With Celebrity RCCI and others the staff are given their tips on the morning prior to you receiving the envelopes vouchers etc. I know this to be as one one cruise I took with RCCI my Steward asked me if I had paid my tips. His reason for doing this was that my cousin who was travelling with me also pre paid. He got her tips and his Supervisor was going to chase it up for him. I had become friendly with him and had a good relationship with me so it was in no way that he was being cheeky etc. He told me that on that morning there is a list of names of who has paid and each Steward receives their tips there and then.
With Princess at the end of each cruise the tips are shared in dining room and cabins etc. The head of each department at the end of each cruise then gives the staff their appropiate share.
Again I know this because I was told so. If you tip and individual then they have to put that tip into the shared pot! If you tips over and above seperately then they are allowed to keep that particular tip. Not to declare their tips would have serious consequences for that individual. Don't know about Cunard exactly or other companies but I would think there is some similar arrangement.
Yes these staff can make a lot of money and this is why they will leave their families and their homes to be able to provide for them. My last Cabin Steward had 4 children who were all studying medicine law etc. He was able to provide for their education where otherwise there would be on way.
Yes tipping is emotive and I think people have to ask themselves do we want to go on a holiday where tips are expected?? If the answer is no then in my opinion they should choose another type of holiday. Spending your holiday concerned or moaning about the situation detracts from their enjoyment I suspect. Afterall the information is in all the brochures so they know at the outset what the set up is. For me I am always happy to tip and tip generously.
I also have gone to see the Hotel Director asking for an appointment with them. On a number issues they have taken it on board and have made changes based on that information. If I want to make an appointment I have simply telephoned from my room and made the request. Yes they may try to stall you but without exception I have always had that meeting. I would never go to the desk and create a scene demanding to see someone. I adore my cruises and they enrich my life so no question of staying at home for ME.
Sue
Yes these staff can make a lot of money and this is why they will leave their families and their homes to be able to provide for them. My last Cabin Steward had 4 children who were all studying medicine law etc. He was able to provide for their education where otherwise there would be on way.
I already give to charity.
I save hard for my cruises and refuse to pay twice
I don't mind $10 a day being added to my bill for good service but when you are a family of four and your two teenage children are counted as adults this becomes $40 a day and pretty soon that's $560 in tips for a two week holiday.
The problem lies in the fact that on many ships (and in the USA) the waiting a serving staff are paid very little. What is called a 'tip' in these situations is actually the staff's wages. They will be taxed on an amount calculated from the turnover of the ship and so they could actually end up working for nothing. It is a bit expensive and I for one would prefer that the price I see is the price I pay but that is how they work it.
How much would the tip be for a 11year old sharing a cabin with 2 adults
Thanks Ann
Thanks Ann
Children under 12 are normally half the adult gratuity rate i.e $5 per day on most ships.
We found it easier to pre-pay ours through the Travel Agents before travelling.
However we still found ourselves tipping our waiter at meal time at the end of the week as his service was second to none, and he was brilliant with the children
However we still found ourselves tipping our waiter at meal time at the end of the week as his service was second to none, and he was brilliant with the children
Our balance is all payed ,booked with Vacations to Go ,we leave the
end of July so will pay on board
thanks ann
end of July so will pay on board
thanks ann
"However we still found ourselves tipping our waiter at meal time at the end of the week as his service was second to none, and he was brilliant with the children"
And that is exactly what a tip should be for. The employer should pay the wages and the customer should tip for service that is over and above what is normally expected. Unfortunately a number of countries, such as the US, don't see it that way and expect the customer to top up the workers' wages.
And that is exactly what a tip should be for. The employer should pay the wages and the customer should tip for service that is over and above what is normally expected. Unfortunately a number of countries, such as the US, don't see it that way and expect the customer to top up the workers' wages.
And that's one of the reasons that everything you buy in the US is about half what it costs in the UK..
I don't mind tipping and would be OK about tipping $10 per day if that was the end of it. What I don't like is feeling that I have to tip again on top of that at the end of the cruise.
When we were on the Sea Princess every English couple we spoke to kept telling us to take our tips off our account as they had. We ended up taking half the tips off and gave our cabin steward $50. His face was tripping him on the last morning and he didn't seem at all grateful, probably because he'd been told we had halved our tips and he would have to put what we gave him into the "pot". We didn't know this at the time and only found out much later once we were home.
What I am considering for next time is taking all the "gratutities" off the account, but giving exactly the same amount at the end of the cruise so that I don't feel I have to tip twice.
luci
When we were on the Sea Princess every English couple we spoke to kept telling us to take our tips off our account as they had. We ended up taking half the tips off and gave our cabin steward $50. His face was tripping him on the last morning and he didn't seem at all grateful, probably because he'd been told we had halved our tips and he would have to put what we gave him into the "pot". We didn't know this at the time and only found out much later once we were home.
