Kendall James-Vargas Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Do you know how Carnival Cruise Line divides up its gratuities to crew members? Guests who chose to alter or remove gratuities can do so in their Sail-and-Sign account. I don't know if crew members can see who removes the gratuities or not, but I don't think this is a fair system. I think all crew members should receive the tips they deserve. I'm surprised that CCL doesn't make gratuities mandatory! Many other cruise lines don't enforce tipping either, but I think that there are some guests who will intentionally opt out just to save a few bucks on their cruise experience. I'm also the type of cruise guest who enjoys cash tipping at the end of my cruise for crew members who provided me with a wonderful experience. The cruise experience is all made possible by the wonderful crew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithG Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 @Kendall James-Vargas I really enjoy the crew members also, one of the highlights of the cruise is the crew members. On our last cruise were on board for quite a while so we became very familiar with their stories. It was great to hear how happy they were to be working for Carnival especially after the pandemic. Our head waiter Mike even hs his daughter working for Carnival now. Carnival says the crew does not know which cabins removed gratuities. I think maybe there is a problem of definitiion, a gratuity or a tip is a voluntary payment for great service so making it mandatory defeats the purpose. We always do both the pre-paid and cash. I think cruise lines ought to be more upfront, label the pre-paid gratuities as a service charge and lump it in with the advertised cruise fare. This way I know upfront what the cost will be. Then we can also tip for truly outstanding service, which honestly, I always receive. I realize this favors those who come into regular contact with the passengers such as cabin, dining room and bar staff but it can provide incentive to others to move up the chain. I prefer more upfront pricing which is sort of what you are getting at by making tips mandatory, I'm just saying change it to a sevice charge and include it in the advertised fare along with the port fees and taxes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendall James-Vargas Posted April 20 Author Share Posted April 20 @KeithG I'm glad you feel the same way! I agree that many crew members became even more appreciative of their jobs and their ability to do them post-shutdown. I also enjoy pre-paying gratuities ahead of time! Pre-paid gives me a better idea of how to properly budget for my cruise vacation. I also don't like to have to think about it towards the end of my cruise as an after-the-fact expenditure. That's a very insightful idea! I would also prefer a pre-fixed service charge bundled into the port fees and taxes. I tend to see "great prices" and then by the end of submitting my booking I notice all of the additional fees end up costing double what the advertised price stated. It's can be dismaying after you log in all of your personal info and take the time to book to realize the price point was way beyond what you expected to spend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithG Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 @Kendall James-Vargas Agreed that's exactly what I go through, although I guess I am slightly more prepared after doing it enough. I see a fare, start clicking through all the booking info and pretty soon I am thinking, boy, that escalated quickly. When people ask me to help them book something they are often shocked by the added costs before you get to the options. It's almost comical. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Sisters Posted April 20 Share Posted April 20 Sometimes I do this same thing, I get close to booking a cruise itinerary, think "This escalated quickly," and then continue looking at other booking options. Oftentimes the cruise lines will email me things like, "Continue with your booking." That's when I laugh and think, "Not with those hidden fees." In my opinion, the extra fees have gone up. Beverage packages are definitely on the rise too. The cost of cruising is still worth it to me though! I'm not sure if I agree with CCL's pooled stateroom gratuity share, but I could always tip extra to my stateroom attendant if they do an exceptional job like they usually do. If they work extra hard, they deserve extra compensation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tootie Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 We have always paid gratuities in advance of the sail date. While I feel the gratuity rate is getting too high, it makes things easier to get it done early. There are many crew members who provide service that don't get specific recognition. I'm a cigar smoker and I appreciate someone emptyng the ashtrays. I typically smoke about the same time of day and always find an employee who comes by regularly. I tip them every day or two based on my time outside. Once we've established knowing each others names, I get superstar service and get to learn a little about them - family, home, sometimes we get to the point where we talk about kids, our future, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroguy Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 @KeithG @Kendall James-Vargas @3Sisters @Tootie Im sure i wont win any friends with this but its a honest and frank perspective from my view. I do wish the gratuity discussion had more informative depth. For example the "mandatory" gratuity, is it being split up between cabin steward and others or is theirs 100% the cabin stewards? I believe some time ago I heard it gets split by cabin steward and their assistant by some %. With all that said, I do have a bit of an issue with a mandatory gratuity. #1 I do feel that CCL and probably all cruise lines offer lower pay scales and tell the prospective employee how they will make much more due to the gratuity system. #2 if i go and stay at a nice hotel for a week i would receive daily house keeping similar to what happens in our cabins and