Tipping While Unemployed

I've been unemployed since the end of September, with no employment prospects in sight. Money is diminishing from my savings, and only $405 per week being added through unemployment insurance.

Should my lack of employment and financial certainty affect my tipping of the people employed by the cruise line, the tour operators, etc.? If yes, to what extent?

[To answer anyone's question about why I might be cruising while unemployed, the trip in question was booked prior to the unemployment. It is a one-way cruise from the west coast (where I am meeting with colleagues in my industry and perhaps even learning of some employment prospects) back home to the east coast.]

Only you know what your financial status will allow you to do. However, the crew is going to do their best to make your cruise wonderful. I would still try to budget in tips for the stateroom attendant, waiter, ass't waiter, and head waiter (if you ever see them!) We don't generally tip the excursion folks, unless they go waaay above and beyond--after all, you pay a pretty penny for their services already.

Perhaps you could take a part-time job to accrue the funds for the tips prior to your cruise.

Sounds to me like you might have been able to cancel this trip before penalty phase, but decided to go anyway - personal choice.

Even if I was unemployed, I consider tipping just part of the cruise fare and budget it in when determining if I can afford to go or not - I don't consider it part of the other incidentals/extras I can pay for or skimp on to save money (drinks/photos etc). Just because I am not working doesn't mean the crew isn't - or that they work less to make your cruise great. Honestly, I think the tipping recommended amount is very reasonable - a $10 tip per day for what is in effect hotel and maid service - I could spend that and more on land.

I've been unemployed since the end of September, with no employment prospects in sight. Money is diminishing from my savings, and only $405 per week being added through unemployment insurance.

 

Should my lack of employment and financial certainty affect my tipping of the people employed by the cruise line, the tour operators, etc.? If yes, to what extent?

 

[To answer anyone's question about why I might be cruising while unemployed, the trip in question was booked prior to the unemployment. It is a one-way cruise from the west coast (where I am meeting with colleagues in my industry and perhaps even learning of some employment prospects) back home to the east coast.]

How would you feel if your salary depended on tips, you worked your butt off, and received no tip? Many of these cruise workers' families depend on the tips the worker brings home. If you cannot cancel this cruise at this point, find a way to either cut costs or find a short-term seasonal job to make a few extra bucks so that you have enough for the tips. You don't have to give the crew any extra, but do not withdraw the automatic tips. I, too, will be cutting costs on my next cruise because I no longer have overtime available at my job to make a little extra cruise $$. I will do so by limiting my alcohol consumption, doing more things on my own rather than booking ship excursions, not buying spa services, staying away from the casino and the shops, etc. The tips, however, will stay in place. I still plan to have a fabulous and relaxing cruise.

That should have said "maid service and restaurant service"

Sounds to me like you might have been able to cancel this trip before penalty phase, but decided to go anyway - personal choice.

 

Even if I was unemployed, I consider tipping just part of the cruise fare and budget it in when determining if I can afford to go or not - I don't consider it part of the other incidentals/extras I can pay for or skimp on to save money (drinks/photos etc). Just because I am not working doesn't mean the crew isn't - or that they work less to make your cruise great. Honestly, I think the tipping recommended amount is very reasonable - a $10 tip per day for what is in effect hotel and maid service - I could spend that and more on land.

I've been unemployed since the end of September, with no employment prospects in sight. Money is diminishing from my savings, and only $405 per week being added through unemployment insurance.

 

Should my lack of employment and financial certainty affect my tipping of the people employed by the cruise line, the tour operators, etc.? If yes, to what extent?

 

The crew do not care if you are unemployed or not they still work their tushes off .

I would cut back someplace else rather than not tip them.

Start putting $5.-$10 a week away for the tips.

It is amazing how quickly it will add up when you give up a daily take out coffee for example

I worked as a server for many years. Even though you are unemployed, my kids still need to eat, and my bills still needed to be paid. The old saying goes "if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to go." Sorry, just the facts. These people on the ships probably make around 2 to 3 dollars an hour. They depend on those tips.

I've been unemployed since the end of September, with no employment prospects in sight. Money is diminishing from my savings, and only $405 per week being added through unemployment insurance.

 

Should my lack of employment and financial certainty affect my tipping of the people employed by the cruise line, the tour operators, etc.? If yes, to what extent?

 

[To answer anyone's question about why I might be cruising while unemployed, the trip in question was booked prior to the unemployment. It is a one-way cruise from the west coast (where I am meeting with colleagues in my industry and perhaps even learning of some employment prospects) back home to the east coast.]

