Opting out of the auto tip

[Grandma Dazzles]

I am sure you will have a wonderful holiday and sorry that so many people are so rude. It just seems to happen on these boards.

 

You might find it easier and simpler just to pre-pay your gratuities at the standard rate, or have them posted to your account daily. That way everyone gets their money - even if you only eat in the main dining room a couple of times those same people work in the Windjammer (buffet). You really do not have to tip in the Windjammer - the majority of cruisers just pay their "standard" tips, and then give a little extra if they feel they have had special attention/service.

 

By doing it this way you would not have to carry cash around - not necessary. The only people you should tip are the people that deliver room service $2 to $5 depending on how big the order. They are not included in the "standard" tips. Also your drinks have an automatic gratuity included - again no need to add extra.

 

Hope that helps and simplifies a little - above all have a great cruise.

 

Without trying to start more flaming - for the benefit of Manda and others - I should have added to my post that in addition to "standard auto tips" you should tip the waiters in the Diamond/Concierge Lounge if you have access to these lounges. Also some people tip the Concierge for their services and also Adventure Ocean staff. These people are NOT included in the auto tipping that is paid ahead of time or added to your account daily.

 

Again, trying to be helpful - enjoy your cruise!

[jpurdy]

Just pay the recommended amounts and be done with it.

 

You can tip room service a few dollars cash and if you want to give extra to anyone else go ahead, but you don't have to.

 

It's actually really easy.

 

Yes I know it's 'actually really easy'. I am a seasoned cruiser. I know the deal. No need to talk down to people. My one gripe with this industry is the auto tipping. I don't do this at a restaurant or hotel where I tip based on service. Restaurant employees only make minimum wage and depend on tips too so why is it different on a cruise? Why do we pre-pay it ahead of time when we haven't even received the product yet, nor do we know how well that product will be? For principle sake, I chose a set dining time to avoid paying it ahead of time. Can't choose this option with MTD for some reason. I'm fine with it added on to my sail and sign during the cruise. I can adjust it if needed.

[setsail]

Maybe more people should call and ask

 

Don't have to. Cruisnseas info is exactly correct + rci even tells you the tips are shared. So how do they share, all the money up to the recommended amount is pooled, so if one removes the tips because they don't eat in the mdr their money (if they give anything) is pooled and the mdr staff still get their share. Even the bar tenders/waiters share their tips

 

Notice the word "shared"

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&snav=2&faqId=5523&faqSubjectId=415&faqSubjectName=Gratuities&faqType=faq

Edited May 2, 2014 by setsail

[marci22]

Yes I know it's 'actually really easy'. I am a seasoned cruiser. I know the deal. No need to talk down to people. My one gripe with this industry is the auto tipping. I don't do this at a restaurant or hotel where I tip based on service. Restaurant employees only make minimum wage and depend on tips too so why is it different on a cruise? Why do we pre-pay it ahead of time when we haven't even received the product yet, nor do we know how well that product will be? For principle sake, I chose a set dining time to avoid paying it ahead of time. Can't choose this option with MTD for some reason. I'm fine with it added on to my sail and sign during the cruise. I can adjust it if needed.

 

Not talking down to anyone. You said you feel so much pressure to try and figure out what to give to everyone. The cruise line says pay this amount and you're done. That should take away the pressure, shouldn't it?

 

btw if you had posted, "i'm a seasoned cruiser, I know the deal, why do we have to prepay?" I would have answered you differently. I'm not a mind reader.

Edited May 2, 2014 by marci22

[jpurdy]

Not talking down to anyone. You said you feel so much pressure to try and figure out what to give to everyone. The cruise line says pay this amount and you're done. That should take away the pressure, shouldn't it?

 

btw if you had posted, "i'm a seasoned cruiser, I know the deal, why do we have to prepay?" I would have answered you differently. I'm not a mind reader.

 

My annoyance is the industry taking my money for tips ahead of time for service not yet given. The pressure I noted wasn't what to pay, but stating the fact that I don't have to pay tips ahead of time in restaurants or hotels. I got around pre-paying by choosing early seating (we never eat in dining room so kind of dumb to make us choose this). And YES we pay tips to everyone even though we don't eat in the dining room because we know they are throughout the ship during the day.

