Please remeber to tip!!!
 

Hi everyone, I just want to remind those of you who will be on cruises to tip. I know most travel agents tell you this but I can not urge it more. My father is a captain on a cruise line and he told me the stories about tipping. Most of the people who work on the cruise ship, work for very little and rely on tips as their means of survival. Yes, the cabin stewards, waiters, etc get free room and food but their accomidations are 2 people in bunk bed rooms. They make about $75 a month and have families of 3 or more that they need to send money home to. Which is why tipping is so important. If they recieved the tipping that is suggested at the beginning of the cruise, they would make a good living but MANY people dont care, they set the money aside with the intention to tip but spend the money during the cruise and since you tip on your last night, get great service throughout the cruise and screw the employees after. I have even noticed people not going to the dining room the last night to avoid tipping. You are suppose to tip regardless if you eat in the dining room or not. My cabin steward was there for me all the time and gave me anything I needed. Remember, they come to your room twice a day. I actually watched people scream and yell at their stewards. They only suggest 1.50 per night. (I paid 80 to my cabin steward for a 7 day cruise and still felt ashamed)

Sounds like your father is captain of a slave ship. Shouldn't the employer, not the customer, be responsible for providing a living wage?

it is sad that people such as Ned have a mindset. We in the U.S. have all kinds of opportunities and can not understand how others live in foreign countries. <BR><BR>I met a young busboy once that came from a poverty area of Venezuela. He worked his way up to waiter, met a young American gal who worked for the cruiseline as an officer. This fellow was so charming she was attracted to him fairly quickly. After about 8 years they married. They both left cruising and opened a catering business in California and are quite successful.<BR><BR>Granted most of the foreign staff really do not care for the hours and regiment of the cruise industry but are willing to work since the experience is so much better than what they had at home. I, for one, really look up to these young people and think of my ancestors that came over to the land of the free in the same way. If it wasn't for my grandparents I would probably be living in some shack in Italy.<BR><BR>Think about it people.<BR><BR>Paul

Put on your glasses Paul.<BR><BR>Seems to me that Ned was being critical of the employer, rather than the people who are working for such low wages.<BR><BR>

Sorry but the employees families are not my responsibility - I will tip if I get good service: if I don't I won't tip.

I thought it was just automatically added onto your bill? I think cruises are very reasonable. I think they should either up the prices and pay there people more money rather than rely on people and tipping habits. Some folks do not want to tip at all. Regardless of service. Many years ago, I was a waitress while in school. Many times the people who are the most demanding, ask you a million questions, seem to the nicest, are the cheapest. It doesn't matter what kind of service they get, they are just plain cheap. They won't tip adequately no matter what service they receive.

Ned, you are confused. A slave ship? This is how all cruise lines works. It isnt any different from what waiters and waitresses make at resturants or your bell staff at hotels. They rely on tips. And its about experiences. A lot of theses people come from these islands that you visit where they only rely on tourism. They also take these jobs because they come from these islands that you visit. When you dock, they visit their families. <BR><BR>A ship usually has a staff of OVER 2,000 people depending on the ships. The biggers ones staff over 5,000 You do the math.<BR><BR>Im sure youve been in restuarants where people get great service and dont tip. Its the exact same thing. And just like any wait staff, they know they the way your treat yours customers is how you get paid.<BR><BR>Yes, and if you get bad service, don't tip. Im only talking about the people who will take the good service, then avoid tipping because they just dont want to. Or because they assume these people make a ton of money already.<BR><BR>

Please tell me why this post was started in the first place. Are you an employee begging for tips. I get sick of the hand always being out, and will tip the norm, but don't &quot;remind&quot; people. I don't think they are stupid.

Obviously you didnt read the entire post. I am not an employee begging for tips. Im just giving information that a travel agent may not. Last I checked, this is what these posts are for giving and asking information.<BR><BR>Give me a break, I bet you had no idea that more than 60% of people dont tip on a cruise ship. I guess that throws your stupidity theory out the window huh. People DO need to be reminded.<BR>

An interesting thread. I recall a 2 year period when I worked as a waiter while in college. About 10% of customers regularly left no tip, regardless of service or who served them. Another 25% would tip less than 10%, again regardless of service provided. 65% of customers tipped appropriately. I never considered myself a &quot;slave,&quot; just a college kid trying to make a living within the system.

That was exactly my point a few posts up from yours. I think in my opinion if one has ever relied on tips you are more sensitive to the tipping issue. I worked my way through school. Those who have never worked in a tipping situation, are more likely to not tip in any given situation. Also while this is an interesting thread, this will more than likely not change the fact. They will still not tip no matter what.

