Free Promos are Not Free

[deliver42]

I tip $1.00 per drink also,but I have no problem with people who don't as long as they don't remove the DSC.

[Moby0215]

Tip cash if you want or choose not to. I always tip $1 cash per drink. When we were on the Escape in 2016 I walked up to the upper pool by around 1pm. I gave my usual $2 tip. The three bartenders standing togther said loudly for all those around to hear that this was the first cash tip they received all day to my surprise. They asked where I was from and I said Michigan. The three of them laughed and said the only tips they've received so far were from Michigan and Ohio like they were keeping track. I could tell that it made those sitting at the bar a bit uncomfortable, or should I say somewhat embarrased. It may not have been the most professional thing for the staff to say in front of the passengers but it told me a lot. They were very appreciative and it made me wonder how much the "house" really shares those prepaid gratuities/tips with the bar tenders.

 

 

 

The 20% does go to the bartenders but not how most people think. It is not added on over top their salary. It is used to pay their salary and some other bonuses/incentives etc.

 

 

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[Tatka]

The 20% does go to the bartenders but not how most people think. It is not added on over top their salary. It is used to pay their salary and some other bonuses/incentives etc.

 

 

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This is what I’ve heard too. They are salaried.

It used to be that companies paid $50 “salary” for tipped positions and the rest was made in cash tips. For a long time it is a normal salary plus bonus, that’s why it is very important to mention employee in surveys. That’s how bonuses are achieved.

[newmexicoNita]

Tip cash if you want or choose not to. I always tip $1 cash per drink. When we were on the Escape in 2016 I walked up to the upper pool by around 1pm. I gave my usual $2 tip. The three bartenders standing togther said loudly for all those around to hear that this was the first cash tip they received all day to my surprise. They asked where I was from and I said Michigan. The three of them laughed and said the only tips they've received so far were from Michigan and Ohio like they were keeping track. I could tell that it made those sitting at the bar a bit uncomfortable, or should I say somewhat embarrased. It may not have been the most professional thing for the staff to say in front of the passengers but it told me a lot. They were very appreciative and it made me wonder how much the "house" really shares those prepaid gratuities/tips with the bar tenders.

Look at it this way, people who work for tips really want and hope everyone will open their wallets for them. Because so of us do tip above the 20% they seem to expect it, but to make a comment about the only cash tip they received all day is out of line and I am guessing not totally true. I do not think anyone should feel bad if they choose not to tip an extra buck here and there. Also the DSC is split up between many, some who work behind the scenes. The bar tenders certainly get their share.

[CruisingNole]

On the Sky, which they are referring to, there is no 20% gratuities. There is just the extra $6 a day in DSC. But on a sold out ship would equate to about $80,000 for the week. That seems generous enough for a gratuity if you ask me.

 

WOW. So if you deem the bartenders are making "enough" money, than that's an excuse for YOU not to tip? You have literally NO IDEA what the guy making your drink earns. Do you walk around with your paycheck stub stapled to your forehead for all to see, so they can then judge you accordingly?

 

A tip is determined based on service received. So using your logic, if you go to a land based restaurant and notice a very busy bartender busting his butt, do you not tip, or lower the amount of your tip. because YOU have justified in your mind that he's earned "enough," even though you have literally no idea how much that is?

 

Do whatever you gotta do to make you feel better about yourself, I guess.

[SeaShark]

On the Sky, which they are referring to, there is no 20% gratuities. There is just the extra $6 a day in DSC. But on a sold out ship would equate to about $80,000 for the week. That seems generous enough for a gratuity if you ask me.

 

 

Hmmm...that is an interesting bit of math. "Seems generous enough", huh?

 

Let's continue with your math...

 

 

$80,000 for the week, divided among the 766 crew members comes to $104.44 cents per crew member.

 

$104.44 cents divided by the 7 days in a week comes to $14.92 per day.

 

Typical of crew to put in AT LEAST 10 hours per day which drills down to $1.49 per hour.

 

 

A whopping $1.49 in tips for an hour of work. :o

 

 

That is what you think "seems generous enough"???

