Just off Star....UBP bartenders don't get tips? Or how do they?

[luv2gonow]

Hi,

 

How do bartenders get tips?

 

I had UBP and I never signed a receipt. Last year on Epic with UBP I had to sign for all drinks and there was the auto 18 percent added.

 

I did not sign for a drink... I asked bartender how do you get tipped? I asked if they get part of taxes added to UBP package.

He said no. So I said so if I don't tip you in cash you won't get a tip???

They said yea pretty much!

Who carries cash on a ship. I gave him some cash at end of week but that is ridiculous. Most people won't do that I don't think.

 

Anyone know if I am wrong and the bartenders get some gratuities? From $13 per day??

Thanks

Kerri

Edited July 31, 2016 by luv2gonow

[IsanTom]

You have paid for tips in your service charges with your package. The bartenders will get a portion of this with their salaries. If they didn't they would have quit. No need to tip extra unless they give you extra service, but not necessary.

[ExpatBride]

They've changed the way they process UBP orders since sometime last year. They used to cover the 18% UBP service charge and make you sign for your drinks, then zero it out. Now they charge you the 18% for the package and don't bother charging and zeroing out the drinks.

 

The 18% supposedly goes to the bartenders, but I don't trust the auto grats on any cruiseline and just count them as part of my cruise fare. I always get a couple hundred USD in small bills and use it to tip people throughout my cruise, then at least I know they've gotten something. As a bonus, I get awesome service and never wait no matter how crowded the bar is.

Edited July 31, 2016 by ExpatBride

[luv2gonow]

You have paid for tips in your service charges with your package. The bartenders will get a portion of this with their salaries. If they didn't they would have quit. No need to tip extra unless they give you extra service, but not necessary.

 

I hear you about them quitting. But front desk seemed unclear if they get some of beverage package she seemed to think it was just tax.

And bartenders seemed to think they didn't.

 

I did tip extra amazing how they remember my drink and name after 1st order.

Kerri

[luv2gonow]

They've changed the way they process UBP orders since sometime last year. They used to cover the 18% UBP service charge and make you sign for your drinks, then zero it out. Now they charge you the 18% for the package and don't bother charging and zeroing out the drinks.

 

The 18% supposedly goes to the bartenders, but I don't trust the auto grats on any cruiseline and just count them as part of my cruise fare. I always get a couple hundred USD in small bills and use it to tip people throughout my cruise, then at least I know they've gotten something. As a bonus, I get awesome service and never wait no matter how crowded the bar is.

 

I must admit that it certainly was easier without signing and made service quicker, but I don't really trust NCL to give them extra now. Bartenders seemed to not understand either.

Anyway I just hope ncl is not screwing over there help... With a these new fees I hope it Dosent just go to stockholders.

Kerri

[GUEST080219]

I do believe that cruise lines do a lot of shady things with those service charges, gratitudes or whatever. But what I don't believe as well is that staff especially in a position like bartenders have no idea what they get paid and how that is put together. That is more a story to get some more cash at the end of the cruise directly from the guests.

[ExpatBride]

But what I don't believe as well is that staff especially in a position like bartenders have no idea what they get paid and how that is put together. That is more a story to get some more cash at the end of the cruise directly from the guests.

 

I completely agree and take any sob story a crew member tells me with a grain of salt.

 

I treat people fairly and show monetary appreciation for outstanding service. Outside of that, not my circus, not my monkey.

[pieshops]

They get the gratuities, my BIL is a bartender on an NCL ship, belive me they get them. When they tell you they don't they are preying on your kindness and compassion to get extra cash and boy does it work. They work their asses off and do deserve the money though I just think it's funny when people believe them, the stewards do the same thing.

[punkincc]

They get the gratuities, my BIL is a bartender on an NCL ship, belive me they get them. When they tell you they don't they are preying on your kindness and compassion to get extra cash and boy does it work. They work their asses off and do deserve the money though I just think it's funny when people believe them, the stewards do the same thing.

 

Not doubting your BIL's word, but I doubt a bartender is privy to the number of UBP packages sold for a particular week or month and how much money was collected by NCL on those 18% Gratuity and Service Charge fees, then divide it out by bar staff and ever have any idea whether the amount shown on their pay stubs was their share of 100% of the pot or only 1%, with NCL pocketing the remainder as a "service fee".

 

Do they show them the actual numbers and the calculation used to come up with their share? If so, I might believe they are getting this fee in it's entirety, but if not, I will assume that there is a reason they added the words "Service Charge" to the name of this fee, otherwise they would just call it a "Gratuity Fee". So much simpler.

 

Since you have someone on the "inside", can they provide a little info on how the incentive portion, which is where I assume the 18% would go, is derived? Does it fluctuate each paycheck? Fixed amount per contract or per quarter or other pay period?

[swedish weave]

I must admit that it certainly was easier without signing and made service quicker, but I don't really trust NCL to give them extra now. Bartenders seemed to not understand either.

Anyway I just hope ncl is not screwing over there help... With a these new fees I hope it Dosent just go to stockholders.

Kerri

 

The fees can't be going to the shareholders because NCLH doesn't pay any dividends.

