Tipping on Carnival: How much??
Jan 21st, 2002, 09:30 AM
#2
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The tips will be for EACH person in the cabin. Carnival posts their "suggested" tipping amounts in all their printed materials, or ask any travel agent. Carnival has gotten a lot of flack for automatically deducting these tips from your account as soon as you get on the ship. You can have them removed, or adjusted, but to do so try to visit the Purser desk during off hours. <BR>There have been long lines on every ship of theirs I have been on and a lot of unhappy people. To avoid having everyone fill out the tip adjustment forms they make you stand in line and ask for one instead of leaving them out like they do with other forms. You will then have to make a second trip to drop them in a large drum with a BIG sign on it to let everyone know you are adjusting your tips. You will also need to fill out one of these forms for EACH person in your cabin, and each will have to sign it (although I'm not sure about children).<BR>Hope this helps. And in fairness to other lines, Carnival is not the only line doing this.<BR>Tilly<BR>P.S. I disagree with this system and have all the tips removed from my account, then I hand the tips to each staff and personnaly thank them for what they did.
Jan 21st, 2002, 11:33 PM
#3
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<BR>What ship were you on Tilly. I have been on 4 Carnival ships in the past 18 months and 2 had regular envelope tipping and two had tips added to your account. I went to the purser's office on one ship to adjust my tips to give less to the cabin steward and more to the waiter and busboy and never had to wait in line (went on an off time). Process only took five minutes. No one else in the cabin had to sign and there was no "box" on either ship. <BR><BR>This is a test system on Carnival and many cruise lines are now following suit.<BR><BR>You are correct, there are many passengers that do not care for the new-age system but the lines are deciding that it is the only fair way to make sure the staff gets their tips.<BR><BR>I will get 50 arguments on tipping. It is a moot point. Best not to cruise if you do not wish to abide by the tipping guidelines. <BR><BR>Paul
Jan 22nd, 2002, 11:24 AM
#5
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<BR>Hi David,<BR><BR>Yes Spirit has automatic tipping.<BR><BR>For those of you that wish to know the rest of the ships that DO have the automatic tipping:<BR><BR>Inspriration, Paradise, Fascination, Pride, Legend, Conquest, Triumph, Imagination, Elation and Destiny. <BR><BR>I do like automatic tipping. It saves me quite a bit of time stuffing envelopes and trying to get proper change at the last minute. If I wish to have the tips adjusted I simply tell them. If I wish to tip extra for a job well done I ask the purser for envelopes. If they will not give me envelopes I just palm the money and give it to the staff.<BR><BR>Paul
Jan 23rd, 2002, 04:51 AM
#8
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Paul: Is it true that Carnival does not give your exact tip amount to the crew who served you? I ask because I heard that all the tip money goes into a pool and then gets divided up equally to all the staff. If it's true I have a problem with it since the crew I tip does not get my EXTRA reward like they did the old way. Thanks
Jan 23rd, 2002, 08:28 AM
#9
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<BR>Hi David,<BR><BR>Yes, it is pooled. I imagine it would be quite difficult to sort out tips and give to 200 plus crew. I believe it is done that way in most large restaurants when one pays by credit card and I know it is pooled in casinos.<BR><BR>If you wish to give extra simply put it in an envelope and pass it to the<BR>crew member in person. You may also just palm the money and give it to him. This is done quite frequently.<BR>I believe it is a good thing to do since it makes for a better cruise experience in the future for other passengers since that crew member will work harder to please his passengers. It is the American way.<BR><BR>Paul
Jan 23rd, 2002, 09:47 AM
#10
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Paul???? Look at what you just said!!! Hand him the tip to get the desired reward to him so future travelers will benefit. That's exactly what the OLD system was!!!! <BR>Why on earth do people want their tips pooled so that everyone who works hard and the others who do only what they must GET THE SAME REWARD! This is LUNACY!
Jan 23rd, 2002, 11:58 AM
#11
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Tony,<BR><BR>That is how things work in England (and parts or Europe!) and why some Europeans don't tip properly when they are in America. They don't understand (as I do being american and living in Europe). Tips are pooled, or even given over to the owners?management, esp if on a credit card. Staff get the minimum wage (at least in the EU), not like in America, or even worse on cruise lines, where there is no min for service staff. This means that you are more likely to get bad service, or if you get good service, the right people aren't rewarded. I constantly complain about service in the Uk, but if those serving knew they would be rewarded, it could be different.<BR><BR>A.
Jan 23rd, 2002, 10:40 PM
#12
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<BR>The crew earns more money as a team then with the old system where too many passengers stiffed the staff.<BR><BR>This is one reason on the ships where tipping is not automatic there is no buffet on the last night of the cruise (tip night).<BR><BR>All staff is performance evaluated and will not keep the job after the contract is up.<BR><BR>All passengers should fill out the comment cards at the end of the cruise.<BR><BR>The staff has to work as a team and if one is bringing the others down you will see that person demoted or sent back to training.<BR><BR>Now I will repeat what I have said so many times ....... if you do not like the system, whatever it may be, either do not cruise or spend the money to sail the upscale lines where tipping is included and you are paying more for the cruise than you will ever pay with the tip system. <BR><BR>Why argue the point here? It is not going to get you anywhere. Write to the cruise lines.<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR><BR>
