Thread: Gratuities Included...how does it affect service received?

Originally Posted by localady

Unfortunately, the dining room staff has been stretched too thin and is soooo busy covering too many diners to give us the service we used to enjoy!

On which cruise line did you find them stretched too thin in the dining room?

on our last cruise 11 days we tipped cabin steaward and helper with a little extra....it was service service service the rest of the cruise from cabin steward....we also tipped omelet maker, sommelier whom we liked and anyone else who made our trip memorable!!!

it helps to make cruising even more special!!!!!!!!!!

ralph and marge
sdcruisers@cwnet.com

I sincerely believe there are two answers to this question. One cruise line, declining in service and pricing their product to a lower socio-economic gorup have no choice but to have auto tipping while other cruise lines have not lowered the quality of the product and have billed tipping as a service to their clientele.

My point of view is based solely on personal experience.

Our cabin steward on the Liberty was mediocre at best. We had some of the problems that others have had with beds not being turned down, with old towels not being replaced with fresh ones & with the man's inability to keep our ice bucket full.

He received the standard tip that was pre-paid on the card. The one that really frosts me is the envelope that appears on the last night from the maitre'd. I'd gladly tip the waiter extra for great service, but I'll be damned if I going to give someone that I never see on the cruise a tip.

Originally Posted by barkingowl

Our cabin steward on the Liberty was mediocre at best. We had some of the problems that others have had with beds not being turned down, with old towels not being replaced with fresh ones & with the man's inability to keep our ice bucket full.

He received the standard tip that was pre-paid on the card. The one that really frosts me is the envelope that appears on the last night from the maitre'd. I'd gladly tip the waiter extra for great service, but I'll be damned if I going to give someone that I never see on the cruise a tip.

What cruise line is the Liberty?

I think Liberty is Carnival but don't quote me on that because I'm not 100%.

My first cruise was on Holland America, which at the time had a no tipping required policy. I've since sailed on all the mainstream lines, except Carnival, and then also Seabourn and Radisson. No question, HAL, Seabourn and Radisson, all of which are (were for HAL) no tipping and all three were, by far, better service. It hasn't even been close.

The short answer is "I don't know." I haven't taken that many cruises and the ones I have taken have all be "tipping optional." But, everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I do have an one.

I suspect that the qualilty of service rendered by a cabin steward, a waiter, or anyone else on a cruise ship, is more dependent on the personality of the server than on the anticipation of a tip, either hand delivered by the guest or doled out from the pool. I have no empirical evidence, but that's my opinion.

Originally Posted by mctrekkie

This topic is a concern of mine. Since we've never cruised before, I've pondered what to do. I understand the personal touch that comes with distributing envelopes the final night of the cruise, but are we certain I'll see everyone I need to tip? If I don't run into someone, do I leave the envelope at the Pursers Desk? This is a bit confusing for me.

Any help for this Newbie rookie would be appreciated.

Peggy, you will know who to tip and will hane no problem "finding" them. Since all the lines have a little different way tips are processed you might want to go directly to the cruiseline board you are sailing on and ask your question.

"After 10 cruises we have only experienced automatic tips once.........on the Caribbean Princess...........I thought there was a difference, especially in the dining room service. Our end of cruise tips paid provided us better service. I saw no difference in Cabin Steward service no matter which method was used."

Jim, just curious, did you do traditional or "Anytime Dining" while on Princess? I do think there is a drop in "personell" service when doing Anytime. After all the waitstaff may see different people every night of the cruise.

Originally Posted by mctrekkie

This topic is a concern of mine. Since we've never cruised before, I've pondered what to do. I understand the personal touch that comes with distributing envelopes the final night of the cruise, but are we certain I'll see everyone I need to tip? If I don't run into someone, do I leave the envelope at the Pursers Desk? This is a bit confusing for me.

Any help for this Newbie rookie would be appreciated.

Some lines still use envelopes, others, you can put it on your sea card and it is automatically taken out by the day!! I give extra also. They work hard to make my cruise special, and have exceeded every time!!! You tip waiters, Asst, waiters, and cabin stewards!! If you have it on your card, the tips will cover everyone!! Room service, you tip upon delivery!!

Originally Posted by mctrekkie

This topic is a concern of mine. Since we've never cruised before, I've pondered what to do. I understand the personal touch that comes with distributing envelopes the final night of the cruise, but are we certain I'll see everyone I need to tip? If I don't run into someone, do I leave the envelope at the Pursers Desk? This is a bit confusing for me.

Any help for this Newbie rookie would be appreciated.

Hey y'all (that's the singular you all!)

The envelopes provided by the cruiseline will include the dining room staff and the cabin steward as well as the Maitre d'. Celebrity includes the assistant house keeper as well. For the cabin crew we leave the envelope on the pillow the next to last night. For the dining room staff ,we give the envelopes out he next to last night. If you opt for automatic tipping you should get a voucher and envelopes for passing out on the traditional tip night.

When we have added the tips to our onboard account we have not noticed any decline in service. Maybe we were fortunate, but I'd like to think that the service providers were doing the job that was expected.

Edited to add that the bar servers receive an automatic tip on the bar bill. If you want to give any of them extra you can do this in cash whenever you see them at the end of the cruise.