Here we go...another "tipping" thread

[tonimari99]

I work in food and beverage, and this is why I ask this question...In my line of work whenever there is a pooled tip house, management (that would usually never get tipped, as they are salary) becomes part of the tip out of the pool. Does anyone know if this is true on Princess? Maybe part of the reason for there being so many questions about removing the auto tip is because certain people would not receive their portion. I know that it benefits the buffet help and others that are deserving, but is there a cut to others, or do we not really know. I think that this is a concern for auto tip removal. ALTHOUGH...for all of you that remove and do not tip at all because "you will never see these people again", or because "service wasn't what you had expected", or because "you lost you money and your Dog ate it", do us all a favor...go back to your 9-5 cubical job where your people skills are minimal, and don't come out. If you think it's easy dealing with so many needy people, try it for a day. THEN see how many more days you would care to be in a service related position. Customer service would be great if we could eliminate the human factor ;)

[cherylandtk]

From what I understand from earlier postings by former employees, the tip pool is not shared by management, nor does the Maitre' d participate in it. Even the room service delivery is excluded from it, which is why one should tip individually for that service.

[Stevesan]

. Customer service would be great if we could eliminate the human factor

 

I often considered working at sales, but then there's always those pesky customers to put up with.

[dforeigner]

Question: What are the tipping guidelines for my cruise?

Answer: During your cruise, you will meet many members of our staff in a variety of locations as they provide you with excellent service. Additionally, many more crew behind the scenes support those who serve you directly. For your convenience a Hotel and Dining charge of $10 per passenger per day (including children) will be automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. The Hotel and Dining charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the wait staff, stateroom stewards and accommodations staff, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others.

 

Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

 

A 15% charge is automatically added to your bar charges and dining room wine account. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff, including cleaners and utility staff.

 

http://www.princess.com/faq/onboard_experience.html

[spongerob]

From what I understand, some members of management, in particular the Cruise Director's staff, get a cut of casino and bingo profits, but do not participate in the pooled tips. The people who do share are the laundry, cleaning, and other support functions that do not interface with passengers directly.

 

In the past, stewards and dining room staff would "tip" laundry, etc. from their own tips to make sure they had the supplies they need. Some stewards will hire general cleaners to assist in taking care of cabins and pay them out of their own tips.

[Chivalrygirl]

What a horrible nasty system. Why don't you guys work towards fair wages for all and get rid of this disgusting system of supposedly rewarding unfortunates.

For those of us that come from countries that do not have this system its an absolute pain in the proverbial.

[peterv]

What a horrible nasty system. Why don't you guys work towards fair wages for all and get rid of this disgusting system of supposedly rewarding unfortunates.

For those of us that come from countries that do not have this system its an absolute pain in the proverbial.

 

I agree, pay them a fair wage and eliminate tipping as a perceived requirement.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[spongerob]

I agree, pay them a fair wage and eliminate tipping as a perceived requirement.

 

Cheers,

Peter

I agree, too. Just understand that the consequences are that you will pay more for your cruise. Maybe much more. Just like it costs much more to dine out in England compared to the US. The consumer pays all charges, wages, taxes, and profit. It all comes out in the wash no matter how you go about it.

 

That's not arguing, it's just statement of fact.

[peterv]

I agree, too. Just understand that the consequences are that you will pay more for your cruise. Maybe much more. Just like it costs much more to dine out in England compared to the US. The consumer pays all charges, wages, taxes, and profit. It all comes out in the wash no matter how you go about it.

 

That's not arguing, it's just statement of fact.

 

Why do you say that, just curious? If they make a fair wage with a $10 per person per day charge, why would it cost any more than that?

 

Cheers,

Peter

[PTC]

I agree, too. Just understand that the consequences are that you will pay more for your cruise. Maybe much more. Just like it costs much more to dine out in England compared to the US. The consumer pays all charges, wages, taxes, and profit. It all comes out in the wash no matter how you go about it.

 

That's not arguing, it's just statement of fact.

 

I don't agree with it costing the consumer more. If they add into your cruise price the "tip" factor, your not paying more than what you would have if it was billed seperately. In fact, I think the cruiselines can save $$$ with eliminating all this billing and staffing needed to handle this issue.

