Tips going Up

[The_Big_M]

No it can be removed - period!

 

As EU law requires it to be removable!

 

There is no obligation to discuss it first.... and unsatisfactory can be anything.... like too much begging for tips ;p

 

 

 

But what are we discussing here anyway? :confused:

 

"I want to remove the gratuity!"

 

"Would you like to let us know why?"

 

"No - just remove it!"

 

End of story! :p

 

Have you even sailed MSC? It doesn't sound like it, since you make argumentative statements that do not match their policy.

 

Further, if that's the way you speak to service staff - issuing blunt orders, I daresay you won't get a good outcome. It's meant to be a holiday, not you bossing people around.

[fishtaco]

To get back to the topic of this thread:

If someone is truly concerned and willing to make a big fuss over an additional $1 (or $2 per cabin)/day, $14/week, then perhaps they should ask themselves Why?

Frankly, I don't get it. I can afford it. If I couldn't, I wouldn't cruise. I consider it an additional service charge to be paid with cruise fare, port fees etc.

I wish RCI would just change this charge from "tips" to "service charge" like many other cruise lines are doing. And make them mandatory. That would stop a a large percentage of the threads on these boards.....;)

JMHO

 

They dont need to because it is in their old Australian terms and conditions! it is plain to see that grats are deemed a "service charge" by RCI so the same applies to USA

 

"Gratuities (Tips)On all of ourships, it iscustomary to offer gratuities(also known as“service charge” or“tips”)to staffmemberswho you feelhave given you good service and personal attention. An approximate daily total of A$15.00 per guest(A$18.00 forsuite guests),percruise night,willcovercabin and dining roomservice for adults and children.We do offer the option to pre-pay your onboardgratuitiesin advance of your holiday and thesewill automatically be added to yourcruise price at the time of booking."

[fishtaco]

You pretty much have no clue what you are talking about. For one, when a TA gives free gratuities, it's often just OBC added to your account to cover them. There is nothing hidden.

 

Any other unfounded statements or opinions today?

 

Where does that obc come from dont you wonder? if it was out of the TA,s pocket they would simply offer cash or an even cheaper cruise price but obc only comes from the cruiseline and is only worth "cost price" so a fraction of the cost actually charged to customers without obc who pay full cruiseline charged price.

 

This is not unfounded but fact and the reason so many cruiselines have banned cashing in obc in the casino,its does not have the same monetary value as money plain and simple.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Have you even sailed MSC? It doesn't sound like it, since you make argumentative statements that do not match their policy.

 

Further, if that's the way you speak to service staff - issuing blunt orders, I daresay you won't get a good outcome. It's meant to be a holiday, not you bossing people around.

Their policy is you can remove the grats - whether you need to make up a little story or not - does not really make any difference... :rolleyes:

They are required by law to let you remove and they will do so!

[fishtaco]

So many incorrect statements here. The most amusing was how you used to go on how Australians were ripped off compared to US cruisers who got the best prices, and called those who disagreed cruise line shills and similar, yet now say we pay the same. Good to see you've at least changed your tune on this!

 

Yep I am not a cruiseline fan boy like yourself!

 

I said aussie cruises have not gone up not they match US prices?

 

And if you have such a good memory (or are you a search stalker as well as fan boy?) you will remember I booked and paid deposit with RCI USA and then at final RCI AU took over and charged me $800 more than my booked price! when I booked RCIAU was new and not a norm.

 

Do you also remember when the AU$ was above parity with US$ but RCI au was still charging more than US for the same cruise? I am sure you will look it up though to jog your memory lol

 

You would also remember thats why I swapped to Carnival.

 

 

 

 

.

[fishtaco]

Tips for our 15 nt. TA in April on X will be $435. If we took a staycation and ate all meals out, it would cost us at least $300 in tips if we only ate at mid priced chains. I'd still have to make my bed and clean up after myself - well worth $135 to me.

 

I'm a light drinker, so I can't even imagine paying over $1,000 for liquor, but was wondering if people who take longer cruises still buy the package or is it more of 7 party thing?

 

Many Australians buy the package and most cruises are 9 nights or longer with many 10-12 nighters,we purchased it on a 15 night RCI cruise but we decided to cancel it during the cruise because it was too easy to over drink and it changed our cruising experience.

