Service = Gratuities

For quite a while now, service standards have been in decline at Royal Caribbean (since automatic gratuities were introduced??).

So, from now on, I shall be having any auto-gratuities refunded on my onboard account.

Instead, I will be returning to the old-fashioned method of tipping staff personally (which always used to be a higher amount for us anyway).

Have you considered doing the same - perhaps in the hope that service might improve?

What I would like to know, is what would you recommend per night for our waiter, asst waiter and cabin steward these days (we are returning to traditional dining from now on).

IF I have to stand in line at a bar (as they have cut down on wait staff) I shall also be reclaiming the 18% tip on that too.

I would rather it went to the servers in the Diamond Lounge.

I guess I'm just getting seriously fed-up with such poor service for what was once a quality experience.

We've been choosing MTD for a few years now and pre-paying tips and have had no difference in service. Therefore I see no need to remove tips at all. Frankly I am relieved not to hand out envelopes any longer the last night, I always found it awkward.

If there has been a decline, I believe it's due to having less staff service the same amount of cabins, tables, etc, rather than how the gratuities are paid. At least the ones who stiffed them is probably less than it was before.

We do tip the Diamond Lounge bar server generously though.

Don't shortchange the staff because they are being forced to do more with less.

In addition, keep in mind that shares of your automatic gratuity go to people behind the scenes whom you will never see in person to hand them a tip.

I've never tried asking to have the automatic gratuity removed from the bar, but it would probably slow things down and make the bar staff work harder for the same tip or less.

I appreciate where you are coming from however I think most people would rather just pay an automatic service charge and not have to worry about it.

You do what works for you though. Happy cruising!

For quite a while now, service standards have been in decline at Royal Caribbean (since automatic gratuities were introduced??).

We have been cruising for decades and find the service has not declined in the least, regardless of the institution of pre-paid and/or auto gratuities. Other things have declined, yes, but service is not one of them, in my opinion.

So, from now on, I shall be having any auto-gratuities refunded on my onboard account.

Of course this is your decision. I think your decision will penalize the hard-working staff, though, even if you don't see it that way.

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Don't shortchange the staff because they are being forced to do more with less.

 

 

 

I've never tried asking to have the automatic gratuity removed from the bar, but it would probably slow things down and make the bar staff work harder for the same tip or less.

 

You can't do this, and why would you? The point of the OP was to tip servers directly and this is a direct tip. All you can have removed from your SeaPass is the daily gratuity.

And as for the main point, I also would never do this because as previously said it goes to plenty of behind the scenes folks in would be impossible to tip directly. One example, if you eat in the Windjammer, all the servers and support staff.

The gratuity is a minimum. You can always tip more for outstanding service.

 

Have you considered doing the same - perhaps in the hope that service might improve?

 

What I would like to know, is what would you recommend per night for our waiter, asst waiter and cabin steward these days (we are returning to traditional dining from now on).

 

IF I have to stand in line at a bar (as they have cut down on wait staff) I shall also be reclaiming the 18% tip on that too.

 

I would rather it went to the servers in the Diamond Lounge.

 

I guess I'm just getting seriously fed-up with such poor service for what was once a quality experience.

I'd stop buying drinks on board before I'd take away the 18%. I am not so lazy as to need to be waited on hand and foot.

I'd address the decline in service first, giving them a chance to fix it, before I'd remove the auto gratuities for the wait staff or cabin steward

I'd stop cruising altogether if I got 'seriously fed up with such poor service'

so to sum up,no it will never happen that we remove any daily charges. that being said we have not given 'extra' in several cruises.

We met a couple that always has the automatic gratuity removed from their SeaPass account. They said something about how RCI keeps 1.5% of it? I have no idea if that is true, but on that belief and as a matter of principle this couple refused to give RCI anything more than necessary. They insisted that the crew appreciated cash tips. Well of course they would if they didn't have to share it.

The whole tipping situation is a mess because everyone seems to expect something above and beyond the automatic gratuity. I have not yet figured out an equitable way to tip everyone other than to not give anyone an additional tip, which also seems unfair since the slackers will get the same as the hard workers.

Service is definitely on the decline.

I think less people would question the service charges if service were what it once was.

Now that it is compulsory they try to get away by giving you less and guilting you into paying it no matter what.

We met a couple that always has the automatic gratuity removed from their SeaPass account. They said something about how RCI keeps 1.5% of it? I have no idea if that is true, but on that belief and as a matter of principle this couple refused to give RCI anything more than necessary. They insisted that the crew appreciated cash tips. Well of course they would if they didn't have to share it.

 

The whole tipping situation is a mess because everyone seems to expect something above and beyond the automatic gratuity. I have not yet figured out an equitable way to tip everyone other than to not give anyone an additional tip, which also seems unfair since the slackers will get the same as the hard workers.

