wow. 8 and 3 year olds have to tip??

[Richie2pies]

If the service charge is not a tip, how come NCL will not let you use your non-refundable OBC for it. They say you cannot use it for "gratuities." Isn't a gratuitie a tip? If the DSC is NOT a tip, why can't you use it?

[dwjoe]

5 of us going, 2 adults, 3 kids. So, will be paying $12x4 per day for tipping charges. 2 adults and 3 children would be going. The kids would be 8, 3 and 18 months (the 18 month old would be exempt, they don't charge for the tip under 2 years old)

 

So, $48/day tipping charges. An 8 and 3 year old would be charged the tipping fee. Somehow I don't think that's fair :eek:

 

9 (days) x $48 = a whole LOT OF MONEY :eek:

 

Not to mention the airfare for 5.

 

Almost $2,000 to New York

When my kids were little, I wondered what the appropriate amount to tip for them was. Although they eat less, they consume just as much service wise. Changing their sheets, making their beds, bringing them special food requests, cleaning up after spills, etc. Seems like the right thing to do is tip the same as an adult.

 

I don't see what the airfare has to do with the tip question.

[sjbdtz]

Ok, for one thing, I AGREE THAT A CHARGE SHOULD BE IN EFFECT, ok??

I don't disagree with this! It should not BE a big deal in this thread, and it shouldn't be such a hot button topic. I already stated that I posted because between the airfare and cruise price I was in sticker shock. So...to repeat, I agree with the service charge. I agree that they should be compensated. I would NEVER think of stiffing them the charge, and will pay this.

 

Ok, now I checked the price for a 7 day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on Disney...this is what I found. Defintely makes me better about paying $5,000 for my Norwegian Gem cruise :D

 

 

 

 

 

The available cruises that match your selections are listed below. Click any cruise to see more details. Once you've selected a cruise, click "Continue." Or click "Change Your Search" to start a new search.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT SEARCH:

 

2 adults | 3 children | December 2012 | Caribbean

 

 

 

 

2

available cruises match your search

 

 

Results 1 of 1

 

• $10,105 Sails Dec. 23, 2012 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Holiday Cruise on Disney Wonder
  

 

 

 

Good conclusion. Now check to see if your NCL cruise is one of the Nickleodeon sailings...those should be popular with your kids.

 

 

.

[sstrong]

If the service charge is not a tip, how come NCL will not let you use your non-refundable OBC for it. They say you cannot use it for "gratuities." Isn't a gratuitie a tip? If the DSC is NOT a tip, why can't you use it?

 

It obviously is a tip by any common understanding of the word. It's discretionary and can be adjusted if you're not satisfied with the service you receive. That's a "tip" (or "gratuity" as the cruise lines refer to it in their OBC disclaimers). Now, whether or not it's appropriate to adjust it is another question. But those who argue it's not a "tip" are being disingenuous.

[dread_pirate]

And now you know why the DSC is mandatory. Leaving it to cruisers' discretion means that many crew would be short-changed.

[my_crib_too]

Seems like the right thing to do is tip the same as an adult.

 

I don't see any reason that a child should have a lower DSC. If anything, I would have a child pay a higher one. My wife and I utilize the NCL staff a lot less than most traveling families with multiple kids.

 

If you cannot afford to cruise, plenty of other vacation options available to people with kids.

[dwjoe]

? I think you misread my post.

[smeyer418]

DSC/Tip/Gratuity who cares it is the same thing- a distinction without a difference. The DSC is 90% of what the crews makes in remuneration. Whether its in the fare or extra its You who pay it anyway. There is a savings to you...and the cruise line and the crew to pay it as extra(there is a small US tax on all cruise fares and the TA's would want their share if it was added to the fare...and other things when its in the fare)...

 

 

I take my grand kids on cruises all the time(the 4 year old had been on 4 and the younger one three). NCL raised the DSC amount from $5 to $12 when it increased the Adult one to 12 as well a couple of years ago and the Kids crew is not included(although they are paid somewhat more its not a $50,000 per year)....so I toyed with the idea of reassigning some of the increase to the kids crew and removing it from the DSC. I reasoned that since they are the 3-4 in the room they don't actually add that much. In the end however my conscious and what I post here got the better of me and I left it on and left some extra both for the steward and the kids crew...

 

but cheap is as cheap does...

[SFO-F/A]

In November DH and I sailed the Caribbean on the Dawn. We had one of the new family suites on deck 12. Since we were forward, we walked by the rest of the cabins as they were being cleaned.

 

I have never seen such a mess as the cabins with children in them. :eek:

The extra bedding, the extra towels, the pack and play for the baby, the toys and clothes scattered all over the floor, the plates of food from room service, etc.

 

The service charge is something I feel families should pay most of all. Simply because of the extra work the stewards have to do to clean these cabins.

 

If you can afford to take your family on a cruise, you can afford to give the staff their service charge and tip them extra for their hard work.

[softsands]

Cruise lines should just add the service charge into the cruise price and that would be the end of it! People will always try to get out of paying.

 

Now I am going to get my popcorn;)

 

Agreed. Make it a daily "resort fee", non-negotiable. If you don't like it, don't cruise. Most folks respect its nature and intent. I've contended all along that NCL (and the rest) do themselves no favours breaking it out separately and giving the option to remove. Stupid. It is what it is. Call it that.

[softsands]

And now you know why the DSC is mandatory. Leaving it to cruisers' discretion means that many crew would be short-changed.

 

But it's not...that's the problem.

[sstrong]

And now you know why the DSC is mandatory. Leaving it to cruisers' discretion means that many crew would be short-changed.

 

On what cruise line is it mandatory?

