What if cruise ship tipping was like a restaurant; based on cost?

[LMaxwell]

Would it be more fair if cruise ship tipping mirrored restaurants where the tip is tied to the price of the meal? Set it at a fixed rate of the total base fare and be done with it. Would you go for this setup?

[KnightsFan]

No, because your total fare doesn't reflect how much service you require. Somebody staying in the cheapest stateroom aboard may require the most work from the staff, while the person in a suite may require less.

[DebJ14]

Suite guests, who do pay more, are also charged more for tips. I would hope the extra goes to the room steward since the suites are more than double the size of a standard cabin. Plus, we have to tip the Concierge and the bar waiters in the Suite lounge.

[LMaxwell]

No, because your total fare doesn't reflect how much service you require. Somebody staying in the cheapest stateroom aboard may require the most work from the staff, while the person in a suite may require less.

 

Hey, that's the restaurant model. Just seeing how it would fly. Right now, proportionately, insides pay the highest gratuity versus their fare and even at the slightly higher daily rate those in suites pay a much lower percentage of their total fare. I'm saying make it even like on land; whatever someones bill is, tip on that.

[LMaxwell]

Suite guests, who do pay more, are also charged more for tips. I would hope the extra goes to the room steward since the suites are more than double the size of a standard cabin. Plus, we have to tip the Concierge and the bar waiters in the Suite lounge.

 

2 people in an inside cabin pay approximately $200 in tips for a 7 day cruise. let's say an inside cabin fare for a 7 day cruise is around $1000 before taxes, fees, etc. So they are paying 20%.

 

Now let's say 2 people in a grand suite are paying approximately $250 in tips for a 7 day cruise and let's say the grand suite fare for a 7 day cruise is around $5000 before taxes, fees, etc. So they are paying 5%, even though technically they are charged a few dollars more than the inside cabin guests.

 

Make it a flat 10% across the board of the cabin fare and be done with it?

[jennyp0208]

I think the challenge would come in the fact that they play games with prices. There is no one fare - it seems like every single passenger is paying something different when you count in sales, OBC deals, travel agent bonuses, flex pricing based on demand, and so much more. Can you imagine that conversation with the steward? "You worked your bum off, but their cruise was free as a casino perk so they didn't pay any gratuity." Do you charge based on the mythical brochure price? A flat rate is at least predictable.

[katiel53]

No because we book a balcony cabin at least and it doesn't take much to clean our cabin as we are neat and don't have junk all over. It would be the same or less cleaning than an inside or oceanview cabin, so don't want to pay more because our cabin costs more.

 

Sometimes though, I wish people had to pay for things they use on the ship such as the deck chairs by the pool. In the days when I first started sailing, we had to pay the cruise line for a lounge chair on the deck and it was ours for the week. If you didn't pay, you didn't get a chair. If the lines went back to that, gone would be the chair hogs.

 

I think we pay for many things we don't use such as the rock climbing wall, surfing, kids club etc. I know we can use all those things, but we don't and our fare includes the use by others.

 

There isn't any way to be fair to everyone, so I just accept paying for the cruise as it is. It's not the line's fault I choose not to use some of the things available.

[smplybcause]

Well it definitely wouldn't fly. Those in inside cabins are eating in the same dining room as those in higher categories (with the exception of those lines that have suite only restaurant), have the same activities, etc etc. The only difference between the two besides price is the cabin which often is a very small difference until you are talking about the suites which are charged more.

 

Yes on land you pay more in tip and total bill at a fancy restaurant vs applebees, but you are receiving different product and usually different service. On a cruise ship 90% of what one receives is the same, only the room differs.

 

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Thorben-Hendrik]

Plus, we have to tip the Concierge and the bar waiters in the Suite lounge.

NO - you do not have to!:rolleyes:

[sparks1093]

It would be an administrative nightmare because of the fare fluctuations from sailing to sailing. Besides which the tips cover more than just the meals.

[LMaxwell]

I think the challenge would come in the fact that they play games with prices.

 

I'd guess many people's bills at restaurants vary quite widely.

[Merion_Mom]

Bored?

[sparks1093]

I'd guess many people's bills at restaurants vary quite widely.

 

They do but the restaurant doesn't have to keep track of it for two years.

[LMaxwell]

Bored?

 

I don't understand your constant snark and derisiveness towards me on here, yet you're quite nice to me on the other social media sites. If you find the topic uninteresting, don't participate. But don't try to back hand it as unimportant or not up to your standards. At the very least I find you very helpful on factual matters, so if you want to discuss the more esoteric, please join in. Otherwise stop being two faced to me.

[champagne123]

Bored?

....

[LMaxwell]

They do but the restaurant doesn't have to keep track of it for two years.

 

So you aren't against the idea, you just don't think Royal can keep track of it accurately?

[grapau27]

I don't understand your constant snark and derisiveness towards me on here, yet you're quite nice to me on the other social media sites. If you find the topic uninteresting, don't participate. But don't try to back hand it as unimportant or not up to your standards. At the very least I find you very helpful on factual matters, so if you want to discuss the more esoteric, please join in. Otherwise stop being two faced to me.

I prefer gratuities the way they are but you posed an interesting question and it deserves intelligent answers.

I agree if someone can't say something nice don't say anything at all.

[Biker19]

Bored?

Interesting at how different angles a tipping thread can start - though virtually all end up doing the same thing

 

[sparks1093]

So you aren't against the idea, you just don't think Royal can keep track of it accurately?

 

I voted no, and as I said it would be an administrative nightmare so I doubt that the cruise line would give it serious consideration. The way it is done is way simpler for all concerned.

[voyager70]

I voted no, and as I said it would be an administrative nightmare so I doubt that the cruise line would give it serious consideration. The way it is done is way simpler for all concerned.

 

Agree. No way would this work.

[klfrodo]

If my opinion counted, I'd keep it as is.

 

However, I seriously doubt that the C Suite is coming to Cruise Critic for advise or ideas on how to run a multi billion dollar business.

If they are??? I need to adjust my portfolio

 

But, if they are listening. Escort your head of IT out of the building tonight. No questions asked

[ONECRUISER]

As other's said wouldn't work. Cruise fares vary, a lot. So far looks like 90% say no, I agree....

[lbjen]

Personally I would prefer that they just include the cost of what actually goes to the staff in the actual fare, and then allow people to tip for good service if they get it. That’s how tipping works in pretty much every other country around the world, so it’s not like staff or international passengers would have a problem understanding.

[Grandma Dazzles]

No. I prefer the way it is. Actually I wish the gratuities were added to the cruise fare. I like having tips billed to my daily account, but do not think tips should be able to be removed without a valid reason. I normally tip extra for good service, plus diamond/concierge lounge tips.

 

I travel solo, normally in at least a balcony room. As a solo traveler my cruise fare is higher and I am basically less work for the cabin steward. Wouldn't want a percentage of my solo fare.

[reallyhooked]

I say no. Fine the way it is.