Captains wife's statement about tips

[BrooklynGirl2]

The guy who wrote that works for Princess and X waiters DO NOT pool their tips. So...their tips are dependent upon who pays the minimum, who pays above and who stiffs them completely. And we KNOW there are people out there who stiff the waitstaff. So I think it's impossible to say how much crew earns...it depends on the cruise line and their tipping procedures. Maybe on Princess all service crew "pool" the gratutities.

 

It seems to me that most of the people (crewoffice/Captain's wife) who are writing about gratuities are people in "staff" positions who are paid set salaries. I don't think they are well-informed about what the "crew" earns and how they earn it.

 

As for teachers getting the summer off...don't know about you but where I live teachers earn $70,000 to $100,000 a year. Plus, they do have the option of teaching summer school or coaching to earn extra $$. And they don't lose their benefits for those 2 months. That's a lot different than a crew person who is earning at the high end $30,000 a year and working 70 hours a week.

[naked]

their tips are dependent upon who pays the minimum, who pays above and who stiffs them completely. And we KNOW there are people out there who stiff the waitstaff.

So the bottom line is do you think $3000/month is 'well paid' for working 70 hours a week and sharing a windowless room with a stranger.

 

I can't speak for others, but I always round up when I tip. Sometimes way up.

 

And I an 100% sure that the staff remember me later in the cruise based on my tips earlier in the week.

 

An example was when we were invited to the Captain's Table on our last cruise.

[BrooklynGirl2]

Naked...you misunderstand me. I do not think $3000 a month is well paid for working 70 hours a week. And I always tip over and above the minimum, I tip for my child as if he were an adult too. What I'm saying is some people do not tip above the minimum and I know there are many times the waitstaff gets "stiffed" (no tip at all from pax). So...it is very hard for anyone to say (especially a salaried staff person, i.e. Captain's wife) what these hard working service crew actually earn (including gratuities). And the tipping procedures and policies differ from cruise line to cruise line.

 

I personally think her article is misleading and confusing and it should be pulled from the site.

[naked]

I agree with you. they are not over paid and deserve tips.

 

I am 100% sure that the staff remember me later in the cruise based on my tips earlier in the week.

 

An example was when we were invited to the Captain's Table on our last cruise.

[zotzer]

There is more confirmation in this blog entry:

 

http://crewoffice.blogspot.com/2006/03/employee-treatment-stiffing-on-tipping.html

 

Flagger,

Does it make you feel good that they earn all of their money from other cruisers and not you? After all, you are a self-admitted non-tipper, right?

Tracy

[brigittetom]

The staff we have come to know on the ships work hard just to get a position on the ships to be able to earn these wages because they don't have the same opportunity in their homeland. If they didn't want these jobs they wouldn't be there.

 

Obviously earning $3,000. per month includes tips. If the cruiselines rotate shifts properly they aren't working 70 hours a week. They rotate breakfast staff and lunch staff. It's called split shifts. Granted, these are not the ideal working conditions but it's not slave labor and the staff on the ships choose to be there. They also have the benefit of cruiseing around the world and they do get time off contrary to what everyone says. Don't all of you pass the crew on the pier getting off and on the ship?

 

For most of you it seems like a thankless job. For the people working on the ship, it's the job they want to provide a better life for their families. Tip them well and enjoy your cruise. :)

[kingsrx]

I am not as seasoned of a cruiser as most of you granted, but living in Orlando and working with tourists on a regular basis leads me to add my two cents.

 

I agree, I believe the cruise line pays their emploees a very small amount (50-100 per week if they are part of the "tipped" staff). But this also includes the fact that the cruiseline pays for their room and board, food and things. So they are *earning* a lot more if you think about it. When we think of wages we think of having to pay mortgage/rent, groceries, electric and water etc. They typically do not have those bills, some have families at home, many go back home and stay with relatives in their off time so those bills are a non-issue. Many of them employees in the restaurants out at Disney make 2.15 an hour plus tips, and having many friends that held those positions I can tell you that they get stiffed quite often. On top of that the local tourist industry people do not live a life much better than sharing a windowless room with a stranger (which after living with someone for a while they are no longer a stranger). Since rent on a studio apartment here is about 650-800, I am sure you can see where I am coming from.

