Cruisn chick, thatnk you for this info. Very helpfull.
Ziggy7. You quoted me and then said: 'That is why I think it should be added to the price....' I never implied that tipping should be added to the price.
I wrote that tipping is forced beforehand as if the staff deserves a tip before their services can be evaluated. So, what do you mean when you say this is a good reason to include gratuity in the price?
I was away for a few days. Well, I have booked with a line that charges $12.50 per guest per day gratuity.
Cruisn' chick, you said something about how people were avoiding the last dinner night so as to avoid the tipping event. This is a damn shame! When people behave in this manner it causes all problems to arrise. People want something for free and when they don't get it, they complain because they did not get 'what they deserve'. Tipping should be natural and not 'arranged'.
Anyway, this goes back to me original beef. But all that respond to this thread continue to fall back on simply accepting this kind of forced gratuity charging as: 'What else can be done?' Saying things like: 'It is better to just add tipping to the overall cost...' And; People were avoiding tipping so the cruise lines had to force it...'. The essence of my argument is: If additional costs for service need to be covered then call it a service charge and NOT gratuity. Again! Because if it is forced, it is not gratuity. Not in any sense of the words meaning and intent.
I guess at this point my arguement is semantics and technicallity based. Nevertheless, all legal argument and findings are structured on the context of text.
Anyhow, I will drop this subject. I won't bring it up nor speak to it again unless I am invited to do so.
I remember it seemed that many empty chairs were seen on my first cruises (up to when the auto-tips were enacted) at the final dinner. And in those days, it tended to be you either ate in the dining room or in the buffet. So the buffet must have been packed those nights.
The fact of the matter is that the cruise lines pay a minimum amount to the crew. The remainder is made up by the gratuities that the passengers leave their cabin attendant and wait staff. This is not a tip but rather a service charge and should be included in the fare. Then for exceptional service a true tip could be given to the service person that provided that service.
I sailed a B2B on RCL's Monarch and on the last night of the first cruise there were many not going to the dining room. A table adjacent to mine was very loud and demanding of their server and he went out of his way to please and entertain them. They didn't show up the last night and since it was a 10 spot table the waiter and assistant lost over $150. To the A$$XXXX's that stiffed them $15 a piece meant a couple of drinks each, to the servers it meant a lot less they could provide to their families who they don't see for 6 months or more at a time. I truly felt bad for them and embarrassed that someone would be so thoughtless and inconsiderate. After talking with several of the wait staff I was told that as many as half of the gurests fail to tip on the last night.
The fact of the matter is that the cruise lines pay a minimum amount to the crew. The remainder is made up by the gratuities that the passengers leave their cabin attendant and wait staff. This is not a tip but rather a service charge and should be included in the fare. Then for exceptional service a true tip could be given to the service person that provided that service.
I sailed a B2B on RCL's Monarch and on the last night of the first cruise there were many not going to the dining room. A table adjacent to mine was very loud and demanding of their server and he went out of his way to please and entertain them. They didn't show up the last night and since it was a 10 spot table the waiter and assistant lost over $150. To the A$$XXXX's that stiffed them $15 a piece meant a couple of drinks each, to the servers it meant a lot less they could provide to their families who they don't see for 6 months or more at a time. I truly felt bad for them and embarrassed that someone would be so thoughtless and inconsiderate. After talking with several of the wait staff I was told that as many as half of the gurests fail to tip on the last night.
Cruisn chick, thatnk you for this info. Very helpfull.
Ziggy7. You quoted me and then said: 'That is why I think it should be added to the price....' I never implied that tipping should be added to the price.
I wrote that tipping is forced beforehand as if the staff deserves a tip before their services can be evaluated. So, what do you mean when you say this is a good reason to include gratuity in the price?
I was away for a few days. Well, I have booked with a line that charges $12.50 per guest per day gratuity.
Sorry didn't mean to be unclear, I meant for the same reasons you stated, I feel they should be included. I didnt meant to imply you wanted them to be included also
Cruisn' chick, you said something about how people were avoiding the last dinner night so as to avoid the tipping event. This is a damn shame! When people behave in this manner it causes all problems to arrise. People want something for free and when they don't get it, they complain because they did not get 'what they deserve'. Tipping should be natural and not 'arranged'.
Anyway, this goes back to me original beef. But all that respond to this thread continue to fall back on simply accepting this kind of forced gratuity charging as: 'What else can be done?' Saying things like: 'It is better to just add tipping to the overall cost...' And; People were avoiding tipping so the cruise lines had to force it...'. The essence of my argument is: If additional costs for service need to be covered then call it a service charge and NOT gratuity. Again! Because if it is forced, it is not gratuity. Not in any sense of the words meaning and intent.
I guess at this point my arguement is semantics and technicallity based. Nevertheless, all legal argument and findings are structured on the context of text.
Anyhow, I will drop this subject. I won't bring it up nor speak to it again unless I am invited to do so.
I'm not sure what kind of a response you were looking for but this has been debated for years and the Cruise lines don't seem to care. You have a choice, leave them on or take them off. We all have that choice. I agree a tip should be optional, and that is why I chose to call it a service charge and tip extra as I see fit I was not dismissing it by saying it should just be added to the cost. I'm saying they should just include it in the price as a service charge and leave tipping optional.
But the fact of the matter is, they are not going to change it so, again it's back to the choice we have, leave it on or take it off. Since I have had more good service than bad each cruise, I have always chosen to leave it on.
I say to each their own, do what you feel is best for for you
The fact of the matter is that the cruise lines pay a minimum amount to the crew. The remainder is made up by the gratuities that the passengers leave their cabin attendant and wait staff. This is not a tip but rather a service charge and should be included in the fare. Then for exceptional service a true tip could be given to the service person that provided that service.
I sailed a B2B on RCL's Monarch and on the last night of the first cruise there were many not going to the dining room. A table adjacent to mine was very loud and demanding of their server and he went out of his way to please and entertain them. They didn't show up the last night and since it was a 10 spot table the waiter and assistant lost over $150. To the A$$XXXX's that stiffed them $15 a piece meant a couple of drinks each, to the servers it meant a lot less they could provide to their families who they don't see for 6 months or more at a time. I truly felt bad for them and embarrassed that someone would be so thoughtless and inconsiderate. After talking with several of the wait staff I was told that as many as half of the gurests fail to tip on the last night.
Reggie
Hi Reggie,
On my Explorer cruise we noticed the same thing!
But I am wondering, do you think the people may have done the pre-paid tipping? We added them onto our onboard account and got the envelopes and vouchers to hand out. I guess I want to think people couldn't be so horrible.
DH had debated going to the Buffet on the last night since our dinner was late seating at 8:30 pm and we were hungry around 7:00 pm I told him we HAD to go to the dining room to give out the envelopes.
Does anyone know if you don't go to the dining room on the last night, would the staff still get their pre-paid tips?
I'm curious for future cruises, or people who prefer buffet vs. dining room on the last night.
But I am wondering, do you think the people may have done the pre-paid tipping? We added them onto our onboard account and got the envelopes and vouchers to hand out. I guess I want to think people couldn't be so horrible.
DH had debated going to the Buffet on the last night since our dinner was late seating at 8:30 pm and we were hungry around 7:00 pm I told him we HAD to go to the dining room to give out the envelopes.
Does anyone know if you don't go to the dining room on the last night, would the staff still get their pre-paid tips?
I'm curious for future cruises, or people who prefer buffet vs. dining room on the last night.
Judy, yes they still get the prepaid tips! Its a computer thing, ya know?
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I told him we HAD to go to the dining room to give out the envelopes. 
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