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

Having recently returned from a cruise where tipping was included in our cost, we are wondering if this affects the service you receive on cruises? In the past we have always tipped at the end as most do, and we also have been know to tip through-out the week if we have requests of room-steward or waiters. We felt this past time that the room stewards were just doing a job for which they were paid, and the same with the waiters. Nobody seemed to want to go out of their way to do anything extra. Two days our room was not even made up until mid-afternoon, and on the last night it was not tuned down, nor were towels brought in. I always had to go looking for ice, even though I mentioned it the first day to our steward. As for dinner, our waiter was never able to serve the 6 people at our table at the same time, and he always forgot something every single night. People were eating alone, and others were waiting for food. Coffee most nights was not even offered. Now, we had the thought that maybe the staff were over-worked and under-staffed. We don't really know what to think. What do the rest of you think, and what have you experienced with pre-paid tipping?

That is a very good question. I have always paid at the end of the cruise in the past, and this next cruise in April, will be my first personally that I have prepaid.
I have heard both good and bad service with the prepaying. I do think that the prepaid gratuties are a good idea...it makes it easier for me personally. But I know that I have always given more than the minimum asked....the prepaid are minimums....I do plan on giving a little extra to the cabin steward....at least.

Snowbaby, what cruise line were you on?
I think NCL and Carnival automatically include tips - (?) whereas RCI "suggests" a minimum tip which you can pre-pay or pay near the end of the cruise.
I have read lots of grumbling about NCL service - and in my mind I attributed it to mandatory tips which you must pay...human nature being what it is, there is no incentive to provide exemplary service.

Thanks.

LL

Carnival includes them at the start of your cruise and you can ask for them to be removed.
I agree with the Original poster that the service does seem to be just ordinary or not up to par if they know they are going to receive the tip.


this happened on our first Carnival cruise, service was just OK, and on the 3rd day I removed the tips form our S & S card. The service picked up and was exceptional from then on,

Only the reason I took them off is because I wanted to pay cash, not really because of the service.. But they did not know that...

Now on my last carnival cruise I left the tips applied to my S & S card and the service was fantastic in the dining room but I cannot say the same for my room steward...
he was a whole nother story ...

I've done four or five cruises with prepaid tips and did not notice any "up-tick" in service or for that matter any "down-tick" in service. On one cruise, however, on Princess in Alaska we removed a portion of our pre-paid tips to our waiter and found out from the pursers office that many people who had that particular waiter had done the same thing. If we have exceptional service, especially with the room steward we give them something extra.

We get the most amazing service on earth...I mean these people really go the extra mile. They are always smiling (in fact, I have caught some of them singing in the hall!) we always get really fast responses for everything, and they are always watching for what we like and remembering our preferences. They seem to always doing a little more than we expected...I asked for an extra "pillow" chocolate one evening and she came back with a plate full of Godiva Chocolates and chocolate dipped strawberries! Our cruises always have a no tipping policy, but we always make sure to tip the room steward and butler (if there is one) at the end of the cruise.

Lisa,

Carnival doesn't automatically include prepaid gratuities....it is an option.

I did prepay mine for the upcoming April cruise...so we will see how it goes...I think it will be easier than saving cash for the end of the trip...lol.

There have been some service issues with NCL, and some people I have heard attribute it to not having assigned seating...not sure what the real reason is though.

Originally Posted by djgifford

Lisa,

Carnival doesn't automatically include prepaid gratuities....it is an option.

I did prepay mine for the upcoming April cruise...so we will see how it goes...I think it will be easier than saving cash for the end of the trip...lol.

There have been some service issues with NCL, and some people I have heard attribute it to not having assigned seating...not sure what the real reason is though.

I didn't mean prepay when you book the cruise,
I mean once you board it is on your sail and sign card.

I think that tipping is such a personal issue. Each person needs to tip the amount they feel is worth the service they receive. And I think its an issue with customs as well as most Europeans and Asians aren't into the custom of tipping for service.

Personally I beleive that all employees should give the same level of service to each guest regardless of the tip they will or will not receive. This is the job they are being paid to do and the job they signed up for. Sure they may expect a tip, but I also think that expecting a tip is asking for a lot.

I've always beleived that if a cruise line, restaurant, hairdresser, taxi company, etc. expected that we give their employees tips, then they should just include the tip in the price that we pay for the service. I hate going to a restaurant, getting a bill and at the bottom of the bill there is a breakdown for me of what 15%, 18% and 20% tip is so that I don't have to calculate it myself. Thats ridiculous. I will tip based upon the service I felt I received not based on some system that the restaurant expects that I should tip at. Its not my fault that the server doesnt get paid enough of.

Having said that, I do think that the level of service you receive from someone is dependent upon how much you tip, whether or tip at all, whether you tip as you go, or whether you pre-pay tips. And I think thats just sad.

We have never cruised with anything other than prepaid tips so we can't give a fair comparison. Our first cruise was right after Princess started the policy and service was great. It seems that every cruise since then has seen service drop off slightly until the one we took last month. Our room steward(ess) was fantastic, and the wait staff was right on the money. We did tip extra, handed it to them personally, on the last night. I guess it depends on what you want service to be like and the individual giving it to you.