Cunard gratuities

[Boytjie]

It is of course all the fault of Americans, Brits and most Europeans like to decide for themselves whether and how much to tip. Americans have over the years been conned into paying increasingly large percentages of tips and being literally chased after if the amount given is thought to be insufficient.

 

Really? After having lived in the USA (in particular - New York) for 25 years I have not noticed any increase in the percentage of tips. :rolleyes: And I have never been chased after if a tip was thought to be inconsistent. Once we (unintentionally) walked out of a restaurant without paying and nobody ran after us even for that. (We were two parties at dinner, each thinking the other had paid behind the scenes. We paid it the next day.)

 

We had a nice meal in New York recently and the waiter asked if we would like him to take care of the gratuity and he put 20% on the bill!!

 

Maybe a bad waiter spotted a tourist... We eat out regularly in the city and have never, ever experienced that. I would have had something to say to that one and his/her boss. :eek: Totally unacceptable (and must be uncommon).

[Boytjie]

The basic problem really boils down to fairness. I know that we are told that life isn't fair but if I pay the tip and the guy next to me does not, even though he has had just as good service as me, there is bound to be resentment.

 

What's the use of resentment? Should one also resent the passenger that may have paid less than you for the same class of cabin? In both cases you most likely won't even know about it happening.

[Boytjie]

This is a fairly standard US tip and is not excessive in my opinion assuming that the service was a good standard.

 

Actually the standard is 15%. :)

[capnpugwash]

Actually the standard is 15%. :)

I always gave 15% and a friend of mine who lives in PA called me cheap, and reliably informed me that 20 was the deal. It didn't seem too much really and I wouldn't want the job. I am less content with 20% on a bottle of wine and if I remember correctly there used to be some differentiation between food and drink so maybe that is where the 15% blended tip comes from.

[Boytjie]

I always gave 15% and a friend of mine who lives in PA called me cheap, and reliably informed me that 20 was the deal. It didn't seem too much really and I wouldn't want the job. I am less content with 20% on a bottle of wine and if I remember correctly there used to be some differentiation between food and drink so maybe that is where the 15% blended tip comes from.

 

I guess I am cheap too then. :D

 

15% is the basic starting point in my experience, we do tip more depending on service at times, even more then your friend's 20% if it warrants it.

[billyelliot]

I agree with a lot of op on here! I dont mind tipping for drinks being brought to me, but I do mind the 15%. Why should I pay more for a drink to be brought to me just because what I choose costs more? There is no more extra work, or plesantries. It takes the same amount of time to open the cheapest wine as it does the most expensive!:confused:

[Railer]

I may be in the minority or considered cheap but I don't always tip a certain percentage. I may go to a local restaurant for coffee or a $4.00 breakfast special. The waitress may be a single mother trying to make a life for herself. She is friendly when serving me, refills my coffee often and in general seems happy to serve me. I may leave a $2.00 or 50% tip. I go out for a nice dinner, couple of drinks, served by a 20 something male who may or may not have any dependants at home, takes your order, drops the food in front of you and disappears until it's time to pay, $100.00 bill. Do you think that what he did deserves a 20% or $40.00 tip?

 

I will leave the auto tip on and will tip for good service. I am just not a believer in tipping a set percentage for an expensive meal if I don't think it is deserved. Just because you work in an upscale establishment doesn't mean you don't have to be friendly and have a good attitude to expect a good tip. Tipping started out as a thank you for good food and good service. It now seems to be expected to top up the poor wages paid to the staff. I will tip what I feel is deserved according to service, not prices.

 

Russ

[capnpugwash]

I may be in the minority or considered cheap but I don't always tip a certain percentage. I may go to a local restaurant for coffee or a $4.00 breakfast special. The waitress may be a single mother trying to make a life for herself. She is friendly when serving me, refills my coffee often and in general seems happy to serve me. I may leave a $2.00 or 50% tip. I go out for a nice dinner, couple of drinks, served by a 20 something male who may or may not have any dependants at home, takes your order, drops the food in front of you and disappears until it's time to pay, $100.00 bill. Do you think that what he did deserves a 20% or $40.00 tip?

 

I will leave the auto tip on and will tip for good service. I am just not a believer in tipping a set percentage for an expensive meal if I don't think it is deserved. Just because you work in an upscale establishment doesn't mean you don't have to be friendly and have a good attitude to expect a good tip. Tipping started out as a thank you for good food and good service. It now seems to be expected to top up the poor wages paid to the staff. I will tip what I feel is deserved according to service, not prices.

