Tipping in addition to added gratuity

Hello, I understand that a certain amount is added each day for gratuities on the QM2. Can someone suggest what an additional tip might be? I'm thinking that the cabin steward/stewardess might be one that I'd like to tip extra but I have no idea how much. I realize that would depend on a lot of factors, one of which would be how much extra service was provided.

I tip an extra $10 a day to the Steward and our table head waiter. Bartenders/waiters I tip as and when.

From the Cunard web-site (http://www.cunard.com/frequent-questions/):

How does tipping work?

During your voyage, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. Many more crew support those who serve you directly. A discretionary Hotel and Dining charge will be added to your shipboard account on a daily basis (including children). This charge will be shared amongst all those who help provide and support your experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards and others. Please note, this is a discretionary charge and should you wish to remove it or make any adjustments, you may contact the Purser’s Desk before the end of the voyage.

Grill Accommodations: $13 USD per person per day†

Britannia Accommodations: $11 USD per person per day†

Note: Casino dealers and Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all guests utilise these services.

What about gratuities in the bars?

A 15% gratuity is added to your bar charges and dining room wine account. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff.

† Charges may vary or change without notice.

What I do (and I'm American): I always leave the service charge on and, generally, give the room steward and waiter an additional $3/day, the assistant waiter and sommelier an additional $2/day and, if there is a specific bar I frequented the waiter and bartender $2/day (cash). If you add a tip on the bar tab that tip is shared. I give cash directly to staff on the last full day of the cruise.

Hello, I understand that a certain amount is added each day for gratuities on the QM2. Can someone suggest what an additional tip might be? I'm thinking that the cabin steward/stewardess might be one that I'd like to tip extra but I have no idea how much. I realize that would depend on a lot of factors, one of which would be how much extra service was provided.

This one is debated so often. What you decide to tip extra is your choice alone. For myself, I leave on the autocharge & tip extra based on the "Berlitz Cruise Guide". This comes to about $3/day for Steward/head waiter/butler/ about $2/day for asst./staff. The bar staff I seldom tip as I use the "softdrink package which has a pretty large grutuity already added, The exception would be staff members who take care of us frequently(say in the Commodore club, etc.)

I give cash directly to staff on the last full day of the cruise.

Yes, if you are going to do this (in addition to the auto-tip) then apparently it's best practice to do it during/after dinner on the last night of the voyage.

I didn't realise this on my first voyage and tipped extra during breakfast on the morning of disembarkation. I don't believe the staff would have had an issue with it, I did tip cash and not shortbread biscuits (as I have seen done).

I am back from this cruise on the QM2. Tipping the cabin steward extra was not a problem but I was prepared to tip the dining room steward after the last dinner. However, he was nowhere to be found! I finally had to leave as they wanted us out to prepare for the second seating. So, in the future I will give the extra tip on the next to the last evening.

I am back from this cruise on the QM2. Tipping the cabin steward extra was not a problem but I was prepared to tip the dining room steward after the last dinner. However, he was nowhere to be found! I finally had to leave as they wanted us out to prepare for the second seating. So, in the future I will give the extra tip on the next to the last evening.

I think that's a very nice idea.:)

I leave the auto tipping on our account then tip extra for room service as we use it, also leave an extra tip for the cabin steward if we have had good service from them, and tip the waiters on the last evening if they have given us good service too.

partial quote

From the Cunard web-site (http://www.cunard.com/frequent-questions/):

 

How does tipping work?

 

During your voyage, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. Many more crew support those who serve you directly. A discretionary Hotel and Dining charge will be added to your shipboard account on a daily basis (including children). This charge will be shared amongst all those who help provide and support your experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards and others. Please note, this is a discretionary charge and should you wish to remove it or make any adjustments, you may contact the Purser’s Desk before the end of the voyage.

 

 

Grill Accommodations: $13 USD per person per day†

Britannia Accommodations: $11 USD per person per day†

 

 

Note: Casino dealers and Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all guests utilise these services.

What about gratuities in the bars?

 

 

A 15% gratuity is added to your bar charges and dining room wine account. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff.

 

† Charges may vary or change without notice.

 

...

Apparently there has been a change....

How much should I pay for tips?

Tips are charged at a discretionary charge which is added to your on board account. If you wish to amend this you can do so by contacting the Purser's Desk once on board.

Queens and Princess Grill guests are initially charged US$13 per person per day, Britannia guests are initially charged US$11 per person per day.

It has been some time since we have increased the amount we charge our guests on a daily basis for gratuities. We have benchmarked our own charges against many other leading cruise lines and are confident that by applying a small increase we will not be out of line. At the same time - and very importantly - this will increase the amount we collect from our guests to be shared amongst those crew on board who earn gratuities.

