Stewards had a clipboard on cart clearly showing who had not paid tips

[golfadj]

I do hate it when people over here take what you said and send it over to John Heald for his comment.

 

Happened to me several times and would never do it to someone else.

[LuvvaBargain]

Each cruiser is on a housekeeping inventory list. Stewards document meeting/greetings, dining times, special requests, cabin damages, distribution of incentive perks, small group invitations, laundry services, mini-bar refills, & verification of cabin occupants for emergency/safety reasons. We borrow a hair blower & we ask for round-the-clock ice. Our requests are constantly monitored & filled, so we keep the automatic tipping, but we additionally cash-tip 4 or 5 personable & hardworking Housekeeping & Dining individuals. If a worker knows a guest has removed the tip (for whatever reason), then that cruiser has bragged about doing so & used tip-removal as a hammer, rather than discussing a perceived problem with the individual involved. Everyone we know is cutting corners and budgeting.How sad to hurt all of the other department workers, who receive our penny-portion%, because a cruiser had no desire or ability to have a rational corrective discussion with another person.

[BrendaB1]

List or no list.....so glad Carnival went to auto tip policy. Was always a hassle on last day to have to get change for cash tip envelopes. Hardworking staff deserve every penny they get.

[brfan]

Very interesting. Was wondering if what Pickle said she was in fact correct.

 

Personally I think what Mr. Heald is saying is the "corporate line", but the reality may be very different. I asked a question earlier, but I don't believe it was answered - but is it possible that what actually happens (eg. do the stewards/wait staff know about tip removal, etc) depends on how the Hotel Director runs the hotel portion of the ship? Perhaps overall the policy regarding tip removal is what Mr. Heald states, but the Hotel Director's have the latitude to do things differently if they feel it will provide a more enjoyable experience for their guests? Perhaps some HD's feel that the crew knowing who removed the tip, ensures that better service (eg. ensures the crew does a good job even if the passenger removes the tip as they will be watched by their supervisors), plus gives the HD a statistical trend on who is performing and who isn't (eg. a crew member who has a higher than normal removal rate might not have their contract renewed so if the crew knows this info they can work harder to ensure that don't have a high number of removals)? While other HDs may view this information as unimportant because you can't control what passengers do and it would be unfair to punish crew members for something out of their control.

[golfb4cruzing]

JH's response did read very "corporate line".

[wentworth]

Makes me wonder if they are changing it over so that it doesn't look so bad in one lump sum.

 

Food for thought.

 

It's also a smart move if true.

 

 

Last week on Victory.....One lump sum of $ 80.50 pp charged to s/s

on second day. It must vary on different ships.

[halos]

It's unfortunate that she is now being dragged through the mud over there, as well as ridiculed. :mad:

 

This is insanity. It is insanity because CCL allows it and promotes it.

 

This isn't just about Cruise Critic either. If JH is on a ship and someone comes to him with a nutty complaint, he wastes NO time posting it on both FB and the blog so his 'flying monkeys' will attack.

 

Totally unsuspecting passengers...CUSTOMERS, will be mocked and have no idea.

 

Great way to run a business.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

TOTAL turn off.

[klmorg]

This is insanity. It is insanity because CCL allows it and promotes it.

 

This isn't just about Cruise Critic either. If JH is on a ship and someone comes to him with a nutty complaint, he wastes NO time posting it on both FB and the blog so his 'flying monkeys' will attack.

 

Totally unsuspecting passengers...CUSTOMERS, will be mocked and have no idea.

 

Great way to run a business.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

TOTAL turn off.

 

I agree. I cannot imagine how a company would allow their "ambassador" to do such things to their CUSTOMERS. :mad:

[Dave994]

This is insanity. It is insanity because CCL allows it and promotes it.

 

This isn't just about Cruise Critic either. If JH is on a ship and someone comes to him with a nutty complaint, he wastes NO time posting it on both FB and the blog so his 'flying monkeys' will attack.

 

Totally unsuspecting passengers...CUSTOMERS, will be mocked and have no idea.

 

Great way to run a business.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

TOTAL turn off.

 

I could not agree more! I have called him to task on this several times and he still feels its ok. I like John, think he does a lot for people, but allowing his minions to attack others is wrong and it may keep me away from carnival as a company as long as it continues.

[elcuchio24]

I too don't think they are one and the same. I distinctly remember always being greeting by the steward with a clipboard, going over a couple of things, like dining and bed configuration, and then signing it.

 

I'm guessing there are more than one clipboard floating around;). I don't doubt this story at all, in fact I would be shocked if the WASN'T a list of who had removed tips. That's just human nature.

