Paying Cash Gratuities Directly to Staff?

[radarcruiser]

On a cruise a few weeks ago one of my fellow cruisers said they had their automatic gratuities removed.  They then paid their waiter, assistant waiter and cabin steward in the requisite amount in cash.  I’m curious if others have done this?  

[prmssk]

What you describe can be done.  Personally, I leave auto gratuities on because those gratuities go to a lot of behind the scenes people that I will never have the opportunity to tip in cash.  I see these auto gratuities as just a cost of cruising.

[Fly and Sail]

You can do it that way but I find it very hard to distribute cash gratuities in a fair and balanced way. There are a lot of people in the tipping pool who all deserve a cut of it, not just the 5-10 people you come into daily contact with. Also, I think the auto gratuities are cheaper than individual tips. I would feel weird tipping cash in single dollar notes so handing out 5ers all the time adds up quickly.

[marieps]

6 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

You can do it that way but I find it very hard to distribute cash gratuities in a fair and balanced way. There are a lot of people in the tipping pool who all deserve a cut of it, not just the 5-10 people you come into daily contact with. Also, I think the auto gratuities are cheaper than individual tips. I would feel weird tipping cash in single dollar notes so handing out 5ers all the time adds up quickly.

I have been told by multiple staff that all waiters and assistants pool the cash anyway.  Hosts share with other hosts.  Only butlers and stewards keep it all.  On some lines bartenders do not share in the tack on bar tab percentage, so they keep whatever they get in cash while bar servers share in tack on gratis.

[markeb]

It's a difference that makes no difference. You're probably creating more work for them. They'll either have to pool the cash (most likely) or they'll have to tip out the folks supporting them (literally dividing the cash in some agreed to formula). I have mixed feelings when tipping extra. I just rarely carry cash anywhere these days, so I've added extra on a check or used the additional gratuity form.

[cruisestitch]

We have repeatedly heard that when you take off the auto gratuity, it goes as a black mark against your room steward and waiter. Not recommended.

[mom says]

29 minutes ago, radarcruiser said:

They then paid their waiter, assistant waiter and cabin steward in the requisite amount in cash.  

Yeah, sure they did. Next time you see them, ask them how they knew exactly what the requisite amount was for each person, and how they managed to track down all of the behind the scenes crew who are also entitled to a piece of the pie. Leave the autograts alone.

[Shipswap]

I agree that taking off the automatic gratuity would be a black mark against a staff that would only be only be addressed by pooling the individual tip. The person you wish to thank would not come out ahead, and have to make explanations as well.

[Fly and Sail]

8 minutes ago, Shipswap said:

I agree that taking off the automatic gratuity would be a black mark against a staff that would only be only be addressed by pooling the individual tip. The person you wish to thank would not come out ahead, and have to make explanations as well.

 

Of course there are many rumors, I remember a discussion a while back where it was alleged that there would be a popup or warning when your card gets swiped alerting staff that you opted out of gratuities. Nobody was ever able to prove if that's true or not. In the end I think most people who opt out, do so to be cheap and save money, give the steward 20 bucks and be done with it.

 

I came to the conclusion (for myself) that I like the autotips but since AQ/CC are already being charged more, I'm not spreading more cash around either.

[funship freddy]

I started cruising long before the cruise lines came up with auto tips. In the “old” system envelopes were left in your cabin toward the end of the cruise. An envelope for your waiter,  your assistant waiter, room steward, assistant room steward and the dining room maitre’d. There weren’t envelopes for every crew member. Then (and now) I tipped our steward during the cruise and also at “envelope time”. I have always given bartenders and pool servers cash tips at the time of service.

I far prefer the old system. The cruise lines now have control of our money and there is no way for us to know how much of this actually makes it to the intended party(s). Additionally, they diverted our tip pool to staff that previously were paid by a portion of your cruise fare. When you consider the many increases recently, it is a LOT of money. They raise the “crew appreciation” amount, they are reducing the service. (Once a day cabin service…..)

I do understand that cruising is a for profit enterprise but the continual nickel and dime changes are making me think hard after 50+ cruises. Just my personal thoughts.

[funship freddy]

Edit- Not all lines have reduced cabin service.

[prmssk]

20 minutes ago, funship freddy said:

I started cruising long before the cruise lines came up with auto tips. In the “old” system envelopes were left in your cabin toward the end of the cruise. An envelope for your waiter,  your assistant waiter, room steward, assistant room steward and the dining room maitre’d. There weren’t envelopes for every crew member. Then (and now) I tipped our steward during the cruise and also at “envelope time”. I have always given bartenders and pool servers cash tips at the time of service.

I far prefer the old system. The cruise lines now have control of our money and there is no way for us to know how much of this actually makes it to the intended party(s). Additionally, they diverted our tip pool to staff that previously were paid by a portion of your cruise fare. When you consider the many increases recently, it is a LOT of money. They raise the “crew appreciation” amount, they are reducing the service. (Once a day cabin service…..)

I do understand that cruising is a for profit enterprise but the continual nickel and dime changes are making me think hard after 50+ cruises. Just my personal thoughts.

The “nickel and diming” is happening because of the amount of choices consumers have and the fact that the average consumer compares the advertised (usually base) price when considering different companies, instead of looking at the all-in price. Cruise lines are just reacting to consumer choices to stay competitive. 
 

