All new policy tipping / auto-gratuity?

[s.s.France]

Today I received mail from my ( german) travel agent. It translates to:

 

We inform you today about a change to the usual on board

Handling the tips. Traveling from September 24, 2019, Cunard will be on

refrain from automatically loading your on-board account with tips. It

You are free to tip the cabin and restaurant stewards.

Tips are welcome but are not expected. If you like that

Nevertheless, the entire team of the hotel area on board rewarded with a tip

If you wish, you will find in your cabin a form that you can request

Purser's Office.

[Underwatr]

I'm going to guess that that policy change will be heavily market-driven.

 

On the other hand, "gratuities-included" is a common booking promotion in the US. In the promotion the daily gratuity is charged to your bill and then backed out, which probably helps us Americans figure out that we don't necessarily have to tip extra.

[bluemarble]

I'm seeing similar wording on Cunard's websites for Austria and Switzerland. Here is what it says on the English language pages of those websites under "Good to know", "Onboard regulations".

 

"Cunard will not automatically charge gratuities to the on-board account for passengers travelling from September 24, 2019. Passengers are free to tip cabin and restaurant stewards. Gratuities are welcome, but are not expected. If you still want to reward the entire hotel team on board with a tip, you will find a form in the cabin which can be handed in at Purser's Office on request."

 

A "Preis-Informationen" page found on Cunard's website for Germany makes a similar statement about opting in to pay gratuities via a form to be turned in at the purser' s office without mentioning a specific effective date.

[Windsurfboy]

Given most North American cruises are gratuities included, and Germany, Austria and Switzerland gratuities  are not compulsory where does this British cruisers as only ones paying gratuities. 

 

If it wasn't for B......, I presume T&Cs should be same across EU

[Ray66]

P&O (also under Carnival Corporation & plc) say:

 

“From May 2019 (cruises A911, B912, E911/A, J903, N910, R907, X907 and all thereafter), the discretionary daily Service Charge on board will be removed so you can relax knowing it’s all taken care of. Changes like this do take a little bit of time to put in place, and so for holidays which depart before May, a discretionary daily Service Charge amount of £7 will continue to be added for guests aged 12 and over.”

[bluemarble]

OK, this is kind of odd. The wording about the new auto-gratuity policy becoming effective today that I just quoted above from Cunard's websites for Austria and Switzerland is no longer there. Here's what it says now on those sites. This wording does seem to hint that gratuities won't be automatically charged to on board accounts any more for those countries without specifically saying that.

 

"Gratuities

 

Gratuities are not included in the cruise fare. We recommend the following gratuities per person and day in order to reward our crew:

 

Britannia & Britannia Club categories: 11,50 USD
Princess & Queens Grill categories: 13,50 USD

 

Of course the amount of the gratuities is at your own discretion. If you, against our expectations, should not be satisfied with our service on board, you are free to reduce the amount or to pay no gratuities at all."

Edited September 24, 2019 by bluemarble

[sfred]

As of today 25 September, there is no change to the gratuity policy on the Australia site:

 

"From your waiters and stateroom stewards to the many more people supporting behind the scenes, every Cunard crew member puts their heart and skill into ensuring you experience Cunard's legendary White Star Service.

To ensure crew in these areas are rewarded for the service they provide to you, and to eliminate the need for tipping, a hotel and dining service charge is added to your on board account and every dollar collected goes directly to the crew members.  There is no administrative fee.  Of course, should you wish to individually reward any other crew member who has made your time on board particularly memorable, please feel welcome to do so."

[Windsurfboy]

This is what is now on German site

 

If you would like to reward the entire team of the hotel area including the behind-the-scenes staff for the service provided, you will find a form in your cabin / suite which you can hand over to the Purser's Office if you wish to tip your in-flight account cashlessly , The desired amount will then be deducted automatically from your credit card.

 

Clearly Germans opt in to auto tipping,  whilst the British have to opt out

[bluemarble]

And now the wording I mentioned yesterday is back on the Cunard sites for Austria and Switzerland. Here is the complete wording of the "Gratuities" section on those sites in case it disappears again.

