Auto Tipping - What do you think?

[LHT28]

Please people, I'm just asking a question, so don't jump down my throat.

Are you doing "anytime dining" or Traditional dining?

 

You said it was an option to give Princess $15. pd what are the other options?

[Lynniepoo]

yes, anytime dining.

 

My other option (than using the auto tip) would be to tip myself from cash.

[karatemom2]

No one ever said I wasn't going to tip, and no one ever said I couldn't afford it! I'm not looking to stiff anyone, just wondering if this is my best route. And the $15/day per person came from my travel agent.

 

Please people, I'm just asking a question, so don't jump down my throat.

 

I don't think anyone means to jump down your throat, but you did ask for opinions. This is a touchy subject, right up there with formal dress debates so don't take it personally. Many new cruisers don't realize that the tips are in essence the salaries for the crew as their actual compensation is extremely minimal. I believe that once most people understand the tipping situation they choose to do the right thing. I'm sure you will too! :)

 

It sounds as if your travel agent misinformed you. Here is the information directly from the Princess web site:

 

Question: What are the tipping guidelines for my cruise?

Answer: During your cruise, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. Many more crew support those who serve you directly. To save you the worry of who to tip and how much, Princess makes it easier for you to reward excellent service by automatically adding a discretionary Hotel and Dining charge of $11 USD for suites and mini-suites and $10.50 USD for all other staterooms per person per day (including children) to your shipboard account on a daily basis. This charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the wait staff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others. Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

A 15% charge is automatically added to your bar charges and dining room wine account. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff, including cleaners and utility staff.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

I checked OP's profile. The prior posts deal with an Australian cruise, so the $15 may be Australian, not US

 

Nope, auto tipping on Australian cruises is the same or a little less......

[Lynniepoo]

Thanks Karatemom! That's exactly the info I was looking for:D

[LHT28]

yes, anytime dining.

 

My other option (than using the auto tip) would be to tip myself from cash.

JMO

If you have anytime dining you will not likely have the same wait staff each day.

The Auto -tip method works better in that environment.

It would be hard to run around tipping those that served you throughout the cruise.

They add the tip daily to your S&S card.

If you have a problem with the service speak to the hotel Manager when the problem occurs.

The staff work very hard to make your cruise an enjoyable experience.

 

The suggested amount is shared among the Wait staff & hotel staff...it is not really a lot in the grand scheme of things.

You are free to tip as you wish but why stress out about it... the Auto tip method works well for those in the anytime dining plan.

 

Enjoy the cruise

Lyn

[cruisemom42]

yes, anytime dining.

 

My other option (than using the auto tip) would be to tip myself from cash.

 

Another reason auto-tip works well. In Anytime Dining, you're likely to have different servers every night. Do you really want to have to bring money with you and tip them every dinner? Or track them all down on the last night of the cruise? Seems like it would be pretty hectic.

 

(Oops, previous poster beat me to it!)

[ibfern]

We have the option of giving Princess the $15/per person per day tip. What do you think?

 

I'm unconvinced that this is the best way to go, I mean, that's $30/day for 12 days for us - $360 dollars.

 

 

By the end of the cruise you will feel that the auto tip is NOT ENOUGH and you will find yourself adding on to those who really spoiled you happy! Just wait...

Amelia

[Colo Cruiser]

Land vacation tips are even more unless you stiff hotel maids and waiters in restaurants.

 

Easy to do as there are no auto tips to worry about.

[jackdiamond]

Is not auto tipping mandatory and non-reversible with anytime dining?

Anyhoo, we love it both for the convenience for the cruiser and fairness to the staff.

[bhopal21]

Your dining choice has no effect on the auto-tip. To opt out one must go to the purser's desk and explain why they do not wish to participate in the program.

 

I really don't understand why people would do that but they do.

 

Mike:)

[cruiserbryce]

how much would you tip servers at meals if on vacation for that long...combine that with the tip for a housekeeper in a hotel for 12 nights. Really not that out of hand at all...

[kooljamming]

No one ever said I wasn't going to tip, and no one ever said I couldn't afford it! I'm not looking to stiff anyone, just wondering if this is my best route. And the $15/day per person came from my travel agent.

 

Please people, I'm just asking a question, so don't jump down my throat.[/quote]

 

Too late, always someone ready to tell you where else to go;).

IMOP, no not the best route, but it is what it is

[caribill]

Is not auto tipping mandatory and non-reversible with anytime dining?

 

That is true on RCCL, not Princess.

[Cruisin' Chick]

No one ever said I wasn't going to tip, and no one ever said I couldn't afford it! I'm not looking to stiff anyone, just wondering if this is my best route. And the $15/day per person came from my travel agent.

 

Please people, I'm just asking a question, so don't jump down my throat.

 

Hopefully the next time you talk with your TA, you can suggest nicely that she check the cruiseline website before she tells you something like that.

 

I agree with others that auto-tipping really simplifies the tipping process. Before, hubby and I would be getting out our cash and trying to divide it up among the tip envelopes (including the kids' program counselors) on the last day of the cruise. Now, we just discuss who we should tip extra, and how much to give to the counselors.

 

Besides leaving on the tips (who wants to stand in line at the front desk on the last day of the cruise anyway), there's another way to additionally reward any crew members. There are You May a Difference cards (something like that) you can get at the front desk (should be a pile you can draw from) that you write down the first name and country of origin as well as the area they work in. These supposedly help if someone is up for a promotion.

