Tipping: What is considered "generous"?

[gcgold]

They should adjust the wages so that 'auto' gratuities aren't necessary. Then passengers could hoose to tip or not based on the level of service.

 

 

Where or where is that 'like button CC ????

 

[emoji32]

[CGinMTL]

If someone were to leave tips on the bed, for example, would only the one cabin person get it? Or would it be shared between the 2 or more people that look after your room? Also, in all inclusive resorts in Caribbean countries, I often take good quality chocolates, etc and share them among the various helpful, friendly staff ( sometimes daily) Have any of you ever heard of anyone doing this on cruise ships? Would it be appreciated or do they always have "treats" of their own anyway. In the Caribbean, I have never found a staff member yet that wasn't thrilled, but I realize it's not the norm for them in those countries like it can be for some of ours. Just wondering opinions from regular cruisers :)

.

Funny you say this. We were on a TA cruise in 2010 and it was Sept.

When we got of the ship in Sydney, NS ( your home town). we had an overnight and a rental car. So we went out and bought halloween chocolates.

We divided the box in 4 ( our 2 teams of wait staff).

By the end of dinner, 1 waiter had given a chocolate to every waiter in the room. They all came by to say thank you.

We thought that the "joy to $$ ration" was worth it.

So next day, we went out and bought another box. we also bought a huge bag of lolly pops.

We gave the box to the same waiter and gave him the job to "do it again".

As for the lollipops.......... I kept them in my day bag for the rest of the cruise and would hand them all to all the "support staff" that some people ignore ( the guy that mops at the pool, the towel hut, the gift shop....... everone).

You can feel the entire energy of the ship switch....... for $40 of candy....... I will never forget it.......... and I am sure they didn't either.

.

But again........ if it becomes the norm, then it is not special anymore and does not get the same reaction.

[A_Sea_Bugg]

A jar in the 17th century with a sticker?

 

Urban myth.

 

Paper was invented around 100bc a little bit of honey could make it sticky.

 

I have also heard a bowl was in the middle of the table and if you wanted faster service a few coins put in the bowl worked as well.

[springfire]

They should adjust the wages so that 'auto' gratuities aren't necessary. Then passengers could hoose to tip or not based on the level of service.

 

Another like for this!

[Adidas4fun]

Paper was invented around 100bc a little bit of honey could make it sticky.

 

I have also heard a bowl was in the middle of the table and if you wanted faster service a few coins put in the bowl worked as well.

 

Oh for heavens sake!

 

http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp

 

Your story is just that, a story.

[Beanb41]

They should adjust the wages so that 'auto' gratuities aren't necessary. Then passengers could hoose to tip or not based on the level of service.

 

Whilst on the Century last year I asked our waiter what his basic salary was before the gratuities were added. His response nothing nor do the cabin attendants get any salary but rely on the gratuities.

I leave it to those who choose to remove the auto gratuities based on what I was advised.

Waiters for example with "fixed dining" customers are more likely to get something extra at the end of a cruise than those serving Select Dining because of the rapport built up. I found that "Select Dining" waiters go through the motions rather than provide the level of service that "Fixed Dining" waiters do.

[Karynanne]

Whilst on the Century last year I asked our waiter what his basic salary was before the gratuities were added. His response nothing nor do the cabin attendants get any salary but rely on the gratuities.

 

I leave it to those who choose to remove the auto gratuities based on what I was advised.

 

Waiters for example with "fixed dining" customers are more likely to get something extra at the end of a cruise than those serving Select Dining because of the rapport built up. I found that "Select Dining" waiters go through the motions rather than provide the level of service that "Fixed Dining" waiters do.

 

 

I can't ever imagine asking a waiter...or anyone...what their salary was. It's really none of our business. JMHO.

[neverbeenhere]

And if you asked, would you get the correct answer?

[Beanb41]

And if you asked, would you get the correct answer?

 

Why not? We had built up a great rapport with both of our waiters and in context with our overall conversation at the time the question was not out of order. IF they thought it out of order they could declined to say.

One must remember that auto gratuities are not compulsory when fixed dining only for select dining.

