Cruise ship tips and gratuities

zilla6

Anyone know the up to date info on Cruise ship tips and gratuities? I know they are added to your on board account, but is it compulsory to pay them now? I've read elsewhere that you can refuse to pay them. I'm particularly interested in cruise and maritime ships.
Thanks!

gettingtheresometime

I think you've always been able to have them removed.

I know P&O won't be apply anymore service charges from (I think) May.

NoodleDoodleMan

It varies between cruise lines, some have gratuities included in the up front price - where they are added to your cabin account you can go to the Guest Services (Purser) and opt out.

That has to be done at the start of the cruise in my experience.

Not sure about Cruise & Maritime - check out their website.

zilla6

Thanks for the above replies.

shykins

Cruise and Maritime add tips to your onboard account which you can remove on the penultimate night when you get your bill. you go to the reception and ask for a form

if you get one of their Additions drinks packages the tips are included in that and you cant remove them. the packages are well worth the money and you should take a look at them

zagfles

We went on Marella last year and there weren't any of these daft games with tips. No tips were added to the price.

If "tips" are compulsory, then they're not tips, they're part of the price.

NoodleDoodleMan

Thomsons/TUI/Marella have always included tips in the upfront price on the 10 cruises we've done with them.

Presumably it varies between cruise lines that do add gratuities onboard - but at least one, Princess, allow you to opt out, but only from the time you sign the appropriate form at guest services - and you are still hit with a 15% charge on drinks.

The whole subject of tipping on cruises generates different opinions - if it's "compulsory" then it's a service charge by another name.

PompeyPete

zagfles wrote: »

We went on Marella last year and there weren't any of these daft games with tips. No tips were added to the price.

If "tips" are compulsory, then they're not tips, they're part of the price.

We were on Marella Explorer in Oct/Nov 2018 for it's repositioning cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

I gave our hard working West Indian Cabin Steward US$50 at the start of the cruise. It buys lots of little 'extras', as well a permanent smiling face....and it was only a bit of paper.

Our favourite bar waiter got a few US$ too. Service with a smile, and a stronger tipple.

Have done the same on our other 4 Thomson/Marella cruises too. No big deal.

With Thomson/Marella, one thing you can guarantee is very good service from all staff. And for the for the best 'service' tip at the start of the Cruise

KonkyWonky

As others have said it depends on the cruise line. NCL include gratuities in the price you pay, nothing more to pay unless you are in a suite.

Personally I think it's poor form to remove gratuities unless the service has been appalling. Cruise ship workers rely heavily on gratuities to earn a living, just think of it like tipping in the USA ie it's expected.

PompeyPete

KonkyWonky wrote: »

As others have said it depends on the cruise line. NCL include gratuities in the price you pay, nothing more to pay unless you are in a suite.

Personally I think it's poor form to remove gratuities unless the service has been appalling. Cruise ship workers rely heavily on gratuities to earn a living, just think of it like tipping in the USA ie it's expected.

But it's not unusual to have several memebers of the same family working on a Cruise Ship. So pool the tips together, and they're quids in.

gettingtheresometime

PompeyPete wrote: »

But it's not unusual to have several memebers of the same family working on a Cruise Ship. So pool the tips together, and they're quids in.

I'm not sure I understand that pov - each member of staff will have worked for them so whether they're related or not seems irrelevant.