Well, I have to say that Jim Avery's post was an eye opener. If Viking tells their employees that gratuities are included in their pay, then as I see it, they get no bigger paycheck whether or not you tip. So I am tempted to take the suggested amount and give it directly to the staff that I interact with the most (adding to it for exceptional service), and having the gratuities removed from my bill. DH and I have always tipped extra to our room stewards, waiters, and bartenders, as well as paying the billed gratuities. But now I'm having second thoughts.