TIpping

[mikel24m]

It's been 5 years since I played there. I guarantee their staff has turned over because of it. The caddymaster left 3 months later.

 

seems pretty exclusive so im assuming the staff gets a good enough salary that tips are not really needed

[coachpete]

Actually, they run a fair amount of outings there to keep member costs low. Like I said, a friend of a friend was the caddymaster there, and he jumped ship to go to Trump's new place because the money sucked.

[boo214]

so what do you think about taking another $1 per person per day for buffet services. that's double tipping to me, and i can't eat in both places anyway.

 

as far as what coach does, he'll have to respond himself.

well, we usually eat breakfast and lunch in the buffet and dinner in the mdr, so for us its not double tipping. I suspect that there are many more like us who eat breakfast and lunch or one or the other in the buffet and dinner in the mdr.

[boo214]

Whenever I go to a buffet on land (say the $8.95 Chinese buffet), I leave at least $1 on the table.. you wouldn't leave anything? If you go out to dinner, do you tip less then $3 a head (assuming $20 each)? You're seriously arguing the waiters tip now by saying you only eat in the buffet? I do realize in an earlier post I said you really shouldn't compare tipping on land to a ship... They are different. Just trying to make a point.

 

As for "lemmings"... how don't they "know any better"? The tipping guidelines are made clear. Are you saying that they don't know that they can remove tips for everyone and you feel that's justified for whatever reason (not the infamous "bad service" which I don't believe happens that frequently)? Those who pay extra aren't tricked into doing it. They feel the service called for more. Why would that change?

 

As for the "alternative services" getting that $2 a day that has certain people here going nuts, I agree..... it shouldn't be called a "gratuity" because it's not. It should be a service charge or have the fares increased to cover the salary. But that's not the way it is.... By arguing it, it's really just the wording of what it is that you don't agree with.... semantics. Although, it's not the cruise line you are directly hurting. The crew won't get what is expected because you didn't like that corporate added $14 to your gratuities instead of your cruise fare.....

excellent point and very well said

[boo214]

These fights WE will never win .I just cant wait until Carnival decides to give all the service workers(and entertainment staff) an actual salary and raise cruise fare and (not pointing fingers) all the cheap people that stiff the staff have no choice but tip nice

 

Every cruise I have been on the staff always earns my money !! Never had bad service ever.I guess some people just feel better about having their servant for the week kneel down and kiss their feet for the $20 bill that they hand them in an envelope that THEY feel is what they should get ( not what is suggested by any means)

 

Cheap people are cheap people.No way around it !! It shows

agreed

[H82seaUgo]

well, we usually eat breakfast and lunch in the buffet and dinner in the mdr, so for us its not double tipping. I suspect that there are many more like us who eat breakfast and lunch or one or the other in the buffet and dinner in the mdr.

 

regardless where you eat, you are double tipping. only difference is, you personally are tipping while getting your own table, your own tray, your own plate, your own food, your own drink, and your own dessert. and then, possibly cleaning your own table depending on where you are from.

 

i, otoh, am giving my order, which is being brought to me when the food is ready, my drinks, and all other needs, by people i am tipping for that service.

[PSkinner]

We always have pre-paid and then extra to those who have gone above and beyond. On our very first cruise, our cabin stewardess for both our cabin and our son's went well above and with my DH casino win we tipped them both with $100 bill. Very much deserved! Our youngest son looked forward to her coming around every night and to tell him stories about where she lived and even gave him a book and wrote a note to him in Romanian and English so he would always remember her. He got sick one night on the cruise and she stayed with him while we had dinner; just a great experience!

[mamaskittles]

HEH? I assure you we are NOT saying the same thing (assuming your point is that dawn & sunrise are essentially the same thing, yes?)

You just said again that you chose who you will tip and stiff some that the system is supposed to cover because that is your choice as a brave American.

I am not trying to having an arguement with THE Mamaskittles:p, I just have a different opinion than the words you typed and posted.

 

If I annoy you, please put me on your ignore list:) Also, I will make a effort in the future to not make any direct replies to your posts unless I agree with you.

