Paid Tips Query

hi guys

Me and my husband go on our first cruise on Friday for our honeymoon booked for us by my parents as a wedding gift. When we booked it we were told me would have "pre-paid tips" included in our price... how does this work? Will the daily service change not be added to our cruise account? If it is is it easily removed? As we prefer to tip who we want to in person.

Thanks!

hi guys

 

Me and my husband go on our first cruise on Friday for our honeymoon booked for us by my parents as a wedding gift. When we booked it we were told me would have "pre-paid tips" included in our price... how does this work? Will the daily service change not be added to our cruise account? If it is is it easily removed? As we prefer to tip who we want to in person.

 

Thanks!

You should not have the daily tips added to your account if you have prepaid tips. Go to Guest Services if you see the tips added to your account.

I have had this perk from my TA...it has been a onboard credit that equals the cost of the tips.

hi guys

 

Me and my husband go on our first cruise on Friday for our honeymoon booked for us by my parents as a wedding gift. When we booked it we were told me would have "pre-paid tips" included in our price... how does this work? Will the daily service change not be added to our cruise account? If it is is it easily removed? As we prefer to tip who we want to in person.

When tips are prepaid all the crew you interact with and all the behind the scenes crew that assist in your lovely vacation are getting their fair share of the tip.

Instead of removing the prepaid tip (not even sure if that's possible), leave it as it is and say thank you to the people you would want to tip in person. That way everyone gets paid. If a person (like a stateroom attendent) is really above and beyond, give them a few dollars extra.

We always have prepaid tips (in Norway it's included in the advertised cruise fare), and we always give something extra to the crew in addition. Removing the prepaid tips or auto-gratuities is stiffing a lot of crewmembers. Don't do it, please.

A suggestion ...

If possible, take a printout of the invoice which show that tips have been prepaid just in case you have a problem once on board. Usually it isn't a problem but if tips are added to your account by mistake then it is good to have your invoice handy as evidence.

I agree with the other poster.

Leave them in place.

And tip a little bit extra for those that go above and beyond.

The tips are actually a significant part of many of the crew's pay.

A suggestion ...

 

If possible, take a printout of the invoice which show that tips have been prepaid just in case you have a problem once on board. Usually it isn't a problem but if tips are added to your account by mistake then it is good to have your invoice handy as evidence.

We always bring our cruiseline booking confirmation​ with us and our prepaid tips are shown.

To date we have not had any problems with our sea pass account regarding tips.

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Seriously, you want to remove prepaid tips, oh boy:rolleyes:

Seriously, you want to remove prepaid tips, oh boy:rolleyes:

IMO everyone should either prepay or autopay their tips and tip extra in cash crew who enhance your cruise experience.

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IMO everyone should either prepay or autopay their tips and tip extra in cash crew who enhance your cruise experience.

 

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Yeah sure. Next time tell them you don't want the sale fare and prefer to pay more than offered so this poor billion dollar company can pay extra to the crew who have no customer interaction whatsoever.

Yeah sure. Next time tell them you don't want the sale fare and prefer to pay more than offered so this poor billion dollar company can pay extra to the crew who have no customer interaction whatsoever.

I negotiate with my TA to get the best price for my cruise but tipping the crew is a different ball game.

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I negotiate with my TA to get the best price for my cruise but tipping the crew is a different ball game.

 

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True. We remove the service charge and tip the steward and the waiters as we go. Never had an issue, in fact they seem to prefer it.

Yeah sure. Next time tell them you don't want the sale fare and prefer to pay more than offered so this poor billion dollar company can pay extra to the crew who have no customer interaction whatsoever.

To me, the best room steward is one who keeps the cabin clean and responds to any requests I might make via post-it note. I don't care if we never see each other. I do not need a new bff no do I need to make myself feel like a big shot handing out cash to a few while stiffing others. Best to just leave auto tips in place. If you feel anyone went above and beyond, you can always tip extra.

To me, the best room steward is one who keeps the cabin clean and responds to any requests I might make via post-it note. I don't care if we never see each other. I do not need a new bff no do I need to make myself feel like a big shot handing out cash to a few while stiffing others. Best to just leave auto tips in place. If you feel anyone went above and beyond, you can always tip extra.

Totally agree.

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True. We remove the service charge and tip the steward and the waiters as we go. Never had an issue, in fact they seem to prefer it.

The ones you're giving the cash to prefer it, but the staff who aren't getting paid to serve you that week (the ones you don't see behind the scenes) because you took their tip off your account probably don't.

