Tipping Issues Carnival Australia

[scperk]

We are just off the Dawn Princess out of Sydney to New Zealand..I was on-board the Spirit to Australia and did the Princess while we were there..I was told by my TA that the gratuities were included in our cruise fare on the Dawn Princess...The second day a hotel charge show up on our sign & sail and we went to the guest services desk...We were told that the charges were tips and when we discussed it further we found out that they were charging all the Americans & Canadians gratuities...The Australians & New Zealand passengers were not charged gratuities as that was not their "custom" to tip..I just wonder what they are going to do on the Carnival Spirit as we heard that they were all going to be paid a salary..The Australians did not tip at the gaming tables either as they can not tip at any casino in Australia...Someone told me they were paid a bonus to go to Australia but I heard from several that they would try not to get re-assigned to the Spirit......Dennis

[MrPete]

Were you charged an American or Canadian fare?

[twindaddy]

I have no reason not to believe the OP, but wow, if that is true, I cant wait to see how Heald bends himself into a ball to call this "brilliant".

 

It just seems so undefendable, to charge a person from one country more than another, simple based on where they are from. How hard would it be to just enter an address outside the United States into your profile and voila, cheaper cruise.

[scperk]

Were you charged an American or Canadian fare?

We booked thru our TA in Nashville Tn as we always do...On the Spirit from Hawaii to Australia we got lots of price drops also but our friends in Australia got no price drops..Our TA had to book this Princess cruise thru Carnival Au so I assume we got the same price the Australians got..I just thought this was really weird to charge some passengers gratuities and not charge everyone ...I tipped our room steward and waiters extra on the last night as were actually got much better service on this cruise than we usually get on Carnival ships..We were at a table for 6 and got out in just a little over one hour, we were at a table for 12 on our Spirit and were just getting our entres at about an hours....Dennis

[luddite]

The Aussies pay a higher price for the priveledge of not paying the service charge.

[scperk]

The Aussies pay a higher price for the priveledge of not paying the service charge.

I paid a much higher rate for this 13 day cruise than I ever have and was informed by my TA that the gratuities were included in the fare..Why would they include gratuities in the fare for Australians and not everyone...I went to a bar in Darlings Harbour during happy hour and paid $10 for a drink and it was not buy one-get one..I also paid over $37 for two drinks and two fish & chips at lunch ....Dennis

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I have no reason not to believe the OP, but wow, if that is true, I cant wait to see how Heald bends himself into a ball to call this "brilliant".

 

It just seems so undefendable, to charge a person from one country more than another, simple based on where they are from. How hard would it be to just enter an address outside the United States into your profile and voila, cheaper cruise.

 

Why would Heald get involved or say anything about what Princess is doing?

 

Bill

[scperk]

Why would Heald get involved or say anything about what Princess is doing?

 

Bill

You are correct, although Princess is owned by Carnival Corp. they are not connected any other way..But I just wonder if this is going to happen on the Carnival Spirit now that it is sailing from Australia...Dennis

[bbohbbneedacruise]

You are correct, although Princess is owned by Carnival Corp. they are not connected any other way..But I just wonder if this is going to happen on the Carnival Spirit now that it is sailing from Australia...Dennis

 

In order to book a cruise on Spirit you have to use the AU site. On there the grats are included for everyone across the board.

http://www.carnival.com.au/faqs.aspx#a67

What about tipping?

A:

You are welcome to reward our onboard crew for exceptional service, however, tipping is not required.

[Tapi]

It's not weird or uncommon. Carnival has already been doing this on cruises out of San Juan for many, many years.

 

If you live in the US, and book a San Juan cruise through a TA in the U.S, you don't have to pre-pay tips. However, if you live in Puerto Rico and book your cruise through a TA in Puerto Rico, you will have to pre-pay tips.

 

The situation in Australia is the same. Different market, different clientele, different rules.

[scperk]

In order to book a cruise on Spirit you have to use the AU site. On there the grats are included for everyone across the board.

http://www.carnival.com.au/faqs.aspx#a67

Thats exactly what I was told about the Dawn Princess cruise we booked and then found out they were charging gratuities only to the Americans & Canadians...Dennis

[twindaddy]

Why would Heald get involved or say anything about what Princess is doing?

 

Bill

 

Oops, wrong cruise line, I read the post too fast.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Oops, wrong cruise line, I read the post too fast.

 

np. been in your shoes too many times.

 

Good thing you have big feet.;)

 

Bill

[vicocala]

I have seen this debate on HAL. Most countries do not give automatic tips, and as an american, I agree. Tips should be earned not just an automatic part of the salary. However, most non-americans will bristle at forced tipping and some lines have resorted to calling it a hotel charge to get away from the tipping argument.

