Tips on the Queen Victoria

[victor meld]

I know this is a topic that dose the rounds but here go again.
On the QV can you opt out of tips being deducted from you a source and opt to pay tips to whoever you think fit?
Personally I think the whole tipping business wants sorting. Firts time on the QE2 we had tips deducted and it was made clear by the waiters that they expected a tip on top of that. So basically double tiping. You look up the price of the cruise, book it and all other odd items like coach connect etc only to find you have a couple hundred to pay on top as tips. Why not just pay them that bit more and ban tipping for good so we do not fell obliged all the time. One can argue I suppose that they work that little bit harder to get that tip but it should not be so. I work and do my best and do not expect a tip. Thank you has always been reward enough for me.
Graham

[Cruachan]

Originally Posted by victor meld

On the QV can you opt out of tips being deducted from you a source and opt to pay tips to whoever you think fit?

Yes

J

[Norfolk Brit]

Originally Posted by victor meld

it was made clear by the waiters that they expected a tip on top of that. Why not just pay them that bit more and ban tipping for good so we do not fell obliged all the time. Graham

We've never felt that anyone expected anything on top of the auto-tip: seemingly more important to the staff is the 'You're a Star' nomination, which costs nothing extra...

We just view the tipping charge as part of the cost of the cruise, exactly what would happen if the system changed.

Mary

[victor meld]

Originally Posted by Norfolk Brit

...

We just view the tipping charge as part of the cost of the cruise, exactly what would happen if the system changed.

Mary

I whish they would change the system then we know the bottom line. As for not feeling obliged. When waiters buzz round you that bit more on the last 2 nights it becomes obvious. We know of passengers that opt out of the restraunt dinning on the last night so as not to feel intimidated. I am not saying they would be but it is a sad state when someone feels that way.
Graham

[Norfolk Brit]

Originally Posted by victor meld

I whish they would change the system then we know the bottom line. Graham

We do know the bottom line: I attended my maths 'O' level, wrote my name and the date, then lost the will to live but even I know that you multiply the number of days by the amount of the daily auto-tip and end up with the amount payable.

You can even save a few bob by getting OBC at $1.88 in advance from Cunard.

Mary

[victor meld]

Originally Posted by Norfolk Brit

We do know the bottom line: I attended my maths 'O' level, wrote my name and the date, then lost the will to live but even I know that you multiply the number of days by the amount of the daily auto-tip and end up with the amount payable.

You can even save a few bob by getting OBC at $1.88 in advance from Cunard.

Mary

Pressume not meant to be a slant at my maths?
I meant before you book the cruise not when you get final details and there it lists daily tips taken from you. I can multiply by 12 and get the post bottom line but thats after you have booked. Far simpler to stop tips and just have a higher fare tariff.
Graham

[Norfolk Brit]

Originally Posted by victor meld

Pressume not meant to be a slant at my maths?
I meant before you book the cruise not when you get final details and there it lists daily tips taken from you. I can multiply by 12 and get the post bottom line but thats after you have booked. Far simpler to stop tips and just have a higher fare tariff.
Graham

No - it was intended to be self deprecating, not deprecating.

The tips are spelt out in the brochure.

Mary

[victor meld]

Originally Posted by Norfolk Brit

No - it was intended to be self deprecating, not deprecating.

The tips are spelt out in the brochure.

Mary

Dont always get brochure. Go online to find cruise deals. No mention of tips. As past cruisers we know we have to tip but my point is we sometime tip twice. Should not the tipping culture be changed.
Some friends of our have just come back from a cruise and paid up front for tips as per Cunard Line. A card was then given to members of the crew stating that these people had pretipped therefore do not anticipate extra tips. They said the service was excellent still and enjoyed their cruise.
Graham

[luv2krooze1791]

Originally Posted by victor meld

Some friends of our have just come back from a cruise and paid up front for tips as per Cunard Line. A card was then given to members of the crew stating that these people had pretipped therefore do not anticipate extra tips. They said the service was excellent still and enjoyed their cruise.
Graham

Then go with that cruise line.

I have never experienced waiters "hovering" for tips. The nearest to that I have seen is their little note on the front of the menus with their names at the foot. But one could be less cynical and say that it was a friendly farewell.

