Rare Victoria2 Posted September 29, 2019 #101 Share Posted September 29, 2019 8 hours ago, North West Newbie said: And thanks from me too. and me Rough conversion of Blue Marble's research £154-Germany to UK£132 Factor in the most expensive autograts and the UK price still wins. I'll stick with my usual autograts. on and reward anyone whom I think has deserved a little above and beyond, personally. The background staff will benefit and so will I knowing I've done the best I can, covering all bases for when I next have a wonderful holiday on my Cunard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Victoria2 Posted September 29, 2019 #102 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Forget most expensive, this is a basic price so iy 24 minutes ago, Victoria2 said: and me Rough conversion of Blue Marble's research £154-Germany to UK£132 Factor in the most expensive autograts and the UK price still wins. I'll stick with my usual autograts. on and reward anyone whom I think has deserved a little above and beyond, personally. The background staff will benefit and so will I knowing I've done the best I can, covering all bases for when I next have a wonderful holiday on my Cunard. Forget most expensive, Blue Marble's is a basic price which makes it even more respectable for those of us booking UK prices. If this is inequality, I like it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted September 29, 2019 #103 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Thanks very interesting , a lot of work. UK £132 Germany €173 = £153 at 1.13 The gap is much bigger than the £9 auto gratuities. Remember unless prices have jumped in the last few days these prices were announced well before the change in tipping policy. I think the gap is just about Cunard's policy of extracting out of each market as much as they think it will bear. A quick look shows Australia is dearer than UK but with same tipping policy. USA is dearer but they have more promotions free drinks and tips. I go along with one of the earlier posts that the change in policy is driven by local pressures and norms and mainly that Aida Germany's largest cruise line being tip free. So let's not confuse three separate issues. 1)The recent change to Different tipping policy in Germanic countries 2)A long-term policy of different prices in each country 3) Cunard' s long-term policy of putting up barriers to force people to book in their country of residence (which in EU shoudn't happen) None of which is anything consumer should approve of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted September 29, 2019 #104 Share Posted September 29, 2019 3 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said: Thanks very interesting , a lot of work. UK £132 Germany €173 = £153 at 1.13 The gap is much bigger than the £9 auto gratuities. Remember unless prices have jumped in the last few days these prices were announced well before the change in tipping policy. I think the gap is just about Cunard's policy of extracting out of each market as much as they think it will bear. Cunard is a commercial company, nothing more. Their sole raison d'ëtre is to make as much money for their (or Carnival's) shareholders as they can, while abiding by all laws and regulations. Many products sell for different prices throughout the EU. What else would one expect? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted September 29, 2019 #105 Share Posted September 29, 2019 16 minutes ago, exlondoner said: Cunard is a commercial company, nothing more. Their sole raison d'ëtre is to make as much money for their (or Carnival's) shareholders as they can, while abiding by all laws and regulations. Many products sell for different prices throughout the EU. What else would one expect? I completely agree, they want to make money and this is one of the very few areas where UK is cheaper so we should be grateful. But let's not blame gratuity policy for the difference in priced However Cunard shouldnt put up barriers to force people to book in country of residence according to the single market rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Newbie Posted September 29, 2019 #106 Share Posted September 29, 2019 1 minute ago, Windsurfboy said: I completely agree, they want to make money and this is one of the very few areas where UK is cheaper so we should be grateful. But let's not blame gratuity policy for the difference in priced However Cunard shouldnt put up barriers to force people to book in country of residence according to the single market rules. So why did you send a letter of complaint? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Newbie Posted September 29, 2019 #107 Share Posted September 29, 2019 43 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said: Thanks very interesting , a lot of work. UK £132 Germany €173 = £153 at 1.13 The gap is much bigger than the £9 auto gratuities. Remember unless prices have jumped in the last few days these prices were announced well before the change in tipping policy. I think the gap is just about Cunard's policy of extracting out of each market as much as they think it will bear. A quick look shows Australia is dearer than UK but with same tipping policy. USA is dearer but they have more promotions free drinks and tips. I go along with one of the earlier posts that the change in policy is driven by local pressures and norms and mainly that Aida Germany's largest cruise line being tip free. So let's not confuse three separate issues. 1)The recent change to Different tipping policy in Germanic countries 2)A long-term policy of different prices in each country 3) Cunard' s long-term policy of putting up barriers to force people to book in their country of residence (which in EU shoudn't happen) None of which is anything consumer should approve of Although only recently announced, Cunard’s decision to change the auto gratuity policy in Germany would not have been taken overnight, plus, Cunard use a live pricing system which sees fluctuation in any event. One way or another, prices are market driven taking numerous factors into consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davyjones Posted September 29, 2019 #108 Share Posted September 29, 2019 And on the USA site V126 for Club Balcony without flights (as far as I can tell) but with taxes is $5229.60 so £4255.69 so it might be wise not to raise the issue of price/benefit differences too much with Cunard in case they decide to bring the UK in line. DJ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted September 29, 2019 #109 Share Posted September 29, 2019 58 minutes ago, North West Newbie said: So why did you send a letter of complaint? Never mentioned prices as it is a completely unrelated issue to that of a uniform tipping policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Newbie Posted September 29, 2019 #110 Share Posted September 29, 2019 15 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said: Never mentioned prices as it is a completely unrelated issue to that of a uniform tipping policy. From Cunard’s perspective, I imagine the two are intrinsically linked. I wonder if the root cause of your dissatisfaction lies with your disagreement to gratuities and tipping. On another thread in August you stated:- “Might as well just put up fares by requisite amount , and get rid of gratuities.” “The sooner the hospitality industry gets rid of tips world wide the better.” I do not seek to challenge or ridicule your view. However, please don’t spoil it for others who have a different opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted September 29, 2019 #111 Share Posted September 29, 2019 39 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said: Never mentioned prices as it is a completely unrelated issue to that of a uniform tipping policy. Surely not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted September 29, 2019 #112 Share Posted September 29, 2019 3 hours ago, Windsurfboy said: So let's not confuse three separate issues. 