Auto gratuity = less than stellar service?

[Thetrail]

This isn't a question about whether or not you tip and whether it is via cash or prepaid or auto gratuity added to your account daily. It IS a question about people's opinions of whether or not service has diminished since the placement of auto gratuities.

 

For me and my family, we felt, sadly, that service was not up to the standard we have come to expect from RCI. On our last cruise, we felt the service was just ok. It wasn't awful, but it certainly wasn't the great service we've experienced in the past. We have not sailed on the same ship twice yet, so I am looking forward to our next cruise when we return to a ship we've already sailed on. That might give me more insight...maybe it's not the auto-grats, maybe it's just the particular ship we last sailed on. Who knows? I'm just curious to know if anyone else feels that service has been affected.

Have sailed four times this year on three different RCL ships and the service has been excellent....K.O....:)

[Harooni]

i dont think the auto tips leads to bad service, they still are working for extra tips and to keep their jobs. however i do think that if the tips are removed at the desk then they may the next day get a print out ,and it may suffer that way. (i do it the last day and tip cash)

[Ocean View]

I still am not sure of what the real truth is.

1. When you do auto tips they def know you did?

2. If I tip in cash and they then do not have a hunk of tip thrown in the "pay pool" do they have to kick it in out of their pocket? Being cash how would mgmt know I gave it?

3. I rem when we used the envelopes they didn't have your name or cabin on it. They took them and put them in their pocket. Did they kick into a pool then?

I just like to think I'm doing the right thing for the crew. To their benefit.

 

I do rem in the MDR it was wayyyy more staffed. Yes smaller ship less Pax I understand. The table service was way more attentive. In the crews defense now 2 or 3 people can only do so much. I feel they do work hard for their money. Yes I know you can say most people work hard from all walks of life. I feel dealing with some people and you know the kind I mean can be a real challenge. Ok I'm done lol

 

 

 

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[poncho1973]

Then it's no longer "TIPS": To Insure Prompt Service...

 

It never was. That is a backronym created by some fanciful folks.

 

Here's some research on it:

http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp

http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/to_insure_promptness_tip_false_etymology

 

 

 

ETA: Not to mention focusing on the difference between ensure and insure. Are you buying an insurance policy on prompt service? I guess that would REALLY blow your comment out of the water, because you buy insurance policies well in advance of the event for the security of making sure what you intend to happens, happens or you get compensated for your trouble!

 

Maybe this is a ploy by the cruise line to make you buy Good Service Insurance??? You would pay money up front, long in advance of your cruise, and that money would guarantee you good service!

Edited May 31, 2014 by poncho1973

[caribbean sailor]

Here is what you do folks, take the auto gratuity off ,however mention to the staff you deal with everyday you will be taking care of them later. Then you can decide how much to tip out not Royal.

 

Emperor you hit the nail on the head just what we plan to do.As always spend your money as you see fit.And don't worry about what the cheer leaders say.Have a great next cruise.:)

[caribbean sailor]

i dont think the auto tips leads to bad service, they still are working for extra tips and to keep their jobs. however i do think that if the tips are removed at the desk then they may the next day get a print out ,and it may suffer that way. (i do it the last day and tip cash)

 

If service suffers after auto tips are removed,there will be no tip.Never had to do this.always tell room attendant we will tip in cash.:)

[996turbos]

---->Ocean View

 

We were on Mariner of the Seas in 2007 and the server told us they did receive a list of who prepaid the tips and before the last night got an updated list of those who paid thru Customer Service while on board. How that was divided up I don't know but he spoke as if the recommended amounts for his position was his to keep. Funny he also mentioned that they could tell who was going to stiff them in cash tips by who didn't show up the last night in the MDR. He also said some pax from certain countries were the worst tippers and were usually missing the last night. I won't says who since my flameproof underware is in the wash :D

[LMaxwell]

Quoted above:

"My personal opinion is that tipping should be a mandatory service charge that can not be removed for any reason...."

 

Then it's no longer "TIPS": To Insure Prompt Service...

 

Then why don't they just call it "a mandatory service charge...", & add it to the cruise fare & port charges, up front.

& don't call it TIPS anymore...

 

The word you want is ENSURE not INSURE. Not to go all grammar police but that saying "To insure prompt service" really doesn't make practical sense. A lot of people use it though and use ensure/insure in place of each other maybe because they sound similar but do not really mean the same thing.

 

But I understand the point of your post; if it is a tip it can't be mandatory, if they make it a mandatory service charge, it is no longer a tip.

[yolanda1]

---->Ocean View

 

We were on Mariner of the Seas in 2007 and the server told us they did receive a list of who prepaid the tips and before the last night got an updated list of those who paid thru Customer Service while on board. How that was divided up I don't know but he spoke as if the recommended amounts for his position was his to keep. Funny he also mentioned that they could tell who was going to stiff them in cash tips by who didn't show up the last night in the MDR. He also said some pax from certain countries were the worst tippers and were usually missing the last night. I won't says who since my flameproof underware is in the wash :D

 

 

 

Yes, they definitely know who has paid and who hasn't. Regarding the nationality issue however, it's worth remembering that tipping on a wide scale on land is a cultural thing and there are many differences between the countries, so I think it's more about what you are used to at home than people trying to be horrible. Generally speaking US guests are more used to tipping in everyday life than guests from Australia, UK, and several other countries, so it seems like the correct thing to do.

