majortom10

Well the restaurants or pubs where I go for meals dont auto tip or expect tips. I suppose it is common in London and tourist cities i.e. Bath, York, Chester and the likes but certainly not round my area.

The difference being in the UK is that the minimum wage is a lot higher than in the US so therefore staff don't rely or expect tips to give them a decent wage. Tipping in UK is nowhere as high as in the US and tipping in restaurants is not common.

Astonishes me that in 2022 that hospitality crew on a cruise ship arent adequately paid a decent wage by the cruise line. Perhaps if they didnt pay their senior managers of Carnival like Arnold Donald $15m in 2015 when ships werent even sailing and leaking money faster than the ships. They are employed by Carnival and should be paid a decent wage without having to rely on tips just so that they pay staff a paltry wage to increase Carnival profits.

We didnt have a black diamond on our key cards on QE in November 2021.

How anyone can travel without travel insurance whether it covers for missed departure, health /medical incidents or loss of personal belongings or luggage I just dont understand.

Taken from Princess website - The crew appreciation is a daily (adjustable) amount added to your onboard account and pooled in order to recognize the many crew members in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas and entertainment areas throughout our fleet who contribute to the guest experience. The daily amount of the Crew Appreciation is based on stateroom category: $14.50 per guests in Interior, Oceanview and Balcony, $15.50 per guest in Mini-Suite and Club Class, $16.50 per guests in Suites. Noticed the statement "throughout the fleet" so any crew appreciation either through Princess Plus or added to onboard account daily is pooled from all Princess fleet and then divided out. If that is not an admission that it goes to enhance a very poor wage I dont know what is. About time in 21st century that all staff are paid a respectable wage accounting for where they come from and not have to rely on cruisers to pay their wages. Cruise lines employ them they should then pay them a decent wage.

Already paid tips in Princess Plus so do not see the need to tip any extra, especially if they are just doing the job they are actually employed for and nothing extraordinary or special. Cannot see the logic of tipping a waiter for bringing you a drink when you have already tipped in Princess Plus and if not 18% service charge.

Yes when you walk through Britannia MDR dont look down your nose at those eating their meals.

Anyone booked a cruise recently and had their Blue Light Card accepted and given extra obc. Cannot find P&O on Blue Light website so I am guessing they have stopped accepting it.