The brochure certainly does not state this. He's talking through his hat.

"Thank you for your comment.

Part of what you pay for your fare on an HAL cruise goes to covers what it costs to pay the staff to provide their professional service.

Many other lines have made staff dependent on receiving tips from passengers at the end of the cruise in order to make a living wage. I was arguing in the column that this is unfair to the crew and also places an additional burden on the passengers.

HAL has had their no tipping policy for a long time, but it is only recently that many other lines have tried to streamline the procedure. I mentioned several other cruise lines in the column.

HAL may not indicate it as such, but part of the price they charge for the purchase of the drink goes to paying the salary of the bar staff. On the majority of ships, this shows up as a 15 per cent service charge automatically added to bar bills."

It also pays the other staff on board and helps offset the cost of the fuel. In fact every dollar you spend on the ship helps cover the expenses of running a ship. HAL has simply elected to pay their staff a higher base salary so that they are not as dependent on tips as staff on some other cruise lines.

From my personal experience that approach certainly seems to create a more comfortable environment onboard the HAL ships.

I find it hard to believe that HAL allocates 15% of every drink sold to the person who sold the drink.

Of course part of what HAL charges pays for the crew, the food, the fuel etc. This is a revelation to a travel writer?

He seems to be stating to obvious in a confusing manner.

Joe at TravelPage.com[/QUOTE]

I was about to say the same thing - no matter what you buy on land or at sea, part of the cost goes to pay the staff!

Cost of 2 drinks (Gin & Tonic) on board the Statendam last week ranged from US$8.25 to US$9.70 (just checked our bill) depending on brand requested. Compared to Toronto prices. there probably was a 15% add-on and I'd think at least some of it went for wait-staff wages. In our 'regular nightly' lounges we tip at the end of the cruise - for 'drop-in' drinks in other lounges we usually carry a few small bills and tip as we drink, that way we're not 'stiffing' anyone.

But Mr. Inman in his reply does bring up a good point about the policy of Holland America onits liquor pricing and the possibility that hidden in it is a sort of 15% service charge to cover adequate remuneration to the bar and lounge waiters and waitresses. I hope this is true as these men and women are probably the group that works the hardest aboard any Holland America group and often get tipped the least. They put in long hours (I saw one Philippino women work the Java Cafe by day, the Ocean Bar in early evening and the Explorer`s Lounge by late evening) and deserve any monetary recognition they can get. It don`t mind paying some of the outragous drink prices that Holland America charges if at least some of that got back to the hard working employees so graciously serving you.

Any I will have a change to see for my self as I leave next week for the Rotterdam. I will let you if there is any perceived changes or rumours thereof.

We received excellent service throughout the cruise from all the staff; therefore, felt that tips were certainly in order for many and left something in the hand of each where warranted.

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Originally posted by thulewx:
I'm going on the Zuiderdam for 2 one-week cruises back-to-back with a charter company (RSVP). This company has always added on an automatic $11.00 per day tip per person, even on HAL. This makes our charters among HAL crew's favorites. Then again, they work harder on our charters as the average age is only 35-45, with a LOT more partying (not out of control, though) and always a FULL ship. They love us & we love them - fantastic cruises every time

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This makes sense - RSVP has bought cabins at a reduced rate for its group and can 'mark up' the 'cost per person' to make its profit - and then add the gratuity - the client is then paying less than an individual booking would cost and no tipping is required.

HAL gets its asking price (everything is cheaper by the dozen), RSVP still makes money - the traveller is ahead of the game - All very legal and nothing to do with HAL.

We frequently travel on such terms. To date, gratuities have never been included - baggage handling, airport transfers and a few parties are.