Well other than rediculous that passengers are complaing about everything when they DO have the option to remove them, it is NOT set in stone, But of course this IS their vacation and they paid for it so why should THEY go out of their was for 5 minutes to have tips removed. After deciding a cruise gets them the best bang for thier buck, as well as being waited on all week, why should they spend their hard earned money to tip others that have done the pampering to give them an awesome cruise Yes I am rating and I apologise for it, but the crew is what makes my week so special, I know SH*# happens and I ignore it because the pleasure sure outweighs anything I am not happy with. On My cruises I have see passengers treat the crew like dirt even when the service is given to please, it is really sad to think nothing of hurting and insulting others.
If they are going to charge gratuities to our onboard accounts, then they should just include it in the price of the cruise, period. Don't sell a cruise for one price and then force an extra charge on people - that's not an option, that's a mandatory requirement.
The upscale luxury cruise lines do not have gratuities - why? Because they charge more for their cruises and pay their staff better. No muss, no fuss.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees this issue the same way and we've discussed it to death on many forums. And also unfortunate is the fact that each cruise line seems to do their own thing and no one wants to include it in the cost of the cruise pricing because then they would have to raise their advertised rate, making it appear their cruises cost more than other cruise lines.
I agree that we should provide compensation for those who give us good service. It's too bad that alot of people skip the last night in the dining room just so they don't have to give a gratuity to their waiters. By one count, this is as much as 50% or more! I do not understand how people can be so cheap or calous. And to make matters worse, it's usually these people who demand the most from servers and treat them so disrespectfully.
Irregardless, providing a gratuity for service is and has always been a problem. Who do you give a tip to and who do you not give one to? For example; do you tip your agent for booking your cruise? Do you tip the flight attendant on your flight? Do you tip your plumber? I could go on, but you get the picture. They all provide a valuable service, all are paid for their work, and all can provide good or bad service that would have an affect on your overall experience. But they are paid good money for their service and don't expect gratuities. So why are waiters, cabin stewarts, and others on a cruise ship any different?
Of course, some would argue that if they are paid more, then they would have to pay more taxes and would get less in their pocket. But is this a bad thing? Their gratuities are taxable, but probably all do not report the actually amount. Should those gratuities be tax exempt? Of course not.
I think they simply ought to charge more for the cruise, pay the people more money, raise the standard and accountability for insuring good service, and in the long run everyone would be much happier. Servers wouldn't have to worry whether someone was going to provide them a gratuity, passengers would feel like they are being nickel and dime to death, pursers wouldn't have to deal with unhappy passengers, and there would be alot less hassle making for a more relaxing experience.
But if they are going to insist on mandatory gratuities, then perhaps they need to change their methods. Iin my opinion, the anytime dining feature that is now starting to become the norm for all cruise lines in some form has created this problem. If people doing the anytime dining were given the opportunity to provide a gratuity after each meal, then perhaps that would satisfy everyone.
The bottom line is it ain't working the way they're doing it now and something need to change.
There has always been a few that skip the dining room the last night. I can not begin to express how out of line that is. (self censorship)
There is now a growing number of people on RCL that never go to the main dining room. They figure that if they eat the casual dinner in Windjammer, they can avoid the tips.
I agree that the whole situation would be improved if that amount was added to the original price, but it will not happen.
I remember when HAL advertised that tipping was not necessary (we always did anyway because the service was so good) For those that don't remember, that was before Carnival bought them.
The same can be said about the fuel charges. Just raise the price and cut down the confusion.
These things will not happen because they want to advertise a low price and then get you for all the extras.
We took the attitude that the auto tipping was just part of the fare... and, we gave out Thank you cards (stuffed with some cash) to those that we wanted to thank personally... oh, and we gave away a couple of bottles of wine, too!
We took the attitude that the auto tipping was just part of the fare... and, we gave out Thank you cards (stuffed with some cash) to those that we wanted to thank personally... oh, and we gave away a couple of bottles of wine, too!
With regard to the writer's viewpoint, I am paid to be professionally pleasant very often to cruise passengers, as it happens. No tips.Just an aside.
I have said elsewhere that I disagree with mandatory tipping anywhere. We won't choose a restaurant that has it ( here), as we feel that tipping is for good service and we like to decide when and how much to give.
Having said that, I came upon these discussions because I want to do the right thing.No matter what I think about Princess' obligation to pay their staff, the policy is what it is and I will do it.
What is it?
If I'm following correctly, there is a daily charge per person and it is automatically charged to our bill. However we can approach the purser and have the charge removed in favour of tipping personally.I don't understand the 'last night' references and the envelopes.
I am very grateful for this site because I would be mortified to learn after the fact that I had behaved badly!
With regard to the writer's viewpoint, I am paid to be professionally pleasant very often to cruise passengers, as it happens. No tips.Just an aside.
I have said elsewhere that I disagree with mandatory tipping anywhere. We won't choose a restaurant that has it ( here), as we feel that tipping is for good service and we like to decide when and how much to give.
Having said that, I came upon these discussions because I want to do the right thing.No matter what I think about Princess' obligation to pay their staff, the policy is what it is and I will do it.
What is it?
If I'm following correctly, there is a daily charge per person and it is automatically charged to our bill. However we can approach the purser and have the charge removed in favour of tipping personally.I don't understand the 'last night' references and the envelopes.
I am very grateful for this site because I would be mortified to learn after the fact that I had behaved badly!
Traditionally, the tips are given out on the last night to those who have served you during your cruise. Tip envelopes were left in your cabin for those service staff members who traditiionally received tips and you would put in whatever amount you felt was appropriate and handed them out that last evening.
Normally, you would tip your dining room servers (waiter and assistant waiter) and cabin steward --or as they are now called, stateroom attendants.
Your bar bill already has the tip automatically added when you purchase anything from the bar.....also the wine you buy at dinner has the tip added to your bill. If you use anything out of the minibar/refrigerator you wil also have a tip included in your bill.
The easiest way is to have the cruiseline put it all on your bill and then you don't have to worry about it.
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Cruise ships' built-in tipping fee rubs passenger the wrong way
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Yes I am rating and I apologise for it, but the crew is what makes my week so special, I know SH*# happens and I ignore it because the pleasure sure outweighs anything I am not happy with. On My cruises I have see passengers treat the crew like dirt even when the service is given to please, it is really sad to think nothing of hurting and insulting others.
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