Specialty dining tipping and auto gratuity- time for a change?

[Virtopia]

Totally forgot the gratuities are included in the specialty restaurants cover charge. Makes the dinner packages that much more attractive.

[mistycruiser]

Just to clarify the tax comment. The taxes and port fees paid are not calculated like a sales tax. They are the same per passenger and not based on the price of your individual cruise.

[Pearlieq]

And nope, I didn't eat at MDR ever and Windjammer only the first day for lunch.

 

I think the point is that unless you fasted all day to be ready for your dinners, you ate SOMEWHERE and benefitted from the service of someone on the dining staff.

 

That being said, while the tip is technically included in the specialty fee, there still a big fat line on the check for extra gratuity and a subtle pressure to add more. It does feel like double-tipping to an extent (or even triple...)

 

Honestly, though, I don't really care. The amount of money we're talking about is so low in comparison to the cruise fare, which is a 100% luxury purchase, that I can't rouse myself to be irritated. I'm just glad I don't work 70+ hours a week in a hot crowded galley and sleep in a rack in the bowels of a ship to support my family.

[papaflamingo]

First let me say this. There is no "conspiracy." The cruise lines don't keep tipping to "show a lower cruise price." It's just how they always did it. I'm no accountant, but I suspect that if they paid salaries in lieu of tips then taxes, etc. would kick in that don't now. I've been told that the reason restaurants show a mandatory tip for large parties is because if they don't break it out it becomes "salary" and is taxed, etc. Don't know if it's true, but sounds reasonable.

A Tip or Gratuity is voluntary. You can easily remove tips and pay as you go. So it isn't a "service charge," it's a "gratuity." Totally voluntary. If you don't like it, remove it. If it gets factored into the cruise price, it wouldn't be removable. In Europe, where tipping is less usual, the price of the drinks on board include the tip. So the 18% is not added.

As for crew income, I don't know what it is, I don't care. It isn't my business. Just like my income isn't anyone else's business. I work for a wage that I consider worth my time. If I didn't I'd find a difference job. Same with the crew. Some crewmembers stay for a career. So I guess the wage and lifestyle is to their liking. Is it "fair?" Not my call. How they "split" the tips is also not may call.

It's a business folks. The cruiseline will pay wages that the market will bear. If they can't get employees, they up the wages. If they don't need to up the wages, they won't. They price what the market will bear. If they fill ships easily they'll up the cost until they no longer fill the ship. That's business.

Bottom line, if you don't like tipping, don't. If you want tips "included" then cruise on Regents. If you book a cruise and don't know about gratuities, then you are very naive. It is all over the web. No excuse for showing up and not knowing about tips. Consider it a "service charge" if you wish, pre-pay it, and factor it into the price of the cruise. Oh, by the way, ALL cruiselines charge tips. Only one or two include it in the price.

Edited June 18, 2016 by papaflamingo

[marci22]

To many of us outside the USA it sounds like slavery still exists, both in the hospitality industry and on ships.

 

$2 an hour for a tipped position sounds bad but it really isn't, compared to a minimum wage position.

 

I was a server for many years, and I chose that over other jobs because I could make more money, faster. I would be making much more than minimum wage. But it is hard work, and there are fewer benefits such as time off, health care.

 

And I'm not saying server jobs or minimum wage jobs are great, but non US people may have a distorted view of what servers actually make.

[LMaxwell]

If you tip "under the table" and the recipient does not hand over the money they can be dismissed.

 

Cruise Critic old wives tale.

 

No one is shaking down the crew each day when they get off of shift.

[Paulxyz2004]

Thanks for reading the thread... I have been trying to educate myself on the topic, but it's difficult to find reputable sources about salary that actually take into account tips. Yes, I know they make a measly hourly rate, as all tip dependent workers do, but I have read articles from actual crew members that their salary is very fair. Enough to support a family and send a son to school on.

