Unpaid Auto-gratuities reimbursed by the cruise line?

[Cruise Junky]

This is the proof posted by a Cruise crew specialist law firm

http://crew-center.com/legal-advices-about-crew-gratuities

 

It's not proof, it's an example of how tips make the lions share of a salary. And seriously, take out a calculator...just how many rooms do you think they'd have to service to earn $4,000 a month. The cruise critic article is much more realistic.

[sfaaa]

Cabin stewards typically earn $4000 per month. It's no secret, but easily seen on the internet.

 

http://crew-center.com/legal-advices-about-crew-gratuities

 

Plus room and board, other benefits and airfare at the end of the contract.

[bUU]

And it ends with an ad. I don't believe anything posted as 'fact' when it's part of an ad.

And especially when something purported to be from experienced lawyers has misspellings and an inconsistent use of citations. That seems to be a lawyer fan site.

[sparks1093]

The cruise lines are required to pay the guaranteed minimum. If the service charge pool doesn't meet the minimum, the cruise line has to make up the shortfall.

 

That means the crew will make the contracted salary, and the comments about stiffing the crew are "fluff"

 

I agree with Sanger727's example. Regardless of what the actual numbers are for the shipboard staff I think they would rather receive whatever they are supposed to receive if every passenger leaves the recommended amount and I doubt that they would say "comments about stiffing the crew are 'fluff'" even though they might receive a statutory minimum.

[chengkp75]

This is the proof posted by a Cruise crew specialist law firm

http://crew-center.com/legal-advices-about-crew-gratuities

 

I don't see anything in this "article" that says anything about $4000/month, the only definitive number I see mentioned is $45/month.

 

Plus room and board, other benefits and airfare at the end of the contract.

 

And unless the crew member either lives with his/her parents, or is single and packs up all his/her belongings and places them in storage for the duration of the contract on the ship, that crew member is still paying rent/mortgage on a home where possibly no one is living for 10 months at a time. Or paying rent/mortgage for his/her family to stay in a home while the crew member is on the ship. I'll grant that the crew member is fed during his/her contract, but to imply that they have no expenses during their contract is false. To consider airfare home to be a benefit, you would have to consider it to be "normal business practice" to bring an employee to a foreign country for a period of work, and then require that employee to pay to return to their home when that period is done, and there is no possibility of the employee relocating to the work location. You'd be a nice boss.

[swedish weave]

Looks like Cruise Junky beat me to it (thank you!). I was going to quote that same Cruise Critic article.

 

So now, mister smug and arrogant, you have the numbers you asked for. So where are the numbers to prove your imaginary claims? It's your turn to put up or shut up. Actually, just shut up. Most of us are tired of your patronizing attitude, your faulty logic. and your foolish opinions. Someone as wrong as you are on so many topics in so many threads can't be trusted to present even one iota of useful information on these boards, resulting in wasting everybody's time with your nonsense. :rolleyes:

 

If you are finished trying to insult me, try reading my post which says " plus cash tips".

 

You have chosen to attack rather than read the entire post.

 

Why call names. That does nothing except reveal your intelligence level.

[swedish weave]

Looks like Cruise Junky beat me to it (thank you!). I was going to quote that same Cruise Critic article.

 

So now, mister smug and arrogant, you have the numbers you asked for. So where are the numbers to prove your imaginary claims? It's your turn to put up or shut up. Actually, just shut up. Most of us are tired of your patronizing attitude, your faulty logic. and your foolish opinions. Someone as wrong as you are on so many topics in so many threads can't be trusted to present even one iota of useful information on these boards, resulting in wasting everybody's time with your nonsense. :rolleyes:

 

If you are finished trying to insult me, try reading my post which says " plus cash tips".

 

You have chosen to attack rather than read the entire post.

 

Why call names. That does nothing except reveal your intelligence level.

[PTMary]

If you are finished trying to insult me, try reading my post which says " plus cash tips".

 

You have chosen to attack rather than read the entire post.

 

Why call names. That does nothing except reveal your intelligence level.

 

No facts? No numbers to back up your claims? So devoid of data you revert to "you're too mean" rebuttals, and posting them twice in an attempt to divert the discussion away from your lack of valid information?

 

So who is the one posting "fluff" on these boards? It appears to be you.

