Why haven't daily gratuities gone down?

[Mick B]

Hi,

Sorry, all of my cruises were booked sometime back and it now seems after checking on Royal's booking site that you can now select MTD without paying the pre-paid gratuities.

Things have changed and I was not aware, so thanks for pointing this out.

Sorry again if I have mislead anyone, that's not what I want to be doing here.

 

Mick.

 

[gavvy]

19 hours ago, sgmn said:

In the UK it is illegal to pay less than the minimum wage irrespective of the job. 

It is the norm to tip full service restaurants, taxis, hairdressers,

usually 10 to 15%.

It is not the norm to tip in pubs or cafés unless you're having a full meal.  If you're a regular or have a large order you might tell the bar person to keep the change. 

 

When I worked as a server in a UK chain restaurant I would say about 1/3 or less would leave a tip and it was mostly around 10% or less.

 

I've not heard of anyone tipping a taxi driver here, I would find that odd, and so would he I think,  Same with a Hairdresser, it's not the norm to tip them as far as I am aware.

 

There are a few places who used staff tips to make up wages to the legal miniumn, I think they have mostly stopped this practise though.

 

Lets face it the auto tips on a cruise are nothing of the sort- on a UK Invoice its shown as a servicece charge yet a USA invoice shows as a gratituity.  It's making up the wages of staff so RCL can get away with paying them as little as possible off the bottom line.  If too many removed the charge then RCL would have to make it u from theitr pocket something the do not wish to do.

[ExpatBride]

On 5/8/2023 at 6:34 PM, Liljo22 said:

 Now every POS system asks if you want to leave a tip.  You could avoid the tip jar but now you are consciously telling the employee that you are not tipping them if you don't add a tip.

 

 

This started happening in Denmark a few years ago. It asks if you want to add "drik penge" (drink money) to the total and all of the waitstaff I've ever encountered press "nej" (no) without asking. Before I moved here, I traveled over from the US 1-2 times a month and the taxi drivers always used to remind me that "a tip is not customary in Denmark." I love the no-tip culture over here. It's so much easier to just pay what the establishment feels is a reasonable price for whatever they're selling without the need to play the tipping game.

 

As for daily gratuities, it's a ridiculous system but I just include it in the cost of the cruise and don't give it a second thought.

Edited May 11, 2023 by ExpatBride

[robmtx]

7 hours ago, Mick B said:

4 hours ago, Mick B said:

Hi,

Not sure what the rate is as my wife sorts it all, but if you pay your gratuities in full beforehand then you pay slightly less than if you pay at the end of your cruise. I think you save around 4% ...

 

In the meantime, I can only suggest the following...

Pay you gratuities up front as you get them at a cheaper rate and if a employee excels and you want to reward just him, then slip him an envelope at the end of the cruise with some cash in it).

 

Maybe your wife pre-paid the gratuities before they were increased. In this case, your statement would be true. If you prepay, and the rate goes up, you're locked in on the lower rate. 

[mugtech]

My solution on the once a day room service was to tip the steward half the usual because he is doing twice the cabins, comes out the same for him

[livingonthebeach]

I wonder how long it will be until RCI changes the word gratuities to something like Princess which changed from gratuities to “Crew Appreciation” and Cunard to “hotel and dining service charge”.  Or simply just put out a tip jar like this one:

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, mugtech said:

My solution on the once a day room service was to tip the steward half the usual because he is doing twice the cabins, comes out the same for him

So you know how many cabins before and now. 

 

My steward said she had 17 and went to 25. Not double. ..sounds like another excuse.

 

Sounds worse than carnival. Carnival is becoming higher class than rcl. They whine less. 

Edited May 11, 2023 by firefly333

[Moltar]

Havent been on in a few months, glad see the bickering is still going strong here at CC.

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

So you know how many cabins before and now. 

 

My steward said she had 17 and went to 25. Not double. ..sounds like another excuse.

 

Sounds worse than carnival. Carnival is becoming higher class than rcl. They whine less. 

I wonder if Carnival stewards also have passengers interrogating them about their working conditions?

[firefly333]

7 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I wonder if Carnival stewards also have passengers interrogating them about their working conditions?

On carnival I always read how much friendly crew and stewards are vs other lines. I'm not sure but carnival pax claim the crew is happier to work on carnival. Carnival had a skirt steak and changed to something that to me was all gristle. Not a whimper. Bacon still every other morning at the buffet, they post go get a blt and dont post endless threads about the cut backs. 2 increases in tips, and cut back to once a day cabin cleaning. I dont see the complaints like I see here. 

 

I like their lunches but find almost nothing for dinner so do more pay restaurants that are just as good as rcl but cheaper. Their pay italian still gives free wine the first night. Is $18 and people rave over the tomahawk pork chop. I can still get surf and turf at their steak house. Lobster and a smaller filet. Mardi gras and her sisters are moving toward more pay restaurants. They are mostly pretty reasonable to me. Though they have gone up, still well priced. 