 

Personally, I go with the flow and abide by the gratuity situation because I believe it goes part in parcel with the cruising culture, and I enjoy cruising, but I don't think tipping is a good way of doing things particularly, and I think the cruise companies exploit it.

[Ocean View]

---->Ocean View

 

 

 

We were on Mariner of the Seas in 2007 and the server told us they did receive a list of who prepaid the tips and before the last night got an updated list of those who paid thru Customer Service while on board. How that was divided up I don't know but he spoke as if the recommended amounts for his position was his to keep. Funny he also mentioned that they could tell who was going to stiff them in cash tips by who didn't show up the last night in the MDR. He also said some pax from certain countries were the worst tippers and were usually missing the last night. I won't says who since my flameproof underware is in the wash :D

 

 

Thanks for your info. I was thinking about asking ie, cabin steward and wait staff what they prefer.

 

 

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[caribbean sailor]

Yes, they definitely know who has paid and who hasn't. Regarding the nationality issue however, it's worth remembering that tipping on a wide scale on land is a cultural thing and there are many differences between the countries, so I think it's more about what you are used to at home than people trying to be horrible. Generally speaking US guests are more used to tipping in everyday life than guests from Australia, UK, and several other countries, so it seems like the correct thing to do.

 

Personally, I go with the flow and abide by the gratuity situation because I believe it goes part in parcel with the cruising culture, and I enjoy cruising, but I don't think tipping is a good way of doing things particularly, and I think the cruise companies exploit it.

 

You people seem to want to make a point that the crew knows when so called auto tips are removed.WHO CARES THAT THEY KNOW.I SPEND MY MONEY AS I PLEASE.And tip the way i want.I don't need Royal to decide for me who to tip.:)

[yolanda1]

You people seem to want to make a point that the crew knows when so called auto tips are removed.WHO CARES THAT THEY KNOW.I SPEND MY MONEY AS I PLEASE.And tip the way i want.I don't need Royal to decide for me who to tip.:)

 

 

 

You people????! :confused:

 

What you do or don't do is of absolutely no interest to me :rolleyes:

 

Someone asked if they definitely know if people have paid. I said they do. Not sure what your problem is. You can put your money anywhere you like! :D

[Ocean View]

You people seem to want to make a point that the crew knows when so called auto tips are removed.WHO CARES THAT THEY KNOW.I SPEND MY MONEY AS I PLEASE.And tip the way i want.I don't need Royal to decide for me who to tip.:)

 

 

?? Why so nasty??

 

 

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[caribbean sailor]

You people????! :confused:

 

What you do or don't do is of absolutely no interest to me :rolleyes:

 

Someone asked if they definitely know if people have paid. I said they do. Not sure what your problem is. You can put your money anywhere you like! :D

 

You people meaning you cheer leaders.And what you say about tips means absolutely nothing to me.:)

[caribbean sailor]

?? Why so nasty??

 

 

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You have this group of cheer leaders that continue to say people that remove so called auto tips are stiffing the crew.There are two points of view on this,if you want to auto tip go for it.Others tip after service.Royal Caribbean has no problem with this,why should you.Nasty was not my intention. :)

[steveru621]

Service levels have not changed for us. Everything seems pretty consistent over the last 10 years. I'm not saying everything has been perfect, but I admit auto-tipping has nothing to do with service levels. (I don't like auto gratuities)

 

Some of our best cabin attendants are ones we saw once at the beginning of the cruise. Iwan on our last cruise was visible all of the time and was also excellent. Waiters, you get what you give. Some waiters are not comfortable trying to entertain you, but are certainly efficient. Bar service, an extra dollar or two works wonders!

 

OMG I just don't get this obsession with the analysis, of tips, distribution of tips, service levels, # cabins, # tables, etc...

[poncho1973]

You have this group of cheer leaders that continue to say people that remove so called auto tips are stiffing the crew.There are two points of view on this,if you want to auto tip go for it.Others tip after service.Royal Caribbean has no problem with this,why should you.Nasty was not my intention. :)

 

You haven't been on a cruise in a while, have you? Things have changed a little. You pay your tips unless you go stand in line to have them removed.

 

I have no data to back this up, but seriously, the odds are that if you take a decent chunk out of your day/evening to go stand in line at the service desk (when you could be having fun or relaxing) to remove your tip...

 

Are you most likely:

 

a) being a white knight to the service people all over the ship by making sure you hand them cash worth tons more than the prepaid or auto-deducted tips while you flip your middle fingers (both of them) to the evil empire of Royal.

 

b) making a social statement about how your personal feelings on tipping are that it should be that a person hands a tip to a person, shakes their hands, and looks them in the eye to say "I respect the job you do and value you as a human being!"