 

Also, in the US our service staff (wait staff) makes 2.15 an hour, so not much more than they are getting from the ship in *pay* but since their room and board are paid then they get substantially more than most wait staff in US, which most people don't think twice and lowering a tip for bad service to them. Having been married previously to a waiter that worked in a tourist local, I know this first hand.

 

I agree they work very hard for the money they get and deserve each and EVERY penny, and sometimes more. But if you think they make up to 3,000 a month including tips, add to that about 1,000 for room and board (and this is a low estimate condering all meals and everything are included), that is a quite a good salary for wait staff. Not many of us know servers that pull in 750-1000 a week. And I agree they have to pay taxes, but not all of them claim the money handed to them in cash, legal or not, ever server/waiter I have ever met claims much lower than they *actually* make for taxes. And if that money is spent before they get home who can trace it?

 

I also have to add, last cruise I was on, Disney (FIL works for WDW), the server and his assistant served not only us (table of 7) but two other tables of about the same size, for two seatings and he worked breakfast, not lunch. That works out to about 40 people between the two seatings, at 3.50/day/person (and I know we paid it because the employee program...which many employees cruise the Disney Cruises, it was included in what we paid), that was $980 in seven days, not including what he got from the ship. He also said the hours he worked (about 10 a day was right) also depended on how quickly he worked, he had certain responsibilities to fufill, and when they were done, so was he. So people that work slowly are at a major disadvantage.

 

I am not entirely sure about the medical care, I do know emergency medical/dental is included by some cruiselines. At the dentist off I go to there is one dentist that goes on a cruiseship about 3-4 times a year for two weeks at a time, he works a couple of hours on employees (about 3-4 per day) and gets a cruise out of it. He also handles any dental emergencies that arise so he is sort of on call. He gets a fairly nice room, a spending allowance on board and a small salary. If I understood correctly this service is paid by the cruiseship, not the employees coming to see him. This is much better than some of the countries these kids are from where good dental/medical care is hard to find. He said he rotates with other dentists and really looks forward to doing it. The only thing he does not like is the relatively small workspace.

 

All in all, the article was misleading and confusing. I do not agree with all that was said, and I still will be tipping as per the guidelines if not more pending the service I get on Millie in June (my only scheduled cruise in the near future). She may see the world through rose colored glasses, but sometimes we all do. Bottom line...they work hard, we know that, they deserve the money for giving the service

 

As a side note...my DH (a pharmacist) said that he would love to be tipped a Mont Blanc pen by anyone that frequents his pharmacy, he would also settle for a pen that did not have the name a of a drug company. :p

[Jumbie]

I agree, I believe the cruise line pays their emploees a very small amount (50-100 per week if they are part of the "tipped" staff). But this also includes the fact that the cruiseline pays for their room and board, food and things. So they are *earning* a lot more if you think about it. When we think of wages we think of having to pay mortgage/rent, groceries, electric and water etc. They typically do not have those bills, some have families at home, many go back home and stay with relatives in their off time so those bills are a non-issue. Many of them employees in the restaurants out at Disney make 2.15 an hour plus tips, and having many friends that held those positions I can tell you that they get stiffed quite often. On top of that the local tourist industry people do not live a life much better than sharing a windowless room with a stranger (which after living with someone for a while they are no longer a stranger). Since rent on a studio apartment here is about 650-800, I am sure you can see where I am coming from.

 

Also, in the US our service staff (wait staff) makes 2.15 an hour, so not much more than they are getting from the ship in *pay* but since their room and board are paid then they get substantially more than most wait staff in US, which most people don't think twice and lowering a tip for bad service to them. Having been married previously to a waiter that worked in a tourist local, I know this first hand.

 

I agree they work very hard for the money they get and deserve each and EVERY penny, and sometimes more. But if you think they make up to 3,000 a month including tips, add to that about 1,000 for room and board (and this is a low estimate condering all meals and everything are included), that is a quite a good salary for wait staff. Not many of us know servers that pull in 750-1000 a week. And I agree they have to pay taxes, but not all of them claim the money handed to them in cash, legal or not, ever server/waiter I have ever met claims much lower than they *actually* make for taxes. And if that money is spent before they get home who can trace it?

