bobpell Posted August 14, 2019 #1 Share Posted August 14, 2019 I started musing after reading a posting where the poster's " friend" asked for their HSC to be removed on the first day... Lots of comments How about having your HSC be included in the quoted price of your cruise? What say you? Thanks Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 14, 2019 #2 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Several countries like the UK and Oz, require this by law. Would most cruisers prefer this? Most likely. Will the cruise lines do this? Not likely, as it allows them to keep the base fare low, and it gives them a "carrot and stick" approach to customer service, where the onus of lost income is placed on the passenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted August 14, 2019 #3 Share Posted August 14, 2019 44 minutes ago, bobpell said: How about having your HSC be included in the quoted price of your cruise? No thanks. I like getting the cruise day credits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted August 14, 2019 #4 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Are you aware that for most of HAL's crew, wages are taxable in their home country, but tips are not? If the fare were to be increased by the same amount as the current HSC, the crews' wages would decrease. I don't want that. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxmantoo Posted August 14, 2019 #5 Share Posted August 14, 2019 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oaktreerb Posted August 14, 2019 #6 Share Posted August 14, 2019 I wish all promo’s included the prepaid gratuities. Then no one could remove them. They still show up on your statement as a plus, minus line item so I think you still receive the spending bonus for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpell Posted August 14, 2019 Author #7 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Thanks RuthC I am now aware of the tax implications Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 14, 2019 #8 Share Posted August 14, 2019 16 minutes ago, oaktreerb said: so I think you still receive the spending bonus for them. Are you talking about the extra mariner days for onboard spending? We had included gratuities on our last cruise. And didn't receive extra days for equal to that amount after the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted August 14, 2019 #9 Share Posted August 14, 2019 2 hours ago, chengkp75 said: Several countries like the UK and Oz, require this by law. Would most cruisers prefer this? Most likely. Will the cruise lines do this? Not likely, as it allows them to keep the base fare low, and it gives them a "carrot and stick" approach to customer service, where the onus of lost income is placed on the passenger. Same reason taxes and port fees are not added by most mass market lines advertising "rock bottom" prices.... as some get sucked in by the displayed price..... No mention of all the hidden costs that the cruise line has lying in wait, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted August 14, 2019 #10 Share Posted August 14, 2019 1 hour ago, RuthC said: Are you aware that for most of HAL's crew, wages are taxable in their home country, but tips are not? If the fare were to be increased by the same amount as the current HSC, the crews' wages would decrease. I don't want that. But the money collected by the ship goes into a common pool and the workers are then paid from that as a wage from the company. Cash received by an employee directly from a customer is a tip and not. Money the line gives him is part of his pay and taxable I would think He gets a check... not cash from HAL Thats wages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted August 14, 2019 #11 Share Posted August 14, 2019 15 minutes ago, Shmoo here said: Are you talking about the extra mariner days for onboard spending? We had included gratuities on our last cruise. And didn't receive extra days for equal to that amount after the cruise. You should contact the Mariner Society about the missing credits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted August 14, 2019 #12 Share Posted August 14, 2019 3 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said: I would think ^^ Exactly. You didn’t write “I know”. You wrote “I would think.” Meaning you don’t know. I am mystified as to why this is such a hot topic and why people continue to guess at the idiosyncrasies of someone else’s wages. It’s like they’re X-Files conspiracy theorists with “Trust No One” tattooed on their asses. For God’s sake! Either pay the HSC or don’t pay the HSC. Either give the staff their hard-earned dues or rip them off. Either pay into the Karma pool or take some out. Show your support by taking a cruise or show your lack of support by going camping. No one is forcing you to do anything. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowmilker Posted August 14, 2019 #13 Share Posted August 14, 2019 I don't want the HSC included because it would make the cost of the cruise higher and thus my insurance would be more expensive. I don't need to insure the cost of the HSC. If I don't cruise, I won't be charged for it. No thanks. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted August 14, 2019 #14 Share Posted August 14, 2019 24 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said: But the money collected by the ship goes into a common pool and the workers are then paid from that as a wage from the company. Cash received by an employee directly from a customer is a tip and not. Money the line gives him is part of his pay and taxable I would think He gets a check... not cash from HAL Thats wages You're wrong. The share of the HSC the crew gets is treated as gratuities for tax purposes in their home country. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted August 14, 2019 #15 Share Posted August 14, 2019 3 minutes ago, cowmilker said: I don't want the HSC included because it would make the cost of the cruise higher and thus my insurance would be more expensive. I don't need to insure the cost of the HSC. Good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richwmn Posted August 14, 2019 #16 Share Posted August 14, 2019 32 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said: But the money collected by the ship goes into a common pool and the workers are then paid from that as a wage from the company. Cash received by an employee directly from a customer is a tip and not. Money the line gives him is part of his pay and taxable I would think He gets a check... not cash from HAL Thats wages All money in a pay check is not necessarily taxable. In another thread you mentioned you were USN. Here is a list of things included in military pay, note that most are not taxable. