Ethics vs Self-interest

[FLSteve11]

1. Do Americans refrain from eating at a restaurant in the USA knowing that the waitresses make $2 per hour and have to make a living on tips?

2. Would those same Americans still eat out if prices doubled so waitresses could make a more normal wage?

 

2. Would the same Americans tip at the same amount if they were making a normal wage as well?

[Raxter54]

2. Would the same Americans tip at the same amount if they were making a normal wage as well?

Nope. I currently tip knowing that the waiter/waitress only makes $2-3 an hour. If they made $12-13 I would tip less. Especially if the meal price went up significantly.

 

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[FLSteve11]

Payroll is typically about 11% of a cruise's operating cost:

 

http://www.cruisemarketwatch.com/home/financial-breakdown-of-typical-cruiser/

 

Keep in mind that if a cruise ship were US-flagged, it would have to pay and withhold both employer-paid and employee-paid taxes such as Social Security and Medicare. Most shipboard employees would take about a 15%-20% pay cut just from having to cough up Social Security, Medicare, Federal, and in some cases, State taxes as well.

 

That said, the one US-flagged ocean cruise ship currently in operation, Norwegian's Pride of America, really doesn't have outrageous fares compared to say Carnival's 7-day Southern Caribbean cruises out of San Juan, especially since there is no casino aboard the Pride of America.

 

 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note7 using Tapatalk. Hey, do you smell anything burning?

 

I would never pay for a Carnival 7-day southern Caribbean cruise at the prices that Pride of America charges.

[GUT2407]

We paid $1800 for a balcony on Fascination. For grins I just priced PoA for December 3 this year it's $3398 and for next October it's $4198 (and on CCL it's $1913). I would say that is significantly higher than what CCL charges for the S. Caribbean out of San Juan.

 

But don't we need to compare to another NCL ship?

[nissach]

Nope. I currently tip knowing that the waiter/waitress only makes $2-3 an hour. If they made $12-13 I would tip less. Especially if the meal price went up significantly.

 

Sent from my Galaxy 4

 

Agreed. Here in Canada, restaurant staff are paid the same minimum wage as any other minimum wage job, $11.00 per hour. So tips are actually a bonus. And our meals do cost considerably more than in the US.

[GUT2407]

Agreed. Here in Canada, restaurant staff are paid the same minimum wage as any other minimum wage job, $11.00 per hour. So tips are actually a bonus. And our meals do cost considerably more than in the US.

 

Same here in Australia, except about $17 an hour pluspenalty rates on weekends, nights, public holidays etc.

[sparks1093]

But don't we need to compare to another NCL ship?

 

The specific question was PoA versus CCL on a Southern Caribbean but sure, if you want to look at another NCL ship the Breakaway out of NYC in 10/2017 is $2137 for a balcony. (I didn't see any cruises out of San Juan at that time for NCL.)

[Computer Nerd]

Same here in Australia, except about $17 an hour pluspenalty rates on weekends, nights, public holidays etc.

 

And the cost of meals in Oz reflect that. :eek:

Edited November 27, 2016 by Computer Nerd

[GUT2407]

And the cost of meals in Oz reflect that. :eek:

 

Yep that's why I said "Same here" in relation to a post that said prices are higher in Canada than in the USA.

[LuckyZ]

I don't know about others who were waiters or waitresses ...BUT ... I made considerably more $$$ with the tips method than I would have if the restaurant paid more and charged the customers for it.

 

I kind of looked at it as the $2 was for the side work required ... for serving the food I saw myself as an "independent contractor":D

 

I believe you're making my point for me. It's the same as the cruise line discussion that they get paid relatively low wages but trying to offer high quality service to get tips and increase their overall salary. It's the same thing but seems to hit close to home when you talk about this happening in the good ole USA

[Computer Nerd]

Yep that's why I said "Same here" in relation to a post that said prices are higher in Canada than in the USA.

 

Haven't spent time in canada in ages so not aware of current pricing there but spent 5 weeks in Oz this summer and holy cow.....sticker shock! :eek:

[Raxter54]

Agreed. Here in Canada, restaurant staff are paid the same minimum wage as any other minimum wage job, $11.00 per hour. So tips are actually a bonus. And our meals do cost considerably more than in the US.

 

That's probably why Americans are known as such big tippers. Just curious - what DO you consider a good tip for a waiter/waitress in Canada?

[Computer Nerd]

That's probably why Americans are known as such big tippers. Just curious - what DO you consider a good tip for a waiter/waitress in Canada?

 

If they are making a living wage then I would expect 0 as it is in Europe.

[hulksmash]

If you want to make a "living wage" acquire more skills and education.

 

I love whiskey.

[CruiserGuyWPB]

Same here in Australia, except about $17 an hour pluspenalty rates on weekends, nights, public holidays etc.

 

But in Australia you dont tip or tip very little. In Canada the pay more than the US, but they still demand 15-20% tip on top of higher wages. Big difference . I go to Canada a lot, actually a Canadian citizen that doesnt live there. The food prices are much higher than the US and the pay for servers are higher, and they still demand 15-20% tip. :confused:

[easyboy]

But in Australia you dont tip or tip very little. In Canada the pay more than the US, but they still demand 15-20% tip on top of higher wages. Big difference . I go to Canada a lot, actually a Canadian citizen that doesnt live there. The food prices are much higher than the US and the pay for servers are higher, and they still demand 15-20% tip. :confused:

They must be making big bucks.

[DirtyDawg]

Agreed. Here in Canada, restaurant staff are paid the same minimum wage as any other minimum wage job, $11.00 per hour. So tips are actually a bonus. And our meals do cost considerably more than in the US.

 

Not in all of Canada. In British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec the minimum wage for restaurant staff is less than the general minimum wage. All slightly less than $10 per hour.

[AussieOmni]

Haven't spent time in canada in ages so not aware of current pricing there but spent 5 weeks in Oz this summer and holy cow.....sticker shock! :eek:

 

 

As an Australian living in the US I get this. It's why so many Aussies come here. Because cost of living is so high your earnings are high so purchasing power is pretty high here.

 

 

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