ilikeanswers

On 8/27/2019 at 12:04 AM, yorkshirephil said:

https://cruiseradio.net/from-gratuities-to-sex-cruise-ship-crew-member-tells-all/?fbclid=IwAR2g1uho1uWw_a-TSLNDwPImbUi7zQFTS-OYT88VeS2EdpKSENKlxAjD7W0

 

Picked this up from another site.

"At the end of the cruise, when guests leave the ship, we are provided with lists of our guests who paid and those who removed gratuities."

42 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

 

 

Clearly ilikeanswers doesn't actually like answers if they don't agree with his opinions. 😲

 

The list is posted daily. It is updated each morning and posted in crew areas where any crew member can see it. Makes no difference when you remove the gratuities - the crew will know as soon as it is done, whether the first or last day, or any day in between. This is standard practice of virtually all cruise ships - whether ilkeanswers likes that answer or not. 😉 

I was going on what the previously posted article was saying. If this is wrong then it seriously needs corrections. And yes I love answers 🤗. That is why I ask lots of questions🧐. 

On 8/27/2019 at 12:04 AM, yorkshirephil said:

https://cruiseradio.net/from-gratuities-to-sex-cruise-ship-crew-member-tells-all/?fbclid=IwAR2g1uho1uWw_a-TSLNDwPImbUi7zQFTS-OYT88VeS2EdpKSENKlxAjD7W0

 

Picked this up from another site.

"At the end of the cruise, when guests leave the ship, we are provided with lists of our guests who paid and those who removed gratuities" .

1 hour ago, Aquahound said:

 

That's the first I'm hearing the staff finds out afterwards.  I've always heard to the contrary.  In fact, I remember someone here posting a list they saw on a behind the scenes tour....I think it was Carnival....of the people who removed their gratuities. 

The information I got was from the article posted by a another commenter. If the information is incorrect someone needs to correct it😳. 

4 hours ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

The name list also includes the cabin numbers. 

The cabin numbers are irrelevant if the staff get the information after the cruise has finished. 

1 hour ago, K32682 said:

 

On a cruise ship you dine in the same place for a set period of time whether it's a few days or many weeks.  Servers get to know you.  Furthermore, there is a client file held by the line with your preferences and past cruises. Skinflints should not take for granted their cruise line server isn't aware of their miserly past. 

 

Do all the crew ship staff have access to the client file? It sounds like something only management would have access to. Also aren't there more than one dining option these days on most ships? If people keep dining at different places you would less likely form any relationship with server staff. Another thing I can't help wondering in comparison to a restaurant, the service staff there know at the end of the meal if you tipped or not whereas according to the article the information isn't provided till the end of the cruise. You would have to try and remember who is who long after they have left. 

One last question but do the auto gratuities go to house keeping staff as well? I know because of the OPs question a lot of the comments have been focused on restaurant servers but since we are discussing auto gratuities I just want to check if they apply to staff that don't generally have face-to-face contact with the customers? 

2 hours ago, K32682 said:

 

But they do know and could reasonably be expected to remember them should they come back.  I worked in restaurants going through university and we remembered the people who stiffed the servers for a long time.   It might be prudent for the cheapskates who pull the auto gratuities at the end of a cruise to not sail the same line twice or at least let sufficient time pass to ensure a crew turnover.  

I would be impressed if they did remember. Some of these cruise ships hold upwards of three thousand passengers and the passengers are always changing. The average cruiser might do one a year at most so if they do return it would be at least a year before they are seen again (that is tens of thousands of passengers later). On top of that I doubt all the crew members have personal interactions with all the customers. A name on a list isn't enough lots of people have the same name and as a crew member would you really want to risk making that mistake? 

6 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Papers are full of it nowadays, not much reporting being done, just stories on what people believe is happening.

There are still some good reporters out there, the problem is you have to search through mud to find the gold. Doesn't help that Google puts them far down the list. It seems opinions earn more money than facts these days. 

53 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Depends upon how much you have to pay for that extra person.  There's a big difference between $2. and $15 per hour.  Plus it very much depends upon the type of business.   If say it's a restaurant and you're paying $2 an hour and business is slow that's a different situation if you're paying $15 an hour.  You can afford to keep paying $2/hour if business is slow.  Not so if the rate is $15.

You might be able to afford it but not employing someone you don't need is still more money in your pocket. I just can't see why any business would be motivated to employ more people then they need. 

