Tipping, service charge, etc.

[maywell]

Hi,

Was on Epic Barcelona to Southampton & a gran & granddaughter we had met had theirs removed on the afternoon of the last seaday.Their request wasn't met with a good reception, but the form was given to them (I was with them & seen the form) it asked them for reasons for not paying :o:o:o:o:o & they later told me it was removed a few hours later from their account. So I would say its possible to get it removed whilst still on the ship.

 

 

HTH

Evie

The policy change affects only the ships sailing from North America - Consider yourself luck that the EU consumer laws protect you more than the United State ones. Also the reason why the Epic is being switch out with the Spirit permanently out there after 2016 - smaller ship with even smaller # of crew, so all passengers can remove it and it won't hurt NCL bottom line compare to what's happening with the Epic right now.

 

I would link the articles of why major cruise lines (not just NCL) are not sending their biggest ships to Europe any more because of their tipping habits but I'm on Taptalk right.

 

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[abe3]

The problem with the DSC is not necessarily service as some would like you to believe.

 

 

 

The problem is that NCL is purposely vague about how the funds are distributed. Some of the other cruise lines give you a breakdown showing who gets what amount.

 

 

 

If you read NCL's description of the distribution, you can't tell what they do with the funds.

 

 

It's not your problem how it is distributed. They don't need to disclose their whole payment structure to you. That's between NCL and their employees. NCL has said what they do with it and they don't need to say how it's applied. To blame NCL on something that you don't even have to pay at your discretion and if you don't think NCL uses the money for its crew that is your own opinion and you can fill out the form after the cruise to get your money back

 

I will not remove the DSC because the crew works hard and I believe they use it towards the hard working crew.

Edited October 9, 2015 by abe3

[swedish weave]

It's not your problem how it is distributed. They don't need to disclose their whole payment structure to you. That's between NCL and their employees. NCL has said what they do with it and they don't need to say how it's applied. To blame NCL on something that you don't even have to pay at your discretion and if you don't think NCL uses the money for its crew that is your own opinion and you can fill out the form after the cruise to get your money back

 

I will not remove the DSC because the crew works hard and I believe they use it towards the hard working crew.

 

I didn't say it was a problem for me. I do believe all guests should be furnished the information regarding what NCL does with the funds and they can draw their own conclusions and handle appropriately.

 

If you believe that NCL is handling properly, that is your decision. Others may not agree and may decide to remove the DSC to assure themselves that the crew is properly compensated by tipping in cash.

 

I read what NCL is saying, and I believe I have made an appropriate determination.

 

Have YOU read what NCL says about the disbursement of the DSC funds ???

Edited October 9, 2015 by swedish weave

[maywell]

To add the SC to the fare would probably entail an additional 30-35%.

Here's the thing - CAS players get low to free fares, so how you do charge 30% DSC on zero fare? And that's just one of many interesting dilemmas if DSC was built-in in the fare....

 

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[anniegb]

First of all, what you say is entirely reasonable and correct. In most areas of the world a "tip" is about a reward for excellent services above and beyond the call of duty. But in the USA it has become something else when staff are paid subsistence wages and need the "tip" just to survive... but that doesn't mean that they don't need to deliver excellent service to earn it.

 

In European countries where we have a "living minimum wage" (in the UK this is currently being phased in to £9 ($13.75) per hour which is £18,700 per annum grossed up (or $28,750 pa)... then a tip is just what it says - a reward for excellence and not a part of basic salary. There is no tipping culture in the UK or other countries such as Switzerland where all staff are reasonably paid. In the USA the minimum wage is only $7.25 per hour so there is a tipping culture (to effectively subsidise employers from paying their staff a reasonable wage). These employees need their tips to survive.

 

So expect the USA view to be at odds with the European view on gratuities.

 

You'll get a lot of posts (that you can take a view on whether they are genuine or not) that will seek to vilify you for taking away employees "hard earned wages" but if NCL adopted the European model and paid their staff a decent wage then a "tip" would mean just what it is... a reward for excellence of service above and beyond what is expected.

 

Of course, that is not the case on all cruise lines (not singling out NCL here) where staff are generally recruited from third-world countries and are generally very poorly paid.

 

So is NCL wrong for paying buttons? Not really as all cruise lines are doing essentially the same.

 

And is a "tip" a reward or a god given right no matter how bad or surly the service is. Well there's no reasonable argument there for anybody other than somebody with their "corporate hat on" (and we all know who they are)!

 

Just to clarify:

 

The current NMW in UK is £6.70 per hour if you are over 25 and will reach £9.00 per hour in a few years time.

 

Annie

[maywell]

I didn't say it was a problem for me. I do believe all guests should be furnished the information regarding what NCL does with the funds and they can draw their own conclusions and handle appropriately.

 

If you believe that NCL is handling properly, that is your decision. Others may not agree and may decide to remove the DSC to assure themselves that the crew is properly compensated by tipping in cash.

