Can tips still be taken of at guest services?

[mark22mac]

If you remove the auto gratuities, those you give tips to personally will have to turn them in. I would suggest the best thing for you to do is to leave the auto gratuities in place. Then you can augment that by giving additional gratuities to those you deem worthy. If you leave the auto gratuities in place, then those you give additional funds to can keep the cash you give them. Yes, they do get a list of who removes the gratuities.

 

 

do you really think if I give the guy $300 he's going to admit it and turn it in. Be real!!

Edited August 14, 2015 by mark22mac

[GUT2407]

Having heard/read literally hundreds of passionate pros and cons about auto grats, we believe it boils down to one's personal opinion. Each one of us is blessed with the ability to fully consider facts and act on their own conclusion.

 

 

And what's more the cruise lines agree because they allow the removal.

[TheTruthCanHurt]

If you remove the auto gratuities, those you give tips to personally will have to turn them in. I would suggest the best thing for you to do is to leave the auto gratuities in place. Then you can augment that by giving additional gratuities to those you deem worthy. If you leave the auto gratuities in place, then those you give additional funds to can keep the cash you give them. Yes, they do get a list of who removes the gratuities.

 

 

I respectfully disagree with you, and find myself agreeing with MARK22MAC

while most of the time I do use the prepaid grats. I always tip my room steward extra. One of the reasons why I sometimes remove it is this.

 

1. I sail by myself often. When I sail by myself I NEVER go to the MTD. and a large percentage of your prepaid grats go to the MTD staff. why would I want to tip someone I never came in contact with? I would rather give more to the bartenders and room steward that have direct contact with me.

 

But bashing someone (without knowing the reason they want to remove them, is truly juvenile.. but then again, this is CC) I have always believed you learn way more from shutting your mouth and listening )

Edited August 14, 2015 by TheTruthCanHurt

[mark22mac]

I respectfully disagree with you, and find myself agreeing with MARK22MAC

 

while most of the time I do use the prepaid grats. I always tip my room steward extra. One of the reasons why I sometimes remove it is this.

 

 

 

1. I sail by myself often. When I sail by myself I NEVER go to the MTD. and a large percentage of your prepaid grats go to the MTD staff. why would I want to tip someone I never came in contact with? I would rather give more to the bartenders and room steward that have direct contact with me.

 

 

 

But bashing someone (without knowing the reason they want to remove them, is truly juvenile.. but then again, this is CC) I have always believed you learn way more from shutting your mouth and listening )

 

 

Finally someone with some reasonable sense.

[BlueSkySailing]

What is wrong with you all. Why do you care why he's tipping or not. I choose not to have Royal take my tip money from me because not all my tip money goes to the employees. Royal HR takes it's cut also. So I tips as I go. Everyone that provides me with service I tip in cash. This works for me and that is all I worry about. Is me. But to start calling OP cheap is uncalled for and you all need to grow up. These boards are to help not to chastise people with questions! Happy Sailing!!!!!!

[TheTruthCanHurt]

What is wrong with you all. Why do you care why he's tipping or not. I choose not to have Royal take my tip money from me because not all my tip money goes to the employees. Royal HR takes it's cut also. So I tips as I go. Everyone that provides me with service I tip in cash. This works for me and that is all I worry about. Is me. But to start calling OP cheap is uncalled for and you all need to grow up. These boards are to help not to chastise people with questions! Happy Sailing!!!!!!

 

100% agreed. some people just like to stir the pot.

[gerif]

I respectfully disagree with you, and find myself agreeing with MARK22MAC

while most of the time I do use the prepaid grats. I always tip my room steward extra. One of the reasons why I sometimes remove it is this.

 

1. I sail by myself often. When I sail by myself I NEVER go to the MTD. and a large percentage of your prepaid grats go to the MTD staff. why would I want to tip someone I never came in contact with? I would rather give more to the bartenders and room steward that have direct contact with me.

 

But bashing someone (without knowing the reason they want to remove them, is truly juvenile.. but then again, this is CC) I have always believed you learn way more from shutting your mouth and listening )

 

So you don't take any meals on the ship at all? You do know that those that work other venues for all three meals share in those tips, don't you? Pretty sad that you routinely stiff them.

[TheTruthCanHurt]

So you don't take any meals on the ship at all? You do know that those that work other venues for all three meals share in those tips, don't you? Pretty sad that you routinely stiff them.

 

I typically eat in the specialty resteraunts.. or room service ( when I am by myself)

 

so again you have NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.. when I eat in those establishments or even room service I always tip. I overtip.

 

so it's nice to hear from you... but... you are wrong...and of course I am shocked. LOL

[alexkrn46]

What is wrong with you all. Why do you care why he's tipping or not. I choose not to have Royal take my tip money from me because not all my tip money goes to the employees. Royal HR takes it's cut also. So I tips as I go. Everyone that provides me with service I tip in cash. This works for me and that is all I worry about. Is me. But to start calling OP cheap is uncalled for and you all need to grow up. These boards are to help not to chastise people with questions! Happy Sailing!!!!!!

 

Human resources gets tip money?. howmuch goes to hr?

