Royal Caribbean - 8 Night South Pacific Cruise - $1,929.30 for 2 Adults & 2 Kids under 12 Years Old +US $100 Onboard Credit

Related Stores

Royal Caribbean International

• 

  ash2000 on 17/10/2016 - 13:53

  Remember US$9.75/day per person (including children) gratuities not included.

  • 

    arctan on 17/10/2016 - 13:58

    What is that?

    • 

      ash2000 on 17/10/2016 - 14:00

      Tips that are automatically charged to your account at the end of the cruise. Most major cruise lines do it. P&O and Carnival cruises (departing Oz ports) are the only two exceptions in Australia.

      Still, $1930 + $410 gratuities is still a very cheap holiday for 2 adults and 2 kids.

      • 

        cheekychief on 17/10/2016 - 14:39

        -2

        Gratitudes are no longer mandatory for ships departing from Australian ports. Turns out you can prepay gratitudes, pay day by day, or request not to be charged and get envelopes so you can tip who you want how much you want. Gratitudes on beverages are already included in the price.

      • 

        ash2000 on 17/10/2016 - 15:11

        +7

        @cheekychief:

        I travelled with RC earlier this year, from what I can gather gratuities are never compulsory from any port in the world, but they are expected.

        Yes, you can pay them up front when booking, or pay them at the end of the cruise. You can alter the amount you want to pay, or not pay anything. However, it is expected you will pay, and given how little these service staff get paid the vast majority of people just pay the fixed amount.

        The envelopes provided are intended for "additional gratuities, for service over and above". But yes, you could use them to distribute the recommended gratuity payment manually.

        Of course if you tip just the service staff you come into contact with, but then the back of house staff get nothing.

        Thank god we don't have a tipping culture in Australia, and good on Carnival and P&O for including tips in there base prices. A shame they are both poor substitutes for Royal Caribbean.

      • 

        cheekychief on 17/10/2016 - 15:51

        @ash2000: I completely agree with you. The gratitudes should be included in the fare as they are included in all beverages, however this is not the current case.

        The thing is, any country you enter you are expected to abide by THEIR customs, and as you said we do not tip in Australia. This is why it is no longer mandatory.

        RCI is a great cruise liner, and I sure most people prepay and don't worry. Sadly, some can't be bothered and then there are those who have saved for years to go on a cruise and simply can't afford it the extra charges.

        I believe in tipping, and have prepaid for my rci cruise in 5 weeks and counting!!!

      • 

        rekabkram on 17/10/2016 - 16:05

        +2

        @cheekychief: I can't stand tipping but it shouldn't be optional when you consider the staffs wages.

        The only reason I don't mind that it's on top as opposed to included in the price is because we all know that the company would find a way to take their cut.

      • 

        cheekychief on 17/10/2016 - 16:18

        +2

        @rekabkram: that's true too. I have previously heard that a percentage of the gratitudes goes to the company and the remaining is shared amongst staff.
        Personally, I like to give cash in hand, but then the behind the scenes staff wouldn't get any.

      • 

        voteoften on 17/10/2016 - 21:59

        @cheekychief:

        I disagree, the number of Aussies that I see at the pursers desk taking if the tips is shocking. I even saw one young Aussie lady a king the shits about tips being included in the drink price. The menu says $10, and that includes a tip of x%, this was the first day of the cruise and she was having a real go at the bartender saying she had stipulated no gratuities on her account. I guess she was thinking she should get the drink for $8.75 approx. the tips on drinks don't appear on the bill as a separate line item.

        I've been on four or five RCI cruises in the region over the last year and have 23 days booked and paid for the next 50 days. I know what I am talking about re Aussies going to the pursers office and having tips removed. It's usually the older less sophisticated people and younger people in their twenties.

        If you have your tips removed, you get a note in your stateroom the last three nights, each more strident than the last about why you should tip and where the money goes. The staff get a list of people who prepay. They get a list of people who have taken their tips off.

        I tip the room steward on embarkation, along with s list of what I want and when. I also leave the tips on. I tip the diamond lounge bar staff and the diamond concierge as well. Early and often is the key to getting more than other people get and it's worth it.

  • 

    chrism238 on 17/10/2016 - 14:18

    And the near-compulsory beverage packages: http://www.royalcaribbean.com.au/findacruise/experiencetypes…
    required for every day of the trip.

    • 

      ash2000 on 17/10/2016 - 14:24

      RC offer free orange juice, iced tea, water, tea and coffee. The beverage packages are terrible value, particularly given they are in US$ !

      • 

        31mop on 17/10/2016 - 15:29

        I cant find prices of the drinks packages

      • 

        odysseus on 17/10/2016 - 16:23

        @31mop:

        It varies by ship/cruise and sometimes they have specials like on their top package atm. It's about AU$40/day for the non alcoholic package, and on special at ~AU$67 for the 'deluxe' alcoholic package atm.

  • 

    voteoften on 17/10/2016 - 16:07

    +1

    Pretty sure it is more like $12-13 USD pp pd

    • 

      odysseus on 17/10/2016 - 16:22

      As of May this year went up to US$13.50/person/day.

      So for this cruise would be US$432, or ~AU$576.

• 

  nickl1986 on 17/10/2016 - 14:13

  i quite like royal Caribbean over other cruise lines but they definitely are not trying any where near as hard as the other cruise lines for book a cruise month

• 

  Regie69 on 17/10/2016 - 14:51

  Prefer 26 nights Syd/HG. For $2600. If I could only have a month off
  https://www.visioncruise.com.au/cruises/sydney-to-hong-kong-…

  • 

    megamilinda on 17/10/2016 - 16:03

    That actually cost more per person per day because it's $2600 per person, min of 2 people.

    • 

      Regie69 on 17/10/2016 - 17:22

      Who goes on a cruise by themselves?

      • 

        megamilinda on 18/10/2016 - 08:47

        Just saying that your quoted price is really $5200, and isn't anything special.

      • 

        Regie69 on 18/10/2016 - 12:50

        @megamilinda: yeah your right. Looks good until you add the 2nd pers on

• 

  GossipGoat on 17/10/2016 - 16:42

  Currently 19 years old and want to go on a cruise on the summer break, mainly looking to get smashed and do a few activities during the day

  Which cruise line would better suit me as ive heard pacific Caribbean is more family orientated whereas P and O are more on the wild side

  • 

    SuiCid3 on 17/10/2016 - 17:46

    +3

    The Black Pearl sounds like the one you're looking for