jzjcwg Posted January 3, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Hi All Must confess that the whole tipping thing does my head in. Being an Australian and not being used it as I'm sure my friends over the pond are, it just seems like an extra charge that should have been part of the cruise cost. To Celebrity's benefit however you can opt out and elect to tip just those folks you want to, in addition to 18% on all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services. I'd much rather take that option and reward those people who stand out and provide exceptional service. Question is - am I being unreasonable? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisgal1290 Posted January 3, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Hi All Must confess that the whole tipping thing does my head in. Being an Australian and not being used it as I'm sure my friends over the pond are, it just seems like an extra charge that should have been part of the cruise cost. To Celebrity's benefit however you can opt out and elect to tip just those folks you want to, in addition to 18% on all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services. I'd much rather take that option and reward those people who stand out and provide exceptional service. Question is - am I being unreasonable? Regards If you are booking a Celebrity Cruise in Australia the gratuities are included in your cruise fare so it’s a bit of a non-issue. You can’t opt out Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzjcwg Posted January 3, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted January 3, 2018 If you are booking a Celebrity Cruise in Australia the gratuities are included in your cruise fare so it’s a bit of a non-issue. You can’t opt out Sent from my iPhone using Forums Thanks for tip, I'll check with my travel agent Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 3, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Thanks for tip, I'll check with my travel agent Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app The Gratuities should be included for any sailing out of Sydney or Auckland. If you are cruising elsewhere however, they will be added on as a daily charge or you can opt to pre pay or have them removed for you to pay personally and sometimes you can even get them paid as one of the chosen perks . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted January 3, 2018 #5 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Hi All Must confess that the whole tipping thing does my head in. Being an Australian and not being used it as I'm sure my friends over the pond are, it just seems like an extra charge that should have been part of the cruise cost. To Celebrity's benefit however you can opt out and elect to tip just those folks you want to, in addition to 18% on all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services. I'd much rather take that option and reward those people who stand out and provide exceptional service. Question is - am I being unreasonable? Regards simply, yes. the daily gratuity covers people that you do not interact with yet still provide you with direct services. feel free to offer a token extra ON TOP OF the daily surcharge to those you feel have gone above and beyond. 'when in Rome' and all that. the fee covers your stateroom attendant and your dining, regardless of where on board you eat( in 'included' venues, not specialty dining or anything that incurs a surcharge). it is a fee that is simply listed separately and should be considered part of the total cruise cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzjcwg Posted January 3, 2018 Author #6 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted January 3, 2018 #7 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Taxes and port fees are "listed" separately, too (if you look at the breakdown!)....but it's ALL part of the cost of cruising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted January 3, 2018 #8 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Cruise line explanation has to do with the income tax structure in the countries of origin of the crew. For many of the countries, if it was included in the fare, it would be considered salary and the crew member would have to pay income tax on it. However, as a gratuity the do not pay income tax on it (or maybe avoid declaring it). EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted January 3, 2018 #9 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app cuz they don't. Land based hotels don't either.. with taxes and fees adding as much as 25-30% on top of the advertised price. its just how the industry operates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rccampbell Posted January 3, 2018 #10 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app This is an income tax situation....if the gratuity were part of the cruise cost, then it would be counted as income to the cruise company. By listing it as gratuity, it is turned over to the staff and the staff claims/pays any income tax on it if applicable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted January 3, 2018 #11 Share Posted January 3, 2018 This is an income tax situation....if the gratuity were part of the cruise cost, then it would be counted as income to the cruise company. By listing it as gratuity, it is turned over to the staff and the staff claims/pays any income tax on it if applicable. I don't think this is quite right, but it leads me to word my explanation a bit differently. The crew are paid a 'modest' stipend on which they pay income tax in their home country. If the gratuities were included in the cruise fare, they would be disbursed to the crew as pay, and they would be taxed on it. But if they receive the money as a gratuity from the passengers, it is taxed/reported/treated differently and they get to send home more money. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 3, 2018 #12 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Where is your cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzjcwg Posted January 3, 2018 Author #13 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Where is your cruise?Mediterranean, out of Rome. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aulanis Posted January 3, 2018 #14 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Taxes and port fees are "listed" separately, too (if you look at the breakdown!)....but it's ALL part of the cost of cruising. They are not" listed" separately in the UK for cruises in the UK or anywhere. Maybe that is the same in AU. OP is cruising in Europe - Italy and Greece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aulanis Posted January 3, 2018 #15 Share Posted January 3, 2018 'when in Rome' and all that. . He is in Rome?? "In Rome, waiters / taxi drivers are getting spoiled with foreigners leaving tips and are now often expecting them. But you don't need to tip in Italy" ;p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzjcwg Posted January 3, 2018 Author #16 Share Posted January 3, 2018 They are not" listed" separately in the UK for cruises in the UK or anywhere.Maybe that is the same in AU. OP is cruising in Europe - Italy and Greece Not sure about cruises out of Australia but tipping generally is rare and only done for exceptional service. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 4, 2018 #17 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Mediterranean, out of Rome. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app No worries, in that case the gratuities will not be automatically included in the fare, you can choose to pre pay them or have them added as a daily charge on your cruise. You can also opt to remove them and pay out the gratuities to the staff personally (which is then pooled) as will not meet all the people who would normally get a benefit from the auto gratuity. They may be an opportunity to have picked the gratuity as a perk but if you are already booked that may not be the case. In any case, it is your choice how you deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 4, 2018 #18 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Not sure about cruises out of Australia but tipping generally is rare and only done for exceptional service. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app As mentioned, the gratuities are included in the fare for Australian cruises. And yes, you can still tip extra fro extraordinary service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisgal1290 Posted January 4, 2018 #19 Share Posted January 4, 2018 No worries, in that case the gratuities will not be automatically included in the fare, you can choose to pre pay them or have them added as a daily charge on your cruise. You can also opt to remove them and pay out the gratuities to the staff personally (which is then pooled) as will not meet all the people who would normally get a benefit from the auto gratuity. They may be an opportunity to have picked the gratuity as a perk but if you are already booked that may not be the case.In any case, it is your choice how you deal with it. I am doing the same cruise out of Rome and the Celebrity fare from my Australian travel agent includes the gratuities. So confusing! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 4, 2018 #20 Share Posted January 4, 2018 I am doing the same cruise out of Rome and the Celebrity fare from my Australian travel agent includes the gratuities. So confusing! Sent from my iPhone using Forums For overseas cruises, perhaps you got them included as part of the fare due to the deal they were offering, sometimes they include them automatically and sometimes it is as a perk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzjcwg Posted January 4, 2018 Author #21 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Still waiting to hear from mine but hoping same deal as you Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toofarfromthesea Posted January 4, 2018 #22 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though. Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app Because different cultures are . . . well . . . . different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 4, 2018 #23 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Still waiting to hear from mine but hoping same deal as you Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app I hope so too, that said, it is so much easier to just do the auto gratuities and not having to worry about who should get it and how much they should get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now