Canceling gratuity

[Randyk47]

What did getting off the ship 4 days early solve?

 

Far be it for me to question or criticize what must have been a difficult decision. I'm assuming they reached a point where they felt the choice between staying on the cruise or leaving wasn't worth the health risk. Getting off just simply to prove a point would be different.

[cruz chic]

If you read my post I tipped everyone in EURO's including my room steward.

..... who would have had to turn it in to the pool as you removed the HSC.

[RJ2002]

Crew sometimes actually have some nice shore excursions arranged for them by the ship. Sometimes it is a reward for outstanding performance, sometimes it's a special treat for a particular group on a rotating basis,,,,,,, We have seen large groups of crew who get to see the fabulous sights all of us want to see and do. And I LOVE when we see that.

 

 

When we did our Egypt cruise on Princess (before all the trouble), the cruise line had arranged for many large buses to take crew from Port Said into Cairo, for a full day tour to see all the sights. The crew buses were part of the same escorted caravan into Cairo as all the passenger buses. So yes, the crew does indeed get some nice shore excursions. Our MDR team were some of the lucky ones. They were just thrilled. It was great to see they had been given the opportunity.

 

 

 

Yes, they know.

Not only do they know but their supervisors question them as to what they can do better to improve the service so the guest would want to honor the HSC. They are held answerable for guests who do that. They also have a posted list so everyone knows if they receive any tips outside of HSC from any guests whose names are on that list, they are required to turn it into the pool.

 

Yes, they know!

 

 

Thanks Sail, but just to clarify. The OP was wondering if the crew on a CURRENT cruise was presented a list of passengers who removed the HSC on a PRIOR cruise. You are saying, "Yes, they know". Just wanted to reconfirm. This is an interesting thing, if true.

[peaches from georgia]

 

Thanks Sail, but just to clarify. The OP was wondering if the crew on a CURRENT cruise was presented a list of passengers who removed the HSC on a PRIOR cruise. You are saying, "Yes, they know". Just wanted to reconfirm. This is an interesting thing, if true.

I was about to post the same thing. OP was obviously asking if present staff and crew knew if a pax had cancelled gratuity on a previous cruise (so I presume the present cruise crew would be aware these pax may be prone to do this and crew/staff of current cruise could be proactive).

[Randyk47]

Thanks Sail, but just to clarify. The OP was wondering if the crew on a CURRENT cruise was presented a list of passengers who removed the HSC on a PRIOR cruise. You are saying, "Yes, they know". Just wanted to reconfirm. This is an interesting thing, if true.

 

Deleted.

[Randyk47]

Thanks Sail, but just to clarify. The OP was wondering if the crew on a CURRENT cruise was presented a list of passengers who removed the HSC on a PRIOR cruise. You are saying, "Yes, they know". Just wanted to reconfirm. This is an interesting thing, if true.

 

It is an interesting notion that they would go to that extent but then again they know what we spend money on so I guess they can figure out what we don't spend money on including the HSC. The only list I've seen was for an ongoing cruise and that was delivered to the room stewards some time during the cruise though I can't say it was the first day or close to end of the cruise or maybe continuously as passengers opt in or opt of the HSC. Of course at the extreme of list keeping are the few cases if believed, some reported here, where passenger conduct or complaints were enough that some folks have been barred from cruising with HAL and I think on any Carnival Corporation line. I doubt, actually pretty sure, dumping the HSC is not sufficient to earn that "honor".

[3dashers]

I may have gotten confused...

If I leave on the auto tip but give the room steward (as example) extra money they have to turn those into a pool of tips?

[Randyk47]

I may have gotten confused...

If I leave on the auto tip but give the room steward (as example) extra money they have to turn those into a pool of tips?

 

No. They only have to turn it in if you remove the House Service Charge or auto tip as you call it.

[rafinmd]

I may have gotten confused...

If I leave on the auto tip but give the room steward (as example) extra money they have to turn those into a pool of tips?

 

Absolutely not. As long as you leave the auto tip (actually HSC) in place, anything you give to your stewards is theirs to keep. If you remove the HSC, THEN the stewards are required to turn over any cash you give them to the pool.

 

Roy

[3dashers]

Many thanks for the speedy reply.

[waASPCrusier]

No. They only have to turn it in if you remove the House Service Charge or auto tip as you call it.

 

So in the case of jresn02, they turned off the HSC, tipped several hundred euros to various people who had to turn it into the pool. Now would that be the same pool that their HSC would have gone into ? What I am wondering is that it sounds like they tipped more than what the HSC would have been, making the assumption it was roughly a 14 day or less cruise, so did anybody really get short changed ?

[chrispb]

So all Indonesians and Filipino workers can get buy on the same amount of money each across the board?

 

One might have no kids and one might have three.

 

One might be supporting parents.

 

 

One might be paying for their kids colleges.

 

Every situation is different. They all can't get by on the same amount of money.

 

Last week a poster claimed HAL didn't x-ray the checked baggage before it went on the ship. I though this was ridiculous.

 

 

You just topped them.

 

What you have just said applies to every working person - not only ship's crew.:confused:

[Randyk47]

So in the case of jresn02, they turned off the HSC, tipped several hundred euros to various people who had to turn it into the pool. Now would that be the same pool that their HSC would have gone into ? What I am wondering is that it sounds like they tipped more than what the HSC would have been, making the assumption it was roughly a 14 day or less cruise, so did anybody really get short changed ?

 

Maybe in the long run nobody got short changed since it would have gone into the general pool but then again if they intent was to reward the room steward and only the room steward they missed the mark. Goes to intent not final result.

