Auto tips

[insanemagnet]

The bar waiters do not receive any of the auto tips either. They receive a commission on the drinks they serve. Effectively, this is a gratuity included in the price of the drink.

 

There is no tip included in the price of the drink.

 

P&O are simply paying​ their waiters on a performance system. If a waiter serves lots of drinks they get paid more than one who doesn't.

 

The difference with the restaurant waiters and cabin stewards is P&O include the waiter's pay as a non-optional element of the drink price.

 

For the restaurant waiters and cabin stewards their pay is collected by an optional gratuity.

 

The amount charged and collected from the optional gratuities is far in excess of what might reasonably be regarded as a tip. It is therefore not surprising that as P&O have decided to engage in deceptive practices, some of their customers are calling them out and refusing to play the game.

[bee-ess]

I would agree that P&O are not being very forthcoming about how the auto tip money is being paid to the staff, But, if the auto tip is being removed and not being replaced by some form of tipping then a) the staff are losing out and b) the ones of us who pay the auto tip are subsidising those who don't pay anything. Perhaps that is why there was a fairly quick jump from £4 pppd to £5.50 pppd.

 

The total for a couple for 2 weeks is now £150 and if some customers can dodge this, they will. Surely for transparency and fairness it is time to put the auto tip onto the cruise fare.

Edited January 4, 2017 by bee-ess

[blueboo]

I would agree that P&O are not being very forthcoming about how the auto tip money is being paid to the staff, But, if the auto tip is being removed and not being replaced by some form of tipping then a) the staff are losing out and b) the ones of us who pay the auto tip are subsidising those who don't pay anything. Perhaps that is why there was a fairly quick jump from £4 pppd to £5.50 pppd.

 

The total for a couple for 2 weeks is now £150 and if some customers can dodge this, they will. Surely for transparency and fairness it is time to put the auto tip onto the cruise fare.

 

agree totally (i also wish there was a like button !)

[Florry]

Two excellent posts summarising why this subject goes on and on and on, but maybe P&O are reading and will take note!

 

 

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[john watson]

What makes you think people in suites pay a higher gratuity rate? [emoji102]

 

 

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Differential suites rates for auto-gratuities are commonplace across many brands in the cruise industry. Cunard charges $11.50 standard and $13.50 Princess and Queens. I think Richard believes that P&O have a policy consistent with many other lines.

 

He is more a Cunard passenger I think, although it is a bit judgemental I find you can infer a lot from the little image next to posters names at the top of their posts.

[Solent Richard]

What makes you think people in suites pay a higher gratuity rate? [emoji102]

 

 

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Simply experience, though it's clear for all to read.

[Solent Richard]

Differential suites rates for auto-gratuities are commonplace across many brands in the cruise industry. Cunard charges $11.50 standard and $13.50 Princess and Queens. I think Richard believes that P&O have a policy consistent with many other lines.

 

He is more a Cunard passenger I think, although it is a bit judgemental I find you can infer a lot from the little image next to posters names at the top of their posts.

 

Thank you.

 

Same applies on Oceania as well.

[Solent Richard]

Two excellent posts summarising why this subject goes on and on and on, but maybe P&O are reading and will take note!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I think they make it pretty clear...

 

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life-on-board/gratuity

 

"At P&O Cruises our crew pride themselves on the service they provide to our customers and we know you will see this every day while you are on-board with us.

 

The Service Reward Scheme (historically called gratuities) is simply a way to ensure that your ship’s crew are fairly rewarded for the great service they provide you. To make things easier for you, we add a discretionary daily amount which is currently £5.50 (aged 12 years and over) per guest per day to your on-board account.

 

Please be assured that 100% of the amount goes directly to the crew members who serve you and make your holiday memorable, as a ‘thank you’ and it is hugely appreciated. This includes the main restaurant (waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter) and also to your cabin stewards or butler, who will have looked after you whilst you are with us.

 

 

 

We strongly believe this should remain voluntary and therefore this charge can be varied at the Reception desk at any time; we hope you will agree that the service you receive will warrant the suggested amount, and that you choose for this to remain on your account in recognition of our service. Of course, if you want to tip any other crew member in addition to this, please feel free to do so".

[Solent Richard]

On one's first and only P&O cruise, one was lambasted by a total AH in an identical way, for having dined in the speciality restaurant on the last evening.

 

For the record, gratuities were left on, and a fat envelope was placed discreetly in the menu on the penultimate evening. I also let this total AH know exactly what we thought of him.

 

 

A man after my own heart:never backward in coming forward.

 

Happy cruising.:D

[davecttr]

The reason all these 'discussions' are taking place is the auto tipping system is not fair, not to the staff but to the customers. Some will invent excuses not to pay or just don't give a d....m.

 

Thinks, how about giving passengers more choice. Pay the auto tips or get an additional 'admin fee' added when you buy anything aboard including drinks and food. Two pounds per item would be suitable :D

 

Or roll tips into the fare and be done with it :rolleyes:

[peteukmcr]

I've been following this thread with the normal interest of someone who has sailed many more times on other lines than on P&O.

