mandatory carnival tips
 

Has carnival made tipping mandatory on all of its ships?If so what process must you go through to have these charges removed so tipping can be made to your discretion?Doesnt this practice undermine quality of service?

Craig,<BR>Just came back-2 days ago, sailed Carnival Triumph for 7 days to Caribbean. When we recieved are "sign and sail cards", we were automatically charged for tips for the entire 7 days. I do not know about removing the tips, but I do have to say that we recieved excellent service. The last night, we tipped our main dining team extra, by giving them cash. You will see that most of the staff are foreign, and seem to have a very good work ethic. My family and I discussed whether or not the staff actually does recieve the gratuity, or if it goes to Carnival-we think Carnival is pocketing it. When you purchase anything from the bar a 15%gratuity is added. I hope I was some help.

Hi Craig,<BR><BR>Some Carnival ships have mandatory tipping and some do not. Ask your travel agent.<BR><BR>My last sailing on the Destiny I requested to have my tips charged to my on-board account since it saves me quite a bit of time getting the proper change and stuffing envelopes. They responded "no."<BR><BR>I believe Carnival and other assorted cruise lines are going this route so as not to have so many of the crew not receiving tips from the majority of passengers.<BR><BR>There is, of course, no hard and fast rule that states tips must go to the crew (such as the U.S. laws) but I am sure if the line is stiffing the crew, they will eventually find out and the line will be hard pressed to find employees.<BR><BR>It is very simple to have the tips taken off your account or have the amount adjusted up or down by visiting the info desk at any time during the cruise. Just find an appropriate time when, as you are walking by, see no one in line.<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Does anyone know if Disney has mandatory tipping or if the tips can be removed?

i just returned 2 days ago from carnival fantasy. i believe that the automatic tipping policy has resulted in poorer service. i will soon post my review of this cruise.

Why would you people want to remove tips? These people work their asses off and receive only $3-5 per day from the Cruise Line. The tips are just about all they receive. Most of them promptly send the money back to their families in 3rd World Countries.<BR>If you cannot afford to tip the staff for the service you receive, you should not take the trip.<BR>If the service is lousy and you are being ignored, reduce the amount of the tip at the Pursers office.<BR>I believe the Cruise Lines ARE giving their employees this Money.<BR>I personally know Carnival takes VERY good care of its employess. After touring their Reservations office, complete with on-site Child Care and a huge GYM, I asked if I could work their.

I think it is the funniest thing author xxx? makes the comment "they work their asses off(obvious redneck)and they only recieve 3 to 5 dollars a day" then goes on to say "Carnival takes VERY good care of their workers" yea their lucky Carnival pays them at all.This mandatory tipping is just another tool Carnival uses to take the burden off themselves.I believe as you do Craig that poor service should not be rewarded,but on the other hand so should good service be reconized.But let me decide .

I have just come off Carnival and my tips were included in the cruise and I had vouchers. <BR>I dislike the system of tipping. If I wish to tip someone for great service then I do - if not then that should be up to me NOT anyone else. <BR>The arguement that these people get little pay and have to rely on tips to exist does not hold water. If cruise lines, hotels, restaurants etc didn't pay staff and people didn't supplement the wages of these staff then how long would these places have employees? The other arguement that " if you don't tip and the cruise line had to pay then the cruise would cost $1000's more" is also bunkum. They would soon adjust things when people stopped using the ships. There are plenty of cruise lines that don't have tipping. The mere fact that there is to be yet another Carnival Cruise ship soon is arguement enough to show that they must be making sufficient profits to continue buying ships. The cost of drinks on board should cover any cost of paying their employees some sufficient wage - its extortion!<BR>Finally if Americans were really supportive of tipping then they would do so in countries where tipping does not exist - but they don't. So the issue is ' If its an American company who is not paying its staff then thats OK for everyone to put his hands into his pockets and help pay the wage - if its not American then good service doesn't get rewarded at all.<BR>

I agree with ed and geoff poor service poor tip,excellent service excellent tip LET ME DECIDE.As far as the tipping it is mandatory on carnival but can be removed.

As I posted previously, not all Carnval ships have mandatory tipping. Disney does not have mandatory tipping. Princess does have mandatory tipping.<BR><BR>Of all the cruises I have taken you can usually tell who the passengers are that do not tip .... they are strange people. <BR><BR>You will hear it all on this tread. It has been discussed ad infinitum on previoius threads. It will be the same here.<BR><BR>Paul<BR>

I am not cheap or trying to get out of tipping. But it should be for good service and at my discretion. I just came back from an all-inclusive in Jamaica where 'tipping is strictly prohibited' and I tipped constantly--because of the excellent service.

