dogster - couldn't agree more. One thing that really throws me is that when I moved to the US back in the 70s, the standard tip was 10%. It's since mysteriously increased to 15% and even 20% in the bigger cities. I can understand a price increasing, but a percentage???

"With a cruise you can see the world" - not unless you work hard at it. Otherwise, you can spend a few hours in a series of port cities, with hundreds, these days thousands, of fellow-cruisers. A place like Rhodes or Dubrovnik is quite different when the ships are in port. In fact, I'm starting to avoid popular cruise stops altogether. But when I get sufficiently decrepit I'll be on the ships myself, better than not traveling at all.

Thursday: Good point. I think KVR could comment on that as I'll bet some of those AI's have been in cruise ports.

Actually its what you make of it in terms of AI vs. a cruise. You can veg out on the beach but some choose to do that on the ship and don't get off in ports. If you do an AI in say Cancun you can do a ton of cultural things too such as trips to the Mayan ruins. Once while in Ocho Rios we hired a driver and had a full day getting to see places such as Port Antonio and Navy Island and also just getting to know the driver and learning how life is there. Its not easy!

As for tipping its like this. On the Connie Sassafras, her hubby, the dogster and us had dinner one night at Tuscany and the subject of tipping came up when the bill arrived. The dogster said we had better not talk about it as we just would not agree. Very cool. So you see the dogster is indeed wise. Reminds me of Mr. Miyaga. "Show me wax a floor."

I agree with everything dogster said as well.

He is, as jacket has noted, a very wise man. I know him well. Jacket is extremely fortunate that a brief moment in our dinner didn't turn out to be a tip-sy tirade. Dog loves a soapbox and, after a drink, is known to clamber onto tables to shout his wisdom to the world.

Frank: actually, by the time you factor in the additions, drinks, tips et al - my last cruise on Celebrity came out much more expensive than a comparitive length of time on Azamara.

thursday: so right. I visited Dubrovnik twice in November. There were five ships in town. I could scarcely see the city for the throng. We destroy everything we touch, turning the globe into Cruiseworld - the most vacuous kingdom of all. The only unscripted entertainment was waiting for yet another drunk Australian backpacker to hurl themselves to death off the walls. Luckily, there is a surfeit of drunk Australian backpackers in the world so a few less makes no difference.

KVR: I didn't know there <i>was</i> such a thing as an AI vacation. Clearly, I need to get out more.

D: So true. Well gotta hit the gym now. Last night Sue told me she lost her phone. Now she found it but somehow that morphed into her "needing" an upgrade. Huh? Just say yes. And this time buy extra insurance.

"You are more than welcome to view my travel site as proof. Another yet inaccurate preconcieved comment about AI vacations with no valid basis."

I checked your travel site and most of it seems to be the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, nothing wrong with that but just feeds into my stereotype of All Inclusives. You can do the same on a cruise but also in a matter of a week or two you can see world cities like Rome, Barcelona, Nice, Florence, Naples, or Dublin, London, Edinburgh, Stockholm, or Tokyo, Peking, Shanghai, etc. Maybe not in depth but destinations that you don't generally think of AI's for.

I'll take cruising, tips and all.

dogster: "actually, by the time you factor in the additions, drinks, tips et al - my last cruise on Celebrity came out much more expensive than a comparitive length of time on Azamara."

Than stick with the luxury lines, Crystal, Silverseas, Seaborne, etc. I like to pay for what I use, some people like to have 6, 7, 8 drinks a day others don't drink at all, some like gourmet meals, others are happy with basic foods, let each pay for what they enjoy, why bundle it all into the initial cost?

lol. I hadn't really thought of Azamara as a 'luxury line' - maybe for the errr... <i>less sophisticated</i> cruisers they entice on board with last minute cheapo rates...

'let each pay for what they enjoy...'

Rabelais would be proud of that statement. Ahhh, Frank - I suspect that, one way or another, we all <i>do</i> pay for what we enjoy...' but then, I'm talking life - not cruising.

Back on track - as Azamara ended up <i>cheaper</i>, I can't quite work out your angle. I'll sleep on it. Perhaps it will become clearer.

