(Another) Tipping Question

[awesomekimmy]

I am not looking for judgment here, but I am wondering if anyone is willing to admit that they don't tip at all? Or that they tip less than the recommended amount? Or that they only tip certain staff members while ignoring others?

 

Again, no need to reply calling people cheap.:) It's just a question.

[KelJ]

I am not looking for judgment here, but I am wondering if anyone is willing to admit that they don't tip at all? Or that they tip less than the recommended amount? Or that they only tip certain staff members while ignoring others?

 

Again, no need to reply calling people cheap.:) It's just a question.

 

There is a frequent poster on these boards who readily admits that he NEVER tips. :eek: Too bad he doesn't tell the people taking care of him that he won't be tipping them. Then they could spend their time and efforts on people who appreciate them and will reward them for a job well done. He travels with a child too, so I'm sure she'll be carrying on his habits in the future.:(

[jeanlyon]

I don't agree with tips being put on bills. I always tip my cabin steward/stewardess, can't actually believe that people don't do that. I also tip our waiter and wine person. That's it.

[cb at sea]

I can't believe that folks would tip at least the recommended amount to those who serve you!

I even leave tips for the housekeepers in hotels, especially when they are aware that we like the room done early, and they go out of their way to do it!

[PrincessasMommy]

IMO, if you can't afford to tip then you can't afford to vacation!

 

This coming from a mid-30's couple of blue collar workers with 4 small children.

 

We figure it in the cost because we feel that the workers deserve respect and appreciation and as decent human beings we should be very grateful for good service provided.

 

Regarding the pp who mentioned the no-tipper with the daughter........Class is something taught, as parents it is our job to teach. Poor kid.

 

It's not about being cheap, it's about manners!

[Jimmers]

I consider myself a generous tipper. However it's a social custom I'd like to see disappear.

[Happy ks]

As long as the compensation for the job is not included in my fare I will continue to tip. You may agree or disagree with the company policy that they should compensate without the customer having to pay the wage, but until there is a policy change, it is only human decency to tip.

 

I would be terribly embarrassed to admit to being a non-tipper here on CC or any other message board. To me, to not give a tip is expecting the workers to be your slave, hard work and no compensation. I don't care what country you are from or what the typical formulation is where you currently live.

 

The people serving you on a cruise ship are only paid a minimal wage ($50 per month) and board. I'd like to find one person who can afford to cruise willing to live with that scenario.

 

I have to agree with Jimmers, it's something I'd like to see disappear, then I can reward a gratuity for a job well done as a gift, above and beyond their wage.

 

Non-tippers should hide their heads in shame.

[awesomekimmy]

I wonder how many first-time cruisers are unaware of the necessity of tips until it actually comes time to do so.

[Purplehaze21]

We are going on our 1st cruise on the 25th! When I paid for the cruise, I prepaid our tips. I am glad I did because we don't know what to expect from a cruise and the people who will serve us but by reading CC, I am sure I did the right thing. By the things I am reading, the crew and staff will be great and deserve to be tipped. Its the same as going to a restaurant here, I would never not tip. If we happen to get bad service here, I do tip, may just be an off day for our server.

[boomhaursgrl]

There are occasions I reluctantly tip. Such as my stateroom attendant this last cruise... look him close to 3 hours to complete cleaning my room. I travel by myself, and I'm a pretty organized person, so I never understood why it took him so long. The only reason why I think tipping is so important is because I am a server, and I live pretty much off tips alone. My hourly wages cover the taxes taken out of my tips. I do believe, however, that a good tip should be earned, like if a head waiter doesn't appear at your table at least one time each evening, I would be reluctant to tip him/ her.

[PhoenixCruiser]

I think it's about being cheap and having no manners :eek:

 

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[awesomekimmy]

I think it's about being cheap and having no manners :eek:

 

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A lot of people seem to share the "manners" opinion and it's one that I don't understand. Cheap, I get. But manners? What if the service is exceptionally bad? Is it then rude to tip less than the predetermined amount or not at all?

