Begging for Tips

[sanmarcosman]

sounds like Russian mobsters to me.....

 

Actually the worst we have seen was on Oasis when he only mentioned it 4 times.... but strong armed might be a tad over the top.

 

You and your ellipses ;)

[jimbo5544]

You and your ellipses ;)

 

 

 

Dang, I thought the penicillin was going to take care of that....

 

 

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[Purvis1231]

The spa staff beg for tips even though their services have a 15% automatic tip. (I imagine the spa staff earn more than most of the crew-I know they are contract and not Carnival employees.)

 

The only time I experienced a Carnival staff member asking for a tip was on our last cruise, when a staff member brought our gold VIFP water to our cabin, he asked my wife for a 6% tip. Normally, she would have given a tip but when he asked she did not tip him. (Of course, 6% of free water is zero, right?)

[sanmarcosman]

Normally, she would have given a tip but when he asked she did not tip him. (Of course, 6% of free water is zero, right?)

Well, that's water under the bridge.

[GTO-Girl]

Once we have established a good repour with our waitstaff on or about evening 3-4 I thank them for their great service and let them know I always fill out the survey after each cruise.

 

On the last evening I ask them to write down their first and last names so I can be sure to spell them correctly on the survey.

 

This way they know I will be filling it out and we avoid any discussion about it. Seems to work very well for me!!

[Micahs Grandad]

On most excursions someone has mentioned that tips are gratefully accepted. I have never felt it approached begging.

 

Never on board ship have I ever encountered anything remotely like this.

 

I am not doubting your experience but can assure you that in my experience it's not a common complaint and doesn't happen fleet-wide.

 

Agreed

[Elaine5715]

Happened last night, the last dinner of the cruise.

Gratuities were pre-paid.

On the way out, the dining room staff kept saying “please help us, you are feeding our families.”

I know they work hard and everything but I think this crossed a line. It was very uncomfortable and honestly, felt like people begging on the street to the point that I don’t think Carnival is an option anymore as it wasn’t just them.

The ship sponsored excursions were just as bad in this department. The guide and bus driver are one thing, although we don’t need to be reminded to tip as they did. But On one in Mexico, every time we entered a room, the guide would point out that the person standing in the room was also helping—who knows how—and that tips are “not expected but certainly appreciated.”

 

I can imagine the responses but I assure you I am a good tipper. But it has really gotten out of control and I don’t see how anyone could think it is ok for dining staff to yes, beg, for more tips to feed their families as people are leaving. Thoughts?

Just because you prepaid doesn't mean you weren't one of the hundreds that pull their tips once on board after blowing their budget at the casino or on drinks.

[BookDragon]

Once we have established a good repour with our waitstaff on or about evening 3-4 I thank them for their great service and let them know I always fill out the survey after each cruise.

 

On the last evening I ask them to write down their first and last names so I can be sure to spell them correctly on the survey.

 

This way they know I will be filling it out and we avoid any discussion about it. Seems to work very well for me!!

 

What a great idea! Thank you for posting!

[Elaine5715]

This was a common practice back when the evaluation forms were placed in the cabins on the last night of the cruise. We dreaded that last night in the MDR on every cruise line, not just Carnival. We knew the "talk" was coming after the dessert and coffee were served. The lead waiter would emphasize that "met expectations" was not good enough and we were flat out told cruise after cruise to mark every category "exceeded expectations" and that anything less could cost them their livelihood.

 

We're glad these strong arm tactics are a thing of the past.

That is true, though. Many companies punish employees if survey responses are less than perfect.

[BookDragon]

Just because you prepaid doesn't mean you weren't one of the hundreds that pull their tips once on board after blowing their budget at the casino or on drinks.

 

It is unfair and unprofessional for the waitstaff to assume that those of us who prepaid will just pull our tips. What’s the point of prepaying tips if treated in this manner?

[GUT2407]

A good way to make sure they get zero fr9m me, and poor ratings.

[sanmarcosman]

That is true, though. Many companies punish employees if survey responses are less than perfect.

Which places management in the wrong because their employees should never be intimidated and made to fear for their jobs causing them to intimidate the very guests they serve. That's management biting off their nose to spite their face.

[bnorris10]

The closest I have ever gotten to that while on a cruise ship is on Disney they left envelopes with our dining staff individual names and our room steward and someone else I can't remember for us to leave tips in addition to those already pre-done

 

I always tip a little extra if my service was good normally that means the dining staff, my room steward, then of course piano bar guy gets tipped nightly as he plays my songs, and then if there is bar staff member that is just really good to us we will tip them extra .... Surprisingly this past cruise I just got off I did not tip my room steward extra and it's not that he did not do a good job in the room but the fact was I only saw him twice the entire cruise he would like sneak in the room while we were gone and by the time we got back all his junk was cleared from the hall and unlike most experiences the next morning when we got up to debark he was no where to be seen normally I find them hanging in the hallways usually with one last goodbye in hopes of getting an extra tip so he just did not get anything extra and well frankily he did nothing to go out of his way for us so I really was not feeling like he deserved extra anyways

[LongHill44]

Sorry, but your words don’t make sense in this paricular discussion. Maybe a general discussion on the benefits of over tipping but this discussion has nothing to do with that.

Sure it does. They asked for tips because either the OP did not tip or did not tip well enough to the dinning staffs liking.

[BookDragon]

Sure it does. They asked for tips because either the OP did not tip or did not tip well enough to the dinning staffs liking.

 

Does the dining staff know who has prepaid tips?

