Tipping question

[thrifty99]

I guess I am old fashioned and believe a tip should be given out for providing expected service. If I get exceptional service I provide a larger tip. If service is poor / unacceptable then the tip reflects that as well. When at a restaurant I start with 20% for expected service and it can move up / down from there. Do some people tip poorly even when exceptional service is provided? I'm sure it happens and that is one of the negatives of the tipping system. But just this week I had awesome service at a restaurant and provided a nice tip along with a quick conversation with the manager to point out the great service.

 

It baffles me how cruise lines expect me to prepay my tips when I have no way to judge the level of service I all receive ahead of time. We also prefer to do all specialty dining and avoid the main dining room. I am not receiving service from anyone in the main dining room and instead tip the service providers in the specialty restaurants. I am not saving money as we give out more than the recommended prepaid tips.

 

We bring envelopes with cash for the recommended tips for housekeeping and usually add to it since we always have good service with our room stewards. If there is a list of those who remove prepaid tips we have never seen reduced service from being on this list. I may have to mention to our next room steward that we tip in cash at the end of the week so they don't think we just removed them to be cheap.

 

I understand those who want to pre-pay the tips and not deal with it. And it may be a more efficient / reliable way for Royal to disburse the tips to who they want to. Or it may be a way for Royal to manipulate overall wages / gratuities so it benefits the bottom line. That is my guess. Having worked in the corporate world, seldom are things really done for the convenience of customers. It is usually done to benefit the bottom line.

 

Luckily Royal allows you the option to prepay or handle your own tipping. Do what makes the most sense for you. There is no right or wrong method.

[Tatka]

This would've worked great in other system, but crew needs to return cash tips in common pool (recommended amount), so this does not make sense. Only extra tip.

[Paul65]

Do what makes the most sense for you. There is no right or wrong method.

 

I disagree. The right method for tipping is to learn and follow the customs and conventions of the place you are visiting, whether that's the US, the UK, China, or a cruise ship. No one generally forces you to follow local customs, so you can do it your own way, but I would consider that "wrong," especially if you know what the custom is, but choose to do differently anyway, because you think you know better. :)

[John&LaLa]

I disagree. The right method for tipping is to learn and follow the customs and conventions of the place you are visiting, whether that's the US, the UK, China, or a cruise ship. No one generally forces you to follow local customs, so you can do it your own way, but I would consider that "wrong," especially if you know what the custom is, but choose to do differently anyway, because you think you know better. :)

 

When in Rome. ;)

[DrD]

I

It baffles me how cruise lines expect me to prepay my tips when I have no way to judge the level of service I all receive ahead of time.

 

It's simple.

 

1. Some people are cheapskates, so crew was not receiving proper tips

2. If you roll tips into fare, it makes your prices seem higher than competitor's.

 

So they solved the problem by having fixed gratuities that are separate from fare.

 

That's why many of us respond negatively to folks here who seem to be poor tippers, they are the kind that ruined the traditional system for the rest of us. Like so many other things. It just takes a few rotten apples.

Edited February 3, 2016 by DrD

[LMaxwell]

It's simple.

 

1. Some people are cheapskates, so crew was not receiving proper tips

2. If you roll tips into fare, it makes your prices seem higher than competitor's.

 

So they solved the problem by having fixed gratuities that are separate from fare.

 

That's why many of us respond negatively to folks here who seem to be poor tippers, they are the kind that ruined the traditional system for the rest of us. Like so many other things. It just takes a few rotten apples.

 

That's very naive. Why would the cruiselines care about money that went from guest to staff? They didn't until they figured out how to get their hands on it first.

[Sitzmark]

It's simple.

 

1. Some people are cheapskates, so crew was not receiving proper tips

2. If you roll tips into fare, it makes your prices seem higher than competitor's.

 

So they solved the problem by having fixed gratuities that are separate from fare.

 

That's why many of us respond negatively to folks here who seem to be poor tippers, they are the kind that ruined the traditional system for the rest of us. Like so many other things. It just takes a few rotten apples.

 

I'm unclear on how any traditional system has been ruined. Can you explain it? I thought the traditional system was that you gave cash to those you thought deserved it and not to those you did not think deserve it. Currently you can remove your auto tips and tip by cash as you see fit, I don't see how that is not traditional.

