Tipping - the age old question - Sorry

[Cuizer2]

 

A bribe does not insinuate a crime?

 

Full Definition of BRIBE

 

1

: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust

2

: something that serves to induce or influence

 

And Gratuity or tip:

A gratuity (also called a tip) is a sum of money customarily tendered, in addition to the basic price, to certain service sector workers for a service performed or anticipated. Depending on the country, it may be customary to tip servers in bars and restaurants, taxi drivers, hair stylists, and so on.

 

Tips and their amount are a matter of social custom and etiquette, and the custom varies between countries and settings. In some locations tipping is discouraged and considered insulting; while in some other locations tipping is expected from customers. The customary amount of a tip can a specific range of monetary amounts or a certain percentage of the bill.

 

In some circumstances, such as with U.S. government workers[1] or more widely with police officers, receiving gratuities (or even offering them) is illegal, as they may be regarded as bribery.[2] A service charge is sometimes added to bills in restaurants and similar establishments. Tipping may not be expected when a fee is explicitly charged for the service.[3]

 

Please note, I'm not the one that said that. Elaine5715 is the one that wrote that, and then by not quoting properly has now created a situation where the wrong person is being listed as the poster when others quote Elaine5715's post.

[Cuizer2]

 

Besides using inflammatory words like "bribe" to insinuate a crime, the fact is, your stateroom stewards have already provided you with a service by preparing your stateroom, using any requests you have already made, cleaning, setting up the luggage mat, delivering your excursion tickets, your Carnival mail, waters, etc so handing them a gratuity at first meeting, just recognizes the work already done. Or do you think, they don't start preparing until they introduce themselves?

 

On land based restaurants the tables are cleared, cleaned and set before you get there. So, do you tip the busboy or busgirl for the services that they have rendered before you sat down?

[MsSoloTravel]

We have been told by staff - and actually seen it in writing in the HAL employee handbook (HAL is part of the Carnival umbrella) - if a passenger does auto tips then the staff member (like stewards and MDR staff) may keep any cash tips they receive from that passenger. If the passenger has taken off the auto tips then the staff members must turn in the cash to the tip pool - they may not keep the cash without threat of losing their job. I find it doubtful that a staff member will jeopardize their job for a few dollars.

 

Let me start by saying I keep the auto tips and I do not doubt your post. But, I am curious how anyone would know. I work for tips and am wondering about the logistics of this. If I go out with a tray of drinks and get tipped by 10 different people and I'm "supposed" to turn in the tips from 2 of them because they removed the auto tips...who's to say those 2 people "didn't " tip me?

 

I'm sure it is a policy because it sounds fair in the overall scheme of things. But, I doubt all those tips get turned into the pool.

[srlafleur]

We always pay the auto gratuities and were thrilled when that option became available.

We only tip extra for room service (a couple of bucks), which we rarely get.

If I felt we were asking for something over and above the norm, we would tip more than standard, but we are very low-maintenance cruisers. We get the occasional drink (nothing complex or special) wherever we happen to be, not taking up residence at any particular bar, so whatever percentage is added is fine.

I don't feel we're being stingy by sticking with the auto-grats.

[jimbo5544]

We always pay the auto gratuities and were thrilled when that option became available.

We only tip extra for room service (a couple of bucks), which we rarely get.

If I felt we were asking for something over and above the norm, we would tip more than standard, but we are very low-maintenance cruisers. We get the occasional drink (nothing complex or special) wherever we happen to be, not taking up residence at any particular bar, so whatever percentage is added is fine.

I don't feel we're being stingy by sticking with the auto-grats.

 

Your not, it is the way the system was designed. There are some who say they want to do it in cash for many reasons, some of which are to not do it (certainly not all or even many) but then disguise it as it's their money and they did not really do all that much....it's their job.... and a host of other reason and stories......they feel that they don't have to (which I disagree with).

 

To challenge this, hang around guest services for a bit on the last evening and listen to people trying to remove tips for some of the most lame reasons I have ever heard of. Pretty sad....

[summersigh]

Let me start by saying I keep the auto tips and I do not doubt your post. But, I am curious how anyone would know. I work for tips and am wondering about the logistics of this. If I go out with a tray of drinks and get tipped by 10 different people and I'm "supposed" to turn in the tips from 2 of them because they removed the auto tips...who's to say those 2 people "didn't " tip me?

 

I'm sure it is a policy because it sounds fair in the overall scheme of things. But, I doubt all those tips get turned into the pool.

 

I agree .... Probably not all of the cash given by "non-auto-tippers" gets turned in ... BUT ... I'd imagine fear of getting caught and losing ones job for not turning them in would be a big incentive to someone who's livelihood (and many times that of their family) depends on that job.

 

The "ship" knows who takes off auto tips - I saw a list in the crew area once when I followed our steward in for ice. Perhaps they're asked somehow? I don't know :confused:

[CutestLittleEvil]

I pay the auto gratuities and I also tip at the completion of service. For the room steward, it is at the end of the week (or sometimes extra in the middle of the week if I have done something to cause them extra work like spilled a glass of red wine over the sheets) or for bar staff/servers it is when they bring me a drink. My drinks are stronger, more creative, and the bar/wait staff definitely checks on me more frequently. A little gracious gratuity up front goes a long way.