 

Not sure if you can still cancel mid trip but the drinks supervisor took pity on us lol but it did cost an entire days package cost for the privilege of cancelling,but that was ok we didnt want to drink anymore than we already had done by that stage.

Edited January 2, 2018 by fishtaco

[The_Big_M]

Their policy is you can remove the grats - whether you need to make up a little story or not - does not really make any difference... :rolleyes:

They are required by law to let you remove and they will do so!

 

Thanks for confirming you have not sailed with them. That is not their policy, but feel free to try them out and see how you go.

[Saab4444]

Thanks for confirming you have not sailed with them. That is not their policy, but feel free to try them out and see how you go.

 

 

 

Actually I sailed with MSC two times but more important know European law and worked for many years in the shipping industry. In Europe you have two options: make gratuities a voluntary payment like Aida, Costa, P&O and MSC do or include it in the base rate like TUI and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises do.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[steveru621]

I read this you don't have to do anything until the time of sailing. From my TA

 

"Pre-existing bookings confirmed prior to January 2nd, 2018 will have until the time of sailing to add and pay their gratuities at the old rate of $13.50 per person per day in Standard Staterooms, and $16.50 per person per day in Suite Class."

[The_Big_M]

Actually I sailed with MSC two times

 

Actually my post was to Thorben-Hendrik - unless you are the same person using two accounts?

 

In Europe you have two options: make gratuities a voluntary payment like Aida, Costa, P&O and MSC do or include it in the base rate like TUI and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises do.

The way MSC describe their policy and require gratuities is not the same as P&O or other US owned lines.

[tbillcruising]

Just got a email from my TA notifying me tips go up $1.00 pp/per day starting 1/2/2018. If I prepaid them I will be grandfathered in.

 

Anyone else here this.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Tipping cannot "go up" as it is entirely up to an individual if, when and how much they would like to tip someone. It is not meant to be a requirement. It is a reward for great service. You cannot be told how much to tip. It is up to you. It cannot increase unless you choose to increase it.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Actually I sailed with MSC two times but more important know European law and worked for many years in the shipping industry. In Europe you have two options: make gratuities a voluntary payment like Aida, Costa, P&O and MSC do or include it in the base rate like TUI and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises do.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Exactly!

 

There is no freaking way they can make you pay grats on MSC!

 

They would be in BIG trouble!

 

I think they are giving Americans a hard time because they can get away with it :Dand will remove for Europeans without blinking an eye! :p

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Actually my post was to Thorben-Hendrik - unless you are the same person using two accounts?

 

The way MSC describe their policy and require gratuities is not the same as P&O or other US owned lines.

Give it up - MSC CoC very clearly states you have the right to remove gratuities!

 

Almost the same wording as RCI! :D

Baby you are just wrong in hinting at something that is just not there....

 

They tried to bully you - because they know you are American - they did not want to let that monster-tip go....;p

[maryann2]

 

I think they are giving Americans a hard time because they can get away with it :Dand will remove for Europeans without blinking an eye! :p

Looks like they will be adding gratuities to the cruise price in Europe also after April 1st 2018

 

Service Charge - Costa Germany - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

[The_Big_M]

Give it up - MSC CoC very clearly states you have the right to remove gratuities!

 

Almost the same wording as RCI!

 

 

 

You give it up. It only states you may remove them _exactly as I originally stated to begin with_: in the case of poor service!

 

 

Nothing like RCI's wording.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Looks like they will be adding gratuities to the cruise price in Europe also after April 1st 2018

 

Service Charge - Costa Germany - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

Costa - yes

Aida - yes

TUI - yes

MSC - no

[Thorben-Hendrik]

You give it up. It only states you may remove them _exactly as I originally stated to begin with_: in the case of poor service!

 

 

Nothing like RCI's wording.

Same wording on RCI...

 

 

"Please remove the gratuity from my account - as stated in your CoC - I think your service stinks!"

 

 

"Certainly sir!":p

 

Poor service is always in the eye of the recipient - that IA why the court case mentioned was lost - you do NOT have to reason with them - you can even issue a charge back with your CC if it was issued in Europe as the case went to the EU high Court and no cruise - line can make grats mandatory or refuse to give them back when they are demanded back for ANY reason!

The CC has to view a grat charge as - no service surrendered!