 

I just see a lot more people who take increases and cut backs in stride on carnival. I read their boards almost daily so if there was the same outrage I see here, I'd have seen it. People think it's just pinnacles who act entitled, but I see it as a rcl issue. Go look for yourself. They also have once a day, do you see any threads like this over there? 

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

So you know how many cabins before and now. 

 

My steward said she had 17 and went to 25. Not double. ..sounds like another excuse.

 

Sounds worse than carnival. Carnival is becoming higher class than rcl. They whine less. 

It isn't my concern how many cabins they do; all that concerns me is I am getting less than before, therefore I am not paying the same as before

[Ocean Boy]

9 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

On carnival I always read how much friendly crew and stewards are vs other lines. I'm not sure but carnival pax claim the crew is happier to work on carnival. Carnival had a skirt steak and changed to something that to me was all gristle. Not a whimper. Bacon still every other morning at the buffet, they post go get a blt and dont post endless threads about the cut backs. 2 increases in tips, and cut back to once a day cabin cleaning. I dont see the complaints like I see here. 

 

I like their lunches but find almost nothing for dinner so do more pay restaurants that are just as good as rcl but cheaper. Their pay italian still gives free wine the first night. Is $18 and people rave over the tomahawk pork chop. I can still get surf and turf at their steak house. Lobster and a smaller filet. Mardi gras and her sisters are moving toward more pay restaurants. They are mostly pretty reasonable to me. Though they have gone up, still well priced. 

 

I just see a lot more people who take increases and cut backs in stride on carnival. I read their boards almost daily so if there was the same outrage I see here, I'd have seen it. People think it's just pinnacles who act entitled, but I see it as a rcl issue. Go look for yourself. They also have once a day, do you see any threads like this over there? 

I have not sailed Carnival and have no near plans to do so. Therefore, I have no need to read their board and I have nothing to contribute to it. I wish you nothing but great cruises with them.

 

 

[Ocean Boy]

7 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

It isn't my concern how many cabins they do; all that concerns me is I am getting less than before, therefore I am not paying the same as before

I have no idea how that concept is lost on some or how it characterizes someone as cheap or the myriad other names that have been thrown around on the thread.

[firefly333]

Just now, Ocean Boy said:

I have not sailed Carnival and have no near plans to do so. Therefore, I have no need to read their board and I have nothing to contribute to it. I wish you nothing but great cruises with them.

 

 

I only have the one next January for 14 days. What they call a journeys cruise where they have special talks or events onboard. Goes to new ports for me. I'm about done with texas by next year I think. But idk when I booked it that my mom would pass and I would be free to move. I just dont want to fly. One more stress. I like ncl and celebrity and princess too. I have done them all. .. or I'd be pinnacle here.

[Ret MP]

20 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I have done them all. .. or I'd be pinnacle here.

That's why I try to stay loyal to one brand, be it a hotel brand, airline brand, credit card brand, or cruise line.  Spreading out your loyalty is diluting the perks.  JMHO

[Engineroom Snipe]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

  Spreading out your loyalty is diluting the perks.  JMHO

 

Sounds like you could be a marriage counselor!!!!!!!

 

🤣

[Ret MP]

1 minute ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

 

Sounds like you could be a marriage counselor!!!!!!!

 

🤣

Yeah.  I'd be good at it, too.  

[Engineroom Snipe]

1 minute ago, Ret MP said:

Yeah.  I'd be good at it, too.  

 

I can tell. Loyal to one brand, build up the brand bonus points, and work it for a lifetime.

 

Bing, Bing, Bing,,,, I can hear the casino machines paying off big bonus points for lifetime rewards.

 

😁

[kruzgal]

13 hours ago, gavvy said:

 

When I worked as a server in a UK chain restaurant I would say about 1/3 or less would leave a tip and it was mostly around 10% or less.

 

I've not heard of anyone tipping a taxi driver here, I would find that odd, and so would he I think,  Same with a Hairdresser, it's not the norm to tip them as far as I am aware.

 

There are a few places who used staff tips to make up wages to the legal miniumn, I think they have mostly stopped this practise though.

 

Lets face it the auto tips on a cruise are nothing of the sort- on a UK Invoice its shown as a servicece charge yet a USA invoice shows as a gratituity.  It's making up the wages of staff so RCL can get away with paying them as little as possible off the bottom line.  If too many removed the charge then RCL would have to make it u from theitr pocket something the do not wish to do.

You are absolutely spot on with this. As soon as Anthem arrives in the UK there will be queues of people at the concierge desk waiting to remove the auto tips. I feel for the crew but our tipping culture is different and 18% is unheard of here.. It’s no coincidence that P&O, a UK cruise line, now includes ‘gratuities’’ within the fare and people tip extra if they want to. It’s a very popular move.