 

One less thing to show up on the final cruise bill.

 

PTC

[sonomaphil]

In countries where tipping is not the custom and wages for the employees come from the house and not the customer, all that happens is the price of the items purchased are more expensive to make up for the cost of labor involved. Remember your Business 101 course?

 

Example: (and just an example, all amounts are theoretical)

 

Tipping country: Steak dinner is $10.00 Waiter makes $.50 an hour in house wages. Diner is expected to tip $1.50 bringing the servers wages to $2.00 an hour. Total cost for dinner $11.50, restaurant takes in $9.50.

 

Non tipping country: Steak dinner is $11.50. Waiter makes $2.00 an hour in house wages. Total cost for dinner $11.50, restaurant takes in $9.50.

 

Call it what you want, a tip, an added service charge or a cost hidden in the price....it's the same thing in the end.

[cruisePRN]

Why do people need to figure out what everybody else earns or how their salary is divided. It's none of our business. i like the auto tipping and leave it at that.

[aaerobear]

Auto-tipping was probably set up because of the "cheapskates" who never tipped the staff. This way , they at least, get a fighting chance. I can not tell you how many times I have seen people remove the tips and then skip the last night in the DR so they do not have to face the people they stiffed. Believe me, the staff is told well in advance of the last night who has removed tips.

 

Think of it this way, if a ship sails half full (like that happens a lot) the wait staff gets less tips because they are doing a little less work. When the ship is full they make more money. If they were paid higher wages as some suggest, the cruise line would have to make up for the lack of passengers by charging more. The way it is now makes sense because it is basically a sliding scale. The staff is static (on all the time) so full or not full they are working.

[OnTheBrink]

Why do people need to figure out what everybody else earns or how their salary is divided. It's none of our business. i like the auto tipping and leave it at that.

 

Well, I'd like to know in case there is someone who doesn't get part of my $10 a day, but I believe deserves a tip. My understanding is that this includes the children's staff and spa staff. Anyone else? Bar staff gets the gratuity that's automatically included,right?

[kidznp]

While I have not cruised on Princess, the "auto tip" seems more like a surcharge (like the 15% added to drink orders) and the fact that is divided among so many people seems to not reward the "front line" employees who deal directly with customers and contribute directly to the cruise experience (in a positive or negative way) and are tipped by the customer based on the quality of the services they provide. A tip should not be an automatic expectation in any setting. If a cruise line needs to raise their prices $10pp/pd in order to pay their employees a decent wage then that is what should happen. Many cruisers do not utilize a given service such as the buffet, child center etc. and should not be expected to tip these workers.

 

Personally, we tip our room steward, waiter and assistant waiter the last night of the cruise in cash in an envelope with their name on it. We always tip more than the recommended amount but it is to an individual rather than a "pool". We tip the room service at the time of delivery. I also give extra cash tips to certain cocktail servers, bartenders, etc. on the last evening that have consistently provided excellent service throughout the cruise.

[Stevesan]

While I have not cruised on Princess, the "auto tip" seems more like a surcharge (like the 15% added to drink orders) and the fact that is divided among so many people seems to not reward the "front line" employees who deal directly with customers and contribute directly to the cruise experience (in a positive or negative way) and are tipped by the customer based on the quality of the services they provide. A tip should not be an automatic expectation in any setting. If a cruise line needs to raise their prices $10pp/pd in order to pay their employees a decent wage then that is what should happen. Many cruisers do not utilize a given service such as the buffet, child center etc. and should not be expected to tip these workers.

 

Personally, we tip our room steward, waiter and assistant waiter the last night of the cruise in cash in an envelope with their name on it. We always tip more than the recommended amount but it is to an individual rather than a "pool". We tip the room service at the time of delivery. I also give extra cash tips to certain cocktail servers, bartenders, etc. on the last evening that have consistently provided excellent service throughout the cruise.

 

I presume you leave the autotip in place. If you do not, you are then tipping "into the pool" as the tippee is mandated to turn in your tip.