Come on folks, don't you recognize a scam when you see one. This is someone trying to bait everyone into another battle over tipping. If her father really is a Captain she would either sail in his cabin or, he would get one provided for her at little or no cost. In either case she would be making the problem worse by not paying for the cruise, thus leaving even less money for the line to pay its staff.

We tip well for good service. However, this past trip, I had room service deliver coffee each morning at 6:30am, at the end of the trip there was no envelope for room service. How were they compensated? Next time, should I tip each morning?

<BR>My father has been working on the RCCL cruise line for over 10 years and the industry his entire life. He could have his meals served to him in his room and pretty much anything he likes to eat made but he eats with with passengers in the buffet room and to this day tips everytime and everyone. <BR><BR>I have only been one cruise in the last 10 years so I certainly don't take advantage. I dont think I didnt anything different than what a vice president or president of a comapny's family would do. And yes, i actually stayed in a room at little cost but tipped more than you would have paid for the cruise - <BR><BR>These are very hard working people. And my only point in this whole post was to point out the importance of tipping when your on a cruise because some travel agents dont. <BR><BR>I am the same way with my waiters at resturants and any other service I am provided.

bait?? give me a break...

We always tip room service at the time it is delivered. Normally $1 or $2 for coffee and more for a meal.

Well, since we cruise quite a bit, and always tip, I will not be bothered with your little &quot;pitch&quot;. Actually, you kind of remind me of the waiters that start telling you how they are saving their money for someone in their family to have an operation. Too funny!

Please tell me why it is my responsibility to pay for someone else who CHOOSES to have x amount of children? I tip accordingly when it is deserved but it is NOT my responsibility to pay for someone else's lifestyle.

Why not just add a 15% service charge to the total and eliminate tipping altogether? I have no problems with tipping but I just hate to see employees grovelling for tips.

Oh please. How could anyone &quot;forget&quot; to tip????<BR><BR>On every cruise I've been on, you'd have to be deaf and blind not to know about tipping. It's not like you aren't reminded to tip throughout cruise!<BR><BR>Look, I always tip and tip well, but rest assured, if someone doesn't, it's because they don't want to, not because they &quot;forgot&quot;!

i have to say.. i dont know if it's me being lucky or not... but i have NEVER had staff come up and beg or heavily remind me to tip or share stories of family back home needing money.. and just so noone gets the wrong idea.. i usually do all i can to eliviate extra staff work and am not demanding and usually tip the recomended amount. If everyone does tip the recomended amount than the staff is paid adequately. As for people who have the mindset that the employer should pay their employees and it shouldnt be the customers responsibility.. i agree.. BUT untill they do there is still a need to tip so please do! _and just remember a well paid staff is usually more accomodating and friendly_

You are just wasting your breath Mai. There are very negative people on this thread that will always look for a reason not to tip.<BR>Something as trivial as not having the salt shaker filled.<BR><BR>Some do not realize that they are being waited on for 3 meals per day and if that was the case in the states tipping on ships is bargain.<BR><BR>Bottom line: If the employees are paid more you will pay more for your cruise ... MUCH MORE. So if you do not like the tipping guidelines do not cruise.<BR><BR>But you see all the negative people still cruise. They just like to complain and get others all worked up. It happens on many threads, not just this one that pertains to tipping.<BR><BR>This thread will go on forever or until Fodors ends the replies.<BR><BR>Paul<BR>

Sorry to burst your bubble but I twrote in before and do tip VERY well, way over the daily suggested rate. I also understand a lot of people are cheapskates and don't tip at all. However, the cruisers who should not have to feel the pressure since the cruise lines do not pay their employees. We are there to relax.

Hey xxx, To avoid the pressures of having to tip, why don't you avoid the mass market lines and sail the all inclusives? There are certainly enough of them (Seaborne, Radisson Silversea) to give you choice and peace of mind.

Oh Paul......who says people on this board to not tip? Are you just running your mouth AGAIN! <BR><BR>

Thanks for the suggestion Jude. I have looked into those lines but unfortunately it's hard to find some that work w/ my husband's schedule. We live on the west coast &amp; don't like to fly more than 5 hrs. to get to the port. Haven't been able to convince him to go for more than 7 days yet. I have heard wonderful things about those companies though. Eventually.....

