Cuizer2 Posted July 3, 2013 #326 Share Posted July 3, 2013 The crew you tipped in cash would have had to hand over the money to be put in the pool. I keep checking the pool for tips. I haven't found any yet, but I keep checking just in case. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuizer2 Posted July 3, 2013 #327 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Royal Caribbean has switched over to the same gratuity collection system as Celebrity. Despite what those who deny it in this threa claim... tips are pooled now on Royal Caribbean. They are not pooled :-) Well, I'm glad we got that straightened out. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DisnyMik Posted July 3, 2013 #328 Share Posted July 3, 2013 On our FOS in May we went to GS in the middle of the cruise and had them removed. The only person that waited on us that really did a fantastic job was our cabin steward. MDR wait staff left a lot to be desired. This was the first cruise that we were disappointed with the wait staff. NCL, DCL and our first RC were all by far much better than the service on FOS. We gave cash to everyone that waited on us and they were tipped well, even our wait staff. We did give our cabin steward more because he was genuinely nice and went out of his way. And no, we were not going to tip the Head Waiter. Had he done what he should have done the first day we probably wouldn't have had an issue with him. That's another crazy story for another thread. As far as RCCL goes, Oasis in 2010 was a much different cruise, much better wait staff, etc. We paid our gratuities and tipped extra at the end. I agree with an earlier poster that mentioned perhaps they are slacking because of the new policy? I also don't believe that if they are given cash in person that the tips are pooled. Who's going to voluntarily say "oh, here's $100 I just got tipped, let's share it!" Especially if there's no one around to see it. Nope, not a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquanaut1 Posted July 3, 2013 #329 Share Posted July 3, 2013 :confused: its just my opinion. Sorry I won't post anymore. hanks for your other comments. Yes don't take things to heart on here It's a den of opinion!!! What cruise are you going on ? Guessing ex uk ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ifoundmydream Posted July 3, 2013 #330 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Yes don't take things to heart on here It's a den of opinion!!! What cruise are you going on ? Guessing ex uk ? Hi :) We're going on Indy from Southampton in August. We started cruising on Thomson then we went on Ventura last year and loved it. It will be DD 14th birthday the day we go she is so excited, she didn't come on the Ventura so I am sure she will be amazed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_G Posted July 3, 2013 #331 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Yes don't take things to heart on here It's a den of opinion!!! What cruise are you going on ? Guessing ex uk ? More like a den of the opinionated. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ticktoneer Posted July 3, 2013 Author #332 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Hi :) We're going on Indy from Southampton in August. We started cruising on Thomson then we went on Ventura last year and loved it. It will be DD 14th birthday the day we go she is so excited, she didn't come on the Ventura so I am sure she will be amazed. She WILL be amazed. You are going to have such a great cruise. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ifoundmydream Posted July 3, 2013 #333 Share Posted July 3, 2013 She WILL be amazed. You are going to have such a great cruise. :-) When we told her she went bright red and started to cry! Doesn't usually happen with teenagers! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ifoundmydream Posted July 3, 2013 #334 Share Posted July 3, 2013 More like a den of the opinionated. :D I can now see from other threads what a huge topic I decided to join in on so early in my cruise critic career! Typical of me :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted July 3, 2013 #335 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I can now see from other threads what a huge topic I decided to join in on so early in my cruise critic career! Typical of me :D Once your nerve endings have all been burned by the fire it becomes fun.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinKruzer Posted July 3, 2013 #336 Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) If folks are removing their automatic tips for the purpose of dispensing the cash straight to their own wait staff/steward- then it should be GOOD news for those wait staff/stewards that offer great service, therefore if the rumor about tips being pooled is accurate the staff should look at the rumored list of those removing their names (if true) with GLEE as they will rake in more.... If folks are removing the tips for the purpose of stiffing the crew and stuffing the money back in their own pocket- that won't be known until they get off the ship. So for the crew their ONLY option is to give EVERYONE top notch service in the hopes that they get more cash tips. It would be a terrible unintended consequence of the pre-paid tipping program if staff was viewing those who remove as potential cheapskates because it would surely, even if only slightly, poison their attitude toward them and affect the service level. While prepaying is nice as a convenience..... in a way it is counter to the spirit of tipping which is to reward GREAT service. Tipping everywhere, in general these days, is now seen as an entitlement rather than a special reward. I will do as always- pay the prepaid tips and give a little extra to the steward and our MDR waiters..... Edited July 3, 2013 by KevinKruzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postmeome Posted July 3, 2013 #337 Share Posted July 3, 2013 on some threads, people think crew are only paid $50 a month. who thinks that is correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debde Posted July 3, 2013 #338 Share Posted July 3, 2013 once your nerve endings have all been burned by the fire it becomes fun.:) lol!!! :d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boo214 Posted July 3, 2013 #339 Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) If folks are removing their automatic tips for the purpose of dispensing the cash straight to their own wait staff/steward- then it should be GOOD news for those wait staff/stewards that offer great service' date=' therefore if the rumor about tips being