Gratuities going up..

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...realize that, even at $13.50 per person per day, those gratuities are an absolute bargain...

 

I understand your logic on this, but my question is why have onboard tips recently been increased at a rate FAR higher than inflation, at least here in the US? Is there high inflation in the home countries of onboard staff, or is Princess keeping some of the increase for themselves?

Edited September 16, 2016 by SoCal Cruiser78

[MISTER 67]

My only question, is the crew sharing in the full amount of the gratuities paid by the passengers or are the lines holding a buck or 2 a day to add to the profit?

[Cruise Junky]

Just a little note on tipping for anyone who thinks even $13.50 is excessive (and for the poster who said this is making them rethink cruising and doing land vacations instead):

 

Think about what you are getting for that $27 per day gratuity and what it compares to on land. Here in Southern California, the "new standard" for tipping in restaurants is 20%. So, think a little about what a restaurant comparable to just the MDR on a cruise ship costs for the type of dinner you are getting. Typical meal, you are ordering, say, a steak or comparable entree, soup, salad, an appetizer, a dessert, coffee. This is in a restaurant with great service, linen tablecloths and napkins, nice atmosphere, etc. In the Los Angeles area, for example, that meal might cost, AT A MINIMUM, $122 ($25 per person for the entree, $8 for the appetizer, $7 for the soup and for the salad, $6 for dessert, $3 for the coffee...then add in our 9% sales tax)...and, mind you, that's not even as nice a place as the MDR...Prices go up from there...Last week, we dropped $200 plus tip at Fogo de Chao--and there you serve yourself your own salad from the salad bar...

 

But, let's just say it's a $122 dinner for two...In So Cal, you'd be leaving a $25 tip...That is for dinner ALONE (Yeah, obviously, at home, many of you are probably passing on the appetizer and dessert, maybe having only soup OR salad...BUT, remember, on the ship, you just aren't doing that!)...So, you basically would have tipped the same as your entire cruise day's gratuities on dinner alone...But, remember, you are eating breakfast and lunch as well...and that gratuity also goes to compensate your cabin stewards. Of that $27, really only about $17 goes to the dining room wait staff...To find an equivalent here, that's what you'd pay in tips here in SoCal if the cost of your breakfast, lunch and dinner combined cost $42.50 per person each day...

 

For those of you who say "But we eat lunch and dinner in the buffet", think about it--that same wait staff is putting out the food for you at the buffet, clearing your table, etc. And, come on now, I see a whole lot of you at breakfast in the MDR as well.

 

To those of you who always point out that you come from a country where they don't tip...or don't tip in those large percentages, or say that, rather than cruising, you're going to vacation in those non-tipping countries, think about it: It is just a different culture where the servers are being paid a higher wage, so that gratuity is actually just blended into higher prices. NO waiter is serving you for FREE...You are paying them one way or another.

 

Given that, now realize that, even at $13.50 per person per day, those gratuities are an absolute bargain. That cruise ship wait staff is not being paid high wages...they are working for those tips. If the cruise line had to pay them more, it would just be blended into your cruise fare.

 

$13.50 in gratuities? It's a bargain...

Well it's not $27 for us, it's closer to $40 Cdn. We're always on the fence between land trips and cruises so an extra $40 a day does swing the pendulum when you're considering the two options. Especially when vacationing in traditional low tip countries. I'm in Australia right now, next spring is Greece. Different equation when looking at something in the US. And I'm not saying they don't deserve it, and I would never remove it but the $40 in tips, jacked up drink prices and excursions does make a land trip more appealing depending on the destination.

[yyjguy]

I find it very sad that those who object to the automatic tipping take it out on the very people that rely and depend on that money. As much as you may find that process distasteful, a system that all mainstream cruise lines follow, by not tipping you are not hurting the managers, executives or stock holders. Your behaviour is having a very serious affect on service staff from very poor countries of the world; staff that are trying to pay for a decent home life for their families, staff that are paid about $100 per month, from places in the world where even a few dollars a month has a huge affect on their standard of living. Rather than denying them just a few dollars a day, complain to the company, make a serious presentation at a stock holders annual meeting, or perhaps even to the press, but please help those serving you put food on the table at home, obtain an education their children, and perhaps even afford some medical or dental care.

