Are gratuities getting excessive or am I mean?

We are travelling in a couple of months and have worked out that we will be paying around $750/800 in gratuities on daily charge,table wine,bars etc.I know I can have the standard charge deducted on arrival but I would like other people's opinion.The British pound equivalent of about £600 is becoming a considerable percentage in addition to the cruise price.

We have worked out that if every other couple pay around the same in gratuities as we will, then the total collected by Cunard will be roughly the equivalent to $750/800 per member of staff,excluding officers, for a 21 day trip.......at $250 per week per employee I would not be surprised if the gratuities covers ALL the wage cost

Does anyone know how the distribution of these gratuities actually works for the staff??

If my figures don't add up then let me know where I am going wrong !

I wish cruise companies would include tips in the price, but it does not look like that will ever happen!

To us its just one of the added costs of a cruise, travel, pre cruise hotel, parking, drinks and excursions to name a few. We only booked our cruise 4 months before sailing, but got free parking, and enough OBC to pay the tips, and buy a few bottles of reasonable wine. And we tip extra cash to those who excel as well!

Tipping is a hot-button topic here, although usually somebody doesn't want to pay them rather than ask how is the gratuity pool distributed.

According to the board's industry insider distribution works like this:

Originally Posted by BruceMuzz

\his information might help a bit.

All the major mass market cruise lines handle gratuities in just about the same way. There are some minor variations, but essentially it works like this:

 

At the beginning of the cruise, the number of guests onboard is posted in crew areas.

During the cruise, the names and cabin numbers of any guests who refuse the auto-tip are posted - as well as the reasons given by the guests.

At the end of the cruise, the number of cabins who tipped, the amount they each tipped, and the total dollar amount in the tip pool is posted.

Any additional tips or funds received for the tip pool are also posted.

Finally, a list of the actual dollars from the tipping pool, received by each crewmember is posted.

The entire process is very transparent. The crew is very careful to ensure that all the numbers add up correctly.

 

Don't you wish that your salary statement was so simple?

The same member outlined the history of tipping on ships here and here.

It's not going to change anytime soon. An entirely new pay system would need to be negotiated with all of the maritime unions involved. And you would have to convince your fellow passengers that paying astronomically higher fares is the moral and right thing to do. The moment Cunard rolls the gratuities into the fare they immediately look more expensive than their competitors. (All inclusive lines do just that but they are targeting a much more affluent demographic.)

When a Cunard promotion offers "free gratuities" it means that they are subsidizing the gratuity pool or the crew would strike or quit. Nothing is really "free". Either the fare is higher to compensate or it's a separate line item.

I consider it part of the cost of sailing just like port charges. Some want to remove the gratuity and hand out cash personally. Two problems. If the gratuity is removed the crew member is obligated to turn in any cash received from passengers. They're also going to miss the buffet, deck, and behind the scenes crew members.

Bar service charges don't go exclusively to your bar server. It's distributed among the entire crew who stocks and services adult beverages. These crew members are not in the general gratuity pool.

Hmm. I'm not going to enter the "old world" view of why not just roll everything into the price versus "the new world" approach to tipping as a moral imperative debate. But tell me ... based on the above description, if I pay the auto tips and then give one or more people an extra bung at the end of the cruise do they get to pocket it or does it go into the pool?

Because if they are going into a common pool then it really is just the most massive con.

.

I do not think that you can attach concerns about currency fluctuations to the delegation of gratuities.

I would LOVE to be able to book my entire World Cruise in the UK but pay in my USD.

IF you do not agree with gratuities, then remove them.

The gratuities for a 21 day double occupancy Britannia cabin amounts to 367 GBP. Either you accept it or you don't.

I do not think that you can attach concerns about currency fluctuations to the delegation of gratuities.

I would LOVE to be able to book my entire World Cruise in the UK but pay in my USD.

IF you do not agree with gratuities, then remove them.

The gratuities for a 21 day double occupancy Britannia cabin amounts to 367 GBP. Either you accept it or you don't.

My estimate of £600 did not take currency fluctuations into account.It was based upon todays rate plus the extra spent in the restaurant and bars.

I would still be interested to know exactly how much of my money the staff actually receive and how much is a typical wage for,say, a cabin steward on cunard

Tipping is a hot-button topic here, although usually somebody doesn't want to pay them rather than ask how is the gratuity pool distributed.

According to the board's industry insider distribution works like this:

[/i]The same member outlined the history of tipping on ships here and here.

It's not going to change anytime soon. An entirely new pay system would need to be negotiated with all of the maritime unions involved. And you would have to convince your fellow passengers that paying astronomically higher fares is the moral and right thing to do. The moment Cunard rolls the gratuities into the fare they immediately look more expensive than their competitors. (All inclusive lines do just that but they are targeting a much more affluent demographic.)

When a Cunard promotion offers "free gratuities" it means that they are subsidizing the gratuity pool or the crew would strike or quit. Nothing is really "free". Either the fare is higher to compensate or it's a separate line item.