[BoDidly]

The closest I have ever gotten to that while on a cruise ship is on Disney they left envelopes with our dining staff individual names and our room steward and someone else I can't remember for us to leave tips in addition to those already pre-done

 

I always tip a little extra if my service was good normally that means the dining staff, my room steward, then of course piano bar guy gets tipped nightly as he plays my songs, and then if there is bar staff member that is just really good to us we will tip them extra .... Surprisingly this past cruise I just got off I did not tip my room steward extra and it's not that he did not do a good job in the room but the fact was I only saw him twice the entire cruise he would like sneak in the room while we were gone and by the time we got back all his junk was cleared from the hall and unlike most experiences the next morning when we got up to debark he was no where to be seen normally I find them hanging in the hallways usually with one last goodbye in hopes of getting an extra tip so he just did not get anything extra and well frankily he did nothing to go out of his way for us so I really was not feeling like he deserved extra anyways[/quote]

 

 

 

Now the difference in my opinion ,that would be the one that received more than an extra tip from me.

[BNBR]

I'm always the one who says to tip extra, etc. etc. But when tour guides, staff, and what not start implying I NEED to tip or beg for tips, I give them nothing. It turns me off, big time. Like at Dunns River Falls and the "guides" would make a dumb comment "Oh, your money is on the bus" then follow to the bus. Zero. If the staff started with that nonsense on the ship, I'd probably report them.

[myfuzzy]

The closest I have ever gotten to that while on a cruise ship is on Disney they left envelopes with our dining staff individual names and our room steward and someone else I can't remember for us to leave tips in addition to those already pre-done

 

.... Surprisingly this past cruise I just got off I did not tip my room steward extra and it's not that he did not do a good job in the room but the fact was I only saw him twice the entire cruise he would like sneak in the room while we were gone and by the time we got back all his junk was cleared from the hall and unlike most experiences the next morning when we got up to debark he was no where to be seen normally I find them hanging in the hallways usually with one last goodbye in hopes of getting an extra tip so he just did not get anything extra and well frankily he did nothing to go out of his way for us so I really was not feeling like he deserved extra anyways

 

 

I am wondering, IF because of auto grats, this has becoming more the norm. I noticed this on the past half dozen or so cruises. For years, you find your way to your cabin, not even have yourself arranged and the knock on the door with the steward checking your names and introducing him/herself, find out any needs for the week or so. Then passing in the hallway....Now NOTHING....We have gone on 10 day cruises, where we have seen the steward maybe twice. I straighten my own bed, wipe down my counters. Only require fresh towels and a clean bathroom....I should tip myself for that.

[riclop]

Never seen that.

[2wheelin]

Sure it does. They asked for tips because either the OP did not tip or did not tip well enough to the dinning staffs liking.

They stated they did pre pay tips. So by your thinking, anyone who doesn’t tip BEYOND the standard, DESERVES to be hassled by the beggars.

But you go on and keep bragging about your huge tips because IF you really do tip the crew will be happy.

[girlsbgoing]

It is unfair and unprofessional for the waitstaff to assume that those of us who prepaid will just pull our tips. What’s the point of prepaying tips if treated in this manner?

 

 

 

Unless this is happening more frequently than we realize. I hope not.

 

 

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[cruziJenn]

Sure it does. They asked for tips because either the OP did not tip or did not tip well enough to the dinning staffs liking.

 

Maybe I have been living in some kind of cruise bubble for the past several years but even when we have not tipped MDR wait staff or room stewards (no we don't always tip extra) we have absolutely never been asked directly by any ship staff to tip. That includes Magic just 7 weeks ago, tho we did tip our waiter beginning on the second night and our room steward on day 4 or 5. But anyone that tries to beg or guilt trip me for an extra cash tip may end up losing even their share of the autograts if I could do that. I hope someone that would do that is reading this.

[Organized Chaos]

Tips used to be a way of rewarding good service. Now it's to the point where everyone is expected to tip some arbitrary amount regardless of quality of service. And if anyone finds out you didn't, or even so much as thinks you didn't, you're ridiculed.

 

OP, you were more restrained that I would've been because I probably would've reported it. Our steward earlier this month mentioned giving him a good rating on the survey and that really rubbed me the wrong way. This was on the last day after I gave him an extra tip (beyond prepaid grats). Asking for a high rating on the survey right after handing him an additional tip made it seem like he didn't appreciate it.

 

Most people on here are very cheap. That’s why I tip big and often.

Do you deserve a cookie because you think you compensate for everyone who doesn't tip as well as you claim?

 

Sure it does. They asked for tips because either the OP did not tip or did not tip well enough to the dinning staffs liking.

They had no idea whether the OP prepaid gratuities or not, which they say they did.

 

Gotta love tip threads. They always bring out the hotshots who think it's impressive to gloat about big tips.

 

Just because you prepaid doesn't mean you weren't one of the hundreds that pull their tips once on board after blowing their budget at the casino or on drinks.

That's uncalled for. You don't know the OP, so why would you assume that of them right off the bat?

[purpletequila]

Sure it does. They asked for tips because either the OP did not tip or did not tip well enough to the dinning staffs liking.

 

Pardon. But the tips were pre-paid and were not removed.

 

Carry on.

[Organized Chaos]

Am I the only person who thinks it's in poor taste and defeats the purpose for staff members to give spiels about the evaluations? I've been on 7 cruises in the past year and a half and it seems to get more excessive every time and it happens from Cruise Director all the way to Guy's Burger worker. I'm one of those people who writes down names to give shoutouts for extra great care because I do know it's important. But it cheapens the metric, system and experience in my opinion to be reminded.

I agree, I think it's in poor taste too. It's like they realize it's tacky to beg for tips, so they substitute the survey. In the end, considering how important the survey is to them, it's practically the same thing.