I am 100 percent sure all the money goes to the crew. Anything else would be illegal.

I am 100 percent sure all the money goes to the crew. Anything else would be illegal.

There is no way you are 100% sure unless you work for the company.

Illegal where? NCL confiscates some of the crew service charges, I would not be surprised if other lines did as well. Why do you think the crew have to beg for 10 ratings...

There is no way you are 100% sure unless you work for the company.

 

Illegal where? NCL confiscates some of the crew service charges, I would not be surprised if other lines did as well. Why do you think the crew have to beg for 10 ratings...

Illegal in the United States. RCI is a US company. Per the US Department of Labor:

Retention of Tips: A tip is the sole property of the tipped employee regardless of whether the employer takes a tip credit. [1] The FLSA prohibits any arrangement between the employer and the tipped employee whereby any part of the tip received becomes the property of the employer. For example, even where a tipped employee receives at least $7.25 per hour in wages directly from the employer, the employee may not be required to turn over his or her tips to the employer.

And likewise unless you work for NCL you do not KNOW that they do take tips

For quite a while now, service standards have been in decline at Royal Caribbean (since automatic gratuities were introduced??).

 

So, from now on, I shall be having any auto-gratuities refunded on my onboard account.

 

Instead, I will be returning to the old-fashioned method of tipping staff personally (which always used to be a higher amount for us anyway).

 

Have you considered doing the same - perhaps in the hope that service might improve?

 

What I would like to know, is what would you recommend per night for our waiter, asst waiter and cabin steward these days (we are returning to traditional dining from now on).

 

IF I have to stand in line at a bar (as they have cut down on wait staff) I shall also be reclaiming the 18% tip on that too.

 

I would rather it went to the servers in the Diamond Lounge.

 

I guess I'm just getting seriously fed-up with such poor service for what was once a quality experience.

Then stay home.

Seriously. You're penalizing staff for something that's beyond their control.

Plus, 18% on bar bills is not optional.

This is perhaps the most ridiculous post I've seen in a while. Here's an idea- how about you move away to your third world country, work your ass off for 18 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months straight only to have some cheapskate malcontent jip you because of something beyond your control.

Illegal in the United States. RCI is a US company. Per the US Department of Labor:

 

Retention of Tips: A tip is the sole property of the tipped employee regardless of whether the employer takes a tip credit. [1] The FLSA prohibits any arrangement between the employer and the tipped employee whereby any part of the tip received becomes the property of the employer. For example, even where a tipped employee receives at least $7.25 per hour in wages directly from the employer, the employee may not be required to turn over his or her tips to the employer.

 

And likewise unless you work for NCL you do not KNOW that they do take tips

1. Each ship is it's own "company. RCI in the US is just a managing company. That is why the ships are registered in various foreign ports and the workers are foreign nationals. They are not subject to US wage and taxation laws. This should not be surprising news to anyone here. I am surprised you are trying to hang your hat on that.

2. NCL clearly state part of their service charges are withheld for crew welfare programs. It says it right in their guest ticket contract.

Illegal in the United States. RCI is a US company.

RCCL is incorporated in Liberia, not the US.

Tipping thread du jour that is about to go sideways?

Then stay home.

 

Seriously. You're penalizing staff for something that's beyond their control.

 

Plus, 18% on bar bills is not optional.

 

This is perhaps the most ridiculous post I've seen in a while. Here's an idea- how about you move away to your third world country, work your ass off for 18 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months straight only to have some cheapskate malcontent jip you because of something beyond your control.

I think you've missed the point entirely. RCI continues to shortstaff areas such as dining rooms and bar services and raises both prices and gratuity amounts (compounded cost increases) going to less staff = staff making more than ever before (in theory) while the guest is guilted (as you are doing) but receiving lower levels of service.

There's nothing wrong with telling the company they need to improve service levels to justify what they charge for those services.

Sticking the hard working staff in the middle of it and laying on a guilt trip is not the proper way to do business. Provide enough staff for great service and the whole problem goes away.

Tipping thread du jour that is about to go sideways?

very much so. It's a shame too because OP didn't say the staff don't deserve money or that he wants to save money, only that services decline and costs rise.

There are many on this board who fall for the guilt trip every single time and never question what happened to the good service of years past.

For quite a while now, service standards have been in decline at Royal Caribbean (since automatic gratuities were introduced??).

 

So, from now on, I shall be having any auto-gratuities refunded on my onboard account.

 

Instead, I will be returning to the old-fashioned method of tipping staff personally (which always used to be a higher amount for us anyway).

 

Have you considered doing the same - perhaps in the hope that service might improve?

 

What I would like to know, is what would you recommend per night for our waiter, asst waiter and cabin steward these days (we are returning to traditional dining from now on).

