Pre-Paid Gratuities/Tips

[Zenica]

No it isn't. Read the FAQs on the NCL web site.

 

In my conversation today with NCL, they referred to the daily service charge as gratuity.

They refer to the service charge by saying butlers do not benefit from it, therefore by extension, some employees do...benefit from it making it a gratuity.

 

 

From NCL webpage; https://www.ncl.com/faq#tipping

 

 

"Unlike most other ships in the cruise industry, there is no required or recommended tipping on our ships for service that is generally rendered to all Guests. While you should not feel obligated to offer a gratuity, all of our staff are encouraged to “go the extra mile,” so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities for exceptional or outstanding service if you care to offer them. Also, certain staff positions (e.g., concierge, butler, youth program staff and beverage service) provide service on an individual basis to only some guests and do not benefit from the overall service charge. We encourage those Guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. Additionally, there is an 18% gratuity and spa service charge added for all spa and salon services, as well as an 18% gratuity and beverage service charge added for all beverage purchases and an 18% gratuity and specialty service charge added to all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining. Read more about the service charge."

[Gloworm2]

So if they did away with the DSC and increased the fare $13.95 a day it would be OK? Truthfully it is most likely purely an accounting issue where they segregate funds target for the employee incentive program.

 

 

 

Yes! I wish they would do just this.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[swedish weave]

So, you would have no issues if they raised your fare by $15 a day which would then include the DSC?

 

Raising the fare would not benefit the cruise line but would benefit their competition by causing some to do business with other lines.

[swedish weave]

What of the people who do your laundry? Clean the restrooms? If you remove the auto gratuities they do not get their share. It takes more than the room steward, dining room server and bartenders to make your cruise great. Please don’t stiff the other staff by only tipping a few in person. Thank you.

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

The crew members you mention are paid a contracted amount, so the source of the funds is irrelevent.

Removing the auto gratuities or DSC has little if any impact on their salaries.

Use of the term "stiff the crew" is meant to place guilt on those who choose to remove the auto charges.

 

If removing the charges harmed the crew, the union and cruise line would make other arrangements to compensate crew the proper amount.

[swedish weave]

[/color]

 

 

Probably because you called up and ASKED about the "gratuity", who all is and is not in the incentive program has noting to do with it NOT being a gratuity. It is a service charge.

 

 

 

EXACTLY, it is NOT a gratuity...

 

The cruise line refers to the charges as gratuities, Dsc, service charge, or whatever other term suits their purpose.

 

They do this in order to shift responsibility for the crews pay to the guests instead of cruise line management, and have successfully sold this myth to many cruisers.

[NLH Arizona]

So if they did away with the DSC and increased the fare $13.95 a day it would be OK?

Same question I asked.

[Gloworm2]

The crew members you mention are paid a contracted amount, so the source of the funds is irrelevent.

 

Removing the auto gratuities or DSC has little if any impact on their salaries.

 

Use of the term "stiff the crew" is meant to place guilt on those who choose to remove the auto charges.

 

 

 

If removing the charges harmed the crew, the union and cruise line would make other arrangements to compensate crew the proper amount.

 

 

 

If cruise lines operated by US laws, yes. But few do as they are registered elsewhere

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[swedish weave]

If cruise lines operated by US laws, yes. But few do as they are registered elsewhere

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

My info has nothing to do with US laws.

 

The ILO agreement with cruise lines applies. It is international.

[newmexicoNita]

Hi there, I'm going on my first cruise in January with NCL Getaway. I have a problem paying up front for service that I haven't even had, a bit like when a restaurant automatically charges you gratuities and you have an issue with the service or food. I'm not saying I anticipate an issue but I want to give generously to the servers who serve me personally especially if its a regular server at a bar or a favorite restaurant on the ship. Is this unreasonable? Can I opt out of paying this fee in advance? Thanks

just like all lines now, it is considered a dsc and not a gratuity even know we all realize what it is. You do not paly ahead of time unless the gratuities is a perk or you have the UBP. Yes, then you do pay ahead of time. As for getting the tips taken off your account, HOPE. You can fill out a form while on the ship to get your gratuities returned to you if that is what you mean. As for objecting to paying up front, remember those tips are not going just to one person, or a server, but to many who work behind the scenes. In fact we often tip our cabin steward and a few others above the required daily charge and if we find a favorite bar tender or server we will give them an extra buck or so when we order drinks. This isn't a must by anymeans and we only do it if the service is above and beyond.

Actually most AI work the same way, tips are included. They just do not always make referance to that when they do their pricing.

 

Let me add, there are a couple of topics that never seem to die: tipping is one of them.

Edited October 7, 2017 by newmexicoNita

[Gampy1967]

Wow someone else FINALLY gets it.

 

Actually I was being sarcastic. I was waiting for the forthcoming arguments. Always a good show.

[Two Wheels Only]

So if they did away with the DSC and increased the fare $13.95 a day it would be OK?

Actually, that would be an improvement.:D

 

1. It would eliminate DSC threads....other than people continuing to ask if there is a DSC.

 

2. It would be better than NCL's current practice of raising both the fare and the DSC....and raising the UBP price which leads to an increase in the service charge on the UBP...:mad:

[titangas]

More energy is wasted on this non issue of a topic.

 

PAY the DSC

Do not tip anyone else period.

Enjoy your cruise - you will get great service everywhere you go.