[dforeigner]

Well, I'd like to know in case there is someone who doesn't get part of my $10 a day, but I believe deserves a tip. My understanding is that this includes the children's staff and spa staff. Anyone else? Bar staff gets the gratuity that's automatically included,right?

 

Question: What are the tipping guidelines for my cruise?

Answer: During your cruise, you will meet many members of our staff in a variety of locations as they provide you with excellent service. Additionally, many more crew behind the scenes support those who serve you directly. For your convenience a Hotel and Dining charge of $10 per passenger per day (including children) will be automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. The Hotel and Dining charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the wait staff, stateroom stewards and accommodations staff, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others.

 

Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

[OuiOnboard]

I presume you leave the autotip in place. If you do not, you are then tipping "into the pool" as the tippee is mandated to turn in your tip.

I think kidznp is saying that the tip is to individuals by envelope rather than use the auto-tip program. I presume the thinking is that what happens to the $ after that is not one's concern.

[OnTheBrink]

Question: What are the tipping guidelines for my cruise?

Answer: During your cruise, you will meet many members of our staff in a variety of locations as they provide you with excellent service. Additionally, many more crew behind the scenes support those who serve you directly. For your convenience a Hotel and Dining charge of $10 per passenger per day (including children) will be automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. The Hotel and Dining charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the wait staff, stateroom stewards and accommodations staff, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others.

 

Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

 

I'm still not clear about the children's staff. I see for sure who is included (in green) and is not (in red), but no mention of the children's staff.

[wickedlymale]

Now, I have no problem about tipping. I DO have a problem about 'guilt charging' by ships' managements, they call it 'hotel charge'. It's annoying, and discourages proper tipping. .THEN there is 15% added to drinks. THEN there is the envelopes. How much is enough? The cruise is not cheap so I expect my room to be kept decently. I don't want to pay tips for those who won't. I expect backroom staff to be properly paid, and when they don't do a job properly, I don't, no won't, tip. Do it right and you'll have no complaints!

[OnTheBrink]

The cruise is not cheap

 

I actually think it's a bargain! For about $150 or so a day, I'm getting accomdations, tons of food, entertainment, transportation, and more! If I scheduled my family to go to on a "land" vacation with the same, it would cost tons more! My husband and I are going away this weekend (first time leaving my son!). Our basic hotel room is $200 a night. (So, $100 a person.) We'll enjoy a nice dinner for probably another $40 each. Breakfast and lunch would be about $30. If we go to a cool show of some sort (not a movie!), it will be at least another $40 each. Taxis to and from dinner and a show and the hotel would be probably $30 or more. So that's working out to $240 or so at bare minimum (no ice cream, no room service, etc)- and we aren't going to travel the world! I figure by cruising we are "saving" $100 a day! :)

[wickedlymale]

One way to make a 'cheapskate' pay is to price the cruise properly so that customers can see what they are paying and what they are getting. 'Guilt' charges on accounts is annoying and I for one will always say no to them in future. I tip. I won't stop doing that so I am not letting any company decide that I will let them use my tips as part of the minimum wage... which they CAN if you don't tip in cash!

[wickedlymale]

If its that good, why dont they charge the proper price, so that you can see it?

[wickedlymale]

I don't think this contributor realises that tips not paid in cash can be diverted to be included in the minimum wage.

[smeyer418]

Personally I think it should be included or made mandatory(the same thing really) but don't think it would cost you less or the same if they did. It used to be that when tips were paid in cash the cashiers spent gobs of time cashing checks or making cash available for guests(or they got it from the casino). When its charged in the home office as part of the fare for accounting purposes it would have to be treated differently that it is now. and would probably have to be marked up so as not to hurt the cruise lines profits(and don't forget that the travel agents would want their cut as well-yes I know what Non commissionable fare is). So that the person keeping track of this on ship is not an added employee and doesn't incur significant costs---at least not as much as getting cash to the guests to pay in cash which does have significant costs(just making sure you have enough cash is big expense).

 

Most of time Maitre D's are included in the tip pool...as they are considered working employees and not management.

and last but not least accommodation staff listed above as included in the tips IS the room service delivery people...