I am asking about tips that I can pay today, sail later. Making a reservation for January, I've noticed, the tips can be pre-paid, and it looks they are several $$ less then if we'd pay on the last day of the cruise.

I will pay with a credit card, adding come personal cash if the service is exceptional. If I pay the tips now, it will be easier for me financially - to move charges, not to have them all on one credit card statement.

Thoughts? Anybody done that?

Personally, I would just put the money aside and wait until your trip. You may get a refund if you have to cancel or you may have encounter a major hassle. I wouldn't put myself in that possition.

There should beno problem if you cancel.. Advance tipping or even the suggested tipping figure is so little compared to what you would do on land...If the service has been very good we do make a point of putting cash in the envelope for perhaps he waier and the asst. waiter.. Last trip we did not give an additional tip to the room steward.. Then again.it depends on where you are cruising...Tips paid in Euros is much more appreciated.

I will go through Panama canal with RCCL.

Pre-paid amount couldn't be less than when paying on board, it is the same. You can always do it but there is no advantage of pre-paying tips.

How much are the pre-paid tips? Isn't the norm $10 per day per passenger? Interesting that they are less if pre-paid. Where are you seeing this? I have noted sometimes a promotion will include the tips. Is this what you are referring to?

Roswalt, if the amount is the same, there is still an advantage of spreading credit card charges into several month -easier to pay the balance off.

Katy, I saw it on the RCCL website making reservations, will need to go to look it up later, I'll post a link.

Faina - Cruise Value Center is offering free pre-paid gratuities on RCCL if you book a balcony or suite. Their prices are usually quite good compared to booking directly with the cruise line.

Katy, thank you, but I've booked a window. Don't want to be up- or down- graded.

After making reservations, I sent an e-mail to an agent listed on the RCCL website. She replied, at this time, there are no discounts.

"Interesting that they are less if pre-paid. Where are you seeing this?"

Katy, on Royal Caribbean website when you make a reservation (or you can modify later) on the pages "primary guest information" and "secondary guest information" you have a choice of pre-paying gratuity.

I went in, and modified to pre-pay. Still my credit card will be charged only the deposit of $900. The full payment is due in October.

I don't know how knew this is, sailed with RCCL in January 2007, they didn't have it.

So how much are prepaid gratuities vs. paid on board?

Suggested:

Suite attendant: $5.75 USD a day per guest
Stateroom attendant: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Dining Room Waiter: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Assistant Waiter: $2.00 USD a day per guest
Headwaiter: $.75 USD a day per guest

Prepaid for 14 nights $136.50

Suggested $15.50? I hope it's a typo on the website! We just paid on Princess $10.50 per person per night.

Anyway, $15.50x14=$217 can it be such a huge difference? I still think it's a typo.

Duh! I see my mistake.

I added the suite attendant. So it's the same