[DrivesLikeMario]

I missed the amount for Deluxe Balconies (like on Royal & Regal). Did anyone see that new amount or did they just lump them in with regular balconies?

[reedprincess]

I missed the amount for Deluxe Balconies (like on Royal & Regal). Did anyone see that new amount or did they just lump them in with regular balconies?

 

They're balcony cabins, same as any regular balcony or Oceanview or inside...

[shredie]

Why do you even give these companies your business?

 

 

Good question.

 

 

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[just hooked]

Interesting as I have just come home from an Alaskan cruise and when I was in the line to get a hole in my card the four people in front of me in the elite line where signing forms . I asked what they were signing up for the girl said they were taking off there tips she said now about 10% to 12% take them off before it was about 5% to 7% they do this as its gone up recently. So really it looks like they have put it up to cover the ones that don't pay

[Renmar]

Interesting as I have just come home from an Alaskan cruise and when I was in the line to get a hole in my card the four people in front of me in the elite line where signing forms . I asked what they were signing up for the girl said they were taking off there tips she said now about 10% to 12% take them off before it was about 5% to 7% they do this as its gone up recently. So really it looks like they have put it up to cover the ones that don't pay

 

If that is the case then we will soon see more people reducing their share and the cruise lines increasing it again, and then more people reducing it again and more increases by the cruise lines, and so on & on & on.

 

My pension just increased by about $ 15.00 per month :eek:, I think I will save it for tipping the crew a bit extra ;).

 

Theo

[Kineticoh20]

Interesting as I have just come home from an Alaskan cruise and when I was in the line to get a hole in my card the four people in front of me in the elite line where signing forms . I asked what they were signing up for the girl said they were taking off there tips she said now about 10% to 12% take them off before it was about 5% to 7% they do this as its gone up recently. So really it looks like they have put it up to cover the ones that don't pay

 

I just can't for the life of me understand this! Most folks go out and buy a new outfit or 2 for a cruise, pay hundreds or thousands to fly, pay hundreds for shore excursions, pay thousands for a cruise then stiff people from poor countries that are away from their families to support them. As Hillary would say Deplorable! Just raise the cost of the cruise and tell folks gratuities are included. It's these same people that take off the auto tips that probably complain about the service!

[krrgolf]

My $13.50 worth in this debate. Firstly I am British and I tip for service over and above what I expect. That is what a tip is - it is not to subsidise the wages of the staff. The wage structure for the whole crew should be such that they are paid a living wage after all that should be how the fare policy is calculated. In any business Raw Material + cost of manufacture ( or wholesale purchase ) plus profit = retail cost.

 

As far as the argument goes that tips don't get to all staff eg kitchen staff, I am sorry but they should be paid to produce a quality meal all the time, that is what I pay for in my cruise price. I select on experience and review. I don't expect to get a poor meal because the staff doesn't get a tip or the floor not cleaned because the cleaner doesn't get a tip. Cruise lines should pay a correct rate for the job done not charge tips to subsidise the wages. Cruises are expensive enough anyway.

 

Just because certain countries have a policy of adding tips to everything doesn't make it right. Charge the right price in the first place.

 

In case you think this is a mean old Brit talking - let me say straight away that if gratuities were included in the price of the holiday I would still tip those staff who had served me over and above my expectations. That to my mind is what a gratuity is.

[Brisbane41]

Looking at all the replied it is very clear that it needs to be part of the fare as a service charge and paid up front as part of the full cruise fare. The vast majority of countries in the world do it like this so it is high time all businesses and countries adopted this practice.

 

Cruise lines have evolved with modern times and trends over the recent years and they are always adapting to the latest technologies and social trends including dress codes. My input is that if cruise lines like to keep up with modern day trends and if the like to keep up in the modern world then there is no reason why this backward system of tipping must be maintained.