 

I think if I were a server or room steward and I had a 1/2 day off while I was in port and I needed to go onshore to pick up personal things, I would like to have some cash in my hand to do so, and that I wouldn't have to wait for those aggregated tips to appear on payday.

[sanmarcosman]

I don't feel we're being stingy by sticking with the auto-grats.

You're not being stingy in the least. Happy cruising.

[MisterFidgetpants]

To challenge this, hang around guest services for a bit on the last evening and listen to people trying to remove tips for some of the most lame reasons I have ever heard of. Pretty sad....

 

My advice, go to a show, go to dinner, go to the casino. Go outside and play mini golf or watch a movie. Get some pizza. I can't think of a bigger waste of time on vacation than to eavesdrop at guest services on any day for any reason.

[MsSoloTravel]

My advice, go to a show, go to dinner, go to the casino. Go outside and play mini golf or watch a movie. Get some pizza. I can't think of a bigger waste of time on vacation than to eavesdrop at guest services on any day for any reason.

 

I don't know?! In a weird way it would be fun to sip a cocktail and eavesdrop for a bit. As someone who works for tips I love to hear people's rationale for why they don't tip. That's why I love tipping threads.

[Cuizer2]

Let me start by saying I keep the auto tips and I do not doubt your post. But, I am curious how anyone would know. I work for tips and am wondering about the logistics of this. If I go out with a tray of drinks and get tipped by 10 different people and I'm "supposed" to turn in the tips from 2 of them because they removed the auto tips...who's to say those 2 people "didn't " tip me?

 

I'm sure it is a policy because it sounds fair in the overall scheme of things. But, I doubt all those tips get turned into the pool.

 

The drink servers are not in the auto tip pool. That said, the tip is automatically added to the cost of the drink.

 

The dining staff and the room steward are included in the auto tip. So they are the ones impacted if you remove auto tips.

[Cuizer2]

I don't feel we're being stingy by sticking with the auto-grats.

 

You are not. Lots of people like to brag that they tip $500 above just so that they can feel big and try and make others feel small. I seriously doubt that all of these super big spenders actually tip even half of what they claim.

[jimbo5544]

My advice, go to a show, go to dinner, go to the casino. Go outside and play mini golf or watch a movie. Get some pizza. I can't think of a bigger waste of time on vacation than to eavesdrop at guest services on any day for any reason.

Thanks for the advice;), but I can handle my time on a cruise all by myself. We heard while handling a medical emergency that arose and were using a satellite phone at GS. The point is, is that it happens, its a lousy thing to do in general and to do it on the last night is nothing short of cowardice. How about them apples....

[jimbo5544]

I don't know?! In a weird way it would be fun to sip a cocktail and eavesdrop for a bit. As someone who works for tips I love to hear people's rationale for why they don't tip. That's why I love tipping threads.

 

I have to say the way I thought about some of my fellow cruisers took a significant drop..... but eye opening. The reasons given were nothing short of absurd.

[CutestLittleEvil]

I don't know?! In a weird way it would be fun to sip a cocktail and eavesdrop for a bit. As someone who works for tips I love to hear people's rationale for why they don't tip. That's why I love tipping threads.

 

 

I removed the housekeeping tips one time. The room steward didn't clean the room if we were not out of the room by 8:45 am and we had to stay absent from the room until after 2pm if we wanted service. And I'm not a late sleeper. I'm out for the day by 9:30 or 10am every cruise. If the cabin steward did attend to the room, he did a horrible job. I don't think the room was ever vacuumed nor the sink wiped down. At least we had clean (maybe?) towels.

 

Also we complained numerous times about the drain in the bathroom. It was plugged and barely drained at all. By the time the second person in the room showered, the water would cascade out of the bathroom onto the carpet which smelled horribly of mildew come the end of the cruise. We called guest services about it, and we were told to contact our room steward. He never addressed the problem.

 

Dirty/Smelly cabin = no tips.

 

Random side note... we also had several unidentifiable towel animals in the cabin...

[sjn911]

Thanks for the advice;), but I can handle my time on a cruise all by myself. We heard while handling a medical emergency that arose and were using a satellite phone at GS. The point is, is that it happens, its a lousy thing to do in general and to do it on the last night is nothing short of cowardice. How about them apples....

Agree..pathetic thing to do for no real reason but to be cheap, only ok for a reason...Happy Holidays...Sarah

[jimbo5544]

Agree..pathetic thing to do for no real reason but to be cheap, only ok for a reason...Happy Holidays...Sarah

 

 

Same to you Sarah!

[zqvol]

OK so I realize this question has been asked a thousand times and in as many different ways but here goes.

 

We've just booked our second ever cruise (Southern Caribbean May 1 2016) and I'm confused as to tipping. According to the Carnival website you can simply add tips automatically up front and be done with it.