While you are suffering the effects of our lousy economy....many of us are also in that same boat. Gratuities to those who serve you on a cruise are not based upon how much money you make or what you may have. It is based upon services rendered by them to you.

Cutting their gratuities would be like stiffing a waiter at a restaurant or not tipping a taxi driver and other situations. Bite the bullet; recognize that you are locked into this cruise, that you will have a wonderful time, that your employment prospects might look brighter -- and you will get wonderful service from all those aboard who will look after your needs...

It's not fair nor acceptable to pass your financial problems on to those who will be waiting on you hand and foot.

I've been unemployed since the end of September, with no employment prospects in sight. Money is diminishing from my savings, and only $405 per week being added through unemployment insurance.

 

Should my lack of employment and financial certainty affect my tipping of the people employed by the cruise line, the tour operators, etc.? If yes, to what extent?

I cannot believe you would even consider reducing the gratuity provided to staff due to your personal financial issues.... Good Grief ! :eek:

I have a win-win idea for you.

When you get onboard, why not tell all the service staff that you really cannot afford to tip them (through no fault of your own) and suggest that they should not feel any obligation to provide any services to you during the cruise.

That way you won't have to feel bad about taking money out of their pockets, and they won't have to feel bad about waiting on you hand and foot and then getting nothing for their trouble (through no fault of their own).

I have to take exception to something an earlier poster stated regarding tips on excursions.

While you may have already paid a pretty penney for that excursion, that pretty penney was paid to the cruiseline and/or the owners of the excursion company, NOT to the people who are actually providing the service to you. They have also busted their butts to ensure your excursion was perfect. They also deserve a special gratuity.

I paid a pretty penney for my staek dinner, does that mean I shouldn't tip?

I paid a pretty penney for my cruise, does that mean I shouldn't tip?

I paid a pretty penney for my hotel room, does that mean I shouldn't tip?

Of course I should tip on all accounts.

I've been unemployed since the end of September, with no employment prospects in sight. Money is diminishing from my savings, and only $405 per week being added through unemployment insurance.

 

Should my lack of employment and financial certainty affect my tipping of the people employed by the cruise line, the tour operators, etc.? If yes, to what extent?

 

[To answer anyone's question about why I might be cruising while unemployed, the trip in question was booked prior to the unemployment. It is a one-way cruise from the west coast (where I am meeting with colleagues in my industry and perhaps even learning of some employment prospects) back home to the east coast.]

I am sorry but I too cannot imagine even thinking of doing such a thing. I too lost my job when it was eliminated October 31st, I was the major breadwinner of our family and yes we had already paid in full for a cruise which will leave in less than 4 weeks. I have absolutely no intentions of tipping any less. When I put money aside to pay for a cruise I also put aside everything else that goes with it and that includes tips.

Possibly you should think of other ways to cut back what you will spend on the ship rather than the tipping such as liquor, souvineers and excursions. But do not take away tips from those that works so very hard to serve you.

Skip the excursions, premium restaurant, drinks or whatever else you must, but bite the bullet and at least pay the autotips. And leave a nice letter at the end of the cruise with the supervisors of the people who serve you.

GTJ - we are on the same cruise - My husband and I find ourselves in a similar situation to yours. I have just secured a job and will have worked 6 days prior to us leaving - hopefully my husband has a job to return to, he'll find out this week.

We will not attend the formal nights, therefore will not be tipping the 3 levels of attendants for those nights we miss. You could utilitze the buffet all evenings to eliviate those tips entirely. The tips for the housekeeping staff though I don't think are something that can be skimped on - they do work hard to keep the cabins fresh and made up.

We do not go to the casino so that is not a problem for us. I have a daily budget for shore days and bar tabs and we will have to stick to that.

I hope your meeting with colleagues is a fruitful one and you can network and secure a job soon!

Sue

GTJ -

 

We will not attend the formal nights, therefore will not be tipping the 3 levels of attendants for those nights we miss. You could utilitze the buffet all evenings to eliviate those tips entirely.

 

Sue

I DISAGREE with this. Just because you skip formal night, you are still utilizing those servers throughout your cruise because the servers at night work in the buffet area or lido or other bars during the day. And unless you go to the buffet area for dinner and clean off your table before you sit down, take your dirty plates off your table and wipe down your table when finished then you shouldn't assume any tip is alleviated. If you choose a cruise as your vacation choice then you are wanting an all service type vacation- to skimp on tips in any area for any reason is disrespectful and selfish.

I agree, and I will tip for the nights I utilize the service - I do not feel I should have to pay for a service I do not use. I will tip at the bar, I will tip for someone to carry my tray at the buffet - they have provided a service.

