Pre-Paid Gratuities: How does the staff know?

[cls711]

Fast foward where the Cruiseline is making a TON of money and YET still pay their staff barely minimum wage but yet they want me JOHN Q. PASSENGER to subsidize paying their staff while they pay their own salaried staff a decent wage. The way they pay their people is horrible...they want the passenger to make up the difference and it's a hierarchy system of payment...the higher the occupational level the more you make....they make the money first and the bottom rung of the staffing gets whats left...deplorable! Yes, these people deserve a fair wage but I refuse to bow to any Cruiseline that puts their arms/weight on me to pay their people a decent wage and then want to make me feel like a cheapskate???? Are you HIGH again?

 

In America our food service industry is also set up on a tip for service system, where restaurant servers are paid far, far below minimum wage with the majority of their income being tips. It's the exact same situation that you feel so strongly about in the cruising industry. Are you equally indignant about this practice in the restaurant business? If restaurant servers were paid "a decent wage" by the restaurant, it would be reflected in higher prices for your meal. If cruise line workers were paid "a decent wage" by the cruise line it would be reflected in higher cruise fares. By moving to the pre-pay or auto-tip system, essentially the cruise lines are just trying to make it more difficult for those few who would chose to tip nothing to do so.

[cls711]

What happens to the extra tips that you might give to your cabin steward during the week..does he turn those in as well?

 

If you have pre-paid tips or have auto-tips on your account then any extra tips given to staff are kept solely by them. If you "turn off" the auto tip, any tips given to staff must be turned in to be pooled.

[gimletgal]

If you have pre-paid tips or have auto-tips on your account then any extra tips given to staff are kept solely by them. If you "turn off" the auto tip, any tips given to staff must be turned in to be pooled.[/quote]

 

Thanks cls711 for posting a sensible and accurate response!

 

 

From Celebrity website:

(If choosing Select Dining, then gratuities are pre-paid. :))

 

Gratuities

 

For your convenience, we will automatically add gratuities for your restaurant and stateroom services to your onboard Seapass account on a daily basis in the following amounts, which may be adjusted at your discretion: $11.50 per person per day for guests in staterooms ($12.00 per person per day for guests in Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms and $15.00 per person per day for guests in Suites). These service gratuities are based on the following recommended amounts:

 

Restaurant Service*Per Person Per DayWaiter$3.65Assistant Waiter$2.10Dining Room Management$1.00Stateroom Service*Per Person Per DayButler (Suites Only)$3.50Stateroom Service $3.50 ($4.00 for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms)Alternative Service*Other Service Personnel$1.25

Beverage Service personnel are acknowledged with a 15% service charge which will be automatically added to the bill.

 

*Please note that gratuities may be shared with other crew members depending on the particular service requirement.

 

This is probably a subject that should join smoking, politics and religion. You will receive a myriad of opinions and people will "fight to the death" to be right in their beliefs. A no win situation........

[cottagequilter]

What has the experience been of those who have"turned off" the tips....is your service less?