Gratuities increasing from Jan 2nd.

[The_Big_M]

Okay, even if the prices in the 'crew shopping area' did not go up, what does that have to do with the fact that the crew gets an increase after so many years of 'possible' stagnation in their salaries?

 

 

 

Last rise was only a year and a half ago, so not "years."

 

 

And a 7% increase in 18 mths is over 4% a year. Don't know any groups of people getting rises like that in our countries.

Let alone the last rise 18 months ago was also a similar magnitude, if not greater.

[Bo1953]

Last rise was only a year and a half ago, so not "years."

 

 

And a 7% increase in 18 mths is over 4% a year. Don't know any groups of people getting rises like that in our countries.

Let alone the last rise 18 months ago was also a similar magnitude, if not greater.

 

I stand corrected, thank you.

 

As for 'groups of people getting rises like that...' I know of groups who do and they are not salaried and set their own income goals which can usually exceed 10% annually, all without Government imposed mandatory minimum wages.

 

bon voyage

[sanger727]

Does anyone recall when the auto tips started and what they were originally? I ask because I also work in a job with contracted wages. During the recession we spent years with no raises and a few with pay reductions based on the promise that it would be made up later. So the last few years we did negotiate higher than inflation pay increases to help make up for the years of flat pay. I know some will say there was no inflation those years, not sure about that, but I know all my bills kept going up while our pay remained flat. To really recognize if the gratuity increases are on pace with inflation you may need to look back more than the last year or two.

 

 

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[sollyman]

This is quoted directly from the email received in the UK.

 

"As you get ready for your upcoming cruise, we wanted to let you know that we've updated our daily gratuity rates. The new rates will be applied to all sailings from 2 January 2018 onwards. Anyone booked prior to 2 January 2018, will have until the time of their sailing to pay their gratuities at the old rate.

 

If you've prepaid your gratuities, you will not be effected by this price change.

 

If you've not yet prepaid your gratuities, you can still pay the original rates by prepaying them before 2nd January 2018. If you pay your gratuities on board, you will pay the new rates.

 

New Gratuity Rates:

• Interior, Ocean View and Balcony staterooms will change from $13.50 to $14.50 per day, per guest.

 

• Concierge Class and AquaClass® staterooms will change from $14.00 to $15.00 per day, per guest.

 

• Suite Class accommodations will change from $17.00 to $18.00 per day, per guest.

 

Gratuities are shared by our exceptional onboard dining and culinary services team, stateroom attendants, other housekeeping services personnel, as well as staff from other departments who work behind the scenes to enhance your cruise experience.

 

If you've already prepaid your gratuities or decide to prepay them before you set sail, you will not be charged any additional automatic daily gratuities once on board the ship.

 

Other onboard gratuity policies remain the same: an 18% gratuity is automatically added to bar service beverages; specialty dining reservations, and mini bar items and will be itemised on your receipt.

 

Should you have any questions, simply call our Personal Cruise Specialists on

0800 240 4305 and they'll be more than happy to help you"

 

Kind regards,

The Celebrity Cruises Team

 

No doubt people will continue to believe whatever they want but it all seems pretty clear to me.

 

Notice that it also confirms that speciality dining charges include an 18% gratuity and that "other housekeeping services personnel, as well as staff from other departments who work behind the scenes to enhance your cruise experience." are included in the gratuity "pool". Both of these have been the subject of numerous thread over the years.

 

Clearly removing auto grats and tipping in cash does seem to be stiffing some of the behind the scenes crew....and yes I am from the UK!

[hate2shop]

YES, it's only $1 a day..... NOT a big deal.... BUT... it seems a wee bit "bait & Switchish" to take a booking for an agreed upon price and later change the deal. Shouldn't the cruise line HONOR the deal they made? I can see for future bookings, but to later say, "Oh by the way, remember when we sealed the deal, I'm gonna ruin my reputation with you by squeezing another buck". They spend MILLIONS on advertising yet squander it all for a mere $1. IMVHO,, very foolish.

 

Totally agree with this. Seems slightly bait and switch ish to me too. I don't mind the buck a day it's changing the agreement I have a problem with. Especially since we sail on Jan 2 and this is the first I've heard of an increase. I'm also in awe of anyone who can actually pre-pay anything. Celebrity refuses to accept $$$$ from me for anything online. Can't buy excursions, beverage, dining or gratuities. Numerous calls have gotten me nothing except advice to try later.

