How are tips distributed to HAL staff?

[InvestiGator]

Since I feel guilty for giving what I now think were meager tips to several outstanding individual crew members on a recent HAL cruise, I ask the following questions:

 

When gratuities are collected under the "no tipping" policy, how are they disbursed to ship staff? For instance, when 15% is added to a drink purchase, do the specific waiters and bartenders who served the drink get the tip or is it disseminated between all bar persons?

 

Similarly, is there a graduated system to divide gratuities between various dining room wait staff? What about stewards? I am sure there is a method, but am curious whether it inspires individual excellence or if passenger add-ons are the primary incentive for better service.

[sail7seas]

:confused: Huh? No tipping policy. HAL does not have a 'no tipping policy' and never did. Years past, there was a 'no tipping required' policy but tipping was certainly permitted and appreciated. We never left an HAL ship (or any ship) without tipping those who worked so hard to make our cruise wonderful.

 

HAL now has the automatic tips added to our shipboard accounts. Many folks find it easier than the old system. We always leave that automatic tip in place and tip extra to those stewards/bartenders etc who gave us such outstanding service. We give those crew persons an envelope at the end of the cruise with an 'over and above' extra tip.

 

I don't know how the automatic tips are split. We've discussed it here many times and none of us really know for sure, I don't think. One person will report that a crew person told them one thing and then someone else says something different. I don't figure I need to know. JMHO.......

 

[hammybee]

Since I feel guilty distributing relatively meager individual tips to many outstanding crew members on a recent lengthy HAL cruise, I ask the following questions:

 

Since semi-mandatory gratuities are collected automatically under the no tipping policy, how are they disbursed to ship staff? For instance, when 15% is added to a drink purchase, do the specific waiters and bartenders who served the drink get the tip or is it disseminated between all bar persons?

 

Is there a graduated system to divide gratuities between the various dining room wait staff? What about stewards? I suspect there is a method but am curious whether it inspires individual excellence or if our add-ons are the primary incentive for better service.

 

HAL does not have a " no tipping policy. We are each free to tip above and beyond, or not.

 

Most land based restaurants require the wait staff to either pool their tips or tip out to people behind the scenes. Many of the corporate-owned restaurtants require a percentage of each check to be turned in, regardless if the patron left a gratuity or not. Sooner or later, every server finds themselves in the situation of having to pay the restauarant, out of pocket, for the opportunity to serve a non tipping patron.

 

I don't concern myself with how monies get divied up when dining out or while on a cruise ship. I figure it's none of my business.

[twinkletoes4445]

 

Similarly, is there a graduated system to divide gratuities between various dining room wait staff? What about stewards?

 

I'm not sure exactly who's included in the auto-tip, but we do give extra tips to those several people for doing things above and beyond. From what I've been told, this is there's to keep as it should be (as long as you leave the auto-tip in place).

[vbmom87]

When I attended the disembarkation talk given by the cruise director on the Volendam, this is how she said the $10 was divided: $3.00 for the room steward, $3.00 for the waitstaff, and $4.00 for all the behind the scenes staff.

[cf_chuck]

As other posters have already stated, we haven't been able to determine an "official" breakdown of how the auto tips are dispersed. Both Celebrity and RCI publish their recommended tipping guidelines, are about in line with the HAL autotip, those may be used to get some ideas without pouring concrete.

 

What I do know is that the dinner dining room servers frequently have other duties during the day. It's not unusual (Tom Jones) for me to run into my dinner steward and assistant helping out in the Lido for breakfast, lunch or both.

 

When it comes to the "bar staff", I don't know how the 15% BSC could be allocated in any manner other than as a pool, since there are many things that can be purchased ahead (packages, cards), or even purchased aboard, where providing service for these things is distributed across many individuals. I've also seen several cases where my wine steward was pulling bar duty during the day.

 

Then there's the complication of open seating.

 

While I would like to have some idea on how all this is handled, I have a sense that the underlying formulation is complex and subject to adjustments over time. Tipping is a personal matter. I believe in leaving the autotip in place. I also believe in giving those that have provided service that has enhanced my cruise experience more. What I do know is that all contributions are gratefully appreciated and I haven't yet run into anyone that had their hand out with expectation.