pooled is accurate the staff should look at the rumored list of those removing their names (if true) with GLEE as they will rake in moreb If folks are removing the tips for the purpose of stiffing the crew and stuffing the money back in their own pocket- that won't be known until they get off the ship. So for the crew their ONLY option is to give EVERYONE top notch service in the hopes that they get more cash tips It would be a terrible unintended consequence of the pre-paid tipping program if staff was viewing those who remove as potential cheapskates because it would surely, even if only slightly, poison their attitude toward them and affect the service level. While prepaying is nice as a convenience..... in a way it is counter to the spirit of tipping which is to reward GREAT service. Tipping everywhere, in general these days, is now seen as an entitlement rather than a special reward. I will do as always- pay the prepaid tips and give a little extra to the steward and our MDR waiters..... It’s kind of ironic that the folks who think they will get bad service if they allow auto tipping because there is \no incentive\ essentially not trusting the implied agreement between them and their server think the servers should just trust that everyone that has auto tips removed will have an envelope full of cash to reward their hard work when the server has been stiffed many times before. Edited July 3, 2013 by boo214 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setsail Posted July 3, 2013 #340 Share Posted July 3, 2013 on some threads, people think crew are only paid $50 a month.who thinks that is correct? http://work.chron.com/average-salary-cruise-ship-workers-1932.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted July 3, 2013 #341 Share Posted July 3, 2013 It’s kind of ironic that the folks who think they will get bad service if they allow auto tipping because there is \no incentive\ essentially not trusting the implied agreement between them and their server think the servers should just trust that everyone that has auto tips removed will have an envelope full of cash to reward their hard work when the server has been stiffed many times before. But those servers keep signing new contracts and comming back for more. Something must have been working right all of these years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boo214 Posted July 3, 2013 #342 Share Posted July 3, 2013 But those servers keep signing new contracts and comming back for more. Something must have been working right all of these years. i dont disagree. i was simply pointing out what in my opinion is a flawed argument that auto gratuities = bad service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postmeome Posted July 3, 2013 #343 Share Posted July 3, 2013 http://work.chron.com/average-salary-cruise-ship-workers-1932.html I asked a question, Who thinks that is correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzyed Posted July 3, 2013 #344 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Oh good - first hand information. :rolleyes: YEAH! I heard that too!! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzyed Posted July 3, 2013 #345 Share Posted July 3, 2013 It could be there there or their their. :) Or who cares! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzyed Posted July 3, 2013 #346 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I keep checking the pool for tips. I haven't found any yet, but I keep checking just in case. :) LOL!!! Love your fire boat pic! Many years ago, my Dad worked on a fire boat in NYC!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzyed Posted July 3, 2013 #347 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Once your nerve endings have all been burned by the fire it becomes fun.:) ROFL! So true! We have all been there! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinKruzer Posted July 3, 2013 #348 Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) i dont disagree. i was simply pointing out what in my opinion is a flawed argument that auto gratuities = bad service. Not everything is black and white (except it seems so on internet message boards). I haven't ever gotten "bad" service on a ship. I wasn't making the case of auto-tipping = "bad" service. But, "IF" tips are always prepaid and if they are pooled..... basic human nature states that it will affect the behavior (ie service) if the incentives for individual excellence is watered down or taken away. Edited July 3, 2013 by KevinKruzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galavant3 Posted July 3, 2013 #349 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Not everything is black and white (except it seems so on internet message boards). I haven't ever gotten "bad" service on a ship. I wasn't making the case of auto-tipping = "bad" service. But, "IF" tips are always prepaid and if they are pooled..... basic human nature states that it will effect the behavior (ie service) if the incentives for individual excellence is watered down or taken away. I get your point but I disagree. Bad service will result in complaints which could affect job security. Also, we've cruised on all inclusive lines and the service has been just as exceptional as RCCL. I'm not saying it couldn't happen but I don't think that's an assumption that can be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinKruzer Posted July 3, 2013 #350 Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) It’s kind of ironic that the folks who think they will get bad service if they allow auto tipping because there is \no incentive\ essentially not trusting the implied agreement between them and their server think the servers should just trust that everyone that has auto tips removed will have an envelope full of cash to reward their hard work when the server has been stiffed many times before. See you are making both sides of the argument. If there are "lists" circulating (as someone suggested) among the crew of the people removed the tips....... are they "trusting".... My intention was to make a broader point of tipping in general not specific to a ship. Like others have stated- it has become basically a "fee" when it is added automatically to the bill and prepaid. And...how do you know the servers have been "stiffed" many times? For everytime they are "stiffed" I bet there are as many cases where someone was much more generous than the average. I believe most people are fair when it comes to tips. Edited July 3, 2013 by KevinKruzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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