There have been many comments here on Cruise Critic about how low paid staff are on cruise ships despite the fact that thousands of people go to work on them each year and many stay with the same company for many years I thought it prudent I check for myself. I should note that despite all the comments about low paid staff no one has yet to present evidence what they are paid.

It would seem that all Celebrity Staff are or have got a pay rise with gratuities all recently been increased

[springfire]

Whilst on the Century last year I asked our waiter what his basic salary was before the gratuities were added. His response nothing nor do the cabin attendants get any salary but rely on the gratuities.

I leave it to those who choose to remove the auto gratuities based on what I was advised.

Waiters for example with "fixed dining" customers are more likely to get something extra at the end of a cruise than those serving Select Dining because of the rapport built up. I found that "Select Dining" waiters go through the motions rather than provide the level of service that "Fixed Dining" waiters do.

 

Just not the right thing to do, ask someone what their salary is, especially when they are working!

[BonnieVA]

They DO receive a miniscule flat monthly amount from X. I'd be hard-pressed to technically call it a "salary" because the word "salary" conjures up an impression of a decent amount of pay that a person can live off of. But X does pay them a monthly wage. It's such an extremely tiny amount, though, that I'm guessing they only pay it for legal purposes ... maybe so they can't be accused of not paying their employees??? I don't know.

 

So, yes, they DO rely on gratuities!!

[sasset]

Paper was invented around 100bc a little bit of honey could make it sticky.

 

I have also heard a bowl was in the middle of the table and if you wanted faster service a few coins put in the bowl worked as well.

 

One of the problems that re-occurs on these boards are like this. Posting what one 'has heard' or posting something like, 'I wasn't on that cruise but...' and them stating something as fact.

 

As far as 'generous' goes it seems that generous is what some posters will say that they always do. Interpret that as you will.

[Beanb41]

They DO receive a miniscule flat monthly amount from X. I'd be hard-pressed to technically call it a "salary" because the word "salary" conjures up an impression of a decent amount of pay that a person can live off of. But X does pay them a monthly wage. It's such an extremely tiny amount, though, that I'm guessing they only pay it for legal purposes ... maybe so they can't be accused of not paying their employees??? I don't know.

 

So, yes, they DO rely on gratuities!!

 

Your evidence of this ??!!!

[GUT2407]

They should adjust the wages so that 'auto' gratuities aren't necessary. Then passengers could hoose to tip or not based on the level of service.

 

 

But I bet if they did some would still get upset about those who didn't tip and other's would get upset about those who "pre-tip" see t is an ingrained [or almost] cultural thing.

[GUT2407]

Doesnt seem to happen on the Paul Gauguin or other similar all included lines.

 

Maybe some people just need to get over themselves.

 

 

Funny thing is I prefer a line that bundles it all in.

 

See Princess do on cruises in Australia and I much prefer that than added charges or trying to work out how much to give to each person, and should I tip this one or that one.

 

But people still grumble about it here on CC.

[Beanb41]

ON my past 3 cruises on Celebrity I was of the opinion that there was never any pressure on me to add additional gratuities. When speaking with cabin staff just prior to disembarking with their gratuities in my pocket I never felt any compulsion to pay extra. Our waitress in the Café Bacio was over the moon when we gave her an envelope on our last night.

If one feels like giving something extra then by all means do it but if one feels embarrassed about how much extra give it in an envelope ( obtainable from Guest relations) as late in the cruise as possible. Remember it is unlikely that you will ever see them again. If you do it is more likely that you will recognise them before they recognise you. Only about a million people have passed by them since your last cruise and your next one.

[Suzy Smith]

IF they thought it out of order they could declined to say.

 

And that is exactly what they did!;)

[GUT2407]

Ask me what I earn and I might tell you anywhere from $10,000 to $10,000,000.

 

Somewhere between the two is the truth.

 

Why do you think the staff told you the truth, especially when they want you to tip extra:confused::confused::confused:

[LabGuy64]

Yes,

 

A cruise ship low on staff will quietly move into an isolated area......send in a special forces teams to raid sea side hamlets of all the local bartenders and housekeeping people, and press them into 6 month service contracts as slave labor.....LOL

 

 

 

 

Why not? We had built up a great rapport with both of our waiters and in context with our overall conversation at the time the question was not out of order. IF they thought it out of order they could declined to say.

