Years ago gratuities or Tips as we in the UK call them were at the discretion of the cruisers or customers.We always gave tips based on the level of service by placing them in the preverbial envelope place on our pillow on the last night of the cuise and we always tipped well. Now we are told by the cruise companies that you WILL give our staff what we tell you to give. In the UK our service staff are paid a living wage, they do not depend on tips but they do still recieve a tip if the service is good. I think the cruise companies if they are not careful are going to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
