Rare onlyslightlymad Posted October 23, 2023 #51 Share Posted October 23, 2023 I loathe tipping. I always leave the auto-gratuities on because, to me, that's just part of the cost of the cruise. It's not like I have the option of fetching my own drinks and staff need to be paid. I just wish it was part of the fare upfront and not some bogus add-on. Just put the price up to the proper amount in the first place and don't play tricks. Also, chasing people with an envelope of cash at the end of a cruise is very unpleasant and demeaning to me and the staff involved. Just pay them properly in the first place, which shows them a lot more respect for the job they do. As to getting 'better service', isn't that what I paid for in the first place? If the cruise line wants to reward exceptional crew, then they should pay them a bonus or give them a promotion. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted October 23, 2023 #52 Share Posted October 23, 2023 40 minutes ago, bazzaw said: But if you leave the auto-grats on, then I have the nagging thought that the stewards/waiters will be looking for another tip. I have yet to discover any staff onboard that has given me any service above and beyond what I believe to be their job. I dont really care what they are paid- that is none of my business- it's up to them and their employers what they are paid for their work. I feel no obligation to become an American when cruising. Paying a pre-determined service charge doesn't make you American when you are cruising on American ships. It won't be long and all of the cruise lines will include those charges at the time of booking to take it out of our hands anyway. We have never had a waiter or steward fishing for extra tips. There are plenty that just do their job, but we have been way more fortunate to have had a few servants that have been absolutely incredible. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Sparky74 Posted October 23, 2023 #53 Share Posted October 23, 2023 18 minutes ago, arxcards said: Paying a pre-determined service charge doesn't make you American when you are cruising on American ships. It won't be long and all of the cruise lines will include those charges at the time of booking to take it out of our hands anyway. We have never had a waiter or steward fishing for extra tips. There are plenty that just do their job, but we have been way more fortunate to have had a few servants that have been absolutely incredible. servants? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted October 23, 2023 #54 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Just now, Sparky74 said: servants? In want of a better word, I was looking for a word to describe people who serve. Waiters, stewards etc are paid to serve as much those serving the public are public servants. Not to be confused with slave. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Sparky74 Posted October 23, 2023 #55 Share Posted October 23, 2023 4 minutes ago, arxcards said: In want of a better word, I was looking for a word to describe people who serve. Waiters, stewards etc are paid to serve as much those serving the public are public servants. Not to be confused with slave. Maybe "servers"? I’m a little uncomfortable with the word "servant" but that’s just me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted October 23, 2023 #56 Share Posted October 23, 2023 4 minutes ago, Sparky74 said: Maybe "servers"? I’m a little uncomfortable with the word "servant" but that’s just me. They both derive from the word serve, but yes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted October 23, 2023 #57 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Maybe it is just some of us that get the extra service, the service that has them go out of their way and beyond just doing their job. I feel fortunate to have had this many many times by multiple staff in differing areas, on different lines and ships. In any case, if I notice they have done this, sometimeswithou asking, then I will reward them both via comment and also cash. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korimako Posted October 23, 2023 #58 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Thank you all for your very helpful replies. I now know that I can enjoy my cruise without having to worry about who to tip and how much. It's so out of the norm for us Kiwis to tip - I remember once coming home from a trip of several months in Europe, going to hand my hairdresser a tip (which I had got used to doing in France) to have her tell me ' You've been away too long, you've forgotten we don't tip!' Thanks again all. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lyndarra Posted October 23, 2023 #59 Share Posted October 23, 2023 4 hours ago, arxcards said: They both derive from the word serve, but yes. Here was me just thinking it was an autocorrect spell check thingy.