[Jimmers]

There are occasions I reluctantly tip. Such as my stateroom attendant this last cruise... look him close to 3 hours to complete cleaning my room. I travel by myself, and I'm a pretty organized person, so I never understood why it took him so long. The only reason why I think tipping is so important is because I am a server, and I live pretty much off tips alone. My hourly wages cover the taxes taken out of my tips. I do believe, however, that a good tip should be earned, like if a head waiter doesn't appear at your table at least one time each evening, I would be reluctant to tip him/ her.

 

IMO, basic service warrants the basic recommended tip. I usually give extra if we've asked for "special attention" or the person goes out of the their way for us. Which is almost always.

 

Service would have to be grossly under par before I would consider giving less than the recommended amount. Fortunately I haven't experienced that yet.

[chrisb74]

I think it's about being cheap and having no manners :eek:

 

You also have to realize that some of us come from countries where tipping is rare. I'm from Australia and it is the norm to NOT tip. Tipping is done only when a staff member goes above and beyond a 'normal' leave of service. This makes the concept of who to tip and when somewhat confusing for those of us not used to it.

 

Why should I tip the guy that takes my bags at Checkin? Do I have any choice? No. Did he do anything other than what he's meant to? No. If I could carry my own bags on I would. (Not because I'm cheap, just because it's easier for me to keep my luggage in sight)

 

That said, when I'm in another Culture I will try to stick to their way of doing things - For the USA this means I have pre-paid my cruise tips and will try to tip at a reasonable level - when I figure out who I should be tipping. :)

 

Chrisb.

[EaglesFan13]

We just got back from a 6 day cruise on the NOS. We had an inside cabin and we spent about $100 in tips. That amount will go up if you have a suite or large cabin.

 

We gave our tips in cash, so make sure you bring you enough -- if you add it to your seapass account, you end up paying an extra $100+ (a certain fee is assessed per passenger per day to do this option) , which I think is ridiculous.

[philnpen]

We are going on our 1st cruise on the 25th! When I paid for the cruise, I prepaid our tips. I am glad I did because we don't know what to expect from a cruise and the people who will serve us but by reading CC, I am sure I did the right thing. By the things I am reading, the crew and staff will be great and deserve to be tipped. Its the same as going to a restaurant here, I would never not tip. If we happen to get bad service here, I do tip, may just be an off day for our server.

 

Congrats on your first cruise. We have never prepaid our tips as sometimes we feel we need to tip more (which you can still do even with prepay), or maybe not at all to the Head Waiter if you don't feel he gave any service that would justify. On one cruise that had Key West as a port a young man bought a shirst filled with expletives and wore it to the dining room that night. It was very offensive and when I asked the HW about the young man's attire he said he couldn't ask him to leave because he might complain so loud and long the HW might get in trouble. I know of three couples at our table who did not tip the HW. One gentleman from England was so incensed by the HW's lack of action got up and left after tipping the waiter and assistant waiter.

[critterchick]

We just got back from a 6 day cruise on the NOS. We had an inside cabin and we spent about $100 in tips. That amount will go up if you have a suite or large cabin.

 

We gave our tips in cash, so make sure you bring you enough -- if you add it to your seapass account, you end up paying an extra $100+ (a certain fee is assessed per passenger per day to do this option) , which I think is ridiculous.

 

If you charge your tips to your Seapass, you pay the recommended amount (you are, of course, free to add more money if you feel somebody deserves it). We have never been assessed an additional charge to do so.

[Rancher Dave]

IMO, if you can't afford to tip then you can't afford to vacation!

 

This coming from a mid-30's couple of blue collar workers with 4 small children.

 

We figure it in the cost because we feel that the workers deserve respect and appreciation and as decent human beings we should be very grateful for good service provided.

 

Regarding the pp who mentioned the no-tipper with the daughter........Class is something taught, as parents it is our job to teach. Poor kid.

 

It's not about being cheap, it's about manners!

