Cruise ship tips and gratuities

davelewis

I think the cruise industry is moving on from auto tipping. I know as has been said that P&O have removed tipping altogether from May 2019. I am booked on a few Cunard cruises. They always add $11.95pp per day to your onboard account which you can of course remove. In my experience most of the UK cruisers remove them and the USA cruisers do not remove them.

I think the future of cruising will be all inclusive with tips included especially for the UK market which is not used to the tipping culture that our cousins across the pond are so fond of.

travellerboy

In answer to the OP's question - YES the automatic billed gratuities to your onboard account can be cancelled, if YOU choose. Following is an extract from their T&C -

Service Charges & Gratuities
We operate an automatic service charge and gratuity system whereby an amount of £7.00 per person per night (this amount reduces to £6.00 per person per night) for cruises of greater than 16 nights duration. For Astor $12.00 per person per night ($10.00 per person per night for cruises of more than 11 nights duration) and for Vasco Da Gama €7 per person per night (this amount reduces to €6 per person per night for cruises of greater than 16 nights duration).
All are automatically added to your onboard account. All service charges and gratuities are collated, so a portion goes to each crew member, who helps to make your cruise special. This is not only distributed to your cabin steward and your waiter or bar attendant but also between the hidden stars behind-the-scenes, such as laundry operatives and kitchen staff, who you might never get to meet in person. If you notice an issue that makes you think twice about our service
charge, be sure to speak with our Quality Ambassador at the Front Desk who will try to resolve the matter before adjusting these becomes necessary. Even if you had a negative experience with a particular employee, seriously consider whether it warrants removing your gratuities altogether, keeping in mind that because of one crew member the whole team is affected. Of course, if you want to also personally reward a crew member in addition for excellent service, feel free to do so!
We offer a choice of four great value ‘CMV Additions’ package options that include gratuities, service charges and other extras so that you can budget accordingly and avoid any extra costs. Savings are available on these packages when booked and paid for before your cruise.

NoodleDoodleMan

I noticed recently that Princess are now punting two cruises with "free" drinks package included.

That is a first for them AFAIK - the competition from other major lines that have gone down this route may have prompted this approach.

shykins

Cruise and Maritime also offer a package whereby you can pay for your tips ahead of the cruise and get them a little cheaper at £6 a day

they also do drinks packages where the tips are included starting at £23 a day (every 7th day free) that includes most drinks and your tips or £29 a day for a package that includes all drinks, speciality coffees/teas, tips etc. it also gets you discount on the speciality restaurants.

we find it great value even if you arent a huge drinker. from what i understand these packages are a good deal less than some of the drinks packages offered by other companies

greatgimpo

MSC Divina - 1,400 staff, 4,300 guests. Each guest pays €10 per night = €43,000 per night tips. Staff get €30 each per night or €210 per week just tips? I don't think so.

NoodleDoodleMan

MSC Divina - 1,400 staff, 4,300 guests. Each guest pays €10 per night = €43,000 per night tips. Staff get €30 each per night or €210 per week just tips? I don't think so.

When you say staff, do you mean total crew including those that sail and maintain the ship ?

They don't all benefit from tips.

diggingdude

I went on the Magellan in 2017 to the Norwegian Fjords. You could have the tips removed but the guy looking after my room worked blooming hard and the tips weren't alot so I paid but I saw some oldies arguing it. I would recommend the drinks package, was a good deal and includes the bubbly

shykins

CMV now have drinks packages which include the tips, still very good value for money

lemurles

We travelled with Cunard, who ‘suggest’ $11.50 per day per person, but you can ask to opt out at the Purser’s desk, where they ask to to fill out a form for this. When we asked the cabin steward about how much their pay varied between cruises, we were told that they received the same sum every month, regardless of who opted out. Could it be that Cunard assume a level of tipping, and pay the staff against that expectation, keeping the tip money to offset their outlay?
Anyone have any inside knowledge if this is so?
In future, we’ll tip ‘our’ stewards directly.