[Alaskalovr]

Just an FYI - the maitre'd is not part of the tipping pool so does not receive tips. Are you perhaps referring to the headwaiter who largely works behind the scenes to insure that things run smoothly in the dining room. If everything is going well, then he is doing his job. If not, he is the one you will see about getting things fixed. He cannot be expected to be fawning over your table and doing his job properly. Excuse the use of the masculine, it was just easier - the headwaiter can certainly be female.

 

My apologies, I guess the term is HeadWaiter and things were not going smoothly.As I had stated we asked to speak to him and never saw him. We were not expecting him to be fawning over our table but we did expect him to do his job. However, we found it interesting that he was fawning ( your term) over all of his tables the last night when everyone had envelopes in their hands.On other cruises our Headwaiter greeted us every night at dinner and was very hands on. I guess I thought that was part of the job. Sounds like you know a lot about the job descriptions and requirements. It may be helpful to know what to really expect from each crew member. (And I mean that sincerely, no sarcasm intended.) My main point is that I feel I should have the right to determine how much I tip each person. I admit I base some of that on what I think is their job. That's why I would be happy to have more info regarding what I should expect. Thanks

[yogimax]

The pressure I noted wasn't what to pay, but stating the fact that I don't have to pay tips ahead of time in restaurants or hotels.

 

Ahead of time, no, but in many cases a fixed amount is added without your consent.

 

Many restaurants AUTOMATICALLY add an 18% tip to parties of six or more. It is actually somewhat the norm in many areas. This is regardless of the standard of service.

Edited May 2, 2014 by yogimax

[Alaskalovr]

I ALWAYS have my auto-tips removed from my account, and tip with cash at the end of the trip. I NEVER have the cruise line ask me how much I tipped. I don't think it is as heavily tracked as you think.

 

EXACTLY! Thank you! I totally agree.

[Sitzmark]

Ahead of time, no, but in many cases a fixed amount is added without your consent.

 

Many restaurants AUTOMATICALLY add an 18% tip to parties of six or more. It is actually somewhat the norm in many areas. This is regardless of the standard of service.

 

Good restaurants do not require this in our area. I wouldn't dine at one that did.

[yogimax]

My main point is that I feel I should have the right to determine how much I tip each person.

 

Here's the problem with that argument.

 

Some of the tip money goes to people you never see. Your stateroom attendant may have an assistant working with him.

 

You may not see the waiter who clears your table in the Windjammer after breakfast and lunch.

 

Do you know the waiter who has cleaned your table and who brings you iced tea or coffee in the Windjammer?

 

There is much going on that you never see and the automatic tips take care of it nicely.

[yogimax]

Good restaurants do not require this in our area. I wouldn't dine at one that did.

 

It's fairly standard here in NYC and in most mid scale chains. I find it hard to imagine that you walk into a restaurant, ask to see a menu and if 18% is added to the bill for parties of six or more, you then decide to walk out and find another place to eat.

[jpurdy]

Ahead of time, no, but in many cases a fixed amount is added without your consent.

 

Many restaurants AUTOMATICALLY add an 18% tip to parties of six or more. It is actually somewhat the norm in many areas. This is regardless of the standard of service.

 

Actually I was told by RCCL that if I chose MTD I had to pre-pay tips with final payment. I don't want to pre-pay. Since we don't eat in the dining room at all, I thought choosing MTD would be easier for everyone and not create the obvious 2 missing people at the table and we eat at WJ. RCCL said if I choose early or late dining I don't have to pre-pay tips and it will be added on during the cruise. That's what I chose. Again, for me, it's the principle. It seems silly to make us choose a dining time that we won't use and make us pre-pay for MTD.

[yogimax]

It seems silly to make us choose a dining time that we won't use and make us pre-pay for MTD.

 

The reason for the prepay for MTD is fairly simple. You may not have the same waiters each night. Prepay insures that all the waiters will be fairly compensated and eliminates the possibility that people will book MTD simply to avoid tipping.

[Sitzmark]

It's fairly standard here in NYC and in most mid scale chains. I find it hard to imagine that you walk into a restaurant, ask to see a menu and if 18% is added to the bill for parties of six or more, you then decide to walk out and find another place to eat.

 

Imagine what you like, I've been to NYC, we ate at the Capital Grille on 42nd, it has been a while but I am pretty certain our gratuity was not included, there were 8 in our party.