1)The recent change to Different tipping policy in Germanic countries 2)A long-term policy of different prices in each country 3) Cunard' s long-term policy of putting up barriers to force people to book in their country of residence (which in EU shoudn't happen) None of which is anything consumer should approve of But it does deflate the "It's unfair to me that Germany doesn't have to pay gratuities" argument, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted September 29, 2019 #113 Share Posted September 29, 2019 My argument has always been about the principle of have different tipping policies for different nationalities. . Yes you are right I don't like auto gratuities inparticular and am not a fan of tipping in general. I find it odd that we tip some people who provide a service but not others. I love visiting those countries were they don't tip, helpfulness is obviously genuine. You are right to note I have said more than once it would be much better to pay the staff more and abolish tipping.. Yes I do wish cunard would do it for the UK market as well. I do tip and follow the when in Rome Principle, But as you can tell I thoroughly dislike the principle of habitual tipping. I still love the USA despite this. I don't care about the money, auto gratuities are only a few percent (2.4% to be precise) of the total cost of the cruise for me . But to see one market but not the UK take the step towards where I'd love us to go has annoyed me as you can tell. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leesblue Posted September 29, 2019 #114 Share Posted September 29, 2019 This subject of tipping is so boring and should be history in this day and age. Why on earth when we've payed thousands of pounds for our cruise are we then expected to cough up even more money for tips? I expect the money we've paid to cover EVERTHING we receive, food, accomodation AND service wether on a cruise or a hotel. And I refuse to feel guilty anymore because I go on holiday to enjoy myself and not to worry about people on low wages. PS..My husband wants Cunard to increase the cruise prices and stop the auto grats then he can decide if he wants to pay the price of the cruise or not! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted September 29, 2019 #115 Share Posted September 29, 2019 German vs UK prices It might most probably be simply competion in UK or lack of it in Germany Looking at Hamburg Germany's number one cruise port , over three quarters of the 197 cruises in 2020 out of Hamburg are Carnival. Southampton more than twice (467) as many cruises and cruise lines with just over a third of cruises Carnival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North West Newbie Posted September 29, 2019 #116 Share Posted September 29, 2019 55 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said: German vs UK prices It might most probably be simply competion in UK or lack of it in Germany Looking at Hamburg Germany's number one cruise port , over three quarters of the 197 cruises in 2020 out of Hamburg are Carnival. Southampton more than twice (467) as many cruises and cruise lines with just over a third of cruises Carnival. That proposition is illogical. If the price differential was solely down to competition it is more likely to be competing cruise lines at the departure port that may influence prices not where the cruise is booked. Hence, V126 which is a Southampton roundtrip to the Canary Islands and Madeira would be the same price in Germany and the UK. Undoubtedly that is what you would like to see but alas it is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted September 29, 2019 #117 Share Posted September 29, 2019 The logic being that prices in your home country set expectations, and cruise lines know this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Germancruiser Posted September 30, 2019 #118 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Majortom- whatever you may call it- brive- tip- as long it works... i really do not care! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted September 30, 2019 #119 Share Posted September 30, 2019 French prices are similiar to German and higher than UK, but same tipping policy as UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonport Posted October 1, 2019 #120 Share Posted October 1, 2019 I am on the QV at the end of October, I will be removing my auto gratuities, the main reason being Cunard is owned by Carnival, P&O are also owned by Carnival auto gratuities have been removed by the company on all P&O ships. The QV is a vista class ship the same as Arcadia the standard and quality I have found is compatible, P&O charge far less for drinks 15% add on. Carnival have made healthy profits for the past five years, perhaps some of this profit could be channelled towards a crew bonus. Question - If P&O staff do not receive auto gratuities have their wages been increased to compensate for the loss? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Hattie Posted October 1, 2019 #121 Share Posted October 1, 2019 45 minutes ago, devonport said: Question - If P&O staff do not receive auto gratuities have their wages been increased to compensate for the loss? I doubt anyone on this board can answer that question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORT ROYAL Posted October 1, 2019 #122 Share Posted October 1, 2019 1 hour ago, Host Hattie said: I doubt anyone on this board can answer that question. Many on CC have cut/copied/pasted the essence of the answer to this question to their computer's memory, as to how the bonus system works, prior to it being removed. Would the CC now allow any of it's members to re-post the lengthy and definitive article same being the essence to an answer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted October 1, 2019 #123 Share Posted October 1, 2019 3 hours ago, devonport said: Carnival have made healthy profits for the past five years, perhaps some of this profit could be channelled towards a crew bonus. But they're predicting a soft 4th quarter and 2020. Brexit, US downturn, etc. The line's minimum guaranteed pay (when the company chips in to support crew pay) is only reached when gratuities run far below expectations. When you cancel autogratuity you're punishing the crew, not Carnival/Cunard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmarklin Posted October 1, 2019 #124 Share Posted October 1, 2019 In Germany tipping in restaurants is not normally done, other than a small check rounding-up. Germans are not used to tipping, and likely are unwilling to do so on a cruise. This is probably the reason for the German tip policy. It's probably built into the German price, just like "back home". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshikitty Posted October 2, 2019 #125 Share Posted October 2, 2019 That is not correct. We and most of other germans are tipping between 5% -10% of the restaurant check on top - though exceptions happen every day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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