[bananawindnj]

If employees are unhappy with their wages, they are free to find a better job somewhere else at the end of their contracts. Cruise lines are not holding their staff hostage.

 

 

 

I agree 100%

On another aspect of the raise, is that RCL will probably raise their gratuities eventually after assessing the reaction from this.

 

 

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[Aulanis]

Does anyone recall when the auto tips started and what they were originally? I ask because I also work in a job with contracted wages. During the recession we spent years with no raises and a few with pay reductions based on the promise that it would be made up later. So the last few years we did negotiate higher than inflation pay increases to help make up for the years of flat pay. I know some will say there was no inflation those years, not sure about that, but I know all my bills kept going up while our pay remained flat. To really recognize if the gratuity increases are on pace with inflation you may need to look back more than the last year or two.

This from 2012

JP on Feb 6, 12 at 4:53pm

 

From the Celebrity web site:

 

For your convenience, we will automatically add gratuities for your restaurant and stateroom services to your onboard SeaPass® account on a daily basis in the following amounts, which may be adjusted at your discretion: $11.50 per person per day for guests in staterooms ($12.00 per person per day for guests in Concierge Class and AquaClass® staterooms and $15.00 per person per day for guests in Suites).

 

So that is an increase of $3 in 6 years.

I reckon that to be a rise of ~4.35% per year not bad in a time of worldwide economy stagnation.

Edited December 21, 2017 by Aulanis

[davekathy]

We just consider gratuities part of the cruise fare. Most of the time the TA covers the gratuities flat out or we use the TA or cruise line OBCs to cover the gratuities. We don't remove or decrease gratuities. We don't concern ourselves with who gets how much of the gratuities we (TA) pay.

[sfaaa]

 

I think that cruise prices will go up considerably if they are included in the price.

 

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That's a given but I suspect the people who champion higher wages to staff will then come here to complain loudly about increase in cruise price and the evil corporate greed.

[EDLOS]

How ethical is it to increase the daily gratuity rate after final payment as Celebrity has just done. I signed on at $13.50 per day and now I am told it's $14.50. Will the upcoming 29 day cruise $29.00) break me, no, but so far I have kept my side of the contract, paid everything as agreed upon, should not Celebrity be as ethical I am ?

Think about it, will I get on board with a chip on my shoulder, probably ! Who suffers, the crew, morale??

Please don't tell me about the fine print !!! Can I cancel and get full payment back, doubt it.

It should have been grandfathered to all who have made final payment on any of their cruises.

" You can't fix stupid !"

[anjomojo]

I thought you could still pay gratuities by pre paying until a certain date which I thought I read was Jan 2 i have an upcoming cruise scheduled Jan 13th and am going to go online to pre pay my gratuities tomorrow.

 

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[sanger727]

Well, since you could just pre-pay the gratuity at the original rate I’m not sure why this is so troubling.... or - and not that I recommend this but since U r so adamant - when you get on the ship you can lower the gratuity or remove it altogether. So you can still pay the old rate if you insist

 

 

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[markeb]

I really don't believe I'm saying this, because I don't really support it, but just go to guest services and adjust your auto gratuities to $13.50 per day. Easy. Probably unfair to the staff, but they're voluntary... (Or suck up the cost of two martinis for your cruise.)

[Wine-O]

I really don't believe I'm saying this, because I don't really support it, but just go to guest services and adjust your auto gratuities to $13.50 per day. Easy. Probably unfair to the staff, but they're voluntary... (Or suck up the cost of two martinis for your cruise.)

 

Sorry, but you can go to guest services to remove auto gratuities, but you can't adjust them down. You can go to guest services to add to the auto grats on your seapass, but you can't adjust them down.

[EDLOS]

Well, since you could just pre-pay the gratuity at the original rate I’m not sure why this is so troubling.... or - and not that I recommend this but since U r so adamant - when you get on the ship you can lower the gratuity or remove it altogether. So you can still pay the old rate if you insist

 

 

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Yes, you are right about prepaying,.....you are missing my point, Celebrity and I signed an agreement when I made my final payment and they just changed it. This not ethical !

