DALMAN88

Just to clarify' date=' generally the auto-gratuities on Princess are put on your folio each night (for that day). In the case when you're paying before the cruise, it's the total amount that's put on your credit card.....but for most passengers, it's divided up on put on your account daily. This amount is put in a pool from which the cabin stewards, their helpers, and the waitstaff in the dining rooms/buffet are paid their share of the tips.

 

this amount doesn't include tipping for a room service delivery, bar service (as stated above that tip is added to your amount for any beverages you may buy), child program staff, casino staff. This is because not every passenger uses these particular services.

 

If you decide your cabin steward or waitstaff at meals has given exceptional service, you can give them extra cash if you want. You can also fill out a card available at the front desk with the crew member's name and this will be put in their personnel folder to help with future promotions and raises.[/quote']

 

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Fellow Cruisers. INCLUDED tipping by the cruise lines MAY be a scam to add a surcharge to your trip with a guilt trip!! Who says the money you pay to the cruise line goes to the folks you really want to receive it goes to them. I PREFER TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL RELARIONSHIP WITH THE FOLKS WHO HELP US ON A CRUISE. MANY cruisers don't do THAT! They treat the staff as furniture or SERVANTS, and never ask their name. How sad. We ALWAYS try and ask all the folks that are helping us on our cruise their name and background and try and get to know them. THEY ARE not furniture. The results are FREAKIN' amazing. By the end of the cruise they would do anything for us. Therefore, I minimize the POOLED tips CHARGED by the cruise line and put CASH in envelopes to EACH of my new friends with a personal note. We get a lot of hugs. (After all, I don't want to give my tips on Murray and Sophie's dime for someone on the other side of the boat!) :eek:

LOP - good to hear you had a positive outcome for your problem. We too had an overall positive experience on our first river cruise with Viking. The ship and the crew and the food was very good. My only complaint might come from the dinner seating. It seemed to be a mad scramble to get to find a table to dine with your friends or family. Perhaps Viking could establish a system where folks could reserve tables for those who would like to dine together and leave the rest to open seating. We WERE deprived of that privilege because of people rushing to get seated for dinner. Not good! Not pleasant.

Wise girl - have any suggestions for shore excustions on this trip. Doing the land-cruise torur in July. Sail from Skagway on July 27. Looking for glacier trips, whale watching. WE are GOING to do the zip-line in Ketchican!

Dalman88