NEW TIP POLICY - Automatic Charge & "Alternate Service" tip

[warmwinds]

Where am I confused? Just added up the amounts in the first post and they don't add up to $11.50 or $12.00 (and I'm not including the last one that no one knows what it is). Someone else please add them up and let me know (I'm bad at math so it's probably me).

 

We used to always tip in cash at the end but now that you can't get "free cash" in the casino we might just do the auto tips, not sure. Is it ok to do auto tips and then just hand the extra in cash to your waiter, steward, etc. on the last day? Will they think that's ALL they are getting? - in other words, WHEN do they know they are also getting the auto tips?

 

I used to bristle at that "head housekeeper" tip until one cruise we actually sat with the head housekeeper (on HAL) at a formal night, and found out exactly what he does.

 

But really, at the end of the day the tips are really not that much - they SEEM a lot in a lump sum because at home you don't go out to eat EVERY night, right? But if you did you could see how you'd spend a lot of tips in one week. Just a perspective.

[Sky Sweet]

When I went to a Canyon Ranch Spa Resort, they had a strict no tipping policy because all tips and fees were included in their all inclusive price. Their philosophy is that a Spa Resort is suppose to be a place for relaxation so they didn't want their guests to agonize over what constitutes an appropriate tip.

 

After reading this thread, I think Celebrity should do the same.

[Brad1185]

I have no problem with this change. As long as we can lower the tips for bad service. Out of 48 cruises we have only had really bad service twice both on NCL. Now on NCL you cannot lower the tips/service charge.

[kitty9]

Excuse me but luggage transportation onboard the ship is done by ships crew ONLY - shore personnel is not even allowed onboard!!! Or who did you think schleps your bags from the convayor belt to your cabin??? Now what about the pool guy I know the fewest of you actually tip them.

 

Often there are young waiters up in the buffet area who are new and still have to get to know how things work for a certain cruiseline therefore they don't have regular tables. They often get very little or no tips at all while working this area. I bet this is to include them as many people often avoid the DR and eat here with out actually using the casual dinning and paying the gratuity there

 

 

I thought the person was referring to the persons on the dock who take your bags, put them in the big containers, take them for security screening. In the reverse, these same dock workers ae the ones who put them in the terminal, sort them according to tag color and assist those who don't want to schlep bags through Customs. Those people don't work for Celebrity. And YES, I know the ones who deliver your bags to your cabin work for the company, and I DO tip them when they deliver my bags to the cabin.

[warmwinds]

I've never had a bag delivered directly "to" my cabin. They are left outside, never even a knock on the door. Sometimes they are down the hall a bit. They do not usually come by bellboy types but rather running dock workers, trying to deliver them as quickly as possible.

 

Kitty, they have actually knocked on your door and brought them in?

[jagoffee]

It is good to have a choice in cruiselines. I for one hope that the new policy does not allow people to remove the auto tips ( service charge). I hope that it only allows one to adjust the amount when given a specific reason and not so that one can give the money directly to the staff. I am not saying that the many people that make this statement are not being honest, but I am sure that at least some people do stiff the staff because of their value/culture system. Although it is becoming the correct "political correct" think to subsidize things, I do not wish to subsidize those customers. A policy that makes it very difficult to remove the charges would be must better for the hard working staff that always works hard to make us all feel special when cruising. It is the responsibility of management to manage performance with the assistance of the comments cards. Keeping the service of the Celebrity staff at it's high level. Given the various dining options on most cruiselines, I think that the new policy is required. Why should the wait staff have to risk their compensation based on passengers eating elsewhere? Do you think that at least a few customers do not eat in the main dining room on the last night just to avoid tipping? IMHO it is important to try to even out the negative impact of the changing cruise experience on various dining room staff. For instances a really good waiter would want to have customers who dine in the MDR each night and how can the cruise line insure that the customers are distributed equally? What a mess for the staff. I can only imagine the additional stress and pressure this causes. They are working for the money and they need it more than any of the passengers. I think that is why cruise lines that have open seating always have auto tips. Different staff each day. I want the best staff possible on the ships that I cruise and I would hate to see the hard working staff suffer. Call it redistribution of wealth is you wish, but they have earned it.

 

The bottom line is the cruiser that do not appreciate the auto tips can seek out the cruise lines that do not have auto tips. Cruise lines must adjust as required. Supply and demand will drive the changes.

 

Thank you for letting me vent. I feel better. I apoligize if I offended anyone that was not my objective.

[mylove]

Just my 2 cents worth;I have asked the stateroom att.,waiters and such on various occassions which they prefer and most have said they like there tips personally handed to them,Because,sometimes they don't receive them until two weeks or later or they get mixed up or even lost.So I will personally be handing them out.I had asked on our last cruise what the Alternative servive charge was for and was told it was for;Ones that would come and open your safe if you lock your self out???:(thats all I got as an answer so that envelope was thrown in the trash.

