tottenhamfc

The only ship that has not responded to a request from rcldining is Anthem. Every other ship that I have requested something from has replied. They did respond to my request onboard so that was good.

I am refusing to do surveys anymore. And if this entails dining staff or room stewards not getting recognition in the form of 10’s then so be it. I honestly do not think they take these after cruise surveys seriously. It is just going through the motions regardless of how they want us to believe that our input is valued.

This is true but it is a line item. If it was rolled into the fare we wouldn’t be debating this. It would then be a choice in cruising for a price that is in your wheelhouse. I too do not like the model, and I also dont agree with paying 2 bucks an hour to anyone in our rich Western World.

In restaurants in Canada the “unseen” are tipped out by the servers. They ARE a part of the tipped position. If a server didnt tip out the unseen employees would make their life miserable believe me. I have had three daughters who worked in the restaurant business.

Like I have said the line item is optics. It is the downloading of responsibility in pay structure is what irks customers. All in pricing is the only way out of this.

I should rephrase it. Will agents have early access seeing it is advertised?

How and when would someone be able to access this TA on Brilliance?

Dont disagree but in all fairness I have never had a waiter that would grade an F. A is perfection in my mind but BC or D is inadequate for the waiter to retain employment according to them. On the basis that they are not failures I feel that I do not want to be responsible for losing their job. RCL should be reviewing themselves and only respond to complaints from customers. If we tip extra then that determines the quality of the service. I have more concern with food TBH. It has definitely deteriorated post covid and with fares going up it means we have to cut corners also. That can only be in the tip category. No loss to RCL though.

I agree. 20+ cruises on Royal and we are asked everytime. I usually joke and say one is the best rating correct. They don’t take the joke well. I have always given a 10. In my estimation the head waiters should decide whether the staff are doing a decent job. Dont make me determine their fate as employees.

They would be foolish as they probably would get more than normal if tips were removed. If I removed tips I would give them way more.

Windjammer and then unpack. In all seriousness, what is your primary reason for grat removal? I am trying to come to terms with it.

And what is the second thing you do?

Sorry if I misunderstood you but many do brag about the extra tips. If one doesnt attend MDR on final night and have pre paid their grats the the word stiffing does not apply.

True enough. I think the general discussion has been useful as there is no right answer other than the model that RCL presents is not the correct one. I think they are turning guests off in all honesty and it is up to each individual to make their own decision.

Why is not paying extra “stiffing staff”. Just because the norm in your home country is over the top, it doesn't mean that its right. I have been doing both and now I have made my mind up to NOT tip extra. My only choice now is whether to remove grats and then pay out individually based on my experience. I do agree that to tip ahead of receiving service is silly and to tip as a bribe early on to get better service is plain wrong.

So you only consider face to face staff as service? I feel that anyone associated with a good experience contributes to that service. For example when you go for dinner do you remember the server who theoretically just brings the plate or the chef who prepared the meal. Do you get appreciate clean tableware clean carpets? The waiter has one function and is rewarded with all of the tip. I don't think that is fair TBH. It is a collective effort. In most restaurants on land the server pays out a percentage to the behind the scenes crew. That being said the tip pool is way too high and is not equal to the cutbacks and the quality, particularly in the main dining room. And the tip surfing which now includes the Head waiters and the constant banter over the intercom to pat themselves on the back is getting nauseating. I dont care about the bloody macarana and the parade of champions while I am eating and engaging in conversation. It is becoming a circus side show. On my recent TA which was 15 days we probably had this sideshow 10 times

100% And at some point they will reach a limit to customers aggravation level. If its a three day or a four day cruise nobody cares about an extra 10 bucks but extended B2B cruisers do care about the excess. I have 35 days coming up and that equates to $1500 Canadian in tips. IMHO that is high when you add it uap.

Possibly because their fare prices are lower than RCL.

You dont call this thread pushback? Its changing my mind for sure. My next cruises are on Celebrity and I am seriously considering pulling and paying as I see fit.

Well I have been cruising 11 years with RCL and to the best of my recollection it has been that model from the first cruise.

Airlines? Had no clue there was tipping on airlines.

Auto grats have been around as long as I can remember. Why dont you ask guest services? Oh maybe they will say its none of your business.

Not really Ocean Boy. Transparency is welcome anytime. In fact he offered the info before I had a chance. My question was to clarify if tips can be removed for any reason and up until what point in time. As stated I would prefer to tip half and half and that was my question.

That is if you are paying grats. Many on here are not

The awkward thing is that the price increase doesn't affect the people that remove the tips. If you prepay you cannot remove them but if you dont prepay they can raise them to 30 bucks a day and it may as well be 0. This system is wrong period.