The things people complain about!? Sheesh

[laurmac]

Many, many cruisers do not use this service. The folks that do have kids in the club should be the ones paying the gratuity. Only the services used by all should be part of the tip pool. Whats next, someone complaining that their SPA treatment tip wasnt part of the pool?

[emcelh]

Many, many cruisers do not use this service. The folks that do have kids in the club should be the ones paying the gratuity. Only the services used by all should be part of the tip pool. Whats next, someone complaining that their SPA treatment tip wasnt part of the pool?

 

I agree. We usually cruise in September and there are very few kids on the ship. I wouldn't like to see the DSC increase to cover those tips.

[Mom2B&Z]

On the Sun last January the Kids Club staff put out small envelopes and the comment cards on the sign in/out table. They did mention casually to me that they were not part of the tip pool, it was done tastefully and discretely. DS1 spent a total of 4-5 hrs there on a 7 day cruise, DS2 spent 1 hr, and I tipped them $20. They seemed quite surprised that we gave them a tip, I'm guessing because our children weren't there very much. They did a great job making DS1 feel welcome, which is a big deal to me because he's a very shy child. In fact he still talks about how great the kids club was and can't wait for the next one. Nothing could make DS2 happy so he never went back, but that's just the way he is ;)

ITA that the kids club staff should not be part of the general tip pool, just like I don't want to be tipping the concierge or butlers from the suites or spa staff I never see. I have no problem as a parent tipping for good service, I do struggle though with what I consider an acceptable amount. Considering the "going rate" for a Christmas gift to a full time day care provider is 1 week's salary, that would be $150 tip per child for a whole year in our area. IMHO $100 for a week of kids club service on a cruise ship is out of line.

[keep on cruisin]

When we have traveled, they have had an envelope for those who wanted to leave a tip for the Kids club.

 

As for the Kids club being part of the tip pool, I think it would be a reasonable idea to have a portion of the 3-12 year olds gratuity go to the kids club. I do however agree with those who would not want the adults gratuity going to the kids staff.

[njhorseman]

When we have traveled, they have had an envelope for those who wanted to leave a tip for the Kids club.

 

As for the Kids club being part of the tip pool, I think it would be a reasonable idea to have a portion of the 3-12 year olds gratuity go to the kids club. I do however agree with those who would not want the adults gratuity going to the kids staff.

 

You would be shortchanging the dining room staff and cabin stewards by doing so.

[smeyer418]

A colicky baby in the nursery? Not on NCL. Most collicky babies are far less than 2-years old and aren't eligible to be in the program.

You don't think some two year olds are just as noisy...in any case NCL won't take a crying baby in the kids program anyway.

 

I don't believe that if its part of the 1-2 in the room it should be used but the third and fourth or more surely could be used fore a small part of it($3 or so). remember under three are not required to pay into the pool at all.

 

BTW those of you without children ARE paying for the kids crew anyway. Some of the time the kids fare is less than the kids crew cost and they eat etc(I paid $99 each for the two I am taking along in October to Bermuda). Think of it as a school tax and it also gets the kids in a structured program away from you. We can disagree with YOUR DSC being used for the kids crew but a portion of the kid's DSC being used makes sense when you consider it went from $5-12---to me anyway. Yours went from $10 to 12.

[robinhood2b]

AS ncl charge the gratuity for all persons on board including children should they not set up a separate tip pool from the cratuitys collected from children to include the child care facilities on board?

of course this would not stop people tipping if they feel the need to.

it would also mean that those on board without kids are not paying towards services that are not going to use.

[goose30]

There should be a minimum charge of $20/day (even if for only one hour) for use of the kid's club. Why should all subsidize the daycare of your children?

[jtdlmc]

There should be a minimum charge of $20/day (even if for only one hour) for use of the kid's club. Why should all subsidize the daycare of your children?

 

The kids club does not need to be subsidized. The kids club is an included part of the cruise package - should they charge passengers go to the shows or to rent the lounge chairs at the pool????? The staff are paid regular wages (as per the NCL faq they are university educated) just as are the cruise directors (does NCL recommended tipping the CD???), the maitre d', customer service desk staff, etc. Tipping at the kids club is not required, it is a personal decision - just as tipping the cabin steward or wait staff extra.

 

Maybe those of you without kids don't understand what the kids club is - it isn't a daycare. Most people don't drop their kids off in the morning and pick them up at night. I have read reveiws where the kids absolutely loved it there and so spent a lot of time because they were having fun but usually they pick and choose the activities they want to participate in and go during those times. The families are given a list of kids club activities, just as everyone gets a list of the different activities going on all over the ship (dailies or whatever they are called on NCL). The kids can then choose what activities they want to participate in (scavenger hunt, pizza making) or go to watch (magicians, shows) and participate accordingly - one hour here, an hour there.

[swedish weave]

When we have traveled, they have had an envelope for those who wanted to leave a tip for the Kids club.

