"Adjusting gratuity via front desk"

[Randyk47]

Randy, just to clarify this... the policy was 'Tipping not required'.... it didn't say ' no tipping expected'.

 

 

As the cruise directors used to say at their disembarkation talk....

 

"Holland America sails under a 'Tipping Not Required' policy. Passengers are, of course, completely free to reward any crew member for outstanding service."

 

Or something similar. Used to know it off by heart!:eek:

 

Stephen

 

I couldn't remember the exact words but our TA at the time was very clear that "tips were included" and "unlike Carnival" we wouldn't be expected to tip. Ex and I clearly took that to mean we'd not have to or be expected to tip. Granted, this was only our second cruise, and really in some ways our first major cruise as our only other experience had been a "try it, you'll like it" 4-day cruise on the Fantasy. We were really newbies and back then depended totally on our TA for all our information. I do remember thinking "oh c**p!" when we discovered that we probably ought to be tipping. While service on HAL is pretty good today it was absolutely fantastic on our first Ryndam cruise so we certainly had no complaint about tipping. I don't think it was until after that cruise that I discovered the forerunner to Cruise Critic on AOL. Our TA was a sweetie and she's still a friend though I don't book through her anymore and certainly don't rely on her or any TA for advice or assistance.

[3rdGenCunarder]

We leave the Hotel Service Charge in place.

 

We do not tip anyone at the beginning of the cruise.

 

We tip extra to those individuals who have made our cruise an enjoyable one -- people that we see and who take care of us personally every day.

 

We leave an envelope in the cabin and let the cabin stewards decide how they wish to split their extra tips.

 

That's our plan, too. If we have frequented a particular bar and had the same server most nights, we add something extra to the standard 15% on the last night if the server has been good.

 

Another thing you can do to "tip" someone who has given extra service is to mention that staff memberon your questionaire. If someone helps you in some way, try to notice and remember the name. Being mentioned by name gets counted somehow in an employee's record. On some lines these mentions result in extra time off in port, etc. Doesn't sound like much, but these crew members work hard, and an extra break is very welcome.

[Krazy Kruizers]

That's our plan, too. If we have frequented a particular bar and had the same server most nights, we add something extra to the standard 15% on the last night if the server has been good.

 

Another thing you can do to "tip" someone who has given extra service is to mention that staff memberon your questionaire. If someone helps you in some way, try to notice and remember the name. Being mentioned by name gets counted somehow in an employee's record. On some lines these mentions result in extra time off in port, etc. Doesn't sound like much, but these crew members work hard, and an extra break is very welcome.

 

We do that as well!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Oh come now! Isn't what you are saying just too...... LOGICAL!!!!!

 

Sorry if you find my answers too logical -- but I was just answering OP's question as to what we do.:eek:

[world~citizen]

...The current system - intensely irritating though it is - at least shows everyone that they're tipping $11 per passenger per day, and rather reduces this cultural effect.

 

Well I think it inflames certain cross-cultural sensitivities - just from what I have observed on these boards.

 

Nevertheless, I like the system. I hope it gets more money in the hands of the serving staff - the guys and gals who do all the heavy lifting for the line if you know what I mean.

[Ians Grandma]

My disabled son and I have cruised over 100 nights on Hal yet we have never eaten in the main dining room due to the dress code (its hard for him to wear anything but shorts) We are totally fine with that but I wish that I wasn't forced to tip the dining room staff in order to give our cabin stewards extra. Our cabin stewards work extra hard yet the main dining room staff never even sees us!

[GeriatricNurse]

We've sailed Seabourn where the gratuity is included in the base fare. No one has to think about tipping, to whom, when, or how much. Tipping is never mentioned on either the SB CC board or on the ship. It's all taken care of by the cruiseline out of your fare. How much of what you've paid for the cruise is for tips or how it is divided is unknown- not the pax concern. The stewards were wonderful, so they must be happy. Best service we've ever had.

 

Every cruiseline should do it this way.

 

I agree! :)

[RuthC]

My disabled son and I have cruised over 100 nights on Hal yet we have never eaten in the main dining room due to the dress code (its hard for him to wear anything but shorts) We are totally fine with that but I wish that I wasn't forced to tip the dining room staff in order to give our cabin stewards extra. Our cabin stewards work extra hard yet the main dining room staff never even sees us!

But you must eat somewhere. There are stewards clearing places for you in the Lido, if you go there. Those stewards are entitled to a share in the service charge.

You eat breakfast and lunch. It isn't just dining room stewards serving dinner who get a portion of the service charge.

You use towels? A public restroom? The laundry workers and the folks who clean the public areas share in the service charge.

 

Even if you don't ever go to the dining room, you are getting value from the $11 per day service charge.