 

"Gratuities

 

Gratuities regulation for bookings before and including 23.09.2019

 

The amount of gratuities is of course left to your personal decision. However, many guests ask for recommendations. During your cruise you will be excellently looked after by our staff, but you will not see many of the employees involved at all. In order to meet the needs of all employees who take care of your well-being, the following daily flat rates per person and night will be charged to your on-board account:

 

• Britannia & Britannia Club Categories: 11,50 USD

• Princess & Queens Grill Categories: 13,50 USD

 

If, contrary to expectations, you are not satisfied with our service on board, you can of course reduce the gratuities or cancel them completely.

 

Cunard will not automatically charge gratuities to the on-board account for passengers travelling from September 24, 2019. Passengers are free to tip cabin and restaurant stewards. Gratuities are welcome, but are not expected. If you still want to reward the entire hotel team on board with a tip, you will find a form in the cabin which can be handed in at Purser's Office on request."

[Windsurfboy]

I have a dilemma,  I very much believe in Auto gratuities. 

 

However I find Cunard's approach of a country by country policy both illogical and annoying. The British and Australians being the only countries to be charged  gratuities automatically,  seems to my mind to be taking us for grant.

[Underwatr]

Americans are charged gratuities, it's just that in many booking promotions it's charged and refunded.

 

Aren't many Australian fares gratuity-included? 

Edited September 25, 2019 by Underwatr

[bluemarble]

I think France may still be paying auto-gratuities. At least here is what Cunard's partner website for France, "cunard-france.fr", has to say about gratuities. This has been auto-translated using google translate with just a few minor tweaks by me.

 

"Tipping/Service

 

Tips will be billed directly to your onboard account and then redistributed to your steward/ess, restaurant waiter and other hotel staff. You can, if you wish, give an additional bonus directly to the person concerned for any other service provided on board.

 

Amounts on your account statement may be changed as long as you notify the Purser's Office before the end of your cruise.
The amount of tips varies according to the cabin categories:

 

Queen's and Princess Grill: $ 13.50 per day per passenger
Britannia: $ 11.50 per day per passenger

 

A 15% service is automatically added for all drinks at restaurants, bars and in your cabin.

 

In addition, because of the legislation in Spain, your drinks in bars, restaurants or cabin will be increased by 10% during stopovers in Spanish ports."

 

====================

 

Here is what I am seeing on Cunard's partner website for Italy, "crocierecunard.it".  This has also been auto-translated using google translate with just a few minor tweaks by me.

 

"TIPPING

Tips for cabin and restaurant staff are not included in the cruise fee. For your convenience, an amount of USD 13.50 for the Queens Grill and Princess Grill and USD 11.50 for Britannia cabins per day per person (including children) will be charged to the cabin account.

In any case, you can go to the on-board information office to indicate that you want to pay a different amount, at your discretion; at the Purser's office envelopes are also available for use in this case. However, tips to casino staff and the "wellness center" remain at the discretion of the client.

A 15% service charge will be applied to all drinks at bars and restaurants."

 

====================

 

I am unable to find any statement about gratuities on Cunard's partner website for Spain, "cunardcruceros.com".

 

Of course I have no way of knowing if this could just be out-of-date information on the partner websites for France and Italy that hasn't been updated yet.

[Aspidestra99]

If Cunard are using their various national websites to publish different rules for charging gratuities, it would imply using some notion of national stereotype. If it is the case, then it is neither fair or transparent...they possibly don't realise that with a bit of effort, you can access the Cunard sites outside your national domain.

 

The world won't stop spinning but it is irritating and does Cunard no favours.

 

[Windsurfboy]

I agree it is irritating 

[exlondoner]

10 hours ago, Aspidestra99 said:

If Cunard are using their various national websites to publish different rules for charging gratuities, it would imply using some notion of national stereotype. If it is the case, then it is neither fair or transparent...they possibly don't realise that with a bit of effort, you can access the Cunard sites outside your national domain.

 

The world won't stop spinning but it is irritating and does Cunard no favours.

 

 

Well, as revealed on these boards, there do seem to be national stereotypes as regards tipping. US customers seem to like to do it, even if not required, many other nations don't, and the UK are made rather uncomfortable by the whole going. Yes, of course stereotypes aren't entirely accurate, but they can be approximations.

