So is the new tipping rate screwing the crew over now?

[H82seaUgo]

First of all what does FTLOG? Is it a Maine thing?

 

Second part of the service charge for the steakhouse is a tip and than they encourage us to tip additionally. How do we have any idea if an additional tip is warranted if we have no idea what we are tipping in the first place?

 

for the love of God.

[halos]

First of all what does FTLOG? Is it a Maine thing?

 

Second part of the service charge for the steakhouse is a tip and than they encourage us to tip additionally. How do we have any idea if an additional tip is warranted if we have no idea what we are tipping in the first place?

 

I guess because we always act as if they don't get any of the $30 and we just tip them additional because we can.

 

I give according to my wallet and my heart. I don't try to crunch numbers, so I guess this is why I don't understand all the fuss.

People are taking something so simple and making a huge production of it.

 

I don't live this way...life is way too freaking short.

[elcuchio24]

First of all what does FTLOG? Is it a Maine thing?

 

It's a lumber related measurement. As in "Hey Ol'Bill, how much for 7 FTLOG's off that white pine?"

[CELTICGIRLCRUISER]

The amounts still go to the same people it has for years. It is just a small amount more. I know that there will be a lot of cheap people who will take their tips off of their s & s accounts. I don’t understand if they have a “problem” in the main dining room they remove all tips. This will include the cabin steward. That doesn’t make sense. The cheap passengers should have one or two days to remove the tips. After that they would not be able to removed. That way the staff will be able to know who is cheap and going to stiff them on the tips. As Forest Gump said “cheap is as cheap does”.

 

Having never removed the tips in the past, I don't know the answer to this one but how do the wait/cabin staff know that someone has done this?

[steveNcindy]

Having never removed the tips in the past, I don't know the answer to this one but how do the wait/cabin staff know that someone has done this?

 

Guest services mark your forehead with a Big Red X after completing the auto tip removal form

[Islandbear]

....

 

 

why should they???

 

FTLOG! It's NONE OF OUR BUSINESS!

 

No i think it is our buisness. When a company charges a fee and then pays it's employees, it is none of our business. But, this is a TIP from the customer to the employee. If it isn't our business who's is it?

 

I continue to fall into the group that thinks the cruise should charge $10 more for the cruise package to pay the crew a fair wage and then let the let the Tips go back to being a way of thanking staff for good service. IMHO :)

[stewpapa]

We consider tips as part of the cost of a cruise. I always thought the tips have nothing to do with the pay of the crew and staff, but I could be wrong. I know some people on CC think they are in the know, but they may not know as much as they say they do. Carnival employees get what Carnival pays them, just like we get what our employer pays us. The tips are just more money Carnival gets for the cruise, I'll bet. I can't worry about who they pay and how much. It would ruin my vacation. We do tip extra for people who make our cruise better. If the new tips make cruising too expensive for you to enjoy, then don't cruise, but you can't control who gets what. You should not remove them, just count it as part of the cruise. We all pay more because of people who remove them and that is not fair to us or the workers.

[golfadj]

I guess because we always act as if they don't get any of the $30 and we just tip them additional because we can.

 

I give according to my wallet and my heart. I don't try to crunch numbers, so I guess this is why I don't understand all the fuss.

People are taking something so simple and making a huge production of it.

 

I don't live this way...life is way too freaking short.

 

We are all different.

 

I was an economics major in college and deal with numbers for a living. Analytical by nature and a numbers person.

 

I consider myself a reasonably good tipper but want to tip from a position of knowledge not guesswork.

[golfadj]

First of all what does FTLOG? Is it a Maine thing?

 

It's a lumber related measurement. As in "Hey Ol'Bill, how much for 7 FTLOG's off that white pine?"

 

I like your explanation.

[steveNcindy]

We are all different.

 

I was an economics major in college and deal with numbers for a living. Analytical by nature and a numbers person.

 

I consider myself a reasonably good tipper but want to tip from a position of knowledge not guesswork.

 

I am a numbers person myself but I really am not that worried as to who gets what. The overall number seems consistent with other lines and who am I to say somebody deserves more than someone else.

 

We generally take an 8 day cruise and I am not going to invest any extra thought into the distribution of $183.

