Gratuities

[Pontius Navigator]

I just want to question about how gratuties should be paid now. I am not questioning whether they should be paid at all or indeed whether published rates are wrong as I think P&O rates are very reasonable.

 

Traditionally P&O publish a rate for the room steward and the formal restaurant staff but a gratuities box also appears in the buffet etc. There is no suggested rate for that latter.

 

As the majority take breakfast, lunch and tea in the buffet, what is considered appropriate as a tip?

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

With Freedom dining, much like buffet dining in that there is a different waiter at each meal, how do you handle tips now?

[humpy]

hi pontius navigator,when we travel with p&o we generaly tip our cabin steward when we arrive at our cabin on the first day.then as we get further into the holiday we usualy give the steward some more money.and finaly before we disembark we give the steward some more before we leave.with regards to the waiters at our table we usualy wait until the last meal in the evening to give them both some money,aswell as the wine waiter/waitress.with regard to the tip boxes in the self service resteraunts we think that it should be entirely at your own disgression as to how much you put in depending on the service you receive.

[humpy]

hi pontius navigator,when we travel with p&o we generaly tip our cabin steward when we arrive at our cabin on the first day.then as we get further into the holiday we usualy give the steward some more money.and finaly before we disembark we give the steward some more before we leave.with regards to the waiters at our table we usualy wait until the last meal in the evening to give them both some money,aswell as the wine waiter/waitress.with regard to the tip boxes in the self service resteraunts we think that it should be entirely at your own disgression as to how much you put in depending on the service you receive.humpy

[daiB]

Hi PN,

 

You will find that the wait staff in the buffet areas during the day are generally the same as in the dining rooms at night, therefore are getting their tips there. Of course you may tip twice if you like.

 

I would suggest that the people who need to tip in the buffet areas are those who use that facility in the evenings, as there must be some wait staff only in the buffet. ie the evening buffet staff.

 

With regard to freedom dining, I thought that there was an automatic tip added to your bill. This was the case but I am not sure if it still is.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

[Pontius Navigator]

I would suggest that the people who need to tip in the buffet areas are those who use that facility in the evenings, as there must be some wait staff only in the buffet. ie the evening buffet staff.

 

Indeed you may be right but, as there is no 'tariff' I wonder how many do. On a US cruise ship we dined 9/14 in the buffet and 4/14 in the dining room. There was no tip recommendation for the buffet. However there were few staff engaged solely on cleaning up.

 

With regard to freedom dining, I thought that there was an automatic tip added to your bill. This was the case but I am not sure if it still is.

 

That answers the question but I have not seen that written. It begs another question, sorry, but is Freedom dining a 'fixed' option or can you have club dining and use freedom dining on a drop in basis?

[supered]

is Freedom dining a 'fixed' option or can you have club dining and use freedom dining on a drop in basis.

Hi PN,

 

If you're on club dining you can't 'drop in' to freedom dining in the same way that if you're on freedom dining you can't have a go at club dining when you fancy it. It's one or the other I'm afraid.

 

Eddie :)

[Pontius Navigator]

Eddie, thanks for that, when we booked Oceana for Saturday I don't believe freedom was an option. As it happens, after our last experience of 'freedom' or 'free-seating' at breakfast and lunch, we much prefered the evening meals with a regular set of dining companions and a first rate wait team.

 

This was the first long cruise where we dined in the main restaurant except on 2 nights when we elected to go to the speciality restaurants. Similarly our dining companions only opted out for special nights.

 

Horses for course perhaps.

[daiB]

Hi PN,

 

With regard to the buffet in the evening, apart from specialist nights eg curry night , I doubt wither many people actually use it. The dining rooms never appear to have many spare seats.

 

I have been in the Arcadia version, when waiting for the Captains free booze do at about 7.50 and the place was empty.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[Pontius Navigator]

Dai, agree, but I have my suspicions that some people manage the speciality buffet as well as the main sitting, if you know what I mean :)

[daiB]

Dai, agree, but I have my suspicions that some people manage the speciality buffet as well as the main sitting, if you know what I mean :)

 

 

 

Well they should tip twice:rolleyes:.........:D

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai