Tipping on the Cunard

[Painter]

What is the "go" for tipping on the Cunard cruises?

Thanks

[2moose]

What is the "go" for tipping on the Cunard cruises?

Thanks

approx $13 to $ 17. per day per person is requested but not mandatory you can tip what ever you like!!

[pb82]

In one QM2 cruise and two crossings we've accepted the daily tipping charge that Cunard added to our bill. And, in addition, we've given our steward, butler (the once we were upgraded to have one), and waiters $2.00/day each in cash because we thought that their great service deserved extra. Occasionally, super service and/or a dynamite smile from a waiter(ess) in a bar or lounge was rewarded with an on-the-spot shiney "golden" dollar coin.

[Painter]

I like to tip for "good service" myself. When a cabin attendent ( on another cruise line)said he would have to hand his money ...I put it in an envelope and addressed it to his two children in Mexico. Don't know if it worked.

[judy&steve]

It was my understanding that gratuities are automatically charged to your shipboard account and that they can be altered (added to) by visiting the purser? Am I correct in that assumption?:confused:

Thanks --

Judy (leaving Saturday aboard the QM2!)

[Freckles67]

I read an online article written by a former cabin steward on a west coast cruise ship. She said that when the cruise line (which she didn't identify) switched to automatic billing for tips, the crew did not receive their tips as they had previously when envelopes for that purpose were provided to their customers. Apparently, the cruise line kept the tip money as extra profit. To protest, some of the crew refused to work on a turn around day in Alaska. They were fired and put off the ship with no money and no transportation out of Alaska. She suggested that, if we wanted our steward, waiter and busboy to receive their tips, we should cancel the automatic tip billing and use the envelope system instead.

 

Does anyone know if this is a valid concern?

[pb82]

It was my understanding that gratuities are automatically charged to your shipboard account and that they can be altered (added to) by visiting the purser? Am I correct in that assumption?:confused:

Thanks --

Judy (leaving Saturday aboard the QM2!)

Yes, you are correct.

[2moose]

Yes, you are correct.

 

does that mean shipboard credits can be used for additional tipping to the general tip pool or to specific employees in lieu of an additonal cash tip??? (i.e. steward, waiter, butler etc) thanx for your help jim from new jersey

[cusyl]

The additional tips should be in cash handed to them individually. Also, according to my crew member friend onboard the QM2 now, those White Star cards for great service you can fill in means a LOT to them.

[hooked cruiser]

We recently travelled on Princess and on the embarkation day there was a queue at the Pursers desk of which I was one, everyone of us was cancelling the automatic tip charge. Although they did ask you to complete a form declaring why you wished to cancel it. I made the comment that I prefer to tip personally.

I am certain that things have changed since my days of taking the £10 emmigrants from the UK to Australia in the 60's but even then personal tips were the normal.

When I asked the assistant purser if it was correct that the tips were shared between the crew I just got a smile which said it all.

[K.sailaway]

The additional tips should be in cash handed to them individually. Also, according to my crew member friend onboard the QM2 now, those White Star cards for great service you can fill in means a LOT to them.

 

Yes, I have also learned how important the service commendation cards are to the individuals. We look to complete at least two on every voyage. Could your contact on QM2 tell us you how the automatic tips on board are distributed please? If the stateroom steward/butler and table steward receive very little it could certainly sway how my wife and I deal with this issue in future. Thanks in advance. Apologies if this has been covered before but the chance to learn from an insider is too good to pass up.

 

K.

[cusyl]

I chatted with him every day when he was on vacation. He has just rejoined the ship and isn't online very much now. I will finally get to meet him when I am on the ship in a couple weeks and will try to find out.:D

[Therapst]

Here's an important point about the way this is handled on Princess, and therefore possibly on Cunard also. This is our understanding based upon information received from more than one source onboard more than one Princess ship.

 

If you cancel the automatic gratuity at the Guest Relations desk, any gratuities that you give individually to staff must be turned in by them to the cruiseline to be placed in the pool of money to be divided amongst all eligible staff. (Yes, the cabin stewards and dining room servers do have access to lists of passengers who are on the automatic gratuity plan.)

 

It appears that the ONLY way you can give a crew member an additional gratuity and actually have him or her be allowed to keep it is to give it to him or her personally whilst you are also having the automatic gratuities added to your stateroom account. Othersise, they are required to turn it all in to the gratuity pool.

 

Something to consider if you desire to reward one or more staff members for their efforts to assist you during your cruise.

[travel-to-go]

Randy and Mary,

What you heard on Princess is exactly what I heard- I believe on Cunard. Or possibly it was on one of my HAL trips- But same company, really.

I also asked on our January cruise, and while not getting a totally straight answer (I am sure they are warned not to answer that question, and could be disciplined for doing so) also confirmed it there.

