Tipping on ship?

[ndabunka]

I have surmised that it’s $14.95 a day per person for gratuity. So my girlfriend and I are looking at about $200 for the week.

 

A few questions though. If you purchase things like alcohol on your own, Starbucks, etc do they add on more gratuity than the standard one above?

 

I’m not trying to be insensitive or an arse, but I don’t feel $200 tips for a week is commensurate with our travels. We only eat with service for dinner. We do not really drink. I personally feel the tips should be given to the few people who directly take care of us like in real world dining etc.

 

I read you can opt out of automatic gratuities. My question is can I lower the amount for automatic by a good amount. And then I would individually tip my server and cabin attendant? I don’t want to opt out of automatic all together but I feel more of my tips should go to the people who directly are serving me for the week. Is this do able? Thank you in advance!

 

You are going to see a LOT of opinions on this but here is a more "direct" answer to your question rather than an "opinion".

1. The cruise lines charge the "daily" tip fee on a per person per room basis so... YES, you will feel and want to leave that automatic tip in place & once you cruise you will understand why.
   
2. Although the cruise lines "say" that tips are included for servers and such, they still add an ADDITIONAL 18% surcharge on the drink packages for tipping (no "opt out" even possible for such a purchase)
   
3. If you do not buy the drink packages, you can tip on a per drink basis just as you would at your local bar.
   

In short, you aren't going to be able, nor will you want to "not pay the automatic room gratuities

[Sam Ting]

Exactly! We are going to pay either way.

 

Not me. I only tip directly. I couldn’t care less about how the back of the house is compensated.

[sft429]

Not me. I only tip directly. I couldn’t care less about how the back of the house is compensated.

 

Never seen anyone so proud of being so cheap.

[PoppyandNana]

Just remove the service charge and tip as you go. That’s what we do, and never had an issue.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

Issue? What kind of issue did you avoid by stiffing a good many deserving crew members? Think a dishwasher, who shares in the tip pool, is going to chase you down the gangway with a machete?

 

As I have said before and say it again, if you can’t afford all the associated fees and charges, INCLUDING TIPS, do us all a favor, don’t cruise.

[Redrobo]

Never seen anyone so proud of being so cheap.

 

 

First time you have been on one of these threads then?

Nineteen words for you to base such a unnecessary response.

[PoppyandNana]

Just opt-out and be done.....makes live easier!:D

 

Opt out and be done? What does that exactly mean? On the last day of the cruise you “opt out” and walk down the gangway with a satisfied smirk on your face on how you saved, I mean stole $100?

[sft429]

First time you have been on one of these threads then?

Nineteen words for you to base such a unnecessary response.

As opposed to your completely relevant post?

What can I say. Made me feel better...

[Redrobo]

Issue? What kind of issue did you avoid by stiffing a good many deserving crew members? Think a dishwasher, who shares in the tip pool, is going to chase you down the gangway with a machete?

 

As I have said before and say it again, if you can’t afford all the associated fees and charges, INCLUDING TIPS, do us all a favor, don’t cruise.

 

You really have no idea what the wages are for any staff or who shares the pooled tips. The person you quoted has said they still tip, why shouldn't they cruise?

Will it be such a bother to you that you need them to do you a favour ?

[Redrobo]

As opposed to your completely relevant post?

What can I say. Made me feel better...

 

 

Why did it make you feel better to make derogatory remarks to a poster, who only posted there own preferred way to tip?

[Sam Ting]

Issue? What kind of issue did you avoid by stiffing a good many deserving crew members? Think a dishwasher, who shares in the tip pool, is going to chase you down the gangway with a machete?

 

As I have said before and say it again, if you can’t afford all the associated fees and charges, INCLUDING TIPS, do us all a favor, don’t cruise.

 

We tip in cash the people who serve us directly. Others like to donate to the billion dollar company in the hopes somehow the money magically trickles down to the workers.

 

The cruise line allows it, if you don’t like the policy, then I suggest you find another line.

 

Have a great cruise whatever you decide!

[gerif]

We tip in cash the people who serve us directly. Others like to donate to the billion dollar company in the hopes somehow the money magically trickles down to the workers.

 

The cruise line allows it, if you don’t like the policy, then I suggest you find another line.

 

Have a great cruise whatever you decide!

Let me guess - the amount you tip in cash in no way comes close to the suggested amount. Feel really bad for those who have to serve you and the rest of the despicable cheapskates, most of whom come from non-tipping societies.

[Sam Ting]

Let me guess - the amount you tip in cash in no way comes close to the suggested amount. Feel really bad for those who have to serve you and the rest of the despicable cheapskates, most of whom come from non-tipping societies.

 

You have no idea. If you really feel that bad about how much we tip, you could always increase your donation to the billion dollar cruise line! That should make your troubles go away. Unless you are skeptical about the trickle down thing too....

 

Happy Sails!

[cb at sea]

The tips they charge cover your cabin attendant, waiter's, ass't. waiters, and head waiter. IF you buy a drink, the tip is added to the cost..18%....so if you don't drink, then you need not tip!

 

The included tips are for your convenience. The folks who are supposed to be tipped, will be. No worries on your part. You need not tip anything else.

[BirdTravels]

Pay your daily gratuities. Time value of money says you pay it on board,,,, not giving it to the cruise line until it is required.

 

Then bring your wad of $1s for per-item tips to bar staff, your $20s for additional cash grats to the steward and restaurant staff, and your $100s to spend in the casino.

[cindivan]

Why make things more difficult then need be? Leave the auto gratuities on, and give extra to anyone who goes above and beyond for you. Yes, the tips add up - especially on a long cruise, but it is what it is. I get so tired of reading about people who claim to object to the tips on a philosophical level, but in reality they just want to spend less money. So when you are at home in your own culture, tip what is the normal rate. But when you are on a cruise - go with what the cruise line suggest and you will be sure to take care of everyone who made your cruise fantastic.