[captainron]

We have the option of giving Princess the $15/per person per day tip. What do you think?

 

I'm unconvinced that this is the best way to go, I mean, that's $30/day for 12 days for us - $360 dollars.

 

If you knew the hours the crew on cruiseships work to make you happy and comfortable onboard, you'd reconsider the statement you originally made. Tips made by the crew are an integral part of the monies they earn, and if you take from one by cancelling your autotip you take away from everyone.

 

Yes the argument is there that you pay an extra 15% tip on your drinks, but what of your poor stateroom steward who is up at 6am or so, busts his/her butt all day for you and doesn't get to bed til after all his/her staterooms beds are turned down about 1030 at night so you can get your little chocolate on the pillow.

 

The other option is you go looking for your own towels, facecloths, sheets; you clean your own toilets, sinks and showers; you make your own ice cubes; you search for your own shampoo, soap, lotion; you clamber around the bowels of the ship looking for an eggcrate for your bed; you run up to the Lido deck to get chaises for your balcony, etc, etc, etc.

 

OK NOW STOP AND THINK (Not shouting folks...just for emphasis)

 

Don't you think XXX$360 (any currency) is worth it for all that and you can hall yourself out of bed whenever your heart desires.

 

Ciao for now!!!

[Lynniepoo]

Well, like I mentioned people...I never mentioned trying to stiff anyone! This was about who was going to control the tipping - me or Princess. And I'm sorry, but after spending thousands of dollars on a trip, I'm going to ask a question like that!

 

Thanks for all who gave some good feedback without insinuating that I was a cheap louse - I appreciate it. I did learn a few things that I didn't know!:D

[WeBeGone]

Well, like I mentioned people...I never mentioned trying to stiff anyone! This was about who was going to control the tipping - me or Princess. And I'm sorry, but after spending thousands of dollars on a trip, I'm going to ask a question like that!

 

Thanks for all who gave some good feedback without insinuating that I was a cheap louse - I appreciate it. I did learn a few things that I didn't know!:D

 

First, Originally Posted by Lynniepoo

We have the option of giving Princess the $15/per person per day tip. What do you think? I'm unconvinced that this is the best way to go, I mean, that's $30/day for 12 days for us - $360 dollars. does not ask anything about who is in control of the tipping.

 

Second, your TA was wrong. Several of us gave you the correct information within minutes of your first post.

 

Third, whenever anyone asks about tipping, most of us assume it's because you don't want to tip, or intend to reduce the tip. The reason being that those of us that agreed with auto tipping, and indeed tip over and above that, would never need to pose such a question as you did in the first place.

 

And finally, you were warned that this was a hot topic that has been hashed to death. Did you do the search like I suggested?

[Colo Cruiser]

Tips are an included and necessary part in the thousands that you are spending on the cruise.

[hubofhockey]

Just a guess on my part. Without auto-tips, overall compensation to waiters and stewards would drop considerably. That's the best argument for keeping the system in place. Even if people are not cheapskates, some people have too much on their minds at the end of a cruise and could forget to tip the staff. Quite a few years back before auto-tipping, I used to hear the constant PA announcements reminding people to use the envelopes to tip everyone. I thought it was annoying and tacky. The auto-tips eliminated that. If you have a problem with your service, adjust the freaking tip. That's not so hard. The current system in the mass market cruisline industry, in particular, is to auto tip. For the most part, the system works.

[Rockymountainsparky]

We have the option of giving Princess the $15/per person per day tip. What do you think?

 

I'm unconvinced that this is the best way to go, I mean, that's $30/day for 12 days for us - $360 dollars.

 

 

Auto tips are $10.50 a day for standard rooms and $11.00 a day for mini and full suites. Even at $15.00 a day, don't you think you would tip that much at a resort?

[chisoxfan]

I am glad that the auto tip system is in place. The ancient "envelope" system invariably missed many worthy people. That said the cruise lines should step up and include tips as part of the cruise fare. We could still tip for drinks and extras. Frankly the small increment charged for full suites seems too meager IMO.

[hansi]

If you knew the hours the crew on cruiseships work to make you happy and comfortable onboard, you'd reconsider the statement you originally made. Tips made by the crew are an integral part of the monies they earn, and if you take from one by cancelling your autotip you take away from everyone.

 

Yes the argument is there that you pay an extra 15% tip on your drinks, but what of your poor stateroom steward who is up at 6am or so, busts his/her butt all day for you and doesn't get to bed til after all his/her staterooms beds are turned down about 1030 at night so you can get your little chocolate on the pillow.

 

The other option is you go looking for your own towels, facecloths, sheets; you clean your own toilets, sinks and showers; you make your own ice cubes; you search for your own shampoo, soap, lotion; you clamber around the bowels of the ship looking for an eggcrate for your bed; you run up to the Lido deck to get chaises for your balcony, etc, etc, etc.

 

OK NOW STOP AND THINK (Not shouting folks...just for emphasis)

 

Don't you think XXX$360 (any currency) is worth it for all that and you can hall yourself out of bed whenever your heart desires.

 

Ciao for now!!!

 

In a word "No"

[KyRoamer]

Auto tipping seems a way to insure so so service, BUT that's not what I've experienced on cruises. I leave it in place and tip extra early in the voyage to those who are watching out for me.

[sveipe]

I personally hate the auto-tip system, it doesn't give me the opportunity to tip the people I want to tip, if someone does a lousy job and someone else does a fantastic job, I have no choice but to tip them both.

 

But my question is: why should I tip at all (serious question)?