Canceling gratuity

[sapper1]

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.

 

I have never cancelled the HSC, nor do I ever intend to. That being said, publishing names violates the privacy we are entitled to in a business transaction and publishing cabin numbers compromises safety.

 

It is a nice thought though. ;)

[sail7seas]

It would never happen HAL would publish such a list....... nor should they.

 

It is not my business to know if my neighbor chose to stiff our excellent cabin steward. Or the table beside us in MDR, didn't see fit to thank the hard working dining stewards. I have low opinion of those who do that but do not want to know who they are.

 

JMO.....

 

[mafig]

[quote name=wander;39903204

 

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' date=' 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.[/quote]

 

 

I've seen the list too. Not on a cruise ship, but here on Cruise Critic. Several years ago someone saw the list, took a photo and published it. So it does exist. I can't remember, but it may have been a Carnival cruise. Cruise Critic, of course, removed it, but it was there.

[arewethereyet]

I have heard a rumor that there is a list of people who remove the HSC, and that those people are likely to receive a dead chicken in the mail when they return home. I have never removed the HSC, so I cannot verify that this rumor is true.

 

;);););)

 

Oh, and I tip the cabin steward extra, and have learned to say "no chickens, please" in 6 languages.

[sail7seas]

I'm soprry to read a cruise critic member felt the need to post such a list on a forum.

 

If he removed last names, maybe,,,,, only so (s)he could demonstrate there is such a list but full names should never have been posted. Happy to hear a Moderator removed that post.

 

[Wakepatrol]

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.

 

 

Let's put their pictures on a loop on the ships televison

[Wakepatrol]

1. I want to make 19 calls to my travel agent every time the price drops $10,then after I've made final payment I want an adjustment if the price has gone down.

 

2. I want to carry all my cases of beverages aboard and drink them anywhere on the ship.

 

3. I want them to have any beverage I desire on the ship. If it's latte caramel champagne,they should have it aboard. I also don't want to order a case if I want this beverage.

 

4. I want my meals specifically cooked for me,and a translator to help me explain to the chef and waiters my allergies and needs.

 

5. No nuts or anything I'm allergic to, shall be within 500 feet of me the entire cruise.

 

6. I want my little Timmy to have fun,every second of his cruise

 

7. At all tender ports I want to be on the bridge and if it seems too rough to tender I want to be in on the decision (hey I wear topsiders I know about boats)

 

8. I want a closed circuit televison in my cabin so I can see when/if the stabilizers are being used

 

 

 

As long as this is accomplished I will leave the auto-tips in place

[cruz chic]

1. I want to make 19 calls to my travel agent every time the price drops $10,then after I've made final payment I want an adjustment if the price has gone down.

 

2. I want to carry all my cases of beverages aboard and drink them anywhere on the ship.

 

3. I want them to have any beverage I desire on the ship. If it's latte caramel champagne,they should have it aboard. I also don't want to order a case if I want this beverage.

 

4. I want my meals specifically cooked for me,and a translator to help me explain to the chef and waiters my allergies and needs.

 

5. No nuts or anything I'm allergic to, shall be within 500 feet of me the entire cruise.

 

6. I want my little Timmy to have fun,every second of his cruise

 

 

 

As long as this is accomplished I will leave the auto-tips in place

Funny:D....but oh so true:eek:.

[AlohaPride]

As the parent of someone with a severe food allergy (peanuts and cashews), the use of an epipen REQUIRES immediate emergency medical attention. The side effects caused by an injection of pure adrenalin can cause a myriad of problems. AND anaphylaxis can return any time in the following 24 hours so the patient needs to be monitored. I'm surprised the former passenger didn't notify emergency services. I sure would have and have had to a number of times here on dry land.

