Tipping On Holland America

[Dodger Blue]

I'm considering a cruise on Holland America next spring. I've typically cruised on Princess but have heard very good things about HAL. I do have one question I would like to have answered though. I recently found out that on Princess the tips that are given to individuals at the end of the cruise (these are those given in addition to the 10% automatic tips) are put in a pool and distributed to all of the staff. This negates the rewarding of the individual you choose to give the tip to. Is this the case on HAL? Thanks for you help.

[pms4104]

My understanding of HAL's policy: if one leaves the Hotel Service Charge intact on one's account, crew/staff receiving additional tips will be able to keep the entire amount; if one removes or adjusts down the service charge, crew/staff are required to turn in any tips they receive ... those monies are pooled and distributed to all crew/staff sharing in the pool.

[twinkletoes4445]

If you leave your automatic tips in place (I think it's $11 per person per day), then anything extra you give remains with that person. If you take your automatic tips off or adjust them down, then everything they are given goes into a pool.

[noblepa]

If you leave your automatic tips in place (I think it's $11 per person per day), then anything extra you give remains with that person. If you take your automatic tips off or adjust them down, then everything they are given goes into a pool.

 

I certainly may be wrong, but it is my understanding that this is pretty much the way tipping is handled on all CCL-owned lines, including Princess, Carnival and HAL.

 

Paul

[iflyrc5]

At the disembarkation talk last week on the Prinsendam the cruise director said that of the $11 per day per person hotel charge that 70% goes to our dining stewards and room stewards and 30% goes to a pool for the behind the scenes people. The 15% tip that is added to drink charges goes directly to the person serving the beverage.

[twinkletoes4445]

I certainly may be wrong, but it is my understanding that this is pretty much the way tipping is handled on all CCL-owned lines, including Princess, Carnival and HAL.

 

Paul

 

 

That's good to know. We've only cruised Carnival and HAL, and this was my understanding of how the tips and extra tips are dealt with. So it makes sense that Princess would do the same thing. Thanks for posting this info. :)

[twinkletoes4445]

At the disembarkation talk last week on the Prinsendam the cruise director said that of the $11 per day per person hotel charge that 70% goes to our dining stewards and room stewards and 30% goes to a pool for the behind the scenes people. The 15% tip that is added to drink charges goes directly to the person serving the beverage.

 

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure what the breakdown was on the $11. And I also didn't know about the 15% tip...so thank you. :)

[Dodger Blue]

First, thank you all for your comment. What I don't understand, however, is how can HAL, or any cruise line for that matter, tell if you've not adjusted your automatic tipping schedule. In other words, at least on Princess, I've not placed any kind of personal identification on the envelope that I've handed to staff that I've chosen to reward. So how would they identify or match the envelope to my shipboard account? Consequently, it doesn't seem that that system would work.

 

On the Princess community, I read the following which is said to have come from Princess directly:

 

'You have inquired as to what happens to gratuities which are handed to staff members by passengers. I have inquired concerning this issue and have learned that staff members who receive gratuities handed to them by passengers are required to turn them in and they become part of a gratuity pool which is disbursed to the employees who are eligible to receive gratuities.

 

Specialist, Customer Relations'

 

 

So, I'm still confused. I simply don't want to hand out money to people that won't be able to keep it.

[Susie51]

On my 12-13 Oosterdam cruise I asked at the front desk about giving an extra tip for especially good service and she told me to give it to the waiter in an envelope marked for him. I hope Rudy gets to keep the extra tip. He was fantastic.

[Nancyquilts]

 

On the Princess community, I read the following which is said to have come from Princess directly:

 

'You have inquired as to what happens to gratuities which are handed to staff members by passengers. I have inquired concerning this issue and have learned that staff members who receive gratuities handed to them by passengers are required to turn them in and they become part of a gratuity pool which is disbursed to the employees who are eligible to receive gratuities.

 

Specialist, Customer Relations'

 

So, I'm still confused. I simply don't want to hand out money to people that won't be able to keep it.

This would be quite disturbing. :eek: I always thought that if you left the automatic charge on, the person receiving the tip would be able to keep it. If not, there isn't much incentive to tip beyond the regular amount. Let's hear from some more ccers.

[RuthC]

how can HAL, or any cruise line for that matter, tell if you've not adjusted your automatic tipping schedule. In other words, at least on Princess, I've not placed any kind of personal identification on the envelope that I've handed to staff that I've chosen to reward. So how would they identify or match the envelope to my shipboard account?

The Front Office makes available to staff, via the chain of command, which cabins have reduced/removed the service charge. Those cabin and dining stewards are notified. They are then obliged to turn in any and all cash given to them by passengers in those cabins. Failure to do so could mean loss of job.

Peer pressure can be brought to those who don't live up to that obligation.

[Susie51]

We used room service frequently on this past cruise. Do the people who bring our trays to us get to keep their tips?

[seaisme]

The Front Office makes available to staff, via the chain of command, which cabins have reduced/removed the service charge. Those cabin and dining stewards are notified. They are then obliged to turn in any and all cash given to them by passengers in those cabins. Failure to do so could mean loss of job.

Peer pressure can be brought to those who don't live up to that obligation.

but what if you eat in the Pinnacle Grill each evening? doesn't seem fair that our cabin steward would not get to keep his tip. We tip nightly in the Pinnacle Grill.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On a cruise last spring we were surprised to learn that the wine card we bought through our wine steward -- he did not get the full 15% tip. He actually had to go to the Ocean Bar to get the card!! First that has ever happened. So we asked him about what that 15% tip from the sell of the card actually goes -- he told us that the tip went into a pool for the wine steards and bar staff and was divided up. It sure wasn't like that months ago when the wine cards first appeared.

