Tipping

[traveler0829]

Is it neccessary/reccommended to tip the masseuse on board ship?  

[Toofarfromthesea]

Gratuity is generally added automatically.  Up to you if you want to tip additional.  I do not.

[sparks1093]

Gratuities for spa services are generally added to the bill. 

[cb at sea]

Check your bill at the end of your service and see if it's been added already.  If it hasn't, then a tip is in order.

[zqvol]

Most lines add the gratuity to your bill. If they don't then 15% to 20%, just like on land is appropriate.

[GUT2407]

at least a million dollars like everyone else on the ship.

 

sheesh this whole tipping thing is out of control, mostly asked by people from the home of the tip, who, ehn someone from a place where tipping isnt demanded by everyone you meet, get snarky.

[traveler_1026]

Not sure I understand.  Is the question snarky?

[Heidi13]

2 hours ago, traveler_1026 said:

Not sure I understand.  Is the question snarky?

Noted this was your first post, so welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Negative, nothing wrong with your question. However, we get many threads started on tipping questions and they frequently become a somewhat heated discussion, as many countries have tipping practices that are significantly different.

[sparks1093]

10 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

at least a million dollars like everyone else on the ship.

 

sheesh this whole tipping thing is out of control, mostly asked by people from the home of the tip, who, ehn someone from a place where tipping isnt demanded by everyone you meet, get snarky.

Some people when traveling to a new culture (and the shipboard culture is one all it's own) want to know the right thing to do. I already know that when I travel to Oz or the UK there is no need to leave a tip at all and I'll be perfectly happy to do that. Unfortunately most of those who work for tips in the home of the tip rely on said tips for a large part of their income and those of us who used to work for tips can get a little defensive when we see someone say they are going to not leave a tip just because that's the way it's done back home (and yes, unfortunately that defense is sometimes it can be over the top). 

[spookwife]

20% is automatically added and is standard...just like any land based spa.  

 

that being said,  spa services on board are  hugely overpriced and tend to also come with a very pushy sales pitch.  you'd do far better spending your money elsewhere.  

[jgbataille]

23 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

Negative, nothing wrong with your question. However, we get many threads started on tipping questions and they frequently become a somewhat heated discussion, as many countries have tipping practices that are significantly different.

This is probably why Cruise lines make tipping automatic and let you know in advance. No server gets offended, and no client can say that they weren't warned.