All new policy tipping / auto-gratuity?

[Windsurfboy]

On 9/26/2019 at 4:20 PM, Windsurfboy said:

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

 

See above wording extract from the German tipping policy (post 18) a German tipping form certainly exists it is not my imagination or preposterous. 

 

By the way given the prices quoted above the Germans should book via Cunard UK, which they are perfectly entitled to do under single market rules.

 

We should have one global website with common prices and common T&Cs.

 

[North West Newbie]

44 minutes ago, Aspidestra99 said:

Perhaps my reply to northwest newbie posted prior to your response answers your question. I would much rather have gratuities included in the fare, failing that I have always paid the autogratuity and would opt in, to ensure the charge is distributed fairly. So, to answer your post and to make it perfectly clear - yes it is purely a matter of principle.

 

I am sure that you are not on your own in your preference that the gratuities should be rolled into the fare. I am equally sure that there are many people who feel that the auto gratuity should not be removable. Although this recent change in some markets highlights the issue, I strongly suspect what actually peeves people is the fact that in those markets where it is discretionary, some pay and others don’t. I believe that is the source of the irritation where many feel miffed. The comparisons with other markets and the arguments put forward simply do not stand scrutiny.

 

Has it not occurred to anyone that Cunard may have changed their policy only in the markets where the opt-out rate was excessive? From the example that has been presented, it would appear that this has resulted in much higher fares.

[Windsurfboy]

In earlier threads a number of people have argued that Cunard are contractually obliged to make up tips when people opt out.  I for one was and still are a bit sceptical of this. But If anyone can provide evidence then opting out becomes a very valid way of protesting.

 

 

[Windsurfboy]

Northwest newbie,  says that auto gratuities should not be removable.  If they weren't removable then certainly under UK consumer law and I think European law they would have to be included up front in the fare. The Marketing trick of lower headline fares wouldn't work.

[North West Newbie]

18 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

See above wording extract from the German tipping policy (post 18) a German tipping form certainly exists it is not my imagination or preposterous. 

 

By the way given the prices quoted above the Germans should book via Cunard UK, which they are perfectly entitled to do under single market rules.

 

We should have one global website with common prices and common T&Cs.

 

 

I think you will find that the form in the cabin will be the same form that is available and used at the Purser's desk. It is most unlikely to be one especially for guests who booked under the German T&C’s.

 

As for the Germans booking via the UK, of course they can, they will benefit from a cheaper fare but be subjected to the auto gratuity.

 

I don’t think your desires of utopia are realistic.

[North West Newbie]

21 minutes ago, North West Newbie said:

 

I am sure that you are not on your own in your preference that the gratuities should be rolled into the fare. I am equally sure that there are many people who feel that the auto gratuity should not be removable. Although this recent change in some markets highlights the issue, I strongly suspect what actually peeves people is the fact that in those markets where it is discretionary, some pay and others don’t. I believe that is the source of the irritation where many feel miffed. The comparisons with other markets and the arguments put forward simply do not stand scrutiny.

 

 

Has it not occurred to anyone that Cunard may have changed their policy only in the markets where the opt-out rate was excessive? From the example that has been presented, it would appear that this has resulted in much higher fares.

 

11 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

Northwest newbie,  says that auto gratuities should not be removable.  If they weren't removable then certainly under UK consumer law and I think European law they would have to be included up front in the fare. The Marketing trick of lower headline fares wouldn't work.

 

If you are going to quote me please ensure that you are accurate.

 

I did not express a personal opinion.

 

What I said was that there are many people who feel that the auto gratuity should not be removable.

[North West Newbie]

26 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

In earlier threads a number of people have argued that Cunard are contractually obliged to make up tips when people opt out.  I for one was and still are a bit sceptical of this. But If anyone can provide evidence then opting out becomes a very valid way of protesting.

 

 

 

So, on the basis of your present scepticism, removing the auto gratuity is not a very valid way of protesting. 

[Windsurfboy]

24 minutes ago, North West Newbie said:

 

So, on the basis of your present scepticism, removing the auto gratuity is not a very valid way of protesting. 

 

 

Perhaps it want immediately impact cunards  bottom  line,  but if as you say Cunard may have only changed it's policies where the opt out rate is excessive then if enough people increase the opt out rate they may change their policies

[Windsurfboy]

Typo,  should be    "won't immediately impact Cunard bottom line "

[Host Hattie]

2 hours ago, davyjones said:

As an example, looking at V126 on the German and UK sites for a Britannia Club cabin gives 3561EUR (£3167) v £2349.  The German fare does not include flights.  So I am quite happy for the Germans to have 'free' gratutities.

 

DJ

 

Thank you for understanding the point I was trying to make earlier, and doing the work to find out.

[North West Newbie]

8 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

 

Perhaps it want immediately impact cunards  bottom  line,  but if as you say Cunard may have only changed it's policies where the opt out rate is excessive then if enough people increase the opt out rate they may change their policies

 

6 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

Typo,  should be    "won't immediately impact Cunard bottom line "

 

And, like in Germany, we see a disproportionate increase in fares. No thank you!

[North West Newbie]

I openly acknowledge that every guest can choose for themselves how they wish to deal with rewarding the crew, if at all.

 

If anyone objects to paying the auto gratuities then they are at liberty to remove them. All I respectfully suggest one takes that decision for a valid reason.

 

If one belongs to the camp in favour of the auto gratuity system that rewards crew behind the scenes then I believe it is manifestly wrong to opt out only to protest at Cunard. You will end up hurting the very people you had previously intended to reward.

