Who gets the tip???

[Jane Don]

A little off-topic here, but not all state's server minimum wages are created equal. Washington state does not allow for "tip credit", so all servers are paid minimum wage (currently $9.47/hour) plus tips, and some localities (remember Seattle minimum wage hike drama?) are even higher than that. Start doing the math on this one, and a server can make quite a decent living and not have to report a fair amount of it (cash tips) to the IRS, even though they're supposed to do so.

 

In 2002 I briefly waited tables in New Hampshire. My hourly wage: $1.84 per hour. It was my experience that if you didn't claim at least 11 percent of your gross sales, the IRS would audit. Most pay periods my paycheck was zero because the wage was withheld for taxes and such.

[Loonbeam]

This comes up on every forum. I've researched Carnival, RCL and Princess by speaking with people at corporate levels.

 

Using those 3 as a baseline and not having any reason to suspect NCL is different, the way it usually works is there is a corporate base policy (some variation of pooling) BUT individual ships have the option of modifying that policy based on circumstances (for example, many change to different rules in the med where tips are less common) to ensure the crew is treated fairly. Apparently they can even change the rules venue by venue if needed.

 

This is why you get different answers depending on who and when you ask.

 

If you really want to know what the rules are for a given cruise, contact the purser's office. Personally, I just assume corp standard if I know what that is (I don't for NCL and don't have a way to find out, my old firm never worked with them)

[canadianeh934]

Anyone who claims that the employees must be happy with the wages that they get because they keep coming back, must be among the least informed on here.

 

They come back because where they live and the lack of jobs back home...

 

Give cash and watch the face of your server....it will tell you all that you need, not to mention the service you will receive.

 

Anyone who goes to Vegas and goes to the Casino's to gamble would know, that if your tip a waitress there say $5 for two drinks your service will be great. Tip them a $1 and it will be spotty at best.

Edited October 1, 2015 by canadianeh934

[detroitlions]

I make it my business not to know the crews personal business or finances why anyone would ask this is crazy. Half the people your asking would tell you whatever they think is going to pry a extra dollar out of your hand. I always tip the stupid auto tip so no one get ripped just in case that is the issue. (I think it lame) But as for extra tip I do that when I feel like it and base it off of nothing at all. Its all up to me.

[detroitlions]

you beat me to it. I do not understand the fascination on who gets what and how much they make. Do all these people consider how much the servers in the restaurants in their area make and eat at specific ones based on this? Or when purchasing a tv, how much money does the salesman at best buy make? Really it is a vacation, sit back and relax

100% agree. Some folks sound like they need a hobby I just need another cruise. And I only care if I have a good time on my vacation the rest is not up to me.

[NLH Arizona]

Anyone who goes to Vegas and goes to the Casino's to gamble would know, that if your tip a waitress there say $5 for two drinks your service will be great. Tip them a $1 and it will be spotty at best.

Got to totally disagree with you on this. I was just in Las Vegas and never had an issue getting a soda, they would even automatically bring me a soda without me asking, and I only tip $1 per drink. Think a lot has to do with attitude; if you are nice and polite to them, it really doesn't matter how much you tip....a smile and a thank you works wonders.

[canadianeh934]

Got to totally disagree with you on this. I was just in Las Vegas and never had an issue getting a soda, they would even automatically bring me a soda without me asking, and I only tip $1 per drink. Think a lot has to do with attitude; if you are nice and polite to them, it really doesn't matter how much you tip....a smile and a thank you works wonders.

 

I'm always polite....and I have been to Vegas many times. There are Casino's that will not serve you another Drink until you finish the one that you have. I have never been held to that standard as a result of me tipping $5 for each drink that my wife and I drink. Remember this is a tip based job and better service for bigger tips will always be a determining factor.

 

I do agree that being polite and smiling is always a consideration.

[NLH Arizona]

I'm always polite....and I have been to Vegas many times. There are Casino's that will not serve you another Drink until you finish the one that you have. I have never been held to that standard as a result of me tipping $5 for each drink that my wife and I drink. Remember this is a tip based job and better service for bigger tips will always be a determining factor.

 

I do agree that being polite and smiling is always a consideration.