 

I also have an allergy to shellfish and gluten. My shellfish allergy is anaphylactic and it is purely my responsibility to err on the side of caution. Why would there be slivers of garlic on green beans? When in doubt, I ask my hubby to taste it ;)

[catl331]

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

I was waiting at the front desk one day while a clerk explained the form to the person in the line next to me, and it was NOT the last evening before disembarkation. (I don't remember what ship, but I'm sure it was not the Amsterdam.)

[kazu]

I was waiting at the front desk one day while a clerk explained the form to the person in the line next to me, and it was NOT the last evening before disembarkation. (I don't remember what ship, but I'm sure it was not the Amsterdam.)

 

unfortunately I have heard the same thing. there was definitely a form. I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying something - I had just gone to pick up the 'Canadian' newspaper they do. unfortunately I overheard that:(

 

I honestly don't get it. It's in your terms of the cruise. You know you are paying it - it's part of the cost. Simple as that IMO

[erewhon]

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

 

On one cruise, we informed the concierge that we wished to adjust the Hotel Service Charge she was concerned that we wanted to remove the charges, and was quite relieved that we were adjusting the charge Upwards.

We had to fill in a form, am sure it was the same title.

[richarduk]

There's a cultural issue here also. I'm not guessing people's nationality here, but I am British. We tip for good service but we're not used to it being added in such a way. Me, I have never not paid the set gratuities, but have thought about it once. The one thing that I do think is unfair is that if a passenger chooses to cancel the automatic tips, then chooses to tip individuals, why does HAL have the right to take those tips and divide them up? It's the guest's choice.

 

After all the things I have have been told over the years, some of which may be true or not, I don't really have enough information to truly believe that all these auto tips are divided up amongst all. Also, what if I don't want to tip a particular person/department?

 

I know this goes against the US way of thinking, but I'd rather just have HAL charge the real cruise fare, including tips. That way there's no issue.

 

As for this thing about the crew handing in all tips after a form has been signed....what's that all about?! So it's ok to keep tips from before the form is signed, or fine to accept personal tips if the guest does not cancel their auto tips? Very mixed messages Hmmmmm.:confused:

[kazu]

There's a cultural issue here also. I'm not guessing people's nationality here, but I am British. We tip for good service but we're not used to it being added in such a way. Me, I have never not paid the set gratuities, but have thought about it once. The one thing that I do think is unfair is that if a passenger chooses to cancel the automatic tips, then chooses to tip individuals, why does HAL have the right to take those tips and divide them up? It's the guest's choice.

 

After all the things I have have been told over the years, some of which may be true or not, I don't really have enough information to truly believe that all these auto tips are divided up amongst all. Also, what if I don't want to tip a particular person/department?

 

I know this goes against the US way of thinking, but I'd rather just have HAL charge the real cruise fare, including tips. That way there's no issue.

 

As for this thing about the crew handing in all tips after a form has been signed....what's that all about?! So it's ok to keep tips from before the form is signed, or fine to accept personal tips if the guest does not cancel their auto tips? Very mixed messages Hmmmmm.:confused:

 

The auto tip is divided among many crew members - some of them behind the scenes that help make your cruise wonderful. (think laundry, polishing, cooking, Lido staff, etc., etc., etc.)

 

So, if you remove the auto tip, then yes, the tips must be turned in so they can be divided as they should have been (and most likely those you tip will receive less than if you kept the auto tip in place).

 

Now, if you leave it in place and wish to tip over and above - whomever you tip get to keep the $$.

 

This is it in a nutshell. It is fact and has been reported here by others many times and has been told to people on board ships as well.

 

It would be nice if it were included in the cruise fare - but that would push the price up and make HAL not as competitive as the other mass market lines do not include it in the fare.

[1of4]

There's a cultural issue here also. I'm not guessing people's nationality here, but I am British. We tip for good service but we're not used to it being added in such a way. Me, I have never not paid the set gratuities, but have thought about it once. The one thing that I do think is unfair is that if a passenger chooses to cancel the automatic tips, then chooses to tip individuals, why does HAL have the right to take those tips and divide them up? It's the guest's choice.