[debbs0723]

I like the prepaid automatic gratuities. Last time we just let them charge up while we were there onto our account because we had a large amount of OBCs that covered it. I know it is all the same but I'd rather pay upfront.

 

I think the cruise line should refer to it as a service charge though. Resorts are doing this all the time now especially where I live and there is no option to opt out of it. No matter what your room costs or what you use the resort for its $25-$35 per day for resort fees. It irritates me that they don't just include those in the price as well. It would be nice if they would just refer to it as a "service charge" and also say that after these fees are paid you are not expected to tip an additional amount unless you would like.

 

Debbie

[debbs0723]

Here's the problem with that argument.

 

Some of the tip money goes to people you never see. Your stateroom attendant may have an assistant working with him.

 

You may not see the waiter who clears your table in the Windjammer after breakfast and lunch.

 

Do you know the waiter who has cleaned your table and who brings you iced tea or coffee in the Windjammer?

 

There is much going on that you never see and the automatic tips take care of it nicely.

 

I whole heartedly agree with this statement. Some of the hardest workers are some that you might never see.

[Ocean Boy]

Here's the problem with that argument.

 

Some of the tip money goes to people you never see. Your stateroom attendant may have an assistant working with him.

 

You may not see the waiter who clears your table in the Windjammer after breakfast and lunch.

 

Do you know the waiter who has cleaned your table and who brings you iced tea or coffee in the Windjammer?

 

There is much going on that you never see and the automatic tips take care of it nicely.

 

I suspect this group of people that you are talking about were somehow taken care of before RCI came up with these automatic charges, right?

[LMaxwell]

The reason for the prepay for MTD is fairly simple. You may not have the same waiters each night. Prepay insures that all the waiters will be fairly compensated and eliminates the possibility that people will book MTD simply to avoid tipping.

 

 

So are you saying MTD guests are of the non-tipping variety? If service is as good as it is supposed to be why the worry over people not tipping, especially since it is automatic?

 

Why not charge fixed time diners gratuities with final payment as well? If everyone had to pay at the same time wouldn't that be fair? It would completely eliminate the use of OBC for tips, but people who criticize MTD for not being happy about prepay never seem to recognize the fact that fixed time guests get to use OBC towards tips, hence it is less money out of their pockets.

 

The real answer is that MTD guests should be treated exactly as fairly as fixed time diners are now which means that charges should be rendered after service is given. Some pay out of pocket, some pay with OBC. But it would be everyone being treated the same.

 

I do not disagree with the amounts charged. I fundamentally disagree with being forced to part with money three months earlier than someone else. It is like RCI is admitting that they know that MTD service isn't as good, so they want the money before anyone can have a problem. Or force people into blowing OBC on insanely marked up items instead of compensating the staff, which must look gangbusters on the books.

 

My whole point is not to contest against tipping, it is that the policy should apply equally to all guests, and the most fair way is to charge after services are provided. My front does doesn't say First Bank of LMaxwell. If the crew isn't given MY gratuity money until after the cruise, then the cruiseline is just using the float. Let's see, $84 for each person (non-suite) per 7 days, times amount of berths, factor in 14 weeks until cruise completes from final payment...gee, do you think RCI is making a KILLING off this racket or WHAT?

 

When I become the bank, I will be more interested in giving interest free loans to RCI for "services" I may get in the future.

 

I have no fundamental issue whatsoever paying for services which I receive and think the amount they ask for is fair, provided service is as advertised to me.

[Ocean Boy]

You can visit guest services to remove the auto tip if you would prefer to tip in cash. Less, equal, or above the requested amount is up to you.

 

Why do people on this website assume that if someone tips cash it is always LESS? It could very well be far above and beyond the requested amount. Maybe they hit it big in the casino and would rather hand out large sums of cash than to have it be billed to their credit card at a later date? Maybe they had an emergency and needed to use a debit card linked to the same as the auto-tips and can not replenish that account fast enough, but DO have cash at hand on the cruise; maybe they are traveling somewhere post cruise without the ability to quickly replenish a bank account.

 

You don't know and neither do I. Can't people on this forum EVER just answer someones question factually without getting up on a pulpit and preaching what is right and wrong? I mean honestly; what a bunch of ignorant judgmental people on this site. Shame on the lot of you.

 

 

That pretty much is the answer to the question you posed. That and the fact that some of the folks around here make everyone else's business their business.