I answered completely and honestly. I believe the gist of our differing points of view is who the system is designed to cover. My vision of tipping is different from yours. I hope you feel the same way about all the other "behind the scenes people" in the real world who work very hard for very little money to make your life easier.

I would never put you on my ignore list. I often agree with your opinions and the info you provide.

I do not need people to agree with me, I do, however, expect my fellow cruisers to treat me (I would have said mamaskittles but that seems to irk you ) with the same respect I give everyone else.

When I talk about a flame retardant teddy or refer to myself in the third person I do so to inject a little levity into threads that get way to tense.

This is no way infers I have a thick skin. When I personally am called cheap and small by folk who don't know me it is just mean.

To state that disagreeing with the current tipping policy makes some one some sort of ignorant overseer abusing the servants is not only ridiculous, it is just plain vicious.

I am old enough and strong enough to hold to my beliefs despite the bullying here but some new cruisers are not. I think in order for a fair decision to be made all of he options need to be spelled out, I guess that's just the brave American in me.

[mamaskittles]

I actually agree in principal... The alternative service increases shouldn't be considered "gratuities". It should be a service charge or fare increase... The only reason I keep mentioning the dancers is that are the ones primarily used out the entertainment staff for duties outside of what they are hired for. Saying "if they don't like it, they should find another job" is a little short sighted. They should be paid for hours worked. If it comes from a portion of the alternative service gratuity (which could be as little a .25 for all any of us know), a service charge or fare increase... it all comes from the passengers one way or another. Removing that $2 because you don't believe in it is still your choice but it's not the cruise line you're hurting.

 

Some people here are just up in arms at the thought of tipping "entertainers" and they would never do that on land.... I'm just trying to show people that they are assigned jobs that are "serving" the passengers. Should Carnival pay x amount per hour for that job? Yes... They don't. This is how they're doing it.

 

I know I'm not going to change peoples personal views. I'm just pointing out that they are doing a "service" job outside of entertaining....

Hi, I am glad you did not take offense to my speaking of you in my post.

I understand all of the reasons that people give to tip the unsung heros of the cruise.

Here is my dilemma, until a few short years go these people were paid by the cruise line. Whether this amount was generous, cheap, or somewhere in between doesn't matter. The passenger was never asked to pay them. All of a sudden new people are now dependant upon tips from passengers.

3 years from now who else will be in the tip pool, security, engine room workers, bridge personel?

Carnival is in the wrong here. They should pay their staff, bottom line. Since everyone who has compared me to Bernie Madoff states that the miniscule amount does not bother them nor should it bother me, it should be included in the cruise fare. This way it can be applied as Carnival sees fit.

If everyone bends over when Carnival tells them to, eventually you will pay the same cruise fare and pay ala carte for everthing else at astronomically inflated prices, MDR meals @$25 pp, shows @$40 pp $2 for a cone, $5 for a pizza etc.

If everyone said no, they would have to change the policy. If the workers stand up and demand the compensation they were promised, they would change the policy. Since there are only 3 or 4 people on this board who seem to see the slippery slope for what it is, nothing will change until Carnival really does become the Walmart of the seas and the real cruisers have moved to X or HAL.

Hopefully I will see you there so I can put a tip in your jar :D.

[cruisenanny]

I answered completely and honestly. I believe the gist of our differing points of view is who the system is designed to cover. My vision of tipping is different from yours. I hope you feel the same way about all the other "behind the scenes people" in the real world who work very hard for very little money to make your life easier.

I would never put you on my ignore list. I often agree with your opinions and the info you provide.

I do not need people to agree with me, I do, however, expect my fellow cruisers to treat me (I would have said mamaskittles but that seems to irk you ) with the same respect I give everyone else.

When I talk about a flame retardant teddy or refer to myself in the third person I do so to inject a little levity into threads that get way to tense.

This is no way infers I have a thick skin. When I personally am called cheap and small by folk who don't know me it is just mean.

To state that disagreeing with the current tipping policy makes some one some sort of ignorant overseer abusing the servants is not only ridiculous, it is just plain vicious.

