Tipping is American, but ships are not American?

[brfan]

BTW, there are American flagged ships, one such is the Pride of Aloha. Another big reason they don't have US flagged ships is because, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, they cannot have casinos, which is a huge revenue boost for cruise lines.

 

If you don't agree with the wages the cruise lines pay to their employees, and therefore have a problem with tipping, I suggest sailing on one of the all inclusive lines where tipping is not a part of your cruise. BUT, be prepared to pay as much as four times the fares of the mass market lines.

 

I believe the ship you mention is the only US flagged cruise ship (though some of the river boats may be, but I'm not sure if they are classed as cruise ships).

 

As far as US flagged ships not being allowed casinos, that is incorrect. The only reason the Pride of Aloha does not have a casino is because gambling is not permitted in Hawaii and that was one of their terms to allowing NCL America to cruise Hawaii.

[leoandhugh]

Well this post stirred the pot; I think the OP was being facetious with the original question. It does not take much research to know that X is one of many cruise lines does tipping in US dollars. And the reason the X changed the registration of their ships to Malta is the captains are then allowed to perform marriage ceremonies onboard.:)

[Denny01]

Never want to question a new poster, but what the point of this Thread?When my daughters started dating. I told them to watch how a date treats waitstaff. If he is curt or obnoxious, or stiffs them, drop him. People such as that have too many 'maturity issues'.Denny

[kitty9]

I believe the ship you mention is the only US flagged cruise ship (though some of the river boats may be, but I'm not sure if they are classed as cruise ships).

 

As far as US flagged ships not being allowed casinos, that is incorrect. The only reason the Pride of Aloha does not have a casino is because gambling is not permitted in Hawaii and that was one of their terms to allowing NCL America to cruise Hawaii.

 

 

All of Cruise West's ships are registered in the United States. They cruise Alaska, Panama Canal, the US West Coast and Costa Rica.

[Ma Bell]

I don't recall seeing so many threads on tipping on the Celebrity boards before. They were very few and far between which leads me to believe that, because they are now being automatically added and required for Select Dining, the non and under tippers are coming out of the woodwork. Hmmm, very interesting.:rolleyes:

[dzcruisers]

Now I know why restaurants automatically add in thier tips for parties over 6. Do these people understand at all how the service industry is paid? It is what it is. We can't change it. It's hard for me to see the staff who does so much hurt by people who don't care. It doesn't affect Corporate when they don't tip, just the staff who have waited on them all cruise.

[The Big Booper]

One point being left out here is that to be allowed to be US flagged, a ship's hull must be substantially built in US shipyards or elso no go. NCLA and it's buddy Sen. Inouye (D-Ha.) fudged things so that several partial builds could be finished up somewhere else and still qualify as an American Hull.

 

I agree, flexible dining and the accompanying tip prepayment scheme are flushing the undertippers out of the bushes. No more eating in the buffet on the last night.

[Denny01]

I don't recall seeing so many threads on tipping on the Celebrity boards before. They were very few and far between which leads me to believe that, because they are now being automatically added and required for Select Dining, the non and under tippers are coming out of the woodwork. Hmmm, very interesting.:rolleyes:

 

Agree Ma Bell, very telling.

 

We took our first cruise together in '95 on a Carnival E. Caribbean. Great time. As was done then, we brought our tip envelopes to the last formal night dinner. One of the couples sat down and asked what the envelope was - told them. They got 'that look' and he said that had forgot and they would be right back. They both left and of course they didn't return, stiffing our excellent Indian waitstaff with 1/3rd their tip. As they both got up, knowing what they were doing, I suggested it only took one to carry the enevelope and she could sit and enjoy a glass of wine with us since I was buying. The woman said how she had to 'help' him - and off they went to their Suite (yup, the suite) and then probably off to the buffet. Not even a free glass of wine could entice them. Burned me so, I added more to my tip.

 

If you are against tipping, stay ashore and eat at places that doesn't tip, or plan on only going to each restaurant once.

 

Denny

[terrierjohn]

Malta Tipping & Etiquette

 

Tipping or gratuity is not usually included in a bill, nonetheless, always check as some might take advantage and mis-lead you with the result that you end up tipping twice the amount.

