Tipping

[cyclones11]

Thanks everyone...Sonny we went on our last cruise in 2007 and they hadnt implemented the gas fee yet. It was definately for tipping. And I hadnt been informed by Carnival but I believe I understand how it works now.

Should I do the $10 per day thing or just tip at the end of the cruise? Also if I stop the daily one does it also include the automatic tips for the drinks?

[Dave]

quote:

Also if I stop the daily one does it also include the automatic tips for the drinks?

Here is how it works...the moment you complete check-in at the pier the automatic gratuities for the entire cruise are immediately charged to your account. Thus, if there are two of you and it is a 7-night cruise before you board the ship you have $140 on your shipboard account. They don't charge it piece-meal on a daily basis. You have to go to the desk on the ship to cancel out of the auto-tip program. Why bother? You can adjust the amount up or down if you wish - again by going to the desk - or you can just leave it alone if things are fine and hand extra cash to those you feel deserve more. Personally I don't want to stand around in a line at the desk quibbling over tips.

Regardless of what you do for the auto-tips (staying in or opting out) the bar purchase gratuities of 15% per drink won't change. They will continue to add 15% to each order.

[Digitalrick]

The current practice is an automatic charge on your account of $10 per day to cover your room steward, waiter, assistant waiter and Head Waiter. You can always go to the purser's desk to have the amount raised or dropped at your discretion. On our first cruise, we used the dining room only twice and tipped less. I later regretted tipping less when I found out that the tips is what these employees live on. Cruise lines typically pay tipped employees only about $50 per month. I came to the realization that they treat us like royalty whether we dine one day or all of them and, unless they were very bad, we tip them fully. The other tipping is 15% automatically built into the price of anything purchased at a bar. Unlike the standard tipping, that tip cannot be altered or disputed.

[gschon23]

I wonder if the employees( cabin steward, wait staff) really get "tips"...or if the money is just used to pay their salaries?

[Dave]

It is no secret that cruise ship service personnel receive very small base salaries, as well as their room and board. The gratuities are their salaries.

[gschon23]

I think the good service that I always get is what has me hooked on cruising.
The people always seem very thankful for their jobs and whatever extra tips they get.
Can you imagine a ship staffed with American Teenagers.?

[billybuzzy]

quote:

Can you imagine a ship staffed with American Teenagers.?

I believe NCLA in Hawaii has been struggling with that issue for some time now! With mixed results!

BillyBuzzy


N.B. NCLA is not NCL

[LisaP]

quote:

N.B. NCLA is not NCL

I wish more people would realize this.

BTW, I also leave the auto-tips in place and tip extra to those who provided exceptional service (which is usually everyone).

[Dwayne]

quote:

On our first cruise, we used the dining room only twice and tipped less. I later regretted tipping less when I found out that the tips is what these employees live on.

I used it only once on one cruise, and adjusted the Dining room tips. I tipped them in cash for the one nights service. I regretted it too, and put them back after I realized my waiter was working in the Lido breakfast service line the next morning. It was during the auto charged from the last night cash tipping transition. I just leave them all now regardless if I go to the dining room once or every night.

Welcome to Cruise-Chat Digitalrick!

Dwayne

[Cruise Fanatic]

quote:

I believe NCLA in Hawaii has been struggling with that issue for some time now! With mixed results

This has been much improved since NCLA pulled two of the ships from Hawaii.