Does anyone have new imformation on this?

[Krazy Kruizers]

but what if you eat in the Pinnacle Grill each evening? doesn't seem fair that our cabin steward would not get to keep his tip. We tip nightly in the Pinnacle Grill.

 

I gather that you wish to remove some of the auto tip because you will be dining in the Pinnacle each evening??

If that is the case, you can go to the Front Office and fill out the form and ask for the tip portion that would normally go to the dining room wait staff be removed. But you should ask the Front Office if any portion of that auto tip goes to the Pinnacle staff-- if they answer "yes" -- then you may have a problem as they may notifiy the Pinnacle Staff and they in turn will have to turn in those tips you give them to the front office. There has been a lot of discussion about whether or not the Pinnacle Staff does get a portion of the auto tips -- some people at one point indicated that they were considered part of the "behind the scenes crew" (which makes no sense to me). The rules keep changing.

 

Just a question -- do you ever use the dining room room or the Lido for breakfast and lunch? If so -- are you aware that some of the dining room staff work in the Lido at various times? If you do use the Lido and dining room for breakfast/lunch, then you might want to reconsider taking off that portion of the auto tips.

[RuthC]

but what if you eat in the Pinnacle Grill each evening? doesn't seem fair that our cabin steward would not get to keep his tip. We tip nightly in the Pinnacle Grill.

Things in life don't always meet our definition of "fair". The practice is what it is.

[twinkletoes4445]

We used room service frequently on this past cruise. Do the people who bring our trays to us get to keep their tips?

 

I would think they do, but I am not for sure. Good question though...and I hope someone comes along that knows the answer.

[hammybee]

According to that poster (known to many on this board) with more than 30 years of onboard ship employment, pooling of tips has been going on for 50 years. We, as passengers were just not aware of it.

 

The Hotel Service charge allowed the cruise lines to guarantee a minimum of income for those employees within the pool.

 

According to this source, the crew determines how tips are allocated and job /location rotations are the norm.

[Dodger Blue]

I can understand how they can tell if a cabin steward was eliminated from automatic tipping, but how can they tell if I hand a waiter (if I don't have a fixed seating), the Maitre D, a bartender, or anyone else an unmarked envelope?

[GS99]

During our recent disembarkation talk on the Noordam, Drew Murdock, the Cruise Director, stated that the tipping policy and procedure was what it was as that is how the staff wanted it and how they had voted on it.

 

I found that curious and since returning home did some research. It appears the cabin and dining and wine stewards are unionized. One would hardly think so from the hours they work but this quote:

 

"Due to labor agreements between the ship-owning companies and unions in Holland, Indonesia and the Philippines, most of our crew positions (including the majority of service staff personnel) are limited to members of these unions."

 

comes from here:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/about-best-cruise-lines/Main.action?tabName=Jobs

 

Looking through the rest of the on board job position descriptions found around there was equally fascinating.

 

GS

[unavox]

We leave the auto tip on and

 

Any additional tip we give the cabin steward and wait staff they can keep as long as they are cash?

 

When you sign for a drink the tip goes directly to the server.

 

So for truly excellent service.......leave the auto tip on & tip cash to those giving great service all during the cruise.

 

Also, as far as the PG goes, I know on RCL that the money you paid to go the the specialty restaurant was actually the tip for the staff. Guess it is different on CCL.

[twinkletoes4445]

According to that poster (known to many on this board) with more than 30 years of onboard ship employment, pooling of tips has been going on for 50 years. We, as passengers were just not aware of it.

 

The Hotel Service charge allowed the cruise lines to guarantee a minimum of income for those employees within the pool.

 

According to this source, the crew determines how tips are allocated and job /location rotations are the norm.

 

So if I leave my auto tip in place, and I give extra to various people, they can keep that money and do with it as they please (be it give it to others or put it in a pool)? I don't really care what they do with it after I give it to them, as long as it's up to them.

 

I tip various people in my life for services I receive. I wouldn't want my hairdresser to be forced to hand over any extra tips she receives, but on the other hand, if she wants to put the money in a pool or give part to her helper, then that's up to her.

[hammybee]

I found that curious and since returning home did some research. It appears the cabin and dining and wine stewards are unionized. One would hardly think so from the hours they work .....GS

 

 

There are unions all over the world, for all kinds of jobs, including many of those former U.S. jobs that have been outsourced, because most of us are no longer willing to pay a premium to U.S. union employees.

 

Benefits of such jobs vary by job, location and union.

[Dodger Blue]

Twinkletoes, I think you are incorrect. What I have surmised from all of the discussion is that all tipping goes into a pool...period. That is whether you leave the auto-tipping on or not. That doesn't mean that someone doesn't stick the money in their pocket, but there are probably dire ramifications if caught, both by the cruise line and the Union...or the co-workers!

 

I've taked to others who say the best reward for extra service is to write a comment card on an individual.

[hammybee]

So if I leave my auto tip in place, and I give extra to various people, they can keep that money and do with it as they please (be it give it to others or put it in a pool)? I don't really care what they do with it after I give it to them, as long as it's up to them.

 

I tip various people in my life for services I receive. I wouldn't want my hairdresser to be forced to hand over any extra tips she receives, but on the other hand, if she wants to put the money in a pool or give part to her helper, then that's up to her.

 

Pooling tips and/or "tipping out" is common in those professions dependent upon tips, for income. Employees know this walking into the job. I like that HAL employees collectively decide how tips are allocated, which is far better than what happens at most land-based places. I also like that crew are continuously rotated so that all have an equal shot at impressing those passengers who are inclined to tip more, with service and attention.