Nor have I ever been held to any standard, as I stated they even automatically bring me sodas without asking or having finished the one I currently have, and I get great service on a $1 tip. I think some just think they get better service, because they tip more (or in the case of cruising, because they tip upfront), I'm just living proof that this is not true, at least in my case. Edited October 1, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[Loonbeam]

You will never know an individuals given circumstance. Some will be supporting families, some are looking for a nest egg for later, some just want to get out of their country, some are looking for careers in the industry, some prefer a compressed work schedule with more time off (work 6 months a year, see below)...

 

Now that said, lets use the Philippines as an example. According to the World Bank, average income in US Dollars was about $2500 for the year 2013 (different sites have the number much higher but look at median, not average - we'll use the average value).

 

Lets just say a steward has 15 cabins, and salary aside gets $10 per day per cabin in a combination of service charge, cash tips, etc. At $150 per day, they will make the annual salary in their country in less than 3 weeks. For a 3 month contract, they can make 4 years salary. Regardless of why they want the money, compared to options at home, especially those not requiring schooling (minimum wage for agriworkers is $1 per day) cruise ships offer good income, the tradeoff is long hours and tight living conditions as well as being away from family.

[canadianeh934]

What is the unemployment rate in the Philippines versus the unemployment rate in the United States and England? Is it way higher in the Philippines. I ask because my room attendant was from there.

 

As well as what is the rate of pay back home if they can find a job.

 

One last thought: All cruise lines do everything possible to reduce the cost of operations, including registering ships to nations with lax labor laws that allow for long hours, low pay and few if any benefits.

[Sara1975]

You will never know an individuals given circumstance. Some will be supporting families, some are looking for a nest egg for later, some just want to get out of their country, some are looking for careers in the industry, some prefer a compressed work schedule with more time off (work 6 months a year, see below)...

 

Now that said, lets use the Philippines as an example. According to the World Bank, average income in US Dollars was about $2500 for the year 2013 (different sites have the number much higher but look at median, not average - we'll use the average value).

 

Lets just say a steward has 15 cabins, and salary aside gets $10 per day per cabin in a combination of service charge, cash tips, etc. At $150 per day, they will make the annual salary in their country in less than 3 weeks. For a 3 month contract, they can make 4 years salary. Regardless of why they want the money, compared to options at home, especially those not requiring schooling (minimum wage for agriworkers is $1 per day) cruise ships offer good income, the tradeoff is long hours and tight living conditions as well as being away from family.

If the cabin attendant gets $10 as you say in your example. How much does the waiters get $2. I thought the gratuities were divided up differently. Thought room attendant got more like 3.50 for each cabin.

[Sara1975]

As well as what is the rate of pay back home if they can find a job.

 

One last thought: All cruise lines do everything possible to reduce the cost of operations, including registering ships to nations with lax labor laws that allow for long hours, low pay and few if any benefits.

 

So they don't having it any worse than those of us here in the United States that are looking for a job.

 

Don't all companies do every thing to reduce costs and make the most they can. There are a lot of companies here in the United States that do the same thing and actually don't pat taxes here, so I guess it is the same for a lot.

[dd2355]

long hours, low pay and few if any benefits.

Try working as a dairy farmer if you want long hours, low pay, and no benefits.

 

Oh and that's right here in the developed world. Far far worse in the developing nations.

 

Labor laws like we have are a nice luxury.

[ColinIllinois]

If the cabin attendant gets $10 as you say in your example. How much does the waiters get $2. I thought the gratuities were divided up differently. Thought room attendant got more like 3.50 for each cabin.

 

 

Not a single person here knows how NCL divides up the money.

[Sara1975]

Not a single person here knows how NCL divides up the money.

 

Then where do they come up with there numbers.

[canadianeh934]

So they don't having it any worse than those of us here in the United States that are looking for a job.

 

Don't all companies do every thing to reduce costs and make the most they can. There are a lot of companies here in the United States that do the same thing and actually don't pat taxes here, so I guess it is the same for a lot.

 

 

You can not be serious.:eek:

 

Labour Laws .....you have them they do not!

[Loonbeam]

I don't know exact figures for NCL which is why I left salaries out of it.

 

Waiters almost certainly get less than stewards in tips because without traditional dining you don't see the same ones so all they see in more cases is the split of the service charge and I don't know how much that is. That said, since they don't have specific assignments, that share would be from a much larger pool. Using $2 per pax as a baseline for the Breakaway (lets say 4000 pax so $8000) and 400 servers each server would see $20 per day or $140 per week (obviously there may be differences based on assistant waiters, seniority, etc).

