Please Don't Crusify Me, But Where Does NCL States This...

[kevloe]

Interesting thread!

I agree with most of the comments. I want to add that I suspect the tips are pretty important to the cruise staff. I understand that that they don't make a huge amount of money, and we all know they work hard for what they get. I figure -- most of the time -- they've earned their tips. Also, my cruise experience is highly influenced by the staff, how they're doing their jobs, and how they're interacting with passengers (that last bit is 99% positive for me). So, I see tipping as just a part of the cost of cruising, and that would be in addition to the daily service charge.

[jimswims]

Thank you for all the good replies! I agree with the common sense approach to tipping and also, "getting it from the horse's mouth." I feel that Don Haynes gets the real reason for this post. There is too much fiction here on Cruise Critic. I know this is an opinion based board. but as someone new to NCL, there is too much conflicting opinion on these posts being touted as "Fact." As seen in this thread, the list of employees who "are not part of the tip pool" keeps growing. I have yet to hear about the casino workers. If what some say is true, then they would also be excluded. Do you see why I would like some clarification from NCL, not just the opinions here on the board.

 

Thank you

 

I can only speak for myself when I post information. I respond with what my experience is or was. This is through actual account or the act of asking the proper people who know or have reason to know. I recognize that perception enters into every person's account of an event. It is unavoidable.

 

The definition of fiction is:

 

Definitions of fiction on the Web:

• a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
  
• fabrication: a deliberately false or improbable account
  

I do not believe that most posters on CC portray a deliberately false or improbable account. I think that most people share information with the best intentions.

[flashdog_1]

These same issues are discussed on other cruise line boards of cruise critic. Other than these little tidbits about Princess adding $3 to the account for room service, pretty much on all mainstream, not all inclusive, cruise lines you will tip the room service employee if he/she hangs around long enough. I've found they rush off and are not standing there with their hands out. So if you ARE going to tip them, have your tip ready, not in your pocket, but right there on a table or sofa etc.

 

Another group of people who you don't tip, and do not work for NCL or any cruise line they work on, are the security people and sales people in the shops, and are not included in the DSC.

[hat776]

Does any one know if the cleaning staff are included in the DSC ?

If you tip for Room Service , do they keep the tip or does it go in the DSC pool to be shared out ?

[sc425]

the casino is owned by "casino at sea", not NCL..therefore, their employees/dealers are paid by them, not NCL. since they don't work for NCL they are not part of the DSC.

the spa is own by Manadera, all the spa workers work for Manadera..not NCL. since they don't work for NCL, they are not part of the DSC.

same with the photographers, they work for a company that lease the space from NCL.

as you travel or cruise more, you learn this for yourself..as we have.

i don't know what rumors you are hearing or reading...but many of us are not confused at all. sounds like you are have been reading some of the anti-tipping posts that some people post just to stir up things?

 

Hi Cathi,

 

Not to stir things up again, but, the spa services and bar drinks do have a 15% gratuity added to them. I was able to find this information on the NCL website. It would just be very nice to know what our DSC covered and what it did not. So, even if the spa would not be included in the DSC, they still receive an automatic 15% gratuity added onto their services. I would assume the bar staff are part of the DSC, but that is only an assumption, and they receive 15% added to each drink. I hope you can see my confusion with this, the possibilities are endless, and you've pointed out a few more to me. I never even thought about the photographer. What about the bowling attendants? Not everyone utilizes their services so according to the logic, wouldn't they be excluded from the tip pool? I think not, since the NCL website says the DSC covers employees all over the ship and "behind the scenes."

 

Thanks for the food for thought,

 

Susan

[cfmarie79]

It's crucify.

[time2cruise1]

Hi Cathi,

 

I would assume the bar staff are part of the DSC, but that is only an assumption, and they receive 15% added to each drink.

Susan

 

Don't assume anything. The bar staff are not in the DSC. Nearly 100% of their income comes from that 15% (which can be removed) and the extra that passengers provide. They receive a minimum draw against those tips each month. If they make more they see the extra. If the fail to cover the draw repeatedly it is off to find a new job when the contract is up.

