Daily Service Charges are now officially out of hand

[chengkp75]

21 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

The current minimum is $1200 USD per month, which is very suitable considering the economic climate most of the workers come from. 

Not sure where this figure comes from, because the mandated minimum wage is $658/month, starting in Jan 2023.

[not-enough-cruising]

6 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Not sure where this figure comes from, because the mandated minimum wage is $658/month, starting in Jan 2023.

Hmm, i got the $1200 figure from one of your posts, you stated the "minimum wage for any sea farer from any nation working a minimum of 70 hours per week is about $1200 per month" - this was from a post in May

[Sea Viewer]

1 hour ago, PWP-001 said:

 

Deleted 

Edited December 9, 2022 by Sea Viewer

[chengkp75]

4 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Hmm, i got the $1200 figure from one of your posts, you stated the "minimum wage for any sea farer from any nation working a minimum of 70 hours per week is about $1200 per month" - this was from a post in May

The $1200 is for a 70 hour work week, but the minimum wage for a 40 hour week is $658.  Regardless of how many hours the worker works, the overtime is not guaranteed, and if the crew contract says that DSC makes up most of the salary, (say the "base wage" is contracted at $400/month), then the cruise line does not need to step in and make up the balance above the $658.  So, while the crew is contracted for $1200/month, it can vary from that down to the minimum, depending on how much DSC is removed.  Sorry if I confused you.  When you get a collective bargaining agreement involved, as nearly all crew have, you can get some really weird conditions.

[DirtyDawg]

STOP ALL THE WHINING!

 

RCL's auto gratuities might be going up...

RCL might cut back on second helpings of cheap lobster tails...

RCL might may cut cabin service back to once per day...

 

If you feel cruising life is so unfair sell your storey to an international streaming service and you'll be able to afford all these possible cost increases with that $100 million they pay you! 

😁

 

I just manged to wring $79.95 out of one of those streaming services for my storey.

Apparently, whining about whiners isn't a big of a sell. 😉 

[smokeybandit]

The people complaining are also the same people that rush to get the unlimited beverage and dining packages the same day they book their cruises.

[grapau27]

22 hours ago, beckyboo1986 said:

It's not a matter of being able to afford it, it's the principal for most.

 

We rarely tip in the UK. People get paid a suitable wage to perform their jobs. Just because that's not the case in other countries...

Personally I tip wherever we eat on land and in all speciality restaurants on board UK ships where tipping is not required plus our autogratuity on RCL.

I think a sensible gratuity amount is acceptable but everyone has to pay it.

It is unfair that some of us pay several hundred dollars auto gratuities while others can stop theirs at guest services when we all get a similar service.

 

[nelblu]

18 hours ago, njkruzer said:

The thing is Royal just raised gratuities effective September 7th.  Imho too soon for another increase. 

Also, if your e docs list the old rate and you prepay prior to cruise, one will pay the rate per the docs. 
 

Does this still apply. 
 

[lovesthebeach2]

3 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Personally I tip wherever we eat on land and in all speciality restaurants on board UK ships where tipping is not required plus our autogratuity on RCL.

I think a sensible gratuity amount is acceptable but everyone has to pay it.

It is unfair that some of us pay several hundred dollars auto gratuities while others can stop theirs at guest services when we all get a similar service.

 

We have always paid the auto gratuity (service charge) and always tip extra for bar drinks, room steward, servers, etc. If people remove the auto gratuity but then tip in cash to those that provide good service, how does that affect me or you?  Maybe I’m missing something?

 

[Donsyb]

20 hours ago, Guinness1000 said:

What is a suitable wage? A US annual wage of $60k? Indian average of less than $3k? I don't think they will ever pay some of these workers similar wages across the board. It would be interesting to know though how much they pay a crew member from India vs any European country for a similar position.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a European doing the lower paid jobs that e.g an Indian does in a ship, such as staterooom attendant, waiter or bartender. Europeans tend to be in roles such as casino host, retail shops or entertainment, which I would think pay more.

[lovesthebeach2]

If someone removes the auto gratuity, but then gives cash tips to those that they received good service, how is that bad?
The reasoning seems to be that the tips are shared with those in the back like the cooks, dishwashers, laundry crew, etc.

 

So for example, when we stay in a hotel, or go to a restaurant, we don’t go into the kitchen and tip the dishwasher, or prep chef. We don’t go into the laundry of a hotel and tip those that wash the sheets and towels. 
 

Im curious how is it bad to remove the auto gratuity and instead tip Individually to those that deserve it? If they choose to share their tip with those that help them in the back, then  should that be their responsibility?

 

 

[Engineroom Snipe]

38 minutes ago, DirtyDawg said:

I just manged to wring $79.95 out of one of those streaming services for my storey.

