Crew Fund Question

[Seabourntraveller]

This is what I understand.... Spa staff are independent contractors, tips are not included, and they are not added to the spa treatment charge automatically.

 

Host Dan

 

Correct. The Spa Staff and Casino and Boutique (Shop) onboard are all concessions and therefore run these operations on behalf of Seabourn but are not Employees of the Cruiseline. The Spa is Steiner, The Casino is Carnival Casino Corporation and the Boutique (Shops) is Harding Brothers.

[oregon50]

I will tell you that most crew members do NOT want us to leave money to the Crew Fund because the Crew does not get this money directly. It is used for Staff/Crew parties etc. We prefer instead to instead to leave $$$ to our cabin stewardess and Room Service people directly.;)

 

WOW! Spoken with a tone of authority. HOGWASH! Yes, the crew fund donations go to parties.....a good reason to be part of the crew.

[JaneBP]

>" Yes, the crew fund donations go to parties.....a good reason to be part of the crew."

 

The crew work incredibly hard. And the fund provides other things like games, bikes, fishing gear, sightseeing trips and the like.

[Martita B.]

The Crew certainly appreciates our contributions ~you can always either tell the Crew Purser or write him/her a note as to exactly what you'd like your contribution to benefit ~whether it be a Bingo night, a "themed" Crew party, their Deck BBQ, etc.,etc. OR placed to buy 'something new for their Crew Rec. room or Bar ~or for Crew emergency/crisis fund.

Martita B.

[Seabourntraveller]

The Crew certainly appreciates our contributions ~you can always either tell the Crew Purser or write him/her a note as to exactly what you'd like your contribution to benefit ~whether it be a Bingo night, a "themed" Crew party, their Deck BBQ, etc.,etc. OR placed to buy 'something new for their Crew Rec. room or Bar ~or for Crew emergency/crisis fund.

Martita B.

 

I am sure if you took a polling from the Crew they woudl prefer TIPS directly instead of a donation to the Crew Fund...at least that's what all of them were telling us on the Legend!;)

[Chairsin]

I am not sure what crew member you spoke to but most that I have spoken with like the idea of the crew fund because it either benefits the whole crew or some one in need -- for instance if someone has a family emergency and needs to fly home my understadning is the crew fund may be used for that. Yes, we do tip our stewardess but frankly I am not sure how you can possibly walk around the ship and dole out money to those who waited on you without risking missing some very deserving people -- it ignores the hard work of those fine people who toil behind the scenes. And also please do not forget to make specific remarks about individuals on you customer comment forms -- they do read them and they do count. In many ways this could help that someone who gave you outstanding service more than a few dollars in their pocket.

[mariner]

I really think the crew fund is just a great idea.

 

On HAL, I've spent the last night walking around with 18 envelopes in my jacket pocket.

 

When the service charge was added, I still tipped individually.

 

We plan to do the same on Seabourne for our stewardess and anyone who goes above and beyond. But I won't miss filling out envelopes.

 

One thing I did before cell phones was go to the calling station before the cruise and get calling cards to also give them with cash. They loved that.

[JaneBP]

>".at least that's what all of them were telling us on the Legend!"

 

That's downright rude in my book, and they would never get a tip from me with that attitude.

[oregon50]

Exactly, the height of poor taste. I'm trying to think of a crew member that would engage in a conversation that included "I (we) would prefer you tip us directly." Total HOGWASH. And for those coming on SB from other lines, please leave your filthy tipping habits at the gangway.

[Seabourntraveller]

Exactly, the height of poor taste. I'm trying to think of a crew member that would engage in a conversation that included "I (we) would prefer you tip us directly." Total HOGWASH. And for those coming on SB from other lines, please leave your filthy tipping habits at the gangway.

 

HOGWASH! or HOGWARTHS?:rolleyes:

[Menelaus]

44 days and the oracle:eek::eek::eek::eek:

[Seabourntraveller]

44 days and the oracle:eek::eek::eek::eek:

 

no I would rather be known as a "Guru" since we traveled thru India on this itinerary!:D

[Menelaus]

In your *** dreams.:rolleyes:

[Seabourntraveller]

In your *** dreams.:rolleyes:

 

:rolleyes:back at ya!:rolleyes:

[wripro]

If you speak to most crew members below deck I'm am sure they would much prefer a donation to the crew welfare fund as they NEVER get a penny from anyone in any case and they work just as hard to make our cruises pleasurable as those with whom we come into contact. Of course, if you poll the stewardesses and waiters they would prefer a tip (though it is really wrong imo) to flaunt SB's no tipping policy.

