Gratuity breakdown?

[sparks1093]

33 minutes ago, rellersi said:

so basically what I have read here is that even if I leave the prepaid/auto gratuities in place, and I like my room steward so much that I tip him extra, he needs to turn that in top be shared?? whats the point to the extra tip? and how do we let him know that he did a wonderful job?

"On most cruise lines if an employee receives a cash tip over and above the autograts they are allowed to keep that..."

[BlerkOne]

28 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

There's so much doublespeak and gaslighting on this thread and people quoting policies of other cruise lines (nothing to do with Carnival) it's impossible to know. I don't believe anything being reported here as gospel. All we can do is what makes sense to us because nobody here truly knows how the tips are distributed no matter how matter of factly the speak, that much is certain.

 

Leaving a good review and mentioning a crew member by name on your comment card is very helpful to them, I know that. And that costs you nothing but a moment of your time when you get home and receive a comment card email from Carnival.

It is well established that cruise lines keep NONE of the gratuities, despite the conspiracy theories by some. It would have to be reported on their financial statements among other things.

 

Cruise lines have more in common than different and that includes gratuities, so yes, other cruise line policies are appropriate to discuss. Especially those under the Carnival umbrella.

[sparks1093]

33 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

There's so much doublespeak and gaslighting on this thread and people quoting policies of other cruise lines (nothing to do with Carnival) it's impossible to know. I don't believe anything being reported here as gospel. All we can do is what makes sense to us because nobody here truly knows how the tips are distributed no matter how matter of factly the speak, that much is certain.

 

Leaving a good review and mentioning a crew member by name on your comment card is very helpful to them, I know that. And that costs you nothing but a moment of your time when you get home and receive a comment card email from Carnival.

I'm not even sure what gaslighting is and if I did do that I do apologize. How do you know what you posted in your last paragraph? Probably because you either read it on this board or a crew member onboard told you that. That's how most of us know about tipping. Also, what one line does is very likely very similar to how it's handled on another line, there are only so many ways tips can be handled. I used to work for tips and I used to work onboard ship, so I have an affinity for these workers and I will always advocate that people do right by them. But I can only control what I do, and for the most part I do respect what others do (or what they say they do in any event)- as long as they aren't removing the autograts and leaving nothing in its place. I know that you don't do that but some people do.

Edited February 8, 2023 by sparks1093

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

 

NCL has even changed the name to service charge, and some people still don't get it.

 

 

 

 

NCL has actually changed the name to DSC,  Discretionary Service Charge.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, rellersi said:

so basically what I have read here is that even if I leave the prepaid/auto gratuities in place, and I like my room steward so much that I tip him extra, he needs to turn that in top be shared?? whats the point to the extra tip? and how do we let him know that he did a wonderful job?

No, they get to keep anything if the auto tips are paid in full.  

[Elaine5715]

58 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

There's so much doublespeak and gaslighting on this thread and people quoting policies of other cruise lines (nothing to do with Carnival) it's impossible to know. I don't believe anything being reported here as gospel. All we can do is what makes sense to us because nobody here truly knows how the tips are distributed no matter how matter of factly the speak, that much is certain.

 

Leaving a good review and mentioning a crew member by name on your comment card is very helpful to them, I know that. And that costs you nothing but a moment of your time when you get home and receive a comment card email from Carnival.

Princess is a CCL line.  Practices are the same.  

[Guest BasicSailor]

Reading this thread makes me realize how many people actually read the post here. 

I read here every day, but others not so much.

I mean it's obvious being the same few reposting over and over again trying to press their point of view.

I really don't think most people care what our opinion is on gratuities. They're going to do whatever they like, regardless of our views here.

[sparks1093]

3 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

I have personally walked down "I-95" on the Carnival Ecstasy (God rest her soul) and seen guest comment cards pinned to cork boards, and while walking past had the HR manager tell me that these comments directly contribute to crew promotions, bonus time off, etc. That has been told again by JH on Facebook and I have heard the same from casino hosts and cruise directors on every Carnival ship I've been on for years.

 

My point is I didn't read somebody post something about comment cards on Princess, then apply that to Carnival and then try to tell everybody that's how it is on Carnival as @Elaine5715 has done on this thread. (Sorry to name names but I'm sick of it). This will be my last comment on this thread because it's past the point of the ridiculous.

And many folks on here have had similar experiences with discussing tipping practices with senior crew. I credit their input just as I credit yours.

[sparks1093]

1 minute ago, BasicSailor said:

Reading this thread makes me realize how many people actually read the post here. 

I read here every day, but others not so much.