 

Personally, I still like handing my tips out. On our cruise last year we chose MTD, as we never use the dining room, and pre-paid the tips. I had made up my mind that the tipping was taken care of as RCI wanted and I was done with it. However, I still ended up tipping some folks extra as it just seemed that they deserved it. On our cruise this year we had the tips added daily to our seapass account and again I had decided that I was done with it. And this time I stuck with the decision. If RCI wants to collect and destribute the money as they see fit then so be it. In a way I guess RCI has done me a favor as now I actually come out ahead.

 

And I agree with the above post of yours. Now that RCI is adding tips automatically to accounts there really is no valid reason to treat MTD and fixed time diners any differently. I like choosing MDT and I like having my OBC applied toward my tips. Why should this be an issue?

Edited May 2, 2014 by Ocean Boy

[Scotty G]

Cruise Critic had a pretty good poll on this subject that would be nice to have an update to since more lines are doing automatic gratuities now.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2011/07/26/poll-position-tipping-tumult/

 

The entire subject is covered in this article:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1393

 

Happy cruising!

[Ocean Boy]

I'll take a diet coke please. Thank You

 

You do know that their will be a service charge for that soda, right?;)

[cruisnpat]

Yes and it will be worth it. Just wish I didn't have to wait until Sept for my cruise.

[cruzinlisa]

Here are my thoughts on tipping for what it is worth:

*I don't like seeing the total number. I get sticker shock. The per person per day rate sits better.

* I wish they would add it into the fare

* I like auto tipping. I don't want to chase people with envelopes.

* I probably do tip more with auto tipping than I would if it was left to me to decide the amount of tip. You can flame me if you want, but I would probably tip a lower amount if I was able to set it. Not because they don't deserve it, but I get cheap...

*I don't like the fact that you have to pay tips upfront for any time dining on many cruiselines. This is even though I have prepaid grats before leaving on 3 out of 5 cruises. 1. I like to wait until I have the cruise paid off and add closer to sailing, but if I do, dining might be filled. Also, if I have OBC (like I did last cruise), I would like to use that.

* It annoys me when they add "other" or "behind the scenes people" to the tipped amounts. I feel like they are pulling a fast one on me. In a restaurant, I leave my 15-20% on the table. I don't care if the waitress gets all of it or if she is tipping out 10% to the bartender, 10% to bus boy and another 5% to kitchen. But I don't tip those people. Its not that I have an issue if they share in the tips. But allocate it to dining services and then split it up privately. Plus, on some lines (Carnival), I am not sure they ever gave an explanation as to where that money really goes.

And as a disclaimer- I pay my tips. I do not take my tips off. I pay for everyone in the room (except once when DD was 1, they did not charge us for tips so we tipped extra to those that were tipped). I often pay before the cruise and if not, its on my account. I have always tipped my room stewart a small amount extra (usually $20-40). And this is my opinion only, so if you do not share it, I am sorry.

Edited May 2, 2014 by cruzinlisa
spelling

[awhcruiser]

For people who remove auto grats, how does RCCL know if you tipped anything?

I think pre-paid grats was the best thing the cruise line did. Now I don't have to make sure I have money set aside at the end of the cruise to stuff in envelopes and chase people around to give it to them.

 

I do know people who cancel their auto gratuity when they get on board. I guarantee that although they say they are tipping in cash, they do not. I never see these people hand anyone any money. I can't account for what might be left in the cabin for the room attendant.

 

Also, before boarding we cash in some large bills so we have lots of singles (one dollar bills). We are able to tip additional to those along the way we feel are providing good service.

 

They don't make much money, and it's not fair if you are deciding who you feel is entitled to your tip. Those people that you may not be tipping also have to pay out their service support people. So you are cheating many people by not tipping with the system they have in place.

[LMaxwell]

For people who remove auto grats, how does RCCL know if you tipped anything?

 

For people who remove auto grats, how does anyone on this board know anything? I always wonder when people say stuff like "A guy in a suite" (how do you know) "Was at guest services removing his tips" (how do you know???) "And service was fine and this was not warranted" (how do you know??????????) and ultimately HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY DID NOT TIP AN EQUAL OR LARGER AMOUNT IN CASH?

 

So many clairvoyants on this board and no one helping me pick my next stock purchase. Unbelievable! All that ability to see through space and time and it was wasted on knowing how strangers spend their money on vacation with absolute 100% solid certainty.