Regent clarifies (no) tipping policy

[nyce]

Yes to all.  Everyone palmed the cash but it was obvious in the dinning rooms.    I agree with you .  We did not tip everyone, just special people.   We did not tip in the reservation specialty restaurants which are not easy to get into at a reasonable hour.  They were available around 8PM or later.   I noticed that the one night that I was able to get into one of them a couple walked straight into the restaurant and went directly a table for two unescorted.   Everyone else waited to be seated.    The staff automatically brought them their drinks.   How did they know what they wanted?   Why were they treated different from the rest of us?  Did they tip well?   Who knows.

 

On our tip list was the female housekeeper who did a beautiful job keeping our room clean and making the bed.   She worked hard and lots of hours and I doubted that her pay was very high.    I wanted to give her an extra tip.   There were four others that I tipped for similar reasons.    But I tipped no one else. 

 

BTW, the food was very good as well as the service.   The weakest restaurant service and food wise was the Italian semi buffet.    Compass Rose, the steak house and the French Restaurant were all great.   After eating in the two reservations only restaurants I really didn't care if went back because Compass Rose was equal in quality and service.

 

I think the cruise line that makes these rules on tipping should enforce it because it is awkward when some tip extra.    You are correct.    

 

 

 

[mj_holiday]

We also cruise on Regent because the tips are included.  On our last cruise I saw some tipping (i.e. one guest getting a drink in the theater asked the server to wait while she dug in her purse for a tip).  The problem with this type of tipping is that the people in the back shop probably don't get any share. (The bartender making a great drink ) These are the people that make it possible for a visible crew person to spend time taking care of us.  Yes, a crew member in a dining venue spends extra time helping you, getting you something special, and you give them a tip.  But then they are not spending time with the crew doing things that need to be done when there is time, doing tasks that help make the service special.

[rcandkc]

We are gold getting close to platinum.  We do not tip individuals since tips are included.  We do tip tour guides and drivers.  

[Pcardad]

We are Titanium and we tip because truly exceptional people deserve more recognition in life than Regent gives them.

 

I am not sure what our Seven Seas Society level has to do with tipping but I am new and just learning the rules here.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Oh gee I hate these stories about tipping going on throughout the ship.  We just don't do it, period.  Usually we donate to the crew fund at the end of the cruise.  Our next one is a WC, so we'll see how we feel then, but we have never tipped an individual on Regent, not even our room steward.

[ronrick1943]

And this is why Regent needs to make a statement on this post----is tipping expected and accepted? not expected and not accepted? Period, once Regent's management comes forward that will end these post and should be settled.

[nyce]

If Regent means what they say on their web site which is absolutely no tipping because it is charged in the price of the trip  then they need to tell their staff what the rules are too.    Otherwise it is just a sales pitch and we still are made to feel uncomfortable onboard.   The staff does not seem to keep it a secret  if someone gives them a tip.     The reason Regent needs to handle this a little better is because they make up rules, charge us more and then implementing them becomes our burden.   None of us really know if the staff gets the tips that are built into the price and if so how much do they get?    Some of us presume that they don't see any of it and feel guilty about not tipping someone who took good care of them.   I think this is the elephant in the room.   

 

I have gotten help with loading a heavy purchase into my vehicle at Costco .   They refused the tip and helped with a smile.   He said it was his job and that he was treated well by the company    Not a bad idea.

Edited January 27, 2020 by nyce

[Pcardad]

How about we just do whatever we want and don't tell anyone else.

[SedonaJoel]

Pcardad - Sounds like a great plan!

[Pcardad]

TY sir! 😃

 

[Mask-1234]

16 hours ago, nyce said:

If Regent means what they say on their web site which is absolutely no tipping because it is charged in the price of the trip  then they need to tell their staff what the rules are too.    Otherwise it is just a sales pitch and we still are made to feel uncomfortable onboard.   The staff does not seem to keep it a secret  if someone gives them a tip.     The reason Regent needs to handle this a little better is because they make up rules, charge us more and then implementing them becomes our burden.   None of us really know if the staff gets the tips that are built into the price and if so how much do they get?    Some of us presume that they don't see any of it and feel guilty about not tipping someone who took good care of them.   I think this is the elephant in the room.   