Yup, completely agree. I said much the same thing in one of my previous posts. But apparently some think that everyone claims all their income and they completely discount the fact that room and board, etc. are paid for. No property taxes either. See my early mention of my g/f's calculations of how much she'd have to earn on land to save how much she does on board (in a salaried position making a lot less than 2k/month with no tips except for the occasional person).

 

Some work very, very hard (again, something I said) and earn those tips through their labour but they aren't living on pennies. Not on X anyway.

 

They also have the benefit of cruiseing around the world and they do get time off contrary to what everyone says. Don't all of you pass the crew on the pier getting off and on the ship?

Depends on the position. "All of those crew" probably don't include waiters and cabin stewards most of the time except every now and then.

 

It's not that they don't get off the ship ever, but they don't have very much free time to do so. Seriously, they work really long hours.

 

My g/f, on the other hand, often has the entire day off or only has to work a few hours every day depending on how busy the cruise is for her position. So she gets off nearly every port (her reason for being on the ship i.e. to travel and see the world rather than to make money to support a family in some 3rd world country). So it's probably people like her and other less busy positions e.g. staff and officers rather than crew, that you're seeing.

[cechase]

Just my two cents in response to the previous poster. Our experience has been that when the vessel is in port, that the main dining room is closed for lunch. Since that is the case, it would appear that the wait staff would have time to leave the vessel.

 

On our cruise on Galaxy last Oct., we were on the tender returning from VF, and one of our former butlers [still a butler] and his brother [butler in training]were returning from shore with us.

[hajekfam]

Just my two cents in response to the previous poster. Our experience has been that when the vessel is in port, that the main dining room is closed for lunch. Since that is the case, it would appear that the wait staff would have time to leave the vessel.

 

On our cruise on Galaxy last Oct., we were on the tender returning from VF, and one of our former butlers [still a butler] and his brother [butler in training]were returning from shore with us.

 

If the main dining room is closed for lunch (usually only one day during the week - not every port day), there are more waiters assigned to help out at the buffet. They also use the closed time to clean the dining room and set up for dinner.

[cechase]

Hajekfam: That has not been our experience. The dining room was closed for every day that we were in port on our 11 night cruise on Mercury in January.

 

On all of our cruises, five in all, our butlers were not available for approximately three hours in the early afternoon, and we were so advised. Also on several occasions, we ran into members of our wait staff on the beach.

 

Frankly, we agree that the crew works very hard for us and we appreciate it. However, some of these posts seem to be somewhat hysterical about the "slave labor" that is being imposed on them. Why if that is the case, that these people clamor to seek and keep these jobs. At the end of our last dinner on Mercury, our waiter appraised me of the importance of the comment cards, and begged me to give her a good grade. Unfortunately, I could not do so because it was the poorest waitress that we have ever had, and her asst. was replaced with another in the middle of the cruise, who turned out to be just as bad. This was the only time that we tipped less than the recommend, although reluctlantly we did tip. In all other instances, we have alway tipped more than the recommended amount, and on our Mercury cruise tipped our cabin steward twice the recommended amount, and our butler three times the recommended amount, because each was exceptional.

 

We tip on the basis of the service that we receive - and not on thoughts of how little Celebrity might be paying them.

[Jumbie]

However, some of these posts seem to be somewhat hysterical about the "slave labor" that is being imposed on them. Why if that is the case, that these people clamor to seek and keep these jobs.

 

Maybe because they make way more working on the ship than they do back home? Not everyone has the luxury of living in the first world and earning a decent living.

 

I remember my g/f once mentioning that her cabin steward (yup, staff gets them too) was saying he hadn't seen his daughters in nearly a year and he really wanted to go home. But he's on the ship because he can provide much better for them with the much higher income he's making.

 

Most of those people aren't on the ship by "choice" unlike her*. She doesn't need to be and is just there for the travel experience while I finish up school.

 

*Obviously they are since they choose to leave for the better wages, but I think if they had the ability to make US $500 (random figure I made up) at home with their family or on a ship, they'd probably go with the former. Unfortuantely, it's probably more like $500 vs $50.

 

And while that is again a figure I've pulled out of the air, it's not far-fetched. Minimum wage in Grenada where I am is EC $550/month. That's US $206. And that's likely more than someone in the Phillipines, etc. makes.

