Re-evaluating auto tipping policies?

[Sandy]

The London TimesOnline has published an article indicating increasing displeasure on the part of passengers with cruise lines' automatic tipping policy.

Read the interesting article here.

[penny3333]

Very interesting article. I like the auto-tip, but add extra when the service calls for it. If the cruise lines increase the fares to cover the tips, how would we make sure they actually went to the crew?

[macmom111]

Maybe someone can help out here. Because I have only been cruising for the last 5 yrs, my tips have always been automatically added. I dont have a problem with it, and I always added more.
Has it always been that they automatically add the tips on the sign and sail card? or has that become common thing to do because when it was add your own tips, people didnt?

[Dave]

Auto-tipping is something that has happened within the past 10 years, depending on the cruise line. Prior to that the common practice was just to add 15% to bar orders, and tips for everyone else was by cash stuffed in envelopes which you presented to your dining room and cabin attendants on the last evening of the cruise.

Carnival and NCL were among the first lines to go to the automatic gratuities, and eventually the others have fallen in line although Royal Caribbean still has the old cash system as their default method - although you can pre-pay them when you book or add them to your account aboard the ship.

[LHT28]

I prefer the auto tip method also
I do not have to make sure I go looking for the wait staff on the last night, carry cash around etc...
Many people skip the MDR on the last night to get out of tipping.

Now with "open dining" on some lines you will not have the same wait staff every day so the auto tip & pooling makes it better for all concerned IMO.

If you have bad service do not wait until the last night to complain by removing the tips ...mention it to the hotel manager that day so it can be corrected.

Some Countries do not TIP it is added to their bill and it is something they are just not accustom to but when N.A. remove tips ..well you know

Back in the old days on HAL " "tipping not required" was their motto but it was included in the price of the cruise someplace

[Berick1234]

Tip the people....would any of us want to work that hard to please US?...:-) 14 hour days plus......I always carry $2 bills for extra tipping and pass them out like popcorn when someone goes out of their way to help me....Auto tipping just makes it must easier at the end of a busy cruise...Tip extra when it makes sense to do so...

Bob E

[queenofcruzin]

Very interesting article, but more interesting are the comments below. With a lot of relatives in the UK, I hear alot about anti US. They do consider tipping barbaric, and I read somewhere tha UK customers can only purchase cruises through UK agencies, and if they try and circumvent the process with US addresses when booking, their passport will give them away. It IS more money for them to book with UK agencies, they do not give the discounts others do. But then I do not get the discounts Florida or other port cities do. Part of the game.....

I used auto tipping on the last cruise with some cash for those who deserve it, it is more convenient. But I brought the cash, so I spent double

[penny3333]

So, if the fares are higher in the UK, where does the extra go?

[Dave]

I think the UK prices are higher because of their taxes and other fees.

[Cruise Fanatic]

Maybe there's something about the fees involved and difference in currency too.