I am a person who enjoys a good cruise, have been on 6 or 7 and will keep cruising in the foreseeable future.
The issue of 'mandatory' tipping really gets my goat. I just returned from a ten-day cruise, with my wife and infant son, on HAL and found a 'small' added charge of $10 per person per day, (total $300) tacked on to my bill. I would not tip that amount in a hotel in the US ($30 a day). Maybe $5 or $10 to the room service lady per day or a larger tip to the concierge for good service. I dont think my infant son was receiving that kind of service. I had my charge reversed; tipped my cabin steward and six different people in the dining area. I have modified my tips based on experience, I have had an exceptional cabin steward and I have had ordinary, as were their tips.
If the justification is the 'people in the back'; the same should then apply to hotels. Also like waitstaff in restaurants who share their tips with the cooks and busboys, the cruise staff can do the same. Cruise ships are essentially floating hotels after all. But hotels dont do this routinely.
The jobs of wait staffs come with the expectation of tips. the better the service provided the larger the tip, atleast ususally.
In the buffet meals on ships, in their casual dining sections, the staff make an effort to get to know the passengers and their preferences. The passengers remember these small courtesies and often reward them personally before leaving the ship. I know I do! Similarly I take care of the cabin staff, the better the service the fatter the tip at the end of the week.
With about 1800 passengers on my cruise, for a ten day cruise, HAL would like to collect $180,000 extra! How much of this is really shared? And with who? I have no way of knowing; even if small 'administrative charges' are substracted, or if this is 'declared income'for tax purposes, I did not give the full benefit to the person I wanted to reward. (I know lot of these people are in tax havens of sorts). If this ship runs occupied only 300 days a year, at capacity, HAL would like to collect an extra $5.4 million dollars!
Sorry I wont pay that game! I pay a good charge for my cruise and HAL can share it with their employees by giving them fair wages. Those that provide exceptional service will be rewarded by the patrons. Will a few people 'stiff' them? Maybe, but the American expectation of tips are an exception to the rest of the world. Maybe the high seas are not a place to enforce a certain preconcieved notion of 'mandatory' tipping.

Posted By Dr A on December 9, 2009, 5:13 PM

With respect to removing tips and then tipping individually. Can anyone comment on rumours that cruise staff who are tipped individually are required to declare to the cruiseline the tips we give them and then forced to share with others if as passengers we have removed auto tipping.
I have heard that they are not able to keep the full amount. They can keep it only in the event that the tips are left on the shipboard account and tipping is above and beyond the minimum recommended.

Can anyone clarify this.

Posted By Sharon on December 10, 2009, 6:04 PM

We honestly don't mind the auto tipping. We tend to be generous tippers & add to it anyway. We also end up tipping others on board who provide services, such as the waiters who work in the buffets where we have breakfast or lunch each day and clear our dishes or bring us coffee. If people don't want to tip, they aren't going to, and that's their perogative. You can argue back and forth whether it's a fee, or more of an American custom, and that the cruise lines should pay their employees a better salary, yada yada. All that might be true. In the end, tipping becomes a personal choice you make based on your philosophy and/or the service you've been provided with. Pun intended - whatever floats your boat.

Posted By Sharon H. on December 11, 2009, 9:18 AM

A few year's back, my family (a group 4 adults and 1 child) had a Mother's day lunch at Four Seasons. 18% mandatory tip was automatically added. I remembered the meal cost around $485 and the mandatory tip was almost $90. Being Four Seasons, you expected more. The food was okay but the service was horrible. The waiter did seem to give us the time of the day talk to us. Would you pay a tip to anyone who you felt was rude to you?

Often with mandatory tips, I feel service being provided just falls short. The money that I'm forced to give just did not justify the service that I received.

Posted By Laura on December 12, 2009, 10:50 PM

My wife and I are avid cruisers, having been on some 11 or 12 now, using several cruise lines. I have to take the side of those that are AGAINST the auto tipping.