[CruisingChics]

When I attended the disembarkation talk given by the cruise director on the Volendam, this is how she said the $10 was divided: $3.00 for the room steward, $3.00 for the waitstaff, and $4.00 for all the behind the scenes staff.

 

this is correct, and i work on board.

those who keep the automatic tip in place can rest assured that the person who receives an additional tip can keep all to himself or herself.

very rarely do i encounter someone who wants to remove the automatic tip, which i find extremely "cheap".

it's interesting that people think that because of the automatic tip, service has "suffered" because guests think "they know they're getting a tip so they think it's okay to slack-off" and i read here in many threads that "oh, i think the Lido service or dining room service is worse than last year because of the added tips" -

That couldn't be further from the truth.

A large part of the reason for establishing an automatic tip is because of the cheap cruisers who don't tip at all, which causes, among other things, staff to feel under-appreciated or under-thanked, whatever you want to call it. Too many times I hear and read "i paid for the cruise, so i've already paid for my cabin steward's salary,, why should i also have to tip him?"

So many stories i have read about staff getting "stiffed" that it causes staff to leave and work elsewhere.

When a staff is motivated to work ABOVE AND BEYOND what they think the guest expects, then they can realize, hey, a little extra effort and this guest will leave me a nice tip.

That's what is supposed to happen.

But when someone cancels the "automatic tipping" for there cabin, no one wins. Whatever you leave your steward or dining room waiter is pooled. If you cancel your automatic tipping, and give 100bucks to the cabin steward and 100bucks to the dining room guy becuase you think "your" method of calculating is better than ours, both the recipients have to turn in the tip. What if they don't ? Everything is recorded. Even when you cancel your automatic tip, it is recorded and proper management is informed. The housekeeping dept. is informed, the dining room management is informed, etc, and a list is posted. If a steward gets a tip he must refer to the list first to see if you have stayed in or opted out. If you have stayed in, he gets to keep the 100bucks. If you have opted out, he must turn it in. What if he tries to be sly and keep it anyway? That is recourse for job dismissal.

When you think about how much work these guys do and all the extra duties they have and how little time they have to enjoy life beyond the a.m., p.m., and manytimes "luggage" duty, you will realize that the paltry split of the automatic tipping is a very tiny amount. Add up the split x the number of guests on board and it is "just okay" when you compare to what they could earn in their home country.

 

Next time you cruise take it into consideration. Keep the auto-tip in place and tip those who made it special for you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We always keep the auto tips in place.

 

And we always give extra to those who have made our cruise special.

[BumperII]

I don't know about everyone else on this board, but it took me thirty five years to become an overnight success.:D So, having started out in a work world where without benefit of medical benefits, the cost of my first born son was paid by money earned through the time honored tipping system. To say the least, we have an understanding of just how important tips are to the service worker.

It has been our experience on HAL that all of these workers bend over backwards to make sure we have an enjoyable experience. Everything we have ever asked for was accomodated promptly and cheerfully!

We simply regard the so called extra tips as fair compensation for the service rendered. We have a sort of an unspoken agreement with the staff, they don't tell us how to spend our money, and we don't tell them how to spend theirs. What the staff chooses to do with the tip money is up to them.

The biggest reason we keep returning to HAL has almost nothing to do with corporate policy and almost everything to do with the wonderful staff and crew. The cabin and dining stewards are the face of Holland America we see and interact with most often. We always want to leave these folks on a happy note simply because we are coming back!:o

[Krazy Kruizers]

When I attended the disembarkation talk given by the cruise director on the Volendam, this is how she said the $10 was divided: $3.00 for the room steward, $3.00 for the waitstaff, and $4.00 for all the behind the scenes staff.

 

Wonder if this is a change?? We were told that the cabin steward got $3.50 and the dining room staff split $3.50 and the last $3 was divided among the behind the scenes staff.

[vbmom87]

Wonder if this is a change?? We were told that the cabin steward got $3.50 and the dining room staff split $3.50 and the last $3 was divided among the behind the scenes staff.