 

I have gotten help with loading a heavy purchase into my vehicle at Costco .   They refused the tip and helped with a smile.   He said it was his job and that he was treated well by the company    Not a bad idea.

Also cabin crew on airlines are not allowed to accept tips.

[ronrick1943]

19 hours ago, nyce said:

If Regent means what they say on their web site which is absolutely no tipping because it is charged in the price of the trip  then they need to tell their staff what the rules are too.    Otherwise it is just a sales pitch and we still are made to feel uncomfortable onboard.   The staff does not seem to keep it a secret  if someone gives them a tip.     The reason Regent needs to handle this a little better is because they make up rules, charge us more and then implementing them becomes our burden.   None of us really know if the staff gets the tips that are built into the price and if so how much do they get?    Some of us presume that they don't see any of it and feel guilty about not tipping someone who took good care of them.   I think this is the elephant in the room.   

 

I have gotten help with loading a heavy purchase into my vehicle at Costco .   They refused the tip and helped with a smile.   He said it was his job and that he was treated well by the company    Not a bad idea.

As it should beam 100% agree.  This would solve the problem, otherwise people will tip (as I will tip when I feel it's needed).

[westmount]

When we cruised on Oceania last year, it was the first time I got billed ?? per day for the butler and ?? for housekeeping services, sorry for the ?? but I forgot the amount. I like to tip employees who help make our trip a better one, no matter if included or added to the bill. It would seem all included is more marketing than policy, but it does make it easier on the top lines to not feel guilty by not tipping. The crew fund is a perfect way to say thank you as well, and in fact, when we walked off the ship, an officer I did not know thanked me for our contribution, as I guess it has meaning to the employees, 

  As i have stated before, I don't see why there is any controversy out there, as guest do not have to tip, and if someone wants to spend more of their own  money on helpful crew members, I'm not sure where the crime is. 

   Call me old fashion, but my housekeeper and Butler will always be taken care of, as well as the crew fund , hopefully not too much harm is done. I guess its a bit of guilt based on what we pay for these cruises vs what a $100 bucks here and there means to crew members. 

  I also believe they would lose employees if they really enforced the no tipping policy, so i gather all the high end cruise lines would have to embrace the same policy, and so far, its hear no evil, see no evil. 

[papaflamingo]

On 1/27/2020 at 4:28 PM, nyce said:

If Regent means what they say on their web site which is absolutely no tipping because it is charged in the price of the trip  then they need to tell their staff what the rules are too.    Otherwise it is just a sales pitch and we still are made to feel uncomfortable onboard.   The staff does not seem to keep it a secret  if someone gives them a tip.     The reason Regent needs to handle this a little better is because they make up rules, charge us more and then implementing them becomes our burden.   None of us really know if the staff gets the tips that are built into the price and if so how much do they get?    Some of us presume that they don't see any of it and feel guilty about not tipping someone who took good care of them.   I think this is the elephant in the room.   

 

I have gotten help with loading a heavy purchase into my vehicle at Costco .   They refused the tip and helped with a smile.   He said it was his job and that he was treated well by the company    Not a bad idea.

"Otherwise it is just a sales pitch and we still are made to feel uncomfortable onboard."  I am not the most experienced Regent cruiser, we have one 44 night cruise, but I was not "made to feel uncomfortable" about anything, especially tipping or not. 

"The reason Regent needs to handle this a little better is because they make up rules, charge us more and then implementing them becomes our burden."  No they don't and no it's not.  They don't "simply make up rules," the "rules" are clearly stated all gratuities are included.  What's "made up?"  And how is it "our burden" to follow the rules?  There is no "burden" at all, unless a crew member is standing there with his or her hand out asking for at tip, and I have never heard of this situation, and if it happened it'd be totally inappropriate.  

