quote:

I am guilty of stiffing several Maitre'Ds over the years though

As am I . Coming around on the last night just does not cut it with me.
Your dollar bill story reminded me of this.
When my youngest was 16 he worked as a busy boy at Olive Garden. We alway at trouble getting him to clean his room. It would have clothes all over the place.
One week I told him he could not go anywhere but work until his room was clean. He of course waited until the 13 hr.
After being in his room for a few hour he came out all smiles and said his room was clean. He also found about $250 in ones and fives from tips he had left in his pockets. After that I was ready to clean his room for him.

Think of it this way. You go to a restaurant and pay 10% for a MINIMAL tip, upwards of 20% for awesome service. If your cruise is $1000 each on average, that is $100 for a minimal 10% tip. At a restaurant you are only getting your food/drink. On the ship, you are getting food (room delivery at no extra charge most times), entertainment, swimming, sights, information, room cleaning, laundry.... So, if you get my point, it really isn't that much.

I've heard somewhere that everyone gets the same amount of pay in their pay packet each month with or without tips, is there any truth in this?

I have never heard of it for the crew that work for gratuities as part of their income. I have always been told by the crew that it does impact their pay. This is not from casual conversation, but from crew members I have long time friendships with.

Dwayne

This is what I've been told. The auto-tips go into a pot and are divided, any of the extra that I have tipped is kept by the individuals I have tipped. Since I don't work on board, I can't audit the books, so I assume that what I have been told is the truth. I have talked to quite a few people that work on board, and some that used to work on board.

Not everyone gets the same amount in their pay envelope. There are different pay scales for different positions on board, just as in any industry. The people in the laundry room don't make the same as the captain of the ship. Vice versa, the captain does not share in the tips.

we have taken a bunch of cruises. But on our first cruise we did not know it was ok to tip extra. and we didnt. We had the best service every where.
after the 1st cruise I joined the board here and realize that we could have tipped extra and should have.
A tip is for service that is appreciated. And we certainly appreciated the service we got. If we were to take a cruise and the service was just so so I dont think I would tip extra. But that has never been the case with us.
I regret not tipping extra on the first cruise. but it was just plain out of ignorance, not any other reason.

penny 3333

obviously I didn't think that the captain gets the same salary as some one in the laundry, what I meant is that lets say a room steward gets the same pay even if you take the automatic tips off or not. They rely on tips that they can put in their back pockets. I used to be a crew member who got basic pay and relied on the personal tips at the end of each cruise.

quote:

Originally posted by brneyes:
Well Neil I (speaking for myself)did take care of the dining room staff. I was not one of those people who went to the "speciality" restaurant, and "forgot" about who they started out with in the beginning, waiting on them.

I have already mentioned this, but how do YOU know "everyone" gets a part of the tip?

It would be nice if someone from the ship/s themselves would get in on this discussion, and then we would really know for ourselves.

brneyes

Hi Bob,

I know different lines have different policies for the distribution of gratuities. Some, like NCL have to devide tips because of the format, you don't have the same waitstaff each night. Others have percentages they disclose in the their tipping guidelines. What they do not disclose is what they have to do to "tip out" their staff. Most lines have a set format built into their system, simply ask a crew member next time you cruise and you'll find out how that particular line handles it. On at least one line, the auto tips that disclose what you're providing does not account for what is provided for the laundry service personel that comes from the Cabin Stewards tips. This is just one example of how assist staff does indeed share tips on some but not all lines. I'm not saying you should not provide tips outside the system in place. I'm simply saying the fairest way to be certain everyone gets their share is follow the protocal set up. Getting creative in the way you distribute them and taking from one to give to another will undoubtably hurt someone in the process. If that is your intention and you wish to punish a crew member for poor service and reward another, so be it. I do NOT know where each and every dollar of your tips go with every line in the industry. I do know that if you also don;t know where it's going, to remove it and give it in other than the recommened amounts may have consequences to crew members who work every bit as hard as the folks who smiled at you and hugged you or shook your hand at the end of the cruise after waiting on you. Nobody has to agree with my view on this and you are certainly free to tip as you please within the requirements set by the cruiseline. Some lines have required fees, some have guidelines for what is the minimum amount expected for each member or Dept. Leaving the minimum in place and giving extra (if you feel it's appropriate and earned) is the safest way to be sure nobody gets hurt in their earnings.

Cheers, Neil

Kagmarshall, the ones I've talked to from Princess and Carnival have told me this. They get their base pay. Then each month, the automatic tips that were received (actual receipts not what should have been received) are tallied. Then are distributed by percentage to those that can share in the tips. It included a lot of different departments, but not officers. But, they told me that anything that was given to them directly, they were allowed to keep. I would imagine some split with fellow shipmates, like I would bus out when waitressing or tending bar. They receive their base pay, no matter what, but then received their percentage of monies actually collected from passengers. It would fluctuate depending upon how many removed the tips from their accounts, how many no-shows, etc.

quote:

quote:
I am guilty of stiffing several Maitre'Ds over the years though

As am I . Coming around on the last night just does not cut it with me.
Your dollar bill story reminded me of this.