hotel doesnt have a mandatory gratuity for doing the job thwy are paid to do. #3. If I stay some place or eat somewhere and get bare bones or crappy service I'm less inclined to tip. again you are already getting paid a wage for the work you do and have done nothing extra. I can't even go to a drive thru food or coffee without being hit up for tip....really all you did was hand me my food or drink Tipping has become a pre set expectation vs. Earned. On my last cruise a few months ago I saw my steward a couple of times... only made towel animals 3 out of 7 nights and did minimal housekeeping duties, not even a turn down at night. And the 2 times I saw him he said hello, not even how are you doing g, having fun... nothing. #4 to make it clear I have no problem tipping and can be very generous but go out of your way just a little..make a little effort to show you give a s**t. An example was the dinner wait staff in the MDR my main table waiter made sure I had my regular drink every night after the 1st night, welcomed me personally by name every night. If I wasn't happy with the dish I ordered, I wouldn't complain i simply wouldnt eat it and just let it sit there, he promptly would ask if everything was okay and then took care of it by offering a different suggestion or getting the original dish done properly. He also became personable as well by asking what I did for the day and showing an interest. That is doing extras that is the kind of stuff that earns a tip in my book. Ultimately he received a $100 tip on the last night. The look of.appreciation from him was amazing and I thanked him for great service and making me feel welcomed. Conclusion.. NO I don't think mandatory gratuities should exist. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls918 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 9 hours ago, euroguy said: @KeithG @Kendall James-Vargas @3Sisters @Tootie Im sure i wont win any friends with this but its a honest and frank perspective from my view. I do wish the gratuity discussion had more informative depth. For example the "mandatory" gratuity, is it being split up between cabin steward and others or is theirs 100% the cabin stewards? I believe some time ago I heard it gets split by cabin steward and their assistant by some %. With all that said, I do have a bit of an issue with a mandatory gratuity. #1 I do feel that CCL and probably all cruise lines offer lower pay scales and tell the prospective employee how they will make much more due to the gratuity system. #2 if i go and stay at a nice hotel for a week i would receive daily house keeping similar to what happens in our cabins and hotel doesnt have a mandatory gratuity for doing the job thwy are paid to do. #3. If I stay some place or eat somewhere and get bare bones or crappy service I'm less inclined to tip. again you are already getting paid a wage for the work you do and have done nothing extra. I can't even go to a drive thru food or coffee without being hit up for tip....really all you did was hand me my food or drink Tipping has become a pre set expectation vs. Earned. On my last cruise a few months ago I saw my steward a couple of times... only made towel animals 3 out of 7 nights and did minimal housekeeping duties, not even a turn down at night. And the 2 times I saw him he said hello, not even how are you doing g, having fun... nothing. #4 to make it clear I have no problem tipping and can be very generous but go out of your way just a little..make a little effort to show you give a s**t. An example was the dinner wait staff in the MDR my main table waiter made sure I had my regular drink every night after the 1st night, welcomed me personally by name every night. If I wasn't happy with the dish I ordered, I wouldn't complain i simply wouldnt eat it and just let it sit there, he promptly would ask if everything was okay and then took care of it by offering a different suggestion or getting the original dish done properly. He also became personable as well by asking what I did for the day and showing an interest. That is doing extras that is the kind of stuff that earns a tip in my book. Ultimately he received a $100 tip on the last night. The look of.appreciation from him was amazing and I thanked him for great service and making me feel welcomed. Conclusion.. NO I don't think mandatory gratuities should exist. I agree with you 100%. I don't mind tipping. I'd rather tip the ones I have direct contact with and interactions are key for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 If this has been addressed sorry. I would like to know if individually paid tips are kept by the recipient or do they have to turn them into Carnival to be distributed to many. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kefthecruiser Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 @euroguy Spot on, especially your first point. I would add that the current system, in my view, rewards mediocrity as group members all receive the same 'tips' from this program. Only direct cash tippers, like you and many others (me too), make a difference to the crew. @Marilyn While this gets kicked around every now and then, the consensus is that the individual keeps directly received tips. This is in the Carnival forum but the tipping discussion is not unique to CCL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroguy Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 @kefthecruiser i too agree with your point of mediocrity. Additionally I would think that at some level the workers probably think why work any harder than necessary as we are going to get tipped regardless because the cruise line puts it on the guests tab and the majority of the people just pay it. I remember when I 1st started cruising with CCL we would get an envelope on our last day of the cruise for tipping the room steward and the stewards actually seemed to care. They would ask if everything was okay, if needed anything, enjoying your trip etc. Now it's appears to be how little can I do....sigh. please don't get me wrong I'm not one for wanting my feet to be kissed but you are in the hospitality industry and a little niceness goes a long ways, probably