[Ians Grandma]

I guess it depends on how you look at it...is it a tip for special service rendered by an individual or is it a service charge? When I think of it as a service charge it makes sense, as a tip..no.

[world~citizen]

I guess it depends on how you look at it...is it a tip for special service rendered by an individual or is it a service charge? When I think of it as a service charge it makes sense, as a tip..no.

 

It doesn't hurt to tip everyone and well. When you do that, then look at it as a percentage of the cost of your ENTIRE vacation, it is pretty clear you will never really miss the money. The serving staff literally lives on it.

 

Smooth sailing...

[world~citizen]

I agree! :)

 

If the gratuity can be placed on your onboard account, what difference does it make? I have seen this argument a thousand times if I have seen it once and still don't get it.

[Mary Ellen]

I guess it depends on how you look at it...is it a tip for special service rendered by an individual or is it a service charge? When I think of it as a service charge it makes sense, as a tip..no.

Considering on their web site HAL refers to the $11 as a "Hotel Service Charge", that would be the logical way to think of it. ;)

[Ians Grandma]

Oh, Mary Ellen, you're too hard on me:o but the terms do get confusing because it's an optional service charge which makes it a gratuity.

[jtl513]

Oh, Mary Ellen, you're too hard on me:o but the terms do get confusing because it's an optional service charge which makes it a gratuity.

It's not really completely optional. The HAL policy is that the charge may be reduced or removed only if you received inadequate service. That makes sense to me, since you shouldn't have to pay for service you didn't get. Unfortunately, like so many of HAL's policies and rules, that requirement isn't enforced.

[peaches from georgia]

If the gratuity can be placed on your onboard account, what difference does it make? I have seen this argument a thousand times if I have seen it once and still don't get it.

There is a difference to pax as a group because here the subject of tipping and the HSC is front and center and still causing questions and confusion, while on lines where the gratuity is included in the fare it never is mentioned on the boards or on the ship. It's a non-issue to pax.

 

HAL's HSC can be taken off completely, lessened or increased. Then there is the confusion of whether you can designate to whom it is distributed, whether cash can be given directly to a crew member and can he keep it for himself if one has taken the HSC off their account.

 

When it's included in the fare the pax has no choice as to the tip- it is over and done with, an accomplished fact, and out of mind. Yes, for individual pax who keep it HAL's HSC on their account as is and never think about changing the amount there may not be much of a difference, but for a large % of pax there are still "what should I do about the tip" questions popping up. And a number do take it off altogether.

[fleckle]

I guess it depends on how you look at it...is it a tip for special service rendered by an individual or is it a service charge? When I think of it as a service charge it makes sense, as a tip..no.

 

If the gratuity can be placed on your onboard account, what difference does it make? I have seen this argument a thousand times if I have seen it once and still don't get it.

 

Oh, Mary Ellen, you're too hard on me:o but the terms do get confusing because it's an optional service charge which makes it a gratuity.

 

It really does not matter what any of us call it as we are all free to call it whatever we want.

A rose by any other name.......

 

HAL has it listed each day as "Hotel Service Charge" on our final statement so that is what they call it, regardless of what anyone else calls it.

[Willem Ruys]

on Seabourn tips are included but it's usual we have learned, to stuff an envelope with cash, give it in at the front desk for the "Crew Fund". And with the lower prices SB now charges, we're glad we chipped in a couple of hundred clams at the end of our 12 day Viet-Nam cruise in March.

On HAL ships where we sail for up to 8 months a year most years, we have a schedule of tips we pay every 2 weeks and include the Dining Room Manager, Lido Manager, Dining Room Section Captain, Dining Room steward, assistant DR steward, wine steward. cabin stewards, chief housekeeper, and whatever bar personnel regularly serve us. They all work so hard for that money! These are in addition to the daily "hotel service charge".

[janmcn]

We don't adjust the auto tip (or service charge, whatever) since that is split among even the laundry personnel, etc…who you never see. BUT, we do give small extra tips when we've felt the people really deserved it for their attitude, helpfulness, cheerfulness, etc…on the Prinsendam we tipped quite a few people just little bits ($10-20$ for our 45 day cruise) like the "ice cream girl" who was always so cheerful…she almost cried when we did it and came to see us twice to thank us. It showed us what a little bit of gratitude can do. The best thing, though is to write to HAL with NAMES of people who were particularly good in their jobs for one reason or another. We found that goes in their record and can make a difference for promotions, etc. That goes for officers, too!

[dpump]

The best thing, though is to write to HAL with NAMES of people who were particularly good in their jobs for one reason or another. We found that goes in their record and can make a difference for promotions, etc. That goes for officers, too!

 

 

Yes! Couldn't agree more! How many of us (in general) are slow to let upper management know how well someone has done vs how quick we are to complain?

[kazu]

Yes! Couldn't agree more! How many of us (in general) are slow to let upper management know how well someone has done vs how quick we are to complain?

