commodoredave

Good question. For me, exceptional service is when my room steward, butler, waiter or bar tender anticipates my needs and/or makes helpful recommendations and suggestions. Yes, that doesn’t happen on every cruise from every crew member. And sometimes I do not tip anyone, and other times I do. And occasionally, and rarely, when all staff meet my expectations, I also give to the crew fund as well as individuals. While I cannot speak for others who tip, that is my criteria.

If you read my signature, you would understand that I have taken mostly ultra-luxury cruises for many years. In fact, I started sailing with Seabourn before they were acquired by Carnival. Having said that, I have met many wonderful people on the mass market ships we have sailed with who would never descend to the level of calling someone else’s tipping preference as “filthy”.

Thanks. That’s exactly why no one should contribute to the crew fund. It is a waste of money that has no correlation to the service one receives and only rewards mediocrity.

I believe the purpose of tipping is to reward exceptional service. The reason I rarely give to the crew fund is that my contribution would go to everyone, including those staff who may be underperforming, which is counterproductive and demotivating to other staff who are outstanding. This is why I mainly tip individuals. Having said that, I have on occasion also given to the crew fund when my entire cruise has been excellent. Otherwise, I just tip individuals.

I would never tip in advance as that is bribery. If I tip, it is on the final night of the cruise and only in special circumstances where it is warranted. I also understand that tipping is not required as basic gratuities are included in the cruise fare of most luxury lines. It is a personal choice.

I think there’s a happy medium where service staff make a better basic living wage but there is still room for someone to tip for exceptional service.

If I consider it exceptional service worth an extra reward, that’s all that matters when it’s my money. Same for you. It’s a personal choice that is between me and the people I tip.

If that’s the case, maybe time to start tipping doctors in Oz! 😝

It would be interesting to see if any recent cruisers have had any experience with the pool chair policy enforcement or not. It has been enforced on other luxury lines I have sailed with, but only after request. Is O an outlier or the mainstream?

Yes, and the world should be free of war, pestilence and food insecurity! Tips were created to reward excellent SERVICE from people who depend on it because their wages are low. When my service people earn decent wages, as waiters in some countries do, I tip little or nothing. I choose to recognize and encourage exceptional service.

The concept of a lawsuit for removing personal items from a pool chair is nothing less than nonsensical. Pay a Lawyer for a non- jurisdictional suit that at most if successful would result in a $500 award. If there is anyone out there that believes this I have beachfront land in Salvador for sale.

I agree with those who say this is ship rather than cruise line-specific. Our back-to-back cruises from Iceland to Norway on the Whisper 2 years ago was fabulous in every respect. However, our last cruise in April on the Muse in Japan had a number of disappointments related to poorly trained crew. The issue with SS is that they are consistently inconsistent. I hope this is more an issue of rapid expansion rather than cutbacks by RCG. We shall see when we sail again with SS next week on the Shadow.

I hope doctors in your country are earning more than waiters! 😍

I've been on 85 cruises to every part of the world dating back to 1980. I've never come across an unwritten rule about tipping through the crew fund. In point of fact, I've heard the opposite from dozens of crew members who very much appreciate a tip for their exceptional service and not one has ever suggested I give to the crew fund instead. Having said that, I have on occasion done both -- given to the crew fund and a few individuals. I have always believed that tipping on cruise ships is a personal choice in both how to give and the amount to give. Do what you want and what makes you comfortable. There is no wrong way.

Frankly, I don't see why removing personal items from a pool chair in international waters would have any legal impact back on land in the USA. I'm guessing the hotel director is a bad communicator or misunderstood the directive from HQ,

Yes, some of the longterm SS customers still have concerns. Dress code - not an issue for me. Increased cost for specialty restos - an irritant I avoid as I have that choice. Like you, I have no favourite cruise line. I set my expectations accordingly, and try to enjoy what each line does best. I really like trying new lines like Explora which impressed me. Trying Emerald Yachts in February. And O after that.

One luxury cruise brand has taken an interesting approach to try and please a diversity of passenger preferences. Silversea now offers 3 different cruise options- door to door which includes everything including air and transfers; port to port which does not include air and transfers; and essential which does not include air, transfers and excursions. This approach, arrived at after much criticism from loyal passengers, has won me back as a customer. In contrast, I stopped sailing with Regent some 10 years. The bottom line here is that luxury lines don’t need to offer one size fits all — choice is wonderful!

Yes, I know this is the Seabourn board but gave an example of what I was told by a HD on Silversea. I am hoping it is the same on most luxury lines including SB. As for any additional tips, the only right way is the way that makes you comfortable.

Hi Gary. What a pleasure to hear from you. Your comments are right on the mark. I wish more people had your insight and common sense. Thank you!

Based on my experience, you are correct. However, some cruise lines do more than others to enforce the no saving chair rule, although no one does enough.

I recall sailing with Home Lines in the 1980s when all passengers officially had an option to reserve a pool lounger for a fee. The Europeans on board thought it was normal, but most others did not, and it was eventually phased out -- as had the class system before it. Now that chair hogging has become more commonplace, I wonder if cruise lines will look at ways to generate more revenue from our displeasure by charging for chair reservations again. In a way, some cruise lines have begun this process by creating private areas (Haven, Retreat, Sanctuary, etc.) of the ship for guests willing to pay extra for the exclusivity -- private restaurants, private pools, sufficient supply of pool chairs, etc. And if paying to reserve pool chairs becomes official, might it resolve the issue created by chair hogs?

According to Silversea, the included gratuities are shared with behind-the-scenes staff. I have not yet seen anything from Silversea that officially details what the money is used for, although some members have said it is used to help those in need and to have parties. At the end of the day, tipping is a personal choice -- in deciding to tip or not, in determining how much to give, and deciding how to give (to individuals, to a crew fund, or both). There is no right or wrong way to tip. Do what makes you comfortable.

In contrast, I would never miss an opportunity to provide an extra reward for exceptional service. And I must say the reaction from those receiving it has always demonstrated that it is much appreciated.

Included gratuities are supposedly shared with all staff, including those behind the scenes. Therefore, if you wish to provide an extra reward to a few specific individuals such as a room steward, waiter or bartender, you can do so directly -- that is what I do on all the luxury lines. However, if you want to reward the overall level of service on a ship, you can give some cash to the crew fund. Or, you can do both. At the end of the day, it's really about what makes you feel most comfortable,

We must be related!