[mark22mac]

So you don't take any meals on the ship at all? You do know that those that work other venues for all three meals share in those tips, don't you? Pretty sad that you routinely stiff them.

 

 

Really ?another one that knows when I eat and if I tip them when I'm done. For example did You ever go get one of those great roast beef sandwiches and hand them a $10 bill? Probably not.

[Domino D]

Hi im not looking for a huge debate, i just want to know if this can still be done? My travel agent has said she has taken them off but it will still be added to my account onboard as i will be doing dynamic dining. I have to do dynamic dining as there is no other choice....

 

Thanks :)

 

Seemed like such as simple question.

 

This argument doesn't fly with me. If you don't want to follow US customs (tipping), don't cruise on a U.S. Owned cruise line.

 

How is a company incorporated in Liberia, with ships registered in the Bahamas and Liberia, all for the purposes of not paying US Taxes a "U.S. Owned Company"?

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/13/opinion/walker-cruise-ships/

 

"Carnival and Royal Caribbean are incorporated in foreign countries like Panama, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Liberia. Their ships fly the flags of foreign nations and thus avoid all U.S. federal taxes, labor laws and safety regulations."

 

Anyone know the tipping customs in Liberia?

 

So........because they are from another country, maybe one where there is a different tipping culture, you feel we shouldn't force our customs on those?

 

I don't know who is worse you or the foreigner.

 

Well we don't force our "customs", like following US Labor Laws on the cruise lines either, you know the other "foreigners". Seems like a stale mate.

 

Another pretty prominent US custom is the freedom of choice, unless you want to remove auto-gratuities, then your just being Un-Amercian or is it Un-Liberian?

 

By the way we have never removed gratuities, it is part of their wages, we tip additional cash to people who deserve it. This however is what I do, and is not what anyone else needs to do.

[TheTruthCanHurt]

Human resources gets tip money?. howmuch goes to hr?

 

HR gets nothing. here is the breakdown as listed on the RCCL page

 

 

The automatic gratuity is $12.95 USD, or $15.95 USD for suite guests, applied to each guest's SeaPass® account on a daily basis. Here's how it is shared between your onboard service team:

•Dining & Culinary Services: $7.75 USD

•Stateroom Attendant: $3.85 USD OR Suite Attendant: $6.10 USD

•Other Housekeeping Services: $1.35 USD OR Housekeeping and Suite Services: $2.10 USD

[BlueSkySailing]

Human resources gets tip money?. howmuch goes to hr?

 

From Cruise Law News. Now you may or may not want to believe it but there are youtube clips of employees complaining about just this. But here is a quote from a article I read.

 

Royal Caribbean pays a salary to its waiters and cabin attendants of only $50 a month; the cruise passengers pay tips to the waiters and stewards but Royal Caribbean is scooping up much of the tips to pay other crew member's salaries. Employees like utility cleaners earn a pittance of around $550 a month (with no tips) working around 11-12 hours a day, every day of the month during contracts that are 6-8 months long.

[brillohead]

I sail by myself often. When I sail by myself I NEVER go to the MTD. and a large percentage of your prepaid grats go to the MTD staff. why would I want to tip someone I never came in contact with? I would rather give more to the bartenders and room steward that have direct contact with me.

 

So, you never eat, the whole entire week???

 

Or do you carry around a wad of $5 bills all week long to give to every server at the Promenade Cafe or the Windjammer at every single meal? Because the Daily Gratuities go to those employees, too.... and you're just screwing them over when you remove your auto-grats.

[RocketMan275]

I respectfully disagree with you, and find myself agreeing with MARK22MAC

while most of the time I do use the prepaid grats. I always tip my room steward extra. One of the reasons why I sometimes remove it is this.

 

1. I sail by myself often. When I sail by myself I NEVER go to the MTD. and a large percentage of your prepaid grats go to the MTD staff. why would I want to tip someone I never came in contact with? I would rather give more to the bartenders and room steward that have direct contact with me.

 

But bashing someone (without knowing the reason they want to remove them, is truly juvenile.. but then again, this is CC) I have always believed you learn way more from shutting your mouth and listening )

 

First of all, I did not 'bash' anyone so I suggest you follow your own advice about how you can learn more.

 

Second, the gratuities go to many more than you listed. A portion of the gratuities go to those who you rely upon in the buffet, etc.

[TheTruthCanHurt]

So, you never eat, the whole entire week???

 

Or do you carry around a wad of $5 bills all week long to give to every server at the Promenade Cafe or the Windjammer at every single meal? Because the Daily Gratuities go to those employees, too.... and you're just screwing them over when you remove your auto-grats.

 

LOL learn to read.. Don't just post

[rcrdale]

So you don't take any meals on the ship at all? You do know that those that work other venues for all three meals share in those tips, don't you? Pretty sad that you routinely stiff them.

 

Amen, I agree with you 100 %.

[GUT2407]

Yea and its probably the pot calling the kettle black. [emoji57]

 

 

Funny you should say that. I and a few others recently got called all sorts of names for saying that to those from non tipping cultures the whole thing can be confusing, later I found the one who had been dong the name calling complaining on a dressing thread because they felt that they had been insulted, they didn't like it when I mentioned cooking implements.