16 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

There have been many articles about the push to raise service industry base pay in the US to $15 per hour.  It has had devastating effects on employment levels.  

I always hear that argument but I do wonder if that is true? If I am running a business I would employ the number of people I need. I would not employ an extra person I don't need that I have no tasks for just because the wage is less. 

5 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

No, he just said that he wants a raise.

"Gratuities should exist like this, and it is okay if guests remove them. But we crew members believe that our basic salary should be provided by the company, and it should be higher. Then these issues with gratuities would not be a problem."

I understood that the crew member wanted a raise but from the statements above I thought the crew member was saying it would be preferred to gratuities because of the inconsistent nature of  the current payment system. Maybe I have misunderstood, unfortunately I can't ask the interviewee to clarify😕. 

It interesting that in the point o

1 hour ago, yorkshirephil said:

https://cruiseradio.net/from-gratuities-to-sex-cruise-ship-crew-member-tells-all/?fbclid=IwAR2g1uho1uWw_a-TSLNDwPImbUi7zQFTS-OYT88VeS2EdpKSENKlxAjD7W0

 

Picked this up from another site.

It interesting that that the crew member says that it would be better to have higher salaries than gratuities. I guess the tax exempt status of the gratuities does not make up for the people who remove them.

11 hours ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

There is much more than just receiving the food!

 

Good service would be not having to wait more than a few minutes to be acknowledged after being seated and a few more before being waited upon. 

 

Good service would be the server being attentive and occasionally coming by to ask if everything is satisfactory and if I needed anything else.

 

Good service would be the server removing the used dishes soon after I finished my meal and bringing the check right away so I do not have to wait an extended time with dirty dishes in front of me. 

 

Good service would be the server appearing to appreciate that I am there by displaying at least a cursory smile and a welcoming attitude.

Thanks for this, I always wondered what other people look for in their service. I must seem very uncouth to you😜. The only thing I relate to is waiting too long for something. I agree that is bothersome. Otherwise the other stuff isn't really a deal breaker for me. Even leaving empty plates I have had that happen at lots of tapas and yum cha places and unless it is actually making the table too crowded which by then the servers have always removed them I never really thought twice about it and to be honest I personally prefer it when they don't ask if everything is alright in the mddle of a meal. My impression has always been that it is disingenuous. You last point reminded me of something I was told about South Korea that the attidude is that it is the customer who should appreciate being serviced whereas the server has no obligation to reciprocate it. Apparently it is why Westerners complain about Korean restuarants being rude😂.

15 minutes ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

What you described is what I have experienced on many occasions. Yes, they do not have a tipping culture and seem to be proud of it with so many "we are better than you because of it" comments on tipping threads. But the service provided is inferior to anything I experience in other parts of the world, tips or no tips. It must be a national badge of honor to provide surly, barely adequate service. 

 

Sorry if feathers have been ruffled. I wish I couldn't report such observations. My comment may upset you, but that experience directly affected my enjoyment of meals in your country.  

I am curious but what is considered "good service"? I see this comment a lot but I always wonder what it is people expect from their servers. I don't know if I have low expectations but I'm just happy to recieve my food. As long as that happens service is good as far as I'm concerned🤗.

3 minutes ago, SantaFeFan said:

We get it. You aren't a generous person.

I think it is a little unfair to call someone ungenerous because they limit where they give extra tips. This commenter isn't the only one who picks the staff they choose to give extra tips I've seen plenty of comments on this thread where they say there are certain staff they give extra money and I have yet to read anyone who said they give to the whole crew extra tips. At the end of the day we all have limited funds so all of us can only be so generous.

44 minutes ago, banzaii said:

Exactly my point.  There are no facts only feelings when it comes to climate change!

 

There are some facts that suggest human kind is quickly contributing to degredation of the planet.  Deforestation through logging and fire, both natural and intentionally lit; Destruction of natural habitats through 'development'; Pollution of waterways and the atmosphere and unsustainable population growth.

 

But over millions of years, man has only truly evolved to be a realistic threat to the planet over the past 100 years.  We truly have no idea how, if, when and at what rate climate has and will change.  It's just a popular band wagon invented by scientists to attract funding. 

 

We can throw money at a barely tangible concept and support these 'experts' or we could focus funding and attention on something real like the issues themselves.