 

We tip on the basis of the service that we receive - and not on thoughts of how little Celebrity might be paying them.

And well you should.

 

That's the way it should be in my opinion even if Celeb wasn't paying them a cent. If they're working for tips, those tips should be earned (with a minimum standard of service; not saying that they should go above and beyond JUST to earn the base tip but that they should not expect the tip for nothing).

[dbanks5001]

I was just on the RCCL Rhapsody in April. The head waiter spent a lot of time at our table since he moved my sister and I to a new table, as well as others. We didn't request to be moved, but on the first night, he came over to me and asked if we wanted to be moved because the other passengers at our 6 person table did not speak any English. Apparently there were quite a few passengers from Mexico since it was spring break that week. Anyway, in our conversations with him, one of the passengers at our new table asked him about wages, etc. for the waiters.

 

He said that the waiters make $50 per month plus tips. He also said that every fifth week they do not get paid any tips since they work in the Windjammer Cafe. He did say that ocassionally the waiters will make a few dollars in tips while working in the buffet. He also said that about 5% of the passengers do not tip at all.

 

So, if my calculations are correct, here is an estimate of what a waiter can make. Our waiter had 20 passengers (table of 6, 6 and 8) so I will use that as an example. I used 40 weeks since they don't get tips every fifth week and 5% of 52 weeks is 2 weeks approximately

 

$3.50 per day x 7 days x 20 passengers x 2 seatings x 40 weeks = $39,200

 

.

[Longboysfan]

Ship Pest - Salary $0-10/month.

Show up on random cruises. Cut and grind all cruise staff. Generally make a problem where there is none. Smuggle beer and wine on board in every port. Get involved in all shipboard activities with the ability to disrupt them. Coming off as a "Know it All" a must - for both ship activities and at all dinner seatings. Be able to argue most any small point that means nothing. Carry multiple trivia books to show any errors. Consume all free alacholic drinks at ship parties. Disrupt the "Friends of Bill" ship meeting. Make sure to impress social hostess and beg to sit at Captains table. Ask the Consier for special services that do not exist. Join and disrupt all games played at pool on ship. Have the ability to find way home from any foreign port after you are put off ship.

 

Ship general Expirence - taken many cruises.

Self appointed Computer Genius.

Fire Warden Expirence - evacuation expert.

Can swim and make pool fool of self.

Weather perdiction expert - trick knee that reacts to change in weather.

Sun tan lotion expert - Tropical Sun product tester.

Expert Wine taster - when it's free.

Former Brew Master Taster - Rhingold Beer.

Former head Chef - McDonalds Rivers Edge N.J. also Bun cooker and Fry cook.

Running Expert - did two marathons - 5K races.

Company Golf Social Director - put together golf outings.

Football expert - Dallas Cowboys.

Baseball Expirence - Caught Home run ball.

Electrician - Know how to plug in TV.

Entertainment expirence - Grade School play - 3rd plam tree from left in North Pacific.

Pool Management - Clean bathrooms at home.

Medical Expirence - know how to tape and bandage cuts.

Fitness Expirence - Have been to many workout clubs.

Massage Therapest - Wife's feet.

Accounting Expirence - took college courses in this.

Captains Expirence - helped friend gas power boat at Jersey shore. Also been deep sea fishing twice.

Casino Management - Always loose money while in Casion on ship.

Cabin Management - take orders well - from wife to clean house weekly.

Time management - cruise bulleting board poster.

Ship Libarian - Know what end of book to slip into shelf. Which side is up.

Photographer - Know what end of camera to point at subject.

[teedee]

Ship Pest - Salary $0-10/month.

 

 

Ship general Expirence - taken many cruises.

Self appointed Computer Genius.

Fire Warden Expirence - evacuation expert.

Can swim and make pool fool of self.

Weather perdiction expert - trick knee that reacts to change in weather.

Sun tan lotion expert - Tropical Sun product tester.

Expert Wine taster - when it's free.

Former Brew Master Taster - Rhingold Beer.

Former head Chef - McDonalds Rivers Edge N.J. also Bun cooker and Fry cook.

Running Expert - did two marathons - 5K races.

Company Golf Social Director - put together golf outings.

Football expert - Dallas Cowboys.

Baseball Expirence - Caught Home run ball.