 

I agree it is a good idea to basically add into the cruise (or overall) vacation costs all of the different costs you will pay, the cruise fare alone is just the tip of the iceberg, it is what is below the waterline that can hurt you. <If only the Titanic captain paid attention to that he may not have sunk his boat:eek: >

 

For us upcoming NOS cruise, the total planned cost, Airport parking for a week, 2 nights pre cruise hotel room because air, oh yes air can really add up these days, was far cheaper 2 nights prior, add on rental car, food, tips at hote, tips at port, tips on board at least minimum, drinks on ship, sourvenirs, food for the flights, and then put on some extra spending money for that which is unexpected...bingo, more drinks etc... :D Only then can we decide if the trip is too expensive or not. Thankfully in the NOS case the 2 nights at the hotel are compliments of Hilton thanks to tens of thousands of dollars spent at Hilton over a few years...

 

Everyone regardless of class status, means, etc..., should be respectful of how other make their income and when the position is a tipped position that should be considered.

[Happy ks]

You also have to realize that some of us come from countries where tipping is rare. I'm from Australia and it is the norm to NOT tip. Tipping is done only when a staff member goes above and beyond a 'normal' leave of service. This makes the concept of who to tip and when somewhat confusing for those of us not used to it.

 

Why should I tip the guy that takes my bags at Checkin? Do I have any choice? No. Did he do anything other than what he's meant to? No. If I could carry my own bags on I would. (Not because I'm cheap, just because it's easier for me to keep my luggage in sight)

 

That said, when I'm in another Culture I will try to stick to their way of doing things - For the USA this means I have pre-paid my cruise tips and will try to tip at a reasonable level - when I figure out who I should be tipping. :)

 

Chrisb.

 

But, the wage a restaurant server is making in your country is a living income, right??? It makes an enormous difference. I can very well understand why some countries have different methods of tipping. In the US, a server in a restaurant makes far less than minimum wage and depend on their tips. Same story on a cruise ship.

 

I know there are people on this board who feel they are sending a message to the company by not tipping, thinking they are letting them know their feelings about the method their employess are paid. All it does is punish the worker, the company doesn't care if one of theirs gets stiffed by some for that week.

 

Non tippers are just cheapskates.

[RNSANE]

I ALWAYS put my gratuities on my seapass account ( plus add extra to

the tip envelope as I feel it is indicated - these crew members provide incredible service! ) and I have NEVER, in 62 cruises, had an additional

fee charged by Royal Caribbean for this service.

[Jimmers]

We just got back from a 6 day cruise on the NOS. We had an inside cabin and we spent about $100 in tips. That amount will go up if you have a suite or large cabin.

 

We gave our tips in cash, so make sure you bring you enough -- if you add it to your seapass account, you end up paying an extra $100+ (a certain fee is assessed per passenger per day to do this option) , which I think is ridiculous.

 

When did they start this? I did it as recently as August and no extra charge was added to my seapass.

[TYMAN]

As Jean stated....eaglesfan13 tipped below the recommended amount, that's why the "add to seapass" amount seemed high. To add to seapass is $9.75 per day per person, the recommended amount, no added "service" charge. For a 6 day cruise for two people that would add up to about $120 in tips....as you can tell by eaglesfan's post, he only tipped "about $100", which is below the recommended amount...to each it's own....

[Jimmers]

As Jean stated....eaglesfan13 tipped below the recommended amount, that's why the "add to seapass" amount seemed high. To add to seapass is $9.75 per day per person, the recommended amount, no added "service" charge. For a 6 day cruise for two people that would add up to about $120 in tips....as you can tell by eaglesfan's post, he only tipped "about $100", which is below the recommended amount...to each it's own....

 

I see now. His "fee" as he called it was simply the recommended tip.

[TYMAN]

Exactly......

[mberli]

We just got back from a 6 day cruise on the NOS. We had an inside cabin and we spent about $100 in tips. That amount will go up if you have a suite or large cabin.

 

We gave our tips in cash, so make sure you bring you enough -- if you add it to your seapass account, you end up paying an extra $100+ (a certain fee is assessed per passenger per day to do this option) , which I think is ridiculous.

 

In addition to other responses to this post, be aware that you can go to the casino cashier to get cash. They just add it to your seapass and there is no fee. So you don't need to worry about the cash for tipping.

Mel