 

I cannot tell you if it is a change. This was my first cruise. I took notes as she spoke and made sure to write this down because I knew there had been a discussion about it on these boards. Could it be different on different ships?

[sail7seas]

;) You know how great the stewards' memories are for remembering our names, when they last sailed with us, that you like martinis extra dry?

 

Well, guess what....... that same great memory will kick in when you return to a ship and they recall you stiffed them all the last time. :(

Something to think about. :D

 

But 'ya know what. They are so dedicated to providing us with a wonderful cruise, they probably will recall you stiffed them all but would most likely work even harder to try and satisfy you this time.

 

But I wonder why if the service was so bad the first time that you removed your automatic tips, why would you sail them again? :confused:

 

If we can afford to cruise, we can afford to tip. IMO

If something so unsatisfactory occurs that you feel dictates you should fail to tip, I would think you would speak with the appropriate supervisor, GRM, Dining Room Manager, Hotel Manager to have the situation corrected. Isn't the point to have a great cruise. How will stiffing the crew provide you with a good cruise? Would you rather stew through your whole vacation that something not right is occuring or speak up and have it corrected???

 

I don't understand people staying silent while aboard, having their cruise less enjoyable than it should have been and then coming home and asking for CEO's address so they can write a letter of complaint. Or complaining here looking for sympathy. What good is that going to do to provide you with a great cruise? It's too late. You're off the ship and your vacation is over.

 

I'm happy to hear what is wrong with this logic.

 

Have a great cruise and tip those who made it great. JMHO for a Monday morning.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I cannot tell you if it is a change. This was my first cruise. I took notes as she spoke and made sure to write this down because I knew there had been a discussion about it on these boards. Could it be different on different ships?

 

It won't be different on the other ships. I know that the "behind the scenes staff" have complained about the little bit they get.

So this distribution makes a lot more sense.

[sail7seas]

Behind the scenes crew have complained to you they don't get a big enough cut of the tips? When do you speak with behind the scenes bakers, dishwashers, laundry people? We've met A LOT of crew folks but not many 'behind the scene' folk. I'm interested how and where to do so. I'd love chatting with them.

 

Hotel Managers, Captains, Culinary Operations Managers, Bar Managers and Supervisors, Dining Room Managers, Chefs, GRM's, Concierges, Chief Officers, Chief Engineers, Pinnacle Manager/stewards, Future Cruise Consultants, Shore Excursions Staff, Cruise Directors, CD's, Casino Workers, Photographers, Internet Managers, few shop people, Security Officers, bar stewards, bartenders, deck crew.....chat with them all.....

 

But never behind the scenes.

I'd love to. Tell us how to meet them.

 

Thanks.

[jtl513]

For instance, when 15% is added to a drink purchase, do the specific waiters and bartenders who served the drink get the tip or is it disseminated between all bar persons?

I know on the Zuiderdam, at least, all 15% bar service charges are pooled. This is the fairest way, since some are assigned to "easy pickings" places like the dining room, while others are assigned to places where there is much less action. Yes, they rotate, but the pooling evens things out every week rather than having large swings in compensation and large competition for the better locales.

this is correct, and i work on board.

Thank you for your insights. Now would you tell us, please, how the dining room team splits their share, and whether any part of the $20 Pinnacle Grill charge goes for tip? :)

[kakalina]

Sails, I am not KK but I can tell you how to meet behing the scenes staff. I have made friends with a few of the Indonesian ladies who clean the restrooms onboard. We email each other and stay in touch. We have shared snorkel equipment on the beaches of Bora Bora with several kitchen staff and we have talked and shared stories.

I met two of the laundry staff who were in a type of talent contest with the pax and spent quite some time conversing.

I have also spent a great deal of time talking with cast members several who are good friends now.

If one spends the time to show an interest one can just about always make a way to meet those behind the scenes. :)

[cf_chuck]

;) You know how great the stewards' memories are for remembering our names, when they last sailed with us, that you like martinis extra dry?

