I posted a comment about this on another thread, but wanted to mention it in its own category.
HAL charges us $10 a day per person at the end of each cruise for gratutities, and we are charged 15% on every bar bill for gratuities. I like this blanket policy and have never felt that the service we received was anything less then exemplary even though we didn't go around passing out ten dollar bills and phone cards for service.
Am I being naive to think that just booking fare on these cruise ships entitles me to be served politely and efficiently? Nothing I have seen has made me think otherwise.
I love the relatively new tradition of end of cruise flat gratuities because I do NOT want to get into a contest with other travellers with who can throw around the most cash, or come up with the most charming way of greasing palms. As far as I am concerned, a pleasant attitude and a neat cabin says more than insulting the hard workers on board by letting them know I don't think they'll do their jobs unless I give them lots of money up front.
Certain things should be taken for granted on a cruise. The cruiselines want return travellers. Good service is the main way to ensure our return to a particular line.
I agree with you in that there is no reason for anyone to believe that they have to give an upfront tip to their cabin steward, waiter, Maitre'd in order be assured they will be given appropriate service. The boards can give an unrealistic picture to some people that up front tipping is "expected" and if they don't do it they will be considered cheap and not receive adequate service. I have only tipped up front when I have asked for a specific thing up front.
Cruisers should not think that by not giving the standard gratuity that they are being cheap. I find that if a cabin steward, waiter, etc. does their job, as defined and that's it, I tip the recommended amount. If they do "extra" then I give more. By extra, I mean by going out of their way to make my cruise special or by fulfilling a special request I have that is outside their normal duty. I will not tip extra for a steward providing me with towels or a waiter putting the napkin on my wife's lap.
However, it is always up to an individual to give someone who does something for them any amount they like.
Take care,
Mike
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Everyone is talking about tipping the required amount.... what is the required amount for asking a favour of the room stewart.... it isnt the cost of the cruise that is gonna kill us its the tip for this tip for that policy. If I follow every rule I will have already dropped a bundle before I even get unpacked. I am not being cheap but I can carry my own bags and whatnot and save the five bucks. I fully intend to tip..but at the end of the cruise! I wont hand out phone cards because it sounds like they get too many already. I guess I just feel at the moment like everyone is going to have their hands out and I best carry alot of small bills... lol... can someone give me an idea of how much you do tip for favours? I know someone will give me grief about this post and its not meant to sound cheap, I am just miffed about the fact that I can only bring wine onboard...sheesh... When I stay in a hotel I can take and drink anything I want in my room!!! Do they not think our party will go out and buy drinks in the bar if I have a small toot in my room?
I have no idea what 'rules' you are talking about. HAL asks that you tip $10 pp/day which will be spread among your room steward, dining steward and a few other crew. This may be removed from your ship's acct. if you so desire. 15% is added to each bar tab as a tip to be divided among bar staff.
That's it! There are NO rules. Don't drink, no tips there. Remove the automatic per day tip from your account- no tip there. No one is going to have their hand out and there will be no difference in service if you tip or not.
If your problem is that you can't bring on liquor and only wine or champagne, that has nothing to do with tipping. In that case maybe you are better off to take a land vacation and stay in a hotel.
Seems to me that some people are getting tired of hearing from other cruisers about how much extra they give a steward when the trip begins and all the little gifts and such.
It really sounds like they don't think they'll get EXCELLENT service if they don't throw around some cash. I have more confidence in HAL and the people HAL hires than to presume they won't do an excellent job without being bribed or that they'll do even MORE if they're bribed.
Then again, I think alot of people on the message boards embellish quite a bit and try to convey the message that they are a few rungs higher on the economic or social scale than they really are.
Some of them remind me of Molly Brown when they had all that money and think bragging about spreading it around gives them class or something! It's rather amusing to say the least. The nouveau riche are easy to spot and the nouveau riche wannabees are even easier to get a bead on!
We've gotten super service, everything we asked for, with a smile, and promptly, whether room service, extra towels, whatever, special food requirements, and we paid the gratuities added on to our tab at the end of the cruise. Some of the more experienced cruisers complained about this, saying $10 a day per person is too much, but take an average day and add up what is done for you and $10 a day is a bargain. I suspect that some of this is people yearning for "good old days" when things were different. Well, time goes on, things change - enjoy your cruise and don't weigh yourself down with dollar bills.
Hi,
As an European, I'm used to all inclusive prices. So I prefer the new system. Better would be as the gratuities are part of the fare and not part of my shipboard account. Probably for marketing reasons they want to keep the fare as low as possible.
The main problem behind tipping and gratuities is that is has become a part of a salary and not a bonus for better performance than average. On a 5 star cruiseship the average must be excellent
Eric
I agree with you. I sailed on the Statendam last year and the staff certainly deserved the $10 per day in gratuities. I also like that I don't have to worry about carrying sufficient cash to fill up all those little envelopes. To me, carrying cash is a hassle. I don't like carrying a lot even when I am home.
onboard gratuities
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