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Tipping on Seadream


diesel canberra
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We've had about a dozen voyages, and I take no tipping to mean just that - no tipping. We will recognize life cycle events of crew members whom we have gotten to know well, but I don't consider those tips - they are gifts. However, there is a Crew Welfare Fund. At the end of each voyage we donate what we would have given in tips to this fund - you just tell them at the desk and they put it on your bill. That way the money benefits everyone who works so hard to provide the wonderful SD experience, including those who work behind the scenes. Just my opinion - others may disagree.

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We usually, at the end of the voyage, place cash in an envelope addressed to The Crew Fund and leave it at the Concierge Desk. You are not expected to do this and will not suffer in any way for not donating. Purely a personal decision based on your experiences on board.

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Diesel, you should be aware, though, that tipping is the norm for spa services. Be prepared to love SeaDream. It will be hard to go back to any other line. Bon Voyage.

Zimmy's DH

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After reading all your posts, I am surprised. We took our first Sea Dream cruise in November 2014. After being on several other cruise lines that said "no tipping" AND MEANT it, we were surprised on the night before disembarkation that the majority of cruisers were passing out tips..large ones. While we hadn't planned for this, and had already donated 300$ to the crew fund, there was definitely a pressure to tip, which we NEVER felt on Seabourn or Silver Seas. In fact, because we had to get my husbands casino chips cashed in to HAVE any significant left over cash (we were lucky that he won a good amount playing Black Jack) by the time we were able to pass out tips, several of the staff who had previously been over the top helpful and nice, had started to be cold, pouting and even one totally ignored us. Then suddenly when we tipped, ALL was right with the world again. I was taken aback by the whole thing.

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After reading all your posts, I am surprised. We took our first Sea Dream cruise in November 2014. After being on several other cruise lines that said "no tipping" AND MEANT it, we were surprised on the night before disembarkation that the majority of cruisers were passing out tips..large ones. While we hadn't planned for this, and had already donated 300$ to the crew fund, there was definitely a pressure to tip, which we NEVER felt on Seabourn or Silver Seas. In fact, because we had to get my husbands casino chips cashed in to HAVE any significant left over cash (we were lucky that he won a good amount playing Black Jack) by the time we were able to pass out tips, several of the staff who had previously been over the top helpful and nice, had started to be cold, pouting and even one totally ignored us. Then suddenly when we tipped, ALL was right with the world again. I was taken aback by the whole thing.

I am sorry to hear that you felt treated coldly and with an employee actually pouting and then being ignored? Are you sure that you were not on a Carnival ship instead? Lol!!!! I can tell you that our family has been on SeaDream more than ten times and have never ever witnessed this type of behavior. No tipping simply means...no tipping! It is not expected nor inferred in any manner.I believe that feeling everything is right in the world, may be a personal issue and not a reflection of the professionalism of the staff. I'm pretty sure that most frequent fliers of SD would agree.

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well I might have thought it was me, because I am super aware and sensitive to other people's feelings. But my husband, who never pays any attention to any unspoken communication, said the same thing. I will say that the more senior staff (both in age and time with Sea Dream) were not guilty of this. But as people were (every single person in the large group we got to know!) passing out tips, at least two guys went from having pictures made hugging me and running to take care of us, to..well pouting is pretty generous. To me (again the sensitive one) it felt like anger. AS SOON as we got his Black Jack chips turned in (the concierge didn't have enough cash at first) and we started handing out large bills, all was right with the world again. Lots of smiles. Etc.

maybe this cruise was unusual. But we probably talked to at least 25 of the couples, and they were all tipping. In my opinion, especially since we may sail with them again, it put a certain pressure on us. It's not like it broke the bank or anything, but when one budgets a certain amount of money... Anyway, on Seabourn my husband had this one bar tender who practically followed him around the ship, filling his glass of Makers Mark. He tried three times to slip him some money. All three times he was rebuffed. It was just a different atmosphere with regard to this.

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While I don't doubt your experience on SD, Sherree, I do have to say that my experience has been the same as the previous poster. We've had at least a dozen trips, probably more. We have never tipped; if something is included then I feel that it is just that. And we have always been treated wonderfully, by all the staff.

