By Sally Macmillan
Carnival Legend Grand Cayman.Credit: Danny Lehman
PUBLICATION DATE MAY 22 (held over from May 15 and updated)
BLOG Extra charges [image supplied]
"Nickel and diming" is an American phrase that has become common currency – and one that many cruisers use to describe (disparagingly) the practice of adding more and more extra charges to the basic cruise fare.
Compulsory gratuity charges annoy Aussie cruisers more than just about anything else. Following my recent Traveller story (25 Insider Cruise Secrets, April 17), reader Martin Field from WineTalk @ Noosa 101.3 FM made these comments:
"We follow many of your tips when cruising. Here's number 26. Don't pay the stateroom 'gratuities' lumped onto your shipboard account. They are one of the great rip-offs and according to the fine print on most lines are not compulsory.
"Typically they cost $US12.50 to $US13 ($16 plus) per day per person over four years of age. On a recent 21-day Mediterranean trip two of us saved $US525 by not paying these charges. Instead we generously tipped the people we felt deserved a tip."
Martin goes on to say that crew they've talked to on various cruises say that they sign on for an agreed salary and don't receive any extra income from the compulsory gratuity charges paid by passengers. "As far as we can understand the money goes into the lines' general revenue and the only distribution is via standard salaries."
Whatever way the major cruise lines structure salaries and distribution of the compulsory gratuity income, it won't be changing any time soon. Unless you're prepared to negotiate a waiver of the charge at the end of the cruise and distribute tips to crew as you feel fit, you have to factor in the daily charges to the overall cost of your fare.
P&O Cruises abolished compulsory gratuity charges several years ago; Carnival Cruise Line followed suit on its Australia-based Legend and Spirit; and you don't pay it on Princess Cruises Australia-based ships, even when they are sailing overseas (from an Australian port).
Carnival recently announced it is increasing its compulsory gratuity charge from September 1, to $US12.95 per person, per day for passengers in standard staterooms and $US13.95 for suites. Similarly, charges on Royal Caribbean International's ships will rise to $US12.95 and $US15.95 from July 1.
Charges for onboard services can also add up; every drink you buy has an extra 15 to 18 per cent added to the price, and the same applies to spa and salon services. Room service now attracts a charge on some lines, sometimes for late-night service or for particular menu items; according to Cruise Critic, Regal Princess instituted a $3 service fee as a test when the ship debuted but revoked it after passengers complained.
Bottom line: always do your sums when booking cruises that are not "all-inclusive".
MEET THE CREW [images of Jen Baxter & Carnival Legend supplied]
NAME Jen Baxter, from the UK
POSITION Cruise Director, Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Legend
MY JOB I am the face and voice of the ship, which means I run many of the daytime activities and host the shows in the main theatre. I also supervise the entertainment staff and work very closely with the entertainment director to organise schedules and plan the daily events and activities.
A TYPICAL DAY… starts with the live morning TV show, then throughout the day I will host two or three big events, such as HASBRO, the Game Show. In the evening I host the main production shows in the theatre featuring the Playlist Production performers and variety artists.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT When we docked in Brisbane I went to Australia Zoo and walked a wombat.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Any port in Alaska is amazing. For beaches you can't beat Mystery Island in Vanuatu and the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia.
INSIDER TIP Join in with everything and do something you have never done before, you're never too old to try something new!
TIP [FOR BANNER]
Solo Traveller is a new app singles can use to connect with other single travellers – ideal if you like doing your own thing but might want to meet up to share a dinner or cab while on the road. Free for iphones and Android.
NEWS
Special event cruises [photo supplied]
Cunard's 2017 Europe program includes new special-event itineraries that take in everything from operatic arias in Verona to carols at the famous Bruges Christmas markets. The program encompasses 161 sailings on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, visiting 93 destinations in 32 countries. For example, QM2's eight-night transatlantic voyage departing Southampton on September 14 will visit Le Havre for the city's 500th anniversary, and Queen Elizabeth will be in Kiel, Germany, for Kiel Week, the world' biggest sailing event, on its cruise departing Southampton on June 10. European cruises range from seven-night transatlantic crossings to 21 nights in the Mediterranean. See www.cunard.com [cunard.com].
Book now for 2017-18 [Explorer image supplied]
No sooner than Royal Caribbean has farewelled its summer visitors than it opens bookings for the season after next. Together, Ovation of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas will offer 66 cruises ranging from two to 23 nights during the 2017-18 season. From September 2017 to April 2018 the four ships will call at 46 ports across Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Asia and North America with departures from Sydney, Fremantle, Auckland, Singapore, Honolulu and Seattle. Voyager and Explorer will mostly sail South Pacific itineraries, while Ovation and Radiance will cruise Australia and New Zealand.
Destination Princess [NO IMAGE]
The Australian Cruise Association (ACA) has launched a new program with Princess Cruises that offers in-depth destination information to passengers cruising in Australia. It starts with a series of welcome videos featuring local ports and tour operators, which will be shown on the cruise line's website and onboard. These will be followed by more detailed videos that include helpful information delivered by local experts on the ports and surrounding areas. Onboard speakers and small-group, special interest tours that guests could not experience on their own will round out the program, which will be rolled out mid-year in select ports in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, SA and WA.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
See Alaska on a seven-night cruise aboard MS Amsterdam, explore Seattle and Vancouver, then embark on a 16-night cruise from Vancouver to Japan on Celebrity Millennium with Worldwide Cruise Centres' 31-night Glaciers and Emperors fly/double cruise/stay package. Departing Australia for Seattle on August 20, fares start from $7199. Offer valid to June 1; see www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au [worldwidecruisecentres.com.au].
MORE DEALS
PRINCESS CRUISES Book before June 30 and upgrade to a balcony cabin for just $100 per person. For example, an 11-day Vanuatu and Caledonia cruise on Emerald Princess, round-trip from Sydney departing January 21, starts at $1,399. There's also up to $200 onboard credit for select cruises. Phone 1300 551 853, see http://www.princess.com [princess.com].
CRUISE TRAVELLER's 25-night fly/cruise Grand Baltic and France package takes in eight countries in 25 nights. Voyages of Discover's MV Voyager leaves Portsmouth, England on May 2, 2017; highlights include two nights in St Petersburg and overnights in Bordeaux and Rouen. From $6995, offer valid to June 30. Phone 1800 507 777, see www.cruisetraveller.com.au [cruisetraveller.com.au].
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