast order form that you fill out and hang on the
door. It isn't quite as extensive as the menus in the dining rooms, but
more than serviceable.
General tips (cabin people, waiters, matre D, etc)., will be added on
to your bill in most cases. You will get a whole bunch of paper
reminding you about the tips, so you don't need to worry.

--
Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought
of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party.
Jimmy Buffett

On Sep 6, 11:40*am, Kurt Ullman wrote:
In article ,
*"Marcia R." wrote:



balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I mean. *On the Princess
web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I still don't
quite get the tipping process. *Do you never hand out cash and settle it
all at the end, or do you tip for room service?

* *For room service, I generally tip $1 a person. Each cabin will have a
room service breakfast order form that you fill out and hang on the
door. It isn't quite as extensive as the menus in the dining rooms, but
more than serviceable.
* *General tips (cabin people, waiters, matre D, etc)., will be added on
to your bill in most cases. You will get a whole bunch of paper
reminding you about *the tips, so you don't need to worry.

--
Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought
of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party.
Jimmy Buffett

Room service is added on to your bill. With HAL I think it's $11 a
day per person per day(or $13, I can't remember). That's the only
line I have been on. Keep in mind that that charge does not all go
to your cabin steward. It is shared by a number of people. When we
had the disembarkation meetings, they read us a list of people who are
sharing that service charge and what percentage goes to each. It
includes several "behind the scenes" people such as laundry room
help. YOur cabin stuarts end up getting a small percentage of those
$11. So, even though we were not required to leave them anything,
when we left last year on the Westerdam we gave $75 to our cabin
stewards . That's for two people. This year we were on the Amsteredam
and we left $50 (yes...the recession!) They were both seven day
cruises. Maybe we left them too much...I was just as clueless as you
are, I wasn't sure how much I should leave them, but those guys work
so hard and don't make that much money and if you stop and think...you
are spending so much money on your vacation anyway, what's $50 more
dollars?

gfc

John Sisker wrote:
"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm new to this group, but some of the names are familiar from
other newsgroups.

We're booked on the Sapphire Princess sailing to Alaska next June. I
was on one cruise years ago, but I had nothing to do with the booking
or finances so I'm pretty clueless.

My question is about room service on the ship. I just discovered we
sail through Tracy Arm Fjord from 6 to 10 in the morning, so not being
a morning person I'm curious about just getting something simple sent
to the room and sitting out on our balcony. I know there's some fancy
balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I mean. On the
Princess web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I
still don't quite get the tipping process. Do you never hand out cash
and settle it all at the end, or do you tip for room service? Also,
since we're probably not the only ones who are going to do this, can
we arrange for it the night before? Any other tips or tricks would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Marcia



Marcia,

We too will be on the Sapphire Princess soon, but to the Mexican
Riviera, not Alaska. However, that's another story.

As for room service and tipping, room service likes to promote itself as
24-hours a day. And even though a 15% gratuity will be added to the
bill, we will slip anywhere from $3 to $5 extra to the person delivering
it to our cabin anyway. We know this is above and beyond what will show
on the final bill, but getting cheap on a technicality is a little tacky
to us.

Smooth sailing to all...
John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID: 714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com


I'm still really confused. I know about the tips at the end of the
cruise. But just for the one breakfast on the one day, will there
already be an extra tip included with the others, or do I give the
person cash?

Thanks for the info about leaving our order on the door the night before.

Marcia...who feels really stupid about this stuff. ;-)

"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
John Sisker wrote:
"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm new to this group, but some of the names are familiar from other
newsgroups.

We're booked on the Sapphire Princess sailing to Alaska next June. I
was on one cruise years ago, but I had nothing to do with the booking or
finances so I'm pretty clueless.

My question is about room service on the ship. I just discovered we
sail through Tracy Arm Fjord from 6 to 10 in the morning, so not being a
morning person I'm curious about just getting something simple sent to
the room and sitting out on our balcony. I know there's some fancy
balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I mean. On the Princess
web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I still don't
quite get the tipping process. Do you never hand out cash and settle it
all at the end, or do you tip for room service? Also, since we're
probably not the only ones who are going to do this, can we arrange for
it the night before? Any other tips or tricks would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks,
Marcia



Marcia,

We too will be on the Sapphire Princess soon, but to the Mexican Riviera,
not Alaska. However, that's another story.