 

Kimberley

[lysolqn]

Do you think that at least a few customers do not eat in the main dining room on the last night just to avoid tipping?

 

Frankly, I think it's more than just a few and I've never been able to come even close to understanding that mindset. Reminds me of a couple we used to know who when traveling only stayed at motels where they could access their room directly from the parking lot, as opposed to full service hotels - just to avoid having to tip a bellman for taking their bags to their room. We heard from a mutual acquaintance that the same couple recently took a cruise (their first) and never once ate in the dining room, thus avoiding the need to tip. Go figure.

[Longboysfan]

I just noticed from a link on another thread that Celebrity has a new tip policy, for cruises after Jan 15, with slightly increased amounts and the addition of an "Alternate Service" tip of $1.25/day. Also the tips will automatically be charged to your sea pass daily - with adjustments made on request.

 

I don't mind the increase nor the automatic charge, but I sure would like to know what the "Alternate Service" tip for "Other service personnel" of $1.25/day is. I don't like the idea of providing an automatic tip for someone whom I don't even know who it is or what they do. I thought this might be for alternative food service but it is listed separately from "Restaurant Service".

 

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/beforeyourcruise/heroSingleTxtSub.do;jsessionid=0000IfbcOhQAQJlzlMEpcIyZQ8b:12hdebcnj?pagename=payment_and_gratuities&cS=SIDENAV

 

Interesting - as this is a long time in coming. Face it some of the staff are not in the normal high level of the tip pool. This will cover it.

They are also moving up the daily tip rates a bit - about time.

They should be $4.00 for room steward and waiter per person per day.

The butlers and CC level a bit more.

[mkad1109]

I have no problem with this change. As long as we can lower the tips for bad service. Out of 48 cruises we have only had really bad service twice both on NCL. Now on NCL you cannot lower the tips/service charge.

Not true. We have been very fortunate on NCL and never had bad service enough to warrant removing the service charge, but I read the threads over there and some folks have removed the service charge.

[warmwinds]

I think the auto tips are a good idea, because...let's say someone wanted to stiff the staff. With auto tips, they would have to go to the purser's office to have them removed, right? And the purser's office could then say "Is there something wrong with the service you are receiving? Let us correct that...", shaming the cheapskates into then not removing the tips because they have no good reason to.

[Longboysfan]

It's my understanding that those who work the pizza, grill, sushi and other stations are salaried kitchen staff. Perhaps they are now being considered "Other Service Personnel."

 

As well they should be for the great food they produce.

[C 2 C]

never once ate in the dining room, thus avoiding the need to tip. Go figure.

 

We know some people who never enter the dining room eat at the casual reserved area every night on every cruise and tip there. The automatic tip would have them tipping for service never received. Its not that they don't tip, they reward the people who serve them.

[warmwinds]

The problem with eating in the casual dining area every night to avoid tipping in the MDR is that you were still ASSIGNED A TABLE in the MDR, therefore if you don't go you have cut off that much of the waiter's income, because he was depending on that many more people to wait on - and I'm sure he'd rather have more money than less work.

[lysolqn]

As well they should be for the great food they produce.

 

Playing devil's advocate, why should salaried kitchen staff be tipped for producing great food? That is, after all, the job for which they are hired and for which they receive salaries as compensation. Who's next - chefs, dishwashers, the food and beverage manager, the hotel manager, security personnel, the engineering department, guest relations? If you think about, you can make a pretty cogent argument that everyone onboard a cruise ship can in some way be considered "Other Service Personnel." Just a thought.

[lysolqn]

The problem with eating in the casual dining area every night to avoid tipping in the MDR is that you were still ASSIGNED A TABLE in the MDR, therefore if you don't go you have cut off that much of the waiter's income, because he was depending on that many more people to wait on - and I'm sure he'd rather have more money than less work.

 

Agreed, but isn't the cruise line itself contributing to that problem, if not causing it altogether, by offering more and more venues as alternatives to the main dining room?

[kenevenpar]

I agree with those who have indicated that the real reason for the change is because of the number of pax who do not tip, or who tip significantly less. On Summit last month, several staff indicated that they new tips were going to be significantly short due to the ship not being full and due to the heavy discounting locally.

 

Having said that, I like the idea of the auto tipping ONLY if I have the discretion of changing the amounts (lower, as I always tip extra to those who deserve it). Also, personally I do not like the idea of "tipping" someone I have not seen or who has not been of service. The Asst. Chief Housekeeper should be paid a proper wage, so a tip is not needed. I also am not a fan of tipping the Asst Maitre'd if he has not been of assistance (we have had some who have been very helpful and seen on nights other than tip night, and have no problem tipping them accordingly).