"None of us really know if the staff gets the tips that are built into the price and if so how much do they get?"  True, nor is it any of our business.  I don't know how much YOU get when I purchase your service or product either.  No one knew how much I got prior to my retirement, and no one knows how much I get in my retirement.  Not our business, not our problem.  Employment contracts are between the employer and employee.  

Apparently I was one who didn't "see any of it" and I assure you I feel no guilt about whether I tip or do not tip.  As for crew members refusing a tip, the cruise line states it's already included.  If you don't offer it, they won't have to refuse it.  If you really want to tip extra, and they take it, isn't that what you wanted?    

I imagine that Regent's desire is no onboard tipping exactly so their "gratuities included" does NOT become "just a sales pitch."   

 

[orvil]

Just off Explorer.  I didn't tip.  I received the excellent service that I expected.  I doubt there is a picture of me on the wall in the crew spaces saying she's a PITA.

 

I did tip tour guides and drivers.  I brought money for this purpose.  I gave one of the bus drivers a generous tip.  I observed the conditions that he was safely driving us in and decided that he was going above and beyond.  Drivers and tour guides often live in very poor countries.  It seemed to be the gracious thing to do.  It wasn't much, but it added to their total compensation.

[SedonaJoel]

Cruise staff come from countries with low wages.  That's why you rarely see many Americans working on cruise ships.  I don't care what the cruise lines tipping policy is.  We take luxury cruises and I can afford to tip so we always tip our housekeeping staff and any individual staff member who gives us great service.

Edited January 30, 2020 by SedonaJoel

[Pcardad]

1 hour ago, SedonaJoel said:

Cruise staff come from countries with low wages.  That's why you rarely see many Americans working on cruise ships.  I don't care what the cruise lines tipping policy is.  We take luxury cruises and I can afford to tip so we always tip our housekeeping staff and any individual staff member who gives us great service.

 

I agree 100%....and I will not make any comment about anyone who chooses not to tip but that goes both ways. 

[nyce]

Keep in mind everyone tips on this cruise line because it is included in the price.   And some give extra tips.

[UUNetBill]

I told myself I wouldn't get caught up in yet another tipping thread...but I just had to throw in my oft-repeated recommendation for the Crew Welfare Fund.

 

Yes, everyone likes to toss cash at the butler, steward, bartender, waiter, etc...but what about the poor crewmembers working behind the scenes?  You don't know which of them are working twice as hard to make your cruise enjoyable but none of them ever sees a dime pass directly into their hands...yet they work just as hard, if not harder, than the passenger-facing crew.

 

I'd like to see tipping just plain go away.  But if Regent says gratuities are included, I'm gonna go along with them and play like gratuities are included.

 

Tip, don't tip - doesn't affect me.  But if you insist on tipping, please be discreet and try to include everyone who's made your cruise amazing, not just the ones you see more often.

[Pcardad]

Crew welfare fund is a great option...just make sure you know what it funds and how the crew sees it. If you have a question, ask a crew member...not necessarily a 4 striper. We also donate to it.

[1985rz1]

1 hour ago, UUNetBill said:

I'd like to see tipping just plain go away.  But if Regent says gratuities are included, I'm gonna go along with them and play like gratuities are included.

 

Tip, don't tip - doesn't affect me.  But if you insist on tipping, please be discreet and try to include everyone who's made your cruise amazing, not just the ones you see more often.

 

My sentiments, exactly. 👍

Edited January 30, 2020 by 1985rz1

[taxare]

Bill, I've been avoiding this thread as well, however.....we always give to the crew welfare fund. The day before getting off the Voyager this month, we dropped off our envelope at reception and as usual we received a letter from the HR officer thanking us for the donation. There are a number of things that they do to improve the lives of the crew with the fund and while it's not much to us it can make a big difference to some of the crew.