As for room service and tipping, room service likes to promote itself as
24-hours a day. And even though a 15% gratuity will be added to the bill,
we will slip anywhere from $3 to $5 extra to the person delivering it to
our cabin anyway. We know this is above and beyond what will show on the
final bill, but getting cheap on a technicality is a little tacky to us.

Smooth sailing to all...
John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID: 714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com


I'm still really confused. I know about the tips at the end of the
cruise. But just for the one breakfast on the one day, will there already
be an extra tip included with the others, or do I give the person cash?

Thanks for the info about leaving our order on the door the night before.

Marcia...who feels really stupid about this stuff. ;-)


The answer you got from John is wrong.

Room service on the Sapphire Princess is FREE... you don't pay anything.
There is a room service menu in your cabin and you can either fill out an
order form and hang it on your door or call your order in. Again, it is
FREE.

It is customary to tip the person who delivers your order a dollar or two in
cash. You will have to sign a receipt and the total on it will be $0.00
They do that just to keep track of how much food they are using at any given
time and to make sure that it was delivered to you. There is no gratuity
added to this and nothing is put on your onboard account.

That is all there is to it. Hot coffee and some pastries on the balcony is
a great way to see Tracy Arm.

If you order bar drinks delivered to your cabin, they add 15% just like
anywhere else on the ship, but you weren't asking about bar service, just
breakfast.


--
George Leppla

Countryside Travel http://www.CruiseMaster.com
Blog http://cruisemaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CruiseMaster

George Leppla wrote:

"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
John Sisker wrote:
"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm new to this group, but some of the names are familiar from
other newsgroups.

We're booked on the Sapphire Princess sailing to Alaska next June.
I was on one cruise years ago, but I had nothing to do with the
booking or finances so I'm pretty clueless.

My question is about room service on the ship. I just discovered we
sail through Tracy Arm Fjord from 6 to 10 in the morning, so not
being a morning person I'm curious about just getting something
simple sent to the room and sitting out on our balcony. I know
there's some fancy balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I
mean. On the Princess web site, it says there is no charge for room
service, but I still don't quite get the tipping process. Do you
never hand out cash and settle it all at the end, or do you tip for
room service? Also, since we're probably not the only ones who are
going to do this, can we arrange for it the night before? Any other
tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Marcia



Marcia,

We too will be on the Sapphire Princess soon, but to the Mexican
Riviera, not Alaska. However, that's another story.

As for room service and tipping, room service likes to promote itself
as 24-hours a day. And even though a 15% gratuity will be added to
the bill, we will slip anywhere from $3 to $5 extra to the person
delivering it to our cabin anyway. We know this is above and beyond
what will show on the final bill, but getting cheap on a technicality
is a little tacky to us.

Smooth sailing to all...
John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID:
714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com


I'm still really confused. I know about the tips at the end of the
cruise. But just for the one breakfast on the one day, will there
already be an extra tip included with the others, or do I give the
person cash?

Thanks for the info about leaving our order on the door the night before.

Marcia...who feels really stupid about this stuff. ;-)


The answer you got from John is wrong.

Room service on the Sapphire Princess is FREE... you don't pay anything.
There is a room service menu in your cabin and you can either fill out
an order form and hang it on your door or call your order in. Again, it
is FREE.

It is customary to tip the person who delivers your order a dollar or
two in cash. You will have to sign a receipt and the total on it will be
$0.00 They do that just to keep track of how much food they are using at
any given time and to make sure that it was delivered to you. There is
no gratuity added to this and nothing is put on your onboard account.

That is all there is to it. Hot coffee and some pastries on the balcony
is a great way to see Tracy Arm.

If you order bar drinks delivered to your cabin, they add 15% just like
anywhere else on the ship, but you weren't asking about bar service,
just breakfast.


Perfect!!!! Thanks.

Marcia

"George Leppla" wrote in message
...