We remember in the days PRIOR to auto-tipping, the staff on ships really made extra efforts left and right to make our cruise enjoyable. In other words, they were really working towards getting the best tip they could at the end of the voyage. They had control in their future.

As soon as auto-tipping was implemented, we saw the change immediately. Staff were still very good, but those little extra efforts were long gone. They no longer knew our names, they no longer remembered our individual preferences, they didn't learn our hours for being away from the room, etc.

Bottom line is the "incentive" for doing the extra work was gone. If the tips are going to be, by and large, "standard" tips, then it makes no sense for the staff to make that extra effort. They already work some 14-16 hours per day, so why make the extra effort for the 1 or 2 customers that might actually make the return effort of increasing those auto-payment amounts, or direct cash tipping?

Recall that HAL used to promote their paying their staff "above industry average", and tipping was not necessary or expected on their ships. They, too, have abandoned that policy and gone to the auto-tipping policy. Why? The service on HAL has gone by the wayside just like every other cruise line we've been on.

We are boarding Princess in another week. I no longer have the same high expectations I once did. Sad, really.

If we compare to the restaurant industry, look at the US and Europe. In a real tipping based system, the US, service is typically good. In Europe, where it is included in their salaries, service can be frustrating.

I say, "Bring back the previous tipping policies!!"

"Money paid for services rendered!!"

Posted By Steve F on December 13, 2009, 10:10 AM

Tipping reflects a 'underpaid' worker in any industry in any part of the world. Tipping should be left entirely to the consumer.

Posted By radha pather on December 13, 2009, 8:00 PM

Brad,
You made a mistake in calling it "tipping." Cruiselines are not adding tips, they add "gratuities." In my mind a gratuity may be mandatory or highly encouraged, and ensures everyone gets something just in case of stiffers. A tip is something extra for those who served you well.

Posted By MIke on December 13, 2009, 11:59 PM

We recently took a cruise with Carnival and on top of the auto tip we were highly recommended to add on additional tips as they said the auto tip wasn't sufficient. The service was fine but it left a bad taste to end our trip feeling we didn't know if everyone was tipped adequately .

Posted By Joe Gordon on December 14, 2009, 12:22 PM

Tipping SHOULD be only for face to face contact workers. Do you tip people who wash the cabs? Do you tip people who bus the tables before and after you leave a restaurant? How about the people who wash the sheets at the hotel? No, you generally don't see any of these people and they did nothing for you specifically. They are doing their job, which should be paid by the employer. If they shift the cost to the guest and call it a "gratuity" they are participating in a scam. People say costs will go up if they don't add tips automatically. Not necessarily, cruise fares, like everything else are supply and demand. That is why the 5 day cruise my wife showed me last night that sails through Christmas day was three times the usual range these cruises go for. They will make more money on this cruise and other times of the year to more than make up for other cruises that may not profit as much. Trust me, they are not hurting for money. Cruiselines should pay their employees fairly. That is all there is to it.

Well maybe there is more...most cruise workers come from underdeveloped countries, where wages are much lower. Many times, given that standard of living, their pay on the ship is plenty for them to live on. People should consider that when they act so surprised about how low they are paid (according to American standards) and think they may just be doing pretty well on their "low pay" and may just have a higher standard of living in their land than many of the "big-shot" Americans that think they are so cool, dishing out big tips and brag about it do here. You may be contributing to their Dubai style housing and feel smug about it, while you return to your modest home after the cruise. Somehow, I bet these people do not give excessive tips to their American counterparts. Ever notice how strong, healthy, and attentive cruise staff are, while their American counterparts are weak, fat and lazy? Hmmmmm.

Posted By David on December 14, 2009, 12:40 PM

We go on a lot of cruises, and since the tip has been coming out on its own I feel the service has NOT been as good. I realize with prices going up and food and everything else being higher the employees are not as good or try as hard to please as they ue to. I liked giving the tip myself at the end of the cruise. Most of the time we gave more than we had too because the staff was so good. Things have sure changed alot since we started to cruise about 20 years ago. Wish it would get back to the old days.