 

After all the things I have have been told over the years, some of which may be true or not, I don't really have enough information to truly believe that all these auto tips are divided up amongst all. Also, what if I don't want to tip a particular person/department?

 

I know this goes against the US way of thinking, but I'd rather just have HAL charge the real cruise fare, including tips. That way there's no issue.

 

As for this thing about the crew handing in all tips after a form has been signed....what's that all about?! So it's ok to keep tips from before the form is signed, or fine to accept personal tips if the guest does not cancel their auto tips? Very mixed messages Hmmmmm.:confused:

 

I agree with you. I understand both sides and always leave the HSC in place for all 4 of us, but it does make me scratch my head.

 

I know people say children make more mess...that is a generalization and for our family it is not true. Our cabin is clean and nothing is left on the floor or draped over furniture but I understand there are 4 people using the cabin so twice the amount of work and I wouldn't ever consider not tipping for that fact alone. But where the argument lies flat for me is that Club HAL is not part of the HSC (and they make that quite clear) so we are expected to tip Club HAL staff...no problem again. But my children are not using the techspert, show lounge or any of the other venues the HSC covers so we are paying 4 times for services not used by half of us.

 

Again, I see both sides and we pay it all and more. But the rationale doesn't seem logical for our family as our children are 9 and 12 and no longer throw food in the dining room (never did that anyway), don't wear diapers, etc. IF we cancelled the HSC for the children (again we would NOT do this) would that mean the Club HAL staff would have to turn their tips?

[cruz chic]

I agree with you. I understand both sides and always leave the HSC in place for all 4 of us, but it does make me scratch my head.

 

I know people say children make more mess...that is a generalization and for our family it is not true. Our cabin is clean and nothing is left on the floor or draped over furniture but I understand there are 4 people using the cabin so twice the amount of work and I wouldn't ever consider not tipping for that fact alone. But where the argument lies flat for me is that Club HAL is not part of the HSC (and they make that quite clear) so we are expected to tip Club HAL staff...no problem again. But my children are not using the techspert, show lounge or any of the other venues the HSC covers so we are paying 4 times for services not used by half of us.

 

Again, I see both sides and we pay it all and more. But the rationale doesn't seem logical for our family as our children are 9 and 12 and no longer throw food in the dining room (never did that anyway), don't wear diapers, etc. IF we cancelled the HSC for the children (again we would NOT do this) would that mean the Club HAL staff would have to turn their tips?

 

I'm not sure what you mean about the hsc going to the techspert or the show lounge. I could be wrong but I don't think anything goes to that area. I rarely go to shows and have never gone to any of the courses so I'm not sure why I wouldn't pay the hsc because of that.

[kazu]

I agree with you. I understand both sides and always leave the HSC in place for all 4 of us, but it does make me scratch my head.

 

I know people say children make more mess...that is a generalization and for our family it is not true. Our cabin is clean and nothing is left on the floor or draped over furniture but I understand there are 4 people using the cabin so twice the amount of work and I wouldn't ever consider not tipping for that fact alone. But where the argument lies flat for me is that Club HAL is not part of the HSC (and they make that quite clear) so we are expected to tip Club HAL staff...no problem again. But my children are not using the techspert, show lounge or any of the other venues the HSC covers so we are paying 4 times for services not used by half of us.

 

Again, I see both sides and we pay it all and more. But the rationale doesn't seem logical for our family as our children are 9 and 12 and no longer throw food in the dining room (never did that anyway), don't wear diapers, etc. IF we cancelled the HSC for the children (again we would NOT do this) would that mean the Club HAL staff would have to turn their tips?

 

I suspect if you cancelled hsc for the children, then the tips would have to be pooled. I don't know about Club Hal - but, While your children aren't messy, they are still using the facilities - the room, the towels, eating in the Lido, MDR - going up and down the stairs/elevators that have to be cleaned and vacuumed, etc.

 

I believe the shows are contracted so do not receive hsc (or much).

