opting out of auto tipping?

[smeyer418]

some cruise lines are opt in. Some cruise lines are opt out. Some cruise lines call it a hotel charge or DSC. Your cruise line may vary and have none of the above. On all except the high end lines, tipping out is expected...some cruise lines do the hokey pokey and some do the bunny hop...

[njhorseman]

some cruise lines are opt in. Some cruise lines are opt out. Some cruise lines call it a hotel charge or DSC. Your cruise line may vary and have none of the above. On all except the high end lines, tipping out is expected...some cruise lines do the hokey pokey and some do the bunny hop...

 

You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, you put right foot in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about...

 

We now return to your regular programming...

[Cru1s1ng2009]

i guess with the advent of the internet it is much easier to act like a jerk (as referenced by several members old posts) than it was to crack the whip as in olden days.

 

anyways, i get it. i shall continue to tip cash since i never got the memo and have only heard differently from internet curmudgens. And on my next cruise in 45 days, i will be sure to ask staff which they prefer since it has changed with the advent of my time dining, which i dont use.

 

I will then come back to crusie critic and state if i was wrong or not.

 

i will also continue to try to remember that i use cruise critic for the fun and excitement of upcoming cruises not for arguing with crabby patties.

 

and finally, i will also try to apologize to windjammer staff, adventure ocean staff, bartenders, cocktail waiters, pool crew ( for helping get my disabled daughter into the hot tub) spa staff, waiters, stewards, casino ppl, and anyone else i tip with cash, that i am sorry it wasnt auto tipped since a print out of money earned is somehow better than cash.

 

what canI say? I am a work in progress...

[brfan]

i guess with the advent of the internet it is much easier to act like a jerk (as referenced by several members old posts) than it was to crack the whip as in olden days.

 

anyways, i get it. i shall continue to tip cash since i never got the memo and have only heard differently from internet curmudgens. And on my next cruise in 45 days, i will be sure to ask staff which they prefer since it has changed with the advent of my time dining, which i dont use.

 

I will then come back to crusie critic and state if i was wrong or not.

 

i will also continue to try to remember that i use cruise critic for the fun and excitement of upcoming cruises not for arguing with crabby patties.

 

and finally, i will also try to apologize to windjammer staff, adventure ocean staff, bartenders, cocktail waiters, pool crew ( for helping get my disabled daughter into the hot tub) spa staff, waiters, stewards, casino ppl, and anyone else i tip with cash, that i am sorry it wasnt auto tipped since a print out of money earned is somehow better than cash.

 

what canI say? I am a work in progress...

 

 

I likely missed some posts, but it looks like you are cruising on Royal Caribbean, which I believe is the only mass market cruise line that does not have autotipping. If you do their version of anytime dining you must prepay the tips with your final payment. Otherwise you can tip cash or request by filling out a form to have the tips added to your account. So tipping cash is perfectly fine and with nothing to remove, the crew will get to keep what they have received in tips (unless of course they have some procedure in place for tipping out other crew members, but that is between them and their employer what they do with the money you give them).

 

Now what others have mentioned applies to many of the cruise lines that automatically add the tips or service charge (depending on what they call it) to your account. If you remove the tips/service charge than the crew members are advised by their supervisor and must turn in what they are given to the pool. Not doing so can cost them their job. Plus it also give a poor impression of their service if they tell their boss they didn't receive any tips. I believe the only mainstream cruise line that doesn't follow this practice that also has autotipping is Carnival, though I've heard mixed reports that Celebrity may or may not follow this practice.

[Leafpeeper]

Tipping is your choice to make. The cruiselines cannot force you to pay tips. We took a cruise a couple weeks ago. It was a horrible cruise. We went to the pursers desk to have our tips removed. We signed a form to remove the tips. When we got home, our credit card had been properly credited for the tips.

 

We tipped our cabin steward in cash. We tipped waiters who served us in cash. We tipped bartenders extra in cash above the included 15% on your cabin card receipt. For those we gave cash, service was excellent. I think that some people pool their tips, but I also think alot of them keep the cash.

 

We cruise alot and have usually enjoyed our cruises, but once every five years or so, we have a cruise that is far below expectations. I don't feel obligated to pay a service charge (tip) if adequate service is not provided.

