Celebrity Gratuity Program - or not?

Hi All

Must confess that the whole tipping thing does my head in. Being an Australian and not being used it as I'm sure my friends over the pond are, it just seems like an extra charge that should have been part of the cruise cost. To Celebrity's benefit however you can opt out and elect to tip just those folks you want to, in addition to 18% on all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services.

I'd much rather take that option and reward those people who stand out and provide exceptional service.

Question is - am I being unreasonable?

Regards

Hi All

 

 

 

Must confess that the whole tipping thing does my head in. Being an Australian and not being used it as I'm sure my friends over the pond are, it just seems like an extra charge that should have been part of the cruise cost. To Celebrity's benefit however you can opt out and elect to tip just those folks you want to, in addition to 18% on all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services.

 

 

 

I'd much rather take that option and reward those people who stand out and provide exceptional service.

 

 

 

Question is - am I being unreasonable?

 

 

 

Regards

If you are booking a Celebrity Cruise in Australia the gratuities are included in your cruise fare so it’s a bit of a non-issue. You can’t opt out

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

If you are booking a Celebrity Cruise in Australia the gratuities are included in your cruise fare so it’s a bit of a non-issue. You can’t opt out

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Thanks for tip, I'll check with my travel agent

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

The Gratuities should be included for any sailing out of Sydney or Auckland. If you are cruising elsewhere however, they will be added on as a daily charge or you can opt to pre pay or have them removed for you to pay personally and sometimes you can even get them paid as one of the chosen perks .

Hi All

 

Must confess that the whole tipping thing does my head in. Being an Australian and not being used it as I'm sure my friends over the pond are, it just seems like an extra charge that should have been part of the cruise cost. To Celebrity's benefit however you can opt out and elect to tip just those folks you want to, in addition to 18% on all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services.

 

I'd much rather take that option and reward those people who stand out and provide exceptional service.

 

Question is - am I being unreasonable?

 

 

 

Regards

simply, yes.

the daily gratuity covers people that you do not interact with yet still provide you with direct services. feel free to offer a token extra ON TOP OF the daily surcharge to those you feel have gone above and beyond. 'when in Rome' and all that.

the fee covers your stateroom attendant and your dining, regardless of where on board you eat( in 'included' venues, not specialty dining or anything that incurs a surcharge). it is a fee that is simply listed separately and should be considered part of the total cruise cost.

Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Taxes and port fees are "listed" separately, too (if you look at the breakdown!)....but it's ALL part of the cost of cruising.

Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Cruise line explanation has to do with the income tax structure in the countries of origin of the crew. For many of the countries, if it was included in the fare, it would be considered salary and the crew member would have to pay income tax on it. However, as a gratuity the do not pay income tax on it (or maybe avoid declaring it). EM

Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

cuz they don't. Land based hotels don't either.. with taxes and fees adding as much as 25-30% on top of the advertised price. its just how the industry operates.

Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

This is an income tax situation....if the gratuity were part of the cruise cost, then it would be counted as income to the cruise company. By listing it as gratuity, it is turned over to the staff and the staff claims/pays any income tax on it if applicable.

This is an income tax situation....if the gratuity were part of the cruise cost, then it would be counted as income to the cruise company. By listing it as gratuity, it is turned over to the staff and the staff claims/pays any income tax on it if applicable.

I don't think this is quite right, but it leads me to word my explanation a bit differently. The crew are paid a 'modest' stipend on which they pay income tax in their home country. If the gratuities were included in the cruise fare, they would be disbursed to the crew as pay, and they would be taxed on it. But if they receive the money as a gratuity from the passengers, it is taxed/reported/treated differently and they get to send home more money. EM

Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Where is your cruise?

Where is your cruise?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Taxes and port fees are "listed" separately, too (if you look at the breakdown!)....but it's ALL part of the cost of cruising.

They are not" listed" separately in the UK for cruises in the UK or anywhere.

Maybe that is the same in AU.

OP is cruising in Europe - Italy and Greece

'when in Rome' and all that.

.

He is in Rome??

"In Rome, waiters / taxi drivers are getting spoiled with foreigners leaving tips and are now often expecting them. But you don't need to tip in Italy" ;p

They are not" listed" separately in the UK for cruises in the UK or anywhere.

Maybe that is the same in AU.

 

OP is cruising in Europe - Italy and Greece

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Mediterranean, out of Rome.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

No worries, in that case the gratuities will not be automatically included in the fare, you can choose to pre pay them or have them added as a daily charge on your cruise. You can also opt to remove them and pay out the gratuities to the staff personally (which is then pooled) as will not meet all the people who would normally get a benefit from the auto gratuity. They may be an opportunity to have picked the gratuity as a perk but if you are already booked that may not be the case.

In any case, it is your choice how you deal with it.

Not sure about cruises out of Australia but tipping generally is rare and only done for exceptional service.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

No worries, in that case the gratuities will not be automatically included in the fare, you can choose to pre pay them or have them added as a daily charge on your cruise. You can also opt to remove them and pay out the gratuities to the staff personally (which is then pooled) as will not meet all the people who would normally get a benefit from the auto gratuity. They may be an opportunity to have picked the gratuity as a perk but if you are already booked that may not be the case.

In any case, it is your choice how you deal with it.

I am doing the same cruise out of Rome and the Celebrity fare from my Australian travel agent includes the gratuities. So confusing!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I am doing the same cruise out of Rome and the Celebrity fare from my Australian travel agent includes the gratuities. So confusing!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

For overseas cruises, perhaps you got them included as part of the fare due to the deal they were offering, sometimes they include them automatically and sometimes it is as a perk.

Still waiting to hear from mine but hoping same deal as you

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Fair enough, still don't understand why they just don't include it in the cruise cost though.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

Because different cultures are . . . well . . . . different.

Still waiting to hear from mine but hoping same deal as you

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

I hope so too, that said, it is so much easier to just do the auto gratuities and not having to worry about who should get it and how much they should get.