Disagree with the data is one thing but to say it doesn't exist is an insult to the decades of data gathering and millions of hours scientists have poured (a lot of it on volunteer basis) into analysing and corroberating all the evidence. The data has been gathered from all around the world by different scientists in many fields. It is out there as public information for people to anaylse themselves. Read the research papers, look at how the results are consistantly repeated. It is one of the few fields of science where the experiments are actually repeated. There is no field of science more heavily scrutinised and overflowing with data points than climate science. We have used less data to create human medicine than the data that is coming out of climate science. Humans created a hole in the ozone layer why is it so hard to believe that we can change the climate? At the end of the day it is the same basic concept about the changes we make to the composition of the atmosphere and how it reacts. Simple chemistry on a world wide scale. The sad thing is climate change is actually really simple science in comparison to something like quantum physics and yet for some bizarre reason it is so hard for people to get their head around.

7 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

 

Do you also obsess with how the cruise fare you are paying is distributed or how the taxes, fees and port expenses you pay are distributed? I'll bet not. Your comment is just another example of anti-tipping attitudes, with people complaining that they don't like it rather than accepting that things aren't always done the way it is back home.

I think you have misunderstood my comment as I was actually refering to the cruise fare. And yes I do wonder where it goes, as I wonder when I pay for a tour where it goes or things like resort taxes or even all the taxes you get with an airfare. I am always wondering where my money is going and personally I think it is good to be informed about what happens to your money, then you can make informed decisions about how you want to spent your money. Transperancy isn't a bad thing.

7 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

If the buffet is entirely self service, with the staff only replenishing the items at the counters and not bringing items to you at your table, then a tip is not needed. The key is whether you are being served at your table by someone or not.

See that is the assumption I was working with. Because no one had brought anything to my table and the whole thing was self service I thought must be no tip but the cashier infomed you indeed tip 20%. So the rules are obviously not consistant. And I know people talk about 20% but when you leave a tip for a hotel cleaner are you suppose to leave 20% of your nightly rate? And why do they say 10% -20% for a taxi? Is 10% for bad and 20% good? or is 10% the standard? When you tip for luggage handling when is it $1 a piece and when is it $2? Or should it be 20% of the cost of a transfer or could I just grab my luggage myself so I have one less mathematical caculation to work out at the airport😂. Tipping must keep American minds sharp having to constantly work out the percentage of everything. My brain is so lazy I need a calculator for everything (thank goodness for the phone😋)

14 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

It really isn't rocket science. Certainly not nearly as difficult as having to learn how to drive on the wrong side of the road in your country. 😉 😁

Driving on the other side of the road is easy for me compared to tipping😜. Even in the USVI I had no problems with driving. But then I have tens of thousands of kms of driving experience around the world to give me the confidence compared to tipping which I only freak out at when in USA or Canada (most of my travelling has been around Europe). Maybe if I visit that part of the world more often I will gain the confidence but for now the public shaming that comes from getting it wrong is something that will leave me panicking when it is time to pay.

They say this will be good for the GBR. It is about time the GBR had some good news👍.

9 hours ago, Shorex said:

I really do not comprehend the obsessing on cruise critic over crew compensation. They are working very hard for a living, so just go with the flow and pay the gratuities. You are not the inspector general of cruise employee compensation.

I guess cruisers want to know that when they pay their fare it is going to the right place. I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to understand how your money is distributed. Whenever I travel I try to spend in a way that I hope will give the most positive benefit to a community.

7 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

Americans are regularly excoriated for not knowing and observing the cultural differences when going to other countries.  Including those cultures on tipping.  Responsible American travelers inform themselves and act accordingly.

It would be nice if people in other countries would be held to the same standard when they are in America and on mass market cruiselines (which each have a completely different tipping cultures).  

I have researched the hell out of tipping in the US but it seems the rules are just never consistent and even after all my research it seems there are things people forget to mention like my most recent example that you tip at buffets. No where in my research did this ever come up, they always talk about tipping servers but no one serves you at a buffet so I assumed it was tip free and when I was paying the bill I was informed I that I was suppose to tip. If I wasn't told I would not have known (they must have realised I was a foreigner from my accent) so in the end I just find it easier to avoid situations where I have to tip because clearly I just can't seem to get the rules right. It is probably why the Caribbean cruises do the whole auto gratuity thing because I can't imagine I am the only one who is confused about how much to tip to who. It is better someone else handle the distribution of tipping because I would get it all wrong

This is why when I visit the US most of my meals come from a supermarket or as take away. Tipping to me is so confusing😅. I have either under tipped, over tipped and I have no doubt somewhere I missed tips simply out of ignorance😰. If servers have long memories then some will absolutely hate me (most likely the majority😜) and some probably think I'm super generous😕.