[Windsurfboy]

Given the well known huge difference in uptake rates between opting in (low) and opting out (high), then àlthough Cunard may argue that auto gratuities are optional in both cases, they will be prepared for much lower auto gratuities uptake when it's opt in like in the Germanic markets..

 

So I still think they are taking the opt in counties for granted 

 

I am seriously considering opting out of auto gratuities some thing I have never done before.

[Pennbank]

3 hours ago, Windsurfboy said:

Given the well known huge difference in uptake rates between opting in (low) and opting out (high), then àlthough Cunard may argue that auto gratuities are optional in both cases, they will be prepared for much lower auto gratuities uptake when it's opt in like in the Germanic markets..

 

So I still think they are taking the opt in counties for granted 

 

I am seriously considering opting out of auto gratuities some thing I have never done before.

 

I have opted out now for over a  year, for same reason,  giving same amount but in $  to Restaurant and Steward(ess).   I am led to believe that not contributing to auto grats, It makes Cunard have to dip into their own profits to make up the guaranteed  amount agreed  by the staff  on board of the amount to be shared out.

 

Edited September 26, 2019 by Pennbank

[Windsurfboy]

Here is the full wording of the German tipping policy,  note in Paragraph 1 , tips are welcome, but not expected.

 

 

Our passion is to see you on board happy and satisfied. Each Cunard employee contributes with passion and skill to help you experience the legendary Cunard White Star service. Guests booking via Cunard Germany are free to tip the cabin and restaurant stewards. Tips are welcome but are not expected.

 

If a member of staff particularly helps to make your stay on board unforgettable, you are, of course, free to give a personal tip.

 

If you would like to reward the entire team of the hotel area including the behind-the-scenes staff for the service provided, you will find a form in your cabin / suite which you can hand over to the Purser's Office if you wish to tip your in-flight account cashlessly , The desired amount will then be deducted automatically from your credit card

[exlondoner]

1 hour ago, Pennbank said:

 

I have opted out now for over a  year, for same reason,  giving same amount but in $  to Restaurant and Steward(ess).   I am led to believe that not contributing to auto grats, It makes Cunard have to dip into their own profits to make up the guaranteed  amount agreed  by the staff  on board of the amount to be shared out.

 

 

Just out of interest, how do you decide whom to tip in the restaurants? In Brit. you are only likely to get the same waiters at dinner time, and in the Grills, at lunch the normal waiters are often away, so someone else looks after you. Ditto sommeliers.

[Pennbank]

It really is not my problem nor to be honest do I care, when in establishments to worry about other persons wages. It is none of my business. Just a matter between management and staff employed.

I will tip as always, for good service. The amount obviously is your own personal choice.

The waiters in Britannia Restaurant will swap about during the day, some working in Kings Court.

I will tip the station that covers my dining table. It is up to them how they share my tip.   The same goes for the steward (ess)  it is up to the receiver how they share the tip given. The wine service and bar staff receive the 15% gratuity added to every item sold as their gratuity.

 

[majortom10]

Just had it confirmed by Cunard UK that Cunard have recently updated the T&Cs in some markets and auto gratuities will not be added to their onboard accounts. T&Cs will NOT be changing for those booking in the UK  and they will still be automatically added to your onboard account. So you can have on the same cruise where they will not be adding obc to some and still adding to those from UK. My advice is first thing is to get down to reception and remove auto gratuities from account for UK cruisers why should they pay $11-50 to $13-50 a day but others not it certainly isnt fair.

 

Also they have confirmed that even though if you book a QG suite in recently released 2021 programme in US you will get free drinks package but in UK if you book the same you will not get a free drinks package.

[Windsurfboy]

I can't make my mind up if Cunard Germany  have completely followed P&O and become tips included . Seem to have taken a big step in that direction with the tips welcome but  not expected statement .

[Windsurfboy]

Think I will follow  Majortom's advice

[majortom10]

Anyone know the direct e-mail address of David Noyes who I believe is the CEO of Carnival UK which has responsibility of Cunard and P&O.

[Victoria2]

 

 

There are already those who remove remove their auto grats.and don't tip.

 

There are already those who remove auto grats and tip personally.

 

There are already those who keep them on.

 

There are already those who keep them on and also tip personally.

 

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.