[TheTruthCanHurt]

First of all, I did not 'bash' anyone so I suggest you follow your own advice about how you can learn more.

 

Second, the gratuities go to many more than you listed. A portion of the gratuities go to those who you rely upon in the buffet, etc.

 

what I listed came directly from the rccl site..

 

The automatic gratuity is $12.95 USD, or $15.95 USD for suite guests, applied to each guest's SeaPass® account on a daily basis. Here's how it is shared between your onboard service team:

•Dining & Culinary Services: $7.75 USD

•Stateroom Attendant: $3.85 USD OR Suite Attendant: $6.10 USD

•Other Housekeeping Services: $1.35 USD OR Housekeeping and Suite Services: $2.10 USD

 

 

I tip a lot.. I over tip. I tip the bartenders even when I have the drink packages. I tip my cabin steward 40 the second I meet them. I tip at the resteraunts that I eat at.. so again. DONT PRESUME TO KNOW ME JUST SO YOU CAN RUN YOUR MOUTH>>>>

oh and as a matter of fact, I do carry a lot of cash with me.. But not 5's usually 20's and 100's as I am usually a guest of the casino and I gamble most of the cruise, so yes I carry cash, and yes I have no problem tipping in cash. I have yet to find someone on the ship that was not happy to get some extra cash.

 

so for those of you that don't pay attn.. or just read the last two posts of a thread and jump in like a rabid dog. Let me re-cap my posts..

 

1. I respectfully disagree with you, and find myself agreeing with MARK22MAC

while most of the time I do use the prepaid grats. I always tip my room steward extra. One of the reasons why I sometimes remove it is this.

 

1. I sail by myself often. When I sail by myself I NEVER go to the MTD. and a large percentage of your prepaid grats go to the MTD staff. why would I want to tip someone I never came in contact with? I would rather give more to the bartenders and room steward that have direct contact with me.

 

But bashing someone (without knowing the reason they want to remove them, is truly juvenile.. but then again, this is CC) I have always believed you learn way more from shutting your mouth and listening )

 

2.I typically eat in the specialty resteraunts.. or room service ( when I am by myself) and I always tip at those places. or the roomservice person. or johnny rockets. I always tip when I receive good service.. so you being worried about the guy on the 3rd floor is a little crazy??? If you were in a resteraunt in your home town and got horrible service, would you tip 25% just because you were concerned about the guy that was cutting the celery? I really doubt it.

 

so again you have NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.. when I eat in those establishments or even room service I always tip. I overtip.

 

 

 

so for those of you that have been following along. you will see that often I to use the prepaid but when I travel solo I don't because I like to give the tips directly to those I interact with. HOWEVER the decision to tip or not to tip should be left solely to the discretion of the guest. it's not our place to know how they tip or to call them cheap. and why do you care? you could argue that the cheapskates are the ones that book an inside cabin at the lowest possible fare and then eat their weight in food each day? Now that's Cheap LOL

Edited August 14, 2015 by TheTruthCanHurt

[grandgeezer]

This argument doesn't fly with me. If you don't want to follow US customs (tipping), don't cruise on a U.S. Owned cruise line.

 

The cruise lines don't think much of the U.S. customs, that's why they are registered in foreign countries. That's how they get away with paying substandard base wages and working them 12-16 hours a day with no extra pay. That's just the tip of the iceberg on why they don't register in the good old U.S. of A.

[mark22mac]

LOL learn to read.. Don't just post

 

 

Lol

[mark22mac]

Funny you should say that. I and a few others recently got called all sorts of names for saying that to those from non tipping cultures the whole thing can be confusing, later I found the one who had been dong the name calling complaining on a dressing thread because they felt that they had been insulted, they didn't like it when I mentioned cooking implements.

 

 

Nice lol

[GUT2407]

The cruise lines don't think much of the U.S. customs, that's why they are registered in foreign countries. That's how they get away with paying substandard base wages and working them 12-16 hours a day with no extra pay. That's just the tip of the iceberg on why they don't register in the good old U.S. of A.

 

 

Now now common sense doesn't work around here.

[mark22mac]

Hi im not looking for a huge debate, i just want to know if this can still be done? My travel agent has said she has taken them off but it will still be added to my account onboard as i will be doing dynamic dining. I have to do dynamic dining as there is no other choice....

 

 

 

Thanks :)

 

 

So without a Hugh debate yes you can get your grats taken off your sea pass card. You can do it as soon as you board.

[Seandre2]

The cruise lines don't think much of the U.S. customs, that's why they are registered in foreign countries. That's how they get away with paying substandard base wages and working them 12-16 hours a day with no extra pay. That's just the tip of the iceberg on why they don't register in the good old U.S. of A.

 

 

I honestly did not know any of this. Although, I'm sure a simple Google search could have educated me

 

 

This is a sore topic for me. I worked in the service industry for years. I take a 'when in Rome' approach here. If you are somewhere where tipping is expected or custom, them tip. If not, then don't. It's really quite simple IMO.