As such, we will be increasing our existing gratuities as follow:-

Britannia Staterooms: increasing from US$11 to US$11.50 per person per day

Princess Grill and Queens Grill Suites: increasing from US$13 to US$13.50 per person per day

This increase will take effect from all voyages post World and Exotic Voyages 2013 and will begin from the following voyages:-

Queen Elizabeth : Q308 / Iberian Adventure / Sun 7 April 2013

Queen Victoria: V304 / Spring Getaway / Fri 26 April 2013

Queen Mary 2: M304 / Westbound Transatlantic / Fri 26 April 2013

This charge will automatically be added to our guests' accounts and all other terms and conditions surrounding the auto gratuities will remain the same. Guests wil be advised of the amount through their pre voyage information and through Voyage Personaliser.

All beverages sold on board are processed with an automatic addition of 15% service gratuity. The only exception to this rule are Special Service items (incur a $2.00 gratuity per item), souvenir bar items (without beverages) and cigarettes. -copied from https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/life-on-board/amount_gratuity

Anyone know - what is a "Special Service item"?

It makes our forthcoming Azamara cruise look even more of a bargain. Unfortunately we're on QV later in the year. Why, oh why, can't they all include this in the price? Then everyone would know where they stood, and any exceptional service could be rewarded, either via by the cruiseline (as a result of quetsionnaires) or by passengers.

partial quote

 

We have benchmarked our own charges against many other leading cruise lines and are confident that by applying a small increase we will not be out of line. "?

Not so in relation to another Carnival company. P&O charge £3.10. This of course is a line marketed to the UK, and that explains the difference. No, it's nothing to do with Brits being mean and tight fisted. It's a culture thing and many here are appalled by the way tipping has got so out of controll in the US.

I am not recommending this line: they have other downsides, but the wholly British Saga, which sells to "mature" cruisers and gives superb service superior to Cunard in my experience, include all tips in the price you pay. As the previous poster said why don't Cunard?

David.

Not so in relation to another Carnival company. P&O charge £3.10. This of course is a line marketed to the UK, and that explains the difference. No, it's nothing to do with Brits being mean and tight fisted. It's a culture thing and many here are appalled by the way tipping has got so out of controll in the US.

 

I am not recommending this line: they have other downsides, but the wholly British Saga, which sells to "mature" cruisers and gives superb service superior to Cunard in my experience, include all tips in the price you pay. As the previous poster said why don't Cunard?

 

David.

I'd also like to see all tips included in the price, or at the very least include the hotel and dining charge in the fare. This whole tipping bit is getting out of control; I agree with you on that. It's one of the reasons why I'm looking at Seabourn where "tipping is neither required, nor expected" - to me that seems much more dignified and equitable for both the passengers and crew. -S.

Thanks for the heads up on this increase Salacia.

I am sailing on Q308 - the first cruise to be affected - and I'm not best pleased that this change is being implemented so close to our sailing date and by the back door. It's not the amount of the increase (which admittedly is quite small) but the principle involved.

And, as I am sure I have mentioned before elsewhere, British culture is such that we will tip for good service - not because someone tells us we should nor to subsidise a Company for paying it's employees low wages. Here, in a restaurant if an automatic tip or service charge is added to a bill we have the legal right to refuse to pay the tip if we do not think the service warrants it. If I believe many of the posts on the Cunard part of the forum, Cunard service standards are slipping so shouldn't I be paying less rather than more?:confused: (I can't comment on that myself yet as it's over a year since I last sailed with Cunard....but we will see in April!)

But like many others have said, I would much rather the advertised price of the cruise is the price I pay and includes any "tips" . That way I have the full cost information up front and it is my choice which cruise line to use - isn't that what being a "customer" is about............?

I'd also like to see all tips included in the price..... This whole tipping bit is getting out of control; I agree with you on that. It's one of the reasons why I'm looking at Seabourn where "tipping is neither required, nor expected" - to me that seems much more dignified and equitable for both the passengers and crew. -S.

Quite agree with Salacia on this. If Cunard charge a fee to cover tips then why should one feel under obligation to then tip again? It's not a matter of being mean, it's simply a matter of avoiding confusion and knowing where one stands. Several on this thread are happy to be charged for tips and happy to tip yet again. It would be interesting to know at what point they would reconsider if Cunard again increased the 'forcible' tips.

I'm sure many would happily pay a little more in the overall cost of the cruise rather than be faced with this dilemma on the last day. Everyone agrees that most of the staff are courteous and very hard working and the onus is on their employers to reward their efforts with a decent salary. The whole tipping fiasco would then not be quite so relevant.

partial quote

 

Apparently there has been a change....