 

If the service is good, then, a 15% tip is expected. This applies to restaurants.

 

Source: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g190311-s606/Malta:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html

 

Sounds similar to the US method.

Probably because the author is American and cannot quite get his head round the possibity that tipping is not always necessary in some countries.

[woodofpine]

Probably because the author is American and cannot quite get his head round the possibity that tipping is not always necessary in some countries.

 

Oh pooh!:D I'm hurt! I'll have to get over it...

 

At least there are ports all over the world where retailers, taxis, you name it accept DOLLARS... or EUROS... Just don't offer a pound 'stirling'... unless you want to be laughed at (or worse)!:eek:

[Amerie]

I really have to laugh when I read so many posts about European countries, and particularly England, not having a tipping culture. During my last few trips to England, taxi drivers just waited, pointedly, by their cars, until I produced a tip. I suppose it is my North American accent (although I am British-born) that leads them to expect a tip, but expect a tip they certainly did.

 

And most of the restaurants that I patronized all over Europe, including England, had a "service charge" on the bill that was factored into the total. I don't see that "model" as being any different from "tipping" except that it is hardwired into the bill, and the employer can reserve as much of the "service charge" as he likes for operating costs, while in North America, tips are generally allocated for the benefit of the servers themselves and the people that provide the frontline servers with direct support, such as bus-persons.

 

At the last hotel I stayed in, in London (a Holiday Inn in Kensington), for a room service cheeseburger and fries (no beverage or anything else), the price in Canadian Dollars was $33.50. The bill included a service charge AND a gratuity. Neither of those charges were optional.

 

So, I'm kind of done with hearing about "no tipping cultures".

[Bridge Maven]

Never want to question a new poster, but what the point of this Thread?When my daughters started dating. I told them to watch how a date treats waitstaff. If he is curt or obnoxious, or stiffs them, drop him. People such as that have too many 'maturity issues'.Denny

 

Denny, your post reminded me of an experience I had when I was in college. At the time I was dating someone who on the surface was perfect husband material - graduate of an ivy league college, a professional, and very handsome. Yet, I was totally turned off when he told me that I shouldn't thank the waitress at an upscale restaurant because she was doing her job.

[Davey Interweb]

Expedia completes an annual "Best Tourist Survey" and for '09, better than 4500 hotels worldwide participated. Americans were indeed the top tippers (as well as top spenders), followed by...Britain. So, yeah, America's culture of tipping is alive and well but the Brits are lauded in this respect also.

 

Americans also earned the the following top spots in the same survey:

 

- Worst dressed

- Loudest

- Least tidy

- Biggest complainers

 

Take heart, though: the French were ranked as the worst tourists (poor tippers!), with the Japanese ranked best. The British and Canadians took spots #2 and #3 as best overall tourists, Americans were #11.

[woodofpine]

I really have to laugh when I read so many posts about European countries, and particularly England, not having a tipping culture. During my last few trips to England, taxi drivers just waited, pointedly, by their cars, until I produced a tip. I suppose it is my North American accent (although I am British-born) that leads them to expect a tip, but expect a tip they certainly did.

 

And most of the restaurants that I patronized all over Europe, including England, had a "service charge" on the bill that was factored into the total. I don't see that "model" as being any different from "tipping" except that it is hardwired into the bill, and the employer can reserve as much of the "service charge" as he likes for operating costs, while in North America, tips are generally allocated for the benefit of the servers themselves and the people that provide the frontline servers with direct support, such as bus-persons.

 

At the last hotel I stayed in, in London (a Holiday Inn in Kensington), for a room service cheeseburger and fries (no beverage or anything else), the price in Canadian Dollars was $33.50. The bill included a service charge AND a gratuity. Neither of those charges were optional.

 

So, I'm kind of done with hearing about "no tipping cultures".

 

 

Hooray!! Thank you...

 

As a reasonably well traveled north american, the abundance of staffed coin collecting in public rest rooms always throws me for a loop (service... tip... holy moly!!). Will the "no tipping culture" euros explain that to me? OK - pass... please don't...:rolleyes:

[woodofpine]

Expedia completes an annual "Best Tourist Survey" and for '09, better than 4500 hotels worldwide participated. Americans were indeed the top tippers (as well as top spenders), followed by...Britain. So, yeah, America's culture of tipping is alive and well but the Brits are lauded in this respect also.