Paul:<BR>I object to you saying that "people who don't tip are strange people - and you can tell who they are" <BR>For your information not EVERYONE is an American and not EVERYONE is used to tipping as, whether you know it or not, tipping is not widespread throughout the world and is looked on as discourteous in most Asian countries. <BR>If America wishes to work on a system of not paying their employees properly that should not be a reason for having to tip. You have a different outlook from other people - why don't you tip nurses, doctors, dentists? Where and why is there a cut off? What about a whip-around for the Captain? But why is it that where tipping is not 'compulsory' Americans are the first not to do it - if you are so enthused with it why don't you do it EVERYWHERE?<BR>

Hi John,<BR><BR>I sailed most ships and I make it a point to talk to as many passengers as possible. The complainers do not tip or tip very little. The blowhards do not tip. The high almighty do not tip. You will hear them on this thread.<BR><BR>John, we are not talking about customs here. When in the United States, do as the U.S. citizens do. When on a ship, do what is advised. If you do not like it .... don't cruise. But do not make a big stink about it (not you in particular).<BR><BR>Paul

Paul: I would agree with you if it weren't for the fact that when Americans are overseas they do not follow the customs of other places - eating customs for instance to name only one item. You must agree that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Therefore most people when they go on a cruise might not feel that they have to follow American customs when the only thing that is American about the cruise is the port the ship left from. These ships are registered in Liberia or Panama, have mostly foreign ( to Americans) crews and are sailing in waters that are not American - now what did I get wrong here - what part of this is American and which bit of whose custom should we follow?

What's wrong with me, I can't get this expression: mandatory tips. I looked up word "gratuity" in Webster, this is what I got: 'something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service; especially : TIP'. Voluntarily, NOT MANDATORY!!!!! And the respectable Fodorites discuss it like it's normal for a tip to be mandatory? I wonder if a cruise line warns you that a tip will be included in your bill like they do it in some restaurants now? I always tip, but hate when I'm forced to do so and would never go back to the place which extorted additional money from me. A note advising on tipping would be appropriate, but not the tipping racket.

See what I mean about how this thread is going to be blown way out of proportion. Now we are going to discuss European customs and American customs and who owns what ship and why we are forced to tip.<BR><BR>I send you all to a nice hotel on a nice island and you can tell the room service person you refuse to pay the gratuity that is included in the bill.<BR><BR>Just stay home!<BR><BR>Paul

Spit the dummy if you want Paul but it won't change the fact that you are expecting people to pay tips under American customs on ships which are not in American waters/ Registered as American ships etc so the whole arguement that one should follow "custom" when in America is not an issue - we are not in America. If you are such a stickler for custom then you should be humble enough to accept that some people from some countries have different ones from you and perhaps you are not 100% right all the time - Might is not always right Paul - sorry about that. <BR>Further it is also no good saying that what is "done" on a cruise should be accepted by the customer. May I assure you that the three times I have cruised I have not been told that I have to tip UNTIL I am on the ship. NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND NOT "INFORMED CONSENT" if you want the legal definition.

Ah just give them all your money. They're gonna nickel and dime you 'til they get it anyway.

I agree with Paul, and I think John has a strange idea of what goes on in the rest of the world. In most of Western Europe, for example, "mandatory gratuities" (if that's what you wish to call them) are added to restaurant bills, and "voluntary tipping" on top of that is probably done mostly by Americans (who are uncomfortable with the idea of not adding something extra). I dare say that most passengers on cruise ships in the Carribean, or up in Alaska, are Americans and follow American customs most of their lives. Some lines add the tips to the cruise price, others don't. If service is lousy, see the purser's office, but all of the literature (and I mean brochures circulated before you book) mention tips on those lines where it is the custom -- and if the first trip was a surprise for John, how can he claim to be surprised the next two times?

The problem with comparing European practices with cruise line practices is that they are truly two different worlds. The European waiter on the whole is a professional (and acts as such as is treated as such). Whereas the cruise line waiter is usually just passing through.<BR><BR>It would be like comparing a Porsche to a Chevy both are functional, but I don't mind paying for the extra performance I get out tof the European model.