"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
John Sisker wrote:
"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm new to this group, but some of the names are familiar from
other newsgroups.

We're booked on the Sapphire Princess sailing to Alaska next June. I
was on one cruise years ago, but I had nothing to do with the booking
or finances so I'm pretty clueless.

My question is about room service on the ship. I just discovered we
sail through Tracy Arm Fjord from 6 to 10 in the morning, so not being
a morning person I'm curious about just getting something simple sent
to the room and sitting out on our balcony. I know there's some fancy
balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I mean. On the Princess
web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I still
don't quite get the tipping process. Do you never hand out cash and
settle it all at the end, or do you tip for room service? Also, since
we're probably not the only ones who are going to do this, can we
arrange for it the night before? Any other tips or tricks would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Marcia



Marcia,

We too will be on the Sapphire Princess soon, but to the Mexican
Riviera, not Alaska. However, that's another story.

As for room service and tipping, room service likes to promote itself as
24-hours a day. And even though a 15% gratuity will be added to the
bill, we will slip anywhere from $3 to $5 extra to the person delivering
it to our cabin anyway. We know this is above and beyond what will show
on the final bill, but getting cheap on a technicality is a little tacky
to us.

Smooth sailing to all...
John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID:
714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com


I'm still really confused. I know about the tips at the end of the
cruise. But just for the one breakfast on the one day, will there
already be an extra tip included with the others, or do I give the person
cash?

Thanks for the info about leaving our order on the door the night before.

Marcia...who feels really stupid about this stuff. ;-)

George Leppla posted:

The answer you got from John is wrong.

Room service on the Sapphire Princess is FREE... you don't pay anything.
There is a room service menu in your cabin and you can either fill out an
order form and hang it on your door or call your order in. Again, it is
FREE.

It is customary to tip the person who delivers your order a dollar or two
in cash. You will have to sign a receipt and the total on it will be $0.00
They do that just to keep track of how much food they are using at any
given time and to make sure that it was delivered to you. There is no
gratuity added to this and nothing is put on your onboard account.

That is all there is to it. Hot coffee and some pastries on the balcony
is a great way to see Tracy Arm.

If you order bar drinks delivered to your cabin, they add 15% just like
anywhere else on the ship, but you weren't asking about bar service, just
breakfast.


George, am I ever glad that you came to Marsha's rescue with the TRUTH about
room service! I was amazed at the answers that she got...Kurt was right too,
but did not go into as much detail as you did! All Marsha wanted was
information for breakfast to be sent to her cabin, for Pete's sake!!! There
are menu cards in your cabin, Marsha where you select what you want, how
many or how much, and the time that you want it delivered. Some cruise line
kitchens will call your cabin and tell you that it is on the way...I guess
so you will be presentable opening your door. ;-) But not all of them so
just be prepared for it to arrive at the time that you have checked on the
menu card. And the breakfast is free as George stated and a tip of $1 per
person is adequate.

To claim that he is a T/A and give the advice that Sisker did, (which was
included in one of Marsha's posts by the way) astounds me and I have serious
concern for the "clients" that he claims to have. Marsha, ALWAYS be careful
and listen to T/As you can trust for answers...George is definitely one of
about five who post here that will always steer you straight...they don't
post here just to get their name in print and spam for sales.

Marsha, you will love Alaska...we have been there five times; one of them
with George on the Star Princess just this past May. If there are more
questions, please ask them here but be careful to sort the "wheat from the
chaff"!!!
Bon Voyage!

--Jean

On Sep 6, 1:58*pm, "Jean O'Boyle" wrote:
"George Leppla" wrote in message

...





"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
John Sisker wrote:
"Marcia R." wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm new to this group, but some of the names are familiar from
other newsgroups.

We're booked on the Sapphire Princess sailing to Alaska next June. *I
was on one cruise years ago, but I had nothing to do with the booking
or finances so I'm pretty clueless.

