Bar tips vs gratuities

Why on most cruise lines are gratuities (dsc/hsc or whatever you call it ) not compulsory but bar service charges are?

I have read people claim that gratuities have to be voluntary based on Philippine tax laws but this makes no sense around bar service charges?

How is it waiters and room attendants can “miss out” but the bartenders do not?

Does this explain why we usually find the bar service is lower than that we find in the restaurants?

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Like the waiters and the stewardesses these folks rely on tips but unlike the waiters and stewardesses not everyone uses bar services so I guess this provides the opportunity for them to get tips. I realize that the fee is compulsory but I guess they have found this assures that the folks realize tips including the bartenders.

Keith

Also, most passengers are not carrying money while on the ship. Calculating the tip and adding it to the bill would be more of a pain

On most mainstream cruise lines, the bar waiters and bar tenders are on a different contract from cabin stewards and restaurant staff. The Bar Staff have tips as a far greater portion of their income, and most cruise lines automatically charge tips into drink purchases. You rarely buy anything from a restaurant waiter, or a cabin steward, so the opportunity to tip them direct is vastly different.