Does the crew know we've pre-paid gratuities?

[dlwolf72]

Do the people who are supposed to get your Pre-Paid Gratuities know you’ve Pre-Paid Gratuities?

[Retired LEO]

1 minute ago, dlwolf72 said:

Do the people who are supposed to get your Pre-Paid Gratuities know you’ve Pre-Paid Gratuities?

Yes they do

[not-enough-cruising]

Any answer you get regarding this topic will be 100% conjecture and supposition and nothing based in fact. 

NO ONE knows how the gratuity system actually works; keeping everyone in the dark and guessing is what the cruiseline depends on. 

One fact I can offer is this: I never pre pay nor do I participate in the daily auto gratuity program. I have never experienced any less service than my regular travel companions who do participate. 

Edited November 11, 2019 by not-enough-cruising

[The Fun Researcher]

3 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Any answer you get regarding this topic will be 100% conjecture and supposition and nothing based in fact. 

NO ONE knows how the gratuity system actually works; keeping everyone in the dark and guessing is what the cruiseline depends on. 

One fact I can offer is this: I never pre pay nor do I participate in the daily auto gratuity program. I have never experienced any less service than my regular travel companions who do participate. 

 

How DO you handle your gratuities?

 

Dan

[GEORGIEGIRL]

Yes, they know. They get a report for each cruise. I confirmed this from an employee of the cruiseline.

[The Fun Researcher]

16 minutes ago, atozser said:

 

Simple! The way they are handled in every other life situation...AFTER you receive a service, you decide on an appropriate tip based on the quality of said service.

 

The cruise lines can try all they want to pretend they deserve special treatment, but it's a game we refuse to play.  Usually, we reduce the 'set' amount and then hand out cash.  Frankly, it's the only sure fire way to know that the employees who deserve special recognition will actually receive it.

Thank you for the education regarding  how gratuities work in every other life situation. I never knew that before.  🙄

 

I’m interested in the process of doing this on a cruise.   We have  personally been OK with the auto gratuities, and then I add more on top of that if I feel it’s warranted. If for some reason one of the services is not up to standards then I would go and get gratuities adjusted I suppose. 

 

Back to my original question, you must have to go to guest services and tell them not to charge you gratuities?   Then you somehow determine on your own what you feel is warranted? 

 

Dan

[Coralc]

As much as I appreciated all of Theron's hard work and his tip calculator...I don't want to go back to using the envelopes and distributing the cash. It is SO much easier to just pre-pay the gratuities and just be done with it. 

[springfire]

Tip the way that works best for you.  We use the envelopes provided by customer service, this works best for us.  You can prepay or do automatic gratuities if you prefer, we have choices.

Edited November 11, 2019 by springfire

[mayleeman]

1 hour ago, atozser said:

Frankly, it's the only sure fire way to know that the employees who deserve special recognition will actually receive it

 

How have you managed to find all the people who provided you service throughout the cruise at breakfast and lunch, and at the coffee shop and the buffet? You must be very tired after a cruise.

[Casino Comp Chick]

2 hours ago, mayleeman said:

 

How have you managed to find all the people who provided you service throughout the cruise at breakfast and lunch, and at the coffee shop and the buffet? You must be very tired after a cruise.

I prepay my tips but back in the day I would never leave an envelope for the wine steward/sommalier because I do not drink wine, so in the current format I am tipping people that have not provided me a service. 
Tipping is way out of control, I went to buy a metrocard yesterday at a check cashing place and they had a tip jar on the counter. That is ridiculous. 

Edited November 11, 2019 by Casino Comp Chick

[spookwife]

12 hours ago, dlwolf72 said:

Do the people who are supposed to get your Pre-Paid Gratuities know you’ve Pre-Paid Gratuities?

  yes.  they also have a list of who has removed the daily charge.   and for those that say  this is all supposition, I have personally seen said list on both the cabin stewards cart and  in the galley.  and yes I was able to get a close enough look to verify.  

 

that being said, it has ZERO relevance on how you are treated by anybody

[mayleeman]

3 hours ago, Casino Comp Chick said:

in the current format I am tipping people that have not provided me a service.

 

You are also tipping lots of people who provide you services that you don't know about, or who enable the ones you do to do their jobs.

 

I find it easier to ignore the daily gratuity and just think of it as part of the fare, and then tip cash to the crew who provided me with services directly, than to worry about which of these low paid employees deserves to get a slice.

[blueridgemama]

17 minutes ago, mayleeman said:

 

You are also tipping lots of people who provide you services that you don't know about, or who enable the ones you do to do their jobs.

 

I find it easier to ignore the daily gratuity and just think of it as part of the fare, and then tip cash to the crew who provided me with services directly, than to worry about which of these low paid employees deserves to get a slice.

 

Key here is "low paid employees" who provide much of your cruise experience behind the scenes and thus get nothing. Your choice😕

[papaflamingo]

13 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

keeping everyone in the dark and guessing is what the cruiseline depends on. 

 

I always love a good conspiracy.  So I'm curious, exactly WHY does the cruiseline want to "keep everyone in the dark?"  What do you think the purpose or advantage is to them and disadvantage is to us? 

[MrsKC08]

Seems like every day there is some sort of post about tipping, and it has gotten to be a little ridiculous. 

To the OP, yes...staff are aware that gratuities have been pre-paid. They have also been made aware of ANYONE who has removed said gratuities. For the life of me, I don't understand why anyone would go to the guest services counter first thing in the cruise and remove the grats. That right there shows that you are not taking them away based on the service you receive, but that you simply don't want to pay it. WHY? I'll be honest, the first time we cruise several year ago on another line, we removed the grats and then paid certain people with cash at the end of the cruise. At the time, we thought that was best. After some education from those that actually do work in the industry we quickly changed our way of thinking!

