Admin fee on tips

Not a Princess issue, or at least I hope not. A friend has just told me that RCCL take a admin fee out of the daily gratuity that passengers pay on their ships, they do this as they as the company collect and distribute the money, I didn’t believe this but on checking the RCCL website it is true. Has anyone heard of this being the case with Princess.

Not heard of it, nor noticed it on the bill. Unless it is included on the daily gratuity itself.

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No it’s not on the RCCL bill, it’s just that the $13.50 a day doesn’t completely go to the crew

Very strange that they do this.

Keith

Wow!! That’s just soooooooo wrong. It’s like stealing from the people that work so hard...:mad::mad::mad:

I hope Carnival-Princess never decides to do it.

Tony

Any actual evidence of this? Have never heard of it and certainly hasn't been reported on RCI board or from my experience talking with RCI crew.

Per Carnival

For your convenience, Carnival automatically charges the gratuities for dining and stateroom staff to your onboard Sail & Sign account.

The total amount is $12.95 per guest, per day and breakdown as follows:

• Stateroom service team - $3.90 per day
  
• Dining room service team - $6.10 per day
  
• Alternative services team* - $2.00 per day(*galley, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members)
  

Why the surprise here? This was the reason for auto tipping. Cruise lines do take a cut.

I don't see any "Admin fee on tips" on the Royal Caribbean Website. If it is there, please copy and paste it to the thread.

Sorry, but Princess and HAL both skim about 10% from the tip pool before it is paid to the crew. They use this money to pay credit card fees and to establish a "slush fund" to cover tip pool shortages on other ships when too many Brits and Aussies remove the auto-tips.

And you know this for a fact, exactly how? Not trying to sound snarky here, but it's easy to say something like without any real proof or reference.

Tom

This should be a good thread. I'm making popcorn.

This should be a good thread. I'm making popcorn.

Going to have butter on it? I hope!!

Tom

This should be a good thread. I'm making popcorn.

lol ... yep! Brits, Aussies????? Opinions? :D

Not a Princess issue, or at least I hope not. A friend has just told me that RCCL take a admin fee out of the daily gratuity that passengers pay on their ships, they do this as they as the company collect and distribute the money, I didn’t believe this but on checking the RCCL website it is true. Has anyone heard of this being the case with Princess.

Princess does not give all of your auto tip to the crew. They use some for employee incentive programs and crew parties and other crew related things. Although this isn't an Admin fee it's deceptive because people believe all their tip money goes into crew pockets.

Per Carnival

 

For your convenience, Carnival automatically charges the gratuities for dining and stateroom staff to your onboard Sail & Sign account.

 

The total amount is $12.95 per guest, per day and breakdown as follows:

 

• Stateroom service team - $3.90 per day
  
• Dining room service team - $6.10 per day
  
• Alternative services team* - $2.00 per day(*galley, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members)
  

So is 95 cents the admin fee?

My father always told me never let anyone handle your money. If you do they’ll figure a way to keep some. My father was a smart businessman. I guess this provides he was right. Thanks Dad!!!

The Captain of The Rowboat,

Tony

I cannot recall seeing an official statement by any cruise line on the subject. Unless and until such appears we only have speculation.

lol ... yep! Brits, Aussies????? Opinions? :D

Yes. I always leave the auto tip in place but don’t tip every 5 minutes on top of it.

As a Kiwi who abhors the whole idea of tipping I would never stop the DSC but accept that as a final payment of all tipping except for our cabin steward usually. When in Rome etc!! So I do reluctantly tip while in the USA or Canada.

And you know this for a fact, exactly how? Not trying to sound snarky here, but it's easy to say something like without any real proof or reference.

 

 

 

Tom

With you Tom, and also why just Brits and Aussies?? we have auto tips included in our fares on our cruises out of Aus but pay auto tips on all other cruises and just as many “other nationalities” talk about removing auto tips, not Brits and Aussies [emoji35]

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lol ... yep! Brits, Aussies????? Opinions? :D

Seriously?? Only .......

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Seriously?? Only .......

 

 

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Didn't you know, we're the skinflints of the world, and regularly stiff the cruise staff as we don't adhere to the USA culture for over-tipping every man and his dog.

Sorry, but Princess and HAL both skim about 10% from the tip pool before it is paid to the crew. They use this money to pay credit card fees and to establish a "slush fund" to cover tip pool shortages on other ships when too many Brits and Aussies remove the auto-tips.

Excuse me I'm British and I have never removed the auto tips, the service would need to be very bad for me to do so. The crew work very hard and deserve the tips.

However I do wish they would just incorporate the charge into the cruise fare which I believe happens on cruises from Australia.

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Sorry, but Princess and HAL both skim about 10% from the tip pool before it is paid to the crew. They use this money to pay credit card fees and to establish a "slush fund" to cover tip pool shortages on other ships when too many Brits and Aussies remove the auto-tips.

Wow, really? While we don't tip over here, when in Rome do as Romans do.

I will admit we struggled with who and how much to tip whilst travelling the US. After 3 months we were still clueless, however never touched our auto tips, that is just part of the fare.

Funny though that while waiting in the guest services line last year, everyone around me was removing their tips due to the fact the captain changed itinerary due to approaching hurricane. Only accent around me was the US one............

Sorry, but Princess and HAL both skim about 10% from the tip pool before it is paid to the crew. They use this money to pay credit card fees and to establish a "slush fund" to cover tip pool shortages on other ships when too many Brits and Aussies remove the auto-tips.

maybe it also covers cheap cruises for you americans and the bucket loads of OBC you all go on about,