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15% Gratuity

sesquius

By sesquius,
in Royal Caribbean International

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amybeth4

amybeth4

Posted
Posted

Because they live on tips and serve LOTS of drinks so the cruise lines probably figured out they can make a fair wage by having mandatory tips. I would say they really need this also because there are SOOOO many non-Americans on ships and Americans (and probably Canadians) tend to tip the most.

 

I'm certainly conditioned to tip someone in a bar even if they do nothing but hand me an open bottle...

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GeneK

GeneK

Posted
Posted

It's a good policy because so many do NOT tip, and the crew relies on tips to make a decent wage. It is also a bad policy. I am a big tipper and use to get fantastic service before the 15 percent was added The cocktail server was at my side every 15 minutes. Now they either don't try as hard or the ship has cut the staff down, not sure which applies, or maybe both.:confused:

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lovemylab

lovemylab

Posted
Posted
It's a good policy because so many do NOT tip, and the crew relies on tips to make a decent wage. It is also a bad policy. I am a big tipper and use to get fantastic service before the 15 percent was added The cocktail server was at my side every 15 minutes. Now they either don't try as hard or the ship has cut the staff down, not sure which applies, or maybe both.:confused:

 

Tipping a little bit extra also ensures you get great service ;)

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MrsPete

MrsPete

Posted
Posted
They do it because SOMEONE has to open the can or pour the drink...even if you "search out" the bartender or go to the bar, they have to do something for you to get your buzz on.....even a soda rates 15%!
Admittedly, they also keep the bar stocked with drinks, ice, and drink accessories (lemons, olives), and keep the bar/glasses/floors clean. Just transporting the heavy cans from storage and hauling away the trash is a job.

 

It's a little more than JUST popping open a can.

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negc

negc

Posted
Posted
It's a good policy because so many do NOT tip, and the crew relies on tips to make a decent wage. It is also a bad policy. I am a big tipper and use to get fantastic service before the 15 percent was added The cocktail server was at my side every 15 minutes. Now they either don't try as hard or the ship has cut the staff down, not sure which applies, or maybe both.:confused:

 

Not sure when you are talking about because the automatic 15% gratuity being added to your bar tab is not some new innovation that was only introduced in the past year or two. It has been there for much longer than that and insures that the bar staff gets its well-deserved tips. As someone else mentioned it is probably easier and more convenient for guests who might have trouble figuring out the appropriate tip amount after they have imbibed a few alcoholic beverages.:D

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sesquius

sesquius

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Not sure when you are talking about because the automatic 15% gratuity being added to your bar tab is not some new innovation that was only introduced in the past year or two. It has been there for much longer than that and insures that the bar staff gets its well-deserved tips. As someone else mentioned it is probably easier and more convenient for guests who might have trouble figuring out the appropriate tip amount after they have imbibed a few alcoholic beverages.:D

 

I guess I should explain. My first time on a cruise and I was surprised at the automatic addition of the gratuity. I'm used to it when dining out and in a large group, but not for a single soda or bar drink. :)

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laxlove6

laxlove6

Posted
Posted

15% auto-gratuity is a lot by most standards. Yes I do tip for good service but 15% on every drink is too much. At restaurants where people prepare/ cook your food then serve it to you then clean your plates up, deserves the 15% tip. Not the bartender who opened a beer for you.

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pltag

pltag

Posted
Posted

I have no problem with the auto 15% !!

 

My personal policy is to add more than the 15% if one of the servers brings me my drink, but I have to hoist my 'ars' :D up to get it myself, I do not add any additional.

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hockeyken

hockeyken

Posted
Posted

:confused: Alright, how about this: 15% is added...fine.

 

Say I order a $50 bottle of wine at dinner...the service involves getting the bottle, pulling the cork and pouring, and refilling glasses.

 

Another night is a special event for us, I order champagne before dinner, say $120, and a very good bottle of red , say $150.....same amount of work for the server, but far far more in tips ( auto 15%) .Is that fair?

