DFWGUYZ Posted January 30, 2019 #1 Share Posted January 30, 2019 On occasion, we've been asked for our cabin number by the wait staff when we hand out envelopes with our extra tips at the end of the voyage. I'm guessing they want to see if we reduced or canceled the auto gratuities. We have never reduced or deleted the auto gratuities. But we were wondering if the staff, i.e., cabin steward and dining staff can see who has removed or reduced gratuities? We wonder if the staff also rates passengers to the cruise line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted January 30, 2019 #2 Share Posted January 30, 2019 31 minutes ago, DFWGUYZ said: On occasion, we've been asked for our cabin number by the wait staff when we hand out envelopes with our extra tips at the end of the voyage. I'm guessing they want to see if we reduced or canceled the auto gratuities. We have never reduced or deleted the auto gratuities. But we were wondering if the staff, i.e., cabin steward and dining staff can see who has removed or reduced gratuities? We wonder if the staff also rates passengers to the cruise line? When you hand out cash gratuities, the crew must turn in those cash payments until it's determined whether you removed the auto-gratuities or not. If you haven't removed them, the cash is returned to the crew member you gave it to. If you have removed the auto-gratuities, then the cash you paid goes into the auto-gratuity pool to be divided. They just need your room number to confirm that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted January 30, 2019 #3 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Yes -- the crew do know who has removed the auto tips. One time we were going by a work station for the cabin stewards and they had a list hanging in their work area -- this was near the end of the cruise. Do the crew rate us? In their private areas I imagine they do talk about us and exchange views about what they think about us. They don't rate us to the cruise line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted January 30, 2019 #4 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) The Cruise lines post pictures in crew areas of passengers known to be difficult. They also post pictures of those who might not be “difficult” but need extra stroking and attention. This information is from a fellow passenger who formerly worked for HAL in the corporate office. I was on board a Holland America ship that was significantly understaffed, especially in the dining room. We were eating dinner and observed an irate man threw a spoon at the waiter because he had not received a soup spoon. Subsequently, we observed multiple staff members chatting this man up around the ship. I’m sure his picture was posted everywhere. Edited January 30, 2019 by sammiedawg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaTheW0rld Posted January 30, 2019 #5 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) I've not thrown anything nor removed the tips, but I bet I'm on the Epic's "list". 😜 Edited January 30, 2019 by SeaTheW0rld Typo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare whogo Posted January 30, 2019 #6 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I would imagine that Holland America keeps track of its passengers from cruise to cruise and shares some of the information with the relevant staff. Passenger A removed the hotel service charge, Passenger B tipped extra, Passenger C spent a lot in the spa, Passenger D lost money in the casino and could not cover his onboard expenses, Passenger E took a cruise line excursion in every port, Passenger F never left the ship, Passenger G lives in a wealthy zip code, Passenger H had above average onboard expenses, Passenger J spent the bare minimum onboard, etc, etc. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJzink Posted January 30, 2019 #7 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I'd like to rate a few passengers on some ships I've sailed on. 14 1 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted January 30, 2019 #8 Share Posted January 30, 2019 I would be very surprised if there is not an unofficial database of stewards' ratings of us. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rucrazy Posted January 30, 2019 #9 Share Posted January 30, 2019 14 hours ago, DFWGUYZ said: We wonder if the staff also rates passengers to the cruise line? Of course they do .. they ARE human! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir PMP Posted January 30, 2019 #10 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Of course they do, I always get a 20% discount at the bar... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrolleyGirl Posted January 30, 2019 #11 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) 16 hours ago, Shmoo here said: When you hand out cash gratuities, the crew must turn in those cash payments until it's determined whether you removed the auto-gratuities or not. If you haven't removed them, the cash is returned to the crew member you gave it to. If you have removed the auto-gratuities, then the cash you paid goes into the auto-gratuity pool to be divided. They just need your room number to confirm that. We specifically asked our dining room manager (Zuiderdam) about the above statement since we have heard similar statements mentioned many times on cruise critic. He stated that the tips handed to attendants do NOT go into a pool, regardless of whether tips are removed or left standing. Edited January 30, 2019 by TrolleyGirl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted January 30, 2019 #12 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, SeaTheW0rld said: I've not thrown anything nor removed the tips, but I bet I'm on the Epic's "list". 😜 LOL!! I'm sure you are on the "list" of some CC members.😀 Edited January 30, 2019 by Oakman58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted January 30, 2019 #13 Share Posted January 30, 2019 We've always added our cabin number to the envelopes we hand out, just to avoid any possible confusion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaTheW0rld Posted January 30, 2019 #14 Share Posted January 30, 2019 7 minutes ago, Oakman58 said: LOL!! I'm sure you are on the "list" of some CC members.