All cash tips to crew must go into a pool ?

[Pam in CA]

It's hard to believe that a room steward would write the name on every envelope who gave it to him. It's also hard to believe that Princess is going to take these envelopes and try to go through the computer to see if they took their tips off or not. I have asked many stewards that I have given cash too and they all say they keep it. The bartenders have told me the same. I guess, if other employees went above and beyond the call of duty, they would not have to worry about getting tips from someone else's excellent service.

Bartenders are different in that they don't participate in the auto-tip pool so what they say has no bearing on waitstaff or cabin stewards. And while you find it hard to believe, it's true. Even if they slip it into their pocket, they live in such close quarters with others that someone would notice. It's not worth it to them to take the chance.

[AndyTheK]

DW and I both use soda cards. When we play in the casino, we very often order soda several times during the evening. On a couple of ships, the bar server in the casino learned our habits early on, and after a while, we didn't even have to order.

 

So... even though the soda card includes "gratuity", a couple of times during the session, we'll drop a dollar chip in the tray as thanks for service "above and beyond". The server has no name or room number. Can't check that we haven't deleted the auto-tip on our account. How can we be sire that the tip goes to the right person?

[sultan_sfo]

Soda servers belong to the same department as bartenders -- at poolside they bring all the drinks and sodas. The bar cash tips are often shared by those at a specific bar working a specific shift. We give x-tra cash tips to the bartenders and barrista. But they do not have to turn in their tips and only account for cash tips to their own bar crew.

[Eagle River]

Additionally if crew members do not abide by the pooling of the tips they are cheating their co workers. They all have room mates, friends and associates that would not be happy to be cheated and would turn them in.

 

they might steal once or twice from the rest of the crew, but most likely not for very long.

 

Remember, all the crew have contracts that they sign and agree to abide by.

I don't see how they are "stealing from the crew" if you gave your room steward some extra for making the cruise over and above a great cruise. It seems more like the crew is stealing from him/her.

[Pam in CA]

So... even though the soda card includes "gratuity", a couple of times during the session, we'll drop a dollar chip in the tray as thanks for service "above and beyond". The server has no name or room number. Can't check that we haven't deleted the auto-tip on our account. How can we be sire that the tip goes to the right person?

The "soda card" is like the bartender service, i.e., the tip is automatically (and irrevocably) added to your bill when you purchase it so anything you give to the server, they can keep. It's the waitstaff and cabin stewards who are part of the tipping pool and anything they receive directly from you must be accounted for in the tipping pool, either added to the pool if you've removed the auto-tip or given back to them if you haven't. If you haven't filled out a form removing the auto-tip, you are participating it in. A daily charge of $10.50 or $11 per person is added to your onboard account for all tipping onboard to waitstaff and cabin crew. You have the option to tip additionally if the service has been above your expectations.

[happy cruzer]

I don't see how they are "stealing from the crew" if you gave your room steward some extra for making the cruise over and above a great cruise. It seems more like the crew is stealing from him/her.

 

They have agreed to abide by the concept of a tip pool in their contract.

 

If the auto tips are in place, the extra tip is given back to them.

 

If the auto tips have been removed, the tip goes in the pool. If they keep the tip there is not option for that tip to be added to the pool.

 

All tips should go into the pool so that they can be given to the parties that earned them per their agreed service contract.

 

The idea of the pool is to even out the chance occurence of getting a cheap non-tipping cruiser (even if they get good service) and to reward the support the personnel that helps the ones you see and would tip but could not do a good job without the support guys.

[FritzG]

It's hard to believe that a room steward would write the name on every envelope who gave it to him.

 

That's exactly what our waiter did! We handed him an envelope, and he asked us to write our names and cabin number on it. He said he needed the info for turning it in.

Our room steward was only fair in his service so he got no extra tip so I don't know what he would have done with an extra tip.

[seacloud]

Several of the cabin stewards I've met are parents and I often

carry fun small toys/stickers that they can mail home to their

kids. Very popular, in addition to generous tips.

[fatbird]

dedosr-

" Laissez les bon temps rouler" is French for "Let the good times roll".

[cactusrose]

I don't see how they are "stealing from the crew" if you gave your room steward some extra for making the cruise over and above a great cruise. It seems more like the crew is stealing from him/her.

 

Your room steward is not the only one "making the cruise over and above a great cruise". There are people behind the scenes that assist the cabin steward to do just that. The system ensures that they also get a piece of the tip pool. You may, of course, tip the steward a bit more and if you leave the autotip in place that extra will be returned to them.

[EddieCruzer]

:confused: IS THIS TRUE ?

 

A good friend of mine is a room steward on Princess. Room stewards get to keep whatever tip you give them regardless of whether you remove the auto tip or not. Wait staff must pool tips.

If you want to tip, just use the stationary provided in the room and put the money in it and leave it on the bed or desk the last night of the cruise.