 

I read what NCL is saying, and I believe I have made an appropriate determination.

 

Have YOU read what NCL says about the disbursement of the DSC funds ???

 

Yes, I have read what NCL does with the DSC - I don't mind because the alternative would be dealing with envelopes which I don't want to deal with at all, either at the end of trip or during. Especially on NCL, where I don't get same waiter each night, plus I can choose whatever time I feel like to dine out, whether its breakfast /lunch/dinner.

 

Let NCL figure out what part goes to the staff and goes in their incentive programs, while I go about enjoying my trip. One less thing for me worry or be concerned about - seriously, why would I want to spend time figuring out which staff member gets what fro where and how; when figuring out which show, activity and/or restaurant to fill up my sea or port day is a more pressing matter to me.[emoji57]

 

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[Ctrinh225]

Your statement is not supportable with FACTS. Nobody knows how much others tip unless the person tells them.

 

 

But you can't tell me for fact that they do tip at all. No cash tips + Remove DSC= Cheapness (take a vacation like camping where there no crew to service them).

 

 

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[rochelle_s]

Uhhh....., the fares would need to be raised considerably higher than the current Service charge rate if they were to roll into the advertised fare.

 

How much is significantly higher? Double? Two hundred dollars per person? I highly doubt it is even that much?

 

 

Rochelle

[abe3]

Yes, I have read what NCL does with the DSC - I don't mind because the alternative would be dealing with envelopes which I don't want to deal with at all, either at the end of trip or during. Especially on NCL, where I don't get same waiter each night, plus I can choose whatever time I feel like to dine out, whether its breakfast /lunch/dinner.

 

Let NCL figure out what part goes to the staff and goes in their incentive programs, while I go about enjoying my trip. One less thing for me worry or be concerned about - seriously, why would I want to spend time figuring out which staff member gets what fro where and how; when figuring out which show, activity and/or restaurant to fill up my sea or port day is a more pressing matter to me.[emoji57]

 

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Exactly. It's not like a strip joint and need to carry dollar bills everywhere. Pay the DSC fee and let NCL figure out how to pay employees. It's very refreshing to my have to deal with tips and if you want to tip more than the DSC fee go for it. I always tip my room steward more even though I am not obligated under the DSC.

[abe3]

Here's the thing - CAS players get low to free fares, so how you do charge 30% DSC on zero fare? And that's just one of many interesting dilemmas if DSC was built-in in the fare....

 

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Oh don't tell that to the CAS people. They don't want to pay any extra. They need their money for the penny slots.

[maywell]

Exactly. It's not like a strip joint and need to carry dollar bills everywhere. Pay the DSC fee and let NCL figure out how to pay employees. It's very refreshing to my have to deal with tips and if you want to tip more than the DSC fee go for it. I always tip my room steward more even though I am not obligated under the DSC.

Exactly - Why do I need to figure out how much a room steward on NCL gets, when the person doesn't 'show' themselves but my room is still serviced and turn down, anyway? [emoji57] Seriously, I'm going to remove /reduced DSC for that!?!? Likewise, when I had 2 bad waiters on 2 different nights for dinner, but the rest of meals service was great; did I reduced DSC over those 2? No, it wasn't that freaking serious...

 

Did I tip on top of DSC? Yes, I did; I guess enough to get free chocolates even though I'm not at Latidudes level to get it (Same thing happened on Carnival). Its call don't be a total scumbag to person that servicing you, especially when it's the place you're sleeping at!

 

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[Ctrinh225]

Oh don't tell that to the CAS people. They don't want to pay any extra. They need their money for the penny slots.

 

 

Haha. Not true Abe. I find gamblers are notoriously GREAT tippers. If I can waste 10k in my penny slots...a few hundred extra for tips not gonna kill.

 

 

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[maywell]

Haha. Not true Abe. I find gamblers are notoriously GREAT tippers. If I can waste 10k in my penny slots...a few hundred extra for tips not gonna kill.

 

 

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Just not some of the ones claiming to be CAS players, posting to CC.... Few, I do believe are big tippers to everyone even the the table dealer, but the others? I have alot of reasonable doubt in not believing anything from them...

 

 

And it is true ' if you can shell out 10K in the casino playing anything (Tables, slots, Keno, etc..), tipping is like water under bridge to a high roller.[emoji14]

 

 

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Edited October 9, 2015 by maywell

[abe3]

Just not some of the ones claiming to be CAS players, posting to CC.... Few, I do believe are big tippers to everyone even the the table dealer, but the others? I have alot of reasonable doubt in not believing anything from them...

 

 

And it is true ' if you can shell out 10K in the casino playing anything (Tables, slots, Keno, etc..), tipping is like water under bridge to a high roller.[emoji14]

 

 

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Exactly and they should have no problem leaving the DSC in place.

