Norwegian Cruise Lines Service Charge!!!!

branny1982

I beleive the cruise lines operate a $10 per day automatic fee for service.
I was wondering if i can opt out of this and then tip as and when i want to?

pin

Hmm, found this often to be the case at many Carribean and US hotels that they have a $X service charge "for your convinience". Personally I think it is a total farce. As for refusing to pay, see what it says in the T&Cs to see if this service charge is discretionary (sp?). I reckon it is going to be compulsary though.

lisyloo

do i have any authority to refuse this charge>?????

In the UK you can ask for service charges to be removed.
However I don't know under what countries law your contract is operating.

Plus bear in mind that you will probably have had excellent service and be in a very good mood.
This is basically replacing tips and this is fairly normal for cruising.

Why not ask your travel agent or NCL themselves whether it is mandatory?

I would guess that you will be able to reduce or have it removed but it's designed to make the whole "tipping" thing easier for everyone.

The lesson to take away is to check this sort of stuff up front although of course we all are human.

moonrakerz

Most cruise lines add a "Service Charge", you usually can have it removed if you wish. if you had looked you would have found it before you booked.

However if you are such a cheapskate that you have decided to not pay it already, I hope you get lousy service !

saveapenny

moonrakerz wrote:

Most cruise lines add a "Service Charge", you usually can have it removed if you wish. if you had looked you would have found it before you booked.

However if you are such a cheapskate that you have decided to not pay it already, I hope you get lousy service !

Unfair coments.
I ask for the service (tips) to be removed everytime for one reason I dont see why they should tell me how much to pay and who too.
For instance I tip the Matre De less than the bus boy because he does all the work and you get loads of good service.
Tipping at the begining of the cruise (1/2) always helps too.
Also several companies NCL and RCCL have come under fire for using tip as wages.
If i get bad service they get nowt (never happened) if I get good service (always) I tip and I am not mean but I am not paying thier wages either when I already paid my cruise fare
I dont tip the people I dont see either ...why should I?

But you cannot ask for the 15% bar service charge to be removed

moonrakerz

saveapenny wrote:

Unfair coments.
I ask for the service (tips) to be removed everytime for one reason I dont see why they should tell me how much to pay and who too.

For instance I tip the Matre De less than the bus boy because he does all the work and you get loads of good service.
Tipping at the begining of the cruise (1/2) always helps too.
Also several companies NCL and RCCL have come under fire for using tip as wages.
If i get bad service they get nowt (never happened) if I get good service (always) I tip and I am not mean but I am not paying thier wages either when I already paid my cruise fare
I dont tip the people I dont see either ...why should I?

But you cannot ask for the 15% bar service charge to be removed

My comment was fair - if people can't read what they are signing up to - then moan about it - sorry, hard luck.

The cruise line brochures all clearly state what the "service charge" policy is, if you think the service is poor you DON'T have to pay it. I travel with Cunard
and pay $11 a day, and I don't begrudge a penny (cent?) of it
And "the people who I don't see" are probably the ones who deserve a tip most ! Why shouldn't the guys in the kitchen, the wash up and the laundry get something ?

I certainly don't go into a restaurant, or on a cruise, and say beforehand that I am not going to tip. Unfortunately a lot of people have that attitude as the OP showed.

However, the one thing that does really p**s me off are the restaurants who add a service charge then present you with the credit card bill with another line on it for a tip !!!

saveapenny

so you mind that they dont get fare wages because the company use your money to pay them instead of tips being extra to wages ..then good luck to you hope you never hit hard times and depend on tips.

Its not saying you not going to tip its saying I want to control my tips


However, the one thing that does really p**s me off are the restaurants who add a service charge then present you with the credit card bill with another line on it for a tip !!!


same thing...alwasy pay by cash and refuse the tip?servcie charge

Its called taking control of YOUR money

saveapenny

Just want to add..

We paid out nearly £250 in tips last time (7 day cruise) but it was our choice

moonrakerz

saveapenny wrote:

Its not saying you not going to tip its saying I want to control my tips

Its called taking control of YOUR money

Both you and the OP are in control of your tips and you are in control of your money !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why carp about it !!

saveapenny

we will leave it at that. You cruise with Cunard.
Say no more...lol

vickyj

You have to bear oin ind that the crew menbers are paid virtually NOTHING tyour tips make about 90% of thier wage the per person tipping system is pretty standard on most cruise lines.