 

But, as I read though the posts here, it appears most accomplished cruisers tip in cash for each service rendered. That to me seems like alot of trouble to carry a wad of cash (1's) around on sea days (no pockets in my speedo anyway, lol).

 

So.... I can certainly see tipping the room steward a 20 in the beginning and a 20+ in the end but what I don't understand is the in-between. The dining rooms, the bars, the servers on deck. Do you all tip them in cash each and every time and no up front tipping at all?

 

I often overtip for excellent service and am not concerenced about money but I thought one of the whole points of cruising was not having to worry about cash.

 

Tipping on a cruise ship is really easy. Almost every line has a daily service charge or daily gratuity or something of that nature that is automatically added to your bill. You have the option of removing it - DON'T just leave it alone. It covers 95% of the people that you need to be concerned with tipping.

 

Individual items that you buy, such as drinks have a gratuity added again, leave it alone.

 

That is tipping in a nutshell.

 

Most people do not do anything more than this and it is perfectly acceptable. You have a few that raise a lot of noise about carrying around dollars, and tipping this person and that. Ignore them, they are blowhards who think they are always right.

 

The cruise lines have made it easy for you, you don't have to give anyone anything over the service chargers and you will still be treated royally.

[zqvol]

I've been on 28 cruises, including eleven on Carnival and I don't tip anyone in cash. All my tips are on my onboard account. If deserving, on the last day I'll add a little extra cash to the envelope I give the person.

 

If you want a drink on the ship, you have to have your room key. That is tied to your onboard account. If the auto tip is not enough, then I just add extra to the charge slip.

 

The room attendant and the wait staff are all including in the auto tips (I don't pay my tips in advance) and thus I don't have to worry about tipping them.

 

As to giving someone a $20 in advance of any service, that is not a tip, that is a bribe.[/QUOTE]

 

I agree with almost all of your post, and we have been on 34 cruises (not sure what that has to do with it but you mentioned it so I did as well;)). As to the last line, that is an opinion (yours) not a fact.:cool:

 

 

That is a fact, not an opinion.

[jimbo5544]

What is?

[MsSoloTravel]

I removed the housekeeping tips one time. The room steward didn't clean the room if we were not out of the room by 8:45 am and we had to stay absent from the room until after 2pm if we wanted service. And I'm not a late sleeper. I'm out for the day by 9:30 or 10am every cruise. If the cabin steward did attend to the room, he did a horrible job. I don't think the room was ever vacuumed nor the sink wiped down. At least we had clean (maybe?) towels.

 

Also we complained numerous times about the drain in the bathroom. It was plugged and barely drained at all. By the time the second person in the room showered, the water would cascade out of the bathroom onto the carpet which smelled horribly of mildew come the end of the cruise. We called guest services about it, and we were told to contact our room steward. He never addressed the problem.

 

Dirty/Smelly cabin = no tips.

 

Random side note... we also had several unidentifiable towel animals in the cabin...

 

That is understandable. I wasn't trying to imply there is never a valid reason for removing tips. However, a lot of people come up with the wackiest reasons and it entertains me. My favorite is when people say with a straight face they don't tip because they can't afford it. Seconded by, maybe you should get a real job, which is the sister excuse to I don't get tips on my job so why should you?

I have left bad tips in restaurants and bars because I received horrible service. Luckily not on a cruise yet. Even though I work for tips I'm not going to reward bad service.

[MsSoloTravel]

The drink servers are not in the auto tip pool. That said, the tip is automatically added to the cost of the drink.

 

The dining staff and the room steward are included in the auto tip. So they are the ones impacted if you remove auto tips.

 

I forgot about that. But the example still works. If you remove your auto tips and then give the server $20 they could easily say it was $5. I'm sure they turn in some for fear of losing their job, but no way they pool them all.

[Who Cares?]

Yeah I was around for envelopes, and set dining times (all meals), and even streamers at sailaway and clay disc shooting.

 

OK...we're both showing our age! I do remember streamers (especially in Hawaii) and the shooting off the fantail. Those were the days!

 

And since y'all were around for those days as I was you should also remember the days of the MDR being only half full (at best) on the last night (tipping night). It's my opinion that is why auto-tips were instituted so people had to work a little harder to be cheap (now they have to stand in line at GS for ages and actually face someone to remove those tips).

[Who Cares?]

To challenge this, hang around guest services for a bit on the last evening and listen to people trying to remove tips for some of the most lame reasons I have ever heard of. Pretty sad....

 

Actually, it's just about the best comedy you'll find on the ship. They just need more chairs around for people to sit and watch the show. :D

[Who Cares?]

I agree .... Probably not all of the cash given by "non-auto-tippers" gets turned in ... BUT ... I'd imagine fear of getting caught and losing ones job for not turning them in would be a big incentive to someone who's livelihood (and many times that of their family) depends on that job.

 

That logic doesn't seem to work in the real world (hence the number of criminals in prison these days) so I highly doubt it's much of an incentive for on board workers either.