Apparently,

 

You scored big time! They wanted me to buy a subscription before I could even post. 🙃

[Joseph2017China]

14 hours ago, ckmommy said:

FWIW--my son is in Basic Combat Training for the Army.  He is being paid $1400 per month.  He also gets his room and board  included.  Just thought is was ironic the minimum for a cruise line crew member is just about what a US Army member makes.

As for the increase in tips per day, if you are against it, pay in cash to who ever you want.  Tipping is personal and so is everyone's experience. Personally, I rarely (even on vacation) have cash, so I pay for the tips prior to getting on the ship.  

Military pay is a monthly pay, plus a housing allowance pay, and a food allowance pay.  So the actual pay is not $1,400 if you want to compare it to other private pay.  You must add all of them up.  Also, most people have fringe benefits, that are also included in pay, but in the military, it is paid for and it the best for any private industry.  

 

You can't compare the pay for a crew member to the army, and most important, to USA salary ranges either.  For many of the crew, they are making more than if they worked at home, and they are happily doing it. 

[lovesthebeach2]

57 minutes ago, Joseph2017China said:

Military pay is a monthly pay, plus a housing allowance pay, and a food allowance pay.  So the actual pay is not $1,400 if you want to compare it to other private pay.  You must add all of them up.  Also, most people have fringe benefits, that are also included in pay, but in the military, it is paid for and it the best for any private industry.  

 

You can't compare the pay for a crew member to the army, and most important, to USA salary ranges either.  For many of the crew, they are making more than if they worked at home, and they are happily doing it. 

And that’s the reason they love working on cruises. I’ve heard that from many of the crew. They can’t make that kind of money at home

[footzz]

I have some doubts as whether all the crew actually turns over their cash tips into a pool. This is solely based on my observations of their reaction(s) and the swift manner in which a neatly folded up bill goes into their pocket when I discretely 'palm' them a tip. It was meant for them, and them only.

[swoopy2110]

Wish they'd just include the gratuities in the base cruise fare.

[cruiseboy89130]

If you don't like it - just remove it! Just takes a phone call to GS!

 

[Longford]

On 12/8/2022 at 9:24 AM, ARandomTraveler said:

We Americans have a knack for expecting a lot of things without having to pay for them in any way. 

 Speak for your apparent behavior, not that of others.  😇

[Longford]

1 hour ago, Joseph2017China said:

Military pay is a monthly pay, plus a housing allowance pay, and a food allowance pay.  So the actual pay is not $1,400 if you want to compare it to other private pay.  You must add all of them up.  Also, most people have fringe benefits, that are also included in pay, but in the military, it is paid for and it the best for any private industry.  

I'm not so certain the families of active duty military who depend on food stamps think they're being treated so well.

[njkate]

47 minutes ago, swoopy2110 said:

Wish they'd just include the gratuities in the base cruise fare.

Then it would be taxed as well

[Longford]

2 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

If someone removes the auto gratuity, but then gives cash tips to those that they received good service, how is that bad?
The reasoning seems to be that the tips are shared with those in the back like the cooks, dishwashers, laundry crew, etc.

 

I subscribe to the belief that gratuities are not to be provided as a way to relieve an employer of the obligation to pay a fair wage to employees, and appropriate only for service rendered by an individual above and beyond what the employee's job description requires.  

[Longford]

2 hours ago, grapau27 said:

It is unfair that some of us pay several hundred dollars auto gratuities while others can stop theirs at guest services when we all get a similar service.

I don't think everyone receives the same service, no matter the service business - cruise ship or land base businesses.  Automatic gratuities can remove an incentive to go that "extra mile" for a guest.  I've seen that happen, as one example, at a cruise ship bar where a long pour was guaranteed when I cash-tipped the bartender.  🍸

 

 

[livingonthebeach]

I view the auto grats as the most opaque daily charge existing on the high seas. Does anyone know with certainty how much or what percentage the cook, dishwasher, cabin steward, waiter, etc. get?

 

To me this added charge reeks of junk fees or in other words unfair or deceptive fees that are charged for services to the consumer so the base cruise fare looks lower than it actually is. For this reason I refuse to pay it and bring lots of cash to give directly to those I deem worthy of a tip. 

 

For those who insist that the crew gets notice of who removed their auto grats, please tell me how. 

 

[njkruzer]

2 hours ago, nelblu said:

Also, if your e docs list the old rate and you prepay prior to cruise, one will pay the rate per the docs. 
 

Does this still apply. 
 

That's what our edocs say. We plan on doing that for our January cruise. 

 

Btw we usually tip room attendant,  waiter, assistant waiter extra. We also tip bar waiters in diamond lounge and elsewhere for our free drinks.

Edited December 9, 2022 by njkruzer

[nelblu]

Maybe Royal in addition of T&F a gratuity line of a % of the fare thst cannot be removed aka T&F.