Do you think it's better to take the tips off your card and pay them yourself?

Aldeya · May 18, 2004

I really think that putting the tips automatically on the cards will make the service less personable and less efficient.

there is no need for the crew to treat the cruisers better or worse.. they will get their tips, the same amount, guaranteed.

I cruised RCCL before and liked the idea that I can decide how much (beyond the amount required) and who I'll tip.

I'm going on Victory in July and thinking about taking tips off the sea pass card and tip myself.

what do you all think?

nancy M. · May 18, 2004

I prepaid my tip cost for our cruise. I did this so that I wouldn't have to worry about the $140 later. We are trying to prepay as much as we can prior to sailing. I figure I will tip them nothing less than this amount and I can always give them more for the good service they give. I figure it is easier to tip $100 at the end of the cruise than to tip $240 at the end.

Nancy
sailing Conquest 6/27/04

kristikae · May 19, 2004

I always leave them on and have had great service. I don't think you get better service one way or the other.

Kristi - [email="kristikae@aol.com"][img]http://www.bigotis.com/Glory/Atom.gif[/img][/email]
"No shoes, no shirt, no problem..."
Fantasy 3/95, Fascination 12/01, Conquest 1/03, Glory 9/03, Conquest 1/04, Mariner 9/04, Miracle 2/05

tef43 · May 19, 2004

Since the service staff has NO IDEA how you have elected to tip, whether it be automatic, or traditional, or some combination thereof, the theory that the level of service is somehow impacted by choosing one tipping method over another doesn't quite make sense.

I have not noticed any deterioration in the level of service since the inception of automatic tipping. To the contrary, we experienced the BEST service the last time out on the Triumph.

[B]Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas[/B]
[img]http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v196/tef43/almamater.jpg[/img]
Eleven cruises so far. Up next:
Shhhh, it's a surprise!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;10;9;7;10;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
And then:
Carnival Spirit 12/10/05 Mexican Riviera
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2005;12;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
Perhaps something else as well. Watch this space.

[I]Dance like it hurts, love like you need money, and work when somebody's watching.[/I]

pgmrdev · May 19, 2004

I'm told even if you take it off the bill and pay it direcly (which I sometimes do), they still turn it in. I have my doubts of that though .....
[img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/vintage-images/hitstoday.gif[/img]

<html>
<head>
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
[img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/vintage-images/hula2dancers.gif[/img][img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/vintage-images/homersofa.gif[/img][img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/vintage-images/hula2dancers.gif[/img]
Grand Princess 2-2001
Grand Princess 12-2001
Carnival Paradise 3-2002
Carnival Destiny 10-2002
Golden Princess 10-2003
Carnival Legend 6-8-2004
</body>
</html>

Brneyznfl · May 19, 2004

I haven't noticed any difference in service either. At first I really had my doubts but it sure is convenient to keep it on your Sail and Sign and not have to worry about having the cash at the end of the cruise.

[email="BrneyznFL@aol.com"][img]http://www.bigotis.com/Glory/Atom.gif[/img][/email]

NEXT CRUISE - MIRACLE 2/13/05!

Triumph, Inspiration, Holiday, Explorer of the Seas, Granduer of the Seas, Glory, Conquest, Sensation

CruiseFever · May 19, 2004

Like Nancy we prepay gratuities. I think it's easier and I have not noticed any difference in service. I'm going to tip that suggested amount/ automaticaly added amount anyway, this is easier for me.

Happy Cruising

Chris

[url="http://www.LifeIsCruising.com"]www.LifeIsCruising.com[/url]

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05
Carnival Valor 10/30/05

Cyt4SoreEyes · May 19, 2004

I can't say its better but it is what we decide to do and give our tips in envelopes to make it more personable and we do tip above and beyond the norm for that extra special treatment we may recieve while onboard. Which is just about always!!

Cyt

Atlantic
Oceanic
Norway
Enchantment of the Seas
Destiny
Voyager of the Seas
Conquest March 30th 2003
Glory May 29th 2004
Caribbean Princess Oct 23 2004

ralmyers · May 19, 2004

Speaking of this -- how late is the pursers desk open? I agree that I would prefer to leave cash and tip over and beyond the required 10.00 per day, however I don't want to wait in line for ages. I will be up till' all hours, so if the pursers desk is open late I will do it then :-)

Triumph
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00
&timezone=GMT-0500">

Fantasy - 94
Imagination - 95
Ecstasy - 99 (honeymoon)
Triumph - 04 (5 year anniv.)

rez1 · May 19, 2004

JUst returned from our 1st cruise. We stuck with the recommended tipping on our sail & sign cards, but used envelopes for the excellent service we received from the housekeeping, dining room, casual dining and camp carnival folks. We were just wowed by the level of service!