 

Americans also earned the the following top spots in the same survey:

 

- Worst dressed

- Loudest

- Least tidy

- Biggest complainers

 

Take heart, though: the French were ranked as the worst tourists (poor tippers!), with the Japanese ranked best. The British and Canadians took spots #2 and #3 as best overall tourists, Americans were #11.

 

 

The Expedia survey is of European Hoteliers...

 

As acknowledged in 'A Fish Called Wanda'

 

Otto: Don't call me stupid.

Wendy: Why on earth not?

Otto: Oh, you English are *so* superior, aren't you? Well, would you like to know what you'd be without us, the good ol' U.S. of A. to protect you? I'll tell you. The smallest f*cking province in the Russian Empire, that's what! So don't call me stupid, lady. Just thank me.

Wendy: Well, *thank* you for popping in and protecting us.

Otto: If it wasn't for us, you'd all be speaking *German!* Singing "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles...”

 

:D;):D

[richsea]

The Expedia survey is of European Hoteliers...

 

As acknowledged in 'A Fish Called Wanda'

 

Otto: Don't call me stupid.

Wendy: Why on earth not?

Otto: Oh, you English are *so* superior, aren't you? Well, would you like to know what you'd be without us, the good ol' U.S. of A. to protect you? I'll tell you. The smallest f*cking province in the Russian Empire, that's what! So don't call me stupid, lady. Just thank me.

Wendy: Well, *thank* you for popping in and protecting us.

Otto: If it wasn't for us, you'd all be speaking *German!* Singing "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles...”

 

:D;):D

 

Great movie!!! Kevin Kline was fantastic. It's rare that an actor wins an Oscar for a performance in a comedy.

[terrierjohn]

I really have to laugh when I read so many posts about European countries, and particularly England, not having a tipping culture. During my last few trips to England, taxi drivers just waited, pointedly, by their cars, until I produced a tip. I suppose it is my North American accent (although I am British-born) that leads them to expect a tip, but expect a tip they certainly did.

 

 

And most of the restaurants that I patronized all over Europe, including England, had a "service charge" on the bill that was factored into the total. I don't see that "model" as being any different from "tipping" except that it is hardwired into the bill, and the employer can reserve as much of the "service charge" as he likes for operating costs, while in North America, tips are generally allocated for the benefit of the servers themselves and the people that provide the frontline servers with direct support, such as bus-persons.

 

At the last hotel I stayed in, in London (a Holiday Inn in Kensington), for a room service cheeseburger and fries (no beverage or anything else), the price in Canadian Dollars was $33.50. The bill included a service charge AND a gratuity. Neither of those charges were optional.

 

So, I'm kind of done with hearing about "no tipping cultures".

No one has said we don't tip, we do but rather reluctantly Unlike Americans we do not get the same feelings of well being and happiness out of tipping, on the contrary we generally find it demeaning both to us and the person receiving the tip.

But this really only applies to the UK where we normally pay our service staff a living wage; on a cruise we recognize that without gratuities the service staff do not receive a reasonable wage.

As for your comments above, unfortunately in our major cities the tipping disease has become widespread and some employers are taking advantage by paying "illegals" below the minimum, so they have to virtually beg for tips to make up the difference.

In the provinces we do not see automatic service charges added to restaurant bills except for large parties, and even here you can reduce this if you think the service was inadequate.

[NCLSEA123]

I think cruises are the exception to the tipping rule, as most are run by American companies.

[Bridge Maven]

As I said in an earlier post on this thread I think there would be a lot less controversy on this subject if Celebrity called the auto charge a service fee instead of a tip or gratuity.

 

That is because even though there are guidelines for tipping most people will adjust that amount either downward if they are not pleased with that person's performance or upward as a reward for superior service.

 

On the other hand a service fee is a required charge which does not consider the quality of services rendered.

[bobbyleduck]

Celebrity - like most cruise line operators - avoids taxes via offshore ship registration.