One must remember that auto gratuities are not compulsory when fixed dining only for select dining.

There have been many comments here on Cruise Critic about how low paid staff are on cruise ships despite the fact that thousands of people go to work on them each year and many stay with the same company for many years I thought it prudent I check for myself. I should note that despite all the comments about low paid staff no one has yet to present evidence what they are paid.

It would seem that all Celebrity Staff are or have got a pay rise with gratuities all recently been increased

[yorkyred]

Whilst on the Century last year I asked our waiter what his basic salary was before the gratuities were added. His response nothing nor do the cabin attendants get any salary but rely on the gratuities.

I leave it to those who choose to remove the auto gratuities based on what I was advised.

Waiters for example with "fixed dining" customers are more likely to get something extra at the end of a cruise than those serving Select Dining because of the rapport built up. I found that "Select Dining" waiters go through the motions rather than provide the level of service that "Fixed Dining" waiters do.

And if that's the case shame on Celebrity because RC profits seem very healthy. As passengers we are paying premium prices on everything on Celebrity from cruise prices, to specialist restaurants, to drinks packages. On top of that gratuities have just increased and as such Celebrity are doing very well out of us. We are not responsible for paying the crew a decent living wage, that's their job.

[Beanb41]

And if that's the case shame on Celebrity because RC profits seem very healthy. As passengers we are paying premium prices on everything on Celebrity from cruise prices, to specialist restaurants, to drinks packages. On top of that gratuities have just increased and as such Celebrity are doing very well out of us. We are not responsible for paying the crew a decent living wage, that's their job.

 

We are all paying for what is the norm in the USA and that is tipping occurs for almost everything. If the shipping lines did away with compulsory gratuities and just included them in the overall cost of the cruise as they do for Australian based ships down under the Americans would still go ahead and add tips. Either way the passengers pay one way or the other.

Fortunately on our upcoming cruise we will be taking full advantage of the 123 promo so we wont be paying any gratuities as they are covered by the promo as are the drinks packages.

[Ma Bell]

And if that's the case shame on Celebrity because RC profits seem very healthy. As passengers we are paying premium prices on everything on Celebrity from cruise prices, to specialist restaurants, to drinks packages. On top of that gratuities have just increased and as such Celebrity are doing very well out of us. We are not responsible for paying the crew a decent living wage, that's their job.

 

I hate to tell you this but the consumers always pay employees whether it's by salary or tips. It's likely that the cost of the cruise would be increased more than the cost of present gratuities to pay for taxes and administrative costs.

[Ma Bell]

We are all paying for what is the norm in the USA and that is tipping occurs for almost everything. If the shipping lines did away with compulsory gratuities and just included them in the overall cost of the cruise as they do for Australian based ships down under the Americans would still go ahead and add tips. Either way the passengers pay one way or the other.

Fortunately on our upcoming cruise we will be taking full advantage of the 123 promo so we wont be paying any gratuities as they are covered by the promo as are the drinks packages.

 

You are paying for the promo too.

[yorkyred]

I hate to tell you this but the consumers always pay employees whether it's by salary or tips. It's likely that the cost of the cruise would be increased more than the cost of present gratuities to pay for taxes and administrative costs.

 

Slightly patronising response but yes I'm not daft , I do realise our cruise fares pay employees wages. The point I'm making is with the profits RC are making it's their responsibility to make sure their employees are paid a decent wage, it's not our job to tip extra to enable them to live.

[Ma Bell]

Slightly patronising response but yes I'm not daft , I do realise our cruise fares pay employees wages. The point I'm making is with the profits RC are making it's their responsibility to make sure their employees are paid a decent wage, it's not our job to tip extra to enable them to live.

 

No, our cruise fares at this point do not totally pay servers wages. That's the point. If it makes you feel better why not just pay your gratuities before you cruise. We are going to pay one way or the other. This business model works for this company. If you don't like it you don't need to patronize the business.