[CraftyEC]

And also please do not forget to make specific remarks about individuals on you customer comment forms -- they do read them and they do count. In many ways this could help that someone who gave you outstanding service more than a few dollars in their pocket.

They do take great notice of thes comment forms. We came across one very young and very helpful Irish bar tender at the deck bar, and at one stage we were talking about him with another couple, praising him. They said that they had been talking to one of the more senior crew, and that this young man was being looked at for 'fast-tracking' because of the excellent feed-back he had received. He had already told us that this was his first contract (not his first cruise, he had been on board a couple of months) So, even for the 'new boys' it can bring great results for them if you remember to mention them on the comment cards etc.

[seabournaddict]

I will tell you that most crew members do NOT want us to leave money to the Crew Fund because the Crew does not get this money directly. It is used for Staff/Crew parties etc. We prefer instead to instead to leave $$$ to our cabin stewardess and Room Service people directly.;)

 

Are you really sure that you were actually on a Seabourn cruise? Your comments about both crew and passengers is completely at odds with what everyone else reports!

The OFFICIAL line from the Seabourn website states "Tipping is neither required nor expected." THAT is how Seabourn regulars like it. Please dont try to change Seabourn into a lower class cruise. I have NEVER heard a crew member even hint at a tip.

[Seabourntraveller]

Are you really sure that you were actually on a Seabourn cruise? Your comments about both crew and passengers is completely at odds with what everyone else reports!

The OFFICIAL line from the Seabourn website states "Tipping is neither required nor expected." THAT is how Seabourn regulars like it. Please dont try to change Seabourn into a lower class cruise. I have NEVER heard a crew member even hint at a tip.

 

Ahhh duh yeah, like for only 44 days this past Xmas and New Years. Why are some people so bent out of shape about additional tipping? If Room Service comes and does course by course several times during a cruise in your Suite and your Cabin Stewardess was outstanding why wouldn't you leave an additional tip? If you are already paying anywhere from $300.00-$400.00 per day per person is $100.00 at the end of a cruise going to kill you or something?...please cut me some slack!.:rolleyes: And yes when I brought up the subject with Crew members and not the other way around. Mon dieux!

[turtlemichael]

To me it is quite simple. The stated policy is that extra tipping is neither required or expected. It is entirely up to an individual how he regards that piece of information. Seabourn doesn't say you can't tip which would be a hollow rule anyway. It doesn't even say you shoudn't tip.

 

Give to the crew fund if you want to. Tip if it is what you want to do. Do both if you want to. Do neither if you want to. Being an individually minded sod the last thing I am going to do is be told by other cruisers what I have to do.:D

[secoma4]

Turtlemichael is right on the money. You need to remember that the "all inclusive" pricing for Seabourn was, in part, to avoid the issues faced by crew where passengers were from countries where tipping is not the norm and people are paid a wage which does not need to be enhanced by tipping. By having fares inclusive of tips means that passengers who are not used to tipping do not have to deal with this and crew are paid a fair (we trust) wage for the services that are expected of them.

 

In the absence of this approach crew who happen to serve Americans (who are used to tipping and take it as the norm) will find they fare much better than those who happen to be allocated to Australians, for example.

 

It's a good system and way of pricing and if people want to contribute more then it's very much a personal thing, not something required or expected.

[fairbourne]

To me it is quite simple. The stated policy is that extra tipping is neither required or expected. It is entirely up to an individual how he regards that piece of information. Seabourn doesn't say you can't tip which would be a hollow rule anyway. It doesn't even say you shoudn't tip.

 

Give to the crew fund if you want to. Tip if it is what you want to do. Do both if you want to. Do neither if you want to. Being an individually minded sod the last thing I am going to do is be told by other cruisers what I have to do.:D

 

Thank goodness, some common sense! I am so fed up of all this tipping discussions which seem to rear their ugly head every now and then. I read this thread because it started off about the Crew Fund and now has degenerated into a pro/con tipping discussion with some insults thrown in for good measure.

 

secoma 4 is right. It really doesn't help, as peer pressure towards those of us in a "we don't tip everybody as a given" nation will result in some of them tipping, because they feel they should! This is a ridiculous situation. One of the reasons we chose Seabourn was that tipping or service charge whatever you want to call it is included. That saved us from trying to work out who to tip, when to tip and how much to tip - we really would have had no idea:confused:. So this made it easy for us and I'm sure lots of others like us. If tipping is included, i.e. already paid for, then that's that. We know this and the crew certainly know this. So why do some of you feel you HAVE to tip extra? I really have struggled to find a proper answer to this question. And what you feel as "extra" service e.g. room service course by course, is not an answer as this again is part of the Seabourn experience and already paid for!