 

 

 

THIS!!!!

 

 

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[BekkaW]

I'm not complaining at tipping during this cruise, I just do not feel people that had insanely little impact on my cruise deserve the same amount of my money as someone who has directly taken care of me. I do not feel the guy who is watching the kiddie pool deserves an equal shake of my contribution compared to the server who excellently serves me a three course meal 5 nights in a row.

 

As for fees, yeah it has gotten out of hand. The two worst are online ticket sites, who charge you for a ticket, then a convenience fee per person, then a service fee per person, then a handling fee per person. Turns say $50 tickets for an event into $75 a ticket at the end.

 

I think you misunderstand who shares in the auto grats distribution. Royal does publish this information if you care to look it up, but it certainly doesn’t include the lifeguards (who are at all pools actually, not just the kids pool). While you might not see in person all those who receive part of the grats, they do impact directly on your experience. Perhaps now that you understand this you will feel better about the system.

 

Coincidentally I am from a country where tipping isn’t really a thing, but we pay much much higher prices for everything because the full (and higher) wage of the staff is included in th price of the product or service. Whether you pay in the price or through tips it’s always the consumer that covers all the costs of a business. I have no issue with leaving auto grats in place, and tipping a little more directly to any individual who makes our cruise really great.

[loving2cruise]

 

 

 

hahaha!!

[DiscoingGD]

Just my take:

 

My first and longest job was in a full-service restaurant, doing almost every job there, so I know the difference between a job that has to interact with the customer and one that doesn't. I can say confidently that being a server is a much more difficult task than any behind the scenes work, requiring knowledge, speed, wit, and a consistently positive attitude, so I think they deserve more pay if they're on point. Just think of a restaurant you've been to where, on separate occasions, you've had great and terrible service. Think of how you felt leaving the restaurant those times; I bet the difference is staggering.

 

As mentioned in an above comment, there is a tip out system, but it is much different than the cruise's tip out. If a server at a restaurant was good, they would on average make more in tips and only have to tip out on the percentage of sales, so they still make more. I believe the cruise does it in a more communistic way where, at the end of the cruise, all the servers get paid the same. Talking to my servers on the last cruise (who were awesome), they confirmed that the prepaid gratuities made many workers complacent and when asked, said they preferred cash to the auto-tip. I believe them, because while everyone else on my cruise was professional, these guys were the only ones who were personable too.

 

Anyway, for better or for worse, I cancelled my auto-tip and paid cash to my servers, as well as my cabin steward on the last day. It evened out to the same cost, so I didn't do it to save money. I just wanted to allocate my tip to those who truly made my cruise a wonderful experience. They can share it with whomever they want in the back of the house that deserves it.

[Reds4life]

Any of you that pay $58 per day for a family of 4 are getting taken advantage of and I laugh at all of you blindly give your money away. Given the situation OP described of only being served dinner and having your room cleaned should not add up to the amount the cruise lines charge. Drop the auto tips, directly tip those who serve you well, and smile at the idiots who have a couple hundred dollars less than you because they got swindled.

[scorpluvsdolphins]

Here's the gratuity breakdown per person per day:

 

Standard stateroom $14.50 per person per day:

Stateroom Attendant: $3.55

Dining & Culinary staff: $6.25

Other Hotel Services: $4.70

 

Suite $17.50 per person per day:

Stateroom Attendant: $6.20

Dining & Culinary staff: $6.25

Other Hotel Services: $5.05

 

 

 

In the old days "other" hotel services was not a part of the suggested tips.

Royal shows more profit as cruisers are now paying this.

 

 

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[CruisingNole]

If you’re spending time worrying about $14.50 a day, you probably can’t afford to cruise. Just pay your damn share or stay home. Those folks bust their butts to please you. If you don’t want to pay your auto grats, you should personally notify every staff member and give them a heads up on day one of your cruise. But the reality is that you don’t have the cajones to do that. More than likely you sheepishly remove them on the last night.

[lazydayz]

Your money, your choice. Once you are on the ship, your feelings may change. While I agree with you on an intellectual level, I have always felt that at least the recommended tips were merited.

[ditmar2007]

Not me. I only tip directly. I couldn’t care less about how the back of the house is compensated.

This nearly makes me wish for you to have non-washed bed linen and towels and dirty dishes

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Thank you for the replies. I’m not intending to not tip anyone but my cabin attendant and main servers. I was just trying to see if I was able to make sure they get more piece of the pie I am contributing.

 

It is true tipping cultures vary. Through my extensive international travels I’ve learned America is a far bigger tipping culture. It frustrates me that big companies like cruise lines pay their workers so poor that cruisers are expected to pick up the tabs for these wonderful workers.

 

I used to work in the aviation industry. Everyday there are tons of people who work behind the scenes (and some in front) who get paid poor and get nothing in way of tips. Case and point a luggage handler who loads your plane. A check in agent who takes care of your reservation during irregular ops. It’s never expected nor norm to tip these ppl in these travel services. So I guess I don’t get why it is so common place for it to be drastically different for a cruise line.

 

I just don’t feel compared to normal hotels or restaurants in America it is like this. Tips are not at all spread around like that.

 

I’m sure those are words that offend some, but it’s true.

 

Look at it this way. If they paid them higher wages then the fares would be higher.

 

Either way the cruising public is going to pay.

 

Bill

[BekkaW]

Look at it this way. If they paid them higher wages then the fares would be higher.

 

Either way the cruising public is going to pay.

 

Bill

 

Completely agree Bill. As I said in my comment, here in Oz we pay a lot more for everything because wages are higher.