We've received average or below-average service on our last few cruises since tipping has been automatic. We were wondering if it might be a good idea to remove our tips from our sail-and-sign card and tip with cash on the last night, the traditional way. Will the staff know if we have our tips removed? Can we remove them the first night, and if so, will they know? And do they have to pool any cash tips they receive... because if they do it won't seem like much incentive to go out of their way to give great service?
I don't know whether stewards find out whether you've removed tips from your account, but I tend to doubt it.
But let's assume for a moment that you remove them on the first night and they DO find out. You assume that this would encourage them to do better so that you'll give them more at the end.
But it's very possible that they could make the exact opposite assumption--that you're going to stiff them anyway so there's no sense breaking their necks for you. There have been posts here in the past about the absolutely incredible percentage of people who stiff the stewards/waiters, and obviously the staff all know how high this percentage of people is.
So while your purpose in removing tips from your account would be to encourage better service, given the realities of the cruising public it might have just the opposite effect--if in fact they ever know.
A better plan might be to leave the tips on the account and hit the room steward and waiter with an extra 20 on the first day. This might be a much more effective way of sending your message.
My personal opinion is that tips should be earned and not just given-out. If a cruise line is going to tack tips onto your account regardless-why not just give the money to the crew in their paycheck and leave tipping optional.
While on our last cruise, Michelle and I threw the room steward and extra $5.00 right at the beginning and we never saw him again. Not only did we never see him again but we went without service for one complete day. And when we did get service, it was very minimal. No towel changes, things pushed aside instead of placing them nicely, etc. Perhaps it was a fluke.
They do know if you've removed the tips. Last fall my brother in law removed his tips the first day and that night at dinner I slipped the waiter a $10 for BIL telling him BIL removed the tips. He responded that he knew that already. We got great service from the waiter.
Maybe I'm just lucky, but I always slip the cabin steward and waiter something at the beginning of the cruise. I've always had great service so I'll continue to do this.
I've been told that they do know if tips have been removed. We usually leave the tips on but make it a point to speak to our room steward, ask about his homeland, ask if he got off the ship that day, etc. I think if you make a point to let them know you are somewhat interested in something besides yourself and your needs, I think they figure you will possibly "reward" them with an additional tip..........always seemed to work for us. I've been known to hug room stewards, asst waiters, etc. when you see them in other parts of the ship. We've never had bad service on a Carnival ship, but don't get me started on Royal Caribbean........
The dining room staff does know who has removed tips from their account. (I assume the house keeping staff also knows.) One thing that research done by NCL has proved is that most people who remove their tips under the premise that they prefer to tip in person is that only 20% of them actually do.
I wouldn't expect excellent service for doing it unless you do something up front, but there still isn't any guarantee.
Take care,
Mike
__________________ Cruisemates Community Leader/Moderator
Cruisemates Mediterranean "It's a Breeze" Cruise on the Carnival Breeze. Come along with us!! Click Here For More Information
I cruise the Celebrity Millennium to Southeast Asia.
"There is a great difference between being well traveled and just having been to many places." ~Me
Yes they can find out if the tips have been removed if they want. Some do not look. We more often than not remove the tips and tip the triditional manner the last night. I have not noticed any differance in service or if I have it has been for the good in order to get a tip on the last night. I like to tip in cash and include a thankyou card as to me tipping is a personal thanks for a job well done. Very few ships require they pool the tips, I have only known one ship that did and it was the Maitre D's decision. I too do not belived in pooling tips.
Jim
Does anybody know how a cabin attendant, waiter, etc. would go about finding out if tips had been removed?
Does anybody know WHY a cabin attendant, waiter, etc would need to know if tips were removed?
My guess here:
1. They can ask the head of their department area. I am sure they get printouts of their room block to know who is in the cabins and any special requests they need to take care of and it would be just as simple to print out who has removed their tips.
2. It is their pay. From what I understand lots of ship workers in service areas only recieve a "salary" of maybe $100 for a month and the rest of their wages come in the form of tips.
I am sure someone who knows far more than me can confirm or correct me on this.
Tipping questions
Linear Mode