 

How much should I pay for tips?

 

Tips are charged at a discretionary charge which is added to your on board account. If you wish to amend this you can do so by contacting the Purser's Desk once on board.

 

Queens and Princess Grill guests are initially charged US$13 per person per day, Britannia guests are initially charged US$11 per person per day.

It has been some time since we have increased the amount we charge our guests on a daily basis for gratuities. We have benchmarked our own charges against many other leading cruise lines and are confident that by applying a small increase we will not be out of line. At the same time - and very importantly - this will increase the amount we collect from our guests to be shared amongst those crew on board who earn gratuities.

As such, we will be increasing our existing gratuities as follow:-

Britannia Staterooms: increasing from US$11 to US$11.50 per person per day

Princess Grill and Queens Grill Suites: increasing from US$13 to US$13.50 per person per day

This increase will take effect from all voyages post World and Exotic Voyages 2013 and will begin from the following voyages:-

Queen Elizabeth : Q308 / Iberian Adventure / Sun 7 April 2013

Queen Victoria: V304 / Spring Getaway / Fri 26 April 2013

Queen Mary 2: M304 / Westbound Transatlantic / Fri 26 April 2013

This charge will automatically be added to our guests' accounts and all other terms and conditions surrounding the auto gratuities will remain the same. Guests wil be advised of the amount through their pre voyage information and through Voyage Personaliser.

All beverages sold on board are processed with an automatic addition of 15% service gratuity. The only exception to this rule are Special Service items (incur a $2.00 gratuity per item), souvenir bar items (without beverages) and cigarettes. -copied from https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/life-on-board/amount_gratuity

 

 

 

Anyone know - what is a "Special Service item"?

I find the gratuity increase acceptable, no problems there. As to special service..hmmm the sensor is probably watching..so I'll leave that one alone!! LOL!

$10 a day extra to the waiters and $10 to the room steward? Come on guys, surely someone can top that.

David.

$10 a day extra to the waiters and $10 to the room steward? Come on guys, surely someone can top that.

 

David.

Lol, you're such a smart-arse :D

I can top that, I once saw a passenger tip a staff member with a packet of shortbread biscuits.

Lol, you're such a smart-arse :D

 

I can top that, I once saw a passenger tip a staff member with a packet of shortbread biscuits.

I once saw a guy tipping his room steward.....with jelly babies.

David

I once gave a taxi driver a 6d tip.. He balanced the coin on his finger and asked if I could afford.

No, was my response and I took it back.

Tip what you want, to who you want.

On cruise ships I get the impression that the actual wage paid to some staff is at best described as minimal and definitely below the legal minimum wage of a UK resident which makes me wonder if this might be a reason why Cunard are no longer Britished registered ships.

Is there anybody else who finds these relentless discussions of who one tips, and how much one has, or will tip just a tiny bit …. tasteless? I was going to say unbritish but unfortunately the exchange of one’s financial arrangements with complete strangers is now as endemic in these isles as it is on the distaff side of the Atlantic. I fully expect to sit at a table one night where everyone passes their last month’s salary slip around.

Gabianno

Is there anybody else who finds these relentless discussions of who one tips, and how much one has, or will tip just a tiny bit …. tasteless? I was going to say unbritish but unfortunately the exchange of one’s financial arrangements with complete strangers is now as endemic in these isles as it is on the distaff side of the Atlantic. I fully expect to sit at a table one night where everyone passes their last month’s salary slip around.

Gabianno

Yes very tasteless. Maybe we should start a thread titled " How much did you gross last year"

Have I missed the point about "the distaff side", thought it referred to the female side of a family. Could be right though.

David.

Yes very tasteless. Maybe we should start a thread titled " How much did you gross last year"

 

Have I missed the point about "the distaff side", thought it referred to the female side of a family. Could be right though.

 

David.

Lexically speaking of course you are perfectly correct. I was using it in a much less rigid connotation to mean the left hand side, or the other side. I could perhaps have referred to 'the side sinister' but maybe I should have just said what I meant in the first place and written 'the American side'.

Gab

..... I fully expect to sit at a table one night where everyone passes their last month’s salary slip around.

Gabianno

In that case you'd be dining with the wrong people. The upper echelons of society very rarely have monthly salary slips !

In that case you'd be dining with the wrong people. The upper echelons of society very rarely have monthly salary slips !

You won't find many of those sailing with Cunard these days, they have abandoned Cunard to the middle classes.

David.

In that case you'd be dining with the wrong people. The upper echelons of society very rarely have monthly salary slips !

What you say is perfectly true but substitute balance sheet for salary slip and the principle holds. It seems that no-one can resist bringing money into any conversation on a cruise ship irrespective of the height of their echelon.

Gab.