😀 Marvelous! 🎉🎈🎊🥂🍾 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted January 30, 2019 #15 Share Posted January 30, 2019 50 minutes ago, TrolleyGirl said: We specifically asked our dining room manager (Zuiderdam) about the above statement since we have heard similar statements mentioned many times on cruise critic. He stated that the tips handed to attendants do NOT go into a pool, regardless of whether tips are removed or left standing. Hmmm - that’s interesting. Not what I was told on board by the HD, as well as other crew. I wonder if he misunderstood you (assuming your DRM was a male 😉 ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyk47 Posted January 30, 2019 #16 Share Posted January 30, 2019 2 hours ago, kazu said: Hmmm - that’s interesting. Not what I was told on board by the HD, as well as other crew. I wonder if he misunderstood you (assuming your DRM was a male 😉 ) I agree. That is totally opposite from the notice I saw in the stewards’ work area and what we’ve seen in the employee handbook. I suspect a misunderstanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted January 30, 2019 #17 Share Posted January 30, 2019 If customers think the tips are pooled they are less likely to tip additional or tip as much additional. I believe this is why they will say they get to keep them. JMO, but, it makes sense. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted January 30, 2019 #18 Share Posted January 30, 2019 50 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said: If customers think the tips are pooled they are less likely to tip additional or tip as much additional. I believe this is why they will say they get to keep them. JMO, but, it makes sense. So, you believe the contract that provides differently isn't followed? Without consequence? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyk47 Posted January 30, 2019 #19 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, FlorenceItaly said: If customers think the tips are pooled they are less likely to tip additional or tip as much additional. I believe this is why they will say they get to keep them. JMO, but, it makes sense. I think we’re confusing two different situations here. One, tips given above and beyond the standard HSC are not pooled and may be kept by the receiver. Two, cash tips received from passengers who have removed or reduced the HSC are pooled and crew recieving these cash tips are required to turn them in. Edited January 30, 2019 by Randyk47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted January 30, 2019 #20 Share Posted January 30, 2019 (edited) I have not seen any such contract. I believe all tips are pooled. Even so, we keep all gratuities in place on our account, plus, tip additionally. Edited January 30, 2019 by FlorenceItaly poor verbage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted January 30, 2019 #21 Share Posted January 30, 2019 To begin with, a couple of days prior to the "new" cruise commencing, the GRM sends a list of "high rollers"/VIPs/high stars, etc. to the various Dept. heads to give them a heads up as to who's coming on board. That list includes a synopsis of those folks' last cruise rating comments, especially things that, according to those pax, were not up to par. And yes, certain pax do not have favorable reputations based on past interactions with crew/management. etc. . Yes, there is a "black list" more formally known as a "do not sail" (again) list. Serious contract violations will get you on that list, not gripes, complaints, verbal confrontations, etc. Examples are theft, physical altercations, vandalism, asking a Spa masseuse for a "happy ending", etc. During each voyage, that same GRM keeps a rolling tally of all comments/concerns/complaints (incl. LUK cards) that are brought to his/her attention by all pax who contact the guest services, either in person and/or by calling the front office by phone. That list is shared every day with the Dept. heads throughout the voyage until a new cruise commences Yes, lists incl. head shots of pax (the photo you take when you check in is attached to your room # portfolio) who cancel their auto hotel service charge, are posted in work areas such as the main galley, Lido galley, Housekeeping office, etc. so management/supervision and crew are aware Crew does not rate pax as they (pax) do crew at the conclusion of their voyage, but you can bet crew talks about their experiences with pax in an informal way with each other, as happens on land during any customer-employee interactions in stores/restaurants/entertainment areas, etc. 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted January 31, 2019 #22 Share Posted January 31, 2019 20 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said: I have not seen any such contract. I believe all tips are pooled. Even so, we keep all gratuities in place on our account, plus, tip additionally. The contract is on the internet if you want to find it and don’t believe what we say. Tips are NOT pooled if the HSC is kept in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted January 31, 2019 #23 Share Posted January 31, 2019 6 minutes ago, kazu said: ...................... Tips are NOT pooled if the HSC is kept in place. That is correct! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted January 31, 2019 #24 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I stand corrected. Thank you. I am very happy to know this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted January 31, 2019 #25 Share Posted January 31, 2019 13 minutes ago, kazu said: The contract is on the internet if you want to find it I'd be interested in see that. Not because I'm doubting you, just because it would be interesting reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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