Unlimited Dining Package "Service Charge"

[Ourusualbeach]

9 hours ago, JoeFan said:

 

Wow how snippy. I was rounding because I think that at even $100 per stateroom is way more thank what automatic gratuity gets them. I read they make less than $3000/month but take care of 25 to 30 cabins per pair. This math doesn’t make sense. At $75 average (some 2 and some 4 per cabin) times 30 = $2,250 a week by 4 weeks in $9k. 

 

So so how does RCI hand out the tips?

They do not take care of 25 to 30 cabins.

 

it is more like 14 to 16 and if they get complaints or bad ratings on the feedback forms they have the number of cabins reduced.  

 

At $4.50 per person x 2 x 7 days that’s $63 per cabin x 14 cabins is $882 per week or $3528 for 4 weeks.

[shopaholic6]

3 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

They do not take care of 25 to 30 cabins.

 

it is more like 14 to 16 and if they get complaints or bad ratings on the feedback forms they have the number of cabins reduced.  

 

At $4.50 per person x 2 x 7 days that’s $63 per cabin x 14 cabins is $882 per week or $3528 for 4 weeks.

 

$3528 over 4 weeks?? In TIPS?? Plus their salary?? 

[GUT2407]

11 minutes ago, shopaholic6 said:

 

$3528 over 4 weeks?? In TIPS?? Plus their salary?? 

And that’s with all the stuffers on board, not bad money really is it.

[shopaholic6]

Just now, GUT2407 said:

And that’s with all the stuffers on board, not bad money really is it.

Definitely not! 🙂

[GUT2407]

1 minute ago, shopaholic6 said:

Definitely not! 🙂

And ever second person on CC claims to slip them another $100 per week on top of all that.

[shopaholic6]

1 minute ago, GUT2407 said:

And ever second person on CC claims to slip them another $100 per week on top of all that.

I’m in the wrong job 🤣🤣

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, shopaholic6 said:

 

$3528 over 4 weeks?? In TIPS?? Plus their salary?? 

 

No it is not in addition to their salary.  They are guaranteed a minimum salary which is only paid if their gratuities are below the minimum.

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, shopaholic6 said:

I’m in the wrong job 🤣🤣

Go ahead and apply, I’m sure you would enjoy working 12 hour days 7 days a week for 9 months then getting 3 months unpaid off.

[spookwife]

and don't forget:  that $3500/month goes a helluva lot further in their home country than it does in the US, UK or Oz.  

 

that kind of money would barely be above poverty level here, but allows a very nice middle to upper middle class life in the PI, Thailand and  other less industrialized nations.  

[Snit13]

On 5/26/2019 at 2:10 PM, JoeFan said:

 

 

 

Would I be seen as a slime to reduce the automatic gratuity and move it to the specialty servers who actually serve me?

Only you can answer your question.  No one else would know what you decided to do.  Personally I have no issue with the current system in place on all cruise lines.  If I can afford to cruise, I can afford to tip.  I tip at home when served so why would I choose not to tip on a cruise?  To the best of my knowledge wait staff crew members are assigned to many locations throughout the day and are not sleeping or basking in the sun until it is time for their evening shift.  I believe even the singers and dancers are called upon to do other duties in addition to entertaining.  They all multi-task in some way or another. You must do what is best for you.

Edited May 28, 2019 by Snit13
correct error

[cruisegus]

On 5/27/2019 at 10:22 PM, Mikew0805 said:

I agree, the numbers have never made sense but I find it easier to just leave the auto grats in place, as it is one less thing I have to think about. I do not tip above or below that threshold.

 

We also leave our auto grats in place and if the company state gratuity included we believe them, now on occasion the services way beyond that you normally expect and I will add a little more, but that is the exception not the norm. 

 

Much like when doing performance appraisals for my employees, they cant all be exceptional, if they are that becomes the new norm and then they are all just satisfactory.

 

When trying to figure out what the crew employees make take in consideration where most are from and that if they could make as good of a living there and not be away from home, most would.  For most of the crew it is a good job.

Edited May 29, 2019 by cruisegus

[time4u2go]

On 5/28/2019 at 4:04 AM, shopaholic6 said:

 

$3528 over 4 weeks?? In TIPS?? Plus their salary?? 

Plus room and board.