 

And by the way I do understand the North American culture of tipping, so please do not have a pop at me about this. But why oh why can't the North Americans get their heads around this "no tipping expected or required"? And not feel they have to give extra tips or feel in the absence of tipping, they have a comfort blanket in giving (tips!) to a Crew Fund? I am making a general comment here not directed at anyone or anything, living or otherwise. Only MHO. And Turtlemichael is spot on!

 

I await the backlash!:);)

[Martita B.]

Fairbourne

This thread was started discussing Seabourn's "Crew Fund" ~~

Sailor's wanting to contribute to this worthy cause may do so. Sailor's wanting to "tip" may also do so. Each to his own~~'thanking staff/crew members. I agree with you as to 'keeping on topic!:p

As I know the Crew appreciates my donations to their fund I will continue to give my envelope/thank you note to the Crew Purser ~

Another way I thank the Staff/Crew is by sending a large arrangment of fresh flowers to their Mess Hall ~the Crew rarely has fresh flowers on their dining tables~~I buy the fresh flowers in ports, then arrange the flowers/greenery in a pretty vase ~the Assn. Exec. Housekeeper is the florist aboard the ships and she gladly bring vases, flower cutters, etc. to me ~an inexpensive way to thank the entire Crew and they enjoy dining with fresh flowers in their "Mess room."

Happy sailings,

Martita B.

[Seabourntraveller]

[/b]

 

Thank goodness, some common sense! I am so fed up of all this tipping discussions which seem to rear their ugly head every now and then. I read this thread because it started off about the Crew Fund and now has degenerated into a pro/con tipping discussion with some insults thrown in for good measure.

 

secoma 4 is right. It really doesn't help, as peer pressure towards those of us in a "we don't tip everybody as a given" nation will result in some of them tipping, because they feel they should! This is a ridiculous situation. One of the reasons we chose Seabourn was that tipping or service charge whatever you want to call it is included. That saved us from trying to work out who to tip, when to tip and how much to tip - we really would have had no idea:confused:. So this made it easy for us and I'm sure lots of others like us. If tipping is included, i.e. already paid for, then that's that. We know this and the crew certainly know this. So why do some of you feel you HAVE to tip extra? I really have struggled to find a proper answer to this question. And what you feel as "extra" service e.g. room service course by course, is not an answer as this again is part of the Seabourn experience and already paid for!

 

And by the way I do understand the North American culture of tipping, so please do not have a pop at me about this. But why oh why can't the North Americans get their heads around this "no tipping expected or required"? And not feel they have to give extra tips or feel in the absence of tipping, they have a comfort blanket in giving (tips!) to a Crew Fund? I am making a general comment here not directed at anyone or anything, living or otherwise. Only MHO. And Turtlemichael is spot on!

 

I await the backlash!:);)

 

I was about to throw a GrandMa Cake at you but had a re-read!..LOL;)

[fairbourne]

Fairbourne

This thread was started discussing Seabourn's "Crew Fund" ~~

Sailor's wanting to contribute to this worthy cause may do so. Sailor's wanting to "tip" may also do so. Each to his own~~'thanking staff/crew members. I agree with you as to 'keeping on topic!:p

As I know the Crew appreciates my donations to their fund I will continue to give my envelope/thank you note to the Crew Purser ~

Another way I thank the Staff/Crew is by sending a large arrangment of fresh flowers to their Mess Hall ~the Crew rarely has fresh flowers on their dining tables~~I buy the fresh flowers in ports, then arrange the flowers/greenery in a pretty vase ~the Assn. Exec. Housekeeper is the florist aboard the ships and she gladly bring vases, flower cutters, etc. to me ~an inexpensive way to thank the entire Crew and they enjoy dining with fresh flowers in their "Mess room."

Happy sailings,

Martita B.

 

That's the sort of thing I mean and they're lovely things you do Miss M - and I've read about many more of your little treats to the crew:) They must love having you on board for all the surprises! :D

 

My comments were really meant for those who use the crew fund purely for a "tipping" substitute if that makes sense! :)

[fairbourne]

I was about to throw a GrandMa Cake at you but had a re-read!..LOL;)

 

 

Seabourntraveller: Phew thank goodness for that! LOL!:p

Please no offence to anyone meant - just my thoughts on the subject :D