 

c) trying to save $12/day to blow on yourself.

 

 

 

 

While I'm sure there are some A and some B folks (of course everyone who posts on this forum ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS falls in those categories, because they are angels and saints) in the world. If I was in the casino, trying to win a fortune, I would go "all in" on C.

 

 

And another thing... constantly calling anyone who disagrees with you in any way a "cheerleader" is lame. There are plenty of people that disagree with you on various subjects, but simply trying to dismiss their opinions by calling them a cheerleader doesn't make what you are saying true. It just makes you look weak.

Edited June 1, 2014 by poncho1973
speeeeeeeeeeelinnggg

[caribbean sailor]

You haven't been on a cruise in a while, have you? Things have changed a little. You pay your tips unless you go stand in line to have them removed.

 

I have no data to back this up, but seriously, the odds are that if you take a decent chunk out of your day/evening to go stand in line at the service desk (when you could be having fun or relaxing) to remove your tip...

 

Are you most likely:

 

a) being a white knight to the service people all over the ship by making sure you hand them cash worth tons more than the prepaid or auto-deducted tips while you flip your middle fingers (both of them) to the evil empire of Royal.

 

b) making a social statement about how your personal feelings on tipping are that it should be that a person hands a tip to a person, shakes their hands, and looks them in the eye to say "I respect the job you do and value you as a human being!"

 

c) trying to save $12/day to blow on yourself.

 

 

 

 

While I'm sure there are some A and some B folks (of course everyone who posts on this forum ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS falls in those categories, because they are angels and saints) in the world. If I was in the casino, trying to win a fortune, I would go "all in" on C.

 

 

And another thing... constantly calling anyone who disagrees with you in any way a "cheerleader" is lame. There are plenty of people that disagree with you on various subjects, but simply trying to dismiss their opinions by calling them a cheerleader doesn't make what you are saying true. It just makes you look weak.

 

 

Saying someone is trying to save 12/day is lame.Also i have no problem standing in line to remove so called auto tips.My last cruise was January 2014.Again if Royal Caribbean has no problem with this,why should you.:)

[Ocean View]

You have this group of cheer leaders that continue to say people that remove so called auto tips are stiffing the crew.There are two points of view on this,if you want to auto tip go for it.Others tip after service.Royal Caribbean has no problem with this,why should you.Nasty was not my intention. :)

 

 

Oh I see

 

 

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[Paulxyz2004]

You people meaning you cheer leaders.And what you say about tips means absolutely nothing to me.:)

 

You have this group of cheer leaders that continue to say people that remove so called auto tips are stiffing the crew.There are two points of view on this,if you want to auto tip go for it.Others tip after service.Royal Caribbean has no problem with this,why should you.Nasty was not my intention. :)

 

 

I don´t see what this has to do with cheer leading:confused:

Cheer leading for what?

Cheer leading for Auto gratuities? - Aren´t you a cheer leader for removing Auto gratuities then? Aren´t we all cheer leaders then for our opinions?

 

I fail to see your reference to cheer leading here.

[yolanda1]

Hahaha! That's the first time I have been called a cheerleader!!! It beats "you people" though, so all good :D

 

I hope you continue to enjoy cruising, tipping or not as is you right :) As for insulting and being rude to people who are just expressing an opinion, it says a lot more about you than it does about anyone else :rolleyes:

 

Happy cruising!

[Kynance103]

We have just got back from a six night cruise on Indy. Our waiter in the main dining room was excellent, but we noticed most (not all) of the waiters serving drinks for example in the theatre looked like they couldn't be bothered, no smiles in fact very poor. We pre paid our tips this cruise. Quick question though, with this auto tipping can you cancel it and pay dollars to who you think deserves tipping?

[Paulxyz2004]

We have just got back from a six night cruise on Indy. Our waiter in the main dining room was excellent, but we noticed most (not all) of the waiters serving drinks for example in the theatre looked like they couldn't be bothered, no smiles in fact very poor. We pre paid our tips this cruise. Quick question though, with this auto tipping can you cancel it and pay dollars to who you think deserves tipping?

 

Those Auto gratuities don´t include the bar Servers anyway, so it won´t affect their Service.

[caribbean sailor]

Hahaha! That's the first time I have been called a cheerleader!!! It beats "you people" though, so all good :D

 

I hope you continue to enjoy cruising, tipping or not as is you right :) As for insulting and being rude to people who are just expressing an opinion, it says a lot more about you than it does about anyone else :rolleyes:

 

Happy cruising!

 

You people :confused: :D It is also insulting for you people :D to say people who want to tip after service is stiffing the crew.Yolanda have a great next cruise.

[yolanda1]

You people :confused: :D It is also insulting for you people :D to say people who want to tip after service is stiffing the crew.Yolanda have a great next cruise.

 

 

 

You're obviously confusing me with one of the other "You people" to whom you refer as I have never said such a thing - ever. :rolleyes: Not guilty :)

 

That's the problem with randomly insulting people for no reason. You often hit the wrong target :D