[bplazo]

I agree. I cannot imagine how a company would allow their "ambassador" to do such things to their CUSTOMERS. :mad:

 

As long as he doesn't name names I do not see the problem with it. I really like a good laugh.

[halos]

I'm guessing there are more than one clipboard floating around;). I don't doubt this story at all, in fact I would be shocked if the WASN'T a list of who had removed tips. That's just human nature.

 

I went over the the fb page to see how bad it was.

JH said that the stewards do not know who has paid and who has removed tips.

 

I was always under the impression that when tips are removed, the steward is told, especially if the tips were removed for poor service. (I mean, this would make sense right??? )

 

Anyway, whther JH is telling the truth or not (sad that I even think he could be lying), the band of usuals came out on full attack, even though there was at least one person who stated that she saw a similar clipboard and it specifically had 'tips removed' written on it. There also were one or two other people who mentioned clip boards but did not see anything about tips on them.

Big_Duck also came to her defense in a very nice manner by just stating a fact and some Bozo made a nasty comment about him in return...

 

My personal feelings on this are that although I do not know the OP, she has been a CC member for a long time. I certainly am not in agreement with her all the time, but I would never think of her as someone who would make something like this up. She is known to do her absolute best at helping people on these boards with questions. I find it horrifying that she was attacked outside this board. It's bad enough she underwent scrutiny here.

 

As long as he doesn't name names I do not see the problem with it. I really like a good laugh.

 

From a business standpoint, it doesn't seem like good sense to mock your customers,

 

Any other business would not only not tolerate that, but would FIRE someone doing what JH is doing.

If I had never sailed Carnival and just happened upon one of those shark-attacks (that happen almost daily btw), knowing their Brand Ambassador is leading the charge there is NO way I would choose to cruise the line.

It doesn't look good. Think about it.

[golfadj]

It is very strange that John will post this even though his customer will be mocked rather severly.

 

In that world you are guilty until proven innocent and you will never be able to prove yourself innocent.

 

Of course if pickle writes to him about this he will apologize to her for doing this. Than his minions will say she does not deserve the apology.

 

Strange, strange, strange. I run a business and always look out for the best interests of my customer.

[spleenstomper]

I gotta tell ya, I believe pickle.

[mikel24m]

I gotta tell ya, I believe pickle.

 

I do too and really hope they do know :)

[cruzingamom]

Personally I think Carnvial should not allow anyone to take the tips off of their account. I see it every cruise and it really makes me mad. Those people work really hard. People spend their money on booze and gambling then go up there and take their tips off. I have been on 14 carnival cruises and never once have I had bad service. Some people will never be happy no matter how good the service is

[mikel24m]

Personally I think Carnvial should not allow anyone to take the tips off of their account. I see it every cruise and it really makes me mad. Those people work really hard. People spend their money on booze and gambling then go up there and take their tips off. I have been on 14 carnival cruises and never once have I had bad service. Some people will never be happy no matter how good the service is

 

Its really sad that some people budget this into their vacation budget

 

Like I have said in many posts if you have bad service and want to adjust or remove gratuities you should have to fill out a report at the pursers desk explaining why and they should investigate.The cruiseline makes it really easy and its sad for the staff that works hard for us for the week

[bobsfamily]

Personally I think Carnvial should not allow anyone to take the tips off of their account. I see it every cruise and it really makes me mad. Those people work really hard. People spend their money on booze and gambling then go up there and take their tips off. I have been on 14 carnival cruises and never once have I had bad service. Some people will never be happy no matter how good the service is

Like I have said in many posts if you have bad service and want to adjust or remove gratuities you should have to fill out a report at the pursers desk explaining why and they should investigate.The cruiseline makes it really easy and its sad for the staff that works hard for us for the week

 

If Carnival did not allow them to be removed it would be part of the cruise fee and would have to be included in the price of the cruise.... which I gather Carnival does not want to do.

[stpcanada]

All this crap makes me thankful I have stopped cruising and switched to AI's for my vacations.

 

Service - better than cruises.

 

Food - better than cruises.

 

Nightly shows and Casino - Cruises far better

 

Accommodations - 740 sf plus balcony plus direct access to a pool vs 185 sf plus 40 sf balcony on a cruise.

 

Overall - A good 4.5 - 5* AI blows a cruise out of the water for overall value and you don't have to worry about all this nonsense.

 

I am however quite interested to see how Picklebongo reacts to JH essentially telling her she is a liar :eek:

[mikel24m]

If Carnival did not allow them to be removed it would be part of the cruise fee and would have to be included in the price of the cruise.... which I gather Carnival does not want to do.