Posted By Harriett Leder on December 14, 2009, 2:57 PM

We recently cruised on HAL’s Eurodam. The mandatory “gratuity” was $11.00 per day per passenger. We were told that there were 2,008 passengers and a crew of 800. Doing the math that would be $154,616 total and $193.27 per crew member in mandatory “gratuities”. The cruise director assured us that these monies went only to the crew members that serviced passengers. I do not know how many of those 800 crew members are crew members that service passengers, but if it’s three quarters, their cut of the mandatory “gratuity” would be over $250 each. The above does not take into considered the 15% service fee added to bar and room service charges. We paid just over $22 in these fees. Plus $20 each to our two cabin attendants in real tips. Out total outlay for “gratuities” was just over $216 - $176 in mandatory “gratuities” and $40 in real tips.

It is somewhere between disingenuous and fraudulent to call these “gratuities”. They are part of the employee’s compensation package. By making a portion of some of their employee’s compensation package mandatory, passenger paid gratuities, cruise lines can reduce the amount they sell a cabin. It’s somewhat akin to the $9,999 new car that really cost $15,000 when you add in items like a motor, tires and steering wheel. It may not rise to the level of fraud. But it certainly is disingenuous.

So, cruise lines, go ahead and charge me up front the extra $176 per cabin and let me decide who has earned a gratuity and how much that gratuity should be.

Posted By TerryTwo on December 14, 2009, 3:50 PM

Your gratuitiy is split in 5 ways:

Cabin Steward
Assistant Cabin Steward
Head Waiter
Assistant Waiter

Usually, another small portion goes towards "additional services".

In Carnival's case, $5.50 per day is alloted for the two dining staff, $3.50 per day for the two cabin staff, and $1.00 for the additional services.

I have a friend who is an assistant waiter on Carnival. While on their contract they receive a very small salary and have no on board living expenses, they make their money on gratuities. I am happy to pay the flat rate of $70 for a 7 day cruise. Let's say there's a cruise with 2000 people on it, all paying the auto gratuitiy. For the dining staff portion, that would be $77000 to split amongst 200 people. That averages out to about $385 per week per person.

That's for 7 days of work. For 6 of those days working either breakfast and dinner or lunch and dinner. Getting 1 half day off.

I always tip extra based upon the type of service that I get. I'm always delighted and grateful with the service that I receive when I'm on a cruise. Some are better than others, and they earn their money.

I am definitely FOR the auto gratuitiy. Especially since if you don't agree with it, there's no problem with them taking it off.

Posted By Melinda on December 14, 2009, 4:04 PM

My wife and I cruise quite a bit and I must say that although the automatic tipping is more convenient than the old method of trying to get cash in envelopes on the last night I too see a lower level of service being offered. I have to believe that one of the reasons the cruise lines have gone to this practice is because so many people "stiffed" their cabin stewards and waiters at the end of the cruise.
I must disagree with the blogger above who stated that $10 a day per person is too much as compared to a hotel. What this person is forgetting is that if they ate out three meals a day, they would certainly tip more than that.
i would like it to go back to the old way so that we could enjoy giving the gratuity directly to those that service us best.
Just one man's opinion.

Posted By Joe Porpiglia on December 14, 2009, 4:39 PM

I say there, In case you don't know. If your received bad service you can go down to the front desk and tell them you want to tip the people you want to tip and remove the extra charge off your bill. I had a couple though it was a joke and them they met me, I fixed them well and asked for someone else to take care of me.But most of staff works for tips and comes out to about 10.00 a day per person per room?

Posted By Danny C on December 14, 2009, 6:38 PM

Please Cruise Lines, don't decide for us what's an appropriate TIP, and please don't TELL ME how much to TIP. A TIP is based upon an individual's performance; it's that simple.

