Expert: Linda - 5/7/2008

Question
Hi,
this is my first time going on a cruise, I'm excited.  I was searching for drink prices, one site mentioned a beer bucket.  I also read on their web site, they have a drink card, you can purchase and all the soft drinks you want while on the cruise, but again  no price given.  I appreciate the response.  How about there tipping, I noticed they charge you 10.00 a day on your card for a tip, do you tip  additionally and what is the guide line.  Thanks again.

Answer
Hi Emily,

I'm sure you're excited, cruising gets in your blood!  OK, lets go with some answers.   Beer is $3.25, wine and hard alcohol $4 to $4.75.  The soda cards run about $5.00 a day and yes, you can get all you want of the soda.  some people get the soda card, then go back to their cabin to add the alcohol.  I'm not sure about the beer buckets though.  I don't think it's a special price, just service with lots of ice in a bucket..

Tipping is really personal, they will add the $10 a day, but if you feel your cain steward has done a GREAT job, or your room steward, then by all means, give them more.  Your bar bill will already have the tip added, so no extra is needed.  We do however, by the second day find 2 bars and usualy 2 bartenders we really like, we give them a few bucks each at the end of the day...trust me, you will NOT wait for a drink!  The extra money we give, we do in cash and hand it directly to the cabin steward, waiter or assistant waiter.  there have been cruises where we gave extra to the assistant waiter who was better than the waiter and we wanted to recognize that.

For our cabin steward, we use a lot of ice, so we give him $10 when we meet him and ask for ice at 10 AM 2 PM and 5 PM, that's in addition to what he brings on his regular round.  We have always had our ice :)

I hope that has answered your question, if not, ask away!

Linda