 

If anyone is that bent over it, why not ask JH directly on his blog or on Facebook, who specifically in the Entertainment department is now getting tipped. I am sure he will be brilliantly truthful and forthcoming with the answer.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We consider tips as part of the cost of a cruise. I always thought the tips have nothing to do with the pay of the crew and staff, but I could be wrong. I know some people on CC think they are in the know, but they may not know as much as they say they do. Carnival employees get what Carnival pays them, just like we get what our employer pays us. The tips are just more money Carnival gets for the cruise, I'll bet. I can't worry about who they pay and how much. It would ruin my vacation. We do tip extra for people who make our cruise better. If the new tips make cruising too expensive for you to enjoy, then don't cruise, but you can't control who gets what. You should not remove them, just count it as part of the cruise. We all pay more because of people who remove them and that is not fair to us or the workers.

 

Carnival pays their employees such as room stewards, waiters etc about $50-$100 per month plus room and board. Anything else they make is from the tips (service charge).

 

Bill

[deborahjo]

Entertainment staff really keep in touch with passengers on a regular basis. They run the games, host Bingo, & generally roam the decks with a happy "hi" for everyone. Unless you're a recluse, you'll see them all the time. I know I do.

 

They are not just the entertainers on stage or in the lounges.

 

So they "deserve" our tips why? They draw a salary.

 

RCL still allows cruisers to pay their tips the last night in envelopes. Carnival are you Listening.

[waldocruiser1]

We consider tips as part of the cost of a cruise. I always thought the tips have nothing to do with the pay of the crew and staff, but I could be wrong. I know some people on CC think they are in the know, but they may not know as much as they say they do. Carnival employees get what Carnival pays them, just like we get what our employer pays us. The tips are just more money Carnival gets for the cruise, I'll bet. I can't worry about who they pay and how much. It would ruin my vacation. We do tip extra for people who make our cruise better. If the new tips make cruising too expensive for you to enjoy, then don't cruise, but you can't control who gets what. You should not remove them, just count it as part of the cruise. We all pay more because of people who remove them and that is not fair to us or the workers.

 

Talk about talking in a circle.

 

First you say the tips are extra, Carnival pays them what they pay them and the tips are extra. Then you say you should not remove them, just pay them, but you don't get to control who gets what. Then you say we all pay more because people remove the tips.

 

I thought the tips were just extra,

 

I think we should all go back to paying what you want, to who you want,

 

I guess for our cruise in January I will need to bring extra $2.00 bills and start tipping in cash to all the crew I feel deserve and/or have earned, a tip, and not pay the people that did not do things for the passengers. I will have to bring $140.00 to cover the DW and I, and extra for the bonus tips I like to give out, like to the person that gets me a drink with my prepaid coupons, or when using my drink card.

 

So I think I will have to order about $300 in $2.00's for the trip.

 

Good thing I am not carrying 1's, now I only have to carry 150 2's.

 

Have a nice cruise.

[waldocruiser1]

Entertainment staff really keep in touch with passengers on a regular basis. They run the games, host Bingo, & generally roam the decks with a happy "hi" for everyone. Unless you're a recluse, you'll see them all the time. I know I do.

 

They are not just the entertainers on stage or in the lounges.

 

So the staff that sells me the winning bingo card, or scratch ticket, do I tip them "BEFORE" they sell me a ticket, or "AFTER" I win? ;)

 

How much do I need to "tip" to get the winning card?;);)

[waldocruiser1]

Carnival pays their employees such as room stewards, waiters etc about $50-$100 per month plus room and board. Anything else they make is from the tips (service charge).

 

Bill

 

So Bill, what ship did you work on?

[waldocruiser1]

In my opinion, if the crew wants a raise, and the passengers are expected to pay it, then should'nt they work for the raise.

 

Maybe go out of their way to make my vacation "extra special"

 

Not just do what they have been doing for years, or even less now days?

[iTouch]

In my opinion, if the crew wants a raise, and the passengers are expected to pay it, then should'nt they work for the raise.

 

Maybe go out of their way to make my vacation "extra special"

 

Not just do what they have been doing for years, or even less now days?

