Sally

After just having returned from another cruise I've decided it was my last. Our waiter explained that tipping is the cruise lines way of not paying its staff. They get us to "tip" the staff and pay them little or nothing.<BR>So, in short, tipping on cruises is not "To Insure Proper Service" it YOU paying the staff, instead of the cruise lines paying them....it has nothing to do with tipping. <BR>Please don't think when you give tips on cruises that your giving the crew something extra for doing a good job, you're giving them all they are going to get....period.<BR>There, I feel better for getting this off my chest. My heart breaks when I see this legalized business practice. Shame on you cruise lines! And shame on me for participating in it...

Gale

I'm well aware the cruise lines offer low pay to their waitstaff. However, the low wages + tips doesn't equate to poverty level income in many countries. A waiter on a cruise ship told me that he worked on the ship because the income was better than he could make in his country. In the U.S. many restaurants offer a very low hourly wage to waitstaff because they get tips. This is not unique to the cruise industry, and if this practice offends you, then you'd better forego eating in full-service restaurants. What surprises me is that this info about tips was news to you.

Bob

I agree with Gale. Next time you eat in a resturant as what the hourly wage is. Probably between $2-3 Your Idea of Tipping is long gone

Tim

I agree with Sally. It's people like Gale and Bob who keep this nonsense going.

mikey

I agree with Sally....YET ANOTHER REASON TO RUN LIKE THE WIND FROM CARNIVAL!!!!!!!!

Laura

Mikey, <BR> <BR>Sally didn't mention Carnival in her post. How do you know that's the line she was talking about?

Bob

Thanks Laura. This exposes these idiots for who they are. Tipping is expected on a cruise. period. Just like it is in a restaurant. Stay in Hooterville on don't travel, Sally!

John

I'd rather pay the extra fees up front and not pay tips but I suspect it would cost the cruises lines, particularly in the U.S. Americans like the low price, only to have taxes added on. (Look at airline fares for an example!) Europeans usually see one price which includes everything. I personally like the Euromodel! <BR> <BR>The folks who work on cruise ships probably are making decent salaries compared to the average in their countries. On our last Celebrity cruise we chatted briefly with our Romanian waiter assistant. He told me he couldn't find a job making so much back home. <BR> <BR>Finally, we usually give a little extra to the people who knocked their socks off for us. Makes me feel good and makes them feel good, so we all win!

Bob

To Tim, I'm not exactly sure which or what nonsence your talking abot&gt; I all I did was point out that her idea of tip hasn't held true for a long time. It's a fact of life here in the states, and on cuise ships Tips are what people make their living from and it has been that way for one heck of along time.. If you still subscribe to TIPS then go ahead and stiff.

zoey

Tipping is simply a way of life. If cruise lines, or restaurants simply raised the price to include a service charge, many people would tip anyway. Sally, some people apprciate excellent service and tipping is one way of rewarding such service. I agree with others, if yu don't like the tipping policy, then just go to McDonalds.

Sal

Here's a way to settle it once and for all. Instead of calling it "TIPS" the lines, restaurants, etc. should call it "TPS" To-Pay-Staff.... since thats what it really is. <BR>I too like the european model, just bill me for everything up front. That way I can truly give a "gratutiy" and have it mean something to the staff I give it to. <BR>And shame on you Zoey for saying go eat at McDonalds, the poor lady was just telling you how she felt about this.

zoeym

I'm sorry - I have no appreciation for those who have a thing against tipping. Why is it that so many people think nothing of spending money but when it comes to leaving a gratuity which has been the custom in this country for a long time p they all of a sudden get cheap. Sure - the restaurant can tack it on to the cost of the dinner or add 15% - then the really good server ends up getting cheated because the cheap customer wants to save a buck or two. Like I said, you don't have to tip at McDonalds.

Paul Therault

<BR>When these negative XXXXXX.net posts appear on this forum they should be ignored. They just graduated from aggravator school. Common sense should tell you this. <BR> <BR>Paul

Robyn

I believe another point to be made from Sally's original comment is that the waiter was completely out-of-line making these comments to her in the first place. Whether it be the case or not I do not believe that he should have discussed the details of his salary with the ship's guests. Maybe he was giving you a sob story so you would feel sorry for him and up your "tip", TPS or whatever you wish to call it.

xxxxx

Uh Bob, tipping is for GOOD SERVICE rendered. It should not be EXPECTED ANYWHERE. It is meant to be an incentive for better than average to excellent service. Not to subsidize a industry that already rips everyone off including their own employees.