[kidzrnseattle]

We just made our final payment and under the "terms and Agreements" you have to check before submitting your payment, it describes the $12 per person change for all of those over 3 years of ago. It explictly decribes the process if you feel you have not received appropriate service. They want to resolve it immediately so you have a great cruise. The great service is well worth the $12 per day

[sc425]

It's crucify.

 

Yes, but crusify is more cruise sounding, get it, cruise-i-fy. :)

[johnql]

Hi Cathi,

 

Not to stir things up again, but, the spa services and bar drinks do have a 15% gratuity added to them. I was able to find this information on the NCL website. It would just be very nice to know what our DSC covered and what it did not. So, even if the spa would not be included in the DSC, they still receive an automatic 15% gratuity added onto their services. I would assume the bar staff are part of the DSC, but that is only an assumption, and they receive 15% added to each drink. I hope you can see my confusion with this, the possibilities are endless, and you've pointed out a few more to me. I never even thought about the photographer. What about the bowling attendants? Not everyone utilizes their services so according to the logic, wouldn't they be excluded from the tip pool? I think not, since the NCL website says the DSC covers employees all over the ship and "behind the scenes."

 

Thanks for the food for thought,

 

Susan

18% for spa treatments, 15% for bar drinks. Those are the recommended percentages. Be careful lest you spread inaccurate information.

[mafig]

Just for the record , I just came off of a Princess ship and they add a $3. tip to your bill for each room service delivery . I wish I had know since I was tipping $3. cash every time .

So there ya go ....

next

 

 

Really? I haven't been on Princess for a few years, but I still visit the boards once in a while and don't recall reading anything like this.

 

What ship were you on?

[mafig]

OK, I see it was Star Princess.

 

I asked about this on the Princess boards. I really don't recall reading about a charge for room service on Princess. Although, I know they charge for pizza delivery. Is this what you mean.:confused:

[mafig]

Just for the record , I just came off of a Princess ship and they add a $3. tip to your bill for each room service delivery . I wish I had know since I was tipping $3. cash every time .

So there ya go ....

next

 

 

Room Service is free on Princess.

 

Except for pizza delivery, which is $3.

 

I haven't cruised Princess in years, but I want to set the record straight. Didn't you know this?

[psbtrvlr]

OK, I see it was Star Princess.

 

I asked about this on the Princess boards. I really don't recall reading about a charge for room service on Princess. Although, I know they charge for pizza delivery. Is this what you mean.:confused:

 

Princess does charge $3 for pizza delivery. If you order sodas/drinks, you also will see a charge. As of November 2008, there was still no charge for room service.

[sjbdtz]

18% for spa treatments, 15% for bar drinks. Those are the recommended percentages. Be careful lest you spread inaccurate information.

 

 

Ok...now you've raised a question to which I don't know the answer. Not that I would consider doing this....but.....is it possible, when they present you with your spa treatment bill, or your bar bill....to ask them to go back, remove the gratuity, and bring you a new bill?

[johnql]

Ok...now you've raised a question to which I don't know the answer. Not that I would consider doing this....but.....is it possible, when they present you with your spa treatment bill, or your bar bill....to ask them to go back, remove the gratuity, and bring you a new bill?

I don't have a definitive answer since I've never done it, but I would think that you could do that since the gratuity on the bill is just the recommended amount, meaning you could adjust it up or down.

[time2cruise1]

Ok...now you've raised a question to which I don't know the answer. Not that I would consider doing this....but.....is it possible, when they present you with your spa treatment bill, or your bar bill....to ask them to go back, remove the gratuity, and bring you a new bill?

 

Yes you can and I have seen it done to a bar check on the Gem out of Southampton on her first real voyage - Cheers.

[johnql]

However, the advice isn't always accurate and often it's taken as fact. I was corrected earlier when I said spa services were 15% gratuity. Apparently they are an 18% gratuity. I can't say for sure, since this is information from a fellow poster.

To reassure you that I was indeed stating fact and not opinion (or fact based on a fuzzy memory), here is the link to NCL's FAQ where it addresses the recommended gratuities for bar drinks and spa services:

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=FAQ

 

Here is an excerpt from the web page (my bold):

 

What about Tipping?

