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Topic: tipping included in brochure price?

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 07-16-2000 01:08 PM

We have only cruised once, March break 2000 on the Bolero. All our tips were included in the booking price, although we did tip our dining room waiter and bellboy and also the people who cleaned our room. We are hoping to go on the Bolero next year again, We have already picked up the brochure and they do sail again March break. We were curious to know if any other cruise lines have the tips included in the price, and if any other ships would be similiar in price and value to the Bolero. This may give us another option if the Bolero happens to be sold out. In Canada the March break is a very popular time. Robert Q had an advertisement in our local paper for "club Bolero" but it did not include a sale price for the March break period. Any info would be great, we are hoping to book within the next week or so.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

bonny
First Class Passenger
Member # 1347

posted 07-16-2000 07:43 PM

Hi, its me Bonny. I don't know if I even what to comment on anything, but what the heck, you seem like a nice person. On most of the major cruise lines tipping is not included. Holland has tipping optional, but you should still tip. I don't know much about Canada, but on all the cruises I've been on, tipping is not included unless you have it added on to your bill

Posts: 44 | From: Chicago | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 07-17-2000 12:25 PM

Yhanks Bonny I wondered if this was only a Canadian option. I must say I like the tips being included then you don't have that big expense at the end. I'm really glad you decided to answer my post. Thanks.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Winner
First Class Passenger
Member # 1188

posted 07-17-2000 01:28 PM

Yes, tipping is included on other lines, but they are not in the same price category as Bolero.
The lines including tipping are: Seabourn, Radisson 7 Seas, Silverseas; as far as I know, Cunard does not include gratuities. Hope this helps.

Posts: 113 | From: Santa Rosa CA USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

cruznut6
First Class Passenger
Member # 543

posted 07-17-2000 02:59 PM

Norwegian Cruises Lines now offers tips included (added automatically to the onboard credit account) on the Sky,Majesty, and by fall, their entire fleet. This is part of their "free style crusing", that allows multiple open seating dining, as well as your choice of dress attire. Reviews by past passengers seem to approve. It's also priced in the mass-market price-range. Happy Sailing!

regards,

Bob

[This message has been edited by cruznut6 (edited 07-17-2000).]

Posts: 161 | From: Mount Laurel, NJ, USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 07-17-2000 03:03 PM

Bonny, like the Bolero, Airtours include tips. I got my tickets for the Seawing today and was surprised to read this as tips weren't included last time I was with them. They don't offer seawing cruises, but Sunquest will sell cruises on the rest of the Airtours fleet. They have totally improved their package (you don't even have to collect the bags at the airport, they go straight to the cabin).

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

cruznut6
First Class Passenger
Member # 543

posted 07-17-2000 03:03 PM

I forgot to mention that if you don't agree with this tipping policy, you can contact the Pursers Desk and have the tips removed. This will keep the staff from becoming complacent and also insures them of tips from all cabins. Cheerio!

Bob (again ;-) )

Posts: 161 | From: Mount Laurel, NJ, USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 07-19-2000 10:30 AM

Hi Cruznut6 ( when I first read your name I thought it said Crazynut!) I think from reading some of your other posts my name would fit:=). Back to the topic of tips included. When I talked about the Bolero including the tips in the price, I meant in the brouchure price. So when you book the cruise and you are quoted a price per person that is all the tipping included. It really is a good deal. When we where on our cruise in March we did give our waiter and bellboy a tip plus the guy who cleaned our room. The thing that bugged me though was the waitress in one of the lounge bars was stoney faced and so unpleasant, never smiling and no small talk when she served us but on the last night. Gosh she was all over everyone going out of her way to talk to people almost falling over herself to be nice. Well I don't get taken in that easily by that phoney stuff, needless to say she didn't get a tip from us or from anyone at our tables. People could really see through her.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

cruznut6
First Class Passenger
Member # 543

posted 07-19-2000 12:42 PM

Hi Hooked

"Crazynut" is what my better half calls me
I think I still prefer giving tips at the end of the cruise, instead of it being built in to the brochure cost. I usually tip 20 to 30% higher than the recommended amount, but only if the service is exceptional. I've never tipped less than the norm, even when service was poor. I guess it's easier knowing the cost up front with tips included, but I enjoy handing the envelope to each crew member.

regards

Bob (that's CRUZNUT 6)

Posts: 161 | From: Mount Laurel, NJ, USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 07-19-2000 02:44 PM

Hi...I think what 'hooked' is into with tips included is because she's Canadian and booking the Bolero through a european subsiduary company. Most European/British cruises are quoted with tips included and often insurance, and everything else as well to give you one price. In fact some ships even have the booze included. They don't have a myriad of 'bottom-feeders' sueing for every little thing, which means we get all sorts of wierd charges showing up on our invoices.
You can have people on the same ship, some have tips included because they're from Europe, and the rest don't. Of course, it's also been said that they have to do it with some nationalities because they are notoriously bad tippers. Including it that way is painless and they don't even realise it.....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

claudio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1214

posted 07-20-2000 09:33 AM

you lot should come to australia and take acruise the poor fillipinos and indonesians who work on fair princess are lucky to get a tip from the aussies we arent used to tipping and some of the oldies on board are pretty tight with their money. Rumor has it that one of the reasons CUNARD CROWN MONARCH flopped in Australia is that when they introduced pre paid tipping they scared off potential cruisers, they thought it was just another way Cunard relieves their passengers of a couple more dollars.
By the way when you pre pay your tips what is the gaurantee that all the money goes to the staff and the line doesnt take put some fee

Posts: 468 | From: melbourne australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 07-20-2000 10:37 AM

Winner -Cunard does not actually 'include' gratuities but they do advise that "for bar staff, a gratuity of 15% is automatically added to each charge check". Also, that US$13.00 or US$10.00 (depending on Category booked) per pax per day will be added to you on board account. This information came with our pre-cruise package - we're sailing QE2 in September. It goes on to say - "you will have the opportunity to express your concerns and adjust the service charge to be paid to your waiter or stewardess accordingly before you leave the ship."