[NLH Arizona]

They get the gratuities, my BIL is a bartender on an NCL ship, belive me they get them. When they tell you they don't they are preying on your kindness and compassion to get extra cash and boy does it work. They work their asses off and do deserve the money though I just think it's funny when people believe them, the stewards do the same thing.

Thanks for the info. I believe that those bartenders that say they don't get the tips are just trolling for additional tips from passengers and it always amazes me that folks fall for it.

[cruizinwithkids]

Thanks for the info. I believe that those bartenders that say they don't get the tips are just trolling for additional tips from passengers and it always amazes me that folks fall for it.

 

I've never had a bartender tell me one way or another, but then again I have never asked.

 

If someone at my job asked if I got paid enough, or asked if I wanted more, I would tell them I wanted more.

[swedish weave]

Thanks for the info. I believe that those bartenders that say they don't get the tips are just trolling for additional tips from passengers and it always amazes me that folks fall for it.

 

Would you share with us what has caused you to develop such a deep mistrust of crew members ??

[NLH Arizona]

I've never had a bartender tell me one way or another, but then again I have never asked.

 

If someone at my job asked if I got paid enough, or asked if I wanted more, I would tell them I wanted more.

I feel the same way. What someone makes and how they make it, is none of my business and I think it is an intrusion on them to ask. Other than cruising, I've never heard of anyone asking an employee how much the are compensated or where their compensation comes from for their job and have always wondered why some feel that it is in any way shape or form their business.

 

I don't blame the bartender or cabin steward for saying they don't get the tips in order to get extra money from some, because if someone asks them personal information, they should tell them anything to get the person to open up their wallet.

[punkincc]

Thanks for the info. I believe that those bartenders that say they don't get the tips are just trolling for additional tips from passengers and it always amazes me that folks fall for it.

 

Perhaps some new bartenders are not getting any share of the 18% at the time they were asked. We don't know how often they divvy up and pay out the money. Is it based on a previous quarter or other time period and then paid out over then next quarter? If so, a new bartender would have no vested interest in this money until the next time it's divided up. So I don't think we can make a blanket statement about whether or not they are telling the truth, because we really have no idea how they are compensated, except in very vague terms.

 

The fact is, none of us has any idea whether or not they are getting any of this money, either in its entirety or as a percentage, and I doubt the employees have any idea either. If NCL tells them xx per paycheck is your share, how would they ever know if this is the full amount based on what was collected?

[punkincc]

I feel the same way. What someone makes and how they make it, is none of my business and I think it is an intrusion on them to ask. Other than cruising, I've never heard of anyone asking an employee how much the are compensated or where their compensation comes from for their job and have always wondered why some feel that it is in any way shape or form their business.

 

I don't blame the bartender or cabin steward for saying they don't get the tips in order to get extra money from some, because if someone asks them personal information, they should tell them anything to get the person to open up their wallet.

 

 

No one is asking an NCL employee to divulge how much he gets paid. It is like asking in general how stockbrokers or any other profession are paid. How is their salary derived. Base wage? Wage plus a % of personal sales, quarterly bonuses based on ? I dont know any profession that would not be willing to discuss in generalities how their pay is structured.

 

This is what we are discussing when it comes to the 18% add ons. I don't care if a bartender makes $300 a week or $3,000. But NCL is telling me from one side of their mouth that it is a "gratuity" and from the other side they are telling me it is a "service fee". So that makes it a little difficult for me when it comes time to leave an additional tip or not. I don't know if the bartender is actually getting 3% or 100% of the fees collected. If 3%, I might want to tip additional.

 

If NCL wants to collect a "service fee" that's their business. Hotels do it. But at least break it out so we know what percent is gratuity and what is service fee and then these conversations can end.

[dcipjr]

When I am at a restaurant that gives me a line-item gratuity on the bill, then that's the tip, and I take the place at its word that this money will go to the server. Ditto for when I tip using a credit card. Unless I physically put money in the server's hands, I don't really know that it's going to them—and even then, sometimes places pool tips, so it's not a surefire thing.

 

Bottom line, it's a matter of trust. NCL tells me that the gratuity charge I paid with my UBP is going to the bartenders, so I am taking them at their word. They haven't given me any reason not to trust them.

 

When I'm onboard, I like knowing that the tips are prepaid and all I need in my pocket is my room key. If circumstances did arise that eroded my trust in NCL, then I'd probably rather take another cruise line than abandon one of my favorite aspects of the cruise—empty pockets. Does that make me lazy? Maybe, but it's my vacation, and that's the way it's supposed to work! :D

[NLH Arizona]

Bottom line, it's a matter of trust. NCL tells me that the gratuity charge I paid with my UBP is going to the bartenders, so I am taking them at their word. They haven't given me any reason not to trust them.

 

When I'm onboard, I like knowing that the tips are prepaid and all I need in my pocket is my room key. If circumstances did arise that eroded my trust in NCL, then I'd probably rather take another cruise line than abandon one of my favorite aspects of the cruise—empty pockets. Does that make me lazy? Maybe, but it's my vacation, and that's the way it's supposed to work! :D

Exactly and then add to this that the poster's BIL is a bartender on NCL and says they get the tips.

