tips question

[dis2cruise]

I know that msc normally puts tips on your ship card. However, we don't really like to do that. I would rather hand them the cash at the end of the cruise, and make sure they

really get it. I have read that they normally take out $12 pp per day for the tips. So

if it is $12 per day what is the actual break down??

 

cheryl

[VA_CRUISERS]

Q: How are onboard gratuities handled?

 

A: At MSC Cruises we recognize that exceptional service is the most important aspect of your cruise experience. As our guest, it is our goal to make sure you receive the finest in personal service. We have made it convenient for you to reward the excellent service you received. Customary gratuities, which vary by itinerary, will be added to your onboard account (except aboard MSC Rhapsody). Per person per day gratuities for adults are: $12 (USD) for Caribbean sailings and Ocean Voyages, €6 (Euro) for Mediterranean and Northern European sailings, and $6 (USD) for South America sailings. Per person per day gratuities for children are 50% less. Should you wish to make adjustments you may do so by contacting the guest reception desk at any point during your cruise. Your maitre d’ and his assistants, your waiter and busboys, buffet staff, your stateroom attendant, room service, and bellboys will share this gratuity (casino dealers and spa personnel do not share in this charge since not all guests utilize these services). Gratuities are not mandatory; they are at your discretion. Separately, a gratuity on all bar checks for your servers is included in the price of your drinks. In port terminals, airports, ports of call and on shore excursions, we suggest that you extend gratuities consistent with local customs.

 

They don't seem to provide a further breakdown.

[dis2cruise]

Q: How are onboard gratuities handled?

 

A: At MSC Cruises we recognize that exceptional service is the most important aspect of your cruise experience. As our guest, it is our goal to make sure you receive the finest in personal service. We have made it convenient for you to reward the excellent service you received. Customary gratuities, which vary by itinerary, will be added to your onboard account (except aboard MSC Rhapsody). Per person per day gratuities for adults are: $12 (USD) for Caribbean sailings and Ocean Voyages, €6 (Euro) for Mediterranean and Northern European sailings, and $6 (USD) for South America sailings. Per person per day gratuities for children are 50% less. Should you wish to make adjustments you may do so by contacting the guest reception desk at any point during your cruise. Your maitre d’ and his assistants, your waiter and busboys, buffet staff, your stateroom attendant, room service, and bellboys will share this gratuity (casino dealers and spa personnel do not share in this charge since not all guests utilize these services). Gratuities are not mandatory; they are at your discretion. Separately, a gratuity on all bar checks for your servers is included in the price of your drinks. In port terminals, airports, ports of call and on shore excursions, we suggest that you extend gratuities consistent with local customs.

 

They don't seem to provide a further breakdown.

 

 

Is msc different?? do other cruiselines give to the bellboys,room service, and buffet staff with automatic tipping?? maybe I should just put the tips on my ship card and give a few extra bucks to my cabin guy/gal, waiter, and asst. waiter.

 

cheryl

[noblepa]

I am not sure how things are done on MSC. We haven't sailed them yet (April, on the Orchestra) and they are new to the US market, so there has been little discussion about this.

 

However, on other lines (all the Carnival-owned lines), removing or reducing the auto-tips is seen as a sign that the passenger was dissatisfied with the service. The staffer may be called on the carpet with his/her supervisor, to explain why the passenger was unhappy. If the staffer explains that he/she was given a cash tip, that is a sufficient defense. However, the staffer is required to then surrender the cash, to be pooled, as if it had come via the auto-tip. If you leave the auto-tip in place and "sweeten the pot" a little, they are allowed to keep all of that excess.

 

In other words, on Carnival at least, you can't beat the system. Removing the auto-tip and tipping in cash actually makes life a little more complicated for everyone concerned.

 

As I said, I can't vouch for whether MSC does it this way or not. To me, it seems like an equitable system, since you can't possible find all the people behind the scenes who contribute to making your cruise a pleasure. This is one of the reasons given for instituting the auto-tip system. I've heard stories that, in the old days, if a cabin steward wanted to insure that he got a good supply of clean linens and towels, he had to slip a little something to the guys in the laundry. The same was true of the dining room waiters. They had to "pay off" the galley staff. Now the system does it for them.

 

I can't imagine that any cruiseline would not distribute the tip money to its staffers. Carnival, for instance, is adamant that 100 percent of the auto-tip is distributed to staff, refuting the persistent rumors that the line keeps a "cut".

 

But then, I could be wrong...

 

Paul

[bighairtexan]

They don't do an actual breakdown. At least I didn't see one when i went on my cruise last week. Supposedly some goes to the wait staff, the buffet staff, the steward staff.

[AmoMondo]

I am not sure how things are done on MSC. We haven't sailed them yet (April, on the Orchestra) and they are new to the US market, so there has been little discussion about this.