[njhorseman]

Tipping is your choice to make. The cruiselines cannot force you to pay tips. We took a cruise a couple weeks ago. It was a horrible cruise. We went to the pursers desk to have our tips removed. We signed a form to remove the tips. When we got home, our credit card had been properly credited for the tips.

 

We tipped our cabin steward in cash. We tipped waiters who served us in cash. We tipped bartenders extra in cash above the included 15% on your cabin card receipt. For those we gave cash, service was excellent. I think that some people pool their tips, but I also think alot of them keep the cash.

 

We cruise alot and have usually enjoyed our cruises, but once every five years or so, we have a cruise that is far below expectations. I don't feel obligated to pay a service charge (tip) if adequate service is not provided.

 

If you tipped your cabin steward and waiters anyway, what do think you accomplished? You didn't say which cruise line you were on, but if any positions are required to pool their tips, those would be the ones. And if they are required to pool their tips on your cruise line all you managed to do was cheat them out of a percentage of the money you thought they deserved since some part of your tip had to be surrendered to the pool.

 

If their service was good enough to warrant your tipping, what was the big problem that caused you to remove the service charge? Bad food? That shouldn't affect your tipping/service charge? Bad cruise director? The cruise director's staff isn't in the tip pool. Bad mattress? That's not the crew's fault. Bad plumbing? Air conditioning? Bad excursion? None of that has anything to do with the tipped crew.

 

It's doesn't make sense to say you received bad service so you tipped directly when the people you tipped directly are the ones providing the most important aspects of your service.

[YubaSutter]

 

If you remove the tips/service charge than the crew members are advised by their supervisor and must turn in what they are given to the pool. Not doing so can cost them their job. Plus it also give a poor impression of their service if they tell their boss they didn't receive any tips.

 

They are not required to turn in tips to be pooled.

[smeyer418]

They are not required to turn in tips to be pooled.

varies by cruise line most require it to be pooled...and by tradition the employees have to tip out and they will be retaliated against if they don't anyway

[YubaSutter]

varies by cruise line most require it to be pooled...and by tradition the employees have to tip out and they will be retaliated against if they don't anyway

 

Most do not. Show me policy or proof.

[smeyer418]

Most do not. Show me policy or proof.

show me that it is not. generally the internal policies are not accessible on line. and the tradition of tipping out is universal on tipping cruise lines(as opposed to those hgh end ones where its included in the fare)

[navybankerteacher]

Most do not. Show me policy or proof.

If you were on Carnival, Cunard, Holland America, Princess or Norwegian, staff members who receive tips from passengers who remove auto-tip are required to turn them into the pool. I'll be glad show you the policy for any of the above. I believe Royal Caribbean does not require it, if passenger in question is in assigned dining, but does if in any time.

[Don P]

I hope to God I NEVER sail with the "know-it-all" who has dominated this thread. I bet his wife threw out their encyclopedias years ago because he knows everything!

[smeyer418]

I hope to God I NEVER sail with the "know-it-all" who has dominated this thread. I bet his wife threw out their encyclopedias years ago because he knows everything!

you assume that those are all men and that we are married anyway....but it doesn't mean they are wrong on this subject anyway..

[smeyer418]

it will be 100 years this April 12 that the great ship went down..

 

White Star lines ultimately was absorbed by Cunard.

 

Tipping in second class and first class was expected(not in steerage).

 

The first class dinning room was ala carte.

 

http://travel.aol.co.uk/2012/02/11/titanic-centenary-carnival-liverpool-bad-taste-or-a-fitting-tribute/

 

 

it wasn't opt in or opt out...and tipping out was expected. How do I know?

[sooz10]

I don't normally reply to threads but we have been on various cruise lines p&o ncl Cunard all from Southampton but would never dream of taking off auto tip as we take our daughter who does not eat or drink anything as she is totally tube fed so we actually carry on board all her feeds, medication that she requires for the cruise bearing in mind she pays the same fare as all the other 7year old kids, but all staff cannot do enough for her especially in dining room when they keep wanting to bring her food. Because of all the help we get from house keeping to medical we would always tip extra on top of auto tip as they all make her holiday so special.