I am old enough and strong enough to hold to my beliefs despite the bullying here but some new cruisers are not. I think in order for a fair decision to be made all of he options need to be spelled out, I guess that's just the brave American in me.

I don't really have too much else to say about the tipping issues, especially since you seem to think I have some particular issue with you. There are two distinct trains of though here & one is never going to sway the other, so be it. They go far beyond your opinion or mine, which we are both allowed to have.

As for what I underlined, I just want to clarify that even though you quoted my post, I never "stated" those things to you, nor did I personally say those words at all. The way you refer to yourself does not irk me, we all have our ways of trying to maintain some levity.

Soooo, basically, the folks on my side of the fence think that the tip removers are generally cheap & trying to justify/rationalize their shady actions.

The folks on your side of the fence think that those of us who leave the system in place are gullible, stupid, lemmings, pathetically afraid of getting our toothbrushes spit on, letting the enemy (CCL:eek:) win/get one over on us, etc etc..

Whatever, against my better judgement, I participated in another ridiculous thread! LOL

Note to self: A real life definition of insanity is repeating the same actions (posting in these threads), and expecting different results (to sway the minds of others).

[mamaskittles]

I don't really have anything else to say about the tipping issues, especially since you seem to think I have some particular issue with you. There are two distinct trains of though here & one is never going to sway the other, so be it. They go far beyond your opinion or mine, which we are both allowed to have.

As for what I underlined, I just want to clarify that even though you quoted my post, I never "stated" those things to you, nor did I personally say those words at all. The way you refer to yourself does not irk me, we all have our ways of trying to maintain some levity.

Soooo, basically, the folks on my side of the fence think that the tip removers are generally cheap & trying to justify/rationalize their shady actions.

The folks on your side of the fence think that those of us who leave the system in place are gullible, stupid, lemmings, afraid of getting our toothbrushes spit on, letting the enemy (CCL:eek:) win/get one over on us, etc etc..

Whatever, against my better judgement, I participated in another ridiculous thread! LOL

This is post # 75 where you quoted me and said this;

"Mamaskittles, I was only offering you a possible explanation to your quandary.. Like I said, completely irrelevant to me because we chose to follow the system that doesn't leave out any crew members that are counting on being included (right or wrong, it is what it is and it's not their fault) AND saves us having to track down everyone the last day, but to each his own. I personally have much better things to do with my time than to make sure someone who didn't DIRECTLY serve me doesn't see one thin dime of my money. My butt cheeks also do not squeak as I walk away and I work hard at suppressing the "control freak" character flaw that some of us possess."

So you are correct you did not call me cheap or small. You did say my butt cheeks squeak and I have a control freak character flaw :p.

My butt cheaks may squeak but not because I am cheap. I never suppress any of my character flaws I revel in them. They are what make me ...well me. I don't think you are a lemming or stupid or afraid of toothbrush spitters. I just disagree with you. I am not cheap or shady.

Again I never wanted your team (lol) to agree with me. I just want all the information to be out there, not only the info the party line wants revealed.

[cruisenanny]

This is post # 75 where you quoted me and said this;

"Mamaskittles, I was only offering you a possible explanation to your quandary.. Like I said, completely irrelevant to me because we chose to follow the system that doesn't leave out any crew members that are counting on being included (right or wrong, it is what it is and it's not their fault) AND saves us having to track down everyone the last day, but to each his own. I personally have much better things to do with my time than to make sure someone who didn't DIRECTLY serve me doesn't see one thin dime of my money. My butt cheeks also do not squeak as I walk away and I work hard at suppressing the "control freak" character flaw that some of us possess."

 

So you are correct you did not call me cheap or small. You did say my butt cheeks squeak and I have a control freak character flaw :p. See, this was my attempt at levity AND I was referring to MY character flaw;).

 

 

My butt cheaks may squeak but not because I am cheap. I never suppress any of my character flaws I revel in them. They are what make me ...well me. I don't think you are a lemming or stupid or afraid of toothbrush spitters. I just disagree with you. I am not cheap or shady. Again, I wasn't speaking about you or me personally, just summing up the general consensus on these ridiculously repetitive threads. It has all been said over & over in hundreds of slightly different ways!