True. We remove the service charge and tip the steward and the waiters as we go. Never had an issue, in fact they seem to prefer it.

What kind of issue would you expect? Did you think that those who receive your tips to complain about it - those that are being denied part of their livelihood are not going to confront you. What they or I think of you doesn't matter.

True. We remove the service charge and tip the steward and the waiters as we go. Never had an issue, in fact they seem to prefer it.

I wonder if they really do, and if they would let you know if they didn't.

I wonder if they really do, and if they would let you know if they didn't.

It has been reported many times that they have to hand these tips in if the customer has stopped their autotips.

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It has been reported many times that they have to hand these tips in if the customer has stopped their autotips.

 

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That's what I've read. I know the crew is trained to be polite, they may hate when people remove the tips and pay in cash, but not let the guests know.

True. We remove the service charge and tip the steward and the waiters as we go. Never had an issue, in fact they seem to prefer it.

Because they don't know you removed their tips.

Geez, remove tips, hand out extra few bucks here and there sure they appreciate that.

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Yeah sure. Next time tell them you don't want the sale fare and prefer to pay more than offered so this poor billion dollar company can pay extra to the crew who have no customer interaction whatsoever.

Wow! In almost every single post, you strongly resent that cruise lines are "for profit" companies. News flash: If they didn't make money, they couldn't continue to offer cruises. If you hate them so much, don't cruise. If you're not going to cruise, don't bother posting on CC.

Wow! In almost every single post, you strongly resent that cruise lines are "for profit" companies. News flash: If they didn't make money, they couldn't continue to offer cruises. If you hate them so much, don't cruise. If you're not going to cruise, don't bother posting on CC.

Just a smart consumer, who wont be guilt tripped into paying the cruise lines staff. I love cruising and do so often and will continue to do so. Only doing what's allowed in the contract and couldn't care less what you think!

Hey, but thanks for playing along, keeping my fare low by subsidizing the behind the scenes crew wages. Next time why don't you throw the company a few extra bucks so they can give the captain a raise?

Enjoy your next cruise!

hi guys

 

Me and my husband go on our first cruise on Friday for our honeymoon booked for us by my parents as a wedding gift. When we booked it we were told me would have "pre-paid tips" included in our price... how does this work? Will the daily service change not be added to our cruise account? If it is is it easily removed? As we prefer to tip who we want to in person.

 

Thanks!

It sounds as though your parents wanted you to be free from $ worries on the cruise--what a nice thing to do.

When we've had prepaid grat., on some ships, it shows as a daily charge and right below the charge, it shows as a minus, so that the net is zero. On our last sailing, the charge simply didn't show at all. If you were to remove the pre-paid grat. it would be on board credit, not money you could access to give tips. And, as others have said, people you don't really see (staff during the day in restaurants like the Windjammer, for example) and probably wouldn't think to tip because no one else does, would get no tips at all.

As it is, they each get a certain small percentage of each guests tips--literally a few cents per guest, but with a ship full of people, the few cents does add up: 3000 guests @ .10 a person = $300.00 for the week.

The ship's accounting department will probably do a better job of rewarding crew members that you wouldn't think of than you would--and those you do think of (cabin steward/dining room wait staff/a favorite bartender, etc.) are certainly pleased when you give them an extra tip in addition to what they will receive from the grat. that are added each day.

IMO everyone should either prepay or autopay their tips and tip extra in cash crew who enhance your cruise experience.

 

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A

So tip twice????

Can I please tip three times.

Whole tipping thing is out of control.

Just a smart consumer, who wont be guilt tripped into paying the cruise lines staff. I love cruising and do so often and will continue to do so. Only doing what's allowed in the contract and couldn't care less what you think!

 

Hey, but thanks for playing along, keeping my fare low by subsidizing the behind the scenes crew wages. Next time why don't you throw the company a few extra bucks so they can give the captain a raise?

 

Enjoy your next cruise!

I might just do that. Unlike you, I think employees deserve good compensation, and understand the cruise lines are in business to make money, have to be accountable to share holders, and we would not get the experiences we do if they weren't "billion dollar companies."

Thank YOU for being one of the reasons fares go up.

Have YOU gotten a raise ever? Was there something wrong with that? Maybe you should return it to your employer since you seem to think raises and compensation are an injustice to society. Sounds like you would prefer to live in a socialist or communist country. I'm sure there are plenty accepting new citizens.