Fabulous Baltic Cruise

Item: Celebrity Eclipse
Rating: 4.8
Author: Superstitcher

Celebrity Eclipse Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe

Superstitcher

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 6

Overall rating:

4.8 out of 5

13 Night Scandinavia & Russia (Southampton Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 13, 2017

Ship: Celebrity Eclipse

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 1065

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

Excellent cruise, disappointed with expected gratuities which are not discretionary. Tariff detailing who should receive a tip and the current rates left in cabin on penultimate evening. If staff rely on these funds to top up salaries then the cruise line/s ought to be ashamed of not rewarding personnel appropriately. How does such generous tipping expectations fit in with SOX guidance?

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Excellent

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Excellent

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Solarium, lectures

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Excellent

Children's Programs

Children now adults

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Excellent

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Good

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Good

Ship tip

Be aware of gratuities that are not discretionary

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Southampton (London), England

5 out of 5

Sailed from this port

Thumbs Up 0

Fredericia, Denmark Did not visit port

Advised of little interest in the location

Thumbs Up 0

Copenhagen, Denmark

5 out of 5

Solo trip to Tivoli Gardens

Thumbs Up 0

Stockholm, Sweden

5 out of 5

City tour.

Thumbs Up 0

Tallinn, Estonia

5 out of 5

Solo tour of city

Thumbs Up 0

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

5 out of 5

2 x 10 hour sightseeing

Thumbs Up 0

Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany

5 out of 5

Solo town tour

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

Good. Flow through customs chaotic

14 Comments

angelanoel1974 7 years ago

I agree with @prin20, I tip over and above the pre-payed gratitudes.

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prin20 7 years ago

I'm shocked people are complaining about tips. ?? Don't you tip when you eat in a restaurant? I don't think $300 is too much to ask for a $3,000 cruise when you receive "housekeeping" service twice/day, waiters at your beck and call, staff at your beck and call in the buffet, and others who keep the ship clean and pleasant. We even tip the public bathroom stewards-- would you want to clean toilets after 2,000 people?? Most of them work 14 hour days. Really, I don't think it's asking a lot to give a little extra.

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Stephen57 7 years ago

........customer service. What the crew get paid is no one else's business.

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Stephen57 7 years ago

Cruises are not cheap, and the ship workers are earning far more than they would in they're own country. In fact it is classed as highly prized job. Whether an individual decides to leave a gratuity is up to them. At the end of the day it's a service industry which entails providing s

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aldievilla 7 years ago

Of course, that's what I meant to imply

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DreamCruising 7 years ago

These cruise ship workers get hardly anything except their tips, that's why cruises are so cheap. So if you remove them be sure to compensate those who have you service, especially cabin stewards and wait staff.

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Stephen57 7 years ago

Tipping is discretionary not obligatory. It's got nothing to do whether you can afford it or not. I prefer to tip individuals as I feel fit, not have someone telling me how much I WILL pay. Personally I feel what feels like tipping pressure is bl**dy cheek.

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aldievilla 7 years ago

Go to the customer service desk and tell them you don't want to pay the gratuities and wish to pay what you want to who you want. They'll remove the charge

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gordonsteadman 7 years ago

I prepaid ours, so you normally pay more.. last year was our first year for cruising. I gave our room attendant a nice tip too, on our first day , and she looked after us very well , and had a good laugh too with her..and gave a little more at the end. . It makes all the difference.. look after them ... they will look after you..

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outpost 7 years ago

the staff work their tails off for you. if you can afford the cruise you can afford the tips. they make your cruise a great vacation so show your appreciation.

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carvid 7 years ago

What's all this about tips? If you sailed on Saga small ships, no tips, free taxi service from home to docks and return, free shuttle buses at each port, no queuing to get on and off ship etc etc

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gordonsteadman 7 years ago

they automatically add them. there is no problem getting them removed...

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Kitchie 7 years ago

So can you remember the details for the tipping and who should receive it I'm going on the eclipse next month and want an idea as you how much to pay on Celebrity and whether to pay in £ or $ x

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gordonsteadman 7 years ago

I always prepay, saves any hassles.. it maybe more to pay... saves worrying about it.

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