Gratuity question.

[thefog]

i know they put this on our bill right off the bat,just wondering if we can squash that upfront payment and give tips for who we want too?

[Biker19]

9 minutes ago, thefog said:

i know they put this on our bill right off the bat, just wondering if we can squash that upfront payment and give tips for who we want too?

Sure.

[Norwich Cruiser]

If you go to guest services they will remove them for you.

[Husky1987]

Amazing that this has never been discussed on CC before.  Thanks for someone finally asking the question!

[taglovestocruise]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Sure.

Curious as to who you would leave out..

[Biker19]

7 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Curious as to who you would leave out..

Biker just answers the question and usually doesn’t post personal habits, certainly not about tipping. 

[dada2199cc]

🍿 

[Jam0610]

9 hours ago, Husky1987 said:

Amazing that this has never been discussed on CC before.  Thanks for someone finally asking the question!

Agree. Really hope someday tips are just included in the cruise price. We always pay with final payment. One less item to worry over.

 

GO COUGS...

[dada2199cc]

12 minutes ago, Jam0610 said:

Agree. Really hope someday tips are just included in the cruise price. We always pay with final payment. One less item to worry over.

...

 

this is a horrible idea because then your TA and other middlemen will get a commission on top of it so the prices will go way up.

[time4u2go]

12 hours ago, thefog said:

i know they put this on our bill right off the bat,just wondering if we can squash that upfront payment and give tips for who we want too?

Absolutely. 

[crazyank]

1 hour ago, Jam0610 said:

Really hope someday tips are just included in the cruise price.

Absolutely not

[mattg43]

$16 per day per person is a great bargain for 3 meals and all the in-between service received.  People who don't want to tip that minimal amount should just stay home.

[Tree_skier]

5 hours ago, dada2199cc said:

 

this is a horrible idea because then your TA and other middlemen will get a commission on top of it so the prices will go way up.

TA's don't get commission off prepaid tips or taxes and fees.  Their commission is based off of fare paid.

[Cigar King]

5 hours ago, dada2199cc said:

this is a horrible idea because then your TA and other middlemen will get a commission on top of it so the prices will go way up.

I hear what you are saying, but even if it's true the ++ on say $250.00 is what?  Perhaps another $40.00?  In the whole scheme of cruise costs, it is not worth worrying about.

[dada2199cc]

1 minute ago, Cigar King said:

I hear what you are saying, but even if it's true the ++ on say $250.00 is what?  Perhaps another $40.00?  In the whole scheme of cruise costs, it is not worth worrying about.

While this is true, the majority of cruises are sold through a TA.  Also refer to the article I mentioned about.

 

If one cruise line increases fares by say $250-$300 per cruise, it makes them less competitive.

 

The majority of cruisers may use rewards programs but aren’t loyal to one.  That $150/pp price hike on travel search engines x a family of 4 will 100% reduce bookings and profits for any line that attempts this.

[FamilyCruiserUK]

Just to answer the question.

Yes you can.

 

Go to guest services and ask them to remove the graturities. They will have staff queue busting by walking along the queue taking room numbers of people wishing to remove the tips. Saves having to queue for ages. You can also ask for envelops at the same time to leave tips at end of the cruise. 

 

No one elses Opinion is needed or wanted.

Have a great cruise. 👍

 

Edited December 28, 2022 by FamilyCruiserUK

[DallasGuy75219]

On 12/24/2022 at 6:18 AM, dada2199cc said:

 

this is a horrible idea because then your TA and other middlemen will get a commission on top of it so the prices will go way up.

No.  The cruiselines would add gratuities as a separate mandatory but non-commissionable cost, just like taxes and port fees, expressly to avoid having to pay commissions on them.

[CruisingWalter]

On 12/24/2022 at 7:18 AM, dada2199cc said:

 

this is a horrible idea because then your TA and other middlemen will get a commission on top of it so the prices will go way up.

 

Nope, gratuities are not included in TA commission. They're part of the NFC for a cruise. It makes no difference if they are included or not. Virgin Voyages includes the tips in all of their fares, it makes no difference for the commission rate for a TA. Virgin's prices are well in line for the services and food they provide and it's one less thing to worry about on the cruise. 

[springfire]

5 hours ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

Just to answer the question.

Yes you can.

 

Go to guest services and ask them to remove the graturities. They will have staff queue busting by walking along the queue taking room numbers of people wishing to remove the tips. Saves having to queue for ages. You can also ask for envelops at the same time to leave tips at end of the cruise.

 

Great answer to the actual question 👏 

[Sophie75]

If I decide to tip cash in envelopes, does anyone know the breakdown of what each member would get?  For example, does the Maitre D' get the same amount as the waiter and the cabin steward?

 

[Joseph2017China]

Oh no, tipping again, and again and again.

 

Simply put, if you prepay, the ship distributes the tips.  If you don't prepay, and if you give nothing, or more it does not matter because each tipped employee has a mathematical formula in their paycheck that states how much pay they should get.  if they get cash tips over that amount, they keep it.  Anything else, they put into the tip pool. If for whatever reason, they don't make the necessary amount to put in, they may not be working long.  So, don't mess with the people, it's not that much.  Let the system work, it is not our business to decide if it is right or wrong. 

[time4u2go]

12 minutes ago, Sophie75 said:

If I decide to tip cash in envelopes, does anyone know the breakdown of what each member would get?  For example, does the Maitre D' get the same amount as the waiter and the cabin steward?

 

They haven't published the breakdown in several years.

[neverbeenhere]

If you tip using envelopes, you give every person you want to tip an envelope. There is no "breakdown" necessary.

[springfire]

4 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

If you tip using envelopes, you give every person you want to tip an envelope. There is no "breakdown" necessary.

Exactly 💯 

[Morecruisesplz]

18 hours ago, springfire said:

Exactly 💯 

Headwaiter shouldn't receive same as server, so yes, at least a % breakdown is helpful.