I'm at the point where I regard double tipping, as you call it, as a fact of life. I don't feel obliged to tip, but I have always felt that one has been deserved. Sometimes it is better to be gracious and just leave it there.

I have always felt that meanness was such an ugly trait.

[victor meld]

Originally Posted by luv2krooze1791

Then go with that cruise line.

I have never experienced waiters "hovering" for tips. The nearest to that I have seen is their little note on the front of the menus with their names at the foot. But one could be less cynical and say that it was a friendly farewell.

I'm at the point where I regard double tipping, as you call it, as a fact of life. I don't feel obliged to tip, but I have always felt that one has been deserved. Sometimes it is better to be gracious and just leave it there.

I have always felt that meanness was such an ugly trait.

Call me mean?
Last cruise tipping was not prepaid. You had to tip each person separately. There was a guide as to how much. We paid over and above the guide as we felt we had been well looked after. My point is it would be much better to have it all included in the price when booking and no extra tipping. For some people and I include myself ,cruising is expensive and we have to save hard to pay for it. Not all are fortunate in their circumstances.

[Norfolk Brit]

Originally Posted by victor meld

Call me mean?
Last cruise tipping was not prepaid. You had to tip each person separately. There was a guide as to how much. We paid over and above the guide as we felt we had been well looked after. My point is it would be much better to have it all included in the price when booking and no extra tipping. For some people and I include myself ,cruising is expensive and we have to save hard to pay for it. Not all are fortunate in their circumstances.

So it costs the same, but is just handled differently. IMHO, there's a case to be made against the demeaning nature of tipping, but this isn't your argument.

Mary

[victor meld]

Just think it much less problamatic if they say the price of the cruise is £x including tips and no on board tipping. Simples.

[NomDePlume]

Originally Posted by victor meld

Just think it much less problamatic if they say the price of the cruise is £x including tips and no on board tipping. Simples.

Why bring all this up here, again and again? The only ones who can do something about it are Cunard--certainly not this board...

[SeaMatesNYC]

Originally Posted by luv2krooze1791

Perhaps you should enrol.

Speling to, I here.

[SeaMatesNYC]

Originally Posted by victor meld

daily tips taken from you

Interesting way of looking at it. Have them removed and do it your way, whatever that may be. But don't come here looking for applause, as most on this board have experienced the past practice of the last night envelope passing dance and if they are like me, see the auto- as a convenience, and some even (like me) feel GOOD about handing out something extra to those who work so hard to make our holidays special.

[SeaMatesNYC]

Originally Posted by Norfolk Brit

there's a case to be made against the demeaning nature of tipping, but this isn't your argument.

True, but very infrequently made by the tippee, in my experience...

[Wheretonext???]

Originally Posted by SeaMatesNYC

Interesting way of looking at it. Have them removed and do it your way, whatever that may be. But don't come here looking for applause, as most on this board have experienced the past practice of the last night envelope passing dance and if they are like me, see the auto- as a convenience, and some even (like me) feel GOOD about handing out something extra to those who work so hard to make our holidays special.

If the cruise lines did add the tips to the price of the cruise, then someone (read most of the posters here) would be here complaining about the increase in the cost of the cruise. Leave things as they are--makes it much easier for most of us and then we can as SeaMatesNYC has suggested, feel good about passing on that little extra for above the board service.

[SeaMatesNYC]

Originally Posted by Wheretonext???

and then we can as SeaMatesNYC has suggested, feel good about passing on that little extra for above the board service.

And, if things are less than stellar, we also can reflect that in withholding such. Only infrequently have I done so, not because anything was bad, but because the steward/waiter clearly was just "getting by", so I did too (with the auto-).

You are off soon, on Princess, no? Have a great trip, B!

[luv2krooze1791]

Originally Posted by SeaMatesNYC

Speling to, I here.

Enroll is American. Enrol English.

[Wheretonext???]

Originally Posted by SeaMatesNYC

And, if things are less than stellar, we also can reflect that in withholding such. Only infrequently have I done so, not because anything was bad, but because the steward/waiter clearly was just "getting by", so I did too (with the auto-).

You are off soon, on Princess, no? Have a great trip, B!

Thanks. I'm looking forward to my first Princess cruise!