Posted on 02/16/2017 2:22:08 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
One of the worlds biggest cruise lines has adopted a bizarre strategy over tips for the crew: making a service charge appear as a compulsory levy, yet allowing passengers to opt out if they ask.
Norwegian Cruise Line automatically adds a service charge of US$13.95 (£11.25) per person per day for each passenger in one of its smaller cabins; the service charge is higher for more luxurious cabins. On the eight-day voyage to the fjords of Norway departing from Southampton on 14 May, this adds £90 per person pushing the £1,109 price up by 8 per cent. If the customer agrees to pre-pay, they receive a discount on the service charge, which falls to £70 for the eight days.
~snip~ Many British travellers resent the way that cruise lines stipulate the expected level of tips and add it to the on-board account. Some passengers ask for these charges to be removed, and instead reward staff personally with cash.
Most of the cruise firms contacted by The Independent make it clear that the tips are discretionary. Royal Caribbean says: Tips are voluntary and at the discretion of each guest.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Capt. Tom.....ALL long time cruisers know how tipping works!! It’s in ALL the paperwork!!
*line. Lol
I’d probably save money too but I hate pooled tips. I was a bartender cocktail waitress and bartender for almost 20 years and made excellent money.......because I ran my tail off, remembered people’s drinks, and gave them excellent service. I went to work at a country club in the last few years and the waitresses all pooled their tips. They didn’t make squat because they had to share them with lazy azzes. I still made excellent money and always tipped my bar back. Then we had a 15% tip added on to all food tickets that was split with everyone on the shift that was on our paychecks. It was paltry.
Agreed. It’s the same at nice resorts.
You are clueless about cruising. Been on them for about 450 days and have NEVER had BAD SERVICE!!
Cruising isn’t about the “there” it’s about the “getting there.”
True, besides you're never "there" for more than a few hours when you get there anyway.
If you can’t afford the tips, don’t cruise!!! geesh....the cabin stewards thoroughly clean your room and your bathroom and shower and tub TWICE a day!! They take your dirty laundry to be cleaned, they bring it back, they deliver letters and notes, I think flowers and wine presents are delivered by others, they turn your bed down every night and make darling towel animals......good grief!
Something to consider. The people who take care of you are paid a small salary.
Tips are not taxed by their home governments, their salaries are. My understanding, after reading articles on Cruise Critic, is that the majority of cruise lines charge a daily tip for services, paid at the end of the cruise. This is in place of hiking fares. The amount varies by cruise line and lodging aboard the ship.
The tips are then divided among the people who served you, not just the ones you come in contact with. They take the tips home as pay, but don’t have to pay tax on them.
There are a lot of people that you don’t see that serve you behind the scenes.
Spot on. The ship’s crew work their tails off, and we typically only see a fraction of them. Most are working down in the bowels of the ship and rarely come up topside.
Did you go on the "Dawn" from Boston to Bermuda? -Tom
Agreed. I’d rather prepay. Assuming management isn’t keeping any for themselves...
Yes.
Best service ever:
One of our servers was so personable and excellent that we hugged him when our visit was over. Wonderful place.
How much do you tip for the norovirus?
LOL!! ONE??
Well said! We have been cruising with Crystal since mid ‘90s
They have been all inclusive for about 4 years I think.
ALL the pre-paids go into the general crew welfare fund and are distributed equally among the hotel staff.
I do the pre-paids with no complaint. I also tip a little at the START of the trip to the bartender!!! and the Lido Deck Team and finish the trip with final tips for the extra special help.
We cruised in 1997 on the Christmas cruise in the Caribe. My daughter was 10. In 2010, we did a Hawaiian trip on the same ship. As we boarded, one of my fave Lido Gents noticed us and came over and greeted us by name. He remembered my daughter’s name after 13 years.
We’ll be on Serenity in July for a short Alaska trip. Can’t wait to see my old friends on board!
Yes. We have family and friends there, so we visit often.
I have done that cruise out of Boston with my wife the last 2 Octobers, because she won't fly anymore because of the hassle.
And frankly I don't blame her.
We also like the more relaxed dressing up for the evening meal, which means we can go with less luggage.
We started cruising in the early 1970s on the "Oceanic" out of NY to the Caribbean, and have been on many cruise ships and different Cruise lines since, to some other warm destinations during the winter..
But when you won't fly and want to go to warmer weather in Feb/March it is a big problem now, and I don't feel like driving many miles to get on-board. -Tom
Sorry. Yes. We hugged just one of our servers.
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