[HalifaxYorksCruiser]

1 hour ago, kruzgal said:

You are absolutely spot on with this. As soon as Anthem arrives in the UK there will be queues of people at the concierge desk waiting to remove the auto tips. I feel for the crew but our tipping culture is different and 18% is unheard of here.. It’s no coincidence that P&O, a UK cruise line, now includes ‘gratuities’’ within the fare and people tip extra if they want to. It’s a very popular move.

I am not in the least bit embarrassed to say I will be one of the passengers at Guest Services on Anthem in 3 weeks time  removing auto gratuities. In my mind a gratuity is a reward for exceptional service provided personally to myself by a staff member. I will decide what I think is reasonable. I agree 18% in the U.K. is far from the norm. I honestly have never seen the difference between a hotel and a cruise ship when it comes to gratuities - we don’t have gratuities added to our hotel bills and therefore cannot see why a cruise ship is any different. 

[sowhat]

On Explorer  now, once a cabin cleaning  disappointing. We elected  for morning  service
We like a nice  clean cabin, so after  getting  ready for evening I dry and clean the bathroom  and straight  the bed.
Yesterday  afternoon  I washed the balcony windows and doors as they looked like they weren't  cleaned  this week
The cabin attendant is doing 50% less work and we are paying  more for rhe privilege  of cleaning  the cabin.

[firefly333]

9 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I have no idea how that concept is lost on some or how it characterizes someone as cheap or the myriad other names that have been thrown around on the thread.

I dont think the concept of less service for the same money is lost on anyone living in america.

 

Imo the premise of the thread doesnt get this. The services were cut to save money. If they cut the auto tips then there was no point in cutting services, people would continue to expect the same service for the same money.

 

Either tips and money paid by pax for their cruise will go up or services down. Already I read here ncl is over $20 a day form tips. If not cutting services like their competitors then the prices have to go up. Everyone is cheering we are only at 4.9% inflation.. that adds up. And it's been higher adding up.

 

Do people really want a higher end service and pay more for twice a day cabin service or maybe make it optional, pay a little more for twice a day. Like the key, more service and optional things for a fee.

 

Inflation and govt spending is not under control. Either things like services and cruise prices just keep going up or there are cuts. Or rcl never gets profitable and eventually goes bankrupt if no one will pay what it costs to run. Make it for a optional fee?

[Slidell_Cruiser]

Well tips are a person thing…all opines good..it’s YOUR money..

Facts..

RC pricing and salary model to the hard working staff is $1.98 per hour….average salary and daily tip pool is prorated to all the serving staff you see and don’t see, tips comprise MOST of their bi-weekly pay check….I have seen their pay stubs…..

 

Opine

I don’t like it either as a tipping American, I would  much rather, RC, increase to fare to properly pay the all their folks, thus allowing me to tip, what I WANT and CAN for superior service…

 

phil

[icsys]

22 hours ago, gavvy said:

When I worked as a server in a UK chain restaurant I would say about 1/3 or less would leave a tip and it was mostly around 10% or less.

 

I've not heard of anyone tipping a taxi driver here, I would find that odd, and so would he I think,

 

We always leave a tip at a service restaurant (usually around 10%) at our discretion, not required and not expected but if the service is good, its given.

Same goes for taxis. Everyone I know tips a taxi driver a pound or so, again not required and not expected and the driver doesn't find it at all odd.

 

Edited May 12, 2023 by icsys

[twangster]

15 hours ago, firefly333 said:

On carnival I always read how much friendly crew and stewards are vs other lines. I'm not sure but carnival pax claim the crew is happier to work on carnival. Carnival had a skirt steak and changed to something that to me was all gristle. Not a whimper. Bacon still every other morning at the buffet, they post go get a blt and dont post endless threads about the cut backs. 2 increases in tips, and cut back to once a day cabin cleaning. I dont see the complaints like I see here. 

 

I like their lunches but find almost nothing for dinner so do more pay restaurants that are just as good as rcl but cheaper. Their pay italian still gives free wine the first night. Is $18 and people rave over the tomahawk pork chop. I can still get surf and turf at their steak house. Lobster and a smaller filet. Mardi gras and her sisters are moving toward more pay restaurants. They are mostly pretty reasonable to me. Though they have gone up, still well priced. 

 

I just see a lot more people who take increases and cut backs in stride on carnival. I read their boards almost daily so if there was the same outrage I see here, I'd have seen it. People think it's just pinnacles who act entitled, but I see it as a rcl issue. Go look for yourself. They also have once a day, do you see any threads like this over there? 

 

No one goes to Walmart expecting it to be like Nordstroms.  

 

No one buys a entry level economy car and expects it to perform like a luxury vehicle.

 

Royal tends to cost more, they are rarely the cheapest cruise option.  Even if that is just slightly more, people have higher expectations that come with a slightly elevated price.