 

As an American or Canadian, if you feel your stewards, dining room attendants, etc have not done the job, you have the right to adjust your tips accordingly. That is an advantage because the tipping to avoid the cultural differences are built into their fares.

 

I hope this clears this up a bit for you and would hope you remember the staff who do work so hard for you and your enjoyment while on vacation.

[NavarreCruiser]

The only truly pertinent question is: With the added "hotel charges" will Americans and Canadians pay more than the Aussies?

[scperk]

The only truly pertinent question is: With the added "hotel charges" will Americans and Canadians pay more than the Aussies?

I spoke to my room steward and he told me as long as they were in Australia they were on a salary..I did send an e-mail to Princess customer relations but do not expect much of a response until monday or tuesday..Most of the employees do not like working an Australia cruise but they cannot transfer to a Carnival ship unless they resign from Princess..Then they can't be hired there until they are off work a year....Dennis

[BadJelly]

I paid a much higher rate for this 13 day cruise than I ever have and was informed by my TA that the gratuities were included in the fare..Why would they include gratuities in the fare for Australians and not everyone...I went to a bar in Darlings Harbour during happy hour and paid $10 for a drink and it was not buy one-get one..I also paid over $37 for two drinks and two fish & chips at lunch ....Dennis

 

Unfortunately Darling Harbour is a tourist area, so prices are higher (somewhat) than will be found elsewhere...this is also reflecting the wages paid here. If the drinks with the fish & chips were alcoholic and not soda/tea/coffee that is not an excessive price. I'm not exactly sure of the wages in Sydney but know that the wages for an adult in Queensland for an adult working in a convenience store are $21.48/hour - Monday to Friday, higher Saturday, higher still Sunday and just under $50.00/hour for a public holiday...then on top of this the employer must pay a further 9% of the gross to a superannuation fund for the employee. That money must come from somewhere.... So, I'll only tip here if service is really above & beyond - and that doesn't cover doing your job and being "nice"

 

Having said that, and being aware where higher prices are going, I will NOT cruise out of Australia or New Zealand - they have gone crazy - charging for room service, no alcohol BV purchases, no carrying wine on board and the over the top cruise fare. I can literally fly to the US on a sale fare and cruise from there cheaper -plus get in some serious clothing shopping while there.

 

scperk, I hope the cruise was awesome coming down to Sydney, I was sad to have to cancel it

[scperk]

Unfortunately Darling Harbour is a tourist area, so prices are higher (somewhat) than will be found elsewhere...this is also reflecting the wages paid here. If the drinks with the fish & chips were alcoholic and not soda/tea/coffee that is not an excessive price. I'm not exactly sure of the wages in Sydney but know that the wages for an adult in Queensland for an adult working in a convenience store are $21.48/hour - Monday to Friday, higher Saturday, higher still Sunday and just under $50.00/hour for a public holiday...then on top of this the employer must pay a further 9% of the gross to a superannuation fund for the employee. That money must come from somewhere.... So, I'll only tip here if service is really above & beyond - and that doesn't cover doing your job and being "nice"

 

Having said that, and being aware where higher prices are going, I will NOT cruise out of Australia or New Zealand - they have gone crazy - charging for room service, no alcohol BV purchases, no carrying wine on board and the over the top cruise fare. I can literally fly to the US on a sale fare and cruise from there cheaper -plus get in some serious clothing shopping while there.

 

scperk, I hope the cruise was awesome coming down to Sydney, I was sad to have to cancel it

The Spirit is an awsome ship as I have sailed it 3 times and the cruise down was great..But I was dissappointed in the Dawn Princess as the food and casino was just lacking...The service we got was excellent and I really enjoyed seeing New Zealand while I was down under.. But I understand that when I am in a foreigh country you just got to pay what you have to for certain things...We met some really nice Aussies on the Spirit and had a great time in all three Tahiti ports and for our 7 days we stayed in Sydney, sorry you had to cancel.....Dennis

[GandM-nq]

Minimum hourly rate for an adult in Australia is $15.96 per hour (for a 38 hour week $606.40). This is a federally legislated minimum. Guess this is why it is not in our culture to generally tip - we don't feel we need to supplement other's wages through tipping.

 

Carnival Australia and P and O Australia recognise this 'no tipping culture' by including a gratuities amount within the overall fares costing. Even though tipping is included, us Aussies will still consider tipping extra for exceptional service above and beyond what would be considered a usual level of service.