 

It is no different than if 4 adults are in the room. Each is charged hsc. It doesn't matter how tidy or messy they are. they are still eating the food, using the facilities, etc. Remember part of the hsc goes to the people behind the scenes - so that would include the people that clean Club HAL, serve food/treats there, laundry, polishing, clean the pool and the decks, Lido, etc.

 

At least that is how HAL looks at it

[1of4]

I'm not sure what you mean about the hsc going to the techspert or the show lounge. I could be wrong but I don't think anything goes to that area. I rarely go to shows and have never gone to any of the courses so I'm not sure why I wouldn't pay the hsc because of that.

 

Sorry for the bad examples. I was trying to point out that the area of the ship my children use that adults do not, is not covered by the HSC. So I assume that there are areas of the ship that are covered by the HSC that they don't use...this was an assumption. I guess I should have thought it out more clearly as I don't drink and don't go to the show lounge the crow's nest or the casino either but haven't looked into the areas covered by the HSC as we pay it and think of it as part of the cost of our vacation.

 

I was just wondering if someone with children did opt out of paying the HSC if the tip they give the club hal staff, if any, would need to be turned in. I guess the question could easily be if the tips given to the spa workers have to be shared when the client ops out of the HSC?

[1of4]

I suspect if you cancelled hsc for the children, then the tips would have to be pooled. I don't know about Club Hal - but, While your children aren't messy, they are still using the facilities - the room, the towels, eating in the Lido, MDR - going up and down the stairs/elevators that have to be cleaned and vacuumed, etc.

 

I believe the shows are contracted so do not receive hsc (or much).

 

It is no different than if 4 adults are in the room. Each is charged hsc. It doesn't matter how tidy or messy they are. they are still eating the food, using the facilities, etc. Remember part of the hsc goes to the people behind the scenes - so that would include the people that clean Club HAL, serve food/treats there, laundry, polishing, clean the pool and the decks, Lido, etc.

 

At least that is how HAL looks at it

 

Thanks Kazu. I get it now.

 

I was "stuck" in my memory of posters in the past saying how dirty rooms with kids are and what a mess they make in the dining room, etc.

[jtl513]

I don't really have enough information to truly believe that all these auto tips are divided up amongst all.

It's not. Basically it's the entire Hotel Department except officers of that department, which excludes those operating the ship (bridge and Engineering/Maintenance), security, entertainment, contractors such as in the Spa and Photo shops, Internet Manager, techsperts, etc. I'm not sure about the casino people ... they may be contractors also.

[richarduk]

Well, if this is the case, I think the system is quite unfair.

 

For example, why should someone that delivers room service, but not to you, receive a share of your tip, whereas someone in one of the other departments receives nothing, even if they have provided a good service to you?

 

I tend to believe that the tips are there to make up for a poor wage, however, as I don't know what HAL or the other cruise lines pay, I can't comment further, but I suspect that could be the case.

[sail7seas]

There's a cultural issue here also. I'm not guessing people's nationality here, but I am British. We tip for good service but we're not used to it being added in such a way. Me, I have never not paid the set gratuities, but have thought about it once. The one thing that I do think is unfair is that if a passenger chooses to cancel the automatic tips, then chooses to tip individuals, why does HAL have the right to take those tips and divide them up? It's the guest's choice.

 

After all the things I have have been told over the years, some of which may be true or not, I don't really have enough information to truly believe that all these auto tips are divided up amongst all. Also, what if I don't want to tip a particular person/department?

 

I know this goes against the US way of thinking, but I'd rather just have HAL charge the real cruise fare, including tips. That way there's no issue.

 

As for this thing about the crew handing in all tips after a form has been signed....what's that all about?! So it's ok to keep tips from before the form is signed, or fine to accept personal tips if the guest does not cancel their auto tips? Very mixed messages Hmmmmm.:confused:

 

 

Whether the guest tips someone on day one of the cruise, day two or whenever, if at any point the guest who provided that tip cancels their HSC, any tips the crew person received prior to guest stopping HSC have to be turned in. That is one of the reasons posting the list of non-tippers is necessary. No one has an excuse to say they did not know the guest refused to pay the HSC. It all has to be turned into the pool when the name appears on that list.