Guests should not feel obliged to offer a gratuity for good service. However, all of our staff are encouraged to "go the extra mile," and so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities entirely at the discretion of our guests who wish to acknowledge particular staff members for exceptional or outstanding service. In other words, there is genuinely no need to tip but you should feel free to do so if you have a desire to acknowledge particular individuals.

 

Also, certain staff positions provide service on an individual basis to only some guests. We encourage those guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. For example, for guests purchasing bar drinks the recommended gratuity is 15 percent. For guests purchasing spa treatments the recommended gratuity is 18 percent. Similarly, for guests using concierge and butler services, we recommend they consider offering a gratuity commensurate with services rendered.

[sc425]

If you are not going to believe anything you see posted here and think it is "fiction" then why do you keep on with this subject. I suggest that you contact NCL is you don't believe us.

 

Geesh, why bother coming on a public forum if you aren't prepared to accept any of the information provided?

 

Hello, Sorry I didn't get your name,

 

If you read my posts, I am asking for where the NCL tipping policy is printed. I have received some very good replies which have clearly quoted NCL. That is what I was looking for. I have contacted NCL, as it is Saturday, I won't hear back until at least Monday.

 

I do believe many of the things I read here on Cruise Critic. Although, there is misinformation out there. So let's just put this one to bed. If anyone is interested, I could let you know what NCL says regarding the subject.

 

Susan

[*Wink*]

I haven't seen this posted in this thread, so forgive me if it has been. I'd like to tell you (the OP) what NCL told me about who gets the DSC. This came from a person in administration, and I trust the information given me was accurate.

 

Three groups of employees get the DSC. They are: The Cabin Steward Team; The DINING Wait Staff; The Maitre d' Teams.

 

The reason the NCL wrote what they did about the 15% gratuity is a suggested amount is confusing, but only because most people don't know that the NCL American flagged ship, the Pride of America, cannot automatically add the gratuity to your bill like ALL the other NCL ships do. It's against the law in the US.

 

So NCL chose to write it the way they did in hopes to cover both NCL and NCLA (which used to have 3 ships total (I think.) Smeyer covered this in his post if you want to read it again.

 

So, on your NCL ship, you will receive a bill for your drink with the 15% added. It's done to keep people from having to do math after their 5th or 6th Mai Tai. :p

 

The spa also adds 18% to your bill. Many people don't see it and tip on top of it.

 

The tips can be lessened and increased.

[2inTul]

Hello, Sorry I didn't get your name,

 

If you read my posts, I am asking for where the NCL tipping policy is printed. I have received some very good replies which have clearly quoted NCL. That is what I was looking for. I have contacted NCL, as it is Saturday, I won't hear back until at least Monday.

 

I do believe many of the things I read here on Cruise Critic. Although, there is misinformation out there. So let's just put this one to bed. If anyone is interested, I could let you know what NCL says regarding the subject.

 

Susan

 

Susan:

 

Please provide me with an example of the misinformation you have received on this thread.

 

I must tell you that you have the advantage of receiving real-world advice from cruisers that have sailed many hundreds of days on NCL. You need not be so unbelieving. Most of the posters on this board DO KNOW what they are talking about and are providing correct information. As Steven pointed out the posting here are the equivalent of peer reviewed.

 

George

[tbear2762]

The Butlers, Concierge and Kids crew are not part of the pool. They are an example of people who provide service to a limited group of people and who people should/can tip in accordance with how much they use them. NCL in their example gives Butlers and Concierge as examples of this type of service.

Room service is another issue. On some lines the tips ARE included in the daily service charge for room service(Cunard and Princess) but I still give a buck or two since not everybody uses them.

The Bar staff and Spa staff aren't part of it either. Some of the language problem on the NCL site is the attempt to use one set of words to cover both NCL and NCL America(the one American Flagged ship) where the "rules" are sightly different.

