Are you still adding cash gratuity on top of the automatic gratuities?

[Another_Critic]

39 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

you're trying to compare 18% pool gratuity to a $1 or $2.00 cash individual gratuity. It isn't the same.

Many of the $1 or $2 cash tips are pooled, especially when given at the bar.

[Mapleleafforever]

I will be removing the auto grats altogether and rewarding good service in cash as it comes. 

[Beer Belly]

First time on RCL, usually cruise NCL. We do intend on tipping an additional 15-20% at restaurants as always....and throw the chef at the Hibachi restaurant a 20. Those serving / delivering drinks get a 5 every two or three servings.

Edited November 1, 2023 by Beer Belly

[colmenares3]

Asking with trepidation, and not to hijack, but is there a good thread on tipping? Coco Cay cabana staff, drinks, additional cash tips, any and all times that tipping could be appropriate?

[pcur]

I ALWAYS give my cabin steward an extra cash tip. If I win anything with my measly free $8 in the casino on the first 2 days, the cash tip immediately goes to the cabin steward.  Otherwise, I'll use my own extra cash I brought with me.

 

HA! On my last cruise I did this on Day 1 after my visit to the casino.  I was BURIED in the upgraded toiletries for the rest of the cruise!!!  He was such a sweetie, from China, and said I reminded him of his Mom.......ummmm.....look at my avatar???????

[Cigar King]

Honestly, the 28 (for 2) bucks extra a week makes no difference to me at all considering the overall cost of a cruise.  I really do wish Royal would just bundle this into the price of the cruise and move along.  They don't seem to have a problem raising prices in general so their argument about trying to keep competitive rings hollow.

[RoyalC]

3 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

Honestly, the 28 (for 2) bucks extra a week makes no difference to me at all considering the overall cost of a cruise.  I really do wish Royal would just bundle this into the price of the cruise and move along.  They don't seem to have a problem raising prices in general so their argument about trying to keep competitive rings hollow.

It's $252 for two people for a 7-day cruise. RCL loves when people say it's only a few bucks, it's only a few amenities removed, etc. This has been going on for years now, but people accept it. Add your high cruise taxes and it is around $600 to step on board without cruise fare, flights (for most), hotel (for most), transfers (for most).  Excursions are not cheap either. 

[Cigar King]

Again, who cares?  Considering the overall cost to cruise, the tips don't make a difference to me. 

[erby2283]

Do these tips not also pay for the "behind the scenes" crew that you don't see or wouldn't necessarily think to tip? Like the laundry crew, or buffet staff? Just a serious question. 

[not-enough-cruising]

4 minutes ago, erby2283 said:

Do these tips not also pay for the "behind the scenes" crew that you don't see or wouldn't necessarily think to tip? Like the laundry crew, or buffet staff? Just a serious question. 

Since win are laundry staff and dishwashers, tipped positions? 
 

Clean linen and clean flat ware are the bare minimum expected for my exorbitant cruise fare
 

Edited November 1, 2023 by not-enough-cruising

[erby2283]

7 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Since win are laundry staff and dishwashers, tipped positions? 
 

Clean linen and clean flat ware are the bare minimum expected for my exorbitant cruise fare
 

"As a way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience."  

[not-enough-cruising]

3 minutes ago, erby2283 said:

"As a way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience."  

Thank you. I am well aware the published position statement on the topic. 
 

Behind the scenes personnel, as I stated above, are not tipped positions. My cruise fare covers their salary. 

[goldfish65]

34 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

Again, who cares?  Considering the overall cost to cruise, the tips don't make a difference to me. 

 

For some people, spending as little as possible is a religion to them. And they observe it strictly! 

[DonnaK]

21 hours ago, NightOne said:

We have always prepaid gratuities. We have also gave additional cash gratuities to our room steward and MDR waiters. We also added additional gratuities at special dining.

 

However, with the automatic daily gratuities going higher and higher it is getting hard to justify the "tips on top of the tips".

 

Anyone else feeling this way?

 

Are you still going to tip more?

To be honest, we leave the auto-tips in place and that's it.  Unless someone does something extraordinary for us, over and above the usual expectations of their job, we do not give additional tips.  The auto-gratuities are sufficient.

[erby2283]

4 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Thank you. I am well aware the published position statement on the topic. 
 

Behind the scenes personnel, as I stated above, are not tipped positions. My cruise fare covers their salary. 

No worries - I have the same opinion as mentioned earlier - you do you and I'll do me. 

 

Unless we have worked for a cruise line, I don't think we can so for sure where their salary comes from. Maybe they're guaranteed a rate and the cruise line hopes  the auto-tips cover those salaries and if not, they pitch in the rest???? Who knows for sure?  I personally leave the auto-tips on and prefer to tip my steward, and dining staff additionally according to service. It's the cruise lines being greedy, not their staff who leave their families for months at time - many work for weeks at a time without a day off.  So if a little extra money can help and I have it, more than happy to do it. I'm never one to push my ideals and values on others - it's just what I choose to do. 🙂

[Cigar King]

14 minutes ago, goldfish65 said:

For some people, spending as little as possible is a religion to them. And they observe it strictly! 