Seems fair to me.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

jmperry1
First Class Passenger
Member # 1462

posted 07-28-2000 01:06 PM

I have a problem with the concept of the 15% "gratuity" that's added to the bar bill. It's not really a gratuity in that you have to pay it. To the extent that it actually goes to the server, it's really a commission - the server gets 15% of what he sells. Personally I would prefer that they just quote the higher price and pay a commission. Then the server could benefit by recieving a real gratuity when their service level deserved it.
On the original topic, I too would prefer that gratuities were included in the quoted price rather than as a semi-mandatory extra.

James
P.S. I always tip at least the minimum unless service is awful.

Posts: 71 | From: Oakland CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 07-28-2000 04:30 PM

For a short time a few years back, Cunard
was including tips on the QE2...perhaps
back in '95 or so. It was at the time the
entire ship was one sitting and they limited
pax capacity to 1500. It lasted a short time
and now it's tipping again as usual and the
Mauretania is back to two sittings.....and
those Five-deck cabins are being used again.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-11-2000 06:34 PM

Us Brits don't tend to be very good tippers -I suspect it is because we don't really believe in the concept!

I'm not sure the 'tipping' idea really works, myself. For example, The service during a cruise can vary dependent on how near the 'tipping' time is. As 'hooked on' has high-lighted, staff can be fantastically helpful and friendly on the penultimate day, but can give up after they have been tipped - after all there is no longer any need to try.

I personally think that staff should be paid a good wage and dismissed if they do not perform (period).

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

claudio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1214

posted 08-12-2000 02:36 AM

is it true that costa celebrity and others dont pay their waiters( from third world countries) and let them have free board and air and their wages are entirely from tips.
l know that P&O In australia pay the third world workers about $200 us per month which is 4 times what they would earn in Manila or Indonesia plus tips the Italians and British get very good wages.

Posts: 468 | From: melbourne australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 08-12-2000 10:39 AM

The wages most of the LEDC crew is absolutely pathetic. They really do rely on the tips and their families need it much more than we do. Even if tipping is included, I would leave a small gesture, not megabucks. As far as they are concerned, a little cash goes a long long way.

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-12-2000 01:11 PM

Paddy...the wages may be pathetic where you come from, but when the black market rates for US $s in their home countries are factored in, you will probably find that their standard of living at home on a comparison basis is better than yours.
It's not just cruise ship wages that are involved but those of seamen all over the world, and some of the worst offenders are the ones who shout loudest....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

mrblanche
First Class Passenger
Member # 714

posted 08-14-2000 10:18 AM

The pay for service personnel on most cruise lines is in the $50/month range, with food, room, and transportation at least one way paid. If you do the math, you'll find most of the service staff are making pretty good salaries, well up in the "normal for Americans" range with their tips.

Posts: 308 | From: Cedar Hill, TX | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 08-14-2000 07:14 PM

I hate to start this topic over again but when i talk about tipping vs not tipping I look at the behaviour of the waitress or waiter. Like I have said before on these pages I get so upset when certain people that have been serving you all week with hardly a smile or a pleasant word all of a sudden on the last day are like your best friends falling over themselves to please you. In my opinion too little too late. Also when I talk to waiters busboys etc and they are crying poverty about their families of '5 little brothers' etc but they are wearing expensive watches and clothes etc. We came across this while away on the Bolero March break we walked back to the ship with one of the busboys and he really gave us his history, but we actually had to help him carry his packages back, stereos, booze, jewellery. Get this he had even given one of the other busboys an expensive watch because he bought the updated model for $450 this was a steal according to him, he said the watch sells in the states for $800. I'm not saying you shouldn't tip but I honestly only believe in tipping when the service is good. We tipped our busboy and waiter quite well for our standards because they spoilt us rotten all week.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 08-14-2000 08:35 PM

hooked on cruising - your story just proves what 'mrblanche' says!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 08-14-2000 09:54 PM

Yes, I have seen the lovely expensive watches on the stewards and the nice jewellery. I have also seen them coming back from shopping with boom boxes, VCRs, Video Cameras, expensive shoes, so I think they are doing very well. We always tip our stewards over and above the amount recommended.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-14-2000 10:19 PM

And don't forget that they know the best and cheapest places to get those items, plus how much for bribes to get them through the officials at home, and then how much profit they'll make when they sell them.
If it wasn't WELL worth it they wouldn't bother doing it....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

bubbles
First Class Passenger
Member # 1415

posted 08-15-2000 08:50 AM

I agree with Malcolm, we Brits find tipping very difficult, I would rather pay more and have this cost included. I do tip as recommended but always feel awkward about giving cash to an individual as if they were a serf! I find it rather an imposition we decide to splash out on a more expensive bottle of wine say, that we have to pay proportionately more to have it poured. I work and get a standard wage, isn't it time that these rather outdated practices of paying less than minimum to rely on tipping were left behind, this is 2000 not 1900!

Posts: 133 | From: England | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 08-16-2000 05:42 PM

How much do you tip for kids? This could get fairly expensive.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

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