Electrician - Know how to plug in TV.

Entertainment expirence - Grade School play - 3rd plam tree from left in North Pacific.

Pool Management - Clean bathrooms at home.

Medical Expirence - know how to tape and bandage cuts.

Fitness Expirence - Have been to many workout clubs.

Massage Therapest - Wife's feet.

Accounting Expirence - took college courses in this.

Captains Expirence - helped friend gas power boat at Jersey shore. Also been deep sea fishing twice.

Casino Management - Always loose money while in Casion on ship.

Cabin Management - take orders well - from wife to clean house weekly.

Time management - cruise bulleting board poster.

Ship Libarian - Know what end of book to slip into shelf. Which side is up.

Photographer - Know what end of camera to point at subject.

 

Sounds like a good job to me, but it's a lot of work. Do you need an assistant?:D

 

Terri

[Old CA]

....

 

As for teachers getting the summer off...don't know about you but where I live teachers earn $70,000 to $100,000 a year. Plus, they do have the option of teaching summer school or coaching to earn extra $$. And they don't lose their benefits for those 2 months. That's a lot different than a crew person who is earning at the high end $30,000 a year and working 70 hours a week.

 

I do realize that there are exceptions to the rules but I don't know of any classroom teachers in CA who are in that $70-$100,000 salary range. I was a HS teacher for 35 years and with an M.A. managed to pull down $55,000 in my final year--including my stipend as Department Chair. I certainly enjoyed the perks of paid holidays and choosing not to work summer school I averaged about $4,600 (before taxes :eek: ). Now if you are referring to Administrators your figures would be low on the high end....;)

 

I do believe that service does deserve an added reward and even if my waiter or room steward do make 'exorbitant' amounts I do not begrudge them that and I cheerfully/willingly add to the amount suggested.

 

Ed

[flagger]

This article reinforces my contention that letter writing for excellent service brings about far more eventual gain.

[MLT53]

(quote by Brooklyngirl2)I am happy to tip for the service provided and as we have always received excellent service on X we always tip above the recommended amount. We also fill out the comment cards and follow-up with a letter once we arrive home.

 

Even though our 4/17 cruise on the Mercury was our first cruise (definitely not our last), we feel the same way you do. Actually, some of the crew members really made our vacation, and we let them and Celebrity know.

[Longboysfan]

Sounds like a good job to me, but it's a lot of work. Do you need an assistant?:D

 

Terri

 

Yes. I usually pick up a few helpers along the way. ;)

[flagger]

For those who do, here is an interesting take on those who tip "fun" bills or coins to get noticed: http://crewoffice.blogspot.com/2006/05/onboard-currency-trading-with-your.html#links

[Moeve]

The "Uncle Sams" around the world are not stupid either - many countires actually audit Tax payers (often it is those who work but only declare small earnings). If it does happen Tax Auditors take a look at company tip suggestions. Very often the person being audited has to supply this information from his employer (cruiseline). The catch is if you haven't been declaring all your takings in some countries the Tax Auditer will look at the suggested tipping and the number of days you have been onboard and set the amount he thinks you will have gotten and you are taxed on that. Since I have had the pleasure of working out there I have seen this happen first hand twice.

 

Flagger I did say most & some countries - the US may be one of those who don't require you to declare all international earnings

[m steve]

I don't have any problem with the tipping on a cruise. If I was at a hotel we would tip the maid who we never see and only makes bed and changes towels $2-3 per person per day. The cabin steward does a lot more and is usually making up the room more often and providing towels at all hours. $3.50 pp is not bad. As for dining staff, dinner for 2 would cost $100 in a restaurant and tipping $7 is not out of line especially when it covers bfst and lunch as well. 15% at the bar is a steal as I usually tip $1 per drink. We also tip $2 for bfst tray to room and tip cabin steward and main waiter $20 ea. at the start of the cruise and usually again at the end in addition to the $20 a day on our bill. If I was on a Silversea, etc. where tipping is incl. we would still tip as a personal thank you for service received and not pay 2X Celebrity prices. After 6 months working a ship they can go home and live as well as we do while on the 10 day cruise. How many cruisers would work as hard as they do for the little they are paid in salary? They need the tips and we save in comparison to other upscale lines.

[Old CA]

My sentiments exactly, Steve!