Well then let's raise the prices some more and they won't be on a cruise with me because it's against their religion!  😉

[prmssk]

21 hours ago, NightOne said:

We have always prepaid gratuities. We have also gave additional cash gratuities to our room steward and MDR waiters. We also added additional gratuities at special dining.

 

However, with the automatic daily gratuities going higher and higher it is getting hard to justify the "tips on top of the tips".

 

Anyone else feeling this way?

 

Are you still going to tip more?

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here.  These jobs do depend on a level of tipping just like servers at restaurants in the US but I see the auto gratuities as a restaurant that just decides to automatically add to the bill 20%.  Some people will leave it at that and not tip extra.  Others will sometimes tip more for really good service.  Others yet, will always tip more.

 

We will continue to pay the auto-gratuities.  But with every raise in auto-gratuities, we are handing out less cash tips.  It's taking more to impress us and make us feel that an additional tip is warranted.  

 

I suggest you do what feels comfortable to you based on your own thoughts about tipping and the actual service you receive.

[NightOne]

1 hour ago, Cigar King said:

Again, who cares?  Considering the overall cost to cruise, the tips don't make a difference to me. 

 

This thread is not about whether to pay the tips or not but rather about giving MORE tips on top of the auto-gratuities. (or not)

 

At what point are we "over tipping"?

 

[not-enough-cruising]

34 minutes ago, erby2283 said:

No worries - I have the same opinion as mentioned earlier - you do you and I'll do me. 

 

Unless we have worked for a cruise line, I don't think we can so for sure where their salary comes from. Maybe they're guaranteed a rate and the cruise line hopes  the auto-tips cover those salaries and if not, they pitch in the rest???? Who knows for sure?  I personally leave the auto-tips on and prefer to tip my steward, and dining staff additionally according to service. It's the cruise lines being greedy, not their staff who leave their families for months at time - many work for weeks at a time without a day off.  So if a little extra money can help and I have it, more than happy to do it. I'm never one to push my ideals and values on others - it's just what I choose to do. 🙂

We all know for sure how it works. It’s open knowledge how the contracts read. 
Crewmbers are guaranteed a set salary based on international convention. The cruiseline MUST make sure they receive this amount in their pay packet. This amount should come from Royal’s revenue. Gratuities should be ON TOP of this amount. In the current “auto gratuity” model this is not at all what is happening. 

[Cigar King]

2 hours ago, NightOne said:

At what point are we "over tipping"?

There is no such thing as "over tipping" so you have no need to worry about it.

[George C]

I already have a hundred in 5’s another hundred in singles and will bring a couple hundred in 20’s mostly for tips . plus my casino cash.

[boscobeans]

On 10/31/2023 at 4:06 PM, NightOne said:

We have always prepaid gratuities. We have also gave additional cash gratuities to our room steward and MDR waiters. We also added additional gratuities at special dining.

 

However, with the automatic daily gratuities going higher and higher it is getting hard to justify the "tips on top of the tips".

We ALL expect a salary raise from our employers, and since passengers are actually the people who ultimately are the employers, I see nothing unusual with a minor increase.

 

12% does seem to be a bit steep but as part of the total cruise package and compared to the cost of living in some parts of the world once again I see nothing unusual.

 

[iscruisingdunzo]

20 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

We ALL expect a salary raise from our employers, and since passengers are actually the people who ultimately are the employers, I see nothing unusual with a minor increase.

 

12% does seem to be a bit steep but as part of the total cruise package and compared to the cost of living in some parts of the world once again I see nothing unusual.

 

Lol, this is the most comical thing I have ever read. That is like stating that you are the employer for every person you do business with! No sorry, again, gratuities AKA tips, are funds people pay to reward someone or a group of people for their quality of work. By no means do I consider myself the employer for anyone I tip!

[travelberlin]

4 hours ago, erby2283 said:

Do these tips not also pay for the "behind the scenes" crew that you don't see or wouldn't necessarily think to tip? Like the laundry crew, or buffet staff? Just a serious question. 

They say they do. But should you tip everybody who works on the ship? Aren’t they tipping positions and non tipping positions? Do you tip the assistants at the kitchen in restaurants on land or the laundry people in hotels? Tipping is a cultural thing and unfortunately it has lost the original meaning. Now tipping in USA  is even used to have access to things you are not entitled to. In some countries this is called corruption. 

[PompeySailor]

I just tipped my mailman for delivering my daily post 

Now I know in the future my mail will be delivered as usual, with a ribbon on it 😜

 

Forgot to add - I love tipping threads 🍿 

Edited November 1, 2023 by PompeySailor