[time4u2go]

On 5/28/2019 at 8:05 AM, spookwife said:

and don't forget:  that $3500/month goes a helluva lot further in their home country than it does in the US, UK or Oz.  

 

that kind of money would barely be above poverty level here, but allows a very nice middle to upper middle class life in the PI, Thailand and  other less industrialized nations.  

Actually $3500/month is WAY above the poverty level in the U. S. 

[gatour]

On 5/28/2019 at 4:22 AM, shopaholic6 said:

I’m in the wrong job 🤣🤣

 

As someone who put himself through college at a fine dining establishment.  Feel free to apply.  There were times when I would literally pick up glass bottles for their deposit value just so I can buy a box of pasta, some garlic, and use some oil and red pepper flakes in my cabinets, so I could eat dinner.

 

I really wish everyone would be required to either join the military or work in the restaurant sector (working for tips as part of their salaries).  You would get an eye opening experience.  My dad was a bad tipper, but once I went out on my own putting myself through college.  My parents were season ticket holders from the long time back for the University I went to.  Once he saw how hard I was working and I explained how servers didn't get minimum wage but a lower amount and the tips were expected to make up the difference (including the IRS when submitting your 1040)  He came around.

 

On 5/28/2019 at 5:33 AM, Ourusualbeach said:

Go ahead and apply, I’m sure you would enjoy working 12 hour days 7 days a week for 9 months then getting 3 months unpaid off.

 

Couldn't agree more.  See my above my comment.  The first restaurant I worked at, I was the day time busser.  Right before Christmas time, the entire night time bus staff quit (fellow college students), because they didn't want to work through graduation and the holidays.  I suddenly became both the night time bus staff (where there was usually one) and the night time busser (where there would normally be 3 bussers on staff).  There was a secondary busser but he wasn't available every night.  I ended up working 14 hour days for about 21 days straight.  Thanks to the kindness of the kitchen staff and the servers (who were better staffed) they kept me fed.  I literally was eating on my feet, while trying to keep patrons water glassed filled, tables cleaned etc.

 

After 21 days,  I told them I needed a break.  I then spent the day off drinking some beer and watching 3 or 4 VHS movies.

 

I can't imagine going 12 by 7 by 9.

 

1 hour ago, time4u2go said:

Actually $3500/month is WAY above the poverty level in the U. S. 

 

You are so wrong.

 

For one person it is..

$12,140

 

For two people it is..

$16,460

 

For three people it is...

 

$20,780

 

[time4u2go]

3 minutes ago, gatour said:

You are so wrong.

 

For one person it is..

$12,140

 

For two people it is..

$16,460

 

For three people it is...

 

$20,780

Uh...I don't think so. The amounts you posted are per year.  I stated $3500/MONTH.

[steven3367]

On 5/28/2019 at 4:44 AM, Mikew0805 said:

Did you bother to read what I quoted, and responded to... KARMA. I didn't say salaries were magically paid, I said that low wages are paid, and the customer makes them up. What part of that comment was so hard for you to comprehend? Yes, salaries are paid by the customer, but not at the customers discretion in non tipped wages. Customers do not decide how much I make. This was a response that other countries (especially those mentioned) do not do it the same way as here, they are not cheap... just different. Nothing argumentative, but that seems like that is all you want... an argument. If that is the case, I am not interested. 

 

 

its depends on your culture americans love to tip where austrialians and british dont thats why cruises from the uk inc tips 99 percent of the time

i pre paid my tips once on a norwegian cruise and found the service was terrible as they didnt need to make a effort as they knew they already had a tip waiters ignored you terrible service

princess cruises i didnt pre pay and ended up tipping more as they would bend over backwards for you

carnival removed some as service bad

royal caribean cant remember think i over tipped the room sterward and our waiters

point is i like to tip people who give me above and beyond service not people like the manager of the dining room who you never see till last night when hes suddenly going round hoping for a tip

i feel cruise ships chould pay a proper wage not make the customers make up their wage cant think of other industry that does this

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

34 minutes ago, steven3367 said:

 

i feel cruise ships chould pay a proper wage not make the customers make up their wage cant think of other industry that does this

 

 

 

The minimum wage for tipped positions in 18 US states is $2.13 per hour.

 

https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

 

 

[SantaFeFan]

1 hour ago, steven3367 said:

point is i like to tip people who give me above and beyond service not people like the manager of the dining room who you never see till last night when hes suddenly going round hoping for a tip

 

Clearly, you have a conspiracy approach to life. LOL. 