I DISAGREE with this. Just because you skip formal night, you are still utilizing those servers throughout your cruise because the servers at night work in the buffet area or lido or other bars during the day. And unless you go to the buffet area for dinner and clean off your table before you sit down, take your dirty plates off your table and wipe down your table when finished then you shouldn't assume any tip is alleviated. If you choose a cruise as your vacation choice then you are wanting an all service type vacation- to skimp on tips in any area for any reason is disrespectful and selfish.

I am in total agreement with you on this..... The same people that work in the MDR are also working in areas of the ship that provide service to you as well.... To Kodiaknurse.... please at minimum, go to the pursers desk and have the tipping re allocated from dining room to the buffet staff, for the nights you will not be enjoying a meal in the MDR !

You can always have your cabin steward skip your room. My brother did this, simply because he didnt want someone in his room 2x a day cleaning up after him. I found it kinda funny, but to each his own. He still tipped him, but I think in this case if you do not utilize this service you wouldn't have to. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Surely it depends on which cruiseline. Cunard and P & O for example, charge a fixed daily rate, so no need to tip if you don't want to. I presume US based cruiselines adopt the same charge, 15% on drinks and approx $11 per day depending on cabin grade. Or, you could become a naturalized UK citizen for the duration, we never tip:D:D .........except when service desrves it

We will not attend the formal nights, therefore will not be tipping the 3 levels of attendants for those nights we miss. You could utilitze the buffet all evenings to eliviate those tips entirely. The tips for the housekeeping staff though I don't think are something that can be skimped on - they do work hard to keep the cabins fresh and made up.

 

Sue

Where do you plan on eating breakfast & lunch??:eek:

The wait staff is rotated through the dining venues so just because you do not eat in the dining room for dinner does not mean you are not getting service from them.

You are not paying the tips just for dinner service there are other meals they serve you.

Most cruise lines now pool the tips...so the $10. pp pd is not a lot for 3 meals & snacks plus clean your room.

Bar drinks the tips are added at the time of purchase so no need to tip extra

Maybe you should switch to "Easy Cruise"

I agree, and I will tip for the nights I utilize the service - I do not feel I should have to pay for a service I do not use. I will tip at the bar, I will tip for someone to carry my tray at the buffet - they have provided a service.

Just curious

Are you going to tip each person as service is rendered?

If so how much would you consider a good tip for service in the dining room ? service in the buffet

When I was 'downsized' in March of '06, it took a year to find a decent job. During that year off, we took a last minute cruise in Sept. '06. While we cut back on a LOT of things during the cruise, the one thing we did not cut back on was tipping for anyone. They provide an amazing service, and we wouldn't even think about shorting those folks............

I agree, and I will tip for the nights I utilize the service - I do not feel I should have to pay for a service I do not use. I will tip at the bar, I will tip for someone to carry my tray at the buffet - they have provided a service.

The servers in the buffet get part of the dining room tip. So when you don't tip every day you are stiffing all. I know this is something not everyone realizes.

On X there is the optional casual dining area which many people take advantage of who have no desire to dine in the main dining room. There are tips applied there but lower than in the main dining room as there is only a waiter and not the full formal staff. I feel that if you are utilizing the casual dining and paying tips, then you are not obligated to the nights you missed in the main dining room.

I've been unemployed since the end of September, with no employment prospects in sight. Money is diminishing from my savings, and only $405 per week being added through unemployment insurance.

 

Should my lack of employment and financial certainty affect my tipping of the people employed by the cruise line, the tour operators, etc.? If yes, to what extent?

 

[To answer anyone's question about why I might be cruising while unemployed, the trip in question was booked prior to the unemployment. It is a one-way cruise from the west coast (where I am meeting with colleagues in my industry and perhaps even learning of some employment prospects) back home to the east coast.]

If you have been unemployed since September and you haven't crusied yet, that means you could ahve canceled your cursie before final payment. tha tis wha tyou should ahve done.

Will you buy drinks, cokes? excursions? If you can afford to do any of this you can afford to tip.

You know this reminds me what the waitress who works at Waffle house where we eat breakfast occasionially told us. We have known her for years. We like their omelets, so we go there sometimes on the wkend. We can go in there and buy breakfast for less then $15. She thanked us for still tipping her. She said most no longer tip her, the economy being so bad. Now that is SAD. If a person can't afford the extra $2.50-$3 tip for a $15 meal, then why in the world are they in a restuarant eating. Go to MacDonalds where no tips are expected, as their people are paid minumin wage, or cook at home and save $10, but don't neglect to tip the poor waitress who only makes $2.50 an hour to "save" money.