expenses everywhere !!!

[RetireeWannabee]

i am wondering if the luggage fees set by the airlines and any other fees as well as the sky rocketing price of gas these days is changing the amount you tip as far as cutting the prepaid tips or the " above and beyond "tips that you may give. a better word would be adjusting the prepaid tips ( not cutting ). this is just pure curiosity. i have not cruised since these new fees and such so i cannot say for myself as of yet .

Not a chance.

 

Tips are a completely separate line-item in my trip budget. If I can't swing the overall trip, it's not happening. I would never stiff the staff to offset baggage fees or fuel surcharge. These other fees have nothing to do with their efficiency, professionalism or any other aspect of their jobs. I will not punish them.

[sail7seas]

Through all the years I've read/posted on CC, I have read so many reasons to not tip, to cut tips but this is the most confusing to me.

 

Because another aspect of your trip (out of the control of all of us including the cruise lines) has increased in price, you wonder if we should decrease the tips to the crews who work themselves to exhaustion to give us the best cruise possible.

 

This one confounds me. :confused:

 

[98Charlie]

Through all the years I've read/posted on CC, I have read so many reasons to not tip, to cut tips but this is the most confusing to me.

 

Because another aspect of your trip (out of the control of all of us including the cruise lines) has increased in price, you wonder if we should decrease the tips to the crews who work themselves to exhaustion to give us the best cruise possible.

 

This one confounds me. :confused:

 

 

Not sure where you are coming from with this post.:confused:

 

Think the majority on this thread believe that we don't cut tips on a cruise just because the price to take a cruise is increasing. I guess I'm as confused with your post as you may be with the thread.

 

Dianne

[sail7seas]

I'm afraid if I answer I may be accused of making a personal attack on someone....NOT YOU.

 

I'm happy that most agree to not penalize crew because expenses out of the cruise line's control have increased.

[chasetf]

.......This one confounds me. :confused:

It doesn't confound me.

 

Anyone who would stiff the crew when they are provided at least adequate service is..... in my mind.... CHEAP. :mad:

[newbiecruiser09]

JMHO but...if I am unhappy with the airlines charging me more-I won't check extra luggage, buy drinks/food on the plane etc. If I am unhappy about cruise lines fuel surcharges, I will spend less on drinks, in the casino etc. I would never think of taking off tips for the hard working folks due to something a big corporations charged me.

[PennyAgain]

I am not tipping less per cruise, but am taking fewer cruises.

[G'ma]

If I choose to continue to cruise, I will tip as I usually do. If I can't afford to cruise and pay gratuities, I'll stay home.

 

It's not the ships crew, staff or officers who are responsible for our current economic problems. I would never find my savings by shorting them in any way.

 

I might take fewer cruises, or cut down on the money spent in the casino or order a cheaper bottle of wine at dinner, drink a few less cocktails during the day but would never stiff those who make my cruise so special.

[Guest carlogesualdo]

The only place I see where tips would be less would be for skycaps & luggage porters at the pier, since I'm taking less luggage :D:D:D. As others have said, the tips on board are part of the cost of cruising. I may shop less (:eek:) but tips are just a part of traveling.

 

Along the same lines, if your favorite restaurant raises their prices as supply costs go up, would you tip your server less??? Same thing.

 

On that thought...in reality, you're probably tipping more. If you're tipping the customary 15-20% and the price goes up, the amount of the tip goes up too. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), on of my favorite places decided to cut their portions instead of raising prices. My waistline says "thank you."

 

these are the responses i was hoping for, usually there is a small handful that would chime in and use something like this as an excuse to save a buck. thank you .

 

I can't imagine you would cut tips because the airline charges you more. There's a big disconnect going on for me.

 

What in the world did the dining steward (for example) do to you that you should cut his tip?

 

I'm speechless. It wouldn't occur to us to stiff the staff because our flights cost us more.

 

Wow!!!!

 

I discover something new here everyday. Some things I'd rather never discover! I think that's awful.

 

I think I'll just respond to both of these at once. In reality, there are people who will use the excuse of luggage fees and fuel surcharges from both the airline and the cruise line as an excuse to cut or eliminate tips to service staff. I find that practice absolutely deplorable because A has nothing to do with B. And I think you'll find that those who would do such a thing will never say so out loud. But they will do it. They're the ones that ask to have the auto tips removed from their on board account and then don't show up to dinner the last night. They're ashamed of what they have done, and rightfully so, although they would never admit that to anyone because they still feel justified.

 

Which reminds me - I need to e-mail my travel agent. I usually pre-pay my tips well in advance. I like to start with a clean account. That's one less money thing I have hanging over my head at the end of my cruise.

[cruzin w chris]

Through all the years I've read/posted on CC, I have read so many reasons to not tip, to cut tips but this is the most confusing to me.

 

Because another aspect of your trip (out of the control of all of us including the cruise lines) has increased in price, you wonder if we should decrease the tips to the crews who work themselves to exhaustion to give us the best cruise possible.

 

This one confounds me. :confused:

 

no sevenseas, i would never in a million years adopt this practice, i am just wondering about other peoples thoughts on the subject and am very pleased with the responses. i absolutely never go below the prepaid tips and usually tip more in certain areas. i hope this lessens ( did i spell that right ? ) the confusion a little.

[cruiserbryce]

In a word...no...why should those giving you excellent service on the ship suffer b/c you had to pay an airline to check a bag...these are all costs that go into taking a trip...If we are unable to pay the costs involved we wont go

[yellowbird23]

For myself, I would definitely not feel right lowering someone else's income for my own gratification. If I can't afford the tips, then I shouldn't be going in the first place, which I'm not at this moment! We are all in "this" together and taking from Peter to pay Paul isn't the solution!