 

Yes this is how they keep cruise fare lower and show how they do not care about their employees

[kazbar]

All this crap makes me thankful I have stopped cruising and switched to AI's for my vacations.

 

Service - better than cruises.

 

Food - better than cruises.

 

Nightly shows and Casino - Cruises far better

 

Accommodations - 740 sf plus balcony plus direct access to a pool vs 185 sf plus 40 sf balcony on a cruise.

 

Overall - A good 4.5 - 5* AI blows a cruise out of the water for overall value and you don't have to worry about all this nonsense.

 

I am however quite interested to see how Picklebongo reacts to JH essentially telling her she is a liar :eek:

 

 

why do you bother visiting cruise critic then?

[DEBnGAB]

This is insanity. It is insanity because CCL allows it and promotes it.

 

This isn't just about Cruise Critic either. If JH is on a ship and someone comes to him with a nutty complaint, he wastes NO time posting it on both FB and the blog so his 'flying monkeys' will attack.

 

Totally unsuspecting passengers...CUSTOMERS, will be mocked and have no idea.

 

Great way to run a business.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

TOTAL turn off.

 

I agree. I cannot imagine how a company would allow their "ambassador" to do such things to their CUSTOMERS. :mad:

 

I could not agree more! I have called him to task on this several times and he still feels its ok. I like John, think he does a lot for people, but allowing his minions to attack others is wrong and it may keep me away from carnival as a company as long as it continues.

 

Agreed 100%!! The "defense" is that "John only posts the ridiculous complaints". What may be ridiculous to some may be valid to the person filing the complaint...there is one posted today that I know there has to be another side to the story, but instead, the flaming began before the other side was heard.

 

Back on topic...I do believe that the staff knows when tips are removed and Carnival makes it super easy to remove them. Check out the line at the Pursers desk on the last night of the cruise.

[halos]

All this crap makes me thankful I have stopped cruising and switched to AI's for my vacations.

 

Service - better than cruises.

 

Food - better than cruises.

 

Nightly shows and Casino - Cruises far better

 

Accommodations - 740 sf plus balcony plus direct access to a pool vs 185 sf plus 40 sf balcony on a cruise.

 

Overall - A good 4.5 - 5* AI blows a cruise out of the water for overall value and you don't have to worry about all this nonsense.

 

I am however quite interested to see how Picklebongo reacts to JH essentially telling her she is a liar :eek:

 

It's great that you like AI's :) I think I would enjoy them too, but not to the extent that I love to cruise. It's a 'boat' thing for me. I like being ON the water.

As for the crap...I don't find any on any ship (even Carnival) it's just on the internet. ;) Also, other lines don't have this much nonsense.

Read the other boards...the nonsense is nowhere near what it is here....and a lot of it stems from...(see below)

 

 

Agreed 100%!! The "defense" is that "John only posts the ridiculous complaints". .

 

I would imagine that most of the complaints are ridiculous and I bet some are even insane. But no one who works for the cruise company should EVER mock those people or expose them to ridicule in a public forum. It's NUTS.

 

Can anyone here think of one other company that allows this?

[vacation_junkie]

you are mistaken. it is added in one lump sum.

 

We watched our sign and sail account summery on the tv last cruise and it was added daily...

[picklebongo]

I came back to this thread pretty late and I've been and continue to be totally oblivious regarding what is being said on Mr. Heald's blog because I don't read it. Just out of curiousity I will try and find the portions relating to my post.

 

If I wanted to make up something regarding the cruise, why would I fabricate something regarding tips, choose to write about a clipboard on a cart in the hallway, if it wasn't true. I was on the Riveria Deck and the clipboards were on not one, but TWO carts. I believe it was the fifth or sixth night, I can't recall now.

 

There were even notes handwritten in ink regarding gratuities. I'm not sure who is giving Mr. Heald this information, but they are telling an absolute lie. I personally don't care one way or the other if the list exist, I was just sharing information about the fact it exists.

 

My "review" wasn't denigrating to Carnival by any means. I shared mostly positive information and if Mr. Heald wanted to know my exact name, it could easily be found because of the incident with the consumer traveling with me. He would also find that I wrote a glowing letter about the initial security person, Stanley, from India, and how he handled the whole situation. I personally took the letter to the guest services desk. I have no hidden agenda, was just sharing a facet of the cruise I thought others would be interested in knowing that this list in fact DOES exist.

 

How somebody can translate this to make it seem as if I am a liar when I was just reporting something I observed is beyond me. Again, I could care less about the existence or the posting of this list, I didn't remove my tips and there was a plus in my column.