 

I think that is what your comment meant? If not, sorry, that is what I understood it to mean.

 

 

I agree with you. I understand both sides and always leave the HSC in place for all 4 of us, but it does make me scratch my head.

 

I know people say children make more mess...that is a generalization and for our family it is not true. Our cabin is clean and nothing is left on the floor or draped over furniture but I understand there are 4 people using the cabin so twice the amount of work and I wouldn't ever consider not tipping for that fact alone. But where the argument lies flat for me is that Club HAL is not part of the HSC (and they make that quite clear) so we are expected to tip Club HAL staff...no problem again. But my children are not using the techspert, show lounge or any of the other venues the HSC covers so we are paying 4 times for services not used by half of us.

 

Again, I see both sides and we pay it all and more. But the rationale doesn't seem logical for our family as our children are 9 and 12 and no longer throw food in the dining room (never did that anyway), don't wear diapers, etc. IF we cancelled the HSC for the children (again we would NOT do this) would that mean the Club HAL staff would have to turn their tips?

 

 

I understand your point but it is the same for most of us on the ship.

We don't use Lido pool, ever. We almost never go to shows. We just about never sit in Explorer's Lounge and most cruises only hear the lovely music as we are passing by from the MDR after dinner. We used to use the gym but have not done so for a while and there are other areas of the ship where we do not participate. Yet, we wouldn't dream of eliminating or reducing HSC. We all pick and choose those things on the ship we use and those we don't but they are all available should we wish to use them.

 

[boards]

Just a thought, in a round about way, Hal is charging the real way with the price for the cruise and then adding the tip to that. What bothers some is they are doing it on a daily basis rather in one lump sum when they could be just hiding it in the original price. I think it amounts to the same.

[Copper10-8]

It's not. Basically it's the entire Hotel Department except officers of that department, which excludes those operating the ship (bridge and Engineering/Maintenance), security, entertainment, contractors such as in the Spa and Photo shops, Internet Manager, techsperts, etc. I'm not sure about the casino people ... they may be contractors also.

 

Casino staff are concessionaires/contractors. They, along with the other concessionaires (Spa/Fitness/Photo/Art/Shops/internet mngr/Port Shopping amb.) are not part of the HSC distribution. Club HAL staff fall under Entertainment, along with stage crew, sound, lighting & rigging techs , musicians, techspert, location guide, DJ/Emcee, culinary arts center host, librarian and cast members. They are also not included in the HSC distribution

[jtl513]

Well, if this is the case, I think the system is quite unfair.

In business you often don't get what everyone thinks is "fair", you get what negotiate and agree to. Many that are not in the HSC probably get a better base wage, but everyone, in the pool or not, know what the terms are when they are hired. Obviously those stewards etc who don't think it's fair don't come back for a second contract. It's not for me or you to decide what they think is fair. ;)

 

I tend to believe that the tips are there to make up for a poor wage, ...

Or conversely, those in jobs where tipping is the norm, such as US land restaurant wait staff, are paid a low base wage. In Australia, UK, much of Europe, Canada, etc, the base wages are higher and the tipping norms are lower. The ships use the US system, so the HSC is an important part of their pay.

 

Casino staff are concessionaires/contractors. They, along with the other concessionaires (Spa/Fitness/Photo/Art/Shops/internet mngr/Port Shopping amb.) are not part of the HSC distribution. Club HAL staff fall under Entertainment, along with stage crew, sound, lighting & rigging techs , musicians, techspert, location guide, DJ/Emcee, culinary arts center host, librarian and cast members. They are also not included in the HSC distribution.

Guess I forgot about quite a few! I never thought about the librarian. Does s/he come under the "entertainment" umbrella?

.