 

Scperk, I can't understand why you were charged an amount extra for gratuities - unless the fare you payed for was exclusive of gratuities. You would need to take that up with your TA. Sounds like a missunderstanding there somewhere. But if you did pay the same fare as everyone else for your cruise AND was singled out for a gratuities on top, I would be looking for someone's head to roll.

[scperk]

Minimum hourly rate for an adult in Australia is $15.96 per hour (for a 38 hour week $606.40). This is a federally legislated minimum. Guess this is why it is not in our culture to generally tip - we don't feel we need to supplement other's wages through tipping.

 

Carnival Australia and P and O Australia recognise this 'no tipping culture' by including a gratuities amount within the overall fares costing. Even though tipping is included, us Aussies will still consider tipping extra for exceptional service above and beyond what would be considered a usual level of service.

 

Scperk, I can't understand why you were charged an amount extra for gratuities - unless the fare you payed for was exclusive of gratuities. You would need to take that up with your TA. Sounds like a missunderstanding there somewhere. But if you did pay the same fare as everyone else for your cruise AND was singled out for a gratuities on top, I would be looking for someone's head to roll.

I have sent Princess customer relations an email and will post their response here....Dennis

[Royalty X]

Hi Dennis, I would assume that your TA is in the US? If so, then I'm certain you would've gotten your fare for a lot less than what the Aussie passengers had to pay (seriously, you don't know how lucky you are). It sounds like your TA was mistaken when they told you that your gratuities were included and you'll more than likely find that with your lower fare and the gratuities on top, you probably ended up paying what an Aussie would've paid for the fare with no gratuities (maybe even a little less). I would suggest going on to the roll call for your cruise and see if you can find someone who was in the same category cabin as yourself and is from Australia. You may be able to compare what you both paid. :)

[scperk]

Hi Dennis, I would assume that your TA is in the US? If so, then I'm certain you would've gotten your fare for a lot less than what the Aussie passengers had to pay (seriously, you don't know how lucky you are). It sounds like your TA was mistaken when they told you that your gratuities were included and you'll more than likely find that with your lower fare and the gratuities on top, you probably ended up paying what an Aussie would've paid for the fare with no gratuities (maybe even a little less). I would suggest going on to the roll call for your cruise and see if you can find someone who was in the same category cabin as yourself and is from Australia. You may be able to compare what you both paid. :)

My roll-call was completly dead, maybe two posters from Australia..My main concern was if I was charged gratuities why was not everyone charged gratuities...If it was included in the fare for Australians why was it not included in my fare..To me it was a form of discrimination that the Americans/Canadians were charged gratuities and not everyone ..I am still waiting for a response from Princess customer relations ...I was even more dissapointed in the Australia that were lined up at guest services on the 16 day cruise on the Carnival Spirit from Hawaii to Australia that were removing their gratuities...... Dennis

[Royalty X]

My roll-call was completly dead, maybe two posters from Australia..My main concern was if I was charged gratuities why was not everyone charged gratuities...If it was included in the fare for Australians why was it not included in my fare..To me it was a form of discrimination that the Americans/Canadians were charged gratuities and not everyone ..I am still waiting for a response from Princess customer relations ...I was even more dissapointed in the Australia that were lined up at guest services on the 16 day cruise on the Carnival Spirit from Hawaii to Australia that were removing their gratuities...... Dennis

Some could argue the other way that it's discrimination that Americans/Canadians pay a lot less than Australians. You still have the option to remove the gratuities if you wish (where as having ours built in to the price deems them irremovable). I sailed on the Spirit 16 day cruise as well and our gratuities were prepaid as part of our fare. When I booked, it cost me $500 more (per person) to book through an Australian agent than what it would've cost to book the same category cabin with a U.S. agent. $11.50 x 16 is $184! So instead of paying (for two people) $368 of gratuities, we paid $1000! How is THAT fair? :confused:

[scperk]

Some could argue the other way that it's discrimination that Americans/Canadians pay a lot less than Australians. You still have the option to remove the gratuities if you wish (where as having ours built in to the price deems them irremovable). I sailed on the Spirit 16 day cruise as well and our gratuities were prepaid as part of our fare. When I booked, it cost me $500 more (per person) to book through an Australian agent than what it would've cost to book the same category cabin with a U.S. agent. $11.50 x 16 is $184! So instead of paying (for two people) $368 of gratuities, we paid $1000! How is THAT fair? :confused:

How could you say that it's discrimination against Australians to pay more than Americans...You either pay the rate the aussie TA's charge or don't go or book thru an American TA..And I'm still waiting a response from Princess customer relations......Dennis

[LHP]

I just hope you were not double charged....

 

IF you paid the same rate as the Australians and THEN in addition were charged again for the tips????