Patty

sandy,<BR>It was my understanding that if you kept the auto gratuity in place, then any additional cash you give directly to the staff could be kept by that person. Anyone know for sure?

Sandy

Patty: ALL tips must be turned in; staff can be fired if caught "pocketing" anything. I think that they MAY get the "extra" returned to them if the sailing meets or exceeds the predetermined tipping minimums for the cruise based on (# of pax x $10/day)

Paul Therault

Tips are not pooled.

Patty

Paul,<BR>Are you refering to the auto gratuity or extra cash (specific to Princess)? I can't imagine how they could not pool the auto gratuity for the waiters if you choose personal choice dining.

scott

I always tip normal amount unless service is MUCH BETTER,OR WORSE THAN NORMAL! Last cruise on Royal Princess ,we tipped cabin steward much more for his extra service & tipped (worlds worst waiter )nothing! Don't like "auto tipping" at all! SCOTT

Carolyn

My husband & I were on the Ocean Princess last May (2001) to Alaska -- We chose the Personal Choice dining plan & were informed upfront that a tip would be added to our account everyday for dining only! We tipped our room steward in the regular envelopes that were left in our room on the last day. I figured up the amount of daily tip charges on our account, which came up to at least 10% per day (less than what we normally would tip at home) - this included the dinning room (dinner only) and the buffet (breakfast & Lunch). We were not upset at all!

Carolyn

My husband & I were on the Ocean Princess last May (2001) to Alaska -- We chose the Personal Choice dining plan & were informed upfront that a tip would be added to our account everyday for dining only! We tipped our room steward in the regular envelopes that were left in our room on the last day. I figured up the amount of daily tip charges on our account, which came up to at least 10% per day (less than what we normally would tip at home) - this included the dinning room (dinner only) and the buffet (breakfast & Lunch). We were not upset at all! <BR>Jane- if you would look at all brochures for the cruise lines, they all have tipping policies(except for HAL - who really makes it confusing when they say "no tipping required" but still is expected at the end of the cruise) - Princess & Norwegian line are the only lines that offer the Personal choice style of dining. We liked it better because we were not tied down to a specific dinner time (especially while in port).

julie

I am a manager for a cruise only agency. I was at a seminar for Princess on Wednesday and our regional sales representative for Princess made it very clear that all tips are divided up for the staff - All waitstaff, cabin stewards - ect.<BR><BR>These people cater to your every need for a week with long term commitments to the cruise lines. I say tip tip tip

mscool

I am still waiting for clarification from Paul - if I take the auto tip off and hand hard cold cash to my room steward, so they or do they not have to add it to the pool to be shared by all?<BR><BR>I am dead set against auto tipping because, as others have mentioned, it rewards the not-so-good ones and hurts the exceptional ones when it all gets pooled together. And how many people actually go through the effort to ADD to the auto tip? As one person mentioned, eventually people get to the "Aw forget it" point and those that would have left MORE than the average get to that point too, and the special service doesn't get rewarded because who wants to go through the extra effort to leave a bigger tip?

Patty

Adding to the auto gratuity requires no more than simply giving cash to staff members that you feel provided excellent service. Not really much of an 'effort' IMO. However, there seems to be some conflicting information as to whether that staff member gets to keep it.

Paul Therault

Pertaining to auto-tipping. The tips are not pooled unless you choose Personal Choice Dining.<BR><BR>One tidbit of information. If you reduce your tip, your steward or wait staff will not know it is you. If you wish to give extra put your name on the envelope. This again does not pertain to Personal Choice Dining.<BR><BR>Paul

Peter

09/25/2002, 11:11 am<BR><BR>Paul - I'm not sure I understand this point of yours: "One tidbit of information. If you reduce your tip, your steward or wait staff will not know it is you."<BR><BR>My understanding is that your room steward directly gets whatever auto tip or adjusted auto tip you leave for him/her. Its only the dining staff that share auto tips and that only if you choose Personal Choice Dining. If you have a table assignment and thus the same waiter and assistant every night - your auto tips go directly to them - no pooling.<BR><BR>The same rules apply to cash - personal choice, dining staff must pool - not personal staff, everyone keeps what you give them.<BR><BR>Here's a tip for you that I believe originates from Paul - if you want to give someone something extra and you don't want it to be pooled - give them a calling card - they all need them and they're pretty tough to pool.

Paul Therault

Yes Peter, I should have elaborated, your room steward will know it is you but not until after you leave the ship. And if he takes the time to study the names and matches the amounts he may know he did not please. But I really doubt they have time to do that.<BR><BR>And how come you said something nice about me? Are you the real Peter.<BR><BR>Paul

cindiloowho

Just returned form a long voyage with Star Princess. Yes, the tip is added and (according to everyone we asked, staff included) is 'pooled' and divided back out by some Princess formula. The thing I object to is that it is so unclear, and it makes people mad...thus they go to the Purser and &quot;opt out&quot;, and this dimishes the amount the staff gets. I really resent giving tip at all to that oily dining room head waiter who did nothing helpful at all, just walked around learing at everybody, while some of the folks from other countries worked like slaves. We shouldn't have to be thinking and worrying about this when they are on a holiday. It should be made clear what the policy is and what happens to the tips when collected (yes, they all go into a pool, even cash put into somewone's hand).

mikeim

Tipping is a cost of cruise. It's maddening that everyone's paws out for tips, but when they are charging $100 per day for the accomodation, meals, entertainment and transportation, they can't afford to pay for the help. So they want you to pay the wages and call it a tip. Think about it. It easily cost $100 for two to go out to a nice, but not top restaurant in a big city. I don't like this tipping scene, so I switched to &quot;tipping included&quot; lines. I pay more for Silversea and Radisson, but service is sure better because the crew is paid better. You get something for nothing I'm afraid.