I mean it's obvious being the same few reposting over and over again trying to press their point of view.

I really don't think most people care what our opinion is on gratuities. They're going to do whatever they like, regardless of our views here.

The only reason that I participate in these discussions is so that both sides of the issue are as fairly presented as possible so any newbies following along can make up their own mind. I fully recognize that I will not change anyone else's mind who already has it made up.

[scoobysnacks70]

On 2/1/2023 at 1:04 PM, audcc77 said:

I believe I read somewhere that you’re allowed to move your grats around from one destination to another.  
 

I told my cabin steward yesterday that I’ve never removed my tips ever but I was thinking of doing it this time, and which would she like best. I told her that in the past, I didn’t mind tipping people I didn’t see because the amount was nominal.  However, they keep raising tips and it’s no longer nominal.  I don’t have a problem with increasing my tips to the people I come into contact with.  
 

She said they’re not allowed to say which way they prefer.  

I’m thinking of going back to the old days and just spread the tips to the cabin steward and dining room and be done with it.  
 

 

I think if you do it manually and hand out cash (which I'm sure the staff would love!) then you would have to go have them removed since they automatically charge...I always pay mine ahead of time just so it's out of the way.  We give a little extra at the dining room and to the steward

[WKUTopperFan]

I always prepay my gratuities just to keep that charge from showing up on my account at weeks end (Lord knows its big enough from the damage I do in the casino). After reading this thread I feel like I now need to tell crew that I prepaid my gratuities when I tip them which I think is tacky so they know they can keep their tip. I always hand my room steward a twenty when I meet him/her as I have a couple special requests (ice, extra washcloths). I also usually leave a five on my pillow daily for the cabin steward for when he comes to make up my suite (I assume this is split with the assistant???). The thought that these cash tips are going into a pool after reading this thread makes me angry... I prepay my gratuities with the understanding that goes into a pool but my cash tips I intend to go to the person providing me service. At weeks end I leave a card and another piece of money for my cabin steward based on the service I've been provided. I sure hope that my stewards have been getting to keep that money over the years. 

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, WKUTopperFan said:

I always prepay my gratuities just to keep that charge from showing up on my account at weeks end (Lord knows its big enough from the damage I do in the casino). After reading this thread I feel like I now need to tell crew that I prepaid my gratuities when I tip them which I think is tacky so they know they can keep their tip. I always hand my room steward a twenty when I meet him/her as I have a couple special requests (ice, extra washcloths). I also usually leave a five on my pillow daily for the cabin steward for when he comes to make up my suite (I assume this is split with the assistant???). The thought that these cash tips are going into a pool after reading this thread makes me angry... I prepay my gratuities with the understanding that goes into a pool but my cash tips I intend to go to the person providing me service. At weeks end I leave a card and another piece of money for my cabin steward based on the service I've been provided. I sure hope that my stewards have been getting to keep that money over the years. 

As already stated, the crew knows who prepaid, who paid onboard and who didn't.   The cash tips when auto tips are paid, stay with the crew member.  

[sparks1093]

6 hours ago, WKUTopperFan said:

I always prepay my gratuities just to keep that charge from showing up on my account at weeks end (Lord knows its big enough from the damage I do in the casino). After reading this thread I feel like I now need to tell crew that I prepaid my gratuities when I tip them which I think is tacky so they know they can keep their tip. I always hand my room steward a twenty when I meet him/her as I have a couple special requests (ice, extra washcloths). I also usually leave a five on my pillow daily for the cabin steward for when he comes to make up my suite (I assume this is split with the assistant???). The thought that these cash tips are going into a pool after reading this thread makes me angry... I prepay my gratuities with the understanding that goes into a pool but my cash tips I intend to go to the person providing me service. At weeks end I leave a card and another piece of money for my cabin steward based on the service I've been provided. I sure hope that my stewards have been getting to keep that money over the years. 

Even if this is true (and it isn't, as has been said many times) it does emphasize the point that once you've left the tip, in any establishment even ashore, you have no say or control over what happens to it. If the establishment does pool all tips you can't hand a server a $20 with a wink and say "this is just for you" and expect that they will keep it to themselves. I usually leave extra for our waitstaff and steward, and then I don't worry about what happens to it since it is beyond my control. 

[simplelife]

On 2/1/2023 at 11:11 AM, asalligo said:

This was the reported breakdown when it was 12.95. 

 

Housekeeping Team: $4.05 ($5.05 for suites)

Dining Team: $6.40

Alternative Services: $2.50

 

Lots of rumors about Carnival taking a cut in this latest raise. Not that those rumors are new.