 

However, on other lines (all the Carnival-owned lines), removing or reducing the auto-tips is seen as a sign that the passenger was dissatisfied with the service. The staffer may be called on the carpet with his/her supervisor, to explain why the passenger was unhappy. If the staffer explains that he/she was given a cash tip, that is a sufficient defense. However, the staffer is required to then surrender the cash, to be pooled, as if it had come via the auto-tip. If you leave the auto-tip in place and "sweeten the pot" a little, they are allowed to keep all of that excess.

 

In other words, on Carnival at least, you can't beat the system. Removing the auto-tip and tipping in cash actually makes life a little more complicated for everyone concerned.

 

As I said, I can't vouch for whether MSC does it this way or not. To me, it seems like an equitable system, since you can't possible find all the people behind the scenes who contribute to making your cruise a pleasure. This is one of the reasons given for instituting the auto-tip system. I've heard stories that, in the old days, if a cabin steward wanted to insure that he got a good supply of clean linens and towels, he had to slip a little something to the guys in the laundry. The same was true of the dining room waiters. They had to "pay off" the galley staff. Now the system does it for them.

 

I can't imagine that any cruiseline would not distribute the tip money to its staffers. Carnival, for instance, is adamant that 100 percent of the auto-tip is distributed to staff, refuting the persistent rumors that the line keeps a "cut".

 

But then, I could be wrong...

 

Paul

 

As arepeat cruiser who chats to the staff a lot, i can confirm that they get their shre of the tip from the auto gratuity and definitely dont have to hand over cash tips. they dont get questioned either about reduced tips. I think they know that a lot of Europeans prefer to give cash directly to the crew.

[rjrice1]

I know that msc normally puts tips on your ship card. However, we don't really like to do that. I would rather hand them the cash at the end of the cruise, and make sure they

really get it. I have read that they normally take out $12 pp per day for the tips. So

if it is $12 per day what is the actual break down??

 

cheryl

 

 

 

My family and I got off the Lirica in Jan. Since we do not drink or use the casino we felt that they shouldn't be entitled to a tip from us. When we asked the housekeepers one told us they got a total of $200.00 for the whole month of December and that is 26 cabins a trip; total 4 trips. We did give cash tips; very well. regardless what you change on your tip total it still will be divided evenly between everyone.

We saw a lot of cruisers change their amount at the accountant office; the guys there did have an attitude but they will get over it.

[sea-explorer]

Since we do not drink or use the casino we felt that they shouldn't be entitled to a tip from us.

 

Neither of these groups of people are included in the auto tip...for that very reason, not everyone uses their services.

 

From the brochure, which VA Cruisers very kindly provided.

 

Q: How are onboard gratuities handled?

 

A: At MSC Cruises we recognize that exceptional service is the most important aspect of your cruise experience. As our guest, it is our goal to make sure you receive the finest in personal service. We have made it convenient for you to reward the excellent service you received. ........................Your maitre d’ and his assistants, your waiter and busboys, buffet staff, your stateroom attendant, room service, and bellboys will share this gratuity ..................

 

(casino dealers and spa personnel do not share in this charge since not all guests utilize these services). ........................Separately, a gratuity on all bar checks for your servers is included in the price of your drinks.

[parisienneatheart]

i didn't know room service was included in the tip count??? i usually give a separate tip when i get my morning tray of coffee, etc...or if i order room service, i always give a separate tip.

[mresend]

On the first day we always introduce ourselves and give our cabin steward extra $cash on the first day.

[royandjenn]

What we learned was that yeah, the 12pp perday gets divided up to pretty much everyone. We went to the accounting desk near the end of our cruise, and said we wanted to change our amounts. They gave us a form to fill out, and on the form you can either adjust the amount you want to give as a whole, or at the bottom is a list of certain area's you can choose to give the amount too, like restaurant staff, cleaning staff... etc. One gentleman told me that he went to the accounting desk and was told that tipping was not allowed,and he was not to give any extra to staff, and even if he tried, they would not accept it. Lie! We have our waitress on the pool deck $10 and she looked so suprised and so happy. Made us feel good. She treated us soooo good for the entire cruise! We also gave our waiter 50 euro, and he was very thankful as well, but he deserved it! Our water was always full at our table... we were lucky! All you do need to do if you want to change the amount though is ask for the form, sit down have a coffee and change it, and just drop it back off to them, don't need to say a word!!

[Inshape]

There is no breakdown given. I asked at the guest relations desk and they had no answer to this since it is not broken down by how much to each. So we gave have of the amount on the credit card for them to divide out and the other half we handed to the waiter, the assistant and the cabin steward.

[AmoMondo]

There is no breakdown given. I asked at the guest relations desk and they had no answer to this since it is not broken down by how much to each. So we gave have of the amount on the credit card for them to divide out and the other half we handed to the waiter, the assistant and the cabin steward.

 

previously when it was $10, the split used to be $3 or $3.50 to cabin steward and waiter; there was $1 or $1.50 to restuarnat senior staff and also I think to the more senior housekeeping. (Sorry cant remember exactly but it will give a rough idea of the proportion if it is still the same that is)