I consider it part of the cost of sailing just like port charges. Some want to remove the gratuity and hand out cash personally. Two problems. If the gratuity is removed the crew member is obligated to turn in any cash received from passengers. They're also going to miss the buffet, deck, and behind the scenes crew members.

Bar service charges don't go exclusively to your bar server. It's distributed among the entire crew who stocks and services adult beverages. These crew members are not in the general gratuity pool.

(I esp liked with the line I've highlighted)

Sincere best wishes.

Hmm. I'm not going to enter the "old world" view of why not just roll everything into the price versus "the new world" approach to tipping as a moral imperative debate. But tell me ... based on the above description, if I pay the auto tips and then give one or more people an extra bung at the end of the cruise do they get to pocket it or does it go into the pool?

i.e.

Where do the "additional tips or funds received for the tip pool" come from?

Is it just the total of any coins picked up on the casino floor when the cleaners go around, or do people have to contribute some or all of their "personal" tips?

Because if they are going into a common pool then it really is just the most massive con.

As I understand it the "additional funds" would be those turned in by crew members whose passengers removed their auto gratuity and those where passengers actually increased their auto gratuity. (Yes, it can be done.) That, and those situations where Cunard has to subsidize the pool. As one example Australia and New Zealand itineraries are notorious for over 90% of passengers removing all gratuities. With numbers that great the crew would otherwise strike or quit. (It also reduces the profitability of a sailing and Cunard looks to position that ship elsewhere in the future.)

Most of crew compensation comes from gratuities. (See the links in post #3 if you want details.) I'd have to get very bad service from multiple crew members, for the entire voyage, for me to remove them. If I need to remove them to afford the fare then I really cannot afford to travel.

Here we go again. Everyone with a different theory about how the system works. The same claims "I always leave the tips in place and tip generously as well". Claims that adding them to the fare could not possibly work. Total confusion all round which I suspect may be the main idea.

And still people are visiting the purser to strike the things out.

I'm out of this thread.

David.

I have a suspicion that the people waiting in the purser queue are not the ones saying they leave the tips in place and tip generously in addition.

I've had daily gratuities paid as an added benefit for the past several years. It might be because I book while aboard.

I wish cruise companies would include tips in the price, but it does not look like that will ever happen!

 

To us its just one of the added costs of a cruise, travel, pre cruise hotel, parking, drinks and excursions to name a few. We only booked our cruise 4 months before sailing, but got free parking, and enough OBC to pay the tips, and buy a few bottles of reasonable wine. And we tip extra cash to those who excel as well!

There are cruise lines that do this, but Cunard is not one of them. But beware: If gratuities are included, you will pay more up front.

 

If you leave the auto gratuities on then any extra paid to staff (in cash) they are able to keep. If you give the bartender cash, it's theirs, if added to the bill, something like 75% goes to the area's pool and 25% straight to them. The area may include more than the bar in question. It is the section that is under the leadership of one staff member. The same thing occurs in specialty restaurants as well from what he said.

I wish cruise companies would include tips in the price, but it does not look like that will ever happen!

It happens with the ships based in Australia, and seems to work fine.

We seem to be getting away from my original post.Can anyone answer me a simple question.If,as I worked out,the people on my cruise are paying gratuities at about $250 per week per member of the crew,does each crew member get an added $250 above whatever wage he or his union has agreed?

We seem to be getting away from my original post.Can anyone answer me a simple question.If,as I worked out,the people on my cruise are paying gratuities at about $250 per week per member of the crew,does each crew member get an added $250 above whatever wage he or his union has agreed?

$250 actually sounds a bit low.

Remember, officers and engineers etc won't get the tips.

We seem to be getting away from my original post. Can anyone answer me a simple question. If, as I worked out,the people on my cruise are paying gratuities at about $250 per week per member of the crew, does each crew member get an added $250 above whatever wage he or his union has agreed?

I don't think anybody here knows the exact break down on how much each crew member gets but yes, the gratuity distribution is on top of the contract wage.

Let's try this math. A PG steward has 11 staterooms. Assuming that there are two people in each and they all leave on the autogratuity over 7 days that's $2079 for the gratuity pool. If it were divided evenly among the steward and three dining room waiters that is $519.75 per week or $27K per year. (Of course each crew member gets less than that because there are deck stewards and buffet waiters in the mix.) Glassdoor.com states that a cabin steward salary can range from $1,275-$1,379 per month. The high end is only $16.5K per year. So you see that most of crew income does indeed depend on gratuities.

You initially asked if gratuities are getting excessive. With numbers like that do you still believe so? What's your point? Are you looking for a justification to remove them? "Cunard won't tell me precisely how this money is distributed so therefore I won't pay it"? Whenever somebody wants to remove gratuities I say yes, they are indeed being mean.