According to Carnival's website as posted above. 100& is going to staff.

[simplelife]

On 2/8/2023 at 9:25 AM, audcc77 said:

Wow, Elaine.  I didn’t realize how much I don’t do on my cruises until you’ve listed them here.    😳.  
Although I do eat in the lido.  
 

No worries for now.  I left my tips in place, but the jury is still out on whether I will in the future.  
 

It still has not been answered: Who paid the mystery people behind the scenes when people cruised in the 1980s and you only tipped 2 people, the dining room & cabin and let THEM pass out tips to their helpers?   

You answered your question yourself. Those you paid, paid them.

 

[resetjet]

Crew employees not staff,  are offered a monthly guarantee.  That consists of a small stipend plus tips. So for example  a $1200 per month crew member looks something like this $200 salary + $800 tips + $200 tip shortage paid by ccl = $1200.  Any additional trackable tips you give just saves ccl money and does not benefit the crew member.  Giving an employee cash,  he can then determine if he wants to turn it in or send it home.  

[sparks1093]

5 hours ago, resetjet said:

Crew employees not staff,  are offered a monthly guarantee.  That consists of a small stipend plus tips. So for example  a $1200 per month crew member looks something like this $200 salary + $800 tips + $200 tip shortage paid by ccl = $1200.  Any additional trackable tips you give just saves ccl money and does not benefit the crew member.  Giving an employee cash,  he can then determine if he wants to turn it in or send it home.  

Except the tips are pooled so your calculations don't work. And even if this were the case, your bolded statement is wrong because it would only apply if there were a tip shortage, which likely wouldn't happen often enough to be a concern, so leaving an additional trackable tip would benefit the crew member much more often than not.

[skridge]

People that remove tips are lower than whale feces.

[linbobky]

People here are gripping because the tips are $16 dollars a day. I think it is worth it. we have been going on ncl for some time now. They up their tips $20 a day! we are suppose to go on a 14 day cruise next February. Go figure that up. I might cancell that one and go back to carnival.

[justafem]

[resetjet]

3 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Except the tips are pooled so your calculations don't work. And even if this were the case, your bolded statement is wrong because it would only apply if there were a tip shortage, which likely wouldn't happen often enough to be a concern, so leaving an additional trackable tip would benefit the crew member much more often than not.

There is always a shortage.  All of the CREW members now share in the tips.  Your gratuity goes to pay 75% of the crew   Members(not staff). Salaries.  This was wrong from the get go.  From the breakdown above do you really think the state room steward gets near $3000 a week cleaning 35 rooms?  No he makes about $300-$500 a week.  Now you get half the room cleaning for the same price and the poor steward has twice the work.  You can believe whatever you want,  but additional tips in cash is the best way.  

Edited February 13, 2023 by resetjet

[sparks1093]

12 minutes ago, resetjet said:

There is always a shortage.  All of the CREW members now share in the tips.  Your gratuity goes to pay 75% of the crew   Members(not staff). Salaries.  This was wrong from the get go.  From the breakdown above do you really think the state room steward gets near $3000 a week cleaning 35 rooms?  No he makes about $300-$500 a week.  Now you get half the room cleaning for the same price and the poor steward has twice the work.  You can believe whatever you want,  but additional tips in cash is the best way.  

The tips don't stretch as far as some believe and they are paid to the traditionally tipped or tipped out crew members. Yes, I agree, giving additional tips in cash is a good approach but that is over and above what is paid with the auto gratuities. 

[BobbiSox]

When a tip is mandatory, it's no longer a tip, IMO; it's a fee. I worked for tips all through school, and no one was obligated to tip me in those days. I got lots of tips because I did my job well and went the extra mile. Is that the case today? Not that I've noticed. I feel happy just to get a clean table and a wait person who has on a clean shirt. 

[sparks1093]

41 minutes ago, BobbiSox said:

When a tip is mandatory, it's no longer a tip, IMO; it's a fee. I worked for tips all through school, and no one was obligated to tip me in those days. I got lots of tips because I did my job well and went the extra mile. Is that the case today? Not that I've noticed. I feel happy just to get a clean table and a wait person who has on a clean shirt. 

It doesn't matter to me what it's called, it's how the hardworking crew is compensated and that is all that I need to know.

[daisyduke23]

If they kept the same % as before and the current is 16.00 a day per guest

 

It would be:

 

Housekeeping = 5.00  (31.27%)

Dinning            = 7.91  (49.42%)

Alternative Ser = 3.09  (19.31%)

 

Hope this helps