 

I've also never seen groups of people handing out large bills, or any bills for that matter. We have traveled with people who have told me that they always tip their housekeeper, but it is done discretely.

 

I'm sorry this happened to you.

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A group of at least 25 couples? That's half the ship. Sounds to me like a mini-charter. Just speculating, but is it possible this was a group that was traveling on someone else's dime as, maybe, a sales incentive award? That may explain why they were tipping, but not the attitude of the crew. Unless the crew thought you were part of this group. Still, it is highly unusual and I hope it hasn't soured you for future cruises.

Zimmy's DH (Hi, honey. I didn't know you were here, too.)

Edited by Zimmy
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We've also sailed many times and have never noticed any attitude concerning tipping or non-tipping. Last cruise I did see a passenger handing out lots of cash to many of the crew, but he had been sailing consecutively for a few weeks - no it wasn't ho-hum ;)

 

I'm always amazed at how the crew treats all passengers with the utmost respect, I know I couldn't work there!

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Please re read my post. I didn't say that there were 25 couples traveling together. I said We met and talked to at least 25 of the couples. NOT couples traveling together. Though one of the groups we hung out with had 6 couples from Europe with him.

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We have hundreds of nights on board, well FT does, but I'm getting close, there are only rare occasions where we do anything gratuity wise other than give something to the crew fund.

 

There have been times when individual gratuities have been extend, a birthday, a vowal renewal, etc. but generally no tipping measn just that, and I am not only surprised but appalled that someone saw a lot of people leaving large gratuities on a voyage.

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We have not been on board recently but have have taken 9 SD cruises (on 1 & 2) and have never seen anyone OVERTLY tip the crew like this. We have VOLUNTARILY -and discreetly -contributed to the crew fund at the end of our cruises but only because we wanted to; not because we ever felt any pressure to do so.

Sheree, I am sorry you experienced this on your cruise and hope it was an isolated case because SD's crew work very hard and this reaction seems very out of the norm from anything we have ever experienced.

I guess I'm wondering why in the world these passengers would be so obvious about tipping the crew in front of others? Granted some may occasionally bring gifts to some of the crew in appreciation for their efforts or because they know them well, but handing out money in front of everyone seems a bit "showy" & over the top to me.

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In over 10 years of being on SD and 130+ nights, we have NEVER experienced any pressure for tips! We always contribute to the crew fund and maybe they know we are generous but you would never know. They keep the wine I like "under cover" , remember everything

we like, and treat us like royalty. Have never seen what you describe.

Vandrefak

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Regret to report that, after several voyages just as described by experienced voyagers, we also got our first sniff of this (not, I hasten to add, from the spectacular old hands). Spa services were the worst, absolutely hovering. I do find it curious that one department seems to expect it, while the rest is "no tipping".

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have on occasion seen discrete envelopes given, but never felt pressure to tip. We do contribute to the crew fund as it is hard to single out individuals since everybody is service oriented. However I have given small tips to individuals who went out of their way to accommodate my mobility impairment; their special attention enhances my enjoyment of the yacht experience. I always include a personal note acknowledging appreciation. Two individuals got tears in their eyes showing me it was not expected.

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  • 4 months later...

Wow! Never have we felt pressured to tip on SD though we always give to the crew fund and tip the spa staff (I've always thought that since the time of the spa staff member was dedicated to me exclusively during a booked service that was only fair.) I would be very disappointed to experience that type of attitude on SD. I hate the whole awkward business of passing out envelopes or wads of cash and the implied 'snubbing' of any of the behind the scenes crew members who also work extremely hard. One of the very reasons we chose SD was that we felt that we would rather pay an all-inclusive no-tipping fare upfront and trust that the crew was being well-paid and well-treated.

 

I would rather see the fares raised and the crew compensation increased accordingly than to have to deal with all that tipping nonsense. Yes, I really would. SeaDream isn't a budget line, after all! I have an equal horror of hurting anyone's feelings and of waving around cash trying to look like a big-shot at the end of the cruise. Yuck!

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  • 2 weeks later...

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