 

Personally I feel that tipping is a system designed to enforce class structures reminding those that have not who they must rely on for their needs. It is an outdated system that is distasteful at best and racist at worst. If any of these cruise lines cared in the least about the crew they would end the process and simply roll the fee into the fare and pass along the increased wage. The failure to do that exposes their position on the matter.

[Tatka]

1) Even in US tipping in buffets is rare or very low

2) Cruising is international ... ships are much less American nowdays.

1) If all companies included tipping into the fare it will not put anybody in disadvanage. Right now in disadvantage are people who are sponsoring good service for passengers who remove tips just because they are not used to them.

[DrD]

I'm unclear on how any traditional system has been ruined. Can you explain it? I thought the traditional system was that you gave cash to those you thought deserved it and not to those you did not think deserve it. Currently you can remove your auto tips and tip by cash as you see fit, I don't see how that is not traditional.

 

Personally I feel that tipping is a system designed to enforce class structures reminding those that have not who they must rely on for their needs. It is an outdated system that is distasteful at best and racist at worst. If any of these cruise lines cared in the least about the crew they would end the process and simply roll the fee into the fare and pass along the increased wage. The failure to do that exposes their position on the matter.

 

Because studies show people are likely to follow the default behavior if the other option requires effort, like removing tips. This is why workplaces have moved to automatically deducting for 401K, because most people who won't contribute also will not remove mandatory contributions.

 

The system is ruined because if I think someone deserves a bit less, I have to go wait in line and remove the tips, and endure the talk about what went wrong? And I feel I might get the person in trouble. So I've never done it. Under the old system, I gave cash at the end based on suggested amount but rounded up or down as the case required. Much simpler and more personal.

[LMaxwell]

 

The system is ruined because if I think someone deserves a bit less, I have to go wait in line and remove the tips, and endure the talk about what went wrong? And I feel I might get the person in trouble. So I've never done it.

 

I've never done it on Royal Caribbean, but I don't think there is any discussion or "sniff test". Simply tell them what you want and they make a change.

[Sitzmark]

The system is ruined because if I think someone deserves a bit less, I have to go wait in line and remove the tips, and endure the talk about what went wrong? And I feel I might get the person in trouble. So I've never done it. Under the old system, I gave cash at the end based on suggested amount but rounded up or down as the case required. Much simpler and more personal.

 

 

 

From the reports I've heard there is often no line at the guest services and there is no questioning regarding removing the gratuities, just a form to be signed.

[LMaxwell]

I really don't care what you think.

I think you do [emoji57]

[aviator1945]

This would've worked great in other system, but crew needs to return cash tips in common pool (recommended amount), so this does not make sense. Only extra tip.

 

Could someone please confirm the accuracy of the above statement, that crew are forced to surrender cash tips to a communal pool?

[DrD]

I've never done it on Royal Caribbean, but I don't think there is any discussion or "sniff test". Simply tell them what you want and they make a change.

 

From the reports I've heard there is often no line at the guest services and there is no questioning regarding removing the gratuities, just a form to be signed.

 

Ok thanks, I stand corrected.

[LMaxwell]

Could someone please confirm the accuracy of the above statement, that crew are forced to surrender cash tips to a communal pool?

 

Another cruise critic myth repeated on many forums, but is always hearsay and conjecture. No one has ever produced anything supporting these types of statements.

[John&LaLa]

Another cruise critic myth repeated on many forums, but is always hearsay and conjecture. No one has ever produced anything supporting these types of statements.

 

Casino staff doesn't have to. That is what I was led to believe by one of the pit bosses. The shared tips are split evenly amongst the dealers and the casino guarantees them a minimum. On a TA one of the dealers told her not to worry about tipping because they weren't going to make the minimum for the pool anyway.

[thrifty99]

That's very naive. Why would the cruiselines care about money that went from guest to staff? They didn't until they figured out how to get their hands on it first.

 

 

Bingo!!! That is my perspective as well. RC is not doing this to help their employees. That is all marketing smoke and mirrors and it seems to work for most customers. Smart business move on their part. If I were a stockholder I'd be all for it.

 

If you believe prepaid gratuities were done to help employees then you probably love the RC Buy One - Get One price deals. RC of course did not increase prices and then offer a discount. That would be just focusing on corporate profits and deceiving customers.

 

I worked in marketing for years and it is all about how to spin ideas that help the bottom line appear to be great for customers (and employees too).