Of course all of the ship's crew should get a decent income! That's not an issue. <BR><BR>I just returned from a 7-day RCI cruise and enjoyed excellent service all around. RCI tells us exactly how much to &quot;tip,&quot; down to the $5.25 for the headwaiter. We can prepay this (I did), and give the employee a voucher to cash in later. This being the case, why not simply add the &quot;recommended tip&quot; to the cost of the trip and boast that there is no tipping allowed on board. Everyone would be happier, certainly the staff, which would not have to worry about deadbeats.<BR><BR>Actually, what irked me was the constant tipping on shore to move baggage in small increments: Porter from pier to bus, bus driver to load it into bus, skycap to check it in at the airport. All of these people should be paid by the cruise line and should not have to depend on tips. The cruise line should cover this and make the cost of the trip whatever it really is, including these services, which virtually everyone needs.<BR><BR>It's part of the larger issue of tipping, of course, in which the U.S. is in the rear guard. Most of the rest of the First World has long since abandoned this demeaning practice. But that's another story....

The people that help you with your luggage before you are actually on the ship are not employees of the cruise line.<BR><BR>Paul

Yes Paul that's true, but they seem to imply that your luggage may not make it to the appropriate places if you don't tip them. <BR><BR>If they are to be guilty by association then the cruise lines should have some protocols in place to govern their behavior.

I've never heaed a porter, airport baggage handler etc ever say or even intimate that my luggage wouldn't arrive if I didn't tip. That's a supposition on your part. I personally tip them in recognition of their hard work. If you don't want to tip, just don't. Beside, cruise ship stevedores and airport curbside baggage handlers make very good livings.

Ummmm no Jude! I was specifically told that if I didn't tip, my luggage may not get there (the ship). This was on a RCCL ship.<BR><BR>I would not have brought it up if I didn't have a personal experience with this.

Jude,<BR>You are very lucky if you have always had pleasant, hardworking porters that you felt really deserved a tip. On all 3 of our past cruises the porters have either said it straight out or with a very obvious insinuation that if we didn't tip, our bags might not make it on the ship. On our last cruise, two members of our party did not yet have room assignments, and I had been told that when we got to the port we should ask to see the a for the cabin assignments so it could be written in on the luggage tags. When I asked the porter where I could find &quot;the list&quot; he practically threw it in my face and then he still tried to take the bags before we could get the cabin numbers written in. He then proceeded to count the number of people &amp; bags he had taken and tell us exactly how much we &quot;owed&quot; him.<BR>I have no problem tipping for good service, but isn't it the porters' job to take my bag? Are they not being paid by the port facility and working strictly on tips? How does everyone else handle this practice that, based on my limited experience, could almost be equated to blackmail? Our past cruises have all been out of Miami; we leave next week on a Celebrity cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale and I am hoping the porter experience will be a more positive one (although I'm not counting on it).

Laura<BR>Just returned from a cruise out of Ft Lauderdale and experienced the same. The porter actually said &quot;our bags might not make it&quot;.

So you can obviously see Jude I am not the only one with this experience. So there is NO supposition on my part.

The way I see it is, you are about to board a beautiful ship and sail on a wonderful vacation, the last thing anyone should be concerned about is giving someone a couple bucks per bag.<BR><BR>Give the tip and don't give another thought. It is not a perfect world and everything cannot always go our way. It is a lot easier to swim with the current instead of against it.

So you've got a choice to make. Carry your own bags onn board, tip them, or don't tip and take your chances. That's life. What else is new?

Really? Should we carry them before or after they tell us not to carry them on board?<BR><BR>Bottom line is that the cruise lines portray cruises as being a hassle free all inclusive type vacation. The seasoned cruiser knows to bring along added tip money for the extra personnel that are involved.<BR><BR>If these porters are part of the chain of custody for your belongings then that cruise lines need to monitor their behavior better.

Thank you Paul for your message.<BR><BR>I was actually offended when someone suggested that my father worked on a &quot;slave&quot; ship or asking if I were an employee &quot;begging&quot; for tips and so I steered away from the travel talk at fodors because I found myself having to explain and defend the logistics and cost of my cruise to prove that I wasnt a hypocrite when my only objective was to express the importance that was given to me by my father and information that a person may not know.

Question, I always make it a point to have my sons carry their own bags, and I carry mine. Are you saying they are aggresive and will try to take the bags from you if you say &quot;no thanks, I don't need any help? Why do you have to have anyone carry your bags?

Frugal<BR>When the shuttle drops you and your bags off at the cruise port, your bags are taken from the port to the ship by someone other than you. You find them by your stateroom door when you arrive.