What I am considering for next time is taking all the "gratutities" off the account, but giving exactly the same amount at the end of the cruise so that I don't feel I have to tip twice.
luci
It is difficult to get a fair system. I can undertstand why cruise lines add the per person per day gratuity as I would expect that is then shared between all the crew.
On the cruises we have done where there is no extra tipping, we tipped the cabin steward and head and assistant waiter. However what I think is wrong there are many many other crew who probably each deserve the tips as well but probably never get any. All the crew that work behind the scenes in the kitchens, laundry, maintenance etc. I realise this type of crew do not interact with customers but they probably work equally as hard.
Also during a 7 day cruise you will probably be served by quite a number of different bar staff who again, are very pleasant, remember your name, remember your drink but it starts to get silly if you have to tip all these people every time you order a drink!
Costa charge a 6 euro per day (less for longer cruises) but they have a rule this amount cannot be modified or even removed. So our last 3 cruises we have not tipped any extra as I feel it unfair just to tip the cabin steward and the waiters as to me they are only doing their job just like all the other crew in front and behind the scenes. Having said that if they had done anything extra special, we would have tipped extra.
On the cruises we have done where there is no extra tipping, we tipped the cabin steward and head and assistant waiter. However what I think is wrong there are many many other crew who probably each deserve the tips as well but probably never get any. All the crew that work behind the scenes in the kitchens, laundry, maintenance etc. I realise this type of crew do not interact with customers but they probably work equally as hard.
Also during a 7 day cruise you will probably be served by quite a number of different bar staff who again, are very pleasant, remember your name, remember your drink but it starts to get silly if you have to tip all these people every time you order a drink!
Costa charge a 6 euro per day (less for longer cruises) but they have a rule this amount cannot be modified or even removed. So our last 3 cruises we have not tipped any extra as I feel it unfair just to tip the cabin steward and the waiters as to me they are only doing their job just like all the other crew in front and behind the scenes. Having said that if they had done anything extra special, we would have tipped extra.
On the issue of giving to Charity most people do and I certainly do. If you feel so strongly then just don't tip at all. If you live happily with that then that is your choice.
Not only Cruise companies pay low wages. In the US for all wait staff in restaurants the wage is also very low and they rely on tips etc to make a living wage.
Hairdressers etc in this country also have low wage and their tips are part of how they make a decent wage. These Hairdressing businesses, Hotels, Restaurants, charge a fortune but they certainly don't pass this to their staff.
Sue
Not only Cruise companies pay low wages. In the US for all wait staff in restaurants the wage is also very low and they rely on tips etc to make a living wage.
Hairdressers etc in this country also have low wage and their tips are part of how they make a decent wage. These Hairdressing businesses, Hotels, Restaurants, charge a fortune but they certainly don't pass this to their staff.
Sue
On our most recent cruise we paid $10 per day gratuity charge which was added to our on board account, we also left a daily tip for our cabin stewardess and gave occasional tips to waiters when we'd received good service. Even so, we were left with a sense that we were the source of some disappointment on the tipping front. Previously we put cash, either sterling or euros in the usual envelopes when it sometimes seemed that crew members would have preferred a different currency. We were left wondering just what the definition of a tip is these days.
That's exactly how I feel. Even though we do tip at least the required amount I get the impression that they think it still isn't enough. You are expected to tip on top of the tips you have already paid.
I feel like saying, "We've already paid for this cruise. Would you like me to pay for it again?"
luci
I feel like saying, "We've already paid for this cruise. Would you like me to pay for it again?"
luci
Perhaps I have been fortunate as I have never had this experience. I suppose maybe because I am travelling solo. I am not ordering drinks from the bar more so sparkling water when lying by the pool and the odd Kir Royale in the evening. It does annoy me that now they have a space for an added tip but I just ignore it and never feel I should do this. 15% being added is enough and I know those tips are shared with the bar staff.
Sue
Sue
On one cruise where gratuities were already included in the fare on the last night of the cruise they put a large wooden tips collection box on a stand in the middle of the doorway leading to the self service restaurant with a couple of waiters standing by. Anyone wanting to eat there had to 'run the gauntlet' before they could eat. Good one! I thought 
Was this on Jade?? Bit cheeky!!
Sue
Sue
No - Not the Jade, 
but please don't give them any more ideas
but please don't give them any more ideas
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics
-
Gratuities on P&O cruises
Posted by keffaddict in Cruises
- GRATUITIES CELEBRITY ECLIPS
-
Tipping
Posted by Fiona in General Chat
-
Tipping
Posted by mrstella in Egypt Discussion Forum
-
Tipping
Posted by Jenna in Egypt Discussion Forum