On our first Cruise my wive used an on-line service. She was told that once we had mad our payment, there would be no more charge. I think alot of people are told this. This leads to confusion, she read the links, but just do not believe them. that is what we did. After the first cruise we knew the rules and it was easier for us to tip extra.
There are some that will not tip no matter what, some are just confused.
It will be an on going topic no matter what.. I have always said I would only bet on a sure thing. That I would bet on.

Our first cruise was a theme cruise. It was a group booking arranged by an agency in Atlanta, which I dearly hope has gone out of business. Their incompetence had no boundaries. It was on Holland America, which at the time touted their "no tipping required" policy.

Of course, we had wonderful service and we fell in love with the crew. Mid-way through the cruise I asked the agency rep about tips and he told me "don't worry about it". He implied our cruise fare included tips, but never would flatly tell me so. I knew the booking info we had received never mentioned tips, so I figured the agency was shooting a line. They were.

On the last day of the cruise I found out the truth, and my wife and I frantically went around giving well-deserved tips to various bartenders, waiters, etc.

I've never forgotten that experience. I came close to stiffing everyone who served me on my first cruise. I could have never lived that down, since those fine people bent over backwards for us.

A very simular thing happened on my first cruise. Our TA did not tell us about the tips. I found out about it online (which was not easy to do in 1993). I called her and asked about it. The answer I got was to take some local t-shirts and give them. I was so embarrassed after I asked the Steward what the envelopes were for. We got the money together. The irony was too much for me, I had paid for the cruise with tip money I saved all summer.

Dwayne

Regarding removing tips because one did not eat in the Main Dining Room. Unless I am missing something, Carnival's new tipping guideline update does not differentiate the Main and Casual Dining Rooms concerning gratuities.

Dwayne

quote:

Unless I am missing something, Carnival's new tipping guideline update does not differentiate the Main and Casual Dining Rooms concerning gratuities.

That looks to be the case since they have reworded the Carnival Gratuity Suggestions.

The problem I see with it. It says "Dining Room" services. Most people take that to mean the main more formal dining area.
It comes down to ones tipping morality.

Gary- What does it matter if its the main dinning room or the buffet/casual dinning areas? Most of the wait staff serves shifts in both areas. Even in the buffet area, they clean up tables, bring beverage refills around etc... So even if you ONLY use the buffet, you should be tipping the staff. Frankly the $10 per person per day is actually a small amount for the services received. I look at it as part of the cost of the cruise. If I can pay $2000 for a cruise, I certainly shouldn't be complaining about the $3 a day share of the dinning staff tips being too much because I didn't eat in a dinning room.

Jim I do not think it matters at all. What their wording does is give those who do not want to tip an excuse. That is one reason the question about tipping if they don't eat in the dining room always comes up.

quote:

The answer I got was to take some local t-shirts and give them.

When I had my Landscape Business going a good part of it was the weekly maintenance. It provided a good steady income, while the construction provided larger sums, you were always bidding on your next job.
I had one family that I stayed with me all of my business years. He would give me a couple t-shirts every year. The first year they were Clint Eastwood Carmel Mayor shirts. In the card with the shirts was a note inviting us to enjoy a weeks' stay at his "CABIN" which was on 17 Mile drive. As you probably know there are not too many Cabins along that area. We would also get t-shirts of the Tahoe area with a invite to stay at his cabin there, plus a few other locations. Man I always enjoyed those shirts.
I alway made sure that he was very happy. My wife often did alot of detail work there, she really enjoyed working there. The gifts aside, they were just good people to work for.

I actually still take t-shirts if I have room as something extra. I can get them dirt cheap after the main tourist season. They always like them. When I was the main bartender at a certain resort, the liqour vendors would give me t-shirts for new products. They really liked those.

Dwayne

I have this feeling too.

In the 8 cruises I have been on, only the last one, was where I "felt" that the Maitre'd did his "part", or more than just say hello." "Anyone" can go around to tables and "talk."

We did take care of him, as I could "see" a difference in him then the other 7 Maitre-d's

brneyes

I have to "agree" with you in one area, in regard to Holland American.

About 15 years ago we took our first cruise, which was on HA. I don't know how it is now, but those people/staff were more than awesome. I have been on 7 cruises since, and the staff are nice, but nothing like those people were.