 

IF I have to stand in line at a bar (as they have cut down on wait staff) I shall also be reclaiming the 18% tip on that too.

 

I would rather it went to the servers in the Diamond Lounge.

 

I guess I'm just getting seriously fed-up with such poor service for what was once a quality experience.

No I have not considered doing the same. I have almost always received top notch Service and if there have been Service glitches I´ve made them Aware of the issues and it´s always been corrected.

However reading your post I´m not surprised you see your Service decline.:rolleyes:

We have been cruising for decades and find the service has not declined in the least,.

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Service is definitely on the decline.

 

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So confusing! :D Is service really that subjective like food? :cool:

Personally, I noticed a big decline in service on Freedom of the Seas from my cruise in 2012 to 2015. They are simply doing a lot more with less IMO. The thing is, these same complaints are on ever cruise forum. Even some of the luxury cruise forums.

So confusing! :D Is service really that subjective like food? :cool:

 

Personally, I noticed a big decline in service on Freedom of the Seas from my cruise in 2012 to 2015. They are simply doing a lot more with less IMO. The thing is, these same complaints are on ever cruise forum. Even some of the luxury cruise forums.

I guess it can be subjective. I am not a suite level cruiser, I am one of the "masses" so I compare services like drinks on the pool deck or service in the MDR. There is no doubt in my mind services have declined because they are trying to handle more people with less staff. That doesn't mean it's the staffs fault, that is managements decision.

The folks you are supposed to tip (cabin attendant, waiter, ass't waiter and head waiter) are the folks who get the tips that are added to your account. Bartenders get the 18% that is added to the drink tab. I don't see where the problem is....if you feel they deserve more that what you're being charged, feel free to part with your money!

The only folks who aren't included in the tipping is kitchen staff who deliver room service...if you use room service, tip at time of delivery. So easy and straightforward!

 

2. NCL clearly state part of their service charges are withheld for crew welfare programs. It says it right in their guest ticket contract.

I don't sail NCL. but if I chose to do so this statement would NOT make me 'withhold' any daily service charge at all. This is no different than office slush funds being funded by the office workers to cover birthday gifts, retirement gifts or other such things.

the Navy calls them wardroom dues and it is used for morale building events like picnics and holiday parties

I don't sail NCL. but if I chose to do so this statement would NOT make me 'withhold' any daily service charge at all. This is no different than office slush funds being funded by the office workers to cover birthday gifts, retirement gifts or other such things.

 

the Navy calls them wardroom dues and it is used for morale building events like picnics and holiday parties

While I strongly believe military personnel should be paid better than they are, they are not earning the sort of wages people on cruise ships earn. I bet those on cruise ships would rather not have money taken out for a cake party if they had their choice about it.

So confusing! :D Is service really that subjective like food? :cool:

 

Personally, I noticed a big decline in service on Freedom of the Seas from my cruise in 2012 to 2015. They are simply doing a lot more with less IMO. The thing is, these same complaints are on ever cruise forum. Even some of the luxury cruise forums.

I used to be able to sit in a pool lounger and be asked if I'd like another drink even before mine was empty. Now I can easily finish a drink and not have a server come by for 10-15 minutes. It's also a common experience for me to have to wait 5 minutes in line at a bar at the pool bar or solarium bar.

I honestly don't have a problem getting up to get my own drink, but it's just not an arguable point to say that bar service/wait staff service hasn't declined. (Of course there's always the people who claim to tip $10 or $20 at the beginning of a cruise and never wait in line at the pool bar or have an empty drink at the casino bar.)

Maybe those who say service hasn't declined are only comparing service in the diamond lounge or how well their cabin steward serves them. Or perhaps they are just wildly lucky.

I used to be able to sit in a pool lounger and be asked if I'd like another drink even before mine was empty. Now I can easily finish a drink and not have a server come by for 10-15 minutes. It's also a common experience for me to have to wait 5 minutes in line at a bar at the pool bar or solarium bar.

 

I honestly don't have a problem getting up to get my own drink, but it's just not an arguable point to say that bar service/wait staff service hasn't declined. (Of course there's always the people who claim to tip $10 or $20 at the beginning of a cruise and never wait in line at the pool bar or have an empty drink at the casino bar.)

Poolside waiters were almost non existent. Such a change from 2012. I actually didnt mind them coming by every 5 minutes or so asking me if I needed a drink. A simple "no thanks" always worked great. The Pool Bar was way overworked and understaffed and service was pretty bad. Our MDR waiters were just ok. Cabin attendant was good but strictly business and Im ok with that. He didnt seem to care for much small talk.

For those that cruise 3 or 4 times a year or more, there might not seem like a big decline in service. Take a 3 year break though and it was certainly noticeable.