[awhcruiser]

There should be a list printed in the ships daily paper with names and cabin numbers of people who remove tips. This would get someones attention.

We were trying to get someone's attention.

This is the only time I cancelled tips on 10-15 cruises I have been on.

[waASPCrusier]

Maybe in the long run nobody got short changed since it would have gone into the general pool but then again if they intent was to reward the room steward and only the room steward they missed the mark. Goes to intent not final result.

 

I agree. I was just curious if anybody knew.

[CaveDiving]

If you wish to remove the Hotel Service Charge, you will be asked to sign a form and the reason for removing it. They need to know if you think the service is not good.

HAL has a policy that once you sign that form and remover the Hotel Service Charge, your name is passed onto the various managers and they pass your name onto the workers under them.

 

I am certainly not endorsing cancelling the service charge on a cruise, but the above statement is simply NOT TRUE.

 

I had heard this before on this Cruise Critic, so I checked. I am presently on the Amsterdam in Alaska on a short one week cruise. The front desk does not permit removing the service charge until the last evening of the cruise, so obviously there cannot be any circulation of names before this.

 

Also, THERE IS NO FORM TO SIGN. This is an urban legand. I have seen people cancelling their service charges by simply saying "I don't believe in them although the service was fine."

 

Scott & Karen

[rafinmd]

I am certainly not endorsing cancelling the service charge on a cruise, but the above statement is simply NOT TRUE.

 

I had heard this before on this Cruise Critic, so I checked. I am presently on the Amsterdam in Alaska on a short one week cruise. The front desk does not permit removing the service charge until the last evening of the cruise, so obviously there cannot be any circulation of names before this.

 

Also, THERE IS NO FORM TO SIGN. This is an urban legand. I have seen people cancelling their service charges by simply saying "I don't believe in them although the service was fine."

 

Scott & Karen

 

That is either new or not true fleetwide. I was given the form on the Zaandam when I wanted to INCREASE the HSC. The title on the form was something like "Request to modify the Hotel Service charge".

 

Roy

[Randyk47]

I've never seriously considered removing the Hotel Service Charge so I have no idea or personal experience as to forms or procedures. I will say for absolutely sure the list I saw in the stewards' station across from my cabin was posted relatively early in the afternoon, like by 2 PM, of the last full day. It was clearly labeled and I have no doubt it was a list of passengers who had removed the HSC as of a certain date and time. I imagine that gets updated periodically, probably right up to disembarkation morning.

[wander]

Maybe things have changed in the past months, but my experiences are different than some, as outlined below. Who knows what is set, varies by ship, varies by the month - or whatever.

 

I too have seen people given a form to complete to remove the charges on past cruises.

 

While I have always kept the charge on my account and given extra to some crew, I had thought that the charge had to be removed BEFORE the last night, maybe that has changed.

 

I too have seen the "list" but late in one cruise. It was hanging in the Steward's workroom when went in to speak to a steward. It is my understanding that this is the way they know whose "personal" tips they must turn in versus whose they can keep.

 

It is further my understanding that this list is very important to them as then there is no questions about whose they can keep versus must turn in. As an officer was telling me one time, if there is any doubt they usually turn them in as they never know when the "passenger" might actually be a "secret shopper" or what ever term you might use, testing the crew. It is my impression that while all like extra tips, it is also very important to them that the crew we never see get their share the funds. Those behind the scene help make life for those we see much easier.

[Randyk47]

Might add that there is at least a rumor, if not an absolute fact, that crew or staff found keeping tips from non-HSC participants run the risk of firing or at least some kind of negative personnel action. I'm assuming that's sufficient to keep the majority in line.

[sjdnv]

When we cruise we pay the HSC without question, and we don't complain about it. We tip extra to those folks (like room stewards, favorite waiters, bar help, etc.) who really made an extra effort to make our trip special and comfortable. I would never DREAM of removing the HSC. The staff works hard on those ships, and deserve the money, IMO. I can't believe that a cruiser would think removing the HSC was okay, but that's just me.

 

Totally agree, just off the Zuiderdam,and a lady in front of me at the desk was adjusting her gratuaties to $5.00/pp per day, I was so tempted to say something, I can' believe some people would be so cheap, it was only a 7 day cruise!! She was filling out a form so they do exist

[soldham]

I have seen the form but I have also heard people told at the front desk that they cannot adjust their gratuity until the last night of the cruise.

 

Just what I have witnessed on the cruises I have been on. Your experience may vary.......

[Irish Eyes Are Sailing]

Totally agree, just off the Zuiderdam,and a lady in front of me at the desk was adjusting her gratuaties to $5.00/pp per day, I was so tempted to say something, I can' believe some people would be so cheap, it was only a 7 day cruise!! She was filling out a form so they do exist

 

I could only wish that someday, that sorry cheapskate will be forced to work for tips......then the tide would turn and she would get a taste of her own medicine. Hard to believe people like that exist.

[doublebzz]

As a retired federal government employee, I also used to resent that generalization but I have developed thicker skin over the years and simply disregard comments from people who have no idea what they are talking about.

 

I spent 45 year in public service. 10% of the employees should be in jail and 80% are carried by the 10% who are indispensable and compensated the same as the aforementioned 80%.

[startwin]

There should be a list printed in the ships daily paper with names and cabin numbers of people who remove tips. This would get someones attention.

 

That is not a good suggestion. I've never had tips removed, but I can certainly understand some wanting to, having had less than reasonable service. Some people may have very valid reasons for removing the tips. Publishing names for the general ship population is not reasonable.

 

I'm sure there are cases for removing tips, but better yet there should be a way to resolve the problems that lead to wanting to have them removed, and for anything other than a valid situation the request should be denied. Just MHO.