[Tuili]

Wow, do you also know tomorrows winning lottery numbers. I mean since you seem to know things you in no way could possibly know, I wonder if you have knowledge that could be beneficial to everyone. :D

As a cruiser who has been asea since before the change to auto-tips/ prepaid tips I like waiting till end to tip those I believe earned an amount I feel is appropriate based upon the service I received.

I still believe a tip is earned. :)

You can't earn a tip until you have actually done some work. :eek:

 

Yeah I know things that you don't. I know people who have worked on cruise lines. People that get the basic tips get paid crap. They depend on tips to make a reasonable salary. Maybe you don't care about that but they sure as heck do. You say you're not cheap, but your words belie that. :eek:

[katiel53]

At a buffet, I don't leave any money. That's great that you do. You make up for my non-tip. The problem is, that people don't question, they just do what they read. I applaud you for tipping what the cruiseline recommends, I, however make up my own mind. If the dancers don't like the wages, find a different job.

 

I resent your previous post calling me a lemming because I tip at least what Carnival requests and in most cases more. I think it goes back to my earlier post that those who are cheap find excuses etc.

 

I don't agree with tipping the entertainment staff or guest service people, but I do it as I feel it's not a big deal. I guess if I were so stretched financially that I couldn't do so, then I might consider changing.

 

I also can't believe, well maybe I can based on previous posts, that you don't tip at all at a buffet. I guess on land you find a way to get your own beverage and also remove your own plates and get new ones. If you don't do that, then it goes back to people and being cheap. To me, you are one or the other.

[simplelife]

If you have already pre-paid how and when can you adjust them?

 

Thanks

You go to the purser's desk.

[mamaskittles]

This is post # 75 where you quoted me and said this;

"Mamaskittles, I was only offering you a possible explanation to your quandary.. Like I said, completely irrelevant to me because we chose to follow the system that doesn't leave out any crew members that are counting on being included (right or wrong, it is what it is and it's not their fault) AND saves us having to track down everyone the last day, but to each his own. I personally have much better things to do with my time than to make sure someone who didn't DIRECTLY serve me doesn't see one thin dime of my money. My butt cheeks also do not squeak as I walk away and I work hard at suppressing the "control freak" character flaw that some of us possess."

 

So you are correct you did not call me cheap or small. You did say my butt cheeks squeak and I have a control freak character flaw :p. See, this was my attempt at levity AND I was referring to MY character flaw;).

 

 

My butt cheaks may squeak but not because I am cheap. I never suppress any of my character flaws I revel in them. They are what make me ...well me. I don't think you are a lemming or stupid or afraid of toothbrush spitters. I just disagree with you. I am not cheap or shady. Again, I wasn't speaking about you or me personally, just summing up the general consensus on these ridiculously repetitive threads. It has all been said over & over in hundreds of slightly different ways!

It's true...the thread starts out with differing opinions offered in reasonable tones and ends in butt cheeks and character flaws. We each see the world through our own experiences and act accordingly.

There are others on this thread who point and flame larger than Hedda Lettuce or RuPaul, them I have no hope for, there are posters like you who come back, explain, and at least attempt to debate without diatribe. I wish you fair winds and following seas.

[donaldsc]

Hubby and I are having dicussion on tipping and pre-paying gratuities as opposed to leaving the envelopes.

 

If we choose to tip at the end how do they know we intend to tip?

 

Especially now that posts are coming out that they have lists on who has not prepaid gratuities?

 

Your opinion please - thanks

 

I regard pre-paying tips the same way I regard tipping at a restaurant before eating the meal - totally absurd.

 

DON

[AZbeachboy]

I just though of this while reading this thread tonigh.

 

The cruise lines offer you a vacation that includes good food, nice clean cabins, great service, wonderful entertainment. Then you get to the ship or make your reservation and find out you will be charged extra for those services. Hey, I thought I had already paid for that.