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) - non-taxable Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) - non-taxable Clothing Allowance - non-taxable Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), within the US (CONUS) - taxable Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), outside the continental US (OCONUS) - non-taxable Dislocation Allowance (DLA) - non-taxable Family Separation Allowance (FSA) - non-taxable Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance - non-taxable Mileage In Lieu of Transportation (MALT) - non-taxable Move In Housing Allowance (MIHA) - non-taxable Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) - non-taxable Per Diem - non-taxable Temporary Housing Allowance (TLA) used in conjunction with an overseas move - non-taxable Temporary Housing Expense (TLE) used in conjunction with a move within the continental United States -non-taxable 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted August 14, 2019 #17 Share Posted August 14, 2019 36 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said: But the money collected by the ship goes into a common pool and the workers are then paid from that as a wage from the company. Cash received by an employee directly from a customer is a tip and not. Money the line gives him is part of his pay and taxable I would think He gets a check... not cash from HAL Thats wages I suspect that depends upon the tax laws in the home country of the crew. You're just speculating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted August 14, 2019 #18 Share Posted August 14, 2019 To be blunt, what difference does it make? All too often, the wishes of the crew are ignored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat04 Posted August 14, 2019 #19 Share Posted August 14, 2019 1 hour ago, oaktreerb said: I wish all promo’s included the prepaid gratuities. Then no one could remove them. They still show up on your statement as a plus, minus line item so I think you still receive the spending bonus for them. Our upcoming cruise is our first with included grats so this is good to know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted August 14, 2019 #20 Share Posted August 14, 2019 3 hours ago, bobpell said: I started musing after reading a posting where the poster's " friend" asked for their HSC to be removed on the first day... Lots of comments How about having your HSC be included in the quoted price of your cruise? What say you? Thanks Bob All too often, I think those who want the HSC included in the fare think that the fares will not increase, that including the HSC in the fare will result in a lower total price for the cruise. That isn't happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 14, 2019 #21 Share Posted August 14, 2019 10 minutes ago, RuthC said: You're wrong. The share of the HSC the crew gets is treated as gratuities for tax purposes in their home country. That may be, but in the Philippines at least, "gratuities" paid to the employee by the employer are considered to be "normal income", and are taxed as such. Other countries may have different laws, that's the one I know about. A quick and dirty search does not show any mention of gratuity income being treated differently in Indonesia either. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted August 14, 2019 #22 Share Posted August 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Shmoo here said: Are you talking about the extra mariner days for onboard spending? We had included gratuities on our last cruise. And didn't receive extra days for equal to that amount after the cruise. Not trying to be mean or anything, but why would you get credit for something you didn't pay for? We have prepaid gratuities as a promo on our next cruise, and I don't expect that we would get credit for them, as we didn't have to pay for them. I mean, it would be a bonus, but I'm not expecting we'll get extra cruise day credits. Smooth Sailing! 🙂🙂🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 14, 2019 #23 Share Posted August 14, 2019 4 minutes ago, ger_77 said: Not trying to be mean or anything, but why would you get credit for something you didn't pay for? We have prepaid gratuities as a promo on our next cruise, and I don't expect that we would get credit for them, as we didn't have to pay for them. I mean, it would be a bonus, but I'm not expecting we'll get extra cruise day credits. Smooth Sailing! 🙂🙂🙂 I'm not saying I'm looking for the credits. I was just asking because of what was posted by oaktreerb and *Miss G*. They seem to say it should be. I don't think that would included, either, if it was included as a promotional perk. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted August 14, 2019 #24 Share Posted August 14, 2019 1 minute ago, Shmoo here said: II don't think that would included, either, if it was included as a promotional perk. Got it! Smooth Sailing! 🙂🙂🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted August 14, 2019 #25 Share Posted August 14, 2019 10 minutes ago, Shmoo here said: I'm not saying I'm looking for the credits. I was just asking because of what was posted by oaktreerb and *Miss G*. They seem to say it should be. I don't think that would included, either, if it was included as a promotional perk. On your statement is a line by line tally of your daily transactions. The HSC gets debited each day and will show as “Hotel Service Charge - HSC Day 1” (Day 2, Day 3, etc). With the promo you will see the HSC as both a debit and a credit in separate columns, as if you had paid it as soon as you received it. The Mariner credits are calculated from the tally of the debit column. Hope this makes sense. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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