Thread: When not happy

Have you ever lower your tipping when not happy with the service. On Holland America
the tips are automatic done for you. A few times I was not satisfed with the service. But I was too shy to ask for a reduction. Ever since automatic tipping started. I have found that the service is not what it was in the past . have you ever ask the front desk to lower it.

Never, and I always hand tip extra to the ones that impress me.

I do the same Gene

Same with us. If you're having a problem early on, you can let the front desk know. Maybe the problem can be remedied right then and there.

Originally Posted by GeneK

Never, and I always hand tip extra to the ones that impress me.

- Same here.

For me to lower the recommended tip, I would have to have undeniable proof there was a conspiracy by the staff to show me over board. Even then I would wonder what I did to those hard working people.

I consider the tip as pay, therefore their livihood. I wouldn't want someone adjusting my pay on a whim and therefore I would not care to do that. We all have bad days at work but only servers get ding at patron's discretion.

Nothing is what it was. The workers are expected to work harder with more demanding passengers who are forever expecting more and in reality paying less.
4 nights - RCCL Viking Serenade - May '95 about $400+ pp (inside)
7 nights - RCCL Mariner of the Seas- Feb. '10 about $529 PP (hump balcony)

Originally Posted by GeneK

Never, and I always hand tip extra to the ones that impress me.

I am of the same opinion, it is amazing what giving a little extra to a staff member will do for your service. These people work really hard for the little they get paid. Also want the tip to go to the employee, always tip in cash.

Originally Posted by earl_m

Have you ever lower your tipping when not happy with the service. On Holland America
the tips are automatic done for you. A few times I was not satisfed with the service. But I was too shy to ask for a reduction. Ever since automatic tipping started. I have found that the service is not what it was in the past . have you ever ask the front desk to lower it.

From what I understand from others on cruises with us: You can go to the Purser's Desk (or whatever they're calling it now) and have the total removed (they'll try to talk you out of doing this) or pay the auto ... no way to reduce ... either one or the other.

The ONLY time we've had a real problem of this sort on any cruise was with our room steward (last cruise) -- who came into our cabin and was extremely rude -- so we reported it at once. Hated doing this because we've have various room stewards on different cruise lines who didn't keep our cabin clean and one on a Celebrity who drank a bottle of rum that we bought to take home to a friend. Never reported them but our first cabin steward this cruise was "beyond the pale rude" or we would have never reported him. Massive apologies came our way and way over and above service.... almost too much. Please do report any MAJOR problems quickly .

Naturally, we kept the auto tip which we really like and tipped (ca$h) our NEW room steward early and often. Especially love having the 15% added to the bar tap. Special bar tenders/servers can be tipped (ca$h) more from time to time. Always, Early and Often .... your extra tips are best while on the ship.

Originally Posted by LuLu

From what I understand from others on cruises with us: You can go to the Purser's Desk (or whatever they're calling it now) and have the total removed (they'll try to talk you out of doing this) or pay the auto ... no way to reduce ... either one or the other.

Not completely true as it pertains to NCL. You need to lodge a complaint and allow them to resolve the problem. If they cannot resolve the problem satisfactorily then and only then can you adjust your service charges.

PE

Knowing a bit about the contracts of these workers, I hesitate to reduce amounts. But I have not become a fan of the auto charge for their services either. The quality has slipped because of it in my opinion. Another problem is the lines have quietly cut back on the number of workers so room stewards have more rooms to take care of in some cases. Same goes for the dining room staff on some lines. Wine stewards and sommeliers have all but disappeared in many cases.