The purser's office is open 24/7.

GroupCruiser · May 19, 2004

I believe the service is OK, although it is just not quite as good as it used to be. It seemed the Room Stewards in the past used to live under the bed. You could leave your room for a few minutes and come back to find it cleaned up. Now they show up twice per day and that's it. I've seen it happen where you take a shower after breakfast, (after the room had been made up), and the wet towel stays there until the evening turn-down. That didn't happen before. On our last cruise I even paged our room steward in the afternoon one day and never got a response. Granted, the staff needs time for lunch, a break, dinner, and a life onboard too, but it seems a mid-day walk-through of the cabins just to check things out could be arranged.

On our first several cruises the busboy would always remember what we drank at dinner. A glass of Iced Tea would be waiting on the table when we arrived, and it was always kept full. Dinner rolls were brought around more than once, butter dishes kept full, and so on. They knew if you wanted coffee after dinner and brought it automatically. Now we have to ask for everything, every time.

The staff does get a list of who paid via their Sail & Sign card, and how much.

I'll be the first one to say that many staff people got screwed in the past and didn't get ANY tip after a week's worth of hard work, so having the amount automatically deducted is probably good for them. If the cruise industry wants to get good people, they have to be able to guarantee them a certain monetary return for their time. This makes it possible.

Cyt4SoreEyes · May 19, 2004

Ralmyers the Pursers desk is open 24 hrs a day.

Cyt

Atlantic
Oceanic
Norway
Enchantment of the Seas
Destiny
Voyager of the Seas
Conquest March 30th 2003
Glory May 29th 2004
Caribbean Princess Oct 23 2004

my1stcruise · May 19, 2004

How did you prepay your tips? Do you have to call Carnival?

Till the Victory
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;7;31;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Cruising89143 · May 19, 2004

Contact your TA or whomever you booked your cruise through and let them know that you want to pre-pay your gratuities.

Gordon

[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator"]http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator[/url]

NCL Starward-86, Starship Atlantic-91, Caribe-92, Seabreeze-93, Fantasy-93, Norway-94, Celebration-94, Sensation-95, Imagination-96, Destiny-97, Celebration-98, Triumph-99, Victory-00, Majesty of the Seas-01, Fascination-01, Carnival Pride-02, Majesty of the Seas-02, Carnival Legend-02, Fantasy 7-03, Glory 9-03, Fantasy 11-03, Triumph 3/04.

9/02/2004 Fantasy
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;9;2;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Navigator of the Seas 12/04/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;12;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

cantw82cruise · May 19, 2004

I think the prepaid tips are a great way to go. I'm sure there were times when someone spent more in the casino or shopping then they were planning, come the last day they didn't have any money left. This was one of the best things they have changed for their employees.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2005;4;2;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Time before another living legend is made.

Paradise (Carnival) 1999
Victory (Carnival) 2000
Destiny (Carnival) 2001
Legend (Carnival) 2002
Pride (Carnival) 2003
Miracle (Carnival) 2004

Kittymama · May 19, 2004

We haven't noticed any deterioration in service. If anything, I think the crew is a bit happier because they're more likely to actually get tipped. It used to annoy me to no end to watch people duck into the casual dining room on the last night to avoid tipping. We just leave our tips on the S&S, because they go not only to the cabin steward & table waiters, but to the folks in the Lido dining room who do a WONDERFUL job with little thanks. We've found we actually prefer the Lido for all our meals (but still leave the tip on for the main dining room waiters), so the S&S option makes it easy to ensure everyone gets their tip. Plus, I figure that for as hard as they work, & as much as I enjoy the cruise, $10 extra a day is worth it. They're not my personal servants who need to be dancing to my every whim--they're individuals who deserve as much respect in their job as I deserve in mine. If you particularly like the service you've received, you can leave a bit extra (we always do for the stewards) & even tip the Lido person cleaning your table.

Ecstasy--12/97
Fascination--9/98
Triumph--10/99
Sensation--4/00
Triumph--11/00
Imagination--4/01
Spirit--11/01
Imagination--4/02
Spirit--11/02
Imagination--5/03
Glory--11/03
Fascination--5/04

Cruise Dragon · May 19, 2004

For my wife and I, it the principle. To us tipping is not a given, it's a thank you for a job well done. How do I know how well the crew did their job until the last night of the cruise.

Walter

6/12/04 2nd Anniversary on The Carnival Miracle

[img]http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/y/inlove.gif[/img]
6/2003 Carnival Legend
1st Anniversary
[img]http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/y/inlove.gif[/img]
6/2002 Celebrity Mercury
Honeymoon

bencruzN · May 19, 2004

How much does the total tipping come to be for everyone including dinning staff, & steward? I think it's a good idea to prepay. Is there anyone else that needs to be tipped? Whatelse can be prepaid? I'm all for it.