 

Ken

[neilrr]

Well I must agree with Ken -- If I utilize a service such as the Asst. M'D then he certainly would be tipped. I have been on several cruises that I never even saw the AM'D until the last night.

 

I have also been on cruise lines that have instituted automatic tipping and I must say the service was terrible. There must be an incentive; this is a disincentive. We usually tip over and above the recommended amount if the service is very good to excellent. The staff on Celebrity (my favorite) always seemed pleased with the old system.

 

As I have read many reviews lately on Celebrity (not overly positive -i.e. 1/2 lobster tail; 1 shrimp and 1 scallop) -- they appear to be cutting back on the quality of the food and this may be influencing staff gratuities.

 

Let's see what happens...

Neil

[Lynnees]

I think the auto tips are a good idea, because...let's say someone wanted to stiff the staff. With auto tips, they would have to go to the purser's office to have them removed, right? And the purser's office could then say "Is there something wrong with the service you are receiving? Let us correct that...", shaming the cheapskates into then not removing the tips because they have no good reason to.

 

Not going to happen.........quite frankly they aren't really going to ask when there are 20 people in line and a stiffer is not going to give a reason. If they are that much a cheapskate they won't be shamed into leaving them on.

[SusieV]

I'm not too happy to hear about this. With the exception of one terrible room steward on our honeymoon, service has always been excellent and rewarded appropriately. But it was left to our discretion. Call a spade a spade and make it a service charge if you are going to insist that passengers pay a certain rate.

 

Personally, we like to give our staff a thank you card and let them know how much we appreciated their service. I'm not a big fan of the impersonality of the automatic gratuity. Yes, I know we could still give a card, but we all know that the staff is just looking for the cash generally so it wouldn't really be the same.

[Dowunder]

From a country where tipping is not mandatory and where most people don't know how to tip and find the whole process obnoxious, I will certainly remove the auto tip from our seapass or whatever it's called. Pay staff a decent wage and increase the fare because with tipping it is going to cost you anyway. OK it is an American ship and tipping is part of the US culture and that will be respected, but my tips will certainly be of a discretionary nature.

[Rick-cruiser]

On every single one of my 25+ cruises I have enjoyed personally handing tips to the hard-working individuals who have made my vacation an extremely pleasurable experience. I have gone to the Purser's Desk unabashedly to have them remove the autotips from my account, if there is such a policy in place. I have absolutely no problem doing so, and have never felt awkward... I was not the one who instituted the "autotipping" policy - they did.

 

At that time, or at some other point in the cruise, I'll ask for envelopes so that I may place my valuation of the appropriate tip into each envelope. I then look forward to the last night of the cruise, where I seek out those individuals, smile, shake their hands, thank them profusely for providing me with such outstanding service - while physically handing them their well-deserved tip. For me, there is nothing like that feeling of handing them, personally, that envelope - which is essentially a tangible representation of my earnest appreciation. I do exactly the same on land-based restaurants, always handing the waiter/waitress the tip and thanking them personally instead of just walking away and leaving it on the table.

 

Of course, this is just me and my feelings on the matter... and I do not begrudge anybody for applying the procedure which is most comfortable for them.

 

- Rick

[rolfecms]

Attitudes like this is probably why automatic gratuities are being instituted. :(

 

The fact remains that given the size of the Solstice along with the other four s-class ships as well as the status of the economy, =X= will need to price cabins agressively in order to fill the ship. When the demographics of the market is driven by price, the likelihood of pax who think they can save additional $$$ by forgoing or reducing tips will increase. So =X= has to begin enforcing something that was customary in the past.

[spav01]

My TA had a special offer where they prepay the gratuities for my April cruise. How will something like that be handled...will I receive a credit to offset this daily charge?

[ChevyCruiser]

I rankle when something is mandatory "for my convenience" It is not convenient.

 

Here's what I just sent to Celebrity:

 

I am writing to protest the implementation of a mandatory daily service charge on cruises starting after January 15, 2009 as stated on your website: "for your convenience, we will automatically add gratuities for your restaurant and stateroom services to your onboard Seapass account on a daily basis."

 

It is not convenient.

 

I am currently holding two reservations on Celebrity for 2010 sailings. I did not request that "gratuities" be added to my SeaPass when I made the rerservations and if a daily service charge is automatically added to my SeaPass account, I will request that the entire amount be removed daily. I prefer to distibute gratuities to those who provided me with good service in the form of cash at the conclusion of the cruise.

Adding gratuities to my SeaPass automatically is a service charge, not a gratuity. It does not afford me the opportunity to follow the "custom of the sea" as stated on your website "On the last night at sea, it is customary to offer gratuities to staff members you feel have given you exceptional service and personal attention."