HAL Tipping Policy

[serendipity1499]

Yes, that is the first part only of the tipping policy. What HAL will NOT tell you until the last day of your first cruise is what KrazyKruisers said. For example but not limited to: If three passengers traveling together each buy the "Platinum Travel Insurance" from AAA (TA(Travel Agency)) the pursers assistant will insist that you must have certificate of insurance a paid reciept will not do. Thus by thier twisted logic you must bear the complete very inflated financial burdeon of a of a life threatining medical emergency. The front desk (911) had to be called twice. The medical personell would not respond though they were told both times that it was a life threatining medical emergency. The ships doctor is not required to be licensed to practice medicine in the USA. The doctor is very familiar with the US policy of overcharging, especially the "uninsured". The crew on the otherhand performed perfectly.

 

Be prepaired to pay the medical personel, the purser's assistant and AAA Platinum Travel insurance up to 100% or more. The coffee is still free for now, that may change as well. Even if you only drink coffee, the (wine steward - purser's assistant - cruise director) will get his/her $4 a day. If the policy is changed at all the officers will demand all cash given to the stewards and chefs that EARNED tips.

 

It would not suprise me if there were an emergency fund for officer's children but not crew.:mad:

 

You know after re-reading this post I really believe that C.Crawford did mean to post this under the tipping pokicy..If that is so, please indulge me with my thoughts on this..

 

When you purchase travel insurance, you are told (in writing) to carry a copy of the policy with you..If there is a medical emergency you are also advised to immediately contact (telephone from the ship) the Insurance Company (of course after the person is stabalized)..They occasionally will handle the payment with the Cruise Line or they will advise you to pay the bill & they will reimburse you later for all costs including the phone call from the ship...

 

What makes you think that Medical Costs on board a ship should be less than what you would pay a Dr. or Hospital in the USA..Yes medical coverage everywhere in the world is expensive..(I can't debate that) I've been in the travel business (airline) for 30 years & have had medical emergencies in Mexico City, Nairobi, Sidney, & Tokyo..In several cases I paid the same or more for Doctors & Hospitals to treat me..Fortunately I was reimbursed by my Insurance Company after the fact...

 

If you make a statement that you had to tip the Assistant purser, I for one, would like some clarification..What do you mean by the Pursers assistant asking for a tip for his services..I believe you should be more specific..Officers on board never ask for tips & I am taking our 13th cruise in a couple of months (6th HAL cruise) in three months.. I'm not a HAL employee & have often backed up CC members when I've thought that they were not being treated properly by a cruise line..But in this case I believe your statement is totally out of line & very inflammatory..If you can't produce your certificate of Insurance, no cruise Line will take your word for it with or without the receipt..Our friends Medical evacuation cost them over $20,000, but fortunately they were able to get the insurance company to handle it..

 

A few months ago I read (on CC) about a passenger (can't remember the cruise line, but it was not HAL), who did not have insurance & was put off a ship in Bermuda with a life threating emergency..She was in a Hospital who could not treat her & could not get med. evacuated back to the U.K because she did not have travel insurance..The cost was between $50,000 & $100,000 & the family could not raise the Cash..The authorities in her home country refused to help the family & would not cover her outside of the U.K...(U.K. passengers are required to purchase travel insurance but the reservation was made by her sister in the U.S.)

 

I'm not doubting your statement that HAL did not respond in a timely manner & perhaps that is the reason why you are so upset, but please lets think about the entire situation..If you did not receive immediate help, Shame on HAL, but you should write a letter of complaint to HAL & document the problem clearly & concisely..Making an inflammatory statement about an officer or cruise director getting a tip is ludicrous ..:( You should also collect payments for your medical bills from the insurance company if you had Medical insurance..That is one reason to carefully look over your policy...

 

Ok will get off my soapbox now & thanks for indulging me....Happy Cruising everyone! Betty

[Captain Crunch]

I too was thoroughly confused by c.crawford's post, but thanks Jim for clearing it up..

 

Other expenses you might incur are Bingo, Lottery, Casino, Specialty Restaurant, Special coffee’s in the coffee bar, Non-alcoholic drinks, Spa & Beauty Salon, Cooking Classes, {Private Baby Sitting Services- other than the Club HAL (Children under 5 can participate in Club Hal as long as an Adult is with them), You also might consider tipping the Club HAL (Children’s Program) staff separately(Cash), Shopping on board, Art auctions & Medical expenses.(medical problem=you are expected to pay the Dr. & get reimbursed by your Travel Insurance Co when you return home)

 

All of the above, with the exception of Cash tips. are added to your account & charged to your Credit Card at the end of the cruise…

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise...

 

Good List. May I add a shoe shine. The cabin steward shined my shoes before the 1st formal night and I tipped him $10 for it.

 

The $10 is per person, not per cabin. That's $20 a day, per couple. We did the auto tip and didn't elect to remove it. I was upset with myself for not opting out and paying cash to those I wanted to get the money.

 

I was very happy with the cabin steward and staff and very disappointed with the dining room staff and would have prefered not to tip them at all and give it all to the cabin boy.

[peaches from georgia]

We did the auto tip and didn't elect to remove it. I was upset with myself for not opting out and paying cash to those I wanted to get the money.

 

I was very happy with the cabin steward and staff and very disappointed with the dining room staff and would have prefered not to tip them at all and give it all to the cabin boy.

There is NO way to only tip certain stewards and crew. If you opt out of the auto tip and give cash to only your cabin steward, for instance, he MUST turn all that cash you gave him into the tip pool and it will be split among those that get the auto tip.

 

If you keep the auto tip on your ship account then you can give EXTRA cash to whomever you wish and they may keep it all.

 

But there is NO way to tip and not have some of it shared. This has been thoroughly explained many times on CC, including right here on this very thread. It is impossible to do what you say you wish you had done.