 

Russ

 

Not being picky but 20% of $100 is $20:)

[Railer]

My mistake. I used to be good at math.

 

Russ

[Underwatr]

The subject of tipping never makes sense if you consider it merely as a fraction of the amount spent on a particular item (although that's what it is, I admit). It's probably better to look at it this way - if you consume more services, at a higher price point, your assumed level of consumption of personal services is higher. It's not about the $30 bottle of wine vs. the $100 bottle of wine, but someone who is having drinks before dinner, a bottle (or two) of wine with dinner, etc. is making more use of the services provided by ship's staff than someone who only drinks water or tea with each meal and opts out of extra-cost options.

 

This may not stand up to detailed scrutiny but might inform an overall attitude on paying service charges.

[ovccruiser]

Tipping always good for a discussion so I would like to add my 2 pennuf. Most cruises in Brittania cost around £150 per person per day. I am used to giving an average of 10% tip £15.00 per day or $24. Cunard only ask for $11 per day, an absolute bargain.

[laktex]

Tipping always good for a discussion so I would like to add my 2 pennuf. Most cruises in Brittania cost around £150 per person per day. I am used to giving an average of 10% tip £15.00 per day or $24. Cunard only ask for $11 per day, an absolute bargain.

 

Interesting, just to add to your "2 pennuf" - I rarely tip at a Hotel (except for the odd individual service) not even in the USA - do others tip on a Hotel Bill?

[CateW]

I like the auto tip concept; that way I don't have to worry about bringing more cash that I would otherwise lose in the casino and normally in fact tip extra to the room steward and the DR waiter and the wine guy (as long as I think the service deserved it).

[thames_side]

Yes, I usually leave something for the chambermaids . Not 15% of the accomodation bill though.

[2irisheyes]

When travelling we usually leave something for the chambermaid. My OH always says there is no need but I always win the argument. Having a daughter who over the years has worked in various service industries has changed my mind a bit. She was always highly delighted to receive tips as wages were quite low. One thing that bugs me is when we first visited the US over 20 years ago tipping was expected at 10%, then it was 15% and now I think it may be even higher. In restaurants in the UK I work on the basis of 10% as long as the food and service are fine. To Americans that may appear mean but that does not bother me.

[balf]

 

Yes this correct, the percentage has definitely gone up over the 40 odd years I have been visiting USA.

 

David

[bluebell101]

We purchased our dollars yesterday, and the girl told us that the "expected" tip in the States is 20%. So we are bracing ourselves for unbelievable service wherever we eat :)

[Underwatr]

I'd disagree that 20% is "expected." 15% is acceptable, closer to 17% is typical.

[edgeoftheworld]

couple of points:

 

The Atlantic is not the US

so those that are saying 'oh thats how its done in the US' fine, but were not in the US!

 

 

as another poster has pointed out, the 'standard' tip in the US has gone up from 10% to 15+%

why?

has the cost of services & food reduced by 5% in that time? no

[voyagerdreamer224]

I think one reason that 17%+ has become more common in recent years in NYC, for example, is that most people seem to find it easier to roughly double the tax to calculate the tip. I do believe that it is not uncommon to tip 20%+ for excellent service, but not just as a matter of course, at least not for most people that I know. But 15% is still quite the most commonly mentioned "baseline" figure in general conversation.;)

[Boytjie]

I think one reason that 17%+ has become more common in recent years in NYC, for example, is that most people seem to find it easier to roughly double the tax to calculate the tip. I do believe that it is not uncommon to tip 20%+ for excellent service, but not just as a matter of course, at least not for most people that I know. But 15% is still quite the most commonly mentioned "baseline" figure in general conversation.;)

 

Exactly the case - the general rule has been to double the tax. Currently the tax is 8.875% so doubling it means it is essentially a 17.75% tip.

[Pies4u]

Got to say: The auto tip - on top a service charge of 15% is, quite frankly, simply a bizarre concept. The customer has no say on the amount or on how it is distributed.

 

As someone who always expects to tip the staff who look after me/us - butler, steward, waiter(s) etc, I think it's a peculiar idea to have an automatic levy and I/we cancel it at the first available opportunity. I always end up paying a damn sight more than the daily rate - but it's my choice and it goes where I decide - and not where the cruise line see fit.

 

Plus, the service charge on goods and beverages goes towards all the backroom staff too - not just drinks/shop staff!