My question is about room service on the ship. *I just discovered we
sail through Tracy Arm Fjord from 6 to 10 in the morning, so not being
a morning person I'm curious about just getting something simple sent
to the room and sitting out on our balcony. *I know there's some fancy
balcony breakfast service, but that's not what I mean. *On the Princess
web site, it says there is no charge for room service, but I still
don't quite get the tipping process. *Do you never hand out cash and
settle it all at the end, or do you tip for room service? *Also, since
we're probably not the only ones who are going to do this, can we
arrange for it the night before? *Any other tips or tricks would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Marcia

Marcia,

We too will be on the Sapphire Princess soon, but to the Mexican
Riviera, not Alaska. However, that's another story.

As for room service and tipping, room service likes to promote itself as
24-hours a day. And even though a 15% gratuity will be added to the
bill, we will slip anywhere from $3 to $5 extra to the person delivering
it to our cabin anyway. We know this is above and beyond what will show
on the final bill, but getting cheap on a technicality is a little tacky
to us.

Smooth sailing to all...
John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID:
714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com

I'm still really confused. *I know about the tips at the end of the
cruise. *But just for the one breakfast on the one day, will there
already be an extra tip included with the others, or do I give the person
cash?

Thanks for the info about leaving our order on the door the night before.

Marcia...who feels really stupid about this stuff. *;-)

George Leppla posted:





The answer you got from John is wrong.

Room service on the Sapphire Princess is FREE... you don't pay anything..
There is a room service menu in your cabin and you can either fill out an
order form and hang it on your door or call your order in. *Again, it is
FREE.

It is customary to tip the person who delivers your order a dollar or two
in cash. You will have to sign a receipt and the total on it will be $0..00
They do that just to keep track of how much food they are using at any
given time and to make sure that it was delivered to you. There is no
gratuity added to this and nothing is put on your onboard account.

That is all there is to it. *Hot coffee and some pastries on the balcony
is a great way to see Tracy Arm.

If you order bar drinks delivered to your cabin, they add 15% just like
anywhere else on the ship, but you weren't asking about bar service, just
breakfast.

George, am I ever glad that you came to Marsha's rescue with the TRUTH about
room service! I was amazed at the answers that she got...Kurt was right too,
but did not go into as much detail as you did! *All Marsha wanted was
information for breakfast to be sent to her cabin, for Pete's sake!!! *There
are menu cards in your cabin, Marsha where you select what you want, how
many or how much, and the time that you want it delivered. Some cruise line
kitchens will call your cabin and tell you that it is on the way...I guess
so you will be presentable opening your door. ;-) But not all of them so
just be prepared for it to arrive at the time that you have checked on the
menu card. And the breakfast is free as George stated and a tip of $1 per
person is adequate.

To claim that he is a T/A and give the advice that Sisker did, (which was
included in one of Marsha's posts by the way) astounds me and I have serious
concern for the "clients" that he claims to have. Marsha, ALWAYS be careful
and listen to T/As you can trust for answers...George is definitely one of
about five who post here that will always steer you straight...they don't
post here just to get their name in print and spam for sales.

Marsha, you will love Alaska...we have been there five times; one of them
with George on the Star Princess just this past May. If there are more
questions, please ask them here but be careful to sort the "wheat from the
chaff"!!!
Bon Voyage!

--Jean- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well, I thought part of the question was about tipping. Her original
post says "but I still don't quite get the tipping process. Do you
never hand out cash and settle it
all at the end, or do you tip for room service?" That's why I
explained how it is on HAL thinking it is probably the same system on
other lines.

gfc

gfc wrote:
On Sep 6, 1:58 pm, "Jean O'Boyle" wrote:
"George Leppla" wrote in message


"Marcia R." wrote in message
...

My question is about room service on the ship.

Marcia

George, am I ever glad that you came to Marsha's rescue with the TRUTH about
room service! I was amazed at the answers that she got...Kurt was right too,
but did not go into as much detail as you did! All Marsha wanted was
information for breakfast to be sent to her cabin, for Pete's sake!!!

--Jean- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well, I thought part of the question was about tipping. Her original
post says "but I still don't quite get the tipping process. Do you
never hand out cash and settle it
all at the end, or do you tip for room service?" That's why I
explained how it is on HAL thinking it is probably the same system on
other lines.

gfc

And you were entirely right. Jean's comments are inappropriate to the
extent they don't distinguish between sisker and the rest of us.