 

Just leave the grats...it's chump change at $14.50/day *unless you are in a suite....and goes to FAR more service people than you could ever possibly hand over a cash tip to. Then, for exceptional service...tip extra! We always give additional cash in the said envelopes to our cabin steward, head waiter, favorite bar staff, etc., on the last night of our cruise, with a personal thank you note!

 

Yes, we all have choices, I won't argue that fact. However, there are many people that make your cruise what it is. And before someone says that Royal should pay these people more and not expect their cruise passengers to foot the bill...realize that these people wouldn't keep taking these contracts to work on the ships if they didn't enjoy the job and feel they are fairly compensated. 

[lovemylab]

They do know who prepays.  I almost always give extra and when doing so am often told by my room steward "oh you've already prepaid your tips".

 

There are lots of people that work behind the scenes to ensure you had great service.   For example, when you request a special meal in the dining room the waiter isn't the one that went out of their way for that to happen.  It was actually the maitre 'd and kitchen staff.   When you have clean linens and towels in your room, the staff in the laundry department contributed to that. 

 

 

[parsec0298]

31 minutes ago, papaflamingo said:

I always love a good conspiracy.  So I'm curious, exactly WHY does the cruiseline want to "keep everyone in the dark?"  What do you think the purpose or advantage is to them and disadvantage is to us? 

The advantage to the cruise lines is that they get to advertise lower cruise fares since the wages are lower.  But since they advertise the fare, there must be a way to only pay that amount.  If gratuities were a mandatory expense over and above the advertised fare the cruise lines would face lawsuits over false advertising claims.

 

What's the disadvantage to us?  We are deceived into thinking the price of the cruise is one thing, when it's really something else.  But as consumers in the US we are more accustomed to this, since it happens every time we dine at a restaurant, get in a taxi cab, etc.

[mayleeman]

1 hour ago, blueridgemama said:

 

Key here is "low paid employees" who provide much of your cruise experience behind the scenes and thus get nothing. Your choice😕

 

You misread my post. I do leave the prepaid ones on, simply relegating it in my calculus as a part of the fare I needn't concern myself with (as if the company simply showed a separate line item for crew pay). My additional tipping in cash is to several people whose daily services most significantly determine how much I can enjoy every day.

[mayleeman]

Interestingly, I was once thrown 3 $25 "tips" while tossing dice at a craps table. The guy who did it made about 4 grand when I hit double 5's several times in a row. He left with his winnings, and I saw him toss a $5 chip to the stickman. Nothing to the guy who did all the calculating and chip distribution.

 

My brother will play blackjack for hours. If he doesn't win by the end, he doesn't tip. So the dealer is held resonsible for the success of his cards and strategies. But he actually gets angry when he loses. I tip if the dealer was helpful and pleasant, and I walk away frustrated, but not angry, if I lose.

 

Tipping ideas certainly differ.

[mjkacmom]

25 minutes ago, crazyank said:

THANK YOU!  somebody finally said it!  Tips are for outstanding service.  Not for just doing your job

 

Thank you again! 

Actually, they way the wage structure is set up on mainstream cruise lines is that tips pay most of their wages. If you do not agree with this method, don’t get on the ship. The employees have contracts and need to be paid a certain amount. The more folks decide not to pony up, the more fares and DSC’s go up.

[ryano]

its been a while since weve had a good tipping thread. 

 

Yes they know. I too have seen the list.  Ive had cabin attendants tell me they know Ive already prepaid.   I prepay and then give cash at the end to those who I think deserve it.  That generally means my cabin attendant, waiter and asst waiter.    I however do not "bribe" them anymore by handing them a 20.00 immediately the first time I see them.    Personally, I look at the daily gratuity charge as a service charge and would be ok with Royal making it mandatory.  Its just another expense of the cruise.   YMMV 

Edited November 11, 2019 by ryano

[BND]

30 minutes ago, parsec0298 said:

The advantage to the cruise lines is that they get to advertise lower cruise fares since the wages are lower.  But since they advertise the fare, there must be a way to only pay that amount.  If gratuities were a mandatory expense over and above the advertised fare the cruise lines would face lawsuits over false advertising claims.

 

What's the disadvantage to us?  We are deceived into thinking the price of the cruise is one thing, when it's really something else.  But as consumers in the US we are more accustomed to this, since it happens every time we dine at a restaurant, get in a taxi cab, etc.

You are not deceived if you know about it.  Have you ever worked in a tipped position?  My experience is people who haven't are more likely to get bent out of shape by the gratuities or tipping.  Yes, tips should be based on service, but you can't possibly know what someone behind the scenes did that was above and beyond their basic job.  Most restaurants we go to now utilize the team model and tips are split with everyone.   If everyone does a good job, everyone benefits.  I'm pretty sure that RCI uses this same idea.  It's all about the team.

Edited November 11, 2019 by BND

[budmeister]

 "you have clean linens and towels in your room, the staff in the laundry department contributed to that. "

 

Do those people get a portion of tips?

 

 

 

[Cruisin_n_Boozin]

Stupid question... Can I pre-pay gratuities after booking, online? Or do I have to call?

 

I don't see the option anywhere when I log in.

[ryano]

4 minutes ago, Cruisin_n_Boozin said:

Stupid question... Can I pre-pay gratuities after booking, online? Or do I have to call?

 

I don't see the option anywhere when I log in.

 

At the time you book online before confirming everything it gives you the option to prepay grats.  After that, I think you have to call 🙂