 

If on the other hand you prefer to remove the auto gratuity and believe in rewarding crew personally at the end of the cruise then that is your choice and it is not for others to judge.

[majortom10]

4 hours ago, North West Newbie said:

 

Well, as Windsurfboy said at #64, don't hold your breath.

I will not because I am not naive to think anything will change and all I will get, that is if I do get a response, is corporate statement about different markets have different offers and T&Cs but at of the day I will have the ultimate power of what I do with gratuities from my account.

[North West Newbie]

11 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

I will not because I am not naive to think anything will change and all I will get, that is if I do get a response, is corporate statement about different markets have different offers and T&Cs but at of the day I will have the ultimate power of what I do with gratuities from my account.

 

So you have wasted your time.

[majortom10]

1 minute ago, North West Newbie said:

 

So you have wasted your time.

 

Not at all I will have a definitive answer from Cunard and feel at ease of the decision I make on my next cruise with Cunard and whether I book any more in the future.

[North West Newbie]

17 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

I will not because I am not naive to think anything will change and all I will get, that is if I do get a response, is corporate statement about different markets have different offers and T&Cs but at of the day I will have the ultimate power of what I do with gratuities from my account.

 

2 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Not at all I will have a definitive answer from Cunard and feel at ease of the decision I make on my next cruise with Cunard and whether I book any more in the future.

 

Your two statements are at odds with each other and at best, by your own expectation, you already know what you will be told.

[majortom10]

1 minute ago, North West Newbie said:

 

 

Your two statements are at odds with each other and at best, by your own expectation, you already know what you will be told.

No I do not I said I would get a definitive answer but through past experiences of other issues guessing at what the outcome will be and that nothing will change but you never know I might get a surprise.

[North West Newbie]

7 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

No I do not I said I would get a definitive answer but through past experiences of other issues guessing at what the outcome will be and that nothing will change but you never know I might get a surprise.

 

“......I am not naive to think anything will change and all I will get, that is if I do get a response, is corporate statement about different markets have different offers and T&Cs......”

 

I think that sums up your expectation.

[bluemarble]

On 9/27/2019 at 11:25 AM, Host Hattie said:

How do the fares compare ? ...

 

Here is another look at how the UK and German fares compare. I did screen grabs of all 54 pages of voyage search results on both the Cunard UK and Cunard Germany websites to capture the lowest "from" fares being advertised for each voyage. I then removed a few voyages that only showed up on one of the sites and adjusted for a few cases where the lowest priced category on one site was "Inside" while on the other the site the lowest priced category was "Outside" or "Balcony".

 

What I found, looking at all 536 voyages advertised on both sites was, on average, the lowest fares offered on the Cunard site for Germany are about 16% higher than the lowest fares offered on the Cunard site for the UK, using today's exchange rate between the pound and the euro.

 

Please note this analysis made no attempt to take into account that some of the fares offered in the UK are Saver fares, that some of the voyages in the UK have flights included, or that there may be differences in other perks such as OBC amounts. I just thought it might be of some interest to calculate the average difference between the lowest fares currently advertised in the two countries over all voyages.

[North West Newbie]

6 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

Here is another look at how the UK and German fares compare. I did screen grabs of all 54 pages of voyage search results on both the Cunard UK and Cunard Germany websites to capture the lowest "from" fares being advertised for each voyage. I then removed a few voyages that only showed up on one of the sites and adjusted for a few cases where the lowest priced category on one site was "Inside" while on the other the site the lowest priced category was "Outside" or "Balcony".

 

What I found, looking at all 536 voyages advertised on both sites was, on average, the lowest fares offered on the Cunard site for Germany are about 16% higher than the lowest fares offered on the Cunard site for the UK, using today's exchange rate between the pound and the euro.

 

Please note this analysis made no attempt to take into account that some of the fares offered in the UK are Saver fares, that some of the voyages in the UK have flights included, or that there may be differences in other perks such as OBC amounts. I just thought it might be of some interest to calculate the average difference between the lowest fares currently advertised in the two countries over all voyages.

 

Thank you for your efforts bluemarble.

 

Do you have readily available from your data for Germany what the average cost per night is?

[Windsurfboy]

I repeat, If it's that much cheaper then German customers should book via Cunard UK, which they should be perfectly entitled to do under single market rules. 

 

 

 

 

[North West Newbie]

7 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

I repeat, If it's that much cheaper then German customers should book via Cunard UK, which they should be perfectly entitled to do under single market rules. 

 

 

 

 

 

And likewise it is open to the dissenters to book via Germany with no need to opt out of the auto gratuities.

[bluemarble]

22 minutes ago, North West Newbie said:

Thank you for your efforts bluemarble.

 

Do you have readily available from your data for Germany what the average cost per night is?

 

Here is what I've calculated as the average cost per night (per person double occupancy) on both the Cunard UK and Cunard Germany websites. Again, these are the lowest advertised rates for each voyage averaged across all voyages.

 

UK: £132.19

Germany: €173.11

[Host Hattie]

Great work as ever bluemarble, thank you

[North West Newbie]

28 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

Here is what I've calculated as the average cost per night (per person double occupancy) on both the Cunard UK and Cunard Germany websites. Again, these are the lowest advertised rates for each voyage averaged across all voyages.

 

UK: £132.19

Germany: €173.11

 

24 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Great work as ever bluemarble, thank you

 

And thanks from me too.