🙃 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackduck59 Posted October 27, 2023 #60 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I know I have posted this before on other threads, I'm not sure if it was on the down under board. Believe it or not there is a difference between "TIPS" and "Gratuities". "TIPS" are given before hand "to insure proper service" this is when the patron offers someone, usually the maitre d to get a better table, then the waiter or bartender or any other person so you are moved to the front of the line. It is a bribe for lack of a better word; unfortunately many times the tipper thinks they now actually own the person they bribed for the duration of the encounter. A "gratuity" is given after service to say thankyou for a job well done. Unfortunately in Canada and the US "gratuities" are expected no matter how ordinary or even bad the service is. We are happy to pay the "gratuities" as charged by the cruise line, for our down under cruise the "Gratuities" are included in the "have it all" package we chose. If we have exceptional service we will also give cash to the individuals that went above and beyond for us. It will be a welcome change for us when we are down there and the bill is the bill. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquility Base Posted October 27, 2023 #61 Share Posted October 27, 2023 33 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said: "TIPS" are given before hand "to insure proper service" this is when the patron offers someone, usually the maitre d to get a better table, then the waiter or bartender or any other person so you are moved to the front of the line. Ha….nice try. However it would be TEPS in that case, as the word is ensure. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackduck59 Posted October 27, 2023 #62 Share Posted October 27, 2023 6 minutes ago, Tranquility Base said: Ha….nice try. However it would be TEPS in that case, as the word is ensure. What I said was the truth, take it or leave it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted October 27, 2023 #63 Share Posted October 27, 2023 And lets not get into version #3 - pourboire, which is giving a discretionary reward (usually cash) for over and above service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted October 27, 2023 #64 Share Posted October 27, 2023 2 hours ago, Tranquility Base said: Ha….nice try. However it would be TEPS in that case, as the word is ensure. Ha, nice try. However, it would be if you were actually using proper English and not what the acronym stemmed from. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbenjo Posted October 27, 2023 #65 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Interesting “hypothetical” calculation on gratuities. Average cruise ship, say 2000 paxs pay gratuities multiplied by say 350 days a year at $16 per day with the cruise line having 15 ships, they would collect $168,000,000 .If each ship had 1000 crew that would be $11200 a year per crew member. 🤔🤔🤔🤔 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted October 27, 2023 #66 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Automatic gratuities = AWS..... Automatic wage supplement for that is what it is.😬 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted October 27, 2023 #67 Share Posted October 27, 2023 1 hour ago, NSWP said: Automatic gratuities = AWS..... Automatic wage supplement for that is what it is.😬 Good to see you back!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarramar Posted October 27, 2023 #68 Share Posted October 27, 2023 8 hours ago, Blackduck59 said: What I said was the truth, take it or leave it. The actual accepted origin is "To Insure Promptness" This was painted and fired on porcelain cups & bowls at inns, coffee houses, etc. for coins to be dropped into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted October 27, 2023 #69 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I am going with Snopes on that. Hard to find pictures of said cups & bowls. They would have to bob up in auction catalogues once in a while. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchhalm Posted October 27, 2023 #70 Share Posted October 27, 2023 (edited) On 10/23/2023 at 12:45 PM, arxcards said: Edited October 27, 2023 by buchhalm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted October 27, 2023 #71 Share Posted October 27, 2023 2 hours ago, buchhalm said: You say it best, when you say nothing at all. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchhalm Posted October 27, 2023 #72 Share Posted October 27, 2023 11 minutes ago, MicCanberra said: You say it best, when you say nothing at all. Nuff said 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted October 30, 2023 #73 Share Posted October 30, 2023 On 10/27/2023 at 9:32 PM, yarramar said: The actual accepted origin is "To Insure Promptness" This was painted and fired on porcelain cups & bowls at inns, coffee houses, etc. for coins to be dropped into. Even so, it should be "To Ensure Promptness". 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarramar Posted October 30, 2023 #74 Share Posted October 30, 2023 2 hours ago, Aus Traveller said: Even so, it should be "To Ensure Promptness". 😁 Possibly but making a payment to insure against a possible unfavorable outcome is just as valid. You could also say “to assure promptness “ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted October 30, 2023 #75 Share Posted October 30, 2023 11 minutes ago, yarramar said: Possibly but making a payment to insure against a possible unfavorable outcome is just as valid. You could also say “to assure promptness “ You could certainly say "assure". Maybe I am taking the word literally, but I understand "insure" to relate to insurance of some kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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