 

As for the Kids club being part of the tip pool, I think it would be a reasonable idea to have a portion of the 3-12 year olds gratuity go to the kids club. I do however agree with those who would not want the adults gratuity going to the kids staff.

 

 

Using your logic, wouldn't then be OK to have all guests register whether or not they drink, and have a portion of the drinkers tips go to the bartenders??

[smeyer418]

Using your logic, wouldn't then be OK to have all guests register whether or not they drink, and have a portion of the drinkers tips go to the bartenders??

oh nonsense. The bartenders get a tip on each drink. was it you who said that the platinum dinner at Le Bistro is only for one person?

 

Also the bartenders tip didn't go up from 15% to 36% which is the same percentage that the kids tip went up from 5 to 12 dollars.

 

While I don't mind varying opinions on this, lets at least keep the facts straight.

 

reasonable people can disagree but the comparisons shouldn't come from left field..

 

should I have to pay my taxes for wars I don't agree with? (which I don't believe anyway) is more like a comparison anyway.

[swedish weave]

oh nonsense. The bartenders get a tip on each drink. was it you who said that the platinum dinner at Le Bistro is only for one person?

 

Not me !! If you are going to quote me, please get your facts right.

 

Why not eliminate the bartenders tip and use part of the drinkers tip pool money for them? Same logic as used by another poster for the kids.

[crew mom]

The Kids Crew Counselors are salaried employees. Like the Excursion Desk people or the Port Lecturer or the Assistant Purser. Not in any way a part of the tip pool.

 

Being a salaried employee means NCL pays them already a fair wage. Tips are just that. Extra.

 

I've asked the Kids Crew what they make. Many have ECE or Elem. Ed. degrees and they make about as much as a first year teacher in a public school. That's more than ANY ECE would make.

 

....

Just have to mention that Kids Crew does not make what a first year public school teacher would make. I do have firsthand information as I turned down a Kids Crew job offer. Too bad 'cause it would have been fun.

 

They do like to hire people that have experience and ECE classes. Many Kids Crew are college students, especially the summer staff.

[billie5]

the "going rate" for a Christmas gift to a full time day care provider is 1 week's salary' date=' that would be $150 tip[/quote']

$150 for a 40 hour week? That would be less than $4 an hour. Wow, I guess I should be grateful that I do not live in Ontario.:confused::confused:

 

Bill

[DAGVBSB]

When we have traveled, they have had an envelope for those who wanted to leave a tip for the Kids club.

 

As for the Kids club being part of the tip pool, I think it would be a reasonable idea to have a portion of the 3-12 year olds gratuity go to the kids club. I do however agree with those who would not want the adults gratuity going to the kids staff.

 

My nephews never went to Kids Club on the POAm last year and my nephew did not go to Kids Club on the Dawn or Star.

 

So why should the money paid for their gratuities go to the Kids Club staff and reduce the amount going to the general tip pool for the waiters, room stewards, etc. who were great with the kids.

 

Taking money from ALL kids gratuities would be basically the same thing as taking money from all adult gratutities for the Casino Staff. I never have used the casino so why should my gratuities go to them?

 

"Special areas" that are not used by all of the guests should not be in the tip pool. This includes the Casino Staff, Spa Staff, and Kids Crew Staff. Those need to be tipped/compensated seperateley by those who use those services.

[smeyer418]

lets face it when the DSC went from 5 to 12(a 140% increase) many people cut what they gave the kids crew. every bar maid/bartender will tell you that when they increase the prices, its the tips that suffer.

 

yes I didn't say it would be easy as they would have to tie it back somehow to those who actually use the kids club but that isn't that difficult...and its probably why it won't happen. If they did it at the time of the increase so that the majority still went to the dining room and room staff I don't think there would have been a major issue...its more difficult now....

 

if for an example 9 went to the food service and room service that would have been a 80% increase and the balance available to the kids crew(21 per week)...I highly doubt that the kids crew actually averages $20 per week..

[Mom2B&Z]

$150 for a 40 hour week? That would be less than $4 an hour. Wow, I guess I should be grateful that I do not live in Ontario.:confused::confused:

 

Bill

This is based on $30/day for childcare for children aged 2-5yrs. Caregivers are allowed to have 5 children under 5 in Ontario, so that would mean they earn $150/day, minus expenses and not including tax deductions for providing care in their home. At 40 hrs/week, that's $18.75/hr. Those who do before and after school care earn more as they can take more children. It's not a lucrative job, but you can make a living wage and people do it for a variety of good reasons.

FYI Ontario minimum wage for adults is $10.25/hr.

My point was why should I tip people who work with my child for a week more than I would tip their regular caregiver?

[swedish weave]

lets face it when the DSC went from 5 to 12(a 140% increase) many people cut what they gave the kids crew. every bar maid/bartender will tell you that when they increase the prices, its the tips that suffer.

