UK Blog Post: Cruise tip of the week: To tip or not to tip?

[LauraS]

Tip: Tipping is always a hot topic when it comes to cruising. Do you know how to tip, when to tip, how much to tip and whom to tip? Both new and experienced cruisers can show their appreciation for crewmembers without making it awkward. And while each cruise line has its own tipping policy, we […]

 

More...

[rodenboy]

An interesting blog. My view? When in Rome.....

[Enforcer]

Hi,

 

This phrase causes me some problems

 

"we also recommend tipping your cabin steward before and after your cruise."

 

When you book and pay for your cruise you expect a certain level of service, to me this phrase tells me that unless you tip on the first day you will receive a second class service. I pay my gratuities up front (mostly sail RCI) so waiters, room attendants etc. know that I have done this, if I get really good service I tip extra at the end of the cruise.

 

Pete

[rodenboy]

I will never tip before a cruise. We prepay gratuities so they already are aware of the "tip." If they give outstanding service, we will tip further and mention them on any feedback forms given. If they don't give outstanding service, they keep the prepaid tips and that's it.

[Ray66]

I totally agree. It sounds like bribery and there's no need for it. Just keep the auto gratuity on and tip extra at the end of the cruise for exceptional service.

[S-and-J]

The pre-tipping philosophy encourages unfair behaviour: that passengers who have not paid in advance of service delivery should be disregarded or ignored in favour of those who have. Bar staff that intentionally do not serve people in the order they arrive, table staff who serve your table only occasionally while they hover over their favourite tables.

 

That sounds like a miserable cruising experience for the majority of the passengers as they get taken advantage of by over-rich, selfish, people who want preferential treatment.

 

I'd like to know which cruise lines promote, encourage or support pre-tipping so I can avoid using them.

[GLYNAGP]

The problem is that Tipping is such a cultural thing dependant on your location. We always prepay gratuities and if a member of staff has been acceptional I will give a bit more. I have to say it always leave me a bit speechless when I see our friends from the US buy a drink that already has 17 or 18% gratuity added and then throw another $5 cash down as a tip. That does seem a bit over the top but again that's just me.

 

We booked Thomson last year tips included in the price plus an all inclusive drinks package included. We didn't spend a penny on board and at the end just got off and didn't need to tip anybody.

 

I once saw a wonderful post from a Finnish person who said that if you were to leave money in the table in a restaurant in Finland they would probably call after you thinking that you had forgotten to pick up the change.

 

In Australia last year we we're on a shore excursion and a very nice American lady asked the bus driver where his tip box was and the very Aussie driver replied " heck no lady, you don't have to tip us, we get paid a living wage here"

 

It just goes to show there is such a vast cultural difference when it comes to tipping.