[redpatti]

Being new on here I have been reading a lot of different posts on tipping and the DSC seems to be a very hot topic and whether or not people can have them adjusted. I haven't seen anything about people not wanting to pay or adjust the automatic tips that are added to the bar bills that get signed for and added to the onboard account.

 

Just an observation.

[dread_pirate]

But it's not...that's the problem.

 

On what cruise line is it mandatory?

OK, I misspoke. I should have said, "And now we know why the DSC is automatic" instead of "mandatory" (which it should be).

 

If it were not automatic, many people might not tip at all. I daresay that the number of people who wouldn't tip at all if left to their own devices greatly exceeds the number of people who will take the affirmative step of requesting an adjustment.

[crusinmama22]

All I can say is, I do not think I would be cruising with children that age. I would go on vacation just not a cruise. Maybe this for the parents romantic get away and another more suitable vacation for the family. To each his own -- but this is what I would do and what we did do.

 

Our first cruise was back in 1979, our first whole family cruise with Feb 2000, for my daughter''s graduation. After that we tried another romantic 25th anniversary cruise without the kids and guess what we had a better time with them go figure.

 

Now they cruise on their own without us as well. They think it is the best vacation ever. I totally agree.

 

We sail again in Feb 2013 on the Star. Of course now there are 6 of us not just 4 as everyone has a friend!

[awdsmama]

I posted because I was so shocked. Sorry to have started a war :o

 

 

I am paying $3,000 for the cruise for 9 days. Almost $2,000 airfare for 2 adults and 3 kids.

 

 

I am just in sticker shock and wondering if I might just leave them home. I can't afford all of that.

 

 

Yes, they use the bathroom. We don't make THAT much of a mess LOL

 

 

If the added $216 for tip/service charge for your two kids will make or break the vacation then you are right, you probably cannot afford it at this time.

[SteveH2508]

Being new on here I have been reading a lot of different posts on tipping and the DSC seems to be a very hot topic and whether or not people can have them adjusted. I haven't seen anything about people not wanting to pay or adjust the automatic tips that are added to the bar bills that get signed for and added to the onboard account.

 

Just an observation.

 

There have been MANY threads/posts which have strayed into this area.

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1546521

 

This one got quite heated.:eek:

 

Short answer is don't even think about it - the logistics of doing it are almost impossible and - if you managed to do it - I wouldn't fancy your chances of:

A) getting served promptly

B) getting a reasonable strength drink

[Traveller20074]

And now you know why the DSC is mandatory. Leaving it to cruisers' discretion means that many crew would be short-changed.

 

 

I am a good tipper, and tip generously OVER and ABOVE the DSC.

I will tip on THIS cruise as well. I would NEVER THINK of not paying the daily charge, and resent the inference that I would short change anyone knowingly.

 

 

And, thanks to the feedback here, I feel ok about doing the DSC for the kids.

[Traveller20074]

Being new on here I have been reading a lot of different posts on tipping and the DSC seems to be a very hot topic and whether or not people can have them adjusted. I haven't seen anything about people not wanting to pay or adjust the automatic tips that are added to the bar bills that get signed for and added to the onboard account.

 

Just an observation.

 

I feel this thread was a slightly different slant on this. For children. Not just the DSC discussion in general. As stated, because I posted I will be paying the daily charge.

[SFO-F/A]

I feel this thread was a slightly different slant on this. For children. Not just the DSC discussion in general. As stated, because I posted I will be paying the daily charge.

 

Traveller,

It looks like your initial post opened up a can of worms. :D

[redpatti]

There have been MANY threads/posts which have strayed into this area.

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1546521

 

This one got quite heated.:eek:

 

Short answer is don't even think about it - the logistics of doing it are almost impossible and - if you managed to do it - I wouldn't fancy your chances of:

A) getting served promptly

B) getting a reasonable strength drink

 

Oh I don't agree with adjusting any of the tips/DSC - I just hadn't come across the other type of posts.

 

I actually have not yet been on a cruise. My first one will be in August and I already pre-paid the DSC. I also plan on giving my steward a little something on the first day and also something on the last night if service was great - which I anticipate it being! :)

 

I think these folks work very hard to ensure that passengers have a great vacation so I have no issue showing them my appreciation. My kids are now 20 and 15 and it was harder to clean up after them when they were younger!

[Traveller20074]

Traveller,

It looks like your initial post opened up a can of worms. :D

 

 

yep :Dand people love to get off on tangents :rolleyes:

 

oh well. I hope no one ELSE comes on to keep saying that the DSC should be paid and not complained about :D

[donaldsc]

Pay their tip or leave them home.

 

DON

[willysgrandma]

OP, think of it this way. If you are paying $3,000 for a cruise for 9 days for five people, that averages $600 per person for the cruise. If you divide that $600 per person by the 9 days on the cruise, you are paying $67 a day per person.

 

You can't stay in a hotel with 5 people for that little amount of money. Unless you found a suite that can hold 5 people, you would have to get two rooms in a hotel. If you were staying at a resort, you couldn't get two rooms for $335 per day, which is basically what you are paying per day per person. And all your meals and entertainment are included.

 

If you look at the tremendous value you are getting for the cruise, it put the service fee in perspective a little.

 

Just think - you could be paying $10,000 for that Disney cruise and you'd STILL have a service fee on top of that.

 

I also wish the cruise lines would just increase the cruise price by the service fee amount and not break it out separatelyl.

[Traveller20074]

Pay their tip or leave them home.

 

DON

 

 

have you read the whole thread? I AM PAYING IT. And, as I was told by the people in this thread, it's not a tip, it's a service charge.