 

As plenty of others have said - the lines should pay the staff more if they are under paid, don't expct the customers to do it for you! The whole "tipping" issue is getting beyond a joke these days - someone serves you a drink with a 15% sevice charge levied on it and they expect a tip? Do me a favour! What's all that about?

 

Serve me regularly and provide some courtesy and I'll give you a generous tip.

 

It's about reasonableness, balance and sense - and certainly not being "ripped off" by cruise lines who may also try to use emotional blackmail. As a particular rude and obtuse member of the Purser's team QV said to me, "Don't you want your cabin steward to receive a tip then?". I replied, "Yes, thank you - and I'll ensure he gets one myself, if that's alright with you!".

[Underwatr]

Exactly the case - the general rule has been to double the tax. Currently the tax is 8.875% so doubling it means it is essentially a 17.75% tip.

An advantage of this method is that it calculated a top based on the pre-tax amount, not the gross amount including tip.

 

A 17.75% tip on pre-tax amount is the same as a 16.3% tip on the gross total.

[edgeoftheworld]

I think one reason that 17%+ has become more common in recent years in NYC, for example, is that most people seem to find it easier to roughly double the tax to calculate the tip. I do believe that it is not uncommon to tip 20%+ for excellent service, but not just as a matter of course, at least not for most people that I know. But 15% is still quite the most commonly mentioned "baseline" figure in general conversation.;)

 

Exactly the case - the general rule has been to double the tax. Currently the tax is 8.875% so doubling it means it is essentially a 17.75% tip.

 

An advantage of this method is that it calculated a top based on the pre-tax amount, not the gross amount including tip.

 

A 17.75% tip on pre-tax amount is the same as a 16.3% tip on the gross total.

 

 

except that the prices being quoted/charged are not 'before tax'

http://www.cunard.co.uk/Documents/Menus/BarMenu.pdf

 

those prices have no tax payable on top, as they don't come under any countries tax regime

they have instead added a 'service charge'

in the UK, service charges (in restaurants/bars etc) are legally optional, you do not have to pay them.

 

as for the 'auto-tip' for the restaurant/waiting staff etc, i'm not paying for each meal seperately, i've already paid for all the meals in the cruise price. so how would you even start to calculate a tip amount?

 

 

in the UK, the price seen is the price paid, this includes all costs, charges & taxes.

if you need to know how much tax has been charged, you usually have to request a VAT receipt.

 

if you want the UK legal definitions of tips & service charges, see page 4 of this document:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e24.pdf

Tip/gratuity

A tip/gratuity is an uncalled for and spontaneous payment offered by a customer either in cash, as part of a cheque payment, or as a specific gratuity on a credit/debit card payment.

Service charge

A service charge is an amount added to the customer’s bill before it is presented to the customer. If it is made clear to the customer that the charge is a purely discretionary amount and there is no obligation to pay,

the payment is a voluntary service charge. Where this is not the case, the payment is a mandatory service charge. If you impose a mandatory service charge and the money is paid out to your employees, NICs are always due on the payments no matter what the arrangements are for sharing out the money. HMRC will accept that a payment is a voluntary service charge if it is clearly presented to the customer as an entirely optional payment.

The literature seen by the customer should reflect this and be consistent with advice given to customers by employees. Any amount entered on an ‘open’

credit/debit card slip by a customer is likely to be a gratuity.

 

also in the UK, we have a National Minimum Wage, with rules on how tips & service charges relate to it

"Under the legislation, companies will no longer be able to use tips or service charges to make up a minimum salary."

 

 

 

for UK passengers:

 

we book the cruise with a UK registered company (Carnival plc)

the booking conditions specifically mention English law, & various other UK only taxes & organisations

the port of registry is Southampton, UK

 

 

so why this insistence that we follow US customs with regards to tipping/service charges?

these arn't even international customs, let alone european or uk.

 

 

 

 

& an interesting article for those in the US

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2011/02/articles/taxes/no-taxes-the-cruise-lines-dirty-little-secret/

 

"One of the little know facts about the cruise industry is that it pays virtually no U.S. taxes.

 

But Carnival’s biggest government benefit of all may be the price it pays for many of those services. Over the last five years, the company has paid total corporate taxes — federal, state, local and foreign — equal to only 1.1 percent of its cumulative $11.3 billion in profits. Thanks to an obscure loophole in the tax code, Carnival can legally avoid most taxes." "

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/business/economy/02leonhardt.html?_r=1&src=me

[capnpugwash]

I was going to post but I really can't be bothered.