To Geoff,<BR>The cost of drinks on Carnival high?<BR>In September mixed drinks were $4.54 Including Gratuity. If you think this is high, I do not know where you are buying Drinks, but I sure would like to find it.<BR>As Paul said, on Carnival, NCL and others who add tip to the Shipboard Account these can easily be reduced if desired at the Service Desk.<BR>

Who is talking about Western Europe anyway - there is more to the world than Western Europe and America<BR>

I agree with Xman - if you are going to look at Western Europe then paying for a professional, well dressed, well mannered waiter is quite different from the usual 'run of the mill' waiters who are passing though as he said. I mean every mother every day waits on their family so whats is so hard about that. <BR>If you are that keen on seeing that people in poor countries don't get shafted then you could make a direct donation or aggitate to try and take away the system that cruise lines have of getting away from paying staff what they should be entitled to as wages by registering in some obscure port. <BR>It doesn't matter whether 90% of people on a cruise are Americans or not that fact is that if it is in foreign waters and foreign registered - it not American. <BR>Perhaps if Americans had less of a "do it our way or else" attitude it would not be in Afghanistan at this moment.

Don't know how we went from tipping to Afghanistan, but couldn't let such a statement slip by without my two cents worth. We're there Suzie because on September 11th over 3,000 innocent American citizens were murdered on US soil. Your other statement about mothers is too ridiculous for comment.

Yes, there is John. And you certainly won't find it on the prepackaged self contained xenophobic world of a cruise line.<BR><BR>And the comment concerning Europe was the prix fixe or included tipping that the cruise lines are trying to pawn off on you the patron.<BR><BR>One thing xman didn't mention. you don't have to patronize a restaurant if you are not happy with the service. You're stuck on a ship along with the "hoops they make you jump through" to remove a tip, because of poor service.<BR><BR>Why do I say this because I like many others had poor service on a Carnival ship and did not feel the staff should be rewarded for disgraceful service.

I think what others are trying to say here is that all too often we Americans are too inflexible with our ideas and force them onto others who feel that they don't need them in the first place. <BR>The reference to mothers meant ( I think) that it is not very hard to be a meal server and I for one agree with that statement as most cruise waiters are nothing out of the ordinary

<BR>Isn't this fun. I'll bet this thread will go upwards to 125 replies.<BR><BR>I'll agree with Albert.<BR><BR>Paul

It seems everyone has forgotten Craigs orginal question?

Not really Udog. Most people have shown that mandatory tipping on Carnival cruise lines does not have a positive affect on anyone. Patron and employee alike. The only beneficiary is CCL because they can pay their employees less.<BR><BR>The forms needed to remove unwanted tips are difficult to obtain. Thereby frustrating the average person in to the "Aw forget it" mode. And CCL wins. This company and RCCL practice the barrier ploy that insurance companys use. They figure sooner or later you will give up, and they win by default.<BR><BR>Most people in this post have stated this in one form or another so I would say Craig's question has been suitably answered.<BR><BR>Paul and his brethern will repeatedly attempt to dilute the comments made against CCL for who knows what reasons. The explanation is simple though. The majority of complaints lodged against cruise lines are against CCL & RCCL. <BR><BR>And don't tell me it's because they sell the most. Ex: Verizon wireless covers over half the cell service in this country and they have the least complaints (and they are much bigger than both cruise lines combined).

The cruise lines have agreed that mandatory tipping does favor the crew. RCCL, I'm sure, will institute the policy soon.<BR><BR>Princess will start in January.<BR><BR>I am pro-cruising not just pro-<BR>Carnival.<BR><BR>Paul

No Paul. It favors the cruise lines. They now can pay their employees less, and defer any costs to you the patron. Also, this price increase does not have to be reflected in their brochures. The patron now gets a false impression of pricing for a cruise. These kinds of tactics are unethical. Hiding costs like these only shows their disdain for their customers.

What's hidden, or new? Cruise lines' brochures have always explained "suggested" tips -- it is no more of a hassle to tip "voluntarily" than to get out of one which is "mandatory." This whole discussion -- hiding behind America vs. the rest of the world on what we pretend others' tipping practices are -- all to save a few bucks and find a reason to stress out during a vacation -- is incredible.