[markeb]

Sorry, but you can go to guest services to remove auto gratuities, but you can't adjust them down. You can go to guest services to add to the auto grats on your seapass, but you can't adjust them down.

 

Interesting. The new web page is so bad you can't actually find any information other than the single paragraph on gratuities.

 

I'm going to bet you can go to guest services and remove the gratuities, then tell them to add $391.50 to increase your now zero gratuity (for the 29 day cruise) to $13.50 per day... It's just no longer an "auto gratuity".

[JUST TRIPPIN']

I agree 100%. It is not about the amount of increase, it is about altering your contracted price especially after final payment. You would not accept this with any other purchase. This is no difference.

P.S. How do you go about paying your tips online? I can't figure this website out...but that is another story.

 

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[neverbeenhere]

If they are "treating" you so wrong... try other cruise lines.(Oh, you have already) :evilsmile:

 

Also: Don't buy any "Art" at the "Auctions" and you will save way more than $ 29. :evilsmile:

 

At least it's not a Carny Game... or is it? :evilsmile:

 

Enjoy your Cruise.

[bobnj]

I cannot believe that some people are upset about the tip increase. $1 a day? Really, this is going directly to the crew. Some people feel as if the cruise line should not charge the tips on there account because they want to be in control. Actually they just want to short tip the crew because they are cheap. The policy is if you prepay the tips before a specific date, then you do not have the pay the increase. Simple. Cannot be clearer.

[Cruise or Lose!]

Should be increased by $10 per day, not just $1.

 

 

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[Keith1010]

In the perfect world they would have not changed the amount after you made the payment.

 

In the scheme of things it really is a small amount for each person but it adds up to the crew.

 

So in the spirit of the holiday season in mind, and the tragic loss the other day with those who died in the shore excursion accident and knowing that the money will be very much appreciated by the crew, if this was me I would move forward.

 

You have a great cruise to look forward to.

 

Happy Holidays.

 

Keith

[Bo1953]

Well, since you could just pre-pay the gratuity at the original rate I’m not sure why this is so troubling.... or - and not that I recommend this but since U r so adamant - when you get on the ship you can lower the gratuity or remove it altogether. So you can still pay the old rate if you insist

 

 

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Yes, you are right about prepaying,.....you are missing my point, Celebrity and I signed an agreement when I made my final payment and they just changed it. This not ethical !

 

It is ethical by all accounts, what the issue here is, it sounds like you have NEVER read the CTC and as such many others who think this is 'unethical' have not read it, either.

 

As I asked on a previous thread, what is the increase percentage in relation to your total cruise fare?

 

Upon your return, were you to post that the increase was not worth it as your service was NOT up to par or expectations, then that is a conversation to be had and/or post to be made.

 

 

bon voyage

[Bo1953]

I agree 100%. It is not about the amount of increase' date=' it is about altering your contracted price especially after final payment. You would not accept this with any other purchase. This is no difference.

P.S. How do you go about paying your tips online? I can't figure this website out...but that is another story.

 

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While I could not find where to pre-pay grats online at this point, I Am sure a call to X will sort this out for you.

 

Also, sounds like you have never read the CTC either where X spells out their and our obligations to each other in order to sail.

 

Just like most other CTC's, you can either ignore them or read them and weep or read them and understand, as much as you can, what you are purchasing or not.

 

 

bon voyage

[DirtyDawg]

 

It is ethical by all accounts, what the issue here is, it sounds like you have NEVER read the CTC and as such many others who think this is 'unethical' have not read it, either.

 

As I asked on a previous thread, what is the increase percentage in relation to your total cruise fare?

 

Upon your return, were you to post that the increase was not worth it as your service was NOT up to par or expectations, then that is a conversation to be had and/or post to be made.

 

bon voyage

 

Hi Bo, I haven't read the CTC either, (waiting for insomnia to really take hold) but I bet there is language in there that the cruise line can change prices, gratuities, etc. anytime they wish. If they didn't the cruise line would have to plan these increases, what, 2 years in advance before a single booking had taken place.

 

So for people in this situation, just go and pre-pay at the old rate before the deadline and be done with it.

[cruise47]

Will Celebrity post this new gratuity information on their website and will the cruise line notify travel agencies and future cruisers of the new gratuity costs ?

Edited December 22, 2017 by cruise47