 

yes I didn't say it would be easy as they would have to tie it back somehow to those who actually use the kids club but that isn't that difficult...and its probably why it won't happen. If they did it at the time of the increase so that the majority still went to the dining room and room staff I don't think there would have been a major issue...its more difficult now....

 

if for an example 9 went to the food service and room service that would have been a 80% increase and the balance available to the kids crew(21 per week)...I highly doubt that the kids crew actually averages $20 per week..

 

Your statement regarding the bar tips is incorrect. The tips for drinks are automatic and are charged a percentage of the drink price, so when drink prices are raised, the tips also automatically increase.

[smeyer418]

Your statement regarding the bar tips is incorrect. The tips for drinks are automatic and are charged a percentage of the drink price, so when drink prices are raised, the tips also automatically increase.

OK its the extra tips that suffer

[Karysa]

You don't think some two year olds are just as noisy...in any case NCL won't take a crying baby in the kids program anyway.

 

I don't believe that if its part of the 1-2 in the room it should be used but the third and fourth or more surely could be used fore a small part of it($3 or so). remember under three are not required to pay into the pool at all.

 

BTW those of you without children ARE paying for the kids crew anyway. Some of the time the kids fare is less than the kids crew cost and they eat etc(I paid $99 each for the two I am taking along in October to Bermuda). Think of it as a school tax and it also gets the kids in a structured program away from you. We can disagree with YOUR DSC being used for the kids crew but a portion of the kid's DSC being used makes sense when you consider it went from $5-12---to me anyway. Yours went from $10 to 12.

 

I could see taking a % of the room steward tip from the 3rd and 4th childs fare to use as gratuities for the kids club staff if the children used the program. They have to be signed in and out at this age so I think that their usage could be tracked down if the cruise line wanted to do it. Lets face it the room steward still only has one bathroom to clean and one floor to vacuum when there are four people in a cabin. I wouldn't take any of the tip from the wait staff though because the amount of work would be the same just less serving and more cleaning.:D

[che5904]

Why even take the kid is their spending 90% of the time there.:rolleyes:

 

Not that I agree or disagree with leaving your child 90% of the time in the kid's crew but just wanted to answer this question.

 

Not everyone has someone at home they could leave a child with. If the children are young, chances are the grandparents are also under retirement age, do not live close to the grandchildren, will not take the grandchildren for an extended period of time, are on vacation with them etc. Unlike your family pet they don't usually have "kid hotels".

 

One thing I've learned on these boards not everyone believes a family vacation means spending time as a family. To quote someone on another thread a while back "Why would you want to take your kid anyway, I thought this was a vacation". :rolleyes:

[keep on cruisin]

You would be shortchanging the dining room staff and cabin stewards by doing so.

 

How is it shortchanging. We used to pay 1/2 price for the children. I am just agreeing with Smeyer who suggested this based on the fact that they had raised them. I have payed the $12 service fee for our child, as well as still tipping the kids club staff. I believe in a later he did however state it would be difficult to change it now, since it has been a while since the change.

 

As for the rest wait staff and room stewarts, they are already getting there share from the 2 in the room, plus the extra. If my child makes an unreasonable amount of exta mess, i will add to the tips directly.

[Karysa]

"and then the kids camp asked for more $ because they weren't included in the automatic gratuity i was very upset about that considering that's where he spent 90% of his time"

 

Above is a quote from a review I just read. Huh? Your kid spent 90% of his time at the kids club and you are mad that you had to give them a gratuity? Really?

 

Some cruises have 3 or 4 sea days and others have 0 or 1 on a 7 day cruise. I would hope that the poster meant 90% of the time that they were on the ship. If they had 5 port days from 9-6 plus dinner then the kids wouldn't have spent as much time in the kids club as it sounded like they did. Also the family would have had 5 glorious days where they spent the whole day making memories and the children would have had 2 days where they learned to cope without their parents, make friends and gain a little independence. The parents could have used those two days to reconnect and relax. Sounds like a great way to vacation as a family if you ask me.

[libertyschool]

Is it normal practice on these boards to copy and paste a portion from another thread just to start a new thread for bashing said thread? Just wondering. I guess it's a safe way to ensure that the person whom you are talking about does not have the opportunity to defend themselves. Makes Sense. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling

[taymiss2]

Is it normal practice on these boards to copy and paste a portion from another thread just to start a new thread for bashing said thread? Just wondering. I guess it's a safe way to ensure that the person whom you are talking about does not have the opportunity to defend themselves. Makes Sense. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling

 

 

Oh, my goodness this topic has gotten way out of control. I never intended this when I posted it. In my mind it was an observation not a bashing.

 

It wasn't a post I cut and pasted from. It was a review in the review section so there was no place to comment there. Which is why I moved it over. Here's hoping this topic will just die a quiet death and drift away off the first page.

 

I guess this is why I have only posted like 100 times in 10 years. Can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, lol.