I do wonder though since the onboard gratuities are shared between all the staff what is the best thing to do if you do have bad service?

2 minutes ago, clo said:

Oh, you're probably right.  I speak enough Spanish and Portuguese that I MIGHT be able to do that 🙂

 

This is probably more apples and oranges but they might better use a donation.  We make a monthly, automatic donation to our local food bank.  Their buying ability is FAR beyond what an individual has like 5x, 6x, etc.  But there are still people who insist on giving $5 worth of food rather than a $5 bill.  I wonder if it's like that overseas.  Interesting.

I have heard that argument from many charities. They can have a waiting list of people wanting to volunteer but not enough wanting to donate money🤔. I once read an article where someone who ran a charity complained that people use charities as a way to feel like good citizens and that they rarely think about what charities actually want or need.

1 minute ago, clo said:

At least locally I've seen the opportunities more along the lines of filing papers, breaking down boxes for recycling, etc.

I hope this isn't a stupid question but when you say filing are you talking about office work filing? I find it hard to believe anyone would employ a foreign day visitor in that job especially if they don't speak the language😕.

4 minutes ago, #1TravelMom said:

It is easy to volunteer for any length of time. There are many places we have visited that any gesture is so greatly appreciated. If you name a port, I can make suggestions. We have connections on many islands. We have more than 60 cruises over the last 30 years. We feel very blessed. We always make it a point to do something charitable on each trip we take.

 

It could be something as small as taking school supplies or soccer balls to a few children in the neighborhood.  This could take less than 30 minutes.  We have also spent a week or more in Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, etc.  The smiles from the children are the best reward!

I don't mean to sound skeptical but it kind of sounds like charities specifically creating jobs for tourists to do so they can have some sort of "authentic experience". Does this type of volunteering actually fufill a practical need? Is there a real struggle to get volunteers to deliver supplies to children?

Out of curiosity if the CBD is prescribed by a doctor and you have maybe a letter or perscription with you does that not help in anyway with border/customs or whoever is suppose to deal with this?

I am curious by this question but is it really possible to volunteer in a foreign country for just a few hours or are you doing a cruise with longer port stays?

22 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

No, it's just that Italy is where I've encountered it most often because I travel there more frequently. I am not a big fan of tripe -- have tried it in several forms and presentations in Italy and France and while I am perfectly able to manage a few bites, it just doesn't appeal.

Is quinto quarto only tripe? I was under the impression it includes all offal. I haven't been to Italy (unless you include one day in Trieste as visiting Italy😜) so my only knowledge of their food only goes as far as pasta and pizza😂.

Near where I live there is a traditional pho restaurant and they do an amazing pho with tripe. They make into super thin strips like noodles and it absorbs all the lovely broth.

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

As for taking your own glass of wine from your hidden bottles into the MDR, that is just not cricket, depriving those hardworking waiters their 15% gratuity on purchase of a bottle of wine. from the MDR wine list.

I generally don't drink on cruises so I can't comment on the quality of the wine but if the wine is that bad and the price overly inflated (I expect the price to be  more than on land but it still should be within reason) then I don't see anything wrong with people seeking an alternative to what the cruise ship provides. It is the company's responsibility to provide decent quality products at decent prices. If the only options are flagrant rip offs then I think people should not purchase them because if people will still pay for them then it encourages cruise lines to drop the quality more whilst still inflating prices. 

10 hours ago, slidergirl said:

... 😉

cruisemom - You'll never see me even get near quinto quarto in Italy!!!  And no menudo in Mexico, either...

I am curious but what is so bad about quinto quarto? Is it the way they cook it? Or serve it? Do they do something weird to the offal?

19 hours ago, SRF said:

 

If you card company says they do not need or want notification, what do you think you can accomplish by notifying them????????

 

At best, they make a note in a memo field, and after, they will apologize.

It depends what they mean by you don't have to provide information. My bank says I don't have to provide information before I leave but that when I make an international purchase they will can me to check I made that purchase. So they do want to know where I am and they do make notes and since I travel to many countries in one visit it is more of a hassle to wait for that call than to give them the information before hand. I have had problems with my phone overseas and if I don't answer their calls they block my card and then I have to call them back to unblock my card which just ends up being more of a hassle. When I give the information beforehand I never have any of these problems.