Extra tips

[Toofarfromthesea]

I'm sorry, but I respectfully disagree. You cannot use US based cultural and societal norm as the only universally accepted norm. While the North America may hold a vast majority share of the cruise market, there are many countries and other parts of the world where tipping, or extra tip is not expected. If a service charge is already added, if a mandatory gratuity is already added, there are many countries and parts of the world where no addition tip are expected. I would agree most travelers from north america understand the tipping culture, it's just not fair to say EVERYONE in the world accepts that to the norm.

I buy a drink or order room service on Royal, 18% auto gratuity is added. I tip extra is service is above and beyond. Please explain how the passenger is morally screwing with anyone when they are already paying 18% gratuity. If the crew doesn't get the 18%, it is Royal that's messing with the workers, not the paying passenger. Not everyone in the world is from a country where tip or additional tip is expected.

 

I'm not talking about extra tips. I'm talking about the automatic gratuities. And it isn't American tipping culture it is mass market cruise line tipping culture. American tipping culture is much different.

[Mythbuster]

From a public list that is visible to all crew including e.g. engine and nautical staff? Also with no auto tip many may still pay the same or more in cash. Or as written before remove auto tips last minute.

 

If someone makes a photo of such a list published in the crew area I would be happy to give it to a lawyer as a clear breach of data privacy for all guests on the list.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I am not sure GDRP covers cruise cabin numbers as a privacy data point but it is possible. Even so the list is not in violation if they can prove there is a functional use for the list and is not made public. There are lists of certain passengers all over the ship. Suite guest list for the Suite Lounge (even includes pictures), Diamond lists for the Diamond lounge and list of children and their cabin numbers in Adventure Ocean.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

You can remove up until you leave the ship.... no worries about any lists! (y)

[Super-Luke88]

All I can say is that no matter where you're from, if you don't tip, you're a cheapskate!

 

Elvis

 

You say 'cheapskate' like its an insult....

[Glide_Path]

I'm not talking about extra tips. I'm talking about the automatic gratuities. And it isn't American tipping culture it is mass market cruise line tipping culture. American tipping culture is much different.

 

Please look at OP's title for this thread "Extra Tips". The discussion is about extra tip. Elvis1209 was talking about tipping extra at the bar/drink. If You buy a drink at $13, you've tipped 18% automatically. You throw in an extra dollar, you've just tipped 25% or more. You're feeling generous and just won at the casino, you want to tip more for better service.... that's great.... what does that got to do with ethics and morality of the paying guests that decides they don't want to do that? I thought we're here to discuss cruising, not to tell others what is "morally repugnant" or not.

[Toofarfromthesea]

Please look at OP's title for this thread "Extra Tips". The discussion is about extra tip. Elvis1209 was talking about tipping extra at the bar/drink. If You buy a drink at $13, you've tipped 18% automatically. You throw in an extra dollar, you've just tipped 25% or more. You're feeling generous and just won at the casino, you want to tip more for better service.... that's great.... what does that got to do with ethics and morality of the paying guests that decides they don't want to do that? I thought we're here to discuss cruising, not to tell others what is "morally repugnant" or not.

 

So you missed all of those posts about auto grats being removed and lists being kept and data laws being violated and think this entire thread was ONLY about extra tips because that is how it started?? How cute.

 

Just so we are clear about what I am saying: it IS morally repugnant, IMO, to remove the auto grats, because everyone understands that the employees accept substandard pay with the expectation that tips will make up the difference. The fact that such an arrangement would not occur in their own country/culture is irrelevant. We are XXX and we don't tip is, IMO, an absurd argument because the context is different in their home country. Cultures that don't tip don't pay people substandard wages in the expectation of tips, but that just isn't the case on a cruise, whether the XXXers approve of that arrangement or not.

 

Nowhere have I said anything implying that once the auto grats are paid people are legally, morally, or ethically obliged to give additional tips. While any extra tip giving is solely the decision of each person, I personally do not do 'routine' tipping. I wouldn't be giving the bartender that extra dollar (although in the right circumstances I may give him more at the end of the cruise). I don't give extra to the room steward or MDR waiter 'just because'. If I get exceptional service from someone that exceeds my expectations, then I would give that person an extra tip. But my expectations are pretty high on a cruise ship so this isn't all that easy to achieve - particularly since I don't tend to ask for anything out of the routine.