[swedish weave]

No facts? No numbers to back up your claims? So devoid of data you revert to "you're too mean" rebuttals, and posting them twice in an attempt to divert the discussion away from your lack of valid information?

 

So who is the one posting "fluff" on these boards? It appears to be you.

 

You seem to prefer arguments and insults.

[SantaFeFan]

You seem to prefer arguments and insults.

 

When have facts become "arguments and insults"? If you want to post something, it would be helpful if you posted facts to support your views, not complaints about being picked on.

[Retired1064]

HAL's present policy:

 

 

 

If you remove the Hotel Service Charge, any cash tips you give a crew member must be turned into their supervisor who turned it in and it is placed in a pool to be divided among all crew. The supervisors give the workers under them a list of those passengers who have removed the service charge. If a crew member keeps that extra cash, then they can be fired.

 

 

 

We always leave the Hotel Service Charge in place and know that extra tips we give, they can keep for themselves.

 

 

 

Thanks for the info. We have two cruises next month to go on and for the first time did not pre pay service charges when I booked. I just went online and pre paid the service charges based on your info. We always tip personally throughout the cruise to our waiters and room attendants in addition to the pre paid. I did not know that if you didn't pre pay they were required to give the tips we give them to their supervisor which is not where we want to give our tips. We want our tips to go to the person we give them to so thanks for your information! Hope this all made sense!

 

 

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[drsel]

Thanks for the info. We have two cruises next month to go on and for the first time did not pre pay service charges when I booked. I just went online and pre paid the service charges based on your info. We always tip personally throughout the cruise to our waiters and room attendants in addition to the pre paid. I did not know that if you didn't pre pay they were required to give the tips we give them to their supervisor which is not where we want to give our tips. We want our tips to go to the person we give them to so thanks for your information! Hope this all made sense!

 

 

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Yes, indeed. It's very noble of you to pay a little extra to the hard working crew, over and above the recommended gratuities!

[Toofarfromthesea]

Thanks for the info. We have two cruises next month to go on and for the first time did not pre pay service charges when I booked. I just went online and pre paid the service charges based on your info. We always tip personally throughout the cruise to our waiters and room attendants in addition to the pre paid. I did not know that if you didn't pre pay they were required to give the tips we give them to their supervisor which is not where we want to give our tips. We want our tips to go to the person we give them to so thanks for your information! Hope this all made sense!

 

 

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Just to clarify, it isn't if you don't pre-pay, it is if you remove the auto-grats, pre-paid or not. If you do not prepay, but you leave the charges on your ship account, the crew member gets to keep cash extras.

 

Sadly, the reality is that there will always people who will come up with high-minded rhetoric about how the principled and ethical thing is to stiff the crew. The ability to rationalize screwing other people for their own personal benefit is very strong in some. As we see in every tipping thread. Including this one.

[swedish weave]

When have facts become "arguments and insults"? If you want to post something, it would be helpful if you posted facts to support your views, not complaints about being picked on.

 

Read YOUR posts.

[swedish weave]

Thanks for the info. We have two cruises next month to go on and for the first time did not pre pay service charges when I booked. I just went online and pre paid the service charges based on your info. We always tip personally throughout the cruise to our waiters and room attendants in addition to the pre paid. I did not know that if you didn't pre pay they were required to give the tips we give them to their supervisor which is not where we want to give our tips. We want our tips to go to the person we give them to so thanks for your information! Hope this all made sense!

 

 

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The question has been asked but not answered, so I will post it again.

 

If a guest tips a crew member early in the cruise, then removes the auto grats on the last day, how does the cruise line enforce the quoted "rule"?

[chengkp75]

The question has been asked but not answered, so I will post it again.

 

If a guest tips a crew member early in the cruise, then removes the auto grats on the last day, how does the cruise line enforce the quoted "rule"?

 

God, I hate getting sucked into these tipping threads, so I promise this will be my last post on this one. All tips must be reported and collected, regardless of when received. At the end of the cruise, when the status of the DSC is determined, then management will distribute all gratuities to those that reported them if the DSC is intact, a portion of the tips to those that reported them if the tip exceeds the removed DSC, with the remainder pooled, or completely pool the tip if the DSC is removed completely. Its not rocket science.