This isn't brain surgery its very simple the daily service charge includes the traditionally tipped employees. Those employees are the waiter/waitress, bus person assistant waiter head waiter in the dining room, and your cabin cleaning staff. What the daily service charge does is also tip the traditionally tipped out staff(the staff that this group of employees used to be sort of required to tip out of that money-the maitre d- the line cooks- the laundry staff which serviced the traditionally tip staff). When you leave the daily service charge on and give extra to the traditionally tipped staff they can keep all the extra and don't have to share it or tip out extra because that has already been worked out to everyone(but maybe your) satisfaction. the crew really prefers the auto tip(in whatever form that cruise line has it) to the traditional method where a fair number of people stiffed the hardworking crew for no reason other than they were cheap cheap cheap(if the shoe fits...). I have no problem adjusting the tips when there is a service problem but the idea of only tipping those you find deserving doesn't work anyway- the crew still had to tip out the others. I doubt you ever worked at a major restaurant where the tipping out took place.

 

The Butler, Concierge and Kids crew were NEVER a part of the traditionally tipped staff anyway. Kids crew is a relatively new phenomenon, and us have access to Butlers and Concierge is something totally new. People who had butlers used to bring them along and not had them supplied by the cruise line.

 

Finally I too find that most- not all- people who ask this question in this way are looking for an excuse NOT to leave the daily tip and to leave less than the universally suggested amount. There are times when people are truly confused and novices and ask a reasonable question- which I mostly(not all the time) answer civilly but mostly they are looking for an excuse. If you have access to a butler and concierge you are normally paying top dollar and paying extra for their services is mostly expected(by tipping them)...If you can't afford that take a less expensive room without access to them and then it isn't an issue. If you bring you kids and use the kids crew likewise(although I do think when they raised the daily rate for them they should have included the kids crew in the pool)....

 

Being a person who has no children and knowing that probably at least 1/4 if not 1/2 of the cabins have no children I do not think this should be done. I do think that the SC should be a different rate for a child to take that into account however. That way the users of the staff are the tippers.

[smeyer418]

Hi Cathi,

 

Not to stir things up again, but, the spa services and bar drinks do have a 15% gratuity added to them. I was able to find this information on the NCL website. It would just be very nice to know what our DSC covered and what it did not. So, even if the spa would not be included in the DSC, they still receive an automatic 15% gratuity added onto their services. I would assume the bar staff are part of the DSC, but that is only an assumption, and they receive 15% added to each drink. I hope you can see my confusion with this, the possibilities are endless, and you've pointed out a few more to me. I never even thought about the photographer. What about the bowling attendants? Not everyone utilizes their services so according to the logic, wouldn't they be excluded from the tip pool? I think not, since the NCL website says the DSC covers employees all over the ship and "behind the scenes."

 

Thanks for the food for thought,

 

Susan

 

Hello Susan, my view of what you are writing whether its that the Champagne isn't free or this, is that you are looking for a fight for some reason. Neither the Photographer, the bowling attendant nor the Casino people are the traditionally tipped employees.

The Conciege and the Butler are tipped but only by that use them.

They aren't behind the scene people. The behind the scene people are the people the traditionally tipped employees tipped themselves(the laundry the line cooks etc)....you are of course free to make what ever of yourself by taking these positions.

No employee except one on another cruise line has EVER said that they didn't recieve every penny that was due them and NONE of it was split with real management or any one off the ship.

If the cruise lines put it in the fare they would have to pay taxes on it and report it differently then they do now. Now its never added to the cruise lines income.

and finally I thought the three dollar charge on Princess was the late night charge only....but things do change.

 

I do think from what you have written that NCL isn't your cup of tea...

 

good luck and happy whining(now there is a contradiction in terms).

 

Sid

[smeyer418]

Being a person who has no children and knowing that probably at least 1/4 if not 1/2 of the cabins have no children I do not think this should be done. I do think that the SC should be a different rate for a child to take that into account however. That way the users of the staff are the tippers.

as I said if they make them pay the full boat charge when they are the third and fourth in the room, I thought for THOSE CHILDREN who used the ships crew that they should be allowed a partial share. But clearly reasonable people can disagree on this....it used to be a different rate under 12 on the NCL ships now that it was full I think the kids crew should be allocated an amount based on those kids in the program.

[tbear2762]

I don't have a definitive answer since I've never done it, but I would think that you could do that since the gratuity on the bill is just the recommended amount, meaning you could adjust it up or down.

 

And they could make you a crappy drink. Not a good idea not to cheat the man that is making your drinks.