[Mrs.Gosse]

I have no problem with the increase as the employees on the ship work extremely hard and I feel like they deserve a good wage. But.. But... It seems like the increases have been rapid fire over the last few years and I'm concerned that in 10 years are we going to be looking at $25 a day per person and gratuities? And I know that this is my own personal problem but we stay in Suites only. Now because of Club class all of the Suite fares have gone up. Soon as we are not treating ourself to a suite but that has become the standard that we cruise by we are already paying a lot more then we would have and I feel like increasing our gratuities isn't 100 hundred percent Fair.

 

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[latebloomer56]

My only question, is the crew sharing in the full amount of the gratuities paid by the passengers or are the lines holding a buck or 2 a day to add to the profit?

 

I have liked the auto tip from day 1 and have never nor plan to ever remove it. I like not worrying did I miss somebody. And yes I do tip extra accordingly.

 

That said I do think this post is close to the truth. I for one have always thought the cruise lines would skim off the top as a fee for handling these transactions. There is no way I would believe they would be doing all this work without compensation. They are in this to make money.

 

Again for those (even at the bar & cafe) who take personal care of us are tipped extra because I don't believe they get all the auto tip share the should.

[JimmyVWine]

So really it looks like they have put it up to cover the ones that don't pay

 

I just can't for the life of me understand this! Most folks go out and buy a new outfit or 2 for a cruise, pay hundreds or thousands to fly, pay hundreds for shore excursions, pay thousands for a cruise then stiff people from poor countries that are away from their families to support them.

 

I think you are both leaping to the conclusion that people who remove the auto-tip feature from their accounts are not providing gratuities in some alternative fashion such as the old fashioned envelope approach. It is a possibility that some of these people are boorish tightwads, but not a certainty that all of them are.

[FlorenceItaly]

I think you are both leaping to the conclusion that people who remove the auto-tip feature from their accounts are not providing gratuities in some alternative fashion such as the old fashioned envelope approach. It is a possibility that some of these people are boorish tightwads, but not a certainty that all of them are.

 

Possibly, but, at the same rate? I bet is LESS, jmo. Imo, if it were the same or more, what is the advantage for them to remove the tips? JMO.

 

 

Marie

[JimmyVWine]

Possibly, but, at the same rate? I bet is LESS, jmo. Imo, if it were the same or more, what is the advantage for them to remove the tips? JMO.

 

 

Marie

Some people don't trust the auto-tip feature and are skeptical that their gratuities are finding their way to the people who actually provided them with services. Leaving the auto-tip in place and then tipping extra would only ensure the proper redirection of the additional tip leaving the bulk of the gratuities subject to uncertain distribution. Some people prefer to have (perceived) control over 100% of their gratuities.

[FlorenceItaly]

Some people don't trust the auto-tip feature and are skeptical that their gratuities are finding their way to the people who actually provided them with services. Leaving the auto-tip in place and then tipping extra would only ensure the proper redirection of the additional tip leaving the bulk of the gratuities subject to uncertain distribution. Some people prefer to have (perceived) control over 100% of their gratuities.

 

Let me preface this by saying I am not being argumentative. Call me skeptical in that this may be the reason they give, but I don't buy it, jmo. Again, I just bet it is less monies. Perhaps someone will come along and say otherwise, who knows. For the record, we have never removed tips, and almost always tip additional.

[4x4bob]

Yesterday when I opened my puter and saw that Princess was giving only a one day warning on a price increase I was a little ticked.

 

Then I scheduled a conferance with the Wife to determine if we could afford a

$1.10 a day increase on the the three cruises we have scheduled.

 

After much figuring and checking our bank balance we came up with the plan to cover this increase.

 

We will skip the Casino one night each cruise, walk past the bar without ordering a nightcap, don't play bingo, and don't purchase any ship photos.

 

That should just about cover the increase. :D

 

Bob

[floridalover5623]

Yesterday when I opened my puter and saw that Princess was giving only a one day warning on a price increase I was a little ticked.

