"The company recently announced an early embarkation program across its 12-ship fleet that features boarding as early as 11:30 a.m. and a leisurely disembarkation process at the end of the voyage. In addition, other service enhancements include a convenient folio posting of nominal, optional gratuities, as well as automatic service charge postings to bar-bills, thus simplifying the sometimes confusing cruise tipping system."
This sinks, It looks like HAL wants us to pay the salary of it people now, and who cares about the service. I also see that they have a few more things to Nickel and Dime us to Death.
This looks to be nothing but a Marketing Ploy to keep the people who are moving up to Oceania and Radisson.
Don't get me wrong we will more then likely still sail on HAL, but it makes you wonder just which way will the company go in the future.
Barry
__________________
" I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it. "
The way I have read the news release, it clearly states that there will be an "automatic service charge " posted to bar bills.
What is less clear to me as I find the wording very unclear is:
In addition, other service enhancements include a ......."convenient folio posting of nominal, optional gratuities"........as well as automatic service charge postings to bar-bills....
What does "convenient folio posting of nominal, optional gratuities" mean as to dining/cabin stewards?
What is nominal?
What is optional?
Does this mean cabin and dining stewards tips will be automatically BILLED? I'm not sure? Does it simply mean that they will be billing for tips and, like other cruiselines, if you object, you can embarrass yourself and go to the office, stand in line and gripe until they remove the billed amount?
Or does it mean, you can choose to have your tips added. You would have to be proactive and tell them that is what you want?
As I posted on the Chit Chat board, I like the idea of having gratuities added to the bar tabs. I would probably still want to take care of the rest of the tipping.
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~~~~~~~Judi in Hamilton NJ~~~~~~~
Wishing You Blue Skies & Calm Seas
Main Entry: gra·tu·ity
Pronunciation: gr&-'tü-&-tE, -'tyü-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ities
Date: 1540
: something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service; especially : TIP
I think this says it all.
Barry
__________________
" I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it. "
hal has informed me in writing that if you dont want tips automatically put on your room account that they wont and you can continue to tip the old fashioned way --directly to the person you want to give the tip to and in cash
I returned from the Maasdam about 3 days ago after 14 days onboard. There was NEVER any discussion, suggestion or implication of ANY automatic gratuity system.
I'm not sure when, or IF, this policy will go into effect, but as of 96 hours ago, there was no mention of anything but the usual "no tipping" policy. After 7 or 8 HAL cruises, I have yet to meet anyone who has not tipped. On this most recent cruise, the service was wonderful, many times "above and beyond" and I tipped accordingly.
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