 

Obviously this thread has now moved away from the OP's original question but I believe the auto-tips on P&O are still one of the lowest in the industry. So for 2 people for a 7 day sailing the cost is £77.00 and people still appear to find this unreasonable. At this cost of £55 per person for a 10 day sailing I reckon P&O could easily add this to the cruise fare and say gratuities included and people wouldn't really notice.

 

Compared to other lines, for the gratuities in a standard cabin (not a suite) on P&O they are a bargain IMHO, as you can see below, half the price of RCI and Celebrity, and significantly higher on NCL & Princess and even on MSC they are higher.

 

MSC - €9 pppd (approx £8 so £112 for 2 for 7 days)

RCI & Celebrity - $13.50 pppd (approx £11 so £154.00 for 2 for 7 days)

NCL & Princess - $12.95 pppd (approx £10 so £140 for 2 for 7 days)

[insanemagnet]

I think they make it pretty clear...

 

Do they? What does 100% goes to staff actually mean.

 

Does it mean the staff get the money as a tip on top of their wages. Does it mean P&O use the money to pay the wage bill.

 

In both cases the staff get the money, but in only one of them are the staff disadvantaged if the gratuity is not paid.

 

Given how many big companies have recently been caught out using service charges as a revenue stream to pay the wage bill, P&O's words feel just too much like a carefully crafted statement which people think says one thing but covers the reality which is utterly different.

[terrierjohn]

Two excellent posts summarising why this subject goes on and on and on, but maybe P&O are reading and will take note!

 

 

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.........and pigs might fly as well!!!!

[jeanlyon]

Can't wait for my cruise on Saturday with Fred Olsen where tips are included and so are drinks. It has to be the right way to go.

[Florry]

Thank you.

 

 

 

Same applies on Oceania as well.

 

 

But not on P&O, the rate for suite gratuities is the same as other cabins.

 

 

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[Josy1953]

Can't wait for my cruise on Saturday with Fred Olsen where tips are included and so are drinks. It has to be the right way to go.

 

I agree including tips is the way to go but I would draw a line at including drinks, not everyone drinks my husband and I both invariably have a glass of wine with our evening meal when we are on holiday but that is the extent of our alcohol intake, the rest of the time we drink soft drinks or tea and coffee. I feel that people like us would be subsidising heavy drinkers if drinks were to be included in the cost of the cruise.

 

Last year we went on Celebrity Eclipse because we wanted to do the itinerary that was on offer. The price was way above what we would have paid for a similar cruise with P&O and I am convinced that this was because drinks and tips were "free" as part of a Celebrity promotion. I was astounded by the number of passengers who seemed to be drinking throughout the day and the bar staff seemed surprised when we ordered cokes or water.

[jeanlyon]

Josy, soft drinks are included. Also, you can only have one drink at a time. The cruise was in fact far less expensive than I have seen before including the drinks and tips, so we got a good deal. Wouldn't matter if you didn't drink.

Edited January 4, 2017 by jeanlyon

[pete14]

Can't wait for my cruise on Saturday with Fred Olsen where tips are included and so are drinks. It has to be the right way to go.

 

The right way to go if you like aging small ships and limited facilities.

[Florry]

The right way to go if you like aging small ships and limited facilities.

 

 

I went on the Black Watch at age 33 when I had nothing but the SS Uganda to compare with, so it seemed great [emoji23] seriously though they did a great midnight buffet back then, if only we could take the best of all the lines to create the perfect cruise [emoji4]

 

 

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[john watson]

The right way to go if you like aging small ships and limited facilities.

 

This has got to be a ridiculous thing to say:

 

1 small ships - many are longer now than when originally built they have been cut in half and a middle section added

 

2 the middle bit is almost brand new

 

3 Extra facilities were added to the middle bits

 

Time lapse videos are available on YouTube showing how this has been done at Blohm and Voss

 

Regards John

Edited January 5, 2017 by john watson

[davecttr]

The right way to go if you like aging small ships and limited facilities.

There is nothing wrong with aging small ships if they have been maintained and looked after properly. The hulls etc can last up to at least 30 years. What facilities do you need? A cabin to sleep in, a prom deck to lounge on. somewhere to eat, some entertainment, a bar or two, plus a casino ;)

[john watson]

There is nothing wrong with aging small ships if they have been maintained and looked after properly. The hulls etc can last up to at least 30 years.

 

Excellent, Braemar seems to be only 23 years old so still serviceable. Black Watch and Boudicca seem to be 44 years old and 43 years old respectively at the ends.

 

Regards John

[pete14]

Excellent, Braemar seems to be only 23 years old so still serviceable. Black Watch and Boudicca seem to be 44 years old and 43 years old respectively at the ends.

 

Regards John

 

But don't forget that the newer bit in the middle reduces the average age a little:rolleyes:

[jeanlyon]

I don't want facilities. I want to be on a ship. As for ageing hulls, the first cruise we went on was on the Athena in 2009. She was built in 1939 at the Stockholm and sank the Andria Doria! She was totally refurbished and we had a wonderful time all the way to the Caribbean and back. So yes, I like smaller ships that don't have hoardes of people and aren't like a block of flats. We tried the Azura and hated the crowded feel, the length of time it took to get back on board in a massive queue.

[balf]

 

1 small ships - many are longer now than when originally built they have been cut in half and a middle section added

 

 

Thereby compromising the sail ability in my experience.

 

DAVID.