 

In addition, I've read that the supposed money we give as gratuities may not actually be distributed as such. Not sure how reliable this source is, but I found this entirely likely: http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2013/02/articles/crew-member-rights-1/royal-caribbeans-new-tipping-policy-a-money-grab-to-increase-profits/

 

I would much rather tip my individual staff "under the table" instead of dumping more money into a pool that goes who know where.

 

Absolutely not reliable !!!

[Penciltwister]

Absolutely not reliable !!!

 

 

 

It's about as reliable as anything else.

 

Wonder why you are so keen to dismiss it...

 

 

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[Penciltwister]

Cruise Critic old wives tale.

 

 

 

No one is shaking down the crew each day when they get off of shift.

 

 

 

That's a bit naive. I know waiting staff who have been dismissed because they pocketed tips in a restaurant that had a pooling policy in place.

 

 

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[BeachChik]

By the way, to the person who said they don't pay U.S. wages, the minimum wage for waiters, and bartenders is $2.10 in the U.S. Their taxes are based on 15% of their total dinner or bar checks. So much for a living wage without tips.

 

$2.10 is not accurate. It varies from state to state and has increased with regular minimum wage increases. In Florida it is $5.05 per hour but as I just stated in another thread all servers are guaranteed regular minimum wage which here is currently just over $8. They make this either in tips or the company pays them the difference.

 

To the OP I'm curious how you managed to never eat in the mdr or buffet? For lunch and dinner I can see only eating in the specialty restaurants but what did you do for breakfast?

[LMaxwell]

Absolutely not reliable !!!

 

He is disliked around here but he is NOT unreliable. Please show me where he is wrong on anything.

[LMaxwell]

That's a bit naive. I know waiting staff who have been dismissed because they pocketed tips in a restaurant that had a pooling policy in place.

 

 

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Did the restaurant have a mandatory gratuity? Did this take place on a cruise ship?

[marci22]

That's a bit naive. I know waiting staff who have been dismissed because they pocketed tips in a restaurant that had a pooling policy in place.

 

There is a distinct character to your posting style. It's quite noticeable.

Edited June 18, 2016 by marci22
clarity

[IsanTom]

No extra tips are required in the Specialty Restaurants!

[Aquahound]

I definitely think that the whole way cruise fares are structured with "gratuities" as a separate charge is a very deliberate strategy on the part of cruise lines to reduce the advertised cruise fare by adding this fee in later... But is it time for a change?

 

A lot of people think that, but that's because they don't know the logistics of having a multi-national crew on board, or why the gratuities system actually exists in the first place.

 

In many of the home countries of staff members, their agent and their local taxes gouge them on salary, but do not take anything from income earned by gratuities. The cruise lines leave the gratuities system in place to benefit the employee. Plus, they have to leave the option to remove gratuities in place in order for the income to remain a gratuity.

 

To many of us outside the USA it sounds like slavery still exists, both in the hospitality industry and on ships.

 

Slavery?! I guess an extremely ignorant person might think that, but a little education on the matter goes a long way.

 

A friend of mine is a bartender on a RCI ship. Not that salary is any of our business, but he earns about 5 times the US annual minimum wage, which is about 1.5x the average US annual income, and about 1.1x the average income in your country. He makes about 40 times the average salary in his home country. I'd hardly call that slavery.

[3dog]

That's a bit naive. I know waiting staff who have been dismissed because they pocketed tips in a restaurant that had a pooling policy in place.

 

This may be just as naive.

 

Generally in the US, tips are considered income. Failing to accurately report income is not only a reason for dismissal, it can get a person in trouble with the IRS.

 

And though a number of bars and restaurants have something in place with regard to sharing tips, they cannot fire someone for not sharing a tip. However, the staff that is not being included in the sharing may not help the employee that isn't sharing (the wait staff not sharing with the cook may not get their orders in a timely manner or not get their tables bussed in a timely manner, and therefore affect the tip).