 

Quote

i feel cruise ships chould pay a proper wage

 

And what is a "proper wage"? Proper where you live? Proper where the individual lives? Proper in the country the ship is registered in? Proper where the corporate headquarters is located? All of these will be different, especially where the individual lives since each of the countries represented by the crew have different standards of living.

 

What is your "proper" answer? 

 

Quote

not make the customers make up their wage cant think of other industry that does this

 

 

To name just a few:

 

 - Restaurant waiters in several countries. 

 - Valet parking attendants in many countries. 

 - Casino dealers everywhere.

 - Pizza delivery person.

 - Porters in many areas.

 - Bartender.

 - And, yes, even exotic dancers.

 - Golf caddy. 

 

HINT: whether they receive wages partially from tips or 100% from a salary, the customer makes up every dollar of their wages. All the company does is divert some of the revenue to their paychecks, but that revenue comes from customers who purchase their products.  It is YOU who pays it all, regardless of the system.  

 

PS: one more point - the crew agrees to the wages they are to be paid. They willingly accept the system as it is. If you ask them, they will tell you they make more in a tip based wage system than a salary based wage system. That is why you never hear a steward or waiter complain about how unfair the tip system is. 

 

Edited June 1, 2019 by SantaFeFan

[mpdog42]

1 hour ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

Clearly, you have a conspiracy approach to life. LOL. 

 

 

And what is a "proper wage"? Proper where you live? Proper where the individual lives? Proper in the country the ship is registered in? Proper where the corporate headquarters is located? All of these will be different, especially where the individual lives since each of the countries represented by the crew have different standards of living.

 

What is your "proper" answer? 

 

 

To name just a few:

 

 - Restaurant waiters in several countries. 

 - Valet parking attendants in many countries. 

 - Casino dealers everywhere.

 - Pizza delivery person.

 - Porters in many areas.

 - Bartender.

 - And, yes, even exotic dancers.

 - Golf caddy. 

 

HINT: whether they receive wages partially from tips or 100% from a salary, the customer makes up every dollar of their wages. All the company does is divert some of the revenue to their paychecks, but that revenue comes from customers who purchase their products.  It is YOU who pays it all, regardless of the system.  

 

PS: one more point - the crew agrees to the wages they are to be paid. They willingly accept the system as it is. If you ask them, they will tell you they make more in a tip based wage system than a salary based wage system. That is why you never hear a steward or waiter complain about how unfair the tip system is. 

 

When is Royal getting exotic Dancers on their ships??

Just Kidding😜

Mike

[Tree_skier]

3 hours ago, steven3367 said:

i feel cruise ships chould pay a proper wage not make the customers make up their wage cant think of other industry that does this

Every single sector of the hospitality industry pays pennies and expects folks to make their living off tips.

[GUT2407]

2 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Every single sector of the hospitality industry pays pennies and expects folks to make their living off tips.

Only in some parts of the world. Here in Aus the minimum adult wage is just short of $20 an hour, with penalty rates on top for certain shifts.

[Tree_skier]

Just now, GUT2407 said:

Only in some parts of the world. Here in Aus the minimum adult wage is just short of $20 an hour, with penalty rates on top for certain shifts.

I was speaking about North America which cruise ship tipping culture is based.  I can assure you your cabin steward isn't making $20 an hour!

[GUT2407]

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I was speaking about North America which cruise ship tipping culture is based.  I can assure you your cabin steward isn't making $20 an hour!

But your comment I responded to said every single sector of the hospitality industry pays pennies, (no mention that you were only referencing the USA) which I was pointing out is dead wrong, because other parts of the world have a hospitality industry too.

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, GUT2407 said:

Only in some parts of the world. Here in Aus the minimum adult wage is just short of $20 an hour, with penalty rates on top for certain shifts.

 

You do know that $20 AUD is less than $14 USD 😉

 

I think Seattle has gone to $15 an hour minimum.  My son tells me McDonalds is about 50% more expensive now

[GUT2407]

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

 

You do know that $20 AUD is less than $14 USD 😉

 

I think Seattle has gone to $15 an hour minimum.  My son tells me McDonalds is about 50% more expensive now

Yep and way more than the $2 something I was responding to.