[PTC DAWG]

I tip extra, and I always have the UBP...

[broberts]

WOW. So ....

 

Hmmm...that is an interesting bit of math...

 

I wonder why a passenger receives heavy criticism regarding their assumed tipping behavior yet not a single word is said about the fact that the cruise line pays its staff so poorly that tips are a necessary income supplement?

[Moby0215]

Look at it this way, people who work for tips really want and hope everyone will open their wallets for them. Because so of us do tip above the 20% they seem to expect it, but to make a comment about the only cash tip they received all day is out of line and I am guessing not totally true. I do not think anyone should feel bad if they choose not to tip an extra buck here and there. Also the DSC is split up between many, some who work behind the scenes. The bar tenders certainly get their share.

 

 

 

Bartenders are not included in the DSC. There are separate service charges for drinks and drink packages. But either way they don’t see that money like most people think.

 

 

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[NLH Arizona]

But either way they don’t see that money like most people think.

 

 

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Could you please post proof of this, so we can finally put it to rest?

[rbschultz]

Hmmm...that is an interesting bit of math. "Seems generous enough", huh?

 

Let's continue with your math...

 

 

$80,000 for the week, divided among the 766 crew members comes to $104.44 cents per crew member.

 

$104.44 cents divided by the 7 days in a week comes to $14.92 per day.

 

Typical of crew to put in AT LEAST 10 hours per day which drills down to $1.49 per hour.

 

 

A whopping $1.49 in tips for an hour of work. :o

 

 

That is what you think "seems generous enough"???

 

DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO CONFUSE ME WITH MATH :rolleyes:

 

In all seriousness... If tip isn't included (as per the Sky cruises) I'd tip. But if I'm taking a cruise where I've pre-paid 20% I generally won't tip UNLESS there are additional servers involved (ie around the pool or at the casino).

[Tatka]

I wonder why a passenger receives heavy criticism regarding their assumed tipping behavior yet not a single word is said about the fact that the cruise line pays its staff so poorly that tips are a necessary income supplement?

 

 

That’s why I really wish lines would collect as much as they need to pay to their staff through cruise fare, so there no more talks about crew aren’t getting enough or pax removing gratuities.

[adam_s_allen]

Hmmm...that is an interesting bit of math. "Seems generous enough", huh?

 

Let's continue with your math...

 

 

$80,000 for the week, divided among the 766 crew members comes to $104.44 cents per crew member.

 

$104.44 cents divided by the 7 days in a week comes to $14.92 per day.

 

Typical of crew to put in AT LEAST 10 hours per day which drills down to $1.49 per hour.

 

 

A whopping $1.49 in tips for an hour of work. :o

 

 

That is what you think "seems generous enough"???

 

I assume the extra $6 a day is used to give the bartenders gratuities, not the entire crew.

[CPicott]

I have a question. This is our first NCL cruise and we chose the free beverage package. I did read in the Terms and Conditions that we are responsible for taxes and 20% grat. On my vacation summary, there is a choice promotion service charge. Am I understanding from this thread that that service charge covers our taxes and grat? I won’t have to pay more once I’m on the ship?

 

 

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[PTC DAWG]

I have a question. This is our first NCL cruise and we chose the free beverage package. I did read in the Terms and Conditions that we are responsible for taxes and 20% grat. On my vacation summary, there is a choice promotion service charge. Am I understanding from this thread that that service charge covers our taxes and grat? I won’t have to pay more once I’m on the ship?

 

 

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You do not....but a few small tips goes a LONG way...

[CPicott]

You do not....but a few small tips goes a LONG way...

For sure! Just wanted to understand what the fee was and what it covers. Thank you!!!!

[JamieLogical]

I have a question. This is our first NCL cruise and we chose the free beverage package. I did read in the Terms and Conditions that we are responsible for taxes and 20% grat. On my vacation summary, there is a choice promotion service charge. Am I understanding from this thread that that service charge covers our taxes and grat? I won’t have to pay more once I’m on the ship?