 

Seriously, one of the best things you can do is to mention outstanding names on your comment sheet and let those people know that you did it. If you want to see a smile, whether you do it in a note or personally, you will put one on their faces. That's how they get promoted, etc.;)

 

Yes, we do tip a bit extra, but that is our choice, but as KK mentioned as others, it is REALLY important to mention those that give outstanding servide on your surveys. It really makes a big difference in their lives and work;)

[bet410]

Seriously, one of the best things you can do is to mention outstanding names on your comment sheet and let those people know that you did it. If you want to see a smile, whether you do it in a note or personally, you will put one on their faces. That's how they get promoted, etc.;)

 

Until a recent cruise, I hadn't been aware that there were comment cards available at the front desk. Now I ask for a supply of them (three or four at a time), and when someone goes out of their way for me, I write up a comment card and turn it in at the desk. On my last cruise there was a person at the front desk who seemed to be able to resolve my various issues very quickly - no matter what they were. Others were helpful and did their jobs, but he went that extra mile to be sure that things were taken care of. I wrote up a comment card and turned it in. A few days later when I went to the desk, he greeted me with a big smile and called me by name. It was quite obvious that my note had gotten back to him.

 

So often when people don't like something, they're very quick to criticize. The staff work so hard that it's nice to be able to give them positive feedback to let them know how much they're appreciated.

 

I always mention names of crew members that have been helpful on the cruise evaluation, but there's so little room to make comments that I also try to write personal feedback via the comment cards.

[world~citizen]

We've sailed Seabourn where the gratuity is included in the base fare. No one has to think about tipping, to whom, when, or how much. Tipping is never mentioned on either the SB CC board or on the ship. It's all taken care of by the cruiseline out of your fare. How much of what you've paid for the cruise is for tips or how it is divided is unknown- not the pax concern. The stewards were wonderful, so they must be happy. Best service we've ever had.

 

Every cruiseline should do it this way.

 

Its not just SB.

 

People tip extra anyway if they wish.

[gkny]

We like to tip generously because the staff depends on us for their salaries. It's too bad that the cruise lines pay their staff so poorly. From the casinos and shops and spa, the comissions or rent that they pay, pays for the gas expense and probably the food expense for the ship. It cost the ship $20-$30 a day to feed it's passengers. The ship makes a couple of million dollars a week or so. I just wonder with all the money that they make, why their stocks don't go up and up. Also if your an avid cruiser, you can see the small cutbacks over the years.

[BruceMuzz]

We like to tip generously because the staff depends on us for their salaries. It's too bad that the cruise lines pay their staff so poorly. From the casinos and shops and spa, the comissions or rent that they pay, pays for the gas expense and probably the food expense for the ship. It cost the ship $20-$30 a day to feed it's passengers. The ship makes a couple of million dollars a week or so. I just wonder with all the money that they make, why their stocks don't go up and up. Also if your an avid cruiser, you can see the small cutbacks over the years.

 

Where do you get this kind of information?

If the cruise lines paid us so poorly, why would we continue to work for them?

I have worked on ships for over 30 years. On the ship where I am currrently working, we have more than 50 crew who have worked for the same cruise line for over 30 years. We could get jobs elsewhere that pay just as well or better. But we CHOOSE to stay here.

If you think the cruise lines pay us so poorly, why do you continue to support those terrible cruise lines with your money?

 

Actually, your cruise fare pays for the operating expenses of the ship; bank loan, interest, fuel, food, salaries, port fees, insurance, taxes, and maintenance.

Onboard spending is the only area where any profits exist.

 

There are only 3 cruise lines on earth that spend more than $20 per day to feed their passengers. You cannot afford to sail on any of them.

All the mass market lines spend between $8 and $15 per day per passenger for food.

 

There are only 2 ships on earth that take in "a couple of million dollars a week" as you say.

They are Oasis and Allure, the biggest cruise ships in the world.

The other 250 or so cruise ships around the world take in far less than "a couple of million dollars a week".

 

So with all the money we make, you cannot understand why our "stocks don't go up and up". Since we are all publicly traded companies, if we really were making so much money, we would be legally forced to report it, and our stocks would naturally go up and up. But that doesn't happen.

 

Either the cruise lines are; 1) concealing all those massive profits and breaking many international finance and tax laws in the process, or 2) you don't know what you are talking about.

 

Can you guess which answer is correct in this case?

[hypercafe]

I think the tip thing on all the mass market lines is crazy, they have created a system where there is a surcharge to pay a large part of the crew. This includes the added tip to all drinks. I really feel a 8 to 15$ tip to open a bottle of wine a bit much. I feel the crew should be included in the fare you pay. That said I look at the surcharge added each day as part of the trip price and let it ride.