 

But taking the axiom of your post to heart (although I think it's intended to be cynical rather than sincere) rest assured that Celebrity's tipping suggestions are 'thoroughly Maltese' in oriention...

 

You'll find the suggested tip is 5-10% of your cruise fare.;)

 

Not true woodofpine: For my transatlantic cruise, two years ago, aboard Millennium, the suggested gratuity was 18.5 percent. Cruise fare for two, not including taxes, was $1,588. Suggested gratuity for two was $294.00. $294.00 divided by $1,588.00 equals 18.5 percent.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[Can'tstopcruising]

Whether we like it or not, tipping is a part of life. It is expected on Celebrity.

 

I don't think it matters what name we attach to it. It amounts to the same number of dollars as far as I am concerned.

 

We opted for open dining, which becomes available on the second half of our winter b2b. So we prepaid. First time.

 

My only objection is the mysterious persons who receive that extra amount. Whoever they may be, normally I would not have tipped them.

 

The main difference I see, is that many posters (Americans?) seem to be obsessed with tipping. Personally, I feel it is not my business what another pax tips (or doesn't tip, for that matter).

[woodofpine]

No one has said we don't tip, we do but rather reluctantly Unlike Americans we do not get the same feelings of well being and happiness out of tipping, on the contrary we generally find it demeaning both to us and the person receiving the tip.

 

OH - PA---LEASE!! Admiral Freud, on behalf of tippers everywhere and their recipients; don't pretend to know our feelings...:rolleyes:

 

But this really only applies to the UK where we normally pay our service staff a living wage; on a cruise we recognize that without gratuities the service staff do not receive a reasonable wage.

 

http://jobs.trovit.co.uk/jobs/waiter-salary-london

 

From the above UK website link, it appears that 'the living wage' you reference includes service charges and cash tips. It also appears that these jobs pay less than comparables in California or New York...

 

As for your comments above, unfortunately in our major cities the tipping disease has become widespread...

 

In the provinces we do not see automatic service charges added to restaurant bills except for large parties, and even here you can reduce this if you think the service was inadequate.

 

Sounds like words of 'experience'... And how did that may you feel?

 

This disposition is best left at home 'in the provinces' (I doubt it applies even in 'the Shambles'); it apparently doesn't apply in your largest population centers - it certainly does not apply to ships at sea.

[woodofpine]

Not true woodofpine: For my transatlantic cruise, two years ago, aboard Millennium, the suggested gratuity was 18.5 percent. Cruise fare for two, not including taxes, was $1,588. Suggested gratuity for two was $294.00. $294.00 divided by $1,588.00 equals 18.5 percent.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

 

You well know that your numbers are the 'exception that define the rule'. I won't even go - add the taxes - I will state that your tightly shopped transatlantic (arguably the cheapest route per diem in the world) at about $100 per cabin per day or about $50 pp per diem is easily 50% (or greater) less than the 'typical cruise fare'. I'll stand by the position that the suggested gratuity is 5-10% of the TYPICAL cruise fare.

[terrierjohn]

Woodofpine,

Sorry but not continuing with your pointless discussion,I am quite prepared to try and understand the transatlantic point of view, but clearly you are not.

[Amerie]

Not true woodofpine: For my transatlantic cruise, two years ago, aboard Millennium, the suggested gratuity was 18.5 percent. Cruise fare for two, not including taxes, was $1,588. Suggested gratuity for two was $294.00. $294.00 divided by $1,588.00 equals 18.5 percent.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

 

 

Yes, of course, when your cruise fare is highly discounted, your suggested gratuities, relative to the tips, will be higher as a percentage.

 

If you were cruising 2 years ago, then based on your level of suggested gratuities, my guess is that your cruise was 14 days (please correct me if I am wrong). If so, your cruise fare, per person, per day, was about $57.00. That is a pretty good bargain. Your suggested gratuities, as a percentage, are higher when the base is so low.

 

I mention this, because I would hate to have someone look briefly at your post and misunderstand. An 18.5% rate of suggested gratuities would be relatively unusual.

 

On our last 14 day cruise, our gratuities were the same as yours, but my base price was $1999 per person. Gratuities of $147 pp divided by $1999 yields a percentage of 7.3%.