 

What the lines are doing, and if you study the employee contracts, is hedgeing their bet. What the lines are doing is paying very little without many benefits to the employee. The labor contracts say that each person should make so much money and that the lines are responsible to make up any difference between that minimum and what they actually made. So, if they dont make enough in tips, the cruise line has to make that up. So, it not like tipping as we think of it. So then it is not a gratuity for good or great service, but an additional cost from the cruise lines. That way they can advertise a cheaper price and have someone else pay the help. To me that could be counted as false advertising.

[fishtaco]

I so like these tipping threads!

 

Comming from a society that doesn't expect tips and doesn't tip as a norm its quite entertaining!

 

You folks could save a small fortune by having a vacation in Australia, its all inclusive you know:D

 

Den

[H82seaUgo]

I so like these tipping threads!

 

Comming from a society that doesn't expect tips and doesn't tip as a norm its quite entertaining!

 

You folks could save a small fortune by having a vacation in Australia, its all inclusive you know:D

 

Den

 

never been down under, but i can only assume that money for wages is padded into the retail of your goods and services.

 

what kind of taxes do you have on things?

[rthling]

So interesting to read threads like these, as a new cruiser.

We sailed RC last January, and did the whole "auto-pay". Not sure what they call it, but we let it just be charged to our credit card. Then we went around with envelopes of cash, paying extra to the ones who went above and beyond what we expected.

 

The interesting part about this thread is that I see both sides of the argument, and feel myself being swayed both directions, with each view posted in an intelligent manner. When names are being called, characters being called into question, those posts are not helpful, but healthy debate is actually helpful to new folks like us.

 

So, thanks from a newbie. It is good to know what our tips are actually being used for, so we can make an educated decision about our own choices.

[coachpete]

I resent your previous post calling me a lemming because I tip at least what Carnival requests and in most cases more. I think it goes back to my earlier post that those who are cheap find excuses etc.

 

I don't agree with tipping the entertainment staff or guest service people, but I do it as I feel it's not a big deal. I guess if I were so stretched financially that I couldn't do so, then I might consider changing.

 

I also can't believe, well maybe I can based on previous posts, that you don't tip at all at a buffet. I guess on land you find a way to get your own beverage and also remove your own plates and get new ones. If you don't do that, then it goes back to people and being cheap. To me, you are one or the other.

 

 

If you are doing what Carnival tells you to, then you are a lemming. Tip what you feel is right, not what a financial analyst or the folks on this board deem to be right.

 

If the folks working on the ship don't like it, there are other jobs out there. Again, their compensation is relative to what they would earn in their own countries.

[boo214]

If you are doing what Carnival tells you to, then you are a lemming. Tip what you feel is right, not what a financial analyst or the folks on this board deem to be right.

 

If the folks working on the ship don't like it, there are other jobs out there. Again, their compensation is relative to what they would earn in their own countries.

Carnival has a system (as do other lines), like it or not, it is what it is. Under their system the gratuities, daily service charge (as NCL calls it), or whatever you (or the cruise lines) want to call it, is basically their SAlARY (which is why many choose to follow the system and give extra to those deserving). until it changes, thats the way it is whether you agree or disagree. therefore if you remove tips you are likely stiffing someone. I'm a lemming and proud of it. I'd rather be a lemming then a stiffer.

[cruisenanny]

Carnival has a system (as do other lines), like it or not, it is what it is. Under their system the gratuities, daily service charge (as NCL calls it), or whatever you (or the cruise lines) want to call it, is basically their SAlARY (which is why many choose to follow the system and give extra to those deserving). until it changes, thats the way it is whether you agree or disagree. therefore if you remove tips you are likely stiffing someone. I'm a lemming and proud of it. I'd rather be a lemming then a stiffer.

 

Coach Pete knows this, but he doesn't care because he is not a spineless conformist like you & me. He also thinks if the crew doesn't like him removing their tips (a pretty clear indication that he does not eventually compensate/tip them at least adequately) that "there are other jobs out there"..

[coachpete]

Coach Pete knows this, but he doesn't care because he is not a spineless conformist like you & me. He also thinks if the crew doesn't like him removing their tips (a pretty clear indication that he does not eventually compensate/tip them at least adequately) that "there are other jobs out there"..

 

 

My definition of adequate is probably different than yours. Again, the system works, and I'm not out to change it.