The room stewards make out pretty well, they get $2.75 per person per day from the auto tip. The average number of passengers per steward is 38. That comes out to 731.50 a week - no taxes. Pretty sweet. That's more money than I take home in a week! Add some tips to that and they can be over a grand a week.

[Megsdad]

What a good working environment:confused:

[coiran]

A good friend of mine is a room steward on Princess. Room stewards get to keep whatever tip you give them regardless of whether you remove the auto tip or not. Wait staff must pool tips.

If you want to tip, just use the stationary provided in the room and put the money in it and leave it on the bed or desk the last night of the cruise.

The room stewards make out pretty well, they get $2.75 per person per day from the auto tip. The average number of passengers per steward is 38. That comes out to 731.50 a week - no taxes. Pretty sweet. That's more money than I take home in a week! Add some tips to that and they can be over a grand a week.

 

Room stewards have told me otherwise. Why would they lie about this?

Ron

[Megsdad]

Room stewards have told me otherwise. Why would they lie about this?

 

Ron

 

because they get the best of both

[coiran]

because they get the best of both

 

Do not understand - they would get the extra money in addition to the autotip either way. I guess if you have a friend that says otherwise you must be correct. I doubt it but I won't dispute it with you.

 

Ron

[Alan64]

Let the good times roll.

 

not technically grammatical as "rouler" is the infinitive form

 

I don't think the Cajuns were schooled in 'proper' French grammer.

[LARGIN]

A good friend of mine is a room steward on Princess. Room stewards get to keep whatever tip you give them regardless of whether you remove the auto tip or not. Wait staff must pool tips.

If you want to tip, just use the stationary provided in the room and put the money in it and leave it on the bed or desk the last night of the cruise.

The room stewards make out pretty well, they get $2.75 per person per day from the auto tip. The average number of passengers per steward is 38. That comes out to 731.50 a week - no taxes. Pretty sweet. That's more money than I take home in a week! Add some tips to that and they can be over a grand a week.

 

I read your posts... Hopefully that knowledgeable room steward friend is the girl you were smitten with a year ago on a one week cruise and haven't heard from since. As you said in another post, you had your doubts about her.. :rolleyes:

 

Here is the facts for the umpteenth time.. Stewards have to pool any tip you give them if you remove the auto-tip. Same with the wait staff..

[juggles]

staff are obliged to share any tips. the answer is to buy staff some aftershave or some other personal gift if you are appeciative of a certain member of staff

[Glesca]

staff are obliged to share any tips. the answer is to buy staff some aftershave or some other personal gift if you are appeciative of a certain member of staff

 

Would prize winnings from Trivia be appropriate to give as gifts?

[Nancy53]

I know I did not spell that correct but I was wondering about the maitrade's (the guys that are in charge of the waiters in the dining rooms)

do they have to pool their tips. I bet not because there is usually only two of them. I bet they make good money too.

Do they get a share of the tips from the dining rooms that we want to go directly to our waiters that make our meals so wonderful.

[sultan_sfo]

17 after-shaves or what nots per cruise. If they have space to store them in their miniscule cabin, they can (after paying excess baggage to the airline) open a store when they return home after the end of their contract.

[Glesca]

A good friend of mine is a room steward on Princess. Room stewards get to keep whatever tip you give them regardless of whether you remove the auto tip or not. Wait staff must pool tips.

If you want to tip, just use the stationary provided in the room and put the money in it and leave it on the bed or desk the last night of the cruise.

The room stewards make out pretty well, they get $2.75 per person per day from the auto tip. The average number of passengers per steward is 38. That comes out to 731.50 a week - no taxes. Pretty sweet. That's more money than I take home in a week! Add some tips to that and they can be over a grand a week.

 

Granted it may seem sweet, but here’s some questions.

How many hours a day does your friend work?

How many days a week does your friend work?

Does your friend work every day for a four month period?

Does your friend get paid for the two month off period?

[CA Dave]

what is the translation of your French qoute

 

laissez les bon temps rouler ?

 

Asked and answered I know but the fastest way to get an answer to a question like this is to open a new window, cut and paste the quote and it will tell you it means 'Let the good times roll'.

[coiran]

It doesn't make any difference what a friend says - LARGIN is correct. Call Princess if you don't agree.

 

Ron

[wizard-of-roz]

I called Princess, not that I don't believe any of you but there were so many mixed messages.

I was told that whether you tip in the beginning of the cruise or the end. The Steward or Server will place the tip into an envelope, place your cabin number on it and it will be given to his/her manager. At the end of the cruise, the manager will check to see which cabin has removed the auto tip. If all tips are in-tact the Steward or Server is handed back the envelope(s).

Ship workers work by very strict standards and, if the rules are broken they are sent packing. And, usually, at their own expense. They all work in very close quarters and know everything about each other. There are no secrets and no secret stashes!

There is a code of honor that is followed by all employees. It makes for better working conditions and promotes an environment of more pleasant workers. If there's a liar or thief amongst the crew.....this person is weeded-out and usually can not get another job on any other line.