[3dog]

Cruise Critic old wives tale.

 

No one is shaking down the crew each day when they get off of shift.

 

Indeed, lots of misinformation.

 

As I previously stated, in most places tips are considered income. And in localities that tax income, failing to report it is the problem and often the reason for dismissal.

 

In the cruise industry, contracts are often based on a base salary plus some minimum amount in tips that the line will guarantee. The prime reason for requesting prepaid/auto-paid tips is so the line can ensure this guaranteed amount. As cash is very hard to follow, it is hard to prove that an employee received $50 when they stated they received $40 or even reported being stiffed (though again, if tips are income, if it is proven they underreported, this is usually the reason for dismissal).

[Penciltwister]

I think it's safe to assume most waiting staff are tax dodgers

 

 

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[Penciltwister]

There is a distinct character to your posting style. It's quite noticeable.

 

 

 

Who are you again?

 

 

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[Luetta]

Here is my two cents on the subject. I know I do not post on here a lot but I do lurk a ton.

 

My recent Allure cruise in may, our assistant waiter was working in the Park Café every day for breakfast, she said she did it everyday. It is my understanding that auto tips help to pay for those that work through out the other dining venues of the ship, and/or the dining room staff also staffs the other venues. This is proven with our assistant waiter being in the Park Café every day. I agree they sign up to work for these wages.

We always prepay tips just because its easier to not have to worry about it. I would never remover them personally, but I do give a bit extra at the end because I liked my main dining room staff and they took good care of us. This cruise I hardly saw our room attendant, and don't even remember his name as he was always down the hall from us, so his extra was very small.

[LMaxwell]

We always prepay tips just because its easier to not have to worry about it.

 

I read this here all the time and I just have never been able to wrap my head around it. I don't understand the worry created about paying a bill when it comes due. Have I been missing something glaringly obvious about prepaying?

 

I'm not bashing you, just something I see on here daily from a lot of folks.

[Cel_cruise]

I read this here all the time and I just have never been able to wrap my head around it. I don't understand the worry created about paying a bill when it comes due. Have I been missing something glaringly obvious about prepaying?

 

 

 

I'm not bashing you, just something I see on here daily from a lot of folks.

 

 

I think some people prefer to go into the beginning of their vacation having it 'all paid off'. So - prepaying tips and beverage packages means they can come home with a very small bill!

[Luetta]

I think some people prefer to go into the beginning of their vacation having it 'all paid off'. So - prepaying tips and beverage packages means they can come home with a very small bill!

 

You got it, I like to have a small bill at the end, it is nice to not have to worry about how much our bill will be when we are leaving. We do not buy the alcohol package as we usually only drink one or two drinks a day, but if I can prepay other stuff before the cruise why not. I look at tips as part of the price.

[Luetta]

I read this here all the time and I just have never been able to wrap my head around it. I don't understand the worry created about paying a bill when it comes due. Have I been missing something glaringly obvious about prepaying?

 

I'm not bashing you, just something I see on here daily from a lot of folks.

 

There is no worry in it really but it is nice to have less to pay at the end. We work hard year round to be able to afford to cruise and have a good time. To me it just makes sense to have as much of it as possible paid in advance. Then the extra costs of some drinks, souvenirs, specialty dining if we decide, and even the casino or anything else are all that we have to pay at the end.

[whitshel]

$2.10 is not accurate. It varies from state to state and has increased with regular minimum wage increases. In Florida it is $5.05 per hour but as I just stated in another thread all servers are guaranteed regular minimum wage which here is currently just over $8. They make this either in tips or the company pays them the difference.

 

To the OP I'm curious how you managed to never eat in the mdr or buffet? For lunch and dinner I can see only eating in the specialty restaurants but what did you do for breakfast?

 

In Califonia there is no separate wage for servers, same as the rest of the minimum wagers, $10.00 an hour plus tips. Not a bad wage depending on where your searving