On our Viking Med cruise last fall, we gave a cash tip to our room steward who told us it wasn’t necessary because his tips were included in the billed gratuities (we insisted he take the cash). On a Viking river cruise in 2017, i offered a tip to the cruise director as, in addition to great service, she helped in resolving a problem we had with a Viking excursion. She refused, saying her tip was included (we had paid gratuities included in this cruise) and did not take the cash.
There is this buffet restaurant we go to that instituted a 10% service charge shared by bus persons a number of years back because they wanted to assure tips were distributed fairly - and they asked patrons not to leave cash tips on the table. Like many buffets, you pay up front - and you cannot decline the service charge.
Based on Viking’s explanation and Jim Avery’s post, billed gratuities are shared but not delineated when they get paid - nor is the amount of pay changed by gratuities collected during sailings. Three things we don’t know: how Viking accounts for tips distributed to staff; is the amount ultimately distributed to staff is less if many cruisers request to have gratuities removed from their accounts; and if gratuities are included as a booking perk, does Viking add that amount to the gratuities account.
Given the excellent service we have experienced during our 8 past Viking ocean and river cruises, we will continue to pay billed gratuities and also give cash tips when warranted. I won’t second guess Viking - but I do think gratuities should be included for all cruises - not just a perk for some.