 

What if I order one of the very top wines from the list, Lafite, Opus One etc at $350-500 per bottle....should they get $50 to $75 in tips for pulling one cork?

 

I personally don't have an opinion on this, but do invite you to share your views. What do you think?

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Mal2105

Mal2105

Posted
Posted

Please pardon me one moment while I step on my soap box..... thank you...:)

 

Totally agree with the previous (wine example) post. Coming from a minimal tipping nation (Australia) I do find the auto 15% a bit hard to swallow at times. I do understand the fundamentals of lower paid hospitality staff in US and on cruises, but what is the distinction between "gratuity" and "service charge"? A gratuity is something the recipient of the service should evaluate and calculate...:rolleyes:

 

I work as a casino dealer in Melbourne and we are not allowed to accept tips (by law). OK our hourly rates are probably quite a bit higher, but it still comes down to personal motivation to provide quality service - I do this with no expectation of "gratuity" - I just like my job! Bar staff in the casino may get the occassional tip (more from high rollers) but it is not 'expected" and certainly never included automatically on any tab.

 

From past experiences travelling in the US I have found the service culture generally good but sometimes over the top and the drive for tips can be off putting to the uninitiated.

 

I have no problem at all with the cruise prepaid tipping concept - but the additional "set" charges for bar/wine etc do appear excessive = 15% just to get a glass of coke?!

 

Oh well - its ultimately all part of the holiday budget so I guess we live with it but I do expect "service" if I am being charged for it! Please have some empathy for those of us that have not been reared in a standardised tipping environment. :cool:

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John Henry on CC

John Henry on CC

Posted
Posted
15% auto-gratuity is a lot by most standards. Yes I do tip for good service but 15% on every drink is too much. At restaurants where people prepare/ cook your food then serve it to you then clean your plates up, deserves the 15% tip. Not the bartender who opened a beer for you.

You DO realize that on a $5 drink that's all of 75¢ ?!?!?!??!

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fubarsbabe

fubarsbabe

Posted
Posted

I wonder why they can't add this into the pre pay tips in some way, coming from the UK we tip for good service mainly in restaurants IF they have provided good service, I can afford the meal and the tips but if the meal and service are sub standard I am not prepared to part with more of my hard earned cash. Happy to tip on cruise but believe there should be set tips as with all the other staff , I completely agree with the above poster that same amount of work goes into opening a house wine or vintage wine but the tip would vary massively.

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compman9

compman9

Posted
Posted

The reason for the charge is because the cruise industry is driven by American culture.

 

The American way is to have customers pay service staff's wages [mostly] in full.

 

Until the percentage of cruise passengers alters to a position where a majority are from countries that do not have a tipping culture, this will remain the status quo.

 

And a word of warning for any non-US citizens that venture into a debate with Americans on here about their tipping culture - you will get long lectures about how their way is better than your way! :rolleyes:

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MAZANDSTEVE

MAZANDSTEVE

Posted
Posted
:confused: Alright, how about this: 15% is added...fine.

 

Say I order a $50 bottle of wine at dinner...the service involves getting the bottle, pulling the cork and pouring, and refilling glasses.

 

Another night is a special event for us, I order champagne before dinner, say $120, and a very good bottle of red , say $150.....same amount of work for the server, but far far more in tips ( auto 15%) .Is that fair?

 

What if I order one of the very top wines from the list, Lafite, Opus One etc at $350-500 per bottle....should they get $50 to $75 in tips for pulling one cork?

 

I personally don't have an opinion on this, but do invite you to share your views. What do you think?

 

 

I have a problem with this too, the more expensive wine or champagne the bigger tip for doing exactly the same job when buying a cheap bottle. Its not a case of whether you can afford the tip or not, it just doesnt sit well.

We also found at the pool bar the service was not that great, one time we were stood there quite some time while the bar attendant finished writing whatever he was doing and then he grumpily served us, I assumed it was because he would get his 15% whether he was good or not.

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