davoni Posted January 17, 2006 #1 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Just wondering if anyone gives extra tips or just the automatic ones added by P&O? On reading the American boards they all seem to tip extra for cabin steward and wait staff. On our recent cruise on Pacific Princess we tipped a little extra on Christmas Day to our steward and room service waiter as well as the 2 waiters in the dining room. Some people we spoke to said they removed the automatic tip from their account as they wanted to decide how much to tip. I guess Aussies aren't as used to tipping and I know I felt a bit embarrassed even though the recipients were pleased. Would like to know what others do and if it's better to tip personally especially for great service.:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gyyp Posted January 17, 2006 #2 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I reduce my automatic tipping, but I don't cut it out altogether, I then tip the cabins stewards and table waiters etc separately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaseyoz Posted January 17, 2006 #3 Share Posted January 17, 2006 if you are not used to tipping or generally dont like to tip,leave the automatic tip in place To me it gives me a bad feeling as if i am better than them or something. Hubby also dislikes tipping, On aussie ships they dont hold their hands out or make a big deal of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyrules Posted January 17, 2006 #4 Share Posted January 17, 2006 We tipped our cabin stewards indvidually, on top of the automatically deducted tips, because they gave us exceptional service through out the cruise, and were always happy and polite, and willing to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiselover96 Posted January 17, 2006 #5 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Up until now I didn't realise that they automatically added tips to our bill!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyrules Posted January 17, 2006 #6 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Up until now I didn't realise that they automatically added tips to our bill!!! Yes, $4.50 per passenger (> 12 years) per day, which goes to the cabin stewards and restaurant/bar staff. As mentioned, you can see the Pursers desk and ask for some or all of it to be recredited to you. Kym Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pommiepom Posted January 17, 2006 #7 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I always reduce the tips on the first night, but think for the next cruise i will take it off all together and just tip indiviually. I like to know that the people i want tipped actually get it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mummsie Posted January 17, 2006 #8 Share Posted January 17, 2006 yes we always give extra. On the Princess ships the cost is $10US a day per person because the staff on the American ships don't get any basic wage at all. All they receive is tips. On P&O they actually get a very basic wage but we still give them extra. On our last cruise we gave our cabin steward $50 and each of the food waiters $40. Considering the hours those guys put in, its very little over the course of a cruise. Gayle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painter Posted January 18, 2006 #9 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Yes I ...er we (hubby & I) ...also give the extra tip to the cabin steward ...at the beginning of the cruise and also the end...this makes sure one gets well cared for. I was told that on some ships they still have to hand in their tips regardless. Well I tried to overcome this by telling our last cabin steward the money in the envelope wasn't for him and was addressed to his two children in Mexico. He was an excellent cabin steward. All fellow passengers at our table for 8 pool our tips and give them to the head table steward at the end of the cruise. I don't know what I would do if I didn't get good service ...but so far that hasn't happened. Marleneann. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strawberrypatch11 Posted January 18, 2006 #10 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Yes I ...er we (hubby & I) ...also give the extra tip to the cabin steward ...at the beginning of the cruise and also the end...this makes sure one gets well cared for. I was told that on some ships they still have to hand in their tips regardless. Well I tried to overcome this by telling our last cabin steward the money in the envelope wasn't for him and was addressed to his two children in Mexico. He was an excellent cabin steward. All fellow passengers at our table for 8 pool our tips and give them to the head table steward at the end of the cruise. I don't know what I would do if I didn't get good service ...but so far that hasn't happened. Marleneann. I used to do the same on the Sky. Everyone at the table would combine their tips and give it to the waiter. I do agree that it sounds like a better idea to tip the waiters and stewards personally. Then they know that the service was great. I would rather do that than have it automatically taken out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxx Posted January 18, 2006 #11 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I have mixed feelings about automatic tipping. I want to recognise excellent service, but I also want the staff behind the scenes (ie kitchen) also rewarded. Will still need to decide which way to tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvvin_u_2 Posted January 18, 2006 #12 Share Posted January 18, 2006 we cut off tipping, and the 6 of us at our table just gave our waiter $200 combined.. he even gave us his address in india hehe nice man were going to tip the guys that clean our cabins but one of them threw mum's bingo ticket out:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lias Posted January 18, 2006 #13 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I have mixed feelings about automatic tipping. I agree, although I do feel it does get some people who would not usually tip to contribute! Personally, we like to "do it our way", which generally comes out at more than the automatic tip anyway. I always believed that the idea of tipping was to reward good service. You can't do that until you have at least judged it! We tipped a room steward upfront on one cruise and it was the worst decision we ever made. However, he was a rarity as most staff are just the greatest and oh so helpful. After our last cruise, I would have been very disappointed if some of the casino staff got any of the "tip pool"; they were just rude to people without cause. Helped me avoid the place :) When we went on Star Cruises, they had a strict "no tipping" policy, but if I remember, there was a surcharge on drinks so all staff did get something out of that. Even then the drink prices were still comparable with P&O ;) .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chook63 Posted January 19, 2006 #14 Share Posted January 19, 2006 In March 2005 a friend & I travelled for a month in the USA - left our hubby's at home, tipping is the standard over there but if we didn't get good service we also gave them a written tip like "work hard be good to your mother " my favourite one was "smile & we will smile with you "etc like the aussie ads say - we thought it was hilarious the looks on their faces but of course they didn't get it but we had fun with it. If the service deserves a tip or compliment give it if not then don't. some times even a small thank you or a let me help you do that means more in a busy persons day than money left on a plate or slyly placed in their hands.:) Chook63 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanFromSyd Posted January 19, 2006 #15 Share Posted January 19, 2006 We left the Automatic tip in place and also gave an extra $40 to the cabin Steward, he was fantastic. he could never do enough for us and really hepled to make it special. The dinning room steward just got the automatic tip. And a personal thank you. The casino dealers were great as well and they got tips when I won... which didnt happen often... Cheers, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suey Posted January 20, 2006 #16 Share Posted January 20, 2006 When it first started we were a little dubious about the automatic tipping but after speaking to some of the crew that we knew from previous cruises we are happy with it. They said it was very fair and they were happy about the arrangement, so that was good enough for me:) Tipping is avery personal issue though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flaming moe Posted January 23, 2006 #17 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Q. What's the difference between an Australian and a Canoe? A. The canoe might tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realdinkydi Posted January 23, 2006 #18 Share Posted January 23, 2006 we cut off tipping, and the 6 of us at our table just gave our waiter $200 combined.. he even gave us his address in india hehe nice manwere going to tip the guys that clean our cabins but one of them threw mum's bingo ticket out:mad: Was his name Rish, on the pacific sun. That was my waiter and he was from india and a very nice man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.