Heading for my Destiny
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;2;6;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

bhardy1 · May 19, 2004

Is the Pre Paid tipping just for you room steward, bus boy, waiter, head waiter, concierge? Does the automatic tip go on drink bills still at the bar?
When you don't give envelopes out on the last night, does the wait staff think you are stiffing them??

Beth

Carnival - Sensation
4/00
RCC - Sovereign of the Seas
12/02
RCC - Majesty of the Sea
11/03

Up and coming Carnival Fasination on 11/22/04

tef43 · May 19, 2004

Infopop just swallowed my last response, so I'll try it again. If it somehow duplicates, I apologize in advance. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

To clarify:

There is "automatic" tipping @ $10/pp/day, which is the very first item charged to your S&S account after boarding.

There is "pre-paid" tipping @ $10/pp/day, which is due at final payment date. According to Carnival, under this method you may NOT decrease/increase tips via the S&S. If you wish to enhance the gratuities, you must do so in cash. If you wish to reduce them, you're stuck.

Both methods cover the dining room/alternative dining staff (NOT Maitre'D) and cabin steward.

Neither method affects the 15% added to bar purchases.

Neither method affects room service orders.

Neither method includes Camp Carnival staff.

Carnival does not have a concierge onboard.

*Most* passengers appear to have embraced this "cashless" (for lack of a better term) tipping, as I have witnessed few envelopes changing hands in the dining room on the final night.

[B]Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas[/B]
[img]http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v196/tef43/almamater.jpg[/img]
Eleven cruises so far. Up next:
Shhhh, it's a surprise!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;10;9;7;10;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Followed by:
Carnival Valor 10/30/05 CC Group
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;10;30;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
And then:
Carnival Spirit 12/10/05 Mexican Riviera
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2005;12;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
Perhaps something else as well. Watch this space.

[I]Dance like it hurts, love like you need money, and work when somebody's watching.[/I]

May 19, 2004

I saw above where it says the staff get a list of who tips what. I have a big problem w/ that. How much and when or if I tip is up to me. I in no way intend to stiff them, but I just kind of feel like it is a privacy issue. Why would they be provided with that list? It sounds like an opportunity to find out & retaliate against people who do not tip. It almost kind of feels like a threat or being tattled on, like a child saying, I'm going to tell on you so you better tip. Kind of strange if you ask me. It's like going to a restaurant, and how much you tip your waiter is shared with all the employees B4 you leave. Just seems kind of strange to me. Don't freak out, I do intend to tip, I just don't see the need to provide that information. Passengers are only going to be there a week or less, are they really going to remember how much a person over-tips, or under-tips? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

ralmyers · May 19, 2004

Well -- I would hope that if the room stewards, etc. do indeed receive such a list that they are provided it at the end of the cruise. I guess I could see 2 sides, either they work extra hard to earn more tips, or they don't care because they now know that they have it. I have always had good service so I am not really too worried. If even half of the people in my state would provide service as is provided on the ship I would be in cardiac arrest!

Triumph
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00
&timezone=GMT-0500">

Fantasy - 94
Imagination - 95
Ecstasy - 99 (honeymoon)
Triumph - 04 (5 year anniv.)

KTW35 · May 19, 2004

Last year on Triumph we did our tipping by hand.I think it is more "personal".

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2003;5;24;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Since We Cruised On Triumph.
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;10;23;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Until We Cruise On Glory.

drwestlake · May 19, 2004

We sailed on the Triumph a year ago and decided to hand pay ourselves also. All week long our room steward had been leaving the towel animals for our children, great service, etc. We gave her her tip before dinner on our last night. I don't know if she wasn't happy with the tip or what, but we got no animals that night. The kids were upset and we were confused.

tef43 · May 19, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by drwestlake:
I don't know if she wasn't happy with the tip or what, but we got no animals that night. The kids were upset and we were confused.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My experience has been that there are generally no towel animals left on the final night of the cruise. It was not because of any less-than-expected gratuity.

[B]Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas[/B]
[img]http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v196/tef43/almamater.jpg[/img]
Eleven cruises so far. Up next:
Shhhh, it's a surprise!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;10;9;7;10;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Followed by:
Carnival Valor 10/30/05 CC Group
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2005;10;30;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
And then:
Carnival Spirit 12/10/05 Mexican Riviera
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2005;12;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
Perhaps something else as well. Watch this space.

[I]Dance like it hurts, love like you need money, and work when somebody's watching.[/I]

Do you think it&apos;s better to take the tips off your card and pay them yourself?

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Do you think it's better to take the tips off your card and pay them yourself?