I am flabergasted by this whole issue of tipping. Fact is the large US controlled cruise lines pay what tantamount adds up to stavation wages for most of the 'in service' crew. They do this because American consumers want the lowest possible cruise prices and many people shop on price. Mandatory tipping...I cannot comment but I can tell you that I always tip well for good service. The problem is that many people simly do not. They are either too selfish or just too damm cheap. Instead of thinking ourselves so much and our upgrades or if the orange juice is cold think for a minute about the people who make you vacation an enjoyable experience. They are constantly away from home for one reason<BR>and one reason alone-to provide for their families in some less developed country. They earn our respect by working hard to make a better life. In this north american milieu of abundance I simply cannot believe how someone would be so mean as to not give them a helping hand for services rendered. I am convinced that this thread is about money, all excuses aside. Look around-would you like to trade places with these folks????

No this thread is about the insular, gullable and parochial attitudes of Americans who refuse to realize that the rest of the world turns whilst they don't. <BR>Bull....t that you tip to "Help" those in need who are feeding their family in worse off countries than your own. You do it because you have peer pressure to do it and you are conned into thinking that it is a wonderful thing to do. If no-one did it the cruise lines would not have employees and would have to come to the party and actually pay for staff just like the rest of the world has to pay for staff when they are hired. <BR>Get your head out of the sand and look around you - America is on the verge of being a third world country itself.

Could someone please point me to the area that talks about tipping on the Carnival cruise lines site. <BR>I have noticed the Holland America lines do not encourage tipping but I would like to see the clause on the Carnival Cruise site that explains why they don't pay their staff.

Peter. Even the illustrious Paul will tell you these people average $40,000.00<BR>on a good year. Sure I'll trade places with them. No formal education, and they make more money than most college grads. Not a bad deal. And Peter they pay the same any bartender makes in the U.S.<BR><BR>The issue at hand is that tipping is for GOOD service rendered. It should not be automatic in this situation. And to compare it to European standards only shows the posters ignorance. In most cases Europe will always be heads above any American run cruise line because they believe in a sense of professionalism and self-pride that these mega cruise lines will never have.<BR><BR>The people that frequent these lines are attracted by the same thing the CCL's & RCCL's hold most dear. Making or saving a buck. So birds of a feather.

Kudos to Peter Ed and Albert, they are the few that makes any sense on this thread.<BR><BR>And to all the xxxx's I went through the income thing in past threads and you all continue to bring it up.<BR><BR>When you calculate the hours and months they work every single day they earn what we call grub wages. And I am not going to break it down again. Every single penny goes back to their families. It is very sad. Talk to them about their famiies and don't be so snobbish. And whoever thinks it could be described as peer pressure ... I think not.<BR><BR>Sure mistakes are made and we all make mistakes. Remember your first job? They realize they make mistakes and they know that they have to do better. Don't we all.<BR><BR>Reduce your tip if you see fit but to not tip at all ..... we will revert back to the "blowhard" theory. They are all over this thread. <BR><BR>Did I insult a few? I hope so.<BR><BR>Paul

Paul - you are a self-opinionated blinkered dick-head

Jennifer, please go back to the teen chatrooms from whence you came. Self-opinionated? Would you rather have folks express the opinions of others? Paul is so right -- these folks work VERY long hours every day for months at a time. In U.S. restaurants wait staff can also be paid poorly with the idea that they'll make it up in tips. Is the typical cruise waiter the same as in a Michelin 3-star Parisian restaurant, of course not? But I tip well for a pleasant kid making pin money at the local chain restaurant, and if I know (and there's NO excuse for not knowing) that tipping is the norm on a cruise, I should tip. Less or nothing for lousy service, but average to much more for good service. And Teresa is correct -- if you cannot afford the entire cost of the vacation, find something else to do.

Jennifer your message to Paul shows just how "classy" you are!It's very doubtful you will ever rise above a Carnival or RCCL cruise.<BR>Re/ "tipping", people should tip if they want,how much they want,or not at all if it's warranted.All you have to do is have the automatic tips removed from your account at the pursers desk!<BR>As far as the ships being registered in foreign countries,yes they do this to an extent to escape taxes and other regulations that would add hundreds to the cost of a cruise and put a cruise out of reach of many.How many posts do you see wherein someone is raising hell about the cost of a coke for the kid,but will spend hundreds to drink themselves silly with nary a word about the bar bill!If you can afford to pay for a cruise, you should be able to pay for the tips,(again-if they are warranted).<BR>Just trying to point out that there is always something to gripe about and some folks are bound to find it!<BR>To all,gripers ,Carnival bashers, Carnivel lovers, RCCl devotees and the rest,I sincerely wish you all happy and safe Holidays.<BR>