SINGLE HSC/TIPPING THREAD (Previously "Why are gratuities not included in Fares?")

We learned on our last cruise that other cruise lines were actively poaching HAL staffers, to the point of even coming on board as a passenger to make offers right then and there. I believe he said NCL or RCCL (?) even opened up their training school in Indonesia too -- like the land-locked MS Jakarta has for HAL crew training.

 

The cost of labor is obviously going up. Particularly with so many new mega-ships which must have huge staffing demands, and I suspect maybe far higher turn-over compared to the smaller, more cohesive HAL ships cruises.

 

(This was stated at the officers cocktail party so let's assume this is fact, not rumor,)

That was an EXCELLENT post. Thank you for the info, it makes sense.

Our concern is with the crew members, we want them to be paid fairly.

Gratuities for most the crew members are considered as non taxable income.

If it is a "service charge" then it is not a '"tip."

If it is a "service charge" then it is not a '"tip."

What they call it is another matter. I don't think any cruise line calls it a tip.

Okay, I'm a little miffed here.

 

I don't begrudge the staff their tips, which I expect they fully earn and then some. But as a first-time bare-bones-budget cruiser stressing out over how I can possibly afford this much fun and relaxation (?!), I had made a plan based on what I was told when the cruised was booked. And now this?

 

Yeah, it's a 7-day cruise, so this change is going to soak me all of seven bucks. That much, I can handle. But it makes me leery of what other charges and fees are suddenly going to start jumping up in price.

 

And effective May 1? When my cruise sails on May 7??? (...obviously, HAL has it in for me personally, and chose this timing especially to add insult to my seven-smackeroonie injury. ;) )

You should be aware, that if the port fees increase after final payment there will be a letter in your cabin and the extra will be charged to your onboard account. Conversely, if the port charges go down, the letter will give notice of a credit to your account. We have had both happen. Just a little heads up. If you are going to cruise you have to roll with the little punches.

Is the gratuity in the initial price you are quoted, or is it tacked on later?

I see they also bill your card ahead $60.00/person/day for things you might charge on board, which I also assume does not include the gratuity?

No, the gratuities are not included in the price that you are quoted and are charged to your on board account every day.

HAL will put a hold of $60 per person, per day, on your credit card. As this is a hold and not a charge, it does not include the gratuity.

Here we go again.

No, the gratuities are not included in the price that you are quoted and are charged to your on board account every day.

 

HAL will put a hold of $60 per person, per day, on your credit card. As this is a hold and not a charge, it does not include the gratuity.

Thanks...just need to make sure I am prepared for all the charges so I have enough saved for the cruise!

Other lines have done the same.

Just about the same amount with other cruise lines.

What they call it is another matter. I don't think any cruise line calls it a tip.

Seabourn and Silversea both advertise on their websites that "tipping is neither required or expected" while Regent doesn't but says pre-paid gratuities are included in the fare. Silversea also goes on to say that all gratuities are included in the basic fare. I can't easily find the same statement on Seabourn's site and any search there takes you back to the "tipping is neither required or expected" statement. None of the lines separates out gratuities on their fares so if there is a set aside amount it is not visible to the passenger. Looking at the Cruise Critic sections for the lines you can find some threads or questions about gratuities or tipping. Typical discussions about tipping though since included in the fares they're more about tipping or not tipping extra with some for, some against for various reasons. All the lines have some kind of a "crew fund" so that's often recommended as an alternative to direct tipping. I didn't look at any of the other supposedly all-inclusive lines.

Seabourn and Silversea both advertise on their websites that "tipping is neither required or expected" while Regent doesn't but says pre-paid gratuities are included in the fare.

So only passengers, and the cruise lines that don't have what we're talking about, use that word.

Again I didn't check every cruise line but generally I'd say that's kind of true. Celebrity doesn't use "tippping" or "tips" on their website and best I can easily find is what they call their "Automatic Gratuity Program" which appears to work pretty much like Holland America's. Interestingly HAL, in their FAQ's, has the question "Is there a Hotel Service Charge (Gratuity/Tip)?" That seems to me that HAL recognizes that their HSC is by some definition a gratuity or tip.

.. in their FAQ's, has the question "Is there a Hotel Service Charge (Gratuity/Tip)?" That seems to me that HAL recognizes that their HSC is by some definition a gratuity or tip.

p.s. Disney uses gratuity rather than tip.

Or it could be just recognizing that those are key words that someone might look for in a FAQ search.

Can someone explain why it makes a difference if the cruise line calls it a "gratuity", a "tip", or a "hotel service charge"?

Why was an announcement of HAL raising gratuities in 2017 merged into a thread from 2015? I need to see this upfront now.

Can someone explain why it makes a difference if the cruise line calls it a "gratuity", a "tip", or a "hotel service charge"?

It usually is a tax issue from the country they live. Gratuities , tips etc usually aren't taxed in their ccountries.

Can someone explain why it makes a difference if the cruise line calls it a "gratuity", a "tip", or a "hotel service charge"?

Can someone explain why it makes a difference if the cruise line calls it a "gratuity", a "tip", or a "hotel service charge"?

I call it a tip. The cruise line or others can call it whatever they want. It doesn't make any difference to me. It costs the same no matter what you call it. :)

Why was an announcement of HAL raising gratuities in 2017 merged into a thread from 2015? I need to see this upfront now.

It is because all discussion regarding HSC and/or tipping is supposed to be done on this thread only. It has been ongoing since 2015.

Thankfully the new information was allowed to exist separately for a few days. I would never look at this thread for current information as it's pretty much been the same old discussion..over..and over...and over. Not quite as bad as the smoking but close.

I call it a tip. The cruise line or others can call it whatever they want. It doesn't make any difference to me. It costs the same no matter what you call it. :)

As long as you're okay with the terms and conditions that they've outlined being applied to something you choose to call a tip, then absolutely no problem.