Posted on 02/16/2017 2:22:08 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
I have cruised with Royal Caribbean, and Holland America. Tipping was discretionary. Those that took care of us were well aware of this. They did their jobs very well and were tipped very well. The cabin attendants took care of our every need. They were rewarded well.
Tipping should be discretionary.
This isn’t news, almost all the cruise lines do this and it’s actually more beneficial to the crew. The crew is usually recruited through a services company who takes a percentage of their wages. Gratuities are not a part of the percentage.
The Independent is British and our British cousins are adamantly against tipping. A lot of Americans are also. The main beef seems to be that some think that the cruise lines should include these fees in their fare. They think that then they won’t have to pay them, the cruise line can take it out of profit.
One of the biggest complaints is that some “wish to pay directly” to the individuals serving them. This is usually just an excuse not to pay at all. Back in the days when it was customary to leave an envelope on the table at the end of the cruise on the last night, it was common to find the dining room almost deserted.
It’s also not uncommon to find a long line at the services desk on the last night after dinner with many of these in line being passengers removing their auto gratuities. The crew is given lists of those who have done so. So these passengers wait until the last night because they fear doing so will affect the service they receive.
Most of the complaints about the automatic gratuities are just excuses used to save a few bucks. Really, you pay two or three thousand for a cruise and you complain about a few bucks for those who have made your cruise a pleasure.
That’s one of the reasons that we chose to cruise rather than fly in October of 2014. Unfortunately, we had to cruise through a hurricane. Still, it was great. It’s my understanding that the Norwegian Dawn has been renovated since then, which is a positive sign. I hope that the restaurant and bar that we liked best are still there.
We’re thinking about taking another cruise to Bermuda, but our last couple of trips to resorts on the cape have been wonderful, too.
The staff should be paid a fare wage by the cruise line. It should be included in the price of the ticket. Tipping should be done to the individuals that have provided your outstanding service. I have tipped them well.
How much do you tip a waiter? Or do you write a note saying that the restaurant owner should pay a fair wage?
Do you tip your hotel maid when you leave??? Didn't think so.
I was kidding! I hug the waiter, the asst., the Maitre d’, the wine steward, and various officers when we leave!
One more comment. Our chief cabin attendant on a recent Royal Caribbean Cruise was from Indonesia. A very nice man he was. We talked a bit on occasion and he told me about his family back home, and showed me pictures of his wife and children and how much time he did not have with them. He was working the cruise lines to put his kids through good schools. When the cruise ended I handed him an envelope and said, “this is for your children.” It was a very nice envelope.
Usually hillbillies look to opt out of the tip.
Up to a third of people on board are there to serve the passengers. If you are a cheap hillbilly you assume your cabin guy and food staff are alll you tip. No, there is a whole crew serving you that you never meet.
So many people render service to passengers that the pooled tips are sensible and fair. If one cannot afford the recommended tips, one should either work on the cruise or not go cruising. It is a sin to deprive a worker of his wages, and these tips are part of these low income workers’ wages. If they don’t perform, give them constructive feedback so they can improve their performance. Treat them as we want to be treated.
I don’t disagree that the workers deserve a decent wage. Many send it home to support their families. I’d prefer that what they’re calling a “tip” was added to their base salary. Then what we gave the staff would be a true tip. FWIW, on one cruise there was a wonderful Peruvian woman assigned to cleaning my room. She was doing this to support her children back home. Of course the tip was generous.
Your EXTRA tip at the end is discretionary, and only cheapskates and Brits give nothing extra.
You little Bish I think me and annie are a shy over a 100 and we love t to we just did east to west Panama canal christmas day in the locks returned to la some folks were staying aboard and going back
Can't afford Crystal....we are Celebrity and Royal now almost exclusively because of all the great benefits we get for having status on them....hard to sail on Holland or Princess anymore, although we do from time to time.
OMG.....knowing some of the crew and Officers is a SUPER perk!! Have seen some of them same 3 and 4 times....great fun!
Did you call me a B*tch??
8
I think I my comment was misunderstood or could have been clearer.
Are you saying you got great service even if the crew knew you would NOT be tipping or do you always elect to tip?
I think I my comment was misunderstood or could have been clearer.
Are you saying you got great service even if the crew knew you would NOT be tipping or do you always elect to tip?
...and make darling towel animals.”
With your sunglasses on them, if you’ve left a pair in the cabin.
Always tickles me.
Same here. Claustrophobia with a chance of drowning?
And everyone has their hand out? No thanks.
We ALWAYS tip EXTRA after they get the usual, we tip EXTRA at the end because we ALWAYS get good service on our cruises....always!
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