 

So actually it is easier than knowing the US - doubt a US CC would allow a charge back....

Edited January 3, 2018 by Thorben-Hendrik

[The_Big_M]

Same wording on RCI...

 

 

"Please remove the gratuity from my account - as stated in your CoC - I think your service stinks!"

 

 

"Certainly sir!":p

 

Poor service is always in the eye of the recipient -

 

 

 

So you're saying you either:

1) lie

2) view excellent service as poor service so that you can remove the service charge.

 

If you're fine with the ethics and integrity of your actions, then sure.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

I have honestly yet to see continusely excellent service on a mass cruise - line!

 

Spotty and overall mediocre at best!

 

But I am fine with average service!

 

But as defined by the CoC - grats are only for excellent service surrendered/ payable!

 

 

Gratuities are a cruise-line - scam IMHO!

Cruise - lines have no ethics or integrity it is all about the CoC!

 

 

Please define excellent service for me!:p

Edited January 3, 2018 by Thorben-Hendrik

[fishtaco]

Lol at where this thread is heading lol

 

Its great news that Europe RCI cruises may start to include grats in the cruise price,lets hope USA goes down the same path and then people can just get on and reward staff in anyway they feel fit,extra money or a simple handshake & smile.

 

Many North Americans will never accept that gratuity is set by a modern cruise line because it is in fact a "service charge" and not a casual Tip and modern cruisers are not meant to be remove them in any shape or form! of course with any service that fails to deliver very badly you have the right to depute a service charge when service was not delivered but its rare.

 

Why would au RCI state in their old pre included in the price grats

T&C,s that grats were a "service charge" if they were not? it is one company not many! simple to look up and see if you dont believe my copy& paste a few posts up.

 

Fact:

For the amount of common to the culture cash tippers in USA there are just as many tip stiffer,s on ocean and land.

How to know: visit a common eatery in USA and simply ask your waitstaff why the table beside you left half their food un eaten and drinks half finished and you will be told the truth,they do it to stiff the tips! By leaving food and drinks it shows un warented displeasure for a purpose. :)

[Biker19]

Its great news that Europe RCI cruises may start to include grats in the cruise price,lets hope USA goes down the same path and then people can just get on and reward staff in anyway they feel fit,extra money or a simple handshake & smile.

I think you misread some previous posts - RCI is not including them, Costa is.

[BecciBoo]

You can't go to guest relations and lower them. You can remove them then hand out the cash at the end of the cruise.

 

 

Which is what we've done for almost every cruise. I just resent having someone force us to tip, that's all. We tip what we want to whom we want, when we want. And that's how a tip should be handled...based on the definition of Tip. "A gratuity given for service above and beyond expectations." I reserve the right to make that determination. And we consider ourselves to be extremely generous. But I'm not tipping someone who did not achieve that criteria. Or who never even made contact with us. Just sayin....

[BecciBoo]

Fact:

For the amount of common to the culture cash tippers in USA there are just as many tip stiffer,s on ocean and land.

How to know: visit a common eatery in USA and simply ask your waitstaff why the table beside you left half their food un eaten and drinks half finished and you will be told the truth,they do it to stiff the tips! By leaving food and drinks it shows un warented displeasure for a purpose. :)

 

And that IS NOT a fact and is totally unsubstantiated. I leave food and drink unfinished all the time...and leave a tip if warranted. And I have withheld tips about 1% of the time. Tips are for servers not the cook and his food. Your statement is ridiculous.

[AlohaPride]

This is our first trip with RCCL. On our usual line, HAL, if you remove the auto gratuity and pay crew members cash, they have to turn that tip in. If you leave the auto gratuity and tip cash, then they get to keep it. Is RCCL different? If you remove the auto and tip cash, they get to keep that tip?

 

 

I really am curious about this question I asked. I haven't seen an answer. Does anyone know if the same is true of RCCL? If you remove auto-gratuity, any tips you give in cash are turned in and if you don't remove auto-gratuity extra cash tips are kept?

[Biker19]

I haven't seen an answer. If you remove auto-gratuity, any tips you give in cash are turned in and if you don't remove auto-gratuity extra cash tips are kept?

In this and some other recent tipping threads, is a report from someone who asked the hotel director on a a ship and the answer was that all cash goes to the person, regardless of auto-grats status.