[YubaSutter]

If you were on Carnival, Cunard, Holland America, Princess or Norwegian, staff members who receive tips from passengers who remove auto-tip are required to turn them into the pool. I'll be glad show you the policy for any of the above. I believe Royal Caribbean does not require it, if passenger in question is in assigned dining, but does if in any time.

 

Please do. John Heald has said several times that if you remove auto tipping, the personal tips you give to the steward will not be pooled.

[YubaSutter]

show me that it is not. generally the internal policies are not accessible on line. and the tradition of tipping out is universal on tipping cruise lines(as opposed to those hgh end ones where its included in the fare)

 

Burdon of proof rests on the person making the claim. I don't have to show that it does not exist, you do.

[nodandade]

hey fellow cruisers,why all the agro here.i come from australia have worked since i was 15 (now 62)and have never worked in a job where tips help my weekly income.generally we do not tip in australia(only if you want to),reason,we have trade unions who help to maintain a weekly income that is good enough without tips to generally support our families etc.

some of you are going to say 'well go work in an industry or country where tips do matter',and if some of you do say that, then all i can say is go to a country where you are looked after properly when you work.

 

i know most of the staff on cruise ships do not earn a lot of money for their work,but again i say it is better than what they would probably get at home, ;if they could find work at home'.

 

we are going on our fifth cruise this year,and i don't care what anybody thinks, we have and will still have the auto tip removed,don't and never will agree to it.

 

we give cash (don't care what happens to it) directly to the people that serve us.we also give to those that a real good a free meal in one of the speciality restaruants including drinks.

 

again i say,let the cruise ship advertise the total price of the cruise including gratuities (and i don't care what country you or the ship are from)and this forum would be empty

 

simple, remove it or leave it,

 

but don't get agro at each other,you never know who's help you might need one day

[smeyer418]

Burdon of proof rests on the person making the claim. I don't have to show that it does not exist, you do.

you said that most don't. I am sorry but you clearly are classless...My statement is actually proof until it refuted...

[YubaSutter]

you said that most don't. I am sorry but you clearly are classless...My statement is actually proof until it refuted...

 

Classless? Really. Your statement is no proof because you don't back them up with facts even when asked. Have a great day, even of your wrong.

[Leafpeeper]

If you tipped your cabin steward and waiters anyway, what do think you accomplished? You didn't say which cruise line you were on, but if any positions are required to pool their tips, those would be the ones. And if they are required to pool their tips on your cruise line all you managed to do was cheat them out of a percentage of the money you thought they deserved since some part of your tip had to be surrendered to the pool.

 

If their service was good enough to warrant your tipping, what was the big problem that caused you to remove the service charge? Bad food? That shouldn't affect your tipping/service charge? Bad cruise director? The cruise director's staff isn't in the tip pool. Bad mattress? That's not the crew's fault. Bad plumbing? Air conditioning? Bad excursion? None of that has anything to do with the tipped crew.

 

It's doesn't make sense to say you received bad service so you tipped directly when the people you tipped directly are the ones providing the most important aspects of your service.

 

After we removed our prepaid tips, we paid our cabin steward in cash. We tipped our bartenders extra cash, which they promptly stuffed in their pockets. We chose not to dine in the main dining room. We didn't like the dining room because they squished tables for 2 together so it was like having dinner with 6 people instead of just the two of us. We also don't like noisey dining rooms. We prefer specialty restaurants and room service--although RCCL room service has changed and no longer offers dinner entrees. We tip people based on their service to us. We are generous tippers but will not tip if there is no service provided. If cruiselines include service charges are part of the cost of a crusie, then we will book our cruise knowing that. For now, we have options.

[smeyer418]

Classless? Really. Your statement is no proof because you don't back them up with facts even when asked. Have a great day, even of your wrong.

with out class = class less. You said that most do not, put your proof up or prove the class less statement. that's all. You don't control the conversation if your believe you are right prove it, not insist on my proving it, I am not required to but I do know that most of the mass market lines with the auto-tip, dsc or what ever they call it pool it and required that if its removed that the cash be turned in , not all but most.

so go ahead and prove me wrong...which you can't.