 

The raise was way over due. The tip policy amount is now the same as RCCL and Princess.......maybe they were losing employees because of this:confused:

[kroozers]

This just doesn't seem like a big deal to me. The staff needs to be paid. The staff will be paid by the cruisers. Whether it's a seperate tip that's added or a small across the board cruise price increase makes no difference. Calm down people.

[waldocruiser1]

The raise was way over due. The tip policy amount is now the same as RCCL and Princess.......maybe they were losing employees because of this:confused:

 

But will the service be the same? I have never been on them but I have heard it is much better.

[bugspost]

when Princess raised their daily tip amount.....my cabin steward told me he thought they would be getting more BUT their % of the auto tip was reduced...he explained if they had left the % the same it would have been a raise but since it was reduced...well,,,,he makes about the same. I also asked if I give him cash tip...if he had to pool it w/other employees & he said NO....cash tips directly to staff they get to keep....(I also asked hotel manager/purser desk/casino staff & dining room head waiter).......I did hear that this depended on the ship so can't speak for the entire Princess line.

 

Also noticed no towel pets in room...........he explained that when Carnival took over...they discontinued that except for the kids!!! HA HA....well, it didn't stop our steward...he put one in our room every night!!!:)

[iTouch]

But will the service be the same? I have never been on them but I have heard it is much better.

 

I have had the same great service on Princess, RCCL and Carnival. I'm not sure what you are getting at.

We also had towel animals on Princess. And we are kidless. I guess it just depends on your cabin steward. I will see if they do it in Dec.

[AuntieBon]

The move also represents a change in how Carnival distributes tips to crew. The old tipping levels were broken down as follows (per day): $5.50 to the headwaiter/waiter, $1 to the assistant waiter/cooks and $3.50 to the cabin steward. The new guidelines allocate $5.80 to dining room services, $3.70 to cabin services and $2 per day for alternative services, which include kitchen, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members. "The increase in the recommended gratuities amount will result in increased compensation for impacted crew

 

So although this is an increase in the overall amount charged it appears to be a decrease for the headwaiter and assistant waiter, from 6.50 to 5.80, a loss of 70¢. The cabin services went up a measly 20¢ and the mysterious "alternative services" people will be getting $2 where they didn't get anything.

 

I want to know who the alternative services people are. I never tipped the maitre de because I felt they made a decent wage unlike the wait staff. Is the next thing going to be a tip jar at the dining room podium?:rolleyes:

[Sun 4-ever]

I am cruising in Jan. on the Liberty and on Oct. 14th I called my TA and asked her to add my gratuities to my final payment. THey added $70.00 per person (10.00/day). I personelly would rather they just always add the gratuities to the cost so you only have what you spend on the ship to worry about. My DH gets nervous when he checks the acct. balance and see's that $140.00 or more, depending on cruise line, then won't let me get drinks or anything becuase he hates having a large bill at the end. This way if I pre-pay we only have a bill for what we spend during the trip.

[steveNcindy]

My DH gets nervous when he checks the acct. balance and see's that $140.00 or more, depending on cruise line, then won't let me get drinks or anything becuase he hates having a large bill at the end.

 

:eek:

 

I would suggest mentioning the "happy wife, happy life" line to him.

[bugspost]

The move also represents a change in how Carnival distributes tips to crew. The old tipping levels were broken down as follows (per day): $5.50 to the headwaiter/waiter, $1 to the assistant waiter/cooks and $3.50 to the cabin steward. The new guidelines allocate $5.80 to dining room services, $3.70 to cabin services and $2 per day for alternative services, which include kitchen, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members. "The increase in the recommended gratuities amount will result in increased compensation for impacted crew

 

So although this is an increase in the overall amount charged it appears to be a decrease for the headwaiter and assistant waiter, from 6.50 to 5.80, a loss of 70¢. The cabin services went up a measly 20¢ and the mysterious "alternative services" people will be getting $2 where they didn't get anything.

 

I want to know who the alternative services people are. I never tipped the maitre de because I felt they made a decent wage unlike the wait staff. Is the next thing going to be a tip jar at the dining room podium?:rolleyes:

 

I heard the alternative service people included the entertainment staff??? So does this mean the cruise director & his staff??? I dunno....will be curious to find out!