Gratuities.......

JoeyandDavid · September 24, 2008

We have all read the different threads discussing how the staff of the different lines are underpaid..overpaid, or how the cruise lines should abolish tipping all together .. even to the point where some people even go so far to skip the last night at dinner in order to "stiff" their wait staff on tips..

Thinking back to your expierences... do you think the industry guidelines for tipping should be increased? are the appropriate? or should they be cut back some? What's your opinion?

deb1220 · September 24, 2008

I think they are appropriate as they stand right now. You can always tip more for those who really do their job well. And if you are dissatisfied you can always have the tips taken off your final bill and tip on your own. I might have a different opinion if I would have cruised before the automatic tipping...I don't know!

cruisingcats · September 24, 2008

IMO they should stay the same and if you feel someone is deserving of more then compensate them individually.

We did that for our room stewards.

Joanandjoe · September 24, 2008

The cruise line guidelines result in much smaller tips than we gave before there were guidelines. Where there is tipping (which Regent doesn't have), we've always given individual tips in excess of the guidelines, directly to the waiters and cabin stewards. The only exception: the clueless stewardess on the Zenith who is largely reponsible (anong with a bad stateroom and mediocre food) for my inability to persude Joan to try X again. We didn't give her an extra penny.

Nonetheless, if the lines made the standard tips significantly larger, more people would drop them. Therefore, they probably should stay where they are, or a buck or two higher.

sailingrose · September 24, 2008

That's a tough one for me to answer as I have many crew friends..........One of the biggest problems is the waitstaff getting stiffed the last night. I have a friend a waiter who gives excellent service and the last cruise he got stiffed by 1/2 of his diners. It is really disheartening to see that happen to them and know that they have to feed their children. I'll just never understand it!

I think the tips are fine as they are at least through the end of the year but I think an adjustment should happen next year. Sorry I know that won't be popular but I know how hard these men and women work.

DebbieandJerry · September 24, 2008

Now that the ships are going to automatic tipping, we make sure that those who have gone above and beyond get extra. We will hand them an envelope and tell them that this is in addition to what the ship has already taken out for automatic tipping.

Because of my food allergies and the laundry list of things I can and cannot be exposed to, we make sure that those who took extra precautions on my behalf were also tipped: i.e., the person at the pool grill who always made sure I had grilled chicken and onions on a grill that had been cleaned and not cross contaminated.

One way or another, we are all in the service industry. We know how good we feel when we are praised (or happen to receive a bonus!) Isn't that what we are doing when we recognize good service?

JoeyandDavid · September 25, 2008

FOLLOW UP:

Most ships with the prepay gratuity option send coupons to your stateroom to hand out to the individual people on tip night they also send envelopes.. Do you use the envelopes?

The reason I ask is on our last cruise we saw tables with just coupons scattered on the table at meals end..

Personally we use the envelopes, if nothing more than to write a small thank you to enclose with the coupon but also sometimes we choose addition green

zebra · September 25, 2008

Absolutely we use the envelopes and add extra for exceptional service. I do think the tip amount should stay the same.... I love having the option to bless someone "over and above" for good service.