In my opinion (at least for what I’m looking for), cruising is still a good value for a vacation. When I get to the point where I no longer see that value, then it will be time to explore new vacation options. 

[jelayne]

1 hour ago, mom says said:

Yeah, sure they did. Next time you see them, ask them how they knew exactly what the requisite amount was for each person, and how they managed to track down all of the behind the scenes crew who are also entitled to a piece of the pie. Leave the autograts alone.

Also if they used the buffet at all did they go tip the staff that work there?

[Alakegirl]

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

 

Of course there are many rumors, I remember a discussion a while back where it was alleged that there would be a popup or warning when your card gets swiped alerting staff that you opted out of gratuities. Nobody was ever able to prove if that's true or not. In the end I think most people who opt out, do so to be cheap and save money, give the steward 20 bucks and be done with it.

 

I came to the conclusion (for myself) that I like the autotips but since AQ/CC are already being charged more, I'm not spreading more cash around either.

I have never seen any sort of pop up like that but I have seen that the room Steward has which tells them who has elected to remove auto tips.

[SLOTheta]

I keep the auto gratuity on our account. I also give additional tips to everyone who serve us, a few dollars per day for our room steward, $1 per drink at the casino and bar, a few dollars for breakfast or lunch service, $5+ for dinner in Blu. We gave $20 for our specialty dinner.

 

I like to directly support the people who serve us during our trip, the auto gratuity is the bare minimum for us. 
 

The extra $100+ per trip in additional tips won’t be too hard on my bank account, but I know every bit for the staff on this ship helps their families back home. 

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, radarcruiser said:

On a cruise a few weeks ago one of my fellow cruisers said they had their automatic gratuities removed.  They then paid their waiter, assistant waiter and cabin steward in the requisite amount in cash.  I’m curious if others have done this?  

The requisite amount? The auto Grats includes the staff you detailed but a % goes to other members of the "hotel staff" with whom they have no personal contact. Paying as you stated simply reduces the pay of the "hidden" staff. We would never remove auto Grats and tip over and above for extra service.

[Pinboy]

3 hours ago, radarcruiser said:

On a cruise a few weeks ago one of my fellow cruisers said they had their automatic gratuities removed.  They then paid their waiter, assistant waiter and cabin steward in the requisite amount in cash.  I’m curious if others have done this?  

I'm very suspicious when folks remove the Automatic Gratuities and " claim " they will tip separately in the" requisite " amount.  ( How do they know what that is )?

It just doesn't " sit right " with me.

We always leave the Auto Gratuities on , and tip " whomever " extra ---

The additional amount does not make a difference to the overall cost of our cruise .

Besides, I assume , especially our Stateroom Attendant might be notified that the automatic gratuities were removed and make for uncomfortable " feeling " every time we meet.

An excellent way to know would be when the 10 chocolates  ,the 4 bars of soap, and the 6 lotion containers that you requested are never there. 

Another way of knowing would be when he/she doesn't say " Have a nice day " or "  Enjoy your dinner ".

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

3 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

We have repeatedly heard that when you take off the auto gratuity, it goes as a black mark against your room steward and waiter. Not recommended.

 

And they also have to pool the cash IF their autograts are removed. While many of them will share any extra that is given, they are not required to pool that if the autograts are left on the account. And they are given cash after the autograts are removed and  they were to try to say they didn't get any cash and were to be caught, that's almost always immediate separation from the company.

[LarryHD2]

It was always my understanding that most of the people in line at guest services on day one were there to remove the automatic gratuities....  and there are always a lot of them.  Maybe I'm misinformed.

 

I keep auto-gratuities on and cash tip to servers along the way and leave a little for the room steward at the end.

[cruisestitch]

I just picture passengers going to Aqua spa café for breakfast and handing the server a dollar, then going to lunch at the Mast Grill and giving the guy who flips the burger another dollar, and that night tucking a few bucks under their plate in the MDR.  The next day a woman in Oceanview makes them a waffle, so she gets a tip, too and so on throughout the cruise………

 

What a nightmare😵‍💫😳😵‍💫😳😵‍💫

Edited February 3, 2023 by cruisestitch

[AtlantaCruiser72]

I just have to say how comforting it is for age-old cruise critic thread classics like gratuity, dress code, chair hogging, etc to be back. It just makes life seem so much more normal!

 

Can you remove the auto gratuity with the intention of tipping in cash. Yes. Should you. To me that is a personal and private decision. I leave mine in place and tip additional for exceptional service as I see fit.  Others may do something different, which I fully respect.

[Mike07]

5 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

We have repeatedly heard that when you take off the auto gratuity, it goes as a black mark against your room steward and waiter. Not recommended.

 

 

Not sure how you "know" that, as the automatic gratuities seem to be a giant black hole of information from all of the cruise lines about how they are divided up.

[Texed]

29 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

Not sure how you "know" that, as the automatic gratuities seem to be a giant black hole of information from all of the cruise lines about how they are divided up.

I would guess if anyone on Cruise Critic would know, I would bet Cruisestitch would.😊

[RD64]

Why is there at least one tipping thread per week -if not daily?

[cruisestitch]

15 minutes ago, Texed said:

I would guess if anyone on Cruise Critic would know, I would bet Cruisestitch would.😊

Aw shucks, I’m blushing.  Thanks.😊