And as far as that "auto tipping included" in the cruise fare.....? Who are you trying to fool here? Then explain why you then still stuff those little annoying envelopes in our cabins on the last 2 days of our cruise? You either do it one way or the other but please STOP playing games, okay?

Posted By Cruiser on December 14, 2009, 10:21 PM

Does anyone know how much of the auto tips actually are passed on to the crew?

Posted By Kay O on December 14, 2009, 11:35 PM

I just wanted to "update" your cruise ship tipping policies. I've just returned from a Caribbean cruise on the Norwegian Pearl and we were charged $12 per person per day and there were three of us in the cabin.

Posted By duwayne on December 15, 2009, 9:29 AM

I and my family have taken 5 cruises thus far; all on Celebrity. Most of them were fairly nice. When it came time to give a tip (End of the cruise) we would give, in accordance to the service received. "I do not like the idea of anyone telling me what I "Must Give" for a tip as this is "NO Longer a Tip as I see it". When you go to a restaurant (Some pay their employees better than others), nobody tells you that you must leave a given amount... Of course, if I receive average service that person is tipped between 10-15%.
We have just set up a cruise with Holland America (HCL) and it appears that they want us to pay $11 per day and per person.... Since this is a 14 day cruise, this amounts to $308.00 for my wife and I. I also have another room for four people; their tab could be $616.00. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! "Do I wish to tip? Yes but only what a middle class person can afford & for the services rendered". "Why not simply be honest and charge the "TRUE" amount expected, instead of insulting the crew and the guests....
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to make adjustments to such a tipping policy on Holland... I want to be treated fairly & want to treat the crew likeise!

Posted By Chris Q on February 28, 2010, 2:09 AM

i am going on a 10 day cruise soon,after many years of working and now on a government pension,.after paying my fare and told all meals and accomadation are supplied,i come accross this paying of tips. i am sorry ,i will tip if i can afford it,and if i have any spare money left after the trip,after all i am a pensioner and have been saving for years for this trip!!! I WILL NOT HAVE THE CRUISE LINE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO TIP AND HOW MUCH.
JOHN.

Posted By JOHN BAILEY on March 24, 2010, 6:37 AM

I ditto the comments of Melinda:
I work on board (though not in a tipped position).
And yes most of the tipped personnel "Earn" approximately $100 dollars a month in "wages" that are not "tips."
It is a GRATUITY. not a tip.

"Your gratuity is split in 5 ways:
Cabin Steward
Assistant Cabin Steward
Head Waiter
Assistant Waiter
Usually, another small portion goes towards "additional services". (Baker, laundry people, pastry people, etc)
In Carnival's case, $5.50 per day is allotted for the two dining staff, $3.50 per day for the two cabin staff, and $1.00 for the additional services.
I have a friend who is an assistant waiter on Carnival. While on their contract they receive a very small salary and have no on board living expenses, they make their money on gratuities. I am happy to pay the flat rate of $70 for a 7 day cruise. Let's say there's a cruise with 2000 people on it, all paying the auto gratuity. For the dining staff portion, that would be $77,000 to split amongst 200 people. That averages out to about $385 per week per person.

AND THAT'S ALL THEY WILL GET IF EVERYONE STAYS "IN"

That's for 7 days of work. For 6 of those days working (either) breakfast/dinner or lunch/dinner, PLUS ROTATING MIDNIGHT BUFFET. DON'T FORGET THE CLEAN UP AND THE SET UP.
And perhaps two hours break in total, all day.

I always tip extra based upon the type of service that I get. I'm always delighted and grateful with the service that I receive when I'm on a cruise. Some are better than others, and they earn their money.
I am definitely FOR the auto gratuity. Especially since if you don't agree with it, there's no problem with them taking it off.
Posted By Melinda on December 14, 2009, 4:04 PM"

BRILLIANT, MELINDA~!!