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Let's try this math. A PG steward has 11 staterooms. Assuming that there are two people in each and they all leave on the autogratuity over 7 days that's $2079 for the gratuity pool. If it were divided evenly among the steward and three dining room waiters that is $519.75 per week or $27K per year. (Of course each crew member gets less than that because there are deck stewards and buffet waiters in the mix.) Glassdoor.com states that a cabin steward salary can range from $1,275-$1,379 per month. The high end is only $16.5K per year. So you see that most of crew income does indeed depend on gratuities.

Don't forget the crew that clean the public areas as well.

Wandering off topic: I have noticed that officers are now being awarded "Star of The Month" awards. That is not fair, as a lot of Cunard newbies think they can only submit one card.

 

Let's try this math. A PG steward has 11 staterooms. Assuming that there are two people in each and they all leave on the autogratuity over 7 days that's $2079 for the gratuity pool. If it were divided evenly among the steward and three dining room waiters that is $519.75 per week or $27K per year. (Of course each crew member gets less than that because there are deck stewards and buffet waiters in the mix.) Glassdoor.com states that a cabin steward salary can range from $1,275-$1,379 per month. The high end is only $16.5K per year. So you see that most of crew income does indeed depend on gratuities.

 

So, lets do the maths as you say, :D $1379 a month may no seem a lot to you or possibly many on here, but when the average wage in the country from where the crew hail may be as low as $50 per month, that is why many crew members stay working in the hell hole of a cruise liner. By their countries standards they are making a fortune.

By the way, I leave the onboard gratuity in place.

So, lets do the maths as you say, :D $1379 a month may no seem a lot to you or possibly many on here, but when the average wage in the country from where the crew hail may be as low as $50 per month, that is why many crew members stay working in the hell hole of a cruise liner. By their countries standards they are making a fortune.

 

By the way, I leave the onboard gratuity in place.

So because where they come from pay is very low, you think that they should be lowly paid on the ships?

For me to be a steward on a ship and be away from home for 9 months, they would need to pay me a LOT of money.

So because where they come from pay is very low, you think that they should be lowly paid on the ships?

That's the wage standard used by the lines, you know (and one reason Cunard ships are no longer UK registered).

Crew members have put their lives on the line while in the practice of their duties. How do you put a price on that?

Some people leave the tips in place....

Some people leave the tips in place AND tip extra....

Some people remove the tips...

Some people adjust the tips.....

Do what you feel is right for you in the circumstances. We have been told so many different stories and heard so many different tales re tipping we don't know what to believe. We have done over 40 cruises and we have seen lots of variations. No one knows how much the staff actually make - only the staff themselves. I will never forget one steward when we handed over a decent tip on the last night, barely could say thank you. He brought out a wallet which was bursting with notes and I mean bursting. Next morning never acknowledged us .....it did leave a sour taste in the mouth but I know everyone is different. It can happen that the obliging steward during the cruise suddenly changes after tips are received which I know has also happened to other guests as I have seen it mentioned on the boards from time to time. Other stewards can be very different and very grateful. Others indifferent.

Do what you feel is right for you regarding tipping. If you wish to remove the tips, then remove them. If you wish to 'double' tip then do so or if you wish to leave them in place then do. It's no ones business but your own. None of us know the exact amounts the crew receives -,it's so complicated.

And to answer your original question no I do not think you are mean - more like sensible! Enjoy your cruising.

The on board credit goes a long way towards the gratuaties on most of our cruises and $11 a day for the wonderful service you get, most of the trip. I never begrudge and if I want to tip someone extra that is my choice. When you see someone cleaning anywhere on the ship you don't have to wonder are they making, for them, enough to achieve what is important to them, looking after their family back home. Pay and enjoy is my philosophy

Some people leave the tips in place....

 

Some people leave the tips in place AND tip extra....

 

Some people remove the tips...

 

Some people adjust the tips.....

I will never forget one steward when we handed over a decent tip on the last night, barely could say thank you. He brought out a wallet which was bursting with notes and I mean bursting. Next morning never acknowledged us .....it did leave a sour taste in the mouth but I know everyone is different. It can happen that the obliging steward during the cruise suddenly changes after tips are received which I know has also happened to other guests as I have seen it mentioned on the boards from time to time. Other stewards can be very different and very grateful. .

I always ask my steward about his family one was so proud of his little princess

just over a year old showed me a photo I had my bling, such as it is, with me obviously! remembered a pair of tiny gold and pearl earings so made sure I cleaned them put them in a box and lft them on the bed with a note "for your little princess" and signed it for his security. He was very touched.

sometimes will bring back a small tourist type gift or even a candybar and leave it with a note of thanks if we know he/ she will not be going ashore that day or even trip. 1st time contracts can't go ashore at some ports.

So because where they come from pay is very low, you think that they should be lowly paid on the ships?

 

For me to be a steward on a ship and be away from home for 9 months, they would need to pay me a LOT of money.

You would need a lot of money based on your current standard of living. Based on my currant standards, living is Poland I would be extremely rich, but I can't speak the language :D