Posted on 02/16/2017 2:22:08 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
One of the world’s 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 ...
Bah.
Princess does the same thing.
All Carnival Corp ships (Princess, Carnival, etc) do the same. You get a tip charge but can remove it if you want. About $15 a day. Some remove the tip, tip individually.
Since I was a bartender for many years and tend to overtip (’cause I been there, done that) I would save a lot of money that way.
I’ve worked as a busboy and a waiter. I tip at ~20%.
Pre-paid tips would save me a bunch.
I'd rather they add that amount of money to the cost, give it to staff as salary, and let the tip actually be an addition to salary.
“Bah”.
“14 bucks a day”
If you eat one meal at a fine restaurant for two you might spend $100 or more.
Typical tip would be $15 to $20.
And the service would probably not be near as good.
“I’d rather they add that amount of money to the cost, give it to staff as salary, and let the tip actually be an addition to salary. “
Basically, that is what they are doing.
These people that work on cruise ships work harder than anyone I've ever seen!! Morning to night, no days off, maybe an afternoon in port....and they work for MOMTHS at a time!
We ALWAYS tip even MORE at the end of the cruise since they work so hard.
Tightasses.
With this type of a rule change if you don't realize the tips are going to be included in your bill, you will be tipping twice.
Most cruise lines offer packages like credits for bar bills- credits for shore excursions-credits for tips etc. - Tom
You have no idea of how cruises work.
I’m with you....love cruising, love the hospitable people who take care of us. Don’t mind tipping at all!
I already won’t step foot on a cruise ship so doesn’t affect me. I tell my wife I’ll fly there and meet you wherever it docks.
So you opt out and then get crappy or non-existent service.
Great plan. Me thinks Norwegian doesn’t understand human nature very well.
I honestly don’t know how they hire so MANY NICE CAPABLE people!! And they all come from such different places in the world and they all seem to get along with each other AND the passengers!!
We took a cruise on Norwegian. There was a 10% compulsory gratuity on all food and drink. We added to that amount on each check. I don’t blame them for this at all, because they are in a unique situation of which some people will take advantage.
Great experience, by the way.
“What long time cruisers have to watch out for “
It is amazing how much the long time cruisers know how to work the system.
For example booking two back-to-back cruises separately is a little more trouble than just making a single booking but often results in twice the rewards.
Not sure why this is news. This is pretty standard practice in the cruise lime industry and has been for years. The days of routinely bringing cash to pay cabin stewards and wait staff are long gone.
“So you opt out and then get crappy or non-existent service.
Great plan. Me thinks Norwegian doesn’t understand human nature very well.”
Have you ever cruised? I think not.
“Not sure why this is news.”
It is in “chat”.
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