dorsetlad Posted February 18, 2018 #151 Share Posted February 18, 2018 We are with Cunard for 35 nights soon. The auto gratuity there is 12.90 USD pppd. So that is nudging towards a thousand dollars. And of course they whack an extra 15% tip on everything bought on board. And the cheapest bottle of wine is 40USD. I am not sure how they get away with it. So you lucky P&Oers it could be worse. Sent from my iPad using Forums They get away with it because people are prepared to pay it. If people boycotted such greedy cruise lines, these astronomical charges might drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Selbourne Posted February 18, 2018 #152 Share Posted February 18, 2018 As a point of interest for those speculating on the working hours and arrangements of the P&O staff who receive a proportion of the service charge, here is an excerpt from my Cruise blog that I wrote whilst on Aurora last May; Back on board in time for lunch, we enjoyed the daily curry in the Medina, where we chatted to a waiter who had remembered us from Britannia. It was interesting to hear how their working arrangements work - 10 hours a day for 9 months, with no days off and just one shift (2.5 hours) off per week to go ashore, so 67.5 hours per week. They work 9 months on and 3 months off, so if you equate the hours worked in a year to a typical UK job over 52 weeks less 5 weeks holidays and bank holidays, it would be the equivalent of us working a 56 hour week. I'm glad that the service has been so good on this cruise that I wouldn't even entertain removing the auto gratuity (now called service charge) of £6 a day, as I would now feel quite guilty doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaefell Posted February 18, 2018 #153 Share Posted February 18, 2018 We are in the habit of throwing our stuff on the floor at the end of a night but always tidy them away before we leave the room the next morning,don't see why anybody else should have to,my Wife also sometimes makes the bed which can make knowing whether or not the room has been serviced difficult when we return,more of a problem in hotels than on ships IME as they tend to be 'done' so much faster on ships! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted February 18, 2018 #154 Share Posted February 18, 2018 As a point of interest for those speculating on the working hours and arrangements of the P&O staff who receive a proportion of the service charge, here is an excerpt from my Cruise blog that I wrote whilst on Aurora last May; Back on board in time for lunch, we enjoyed the daily curry in the Medina, where we chatted to a waiter who had remembered us from Britannia. It was interesting to hear how their working arrangements work - 10 hours a day for 9 months, with no days off and just one shift (2.5 hours) off per week to go ashore, so 67.5 hours per week. They work 9 months on and 3 months off, so if you equate the hours worked in a year to a typical UK job over 52 weeks less 5 weeks holidays and bank holidays, it would be the equivalent of us working a 56 hour week. I'm glad that the service has been so good on this cruise that I wouldn't even entertain removing the auto gratuity (now called service charge) of £6 a day, as I would now feel quite guilty doing so. This is still very relevant, good post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanlyon Posted February 18, 2018 #155 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Well it wouldn't help making the bed on Fred Olsen. They have this bizarre system of folding the duvet into a weird position, which I could not duplicate if I wanted to. What is the point of making the bed, if a) they have to do undo it and do it again and b) that's what they are paid to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadabout60 Posted February 18, 2018 #156 Share Posted February 18, 2018 They get away with it because people are prepared to pay it. If people boycotted such greedy cruise lines, these astronomical charges might drop. Don’t really agree with the phrase greedy cruise lines. They are all in it to make a profit and all will do so in their own ways I would still rather pay more for a better quality cruise on Celebrity then a more downmarket experience on P&O - all IMHO of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davecttr Posted February 18, 2018 #157 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Thinks, why is the daily service charge low on P&O compared to other cruise lines? Answer. The must be making savings elsewhere as Carnival would expect all its cruise lines to make the same minimum profit margin. Or are P&O prices higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanlyon Posted February 18, 2018 #158 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Fred appears to be the cheapest. Just going up from £4 to £5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadabout60 Posted February 18, 2018 #159 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Fred appears to be the cheapest. Just going up from £4 to £5 We are going on Fred for the first time in April Gratuities May be the cheapest but we are paying more per person per night then we typically pay on Celebrity so it’s swings and roundabouts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgs1956 Posted February 18, 2018 #160 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Don’t really agree with the phrase greedy cruise lines. They are all in it to make a profit and all will do so in their own ways I would still rather pay more for a better quality cruise on Celebrity then a more downmarket experience on P&O - all IMHO of course What is the point of your comment if not to cause annoyance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pidgeofcdf Posted February 18, 2018 #161 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Can only see a rise in the number of people choosing not to pay as a result of this increase. Which in turn will most likely lead to another £1 rise next year. Its a never ending cycle until p&o overhaul the system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgs1956 Posted February 18, 2018 #162 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Can only see a rise in the number of people choosing not to pay as a result of this increase. Which in turn will most likely lead to another £1 rise next year. Its a never ending cycle until p&o overhaul the system Totally agree. I'm sure that's why they have applied this latest rise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen@stoneyard.co.uk Posted February 18, 2018 #163 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Totally agree. I'm sure that's why they have applied this latest rise. Please. Why are you to so sure? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgs1956 Posted February 18, 2018 #164 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Please. Why are you to so sure? Sent from my iPhone using Forums What other justification could there be for such a large percentage rise. Have you not got a view? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnum42 Posted February 18, 2018 #165 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Happens every year (well at least since I started cruising in 2015)For the staff it won’t be a 16% increase, that £7 has to be shared between 3, 4 or more people. Not forgetting that if somebody marks the cabin steward less than excellent he might not get his share. System definitely needs addressing but sadly seems p&o aren’t listening. They won't change how they split the gratuity if you mark a cabin steward down. On Britannia a couple of years ago we had a steward with an appalling attitude. I wanted to ensure the waiters got their fair share, and the the steward nothing (he really was that bad) but was told if I reduced the gratuity payment, everyone would lose out. So all you can do in that case is cancel it all and tip directly those who deserve it. We did the opposite on another trip, where the cabin steward was great, but the wait staff lousy. What I don't agree with is changing the goalposts after people have booked a cruise knowing they would be paying x amount. Maybe the got the idea from telecoms companies? In about a year they have gone from £5 to £7. That's a 40% increase in a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted February 18, 2018 #166 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Well it wouldn't help making the bed on Fred Olsen. They have this bizarre system of folding the duvet into a weird position, which I could not duplicate if I wanted to. What is the point of making the bed, if a) they have to do undo it and do it again and b) that's what they are paid to do? I agree with making the bed.We have never fancied the small ships of Fred Olsen even though we live about 20 minutes from Royal Quays (North Shields) Newcastle port where Fred Olsen start a lot of sailings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted February 18, 2018 #167 Share Posted February 18, 2018 What is the point of your comment if not to cause annoyance? Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted February 18, 2018 #168 Share Posted February 18, 2018 What other justification could there be for such a large percentage rise. Have you not got a view? Your justification sounds right to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balf Posted February 18, 2018 #169 Share Posted February 18, 2018 We tip and also leave the auto charge on our final bill and really the cabin steward get an easy time with us, we make the bed in a morning before going to breakfast unless it's changing day, we clean the bathroom apart from the loo when we have been in it and are tidy and everything is away in draws so easy to just wipe down, it has often been commented on by the cabin steward but we still leave a small tip. We are easily pleased in the dining room so again not too much trouble for the waiters we don't tip as we are freedom dining and rarely get the same waiter we have on occasions come across an excellent waiter so my OH always carries a fiver just in case Do wish people wouldn't cancel auto tips as it just pushes the price up for those who don't You clean the bathroom, why? You have a room steward, that’s his/her job. It isn’t self catering, not yet anyway. DAVID. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadabout60 Posted February 18, 2018 #170 Share Posted February 18, 2018 What is the point of your comment if not to cause annoyance? This is a forum to express opinions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millers Posted February 18, 2018 #171 Share Posted February 18, 2018 We tip and also leave the auto charge on our final bill and really the cabin steward get an easy time with us, we make the bed in a morning before going to breakfast unless it's changing day, we clean the bathroom apart from the loo when we have been in it and are tidy and everything is away in draws so easy to just wipe down, it has often been commented on by the cabin steward but we still leave a small tip. We are easily pleased in the dining room so again not too much trouble for the waiters we don't tip as we are freedom dining and rarely get the same waiter we have on occasions come across an excellent waiter so my OH always carries a fiver just in case Do wish people wouldn't cancel auto tips as it just pushes the price up for those who don't It’s the people who pay the auto tips that make it difficult for everybody else Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted February 18, 2018 #172 Share Posted February 18, 2018 It’s the people who pay the auto tips that make it difficult for everybody else Sent from my iPad using Forums Why? P&O are generous with obc which covers a lot of the charge and it saves time tipping cash all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millers Posted February 18, 2018 #173 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Why?P&O are generous with obc which covers a lot of the charge and it saves time tipping cash all the time. You need to look back on your previous posts, I think you have contradicted yourself. Not every body get onboard credit these days. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen@stoneyard.co.uk Posted February 18, 2018 #174 Share Posted February 18, 2018 What other justification could there be for such a large percentage rise. Have you not got a view? Perhaps P and O are putting up the price because they can. They will only stop increasing the price when we stop paying it the increasing price. That would be quite normal behaviour for a business. In which case the more people who cancel the automatic gratuities the sooner the charge will stop rising. I will say I have always paid the automatic gratuity. I have always seen it as part of the cost of the cruise. Best wishes, Stephen. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadabout60 Posted February 18, 2018 #175 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Why?P&O are generous with obc which covers a lot of the charge and it saves time tipping cash all the time. It’s not P&O who are generous - if you get a lot of OBC it’s generally because you have paid a higher price for the cruise On Celebrity I am always pleased to get a “free” drinks package but deep down I know it’s not really free and I have paid for it in the price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now