 

If one doesn't trust or like what NCL is doing, spend your money with a cruise line that one feels better follows their guidelines. Not lazy, you are just doing what the majority are doing.

[pcakes122]

Perhaps I'm naive and see the world with rose-colored classes, but I always thought the "mandatory" 18% tip is now being included to PROTECT the bartenders - just the way it is on land when a larger party goes to a restaurant and the tip is automatically added.

 

Because sometimes wait staff get short-changed by large parties, people on vacation (some of whom are from non-tipping cultures), etc.

 

And tips are pooled in many, many establishments, so I thought it would be the same or similar on the ship (I didn't think each bartender got the exact 18% from a drink they served.)

 

Not to say I don't tip extra for extraordinary service when it is warranted (and I do tip for drinks in the casino), but I don't think it's necessary to over-tip by adding cash to every drink you order on the ship.

[jennmaybe]

We are some of the ones who feel like once we've already paid our 18%, we don't need to pay more. However, I keep reading folks on here talk about giving extra tips to wonderful or awesome service. I'm just curious to know exactly what you mean by that? If all a bartender is doing is popping off the top off a beer bottle and handing me a beer, I do not feel an extra tip is warranted. If I have to wait 2-3 minutes to get a drink from a bartender, then I don't mind because after all, we are on vacation. :) I do not feel that warrants an extra tip. If I don't have to wait at the bar and am immediately served on, I do not think that warrants an extra tip. So, just curious?

 

I would however have an issue if I am waiting at a bar and someone else walks up after I do and the bartender immediately forgets about me or anyone else in front of me to wait on another individual, just because that person provided a cash tip earlier in the day. Does that actually happen? I've never had that happen to me on all the cruises I've been on, so I'm just curious if this has happened on NCL.

[ExpatBride]

However, I keep reading folks on here talk about giving extra tips to wonderful or awesome service. I'm just curious to know exactly what you mean by that? If all a bartender is doing is popping off the top off a beer bottle and handing me a beer, I do not feel an extra tip is warranted.

 

I don't drink beer. I like my cocktails and often go off menu for say an elderflower martini, a Pimm's Cup, or a martini mixed in a very specific way. If a bartender is willing to listen to my requirements and do his best to make me something he's not familiar with, then he deserves a few bucks. In general, once I tip a bartender, he remembers my drink and I rarely wait, even when the bar is packed. And if he's busy, he'll usually tell his colleague how to make my preferred cocktail.

 

But yeah, if I was ordering a bottle of beer, I can't imagine I'd tip extra for that.

[pcakes122]

However, I keep reading folks on here talk about giving extra tips to wonderful or awesome service. I'm just curious to know exactly what you mean by that?

Here's a few examples where I gave cash tips:

 

On the Breakaway, there was a bartender at Maltings (outside on the Waterfront) who made great lemon drop martinis. It started to rain so we took our drinks inside to the lounge area - but the outside bartender periodically came INSIDE to ask us if we needed another, etc. (there is a Maltings inside with a bartender already there.) But this fellow went out of his way to keep us from going back out into the rain for another drink. $$$ :)

 

At the martini bar they had these little glass carafes of snack mix that one of my friends was addicted to. The server would watch and swoop in with another JUST as soon as the carafe was empty - without us asking. With alot of customers to attend to, this was great service. $$$ :)

[GUEST080219]

We are some of the ones who feel like once we've already paid our 18%, we don't need to pay more. However, I keep reading folks on here talk about giving extra tips to wonderful or awesome service. I'm just curious to know exactly what you mean by that?

 

I do not cruise short caribbean booze cruises so most of the time the bars are rather slow and the staff has some spare time.

I tip when they are fun, have great stories to tell, teach a bit about drinks and bar stuff. So the more they make me feel like a valued regular, after two or three days the higher is the chance that I tip.

[punkincc]

I agree with much of what some of you are saying. For instance, the Daily Service Charge. NCL tells me that this takes the place of the need to tip the stewards and other staff individually, and I like that. I have no reason to believe that they are not getting the money.

 

However, in the case of the 18% Gratuity and Service Charge fee, I can't help but feel that this tongue twister of a title is no accident. If they would simply call it an 18% Gratuity, I would have no reason to question whether it gets where it is supposed to go in its entirety.

 

So, if part of the $ is not actually a Service Fee that NCL is pocketing, all they have to do is just change the title to simply 18% Gratuity. My guess is that they can't call it anything other than it's current title because of legal reasons.

[sjbdtz]

Perhaps I'm naive and see the world with rose-colored classes, but I always thought the "mandatory" 18% tip is now being included to PROTECT the bartenders - just the way it is on land when a larger party goes to a restaurant and the tip is automatically added.

 

Because sometimes wait staff get short-changed by large parties, people on vacation (some of whom are from non-tipping cultures), etc.

 

.

 

BINGO! And also LIKE but not FROM the DSC. In the same way the DSC protects the waiters & stewards, so the 18% charge protects the bartenders.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

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