 

I based $10 on the fact the average cabin has a little over 2 people, I thought it was $4 per day from the charge per person, and any additional tips would offset those that remove. Some stewards may do better.

 

I freely admit I am making assumptions, but even if my estimates areaggressive these numbers are significantly higher than even salaries of medical professionals in some countries over a year.

 

 

If the cabin attendant gets $10 as you say in your example. How much does the waiters get $2. I thought the gratuities were divided up differently. Thought room attendant got more like 3.50 for each cabin.

[SteveH2508]

To be sure it goes where you want it to, leave cash.

 

Maybe, but when we gave an extra cash tip to two of the bartenders in the Martini bar on the Jade, they both put them into a box under the till. I am guessing they pooled their cash tips and divvied them up later. I'm fine with that - what they do with it is no concern of mine.

[GUT2407]

Then where do they come up with there numbers.

 

 

Really not sure.

 

Some lines actually publish who gets what of the auto amount in your stateroom folder

 

I wrote them down last cruise but cant find them at the moment I do recall that the waiter and steward got the same $4 and cents each pp per day. The assistants got about $2.50 each.

 

So steward with about 20 rooms got between $8 and $9 per cabin per day or about $160 per day or a tad over $1,000 a week, waiter got similar

 

That was on $12.95 pp pd.

[kerryincork]

Seems reasonable to me all the stewards I've met work a min of 12 hours a day everyday which is at least 84 hours a week and would equate to about $13 an hour. This would be about the same for the company I work for, factoring in the unsociable bonus they get they would be on a similar hourly rate.

People don't take in acount the very long hours they work every week with no days off and at very odd times during 24 hr period. If they were working a 39hr week at $13 they would only be getting $500

[pieshops]

^^^^^^^ that's the answer.

 

Now the next question is why are the lines so tight lipped about a simple issue like this?

 

the same reason every other business is, because it is none of your business. When you go out to eat at a restaurant do you ask the server what percentage of the tip you leave actually goes to them and how much goes to the bartender, the bar back, the bus boy, the assistant waiter?

[LMaxwell]

When you go out to eat at a restaurant do you ask the server what percentage of the tip you leave actually goes to them and how much goes to the bartender, the bar back, the bus boy, the assistant waiter?

 

No. I give them cash and whatever arrangement they have worked out is fine.

 

If their management said give us the cash, we'll set some aside for an incentive program and then decide how much to give them, yeah I'd be asking questions.

[dd2355]

No. I give them cash and whatever arrangement they have worked out is fine.

 

If their management said give us the cash, we'll set some aside for an incentive program and then decide how much to give them, yeah I'd be asking questions.

 

At one restaurant my son has worked at as a server there was an establish tip-out percentage to the bartenders, bussers, and expo. That was based on the ticket value rather than the actual tips. On a ship, I wouldn't be surprised if something similar occurred with the daily gratuities and any sort of set-asides. The tipped workers may be responsible to pay a certain amount into that regardless of whether tips come in via guest folios or in cash.

 

I honestly doubt we'll ever know a real answer without going and working aboard a ship ourselves.

[rogue 35]

I am quite happy not to have a clue. NCL tells me it expects a Daily Service Charge from me and a service charge of 18% added to drinks etc and that I have no other obligation. I see no need for me to agonise over who gets what out of these amounts, that is for NCL management and the crew and I think those crew who are not happy are free to not ask for their contracts to be renewed. I don't see a lot of servers who seem unhappy with this. What I do see is a lot of them many times over the years on different ships that remember me from 4, 5, even 6 years. I just don't get all of this angst over who gets what and I doubt if I ever will. It is between NCL and their employees and I'm good with that as it really is not any of my business.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself:)

[rjrpar]

you beat me to it. I do not understand the fascination on who gets what and how much they make. Do all these people consider how much the servers in the restaurants in their area make and eat at specific ones based on this? Or when purchasing a tv, how much money does the salesman at best buy make? Really it is a vacation, sit back and relax

 

 

I have the same thoughts. Some people on cruise critic are way too involved in the lives of the crew.