 

Well, guess what....... that same great memory will kick in when you return to a ship and they recall you stiffed them all the last time. :(

Something to think about. :D

 

But 'ya know what. They are so dedicated to providing us with a wonderful cruise, they probably will recall you stiffed them all but would most likely work even harder to try and satisfy you this time.

 

But I wonder why if the service was so bad the first time that you removed your automatic tips, why would you sail them again? :confused:

 

If we can afford to cruise, we can afford to tip. IMO

If something so unsatisfactory occurs that you feel dictates you should fail to tip, I would think you would speak with the appropriate supervisor, GRM, Dining Room Manager, Hotel Manager to have the situation corrected. Isn't the point to have a great cruise. How will stiffing the crew provide you with a good cruise? Would you rather stew through your whole vacation that something not right is occuring or speak up and have it corrected???

 

I don't understand people staying silent while aboard, having their cruise less enjoyable than it should have been and then coming home and asking for CEO's address so they can write a letter of complaint. Or complaining here looking for sympathy. What good is that going to do to provide you with a great cruise? It's too late. You're off the ship and your vacation is over.

 

I'm happy to hear what is wrong with this logic.

 

Have a great cruise and tip those who made it great. JMHO for a Monday morning.

 

I'm not going to counter your point of view, just offer another perspective. It's one I encountered from another on my first HAL cruise where autotips were implemented, after each of us having sailed on previous HAL cruises under the old tipping policy.

 

To be clear, I appreciate the autotip and have never reduced or eliminated it.

 

On this board, the general consensus it that tipping is a matter of personal choice.

 

Now back to the point. On that cruise mentioned above, I met someone that was quite indignant about the autotip. His rationale was not one of being cheap or getting away without providing compensation. It was simple, he wanted to reward those that he could tangibly identify as having provided service that he could recognize.

 

It's been a while since the autotip was put into place. Given the frequency that the subject continues to arise here about dispersement and what ifs about reduction, it's clear to me that we as a cruising population don't have a good handle on what goes on.

 

While this isn't a biggie for me, given the frequency that it arises here, it seems to be a biggie for others. From my cited experience and from the frequency that the subject arises, I think HAL would be doing its staff a service by providing some official statement about dispersement and what-ifs if the pool was reduced in areas or withdrawn. With this information, anyone could make the appropriate choices to exercise their personal discretion. Without this, it becomes a matter of HAL choosing, at least based on the information posted here. For some it appears that they don't appreciate HAL choosing for them, so by taking action, they may be self sabbotaging their efforts. As a matter of practicality, for me the amount we are talking about pp/d isn't worth spending a lot of time on. For some, there may be budgetary considerations or it may be a matter of principle.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I know on the Zuiderdam, at least, all 15% bar service charges are pooled. This is the fairest way, since some are assigned to "easy pickings" places like the dining room, while others are assigned to places where there is much less action. Yes, they rotate, but the pooling evens things out every week rather than having large swings in compensation and large competition for the better locales.Thank you for your insights. Now would you tell us, please, how the dining room team splits their share, and whether any part of the $20 Pinnacle Grill charge goes for tip? :)

 

 

On the last several ships we have been on we were also told that the 15% gratuity for the bar service is pooled.

Nothing of the $20 Pinnacle Grill charge goes for the tip.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Behind the scenes crew have complained to you they don't get a big enough cut of the tips? When do you speak with behind the scenes bakers, dishwashers, laundry people? We've met A LOT of crew folks but not many 'behind the scene' folk. I'm interested how and where to do so. I'd love chatting with them.

 

Hotel Managers, Captains, Culinary Operations Managers, Bar Managers and Supervisors, Dining Room Managers, Chefs, GRM's, Concierges, Chief Officers, Chief Engineers, Pinnacle Manager/stewards, Future Cruise Consultants, Shore Excursions Staff, Cruise Directors, CD's, Casino Workers, Photographers, Internet Managers, few shop people, Security Officers, bar stewards, bartenders, deck crew.....chat with them all.....

 

But never behind the scenes.

I'd love to. Tell us how to meet them.

 

Thanks.

 

Have the cleaners lose a shirt -- have slacks come back from cleaners with a black mark on them. One of the laundry men came back with 3 shirts -- asked DH if one of them was his. A different man came back with DH's slacks to show him that all was taken care of.