 

Your tips are pooled. If you wish to tip additional to someone who has gone above and beyond, that should be handed to them directly. However, if you choose to pull tips from automatic billing, then any tips they receive directly must be turned in to the pool. I do not know what Cunard would do if you went to the purser and said you don't mind paying your tips but wish to single out one person to receive LESS! Unfortunately, since there is no such mechanism, it does seem as though the lines are using tips to supplement the poor wages they give their employees. If they simply improved the wages by the amount they would receive in pooled tips, then advised passengers of this, and that if they wished to tip a particular crew member, that was up to them, then it would truly be a gratuity, or thanks, and Cunard would be a more forthright and honest cruiseline, with higher moral standing. After all, if you position yourself as upper class, it behooves you to act with true class towards your employees. And class does not include taking advantage (IMHO) of those of a "lower station"

 

At least that's how *I* feel. A truly classy person would also desire to be a FAIR person.

 

Karie,

who never cancels automatic tips and always tips extra!

 

P.S. My bird is in the oven, my turnips are grated for my turnip gratin, I will be making green beans with orange soy glaze, a fresh ceasar salad, and sweet potatoes. (or mashed potatoes. I haven't decided which yet. I have both) And maybe a homemade pecan pie or sweet potato pie.

 

P.P.S. On a day which is meaningful to most Americans, including those of British decent, (like myself) and those of native decent (Again, like myself) and even those decendants of other nationalities (likewise, like myself) as a day to lay down our differences, and dine together, in recognition that only together can we all truly survive, it is most traditional to set aside ones grudges and angers and fears, and concentrate on those things which we have in common, and whatever bounty we can share. This was the meaning and purpose of the first thanksgiving. To give thanks that both Native and Colonial had survived a very rough year, and that only through their cooperation during that time were they able to do so. Whatever came before or later, they focused on that moment. The tradition lives on here, because most of us ARE capable of that forgiveness (which is divine, to some) and the largess and sharing and recognition, if only for a day, of shared human dignity. Your indulgence of our tradition shows your respect for us, as I hope we have for you and your traditions. We all have flaws. Today, I prefer to concentrate on the positives in human nature.

Thank you for allowing me that joy, and respecting it this one day. You can go back to trashing me and others tomorrow.

[pb82]

does that mean shipboard credits can be used for additional tipping to the general tip pool or to specific employees in lieu of an additonal cash tip??? (i.e. steward, waiter, butler etc) thanx for your help jim from new jersey

As far as I know, your shipboard credit applies to any expense charged to your account, expect for gambling and cash refunds.

[clay1234]

They do distrubute that money. Everyone on that ship needs to be tipped. They do get really low wadges and they work very hard for many hours, it's not the passengers fault that the cruise lines pay so little to their employees. Take care of them up front. Remember even though it is called a hotel and dining charge it is still a tip and t.i.p. stands for "to ensure proper service". $$

[mufi]

If you cancel the automatic gratuity at the Guest Relations desk, any gratuities that you give individually to staff must be turned in by them to the cruiseline to be placed in the pool of money to be divided amongst all eligible staff. (.

 

In the real world do you really think that is what happens?

 

And it would be a sad situation if tips really were there to "ensure proper service"

 

David.

[cusyl]

In the real world do you really think that is what happens?

 

David.

Yes, I understand that is the way it works. On our Christmas cruise last year we tipped our wait staff in addition to our automatic tips.

He made it a point to ask for our names and cabin number so that he could check and make sure it was actually his to keep. I understand they get in trouble if they don't.

[patwell]

Forgive me if I've missed this on here somewhere but do you tip in the spa after a massage? For some reason I remember that it wasn't required but we'll be having spa treatments in a week and I don't want to overlook someone if I should be tipping. Thanks,

Cheers, penny

[pb82]

Forgive me if I've missed this on here somewhere but do you tip in the spa after a massage? For some reason I remember that it wasn't required but we'll be having spa treatments in a week and I don't want to overlook someone if I should be tipping. Thanks,

Cheers, penny

My wife says that she was told (by spa workers) in June this year that the tip was included in the price of her massage.

[pnhmrk]

I don't want to overlook someone if I should be tipping.

 

The big think about any kind of non-compulsory service charge (is it still a service charge is it's compulsory?) is that there is no requirement to pay it. It should only be paid if that person has gone above the service you've already paid for.

[patwell]

Thanks PB82...I thought I'd read that somewhere. Appreciate the input.

 

Malcolm...I do agree and that's why I'm not keen on compulsory tipping...I prefer to tip as a thank you for services rendered...and more when the service goes beyond expectations. But I understand Cunard's policy and will tip above that when I feel it's warranted. Just didn't know about the spa since it's not really Cunard. But at those prices I'd like to think the tip was included!!;)

Cheers, Penny

[pnhmrk]

Just didn't know about the spa since it's not really Cunard.

 

I hadn't thought that the Spa wasn't Cunard, but of course it isn't. Neither is the Photographers, most of the shops, the Art Auctions, the casino, etc. All Cunard are providing is the accommodation, meals and some entertainment.

 

I'd never thought about tipping any of these other providers. Should I if they provide exceptional service?:confused:

[Sterling1]

Penny,

 

I think they automatically add a 10 percent gratuity to any spa treatment. http://www.cunard.com/uploads/QM2Guide.pdf

Open in Adobe Acrobat. Check the bottom for info. See you in a week.

 

Randy

[lexxity]

The spa didn't include a 15% added gratuity as this is already included in the price and tipping isn't expected unless the passenger wants to.