Posted By L.W. on May 9, 2010, 4:32 AM

I too have taken at least 7 cruises, and I hate automatic tipping. The first thing I do is to remove the compulsory tipping from my account, no purser has ever complained! I am about to go on another cruise for 28 days, I do not like having to pay another $308 extra for tips. I am a widow and can't afford it. I do however tip the cabin steward amd the head and drink waiter at the end of my trip. That will cost me $200 all up, and have saved $108 to spend on board. I believe that to be fair, agree?

Posted By Tina comino on June 14, 2010, 9:47 PM

We have always left the amount the same but very seldom leave anything more since it has been set.
Keep in mind that what the service people get a week might be $300.00 but that is pretty much clear money. No rent, no groceries ,no car payment , no insurance and the cost of living in their home country is not any where close to yours.
So far service has been okay on the 5 cruises we have taken. If I do not get a certain standard of service , I would consider removing or modifing the amount they recieve.

Posted By P.J.MAC on June 26, 2010, 10:32 AM

We also love to cruise and have taken 11 of them so far. My issue with auto tipping is that we VERY SELDOM ever eat in the dining room. We don't care for the dining rooms and don't really want to be seated with people that we maybe don't care to eat with (our 1st cruise we were seated with a family with 2 "lively" little ones).WE would much rather eat at one of the speciality resturants or in the buffet at both places we have meant some very nice people. Why should I tip the Waiter and his assistant when we don't use their services and not the poeple that are actually serving us. Of course we always also take care of our cabin stewards.

Posted By Cathy on August 18, 2010, 7:03 PM

Tipping is a personal expression of gratitude for services that are personally appreciated. It is up to the shipping companies to work out their profit margins after all outgoing expenses, including staff salaries, are taken into account.

If they are counting on an extra $10:00 per person per day, add it to their fare!! Do not insult the intelligence of a passenger by stating it is mandatory. It is not!!!!

A sad atmosphere is created by this outrageous policy. Cruising is a time for carefree relaxation and enjoyment --not a time to feel embarrassed as one is forced to, in lining up at the Purser's office to tell him to eliminate the daily charge. I will decide what I pay and to whom I pay.

Posted By Dorohy Evans on September 14, 2010, 1:03 AM

just returned back from Celebrity Solstice.Beautiful ship!A real piece of work,loved it!As for the service... On the 1st night a Serbian waiter attacked me with the questions of personal nature,like:where are you from?(I regret not telling him "it is not on the menu")I tried not to answer but he was loudly repeating his harassment and other diners started to look at us.Next evening we changed the table.I hate personal questions from strangers.I am in the restaurant to eat.The best server to me is the one I see the least.I do not care where are they from and why and DO NOT expect interrogation from them.The same thing happened with the maid!I asked her for the shampoo and was immediately asked about my country of origin.I said nothing! By the way we found all kinds of trash under the couch in the cabin including broken razors,lipstick,dirty napkins!The maid has time to question guests but no time to clean the balcony cabin properly.She started to call me by name,that was not even mine!To me appropriate address would be "Ms", "Ma'am" And in the aft bar where I ordered a cocktail ONCE a bartender started to make jokes about my husband who do not drink.We left the place in tears leaving automatic tip on the bill! On the last day the Captain himself pledged for the tips for the crew!It was really obnoxious!Tips is MY decision! I did not see anything above and beyond in the service! if the crew members do not want to work on the ship-let them go!

Posted By merky on September 19, 2010, 7:56 PM

We always take longer cruises of around 28 days and longer. The Auto tip makes this a very expensive policy. We usually ask for them to be removed and we tip individually. I have read that the cruise ships send out a list of non auto tippers for the crew to read who is opted out of the auto tipping. Does anyone know if this is true and if so why is it done? Also do the staff have to hand over any tips they are given if you have opted out. I read they cannot keep them as they have to put them in the communal kitty for auto tips. EDDIE

Posted By eddie cliff on October 29, 2010, 9:00 AM

interesting questiship[board cruise members would lkike to reply to this whether or not thisw is true if so i am surely like to know if this is true andif so does your service decrease

Posted By don marcs on May 16, 2011, 3:00 PM