Have gotten to know a few of the singers -- one I know her mother from another site.

Have often got to talk to several of the ladies who clean the public restrooms.

The behind the scene people are all around and can be found if you just look.

On a couple of ships we saw the same men polishing the areas around the elevators and got to talking to them -- they enjoyed it as it also helped them to improve their English.

And those who are constantly vacuuming the carpets -- have talked to several of them.

They are there!!

[sail7seas]

KK,

 

Yes, of course, the ladies who clean the restrooms are available for interaction. We see them. They are out in 'front of the house'. Of course, there is opportunity to meet the entertainers. They are in Lido every day/evening and many are at the pool on port days.

 

These people are in the 'front of the house'.

 

You said 'BEHIND THE SCENES". That, to me, means bakers, dishwashers, laundry personnel (not the steward who delivers it to us - - - the people who do the washing, pressing and folding etc). The engine workers, the wipers, the men who load all the luggage and provisions into the holds etc.

 

Those are the Behind the Scenes people we have little to no opportunity to meet as they are never in the 'front of the house'.

 

So, when you said they complained to you, I wondered how you met them. When would they have had the opportunity to get to know you well enough to complain about the tipping practice aboard? That is what has me confused. I'd love the chance to chat with those folks in addition to all the 'front of the house' folks we meet throughout all our cruises.

 

 

[kenevenpar]

Does anyone know, if I tip a bartender / bar staff additional cash on top of the automatic service charge, do they get to keep that additional tip?

[hammybee]

Most of the high end cruise lines, charging multiples of the fares charged by the mass marketed cruise lines, have true no tipping policies and discourage incremental tipping. They have a Team Fund Box for those inclined to go above and beyond. It appears that many of their respective passengers do make a contribution to the Team Fund.

 

I have no idea what becomes of the Team Fund. I also have no idea the criterea used by those high end cruise lines to compensate their employees. It is not an ongoing topic on those message boards as it seems to be on the boards dedicated to mass marketed cruise lines.

 

I don't think most people make a habit of interogating restaurant servers and/or managment and/or taxi drivers and/or the person who cuts their hair, about the disposistion of their tips? Why oh why then, is this topic a source of fasination for passengers on mass marketed cruise lines? I just don't get it.

 

I prefer that cruise lines have consistent internal policies for allocation of hotel service charges/tips.

 

It's all about teamwork on a cruise ship. Not all members of the team have the same opportunities or abilities to make the same impression. No doubt the employee who hones his/her routine, does better on incremental tips than one who may be a far better and more consistent team player.

 

For all I know, the most charming cruise line employee who remembers my name or preference and makes me an oragami thing-a-ma-jib, might be a slacker behind the scenes. I trust management to know who carries their weight versus not and reward them accordingly. Last thing I want to think about, while on vacation, is employee compensation. How about you?

[jtl513]

Nothing of the $20 Pinnacle Grill charge goes for the tip.

Yes, that's my belief too, but I want to hear "works on board" CruisingChics say so.

[Thrifty]

Some of us like to know where our money is going; others don't care. There's no reason why we all have to feel the same about that, is there? I agree with cf_chuck that it would be very helpful if HAL would tell those of us who want to know what the practice is.

[twinkletoes4445]

 

I have no idea what becomes of the Team Fund. I also have no idea the criterea used by those high end cruise lines to compensate their employees. It is not an ongoing topic on those message boards as it seems to be on the boards dedicated to mass marketed cruise lines.

 

I don't think most people make a habit of interogating restaurant servers and/or managment and/or taxi drivers and/or the person who cuts their hair, about the disposistion of their tips? Why oh why then, is this topic a source of fasination for passengers on mass marketed cruise lines? I just don't get it.

 

Last thing I want to think about, while on vacation, is employee compensation. How about you?

 

What I don't GET your post. It may be the LAST thing YOU think of, but this is a forum and just because it's not something you want to know about, doesn't mean that it's not a valid question.

 

I get it. You don't. Instead of a put down, why not ignore the post? Does every question have to meet with your approval? lol