"I hadn't really thought of Azamara as a 'luxury line'"

Compared to the prices on NCL, Carnival, and RCCL definitely priced as luxury. Substantially higher than Holland, Celebrity and Princess. May not be the top luxury but wouldn't classify it as mass or even mid market, not at $3,000 per person for an inside cabin.

Frank you are right about my travel thus far. However, the point was that just because someone does an AI land vacation doesn't mean that they sit on the resort property the entire vacation and bask at the beach or pool. I'd rather spend a week exploring a specific Island than rushing around in a port of call with limited hours trying to see as much as I can. There are many people that stay on the ship during a port of call and don't explore the destination or find a restaurant and plopped down their alotted time, so that point is really mute.

Your stereo-typing of AI vacation is inaccurate. Have you ever done an AI vacation? I find it amusing that so many people want to talk down and give inaccuarte information about something they truly no nothing about in the first place.

"let each pay for what they enjoy, why bundle it all into the initial cost?"

As to this point, the bottom line is truly cost. It is more cost effective to mass produce than to single serve. As for me, AI land vacations are less expensive than a cruise with all the add ons. I have done both and compared the costs based on our needs. I'm not saying this is true for everyone, but has proven to be for me. Convenience is also another factor, but that is a personal decision to each person based on what their needs are.

Dogstar, yes you can experience AI vacations in Mexico and the Carribean. The total package will include airfare, hotel accomendations, food, drinks, alcohol beverages, tipping, entertainment (which is nothing compared to the entertainment on cruises) and some activities. Some very limited hotels will included off site tours and excursions of popular sites.

There are different levels of AI's and of course the more expensive the package the better the food options, drinks and accomendations will be.

I just got a responce from my TA. She states that i had to pre pay gratuitues since i optted to choose "anytime" dining. Does that make sense? Here are her words...

"Sorry I forgot you are on the ‘anytime’ dining plan. With that plan you have to pre pay the tips. But if you feel that you do not want to pay that amount you can go to the pursers desk and ask them to adjust the rate."

That's normal, travel4425. I'm not sure why, but I've had that, too.

You know, it occurs to me that all your questions would be answered by actually going into the cruise website and reading it. You might even find that you don't need a travel agent at all.

KVR: Never tried it and know it wouldn't be something we would enjoy. Seems like it works for you, can't argue with that.

Leave it Dogster to make this thread more intersting than it should be.

Tipping is a choice. It's your choice, peer pressure or not.
We were all taught to be "nice" (mostly taught that way), and "to be nice is to give", "better to give than to receive" yada yada ... and then there is this whole Karma thing, and then there is "pay it forward", help those in need, share your wealth, etc & etc, it is the society we live in these days.

In certain countries, a lot of the citizen are demanding their "entitlement" and that's what created the on-going European debt crisis. I should get off my soap box now.

I have gone on celebity's website and as it can asnwer some questions others it does not, or its just easier to ask then read 50 pages of fine print.

Gee Whiz ESCHEW, you need to come down from your political milk crate, this is just a forum about tipping for crying out loud, what are you running for prez?

I'd vote for Eschew.

We are all allowed to rant from time to time, travel44. I'm famous for it. You have to remember that it's only the lunatic fringe that find cruise forums entertaining. Have you ever been into cruisecritic.com? This is mild compared to the rabid moaning in there.

You think this is just a post about tipping. No-o-o-o. This is theatre. This is the very stuff of life.

Travel4425: It was one sentence. Hardly a campaign.

Anytime you chose "Anytime Dining" option you have to prepay. The reason is that you may/will have different waitstaff on any given night, depending on what time you show up and where you're seated. Or would you rather walk around the last evening looking for all the waiters/waitresses, busboys/girls and tip them individually?

You're still allowed to adjust the tips with the pursers desk on the last evening.

We have gotten anytime dining on our last few Carnival cruises, and have NEVER been required to prepay grats. Celebrity obviously has a different policy.

Dogster,

Your my mind of dude. If we were on the same cruise, I'dd buy you a beer. (and that is saying a lot as I am the cheapest bastard out there)

I have been on cruisecritc a little but not a lot. If it is how you say, maybe i should wait until i get back from my cruise in March to get on it!!

I have never prepaid. It's have always been added onboard. Be sure and check your invoice that they give you at the end of your cruise and make sure you're not charged again.