Very good memories of our "first" curise.

brneyes

In a earlier post I made a comment about the baggage handliers. I said that they want a dollar for each bag that they handle and I thought that it was a rip.

I just got back from a cruise and I was watching the bags being unloaded from the ship. Than I realised that these are the same workers that load my baggage. I now have a change of heart. You never know the full story.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim C.:
Gary- What does it matter if its the main dinning room or the buffet/casual dinning areas? Most of the wait staff serves shifts in both areas. Even in the buffet area, they clean up tables, bring beverage refills around etc... So even if you ONLY use the buffet, you should be tipping the staff. Frankly the $10 per person per day is actually a small amount for the services received. I look at it as part of the cost of the cruise. If I can pay $2000 for a cruise, I certainly shouldn't be complaining about the $3 a day share of the dinning staff tips being too much because I didn't eat in a dinning room.

I just got back from a Alaskan cruise. June 4 2008 on the Spirit. I had to go to the Purser to ask a question. The person in front of me was there to remove the dining tip because they were only eating in the buffet. She said that the $35 ($70 for the both of them) could go towards a tour. I look at her and said what about those workers in the buffet? She replied back that they don't do anything. Cheap A$$ people like this should stay home. The problem is I am sure a lot of them lurk on this forum looking for ways to cruise as cheap as they can.

quote:

Originally posted by 7thSon:
In a earlier post I made a comment about the baggage handliers. I said that they want a dollar for each bag that they handle and I thought that it was a rip.

I just got back from a cruise and I was watching the bags being unloaded from the ship. Than I realised that these are the same workers that load my baggage. I now have a change of heart. You never know the full story.

Yes.. the baggage handlers work their tails off. A buck a bag is not too much to ask. This is more true for the Caribbean cruises. Can you imagine how much you would sweat if you had to pull your bags from the cabs, lug thm over to the correct bin and chuck them in the pile?

I can understand people feeling nickel an dimed to death, but its all part of cruising. Once you have experienced it a couple of times you can mentally note how much more you need on top of the cruise fare. Then its not such a big deal.

quote:

She replied back that they don't do anything.

I have no doubt that she'd be the first one complaining if she couldn't find an open table because they didn't bus them quick enough.

I used to get upset with people like her, but you can't change them and they'll always be here. She probably removed the 15% from her bar tab too, you just weren't there to see it.

Ohh, another thought! Find the cheap woman in the buffet, and then go find some staffers and tell them "See her? She told me you people don't do anything". They'd probably go fall all over her, and pour it on in a cynical way.

quote:

I just got back from a Alaskan cruise. June 4 2008 on the Spirit. I had to go to the Purser to ask a question. The person in front of me was there to remove the dining tip because they were only eating in the buffet. She said that the $35 ($70 for the both of them) could go towards a tour. I look at her and said what about those workers in the buffet? She replied back that they don't do anything. Cheap A$$ people like this should stay home. The problem is I am sure a lot of them lurk on this forum looking for ways to cruise as cheap as they can.

7thSon,
I appreciate this post. It points out that there are indeed, as Dave points out as well, these folks throughout society. What a shame. They're the same people who find fault at their local eateries so they can stiff the waiter/waitress there each time too. I have developed a real disdain for such callous and selfish souls. They have their justifications each time for why they don't feel they should have to tip as this woman did. If there is a hell, I hope there is a service sector there and these folks get to wait on others for eternity with no compensation or relief.

Perhaps harsh but everyone has their own prejudices, this is mine. I get calls from these folks occasionally who begin the conversation about selecting a cruise with "Are the tips optional? Can they be removed?" I cover the same things in those calls I and others here have covered here about it being the staffs living wage, the hard work and long hours. I cover the fact that for three meals a day a cabin that's cleaned and made up twice a day it's a meager amount for each staff member and less than would be customary if you were buying those meals. Does it matter? I hope so but doubt it. You're right about there being some on this and every board that are these people. Thank you for the post, hopefully if we can't convince them we can shame them into doing the right thing. Probably not. I already know from experience that the people who start their conversaions as described are the ones I can expect endless complaints from after the cruise. Just be happy you're not one of these miserable creatures and that you have a heart and a conscience and were brought up with respect and compassion for others.

Cheers, Neil

We have once again talked the tipping thing to death. We also had to deal with numerous posts which disrupted the conversation flow and were deleted. So, I am going to close the thread down now.