 

Then I scheduled a conferance with the Wife to determine if we could afford a

$1.10 a day increase on the the three cruises we have scheduled.

 

After much figuring and checking our bank balance we came up with the plan to cover this increase.

 

We will skip the Casino one night each cruise, walk past the bar without ordering a nightcap, don't play bingo, and don't purchase any ship photos.

 

That should just about cover the increase. :D

 

Bob

 

Eat an extra lobster tail at dinner. ;)

Edited September 17, 2016 by floridalover5623

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Looking at all the replied it is very clear that it needs to be part of the fare as a service charge and paid up front as part of the full cruise fare. The vast majority of countries in the world do it like this so it is high time all businesses and countries adopted this practice.

 

Cruise lines have evolved with modern times and trends over the recent years and they are always adapting to the latest technologies and social trends including dress codes. My input is that if cruise lines like to keep up with modern day trends and if the like to keep up in the modern world then there is no reason why this backward system of tipping must be maintained.

 

I will give you one simple reason cruise lines do this - taxation. If they raised cruise fares equivalent to the amount of the gratuities they would be liable for corporate taxation of that income. This is a simple way to avoid paying taxes on a percentage of their income/cashflow. If they could roll it into the base fare without increasing the corporate tax liability I feel we would see it go away fairly quickly ....

 

$13.50/guest/day = upwards of $10 million PER SHIP (a rough average based on an average ship carrying 2500 passengers) in non taxed revenue per year - now multiply that times, what 17 ships in the fleet? That's a huge tax loophole they are getting away with!

[cflutist]

Not to mention that gratuities are not included in the TA commission calculation (only base fare is).

[BritinSoCal]

I will give you one simple reason cruise lines do this - taxation. If they raised cruise fares equivalent to the amount of the gratuities they would be liable for corporate taxation of that income. This is a simple way to avoid paying taxes on a percentage of their income/cashflow. If they could roll it into the base fare without increasing the corporate tax liability I feel we would see it go away fairly quickly ....

 

$13.50/guest/day = upwards of $10 million PER SHIP (a rough average based on an average ship carrying 2500 passengers) in non taxed revenue per year - now multiply that times, what 17 ships in the fleet? That's a huge tax loophole they are getting away with!

 

Large Korportations, gaming tax laws while screwing over both their staff and paying customers. Who'd have thinked it? :rolleyes:

[Lucky TGO]

I will give you one simple reason cruise lines do this - taxation. If they raised cruise fares equivalent to the amount of the gratuities they would be liable for corporate taxation of that income. This is a simple way to avoid paying taxes on a percentage of their income/cashflow. If they could roll it into the base fare without increasing the corporate tax liability I feel we would see it go away fairly quickly ....

 

$13.50/guest/day = upwards of $10 million PER SHIP (a rough average based on an average ship carrying 2500 passengers) in non taxed revenue per year - now multiply that times, what 17 ships in the fleet? That's a huge tax loophole they are getting away with!

 

Now I know why they just don't increase the fares and why I have a good tax accountant. In Boston we say that a lot of CASH!!! $10 million per ship. :eek:

Tony

[sfaaa]

I will give you one simple reason cruise lines do this - taxation. If they raised cruise fares equivalent to the amount of the gratuities they would be liable for corporate taxation of that income. This is a simple way to avoid paying taxes on a percentage of their income/cashflow. If they could roll it into the base fare without increasing the corporate tax liability I feel we would see it go away fairly quickly ....

 

$13.50/guest/day = upwards of $10 million PER SHIP (a rough average based on an average ship carrying 2500 passengers) in non taxed revenue per year - now multiply that times, what 17 ships in the fleet? That's a huge tax loophole they are getting away with!

 

Ah what? So if $13.50 becomes part of the base fare and then get deducted as crew payroll or activity expense, where is the additional tax liability to cruise line when revenue and expense are essentially a wash and offset each other? And if your argument is that it will not be paid out to the crew, how is this different from the current system where the $13.50 would have to be treated as misc income and not a liability if the cruise line indeed pocketed the money? Your argument is lame and illogical.