[njhorseman]

After we removed our prepaid tips, we paid our cabin steward in cash. We tipped our bartenders extra cash, which they promptly stuffed in their pockets. We chose not to dine in the main dining room. We didn't like the dining room because they squished tables for 2 together so it was like having dinner with 6 people instead of just the two of us. We also don't like noisey dining rooms. We prefer specialty restaurants and room service--although RCCL room service has changed and no longer offers dinner entrees. We tip people based on their service to us. We are generous tippers but will not tip if there is no service provided. If cruiselines include service charges are part of the cost of a crusie, then we will book our cruise knowing that. For now, we have options.

 

Since Royal Caribbean doesn't require prepaid tipping, and in fact is the last US mass market cruise line to use the "cash in envelope" tipping method, why were your tips prepaid to begin with? They only require prepaid tips if you select anytime dining, but since you say you don't eat in the dining room anyway what difference does it make? You ended up doing what is done on Royal Caribbean anyway...you tipped your room steward and wait staff (in your case the buffet staff apparently) in cash. That's what I don't understand what you think you're accomplishing. You're tipping in cash on a cruise line where the default customary tipping procedure is cash. It's not like NCL or Carnival or other lines that automatically add the tips/service charge to your on board account.

 

And by the way, Royal Caribbeans tipping FAQ http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Gratuities&faqId=263&faqSubjectId=415&faqType=faq includes the following statement: "Notice to guests: Gratuities may be shared with other crew members depending on the particular service requirement" which means that certain tips are pooled, whether you like it or not.

 

You're trumpeting about doing something that is standard procedure on that cruise line anyway, as if somehow you think you've circumvented their system.

[Don P]

You're right.....I assumed sexuality and I assumed marital status. On second thought I don't believe anyone could survive a long-term relationship with someone so confrontational. Tip.....don't tip.....do whatever tickles your fancy.

 

I just hope and pray we're not on the same cruise. Life's to short!

 

you assume that those are all men and that we are married anyway....but it doesn't mean they are wrong on this subject anyway..

[smeyer418]

hey fellow cruisers,why all the agro here.i come from australia have worked since i was 15 (now 62)and have never worked in a job where tips help my weekly income.generally we do not tip in australia(only if you want to),reason,we have trade unions who help to maintain a weekly income that is good enough without tips to generally support our families etc.

some of you are going to say 'well go work in an industry or country where tips do matter',and if some of you do say that, then all i can say is go to a country where you are looked after properly when you work.

 

i know most of the staff on cruise ships do not earn a lot of money for their work,but again i say it is better than what they would probably get at home, ;if they could find work at home'.

 

we are going on our fifth cruise this year,and i don't care what anybody thinks, we have and will still have the auto tip removed,don't and never will agree to it.

 

we give cash (don't care what happens to it) directly to the people that serve us.we also give to those that a real good a free meal in one of the speciality restaruants including drinks.

 

again i say,let the cruise ship advertise the total price of the cruise including gratuities (and i don't care what country you or the ship are from)and this forum would be empty

 

simple, remove it or leave it,

 

but don't get agro at each other,you never know who's help you might need one day

 

I actually find this an interesting post. I am pretty sure that nothing can be said to change your mind but if you don't mind you can help me clear somethings up.

I am pretty sure I understand why tipping is so anathema in Australia but could you please clear up what your understanding of why that is.

Also I know that people in Australia and NZ pay more when they buy through a local(Australia or NZ travel agent) but I am totally unclear as to whether in that higher price the gratuities are included. There is in fact a Union that represents the crew(company Union that it is) and there are standards set on minimum draw that includes where they are sailing from and what country's passengers mostly make up the ship... When Princess removed the auto-tip last year for Australia based cruises I know the fares were raised(higher than just the tips would have indicated-so now it will cost you more) I do know that some TA's in the US will sell to your countrymen using the lower US prices and that in that case the grats are not included.

BTW when the people who work on the ships are hired they are told to expect the total monthly compensation will include the tips which are expected so they are sold that the basic compensation which for most of the tipped crew is a base salary of 50-100US per month plus room and board. I never count what other people make..its rude but I do follow the customs of where ever I am. That includes wearing formal wear on formal night or when I going into a mosque being properly dressed. I assume you agree with that but somehow feel its ok not to follow the tipping custom of where you are at.

 

while you are entitled to your opinion and have the power to remove the auto-tip, you aren't entitled to your own facts.

 

I am going to Australia next year and promise you I won't tip...