Cruise Talk: Gratuities on your shipboard account-again!

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Topic: Gratuities on your shipboard account-again!

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 02-02-2002 03:47 PM

I followed the posting several weeks ago with great interest, as I knew I was sailing soon on a ship that did add the suggested amount to your account. Remembering all that was said, I carefully examined all possible senarios while aboard Carnival Spirit. Here is what I found.
The amount was placed on your account on day #1. You were given a handout explaining the procedure on embarkation. There was no problem in changing or removing the amount as the purser's desk was open 24 hours a day. Envelopes where still available any time. There were 11 of us travelling together, and each had different opinions.
We all asked the staff how they felt. Every single waiter, busboy, and cabin steward that we asked vastly preferred the new method. There is no hold back by the cruise line. They have access to the amount immediately after the onboard accounts are closed. They can have the money in cash, a credit to their onboard bank account, or forwarded to their landside bank. On the day prior to disembarkation each tip earning crew member is given a print out of those that are using the new system. It would seem that in the past, come the last day many passengers had not budgeted for the tips or had blown all their cash. Often the envelopes where empty, and sometimes just full of torn up paper!! Now that you can have the tips added to the shipboard account, they are getting much more $$$.
It was interesting to hear that on most ships in the Caribbean the average wage for a waiter is just $50.00 per month. From the tips received the waiters must pay for all flights to and from the ship, and bank a wage for themselves. Our waiter had worked Celebrity/Carnival/Royal Caribbean and was back to Carnival. Many passengers who felt they had received extra service levels, also gave additional tips on the last night.
I sure don't want to start another long thread on the merits of tipping, but thought I would provide a current report on how it works.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Stevesan
First Class Passenger
Member # 1494

posted 02-02-2002 04:28 PM

I'm not surprised to learn that some (many?) cruisers stiff the crew staff. If automatic deductions minimize the number of dead beats, the system is justifed.

Posts: 46 | From: Houston, TX | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 02-02-2002 04:51 PM

On our last cruise on the Imagination they just started the system and it seemed to work well for us.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

sylvia
First Class Passenger
Member # 916

posted 02-03-2002 08:15 AM

I am amazed that passeners would "stiff" the help. I do prefer the personal touch by handing out envelopes. But I do have a guestion about tipping--we travel as a family usually 4 to our room. We have always tipped the cabin steward at least the recommended amount per all four persons. This Christmas on the Costa, they handle out the suggested amounts and it was 1/2 for the third and fourth person in the cabin. Does anyone know what is appropriate? Because we have two boys in the cabin that aren't the neatest, we have never thought twice about the amount.

Posts: 36 | From: Atlanta, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

cruznut6
First Class Passenger
Member # 543

posted 02-03-2002 10:42 AM

Sylvia

Most of the major lines sailing from U.S. ports have the same standard: 1/2 the recommended "tip" for 3rd and/or 4th persons in the cabin, and 1/2 for children under 12 years old.

Regards...Bob

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

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-03-2002 07:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Grant:
I followed the posting several weeks ago with great interest, as I knew I was sailing soon on a ship that did add the suggested amount to your account. Remembering all that was said, I carefully examined all possible senarios while aboard Carnival Spirit. Here is what I found.

We all asked the staff how they felt. Every single waiter, busboy, and cabin steward that we asked vastly preferred the new method. There is no hold back by the cruise line.
I sure don't want to start another long thread on the merits of tipping, but thought I would provide a current report on how it works.

Grant - you may just have started something!!! You're talking Carnival - has anyone asked the same questions on other Lines?

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

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 02-04-2002 07:45 AM

Grant, great to see this post as I for one thought that the carriers may be scooping some of the tips for so called managemnet of this task. I must say that I was originally opposed to it but if it is working the way you say itr is then great. This way more people may end up paying but there will always be those that want their money back at the beginning of the cruise because they don't plan on tipping and there will be those that need a little extra money for whatever towards the end of the cruise and will want to take it back.
My question would be, after the first day can you still remove the tip from your bill. To me this would point toward the fact that you are going to stiff these folk. I think it should be a one time thing, up front when you check in, leave the gratuity in place or not.

Green, you are right, has this question been posed to other cruise lines. It would be interesting to hear their responses as well because I'm sure that cruise staff get stiffed all over the cruise industry.

Thepoorestcruisindayisbetterthanthebestworkday.
Now, less than 6 months to go!

Peter

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 02-04-2002 10:16 PM

CTrail: The onboard accounts closed at 07:00 on disembarkation day, and up until then changes were possible. One of the pursers told a fellow traveller that it is rare for anyone to delete the tips; in fact less than 10 cabins per sailing. The convenience of putting in on your credit card (great for frequent flyer point accumulation) in another example of technology making cruising easier; another care free option for those that choose to take advantage of it. It would be nice to hear how the other lines handle the situation. It will be a while, but on my next cruise (HAL) I will be sure to check on the options aboard a "tipping optional" vessel.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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