Not to beat this dead horse too hard but the Maitre'D gets a very small portion of the tips provided even with the standard format. A waiter or ass't waiter gets tipped from only the few tables assigned, the Maite'D gets tips from a larger pool from a whole area assigned to them. If your waiter and the others in your section are exceptional, some of the credit has to go to the Maitre'D. He/she may only say hello to you at the door and visit your table rarely but he's running the show for his/her section. Directing the staff making sure his team is getting food to the tables in a timely manner, etc. I've made this analogy before here but I'll do it again. A football team has a coach who never catches a pass or sacks a quarter back but if his team wins, he had a part in the preparation that made the win posible. All the crew members are part of a team that has to perform well to pull off making your experience go smoothly. A poor waiters performance may not even be his/her fault. A poorly trained kitchen staff or other support people can cost these folks tips as they end up waiting in the kitchen for your order instead of filling your iced tea when you went empty. They can sometimes get a little testy over such issues and not smile as much as the waiter on your last cruise. Despite their best effort their pay will suffer. Next time you feel your waiter was exceptional, credit his team for part of that success. Next time you have a little less than you'd hoped for, at least consider the fact that they do work hard and are dependent on your tips to make their living and may well have done everything in their power for you before you decide that person deserves no compensation for a week of hard work waiting on you. It may make you a little lass likely to withold their earnings if you put yourself in their shoes. Ever had a boss or support staff around you at your job that made your job more dificult? Made you frustrated? Cost you money? Me too. Ever had that person get rewarded and recognized when the job got done and through your efforts was a success? Me too, we all have been there or we've lived a very sheltered life.

Cheers, Neil

Niel, I can see your point. The Maitre'Ds is in the whole tip pool for the Dinning area, (is he in charge of the Bars?). He get a very good tip from that. Too get more from me he needs to do more than what I see them doing. I think I have only tipped one Maitre'Ds, however I have tipped several Assistant Maitre'Ds.
Maybe I am too hard on him but that is just me.

Usually it is the assistant Maitre'ds whom the passengers interact with, if at all, with glad-handing once or twice being the interaction. Or perhaps when the lobster is served and the waiter quietly steps aside so his boss can remove the shells. (I wonder what they'll do on RCI now?)

I do realize these managers train the staff and keep things flowing. I used to be against tipping them but since it is only $5 or so in recommended tips, I have capitulated.

Interesting reading.
Make sure you check out the list at the bottom.

The thing with cruise ship staff is they really don't get much of a wage and the tips are "it". Not much different than a waitress or waiter in a diner. But I do agree it has gotten out-of-control. And to be honest, in many situations a "tip" is really a bribe or pay-off, such as with the porters at the pier or with the parking garage attendant.

I had a first this past December. My pest control guy came out for the quarterly spraying (conveniently done a few days early so it was before Christmas). He then hands me the bill - and a Christmas card - and stands there with a forced grin on his face. I said "thank you" and closed the door. I guess the company got a lot of complaints because they fired him, according to his replacement.

My wife and I have reserved the PS on Carnival's Inspiration on 6-2-08 for a 5 day stint in Mexico. This is my 4th cruise and her 2nd. That being said, we will not be dining in the 2 major restaurants at all. We prefer this because it gives us more time to do other things. I am wondering, then, why should I automatically tip the dining room staff if we're not even going to use their service? I am inclined to reset that portion of the bill and add it elsewhere. Anyone?

kimcon22000, your question has been asked and answered in many posts on this thread alone. Obviously, there is ongiong debate.

Cheers, Neil

quote:

Originally posted by gdjoslin:
Interesting reading.
Make sure you check out the list at the bottom.

What a lengthy article (rant) that was. I can find an article online to support my own views on anything including tipping.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford to cruise you are more fortunate than most of those who will wait on you onboard. I don't believe this means you're required to tip from pity. My simple belief is that folks in a service sector that rely on the kindness of others to make the majority of their living should not be stiffed by anyone. Don't want to go above and beyond, fine, I support your decision. It would be the right thing to do to provide the recommended minimal gratuity to those who are charged with providing you service on your vacation. The tips aren't oppressive or higher than you'd expect like drinks or other overpriced items. Anyone who can afford to book a cruise can afford $10. per day. If they can't, they should be working on a ship instead of vacationing on one.

The lady who wrote that article talks about begruding having to tip the valet parking person, Maitre'D, waiters, etc at a resteraunt. If you're able to eat in resteraunts with these type of services regularly, you're not going to have your lights turned off anytime soon so crying about tipping with that example is being someone who wants to be offended. As someone said earlier, those that are often the tightest with the tips are those who can best afford them. This lady needs to look on the corner for a McDonnalds for her meals if she dreads tipping so much.

It is so much easier to tip well and make people feel they are appreciated for the services rendered than to have to live with a conscience over not tipping.

Cheers, Neil

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave Beers,

As much as we go over this topic, sounds like we need to open up a Forum Section called Tipping.

quote:

As much as we go over this topic, sounds like we need to open up a Forum Section called Tipping.

Funny you should mention that, Gary. We are looking at doing something similar. Not a section for it, but perhaps a primer on tipping protocols for the various lines, etc. This would be a standing message that we could direct people to when they have questions about tipping.

I think a link to tipping guidelines would be a good idea.
But there are people who just don't get the whole tipping thing. No matter how much we try to explain to people that the tips are totally justified and earned they still won't do it. There probably don't tip the waitress at the local restaurant either. Thats just how some people are.
My opinion of the debate here on tipping, is the people who don't or won't tip are trying to justify why they dont tip. Just my opinion.