[NLH Arizona]

Actually, that would be an improvement.:D

 

1. It would eliminate DSC threads....other than people continuing to ask if there is a DSC.

 

2. It would be better than NCL's current practice of raising both the fare and the DSC....and raising the UBP price which leads to an increase in the service charge on the UBP...:mad:

You forgot 3. Folks wouldn't be able to remove it.

[Zenica]

The cruise line refers to the charges as gratuities, Dsc, service charge, or whatever other term suits their purpose.

 

They do this in order to shift responsibility for the crews pay to the guests instead of cruise line management, and have successfully sold this myth to many cruisers.

 

 

THIS. Right here, this is the truth. It ought to be no different than a hotel. The housecleaning staff are paid either hourly or possibly salary but NOT from an added on "gratuity".

 

At the end of the day, the only bit of information which would make any of this conversation relevant is if the cruise lines

 

artificially shifted this cost to the consumer outside of the base fare without lowering the base far in the process.

Of course to know this, we'd have to know how the cruise line operated going back to the very first cruise and track each line for each cruise.

[Zenica]

You do not paly ahead of time unless the gratuities is a perk or you have the UBP. Yes, then you do pay ahead of time.

Let me add, there are a couple of topics that never seem to die: tipping is one of them.

 

Why do people seem to believe this, that you can't prepay the daily service charge/gratuity/fee?

You can. I have. It is clearly reported on my itinerary page as "Pre-Pay Service Charges".

It comes up because the system in place is imperfect.

[NLH Arizona]

THIS. Right here, this is the truth. It ought to be no different than a hotel. The housecleaning staff are paid either hourly or possibly salary but NOT from an added on "gratuity".

 

At the end of the day, the only bit of information which would make any of this conversation relevant is if the cruise lines

 

artificially shifted this cost to the consumer outside of the base fare without lowering the base far in the process.

Of course to know this, we'd have to know how the cruise line operated going back to the very first cruise and track each line for each cruise.

With either scenario, you are paying the staff's wages. At the hotels, they are included in the rate of the hotel. At most cruise lines, they are added on as a DSC. It is the same thing.

 

So, I guess you are advocating for the cruise lines to increase the fare each day by the amount of the DSC/Automatic Gratuities, so they will have the same business model as a hotel, and then you wouldn't have an issue and could give gratuities on top of the cruise fare.

[Two Wheels Only]

You forgot 3. Folks wouldn't be able to remove it.

True....maybe the "all inclusive" UK version suits those people...even though it actually cost more?:confused:

 

With either scenario, you are paying the staff's wages.

Every scenario.:D

[DragonFlyPPS]

Forgive me if this has been addressed. Lots of controversy about gratuities. Does anyone have evidence of prepaid gratuities going directly to the employees? If so, no problem with that. Does their base pay increase per cruise? Does NCL "pocket" with no distribution? I want to express my gratitude to all staff who went beyond and above to make sure I had a great time. I want to make sure the "worker bees" get my cash rather than Corporate with questionable distribution.

 

Thanks :)

[Zenica]

↑ That's a whole other topic which probably won't get any traction here. The subject of a gratuity/daily service charge/fee barely gets traction so expanding that into company practices which very few here would even be privy to is quite possibly a fruitless endeavor.

[swedish weave]

↑ That's a whole other topic which probably won't get any traction here. The subject of a gratuity/daily service charge/fee barely gets traction so expanding that into company practices which very few here would even be privy to is quite possibly a fruitless endeavor.

If someone posts that information, it is promptly deleted.

[Carole2313]

This may not apply to NCL, but on RCI, if you decide to take off the tips your cabin steward and servers will know and any cash tips must be reported and pooled with the other servers or they could be fired. They all get a printed sheet with the names and cabin #s of those who took off their tips. Easiest way would be to leave the tips in place and everyone is happy. That way if you tip anyone they can keep it.

Have a great cruise!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[RaiderDuck]

More energy is wasted on this non issue of a topic.

 

PAY the DSC

Do not tip anyone else period.

Enjoy your cruise - you will get great service everywhere you go.

If you really don't want to pay the DSC, there's a simple and 100% ethical solution: Look for a travel agent and/or cruise promotion for "Free Prepaid Gratuities." Book using that promotion and you won't pay the DSC, but nobody gets stiffed.

[swedish weave]

If you really don't want to pay the DSC, there's a simple and 100% ethical solution: Look for a travel agent and/or cruise promotion for "Free Prepaid Gratuities." Book using that promotion and you won't pay the DSC, but nobody gets stiffed.

Another solution was offered a guest on the Dawn last month by the service desk. They advised the guest to remove the DSC to resolve the complaint the guest was trying to resolve google. crew-center

 

Another thought is if NCL can comp cabins through CAS and land based casinos, they can surely cover the few dollars that are claimed by guests who have service issues.

Edited October 7, 2017 by swedish weave

[DMH15]

So, you would have no issues if they raised your fare by $15 a day which would then include the DSC?

 

 

 

I, for one, would love to see that happen.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[NLH Arizona]

I, for one, would love to see that happen.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I would as well. Hoping it is successful in the countries where they did it, so it will roll out here soon. I'm sure if they do, there will be complaints about how much one has to pay for their cruise, because those that don't want to pay the DSC, really don't want it included in their cruise fare either and my hope would be that they would go to another line, where they can still remove the DSC/automatic gratuities.