[swedish weave]

God, I hate getting sucked into these tipping threads, so I promise this will be my last post on this one. All tips must be reported and collected, regardless of when received. At the end of the cruise, when the status of the DSC is determined, then management will distribute all gratuities to those that reported them if the DSC is intact, a portion of the tips to those that reported them if the tip exceeds the removed DSC, with the remainder pooled, or completely pool the tip if the DSC is removed completely. Its not rocket science.

 

It is not rocket science, and with your experience, I am sure you know it is not enforcable.

 

I see many posts that say people give lots of cash to crew, and I give lots of gifts to crew who don't know who I am. Also, I don't know their names.

 

A system that relies on intimidation only works for those who can be intimidated

 

If I give cash to a crew member who is signing off, only the two of us know about it.

[CPT Trips]

I learned long ago that lying to or not following the procedures set by my supervisor/manger/employer was not the way to get ahead. I also learned that cheating my coworkers was stupid.

[bUU]

And if you don't turn in the cash tips when guests remove the automatic tips, then you'll appear to be getting the worst tips among your coworkers, and why would a cruise line keep an employee that performs so poorly that passengers won't offer that employee tips?

 

This message may have been entered using voice recognition. Please excuse any typos.

[SantaFeFan]

It is not rocket science, and with your experience, I am sure you know it is not enforcable.

 

I see many posts that say people give lots of cash to crew, and I give lots of gifts to crew who don't know who I am. Also, I don't know their names.

 

A system that relies on intimidation only works for those who can be intimidated

 

If I give cash to a crew member who is signing off, only the two of us know about it.

 

Absolutely amazing! It is totally stunning how you refuse to believe what so many people have reported on this and on so many other threads regarding this process. And here we have chengpk75, a very knowledgeable expert who is well respected for his experience and generous sharing of behind the scenes activities in the cruise industry. Clearly, no amount of facts, information, details, or truth will ever convince you how such things actually work. I have never seen such stubborn, bullheaded refusal to admit being wrong.

 

[sanger727]

It is not rocket science, and with your experience, I am sure you know it is not enforcable.

 

I see many posts that say people give lots of cash to crew, and I give lots of gifts to crew who don't know who I am. Also, I don't know their names.

 

A system that relies on intimidation only works for those who can be intimidated

 

If I give cash to a crew member who is signing off, only the two of us know about it.

 

 

So, I assume you take this stance because you remove the DSC and give cash tips? Yes, either the crew member can violate their contract and jeopardize their job to clear an extra $100 - looking like a poor employee in the process for receiving no tips - or they can not. What difference does it make to you? Really not sure why it's so important to you to push this.

 

 

 

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[SantaFeFan]

So, I assume you take this stance because you remove the DSC and give cash tips? Yes, either the crew member can violate their contract and jeopardize their job to clear an extra $100 - looking like a poor employee in the process for receiving no tips - or they can not. What difference does it make to you? Really not sure why it's so important to you to push this.

 

Makes me want to paraphrase a popular saying: "The definition of insanity is believing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different reality."

[NLH Arizona]

So, I assume you take this stance because you remove the DSC and give cash tips? Yes, either the crew member can violate their contract and jeopardize their job to clear an extra $100 - looking like a poor employee in the process for receiving no tips - or they can not. What difference does it make to you? Really not sure why it's so important to you to push this.

 

 

 

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Wow! Now poster is saying that some crew members are dishonest and not abiding by their contract. Edited September 7, 2017 by NLH Arizona

[PTMary]

Wow! Now poster is saying that some crew members are dishonest and not abiding to their contract.

 

Astounding, isn't it? And he prefers to be complicit in that employee's dishonesty and deceit by surreptitiously slipping the employee a cash tip to be hidden from his employer rather than to insist that the employee he is relying on for servicing his needs conducts himself in an honest manner. Anyone who deliberately helps employees cheat their employer and fellow workers has a serious ethics and morality problem. :rolleyes:

[swedish weave]

Wow! Now poster is saying that some crew members are dishonest and not abiding by their contract.

 

Go back and read some of your posts where you say they lie and throw away gifts. POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK !!

 

You say crew only want MONEY, but why would they if they don't get to keep it. At least, they don't have to give the gifts to the company to distribute at management discretion.

 

Double standards, and you support that.

Edited September 8, 2017 by swedish weave