 

 

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That is correct. You can still choose to tip bar tenders with small cash amounts as well, but it is not required/expected. One caveat is that if you get drinks while still in port in the US, you will have a small additional port tax charged to your account per drink. It's honestly quite modest, though and if you have any OBC, you probably won't even notice it. My partner and I have been on two NCL cruises so far and take FULL advantage of the UDP from the moment we get onboard and I think our total extra charges for port taxes have totaled up to under $10.

[newmexicoNita]

I have a question. This is our first NCL cruise and we chose the free beverage package. I did read in the Terms and Conditions that we are responsible for taxes and 20% grat. On my vacation summary, there is a choice promotion service charge. Am I understanding from this thread that that service charge covers our taxes and grat? I won’t have to pay more once I’m on the ship?

 

 

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no, you do not. That is covered in the service charge. The only exception is prior to sailing from many cities in the US, you will be charged a very small tax as it is the law of some cities that they collect taxes. It amounts to only a $ or so per drink and only while still in port. I don't think most of us drink more than 1 or 2 drinks prior to actually sailing..

[fstuff1]

DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO CONFUSE ME WITH MATH :rolleyes:

 

In all seriousness... If tip isn't included (as per the Sky cruises) I'd tip. But if I'm taking a cruise where I've pre-paid 20% I generally won't tip UNLESS there are additional servers involved (ie around the pool or at the casino).

thought sky/sun booze cruises have a higher dsc to cover all workers on board?

if not, then whats the point of higher dsc?

 

pool servers/casino waitresses covered by dsc, like other restaurant workers.

[susan1957]

As former NCL cruisers DH and I were open to trying NCL again. When attempting to book a 5-day cruise out of Tampa I selected the Free Drinks promo. Imagine my surprise when the total cruise cost amount included a $178 service charge for the "Free Drinks." What is free about that? I chatted with a NCL rep and was told the service charge is the 20% gratuities for the free drinks! Free drinks should include the gratuities or it isn't really free. No thanks, we'll stick to Carnival and Holland America where there aren't service charges for "free" promos. By the way, their drink gratuities are 15%, not 20%.

I HEAR YOU...I actually just posted about this. for a longer cruise it's like $250.00 service charge...i'm not thinking so....crazy

[ColeThornton]

nmn

[NLH Arizona]

No thanks, we'll stick to Carnival and Holland America where there aren't service charges for "free" promos. By the way, their drink gratuities are 15%, not 20%.

Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware that Carnival and Holland America had drink package perks as often and like NCL does. Folks have posted having to purchase drink packages on these lines, which increases the overall cost of the cruise.

[PTC DAWG]

I don't think most of us drink more than 1 or 2 drinks prior to actually sailing..

 

Speak for yourself....a good COLD Corona goes down so smooth when I board...our last cruise out of Miami on the Escape, the "system" wasn't up and running, they were just taking a count on a napkin after looking at your card for the UBP notation....I think the Bride and I went through 3-4 each...no charges ever showed up....apparently the "system" came back up when we were out in international waters. :)

[LrgPizza]

I have a question. This is our first NCL cruise and we chose the free beverage package. I did read in the Terms and Conditions that we are responsible for taxes and 20% grat. On my vacation summary, there is a choice promotion service charge. Am I understanding from this thread that that service charge covers our taxes and grat? I won’t have to pay more once I’m on the ship?

 

 

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The promotional service charge covers gratuities, but it does not cover taxes. While in some ports you may be charged state sales tax on the drinks. It will be a few cents or a buck, depending on the price of the drink. It's no big deal.

[susan1957]

First, the drink package costs $89 per day PLUS the 20% for gratuities. When purchasing it you pay one cost for the package and another for the gratuities. They are offering the package for free...not the gratuities. No surprise there.

 

Second, if you don't drink that much, and you get free drinks in the casino, they why would you choose the free drink package? It makes no sense. Choose something different...OR...pick the sail away rate and bypass the extra costs alltogether.

The drink package is $89 PLUS 20%...the equals $106.80 a DAY....That can't be...seriously.....you must be mistaken