[sparks1093]

Yes, I have read what NCL does with the DSC - I don't mind because the alternative would be dealing with envelopes which I don't want to deal with at all, either at the end of trip or during. Especially on NCL, where I don't get same waiter each night, plus I can choose whatever time I feel like to dine out, whether its breakfast /lunch/dinner.

 

Let NCL figure out what part goes to the staff and goes in their incentive programs, while I go about enjoying my trip. One less thing for me worry or be concerned about - seriously, why would I want to spend time figuring out which staff member gets what fro where and how; when figuring out which show, activity and/or restaurant to fill up my sea or port day is a more pressing matter to me.[emoji57]

 

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Exactly.

[maywell]

AGAIN I SAY:

Go to a food joint in NYC (pick any town). The posted gratuity says 20% tacked on to the tab. Service sucked. What would a social inclined do? Eat it? From your posts I think you would. As for assuming (a*s out of you; a*s out of me) I believe like me that I would tip according to services rendered. Some people are cheapskates, not all. Let the broadbrush regarding DSC and all the people you KNOW, stay off the plate from now until they shut us down. I once contemplated moving to Russia or Cuba but thought better and said; not for me.

P.S. I'm sorry this may be one to shut us down. I am just strong in my convictions as the others are too. (WOW - TOO SERIOUS)

Here's the thing - would still go to the restaurant (aka cruise line) again after the 1st time, knowing that it's crummy and/or charges autotips? You know what some of us New Yorkers call a person that repeatedly goes to place but still whines about service / cost/food? A chronic complainer; dumb idiot and other swear words that can't be posted.

 

You knew the cruise line in question charges Service Charges but you don't want to it but still willing to pay the fare to them. Yes, that does make a dumb idiot move because you knew that they did that but still don't want to pay for service and STILL sailing despite that. Instead of making the smart decision aka common sense, to cruise with another company that doesn't make you fill out a form out in Europe.

 

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Edited October 9, 2015 by maywell

[4gomez]

OH CONTRERE

I Like NCL AND service. Maybe I am totally off base. I would like to pay ;(Let's be honest and call it gratuities) and not pay for bad service but for good service.

 

How canyou dispute that? Maybe we should reward bad service with a tip and say the hell with the people that provide good service.

[swedish weave]

Excuse, it not gratitiues or tips anymore especially when it's AUTOMATICALLY charged to your account or receipts. You what that's called without sugarcoating it? SERVICE CHARGES.

 

NCL doesn't call the $12-15.50 a day per person 'tips' or 'gratitiues', you know what they call it? DAILY SERVICE CHARGES or DSC for short. You who gets tips/gratitiues on top of their salary because they're not part of the DSC at all? Butlers, childcare, concierge, spa with bar staff and specialty restaurant staff getting paid out of the automatic 18% tips (or service charge, as I like to call it when automatic add to a receipt). Room steward, complimentary waitstaff like Buffet and MDR, behind the scenes people like linen washers and public restroom attendants are paid out the DSC. (end of quote)

 

If the DSC is not gratuities as you firmly state, what am I getting if I select the free gratuities as a booking bonus ??????????? They state this in all the ads that offer it.

Edited October 10, 2015 by swedish weave

[NLH Arizona]

OH CONTRERE

I Like NCL AND service. Maybe I am totally off base. I would like to pay ;(Let's be honest and call it gratuities) and not pay for bad service but for good service.

 

How canyou dispute that? Maybe we should reward bad service with a tip and say the hell with the people that provide good service.

If you get bad service from NCL, you should immediately go to Guest Services and report it and if it does not improve, then go back to Guest Services and request that your DSC be reduce by the amount you feel that bad service amounts to. It is clearly stated in NCL's policy, see below:

 

We have structured a guest satisfaction program designed to handle any concerns about service or on-board product quickly and efficiently. However, in the event a service issue should arise during your cruise please let our on-board guest services desk staff know right away, so that we can address these in a timely manner. It is our goal to reach a satisfactory solution to any issue when it happens and make sure our guests can focus on enjoying their cruise. Should your concerns not be met with satisfaction you can adjust the charges.

[maywell]

I am shocked! You have been berated and called a cheapskate by NCL for not paying the DSC. If this is correct, as you say they do, I would immediately call NCL corporate and turn the crew/staff member who did this in. Also, you say they pretend that it is discretionary, but from all reports passengers have been able to reduce or remove it...again, I would call NCL corporate and report the crew/staff member who would reduce or remove your DSC. Being disrespectful to anyone that wants to remove or reduce the DSC should never happen by an NCL employee.

 

Considering the person is from the UK, I'm kinda surprised they weren't told worst from the staff out there. Remember, NCL management even stated they were switching the Epic permanently out in mid 2016 due European tipping custom (or lack there of). Guess the Euro is pretty weak compare to the US dollar, making the tipping situation over there worse.

 

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