more now days than earlier times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising Caribbean Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 @euroguy You have some super valid points! I really don't know if there is a "best" scenario. I think hard-working crew members deserve a well-deserved tip. I extremely dislike when cruise guests don't tip after getting decent to fabulous service. A pat on the back isn't enough. If a cruise member is going above and beyond, they deserve an above-average tip. If the staff member does a mediocre job, then they deserve a mediocre tip. To be honest, I don't think I have ever had bad service onboard a cruise ship. Some go above and beyond, others don't, but bad service doesn't happen too often in the cruise industry. After all, it does fall under the hospitality field! @mls918 I totally agree with that! @Marilyn I hope when I tip directly, the tips get to be kept (unshared) and untaxed! That's one of my biggest motivations for tipping like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerriH Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 The two times that I have had spa services on Carnival I had a payment slip for a tip shipped in my face and told that was how they get paid. As far as prepaid gratuities, I pay those in advance and depending on my room steward is how much i leave additionally. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising Caribbean Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 @TerriH That's wild! I have never had that happen to me. I would be very taken aback by that. I, too, feel most comfortable tipping ahead of time and getting that out of the way. It's no fun finishing your cruise and realizing you owe so much all over again. Taking care of all payments ahead of time usually eliminates any errors or unexpected fees along the way. Is the room steward usually the only person you choose to tip additionally? I give extra to the MDR staff, but I choose to dine there with the same waitstaff every evening. It makes my cruise experience very special, dressing up and avoiding the long lines in the buffet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroguy Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 Hello everyone so since just recently returning from my alskan cruise I felt compelled to add a little more to this discussion. One thing that noone has addressed or stated was evwrytime you buy or order or purchase on the ship an 18% gratuity is being added, regardless. Order wine at dinner add 18% go to spa 18% added gift shop 18% added order cocktail or soda 18% added. The greatest part of all this is CCL adds an additional line below for...drum roll... you got it !! To add more gratuity. I had a message and the 18% added gratuity was $40 and the lady just looked at me as if I was to add more ... I paused and point blank asked her..."do.you receive 100% of the 18% gratuity of $40?" she said yes. I followed up with "you don't have to share any part of it with anyone else?" Answer "No" I felt that $40 was already fair and left it that. That free bottle of wine I received yep I had to pay 18% gratuity plus tax 😆 I find it more frustrating that not only is CCL automatically adding 18% gratuity to every purchase but then to compound it to actually add an additional line for more gratuity. I am certain many many many people don't actually catch that 18% is automatically added and they feel compelled to tip for some service and end up double tipping. Unfortunately I looked to see if I kept any of my receipts and I didn't as I wanted to show you an example. The long and short of the whole gratuity issue/discussion, in no way are the ship staff being short changed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendall James-Vargas Posted September 13 Author Share Posted September 13 @euroguy Thanks for adding to this post! I appreciate all of this information. You really opened my eyes to some of these extra taxes and fees. Gratuity can be a touchy subject for many because everyone has their own opinions. The 18% gratuity seems pretty fair for a massage. How was your massage? I'm curious to know how the ship does in comparison to on-land massages. I have yet to experience a massage on a cruise ship. Based on your information, it seems like you chose to pay per drink and cruised without a drink package. From my experience, the gratuity is often included when you have a beverage package but otherwise gratuity is tacked on per drink. I think it's hilarious that you still have to pay gratuity and tax on a free item. It doesn't sound like a freebie after all. Overall which CCL gratuities seemed fair and which ones seemed excessive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroguy Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 @Kendall James-Vargas the massages that I have received on my last two cruises actually have been pretty decent and on par with land based massages that I get. I would say this last one was better than the one prior but to be fair this time I added the hot stones and was a bit longer...making it more rewarding. I didn't have a problem with the 18% gratuity for the massage but did take a bit offense to the expectation of additional tip. The one big Debbie downer of a cruise vs. Land massage is that the ship massage has hard sell tactics to buy additional products and that a simple "no thank you" is not sufficient and the pressure to buy ramps up to the next level. Really takes away from the whole relaxation part. Yes I do buy beverages be it alcoholic or non on individual basis. The drinks pkg is like $60 per day multiplied by number of days on cruise and they do add 18% to that purchase. For me I receive all the super stiff drinks I want in casino for free and usually only buy a few (5 or less) elsewhere on the ship during a 7 day cruise. Soft drinks also are very few. Sometimes during dinner but again I can get thise for free in casino as well. With all that said I might have to start drinking more as the new offers I'm receiving include free drinks everywhere on the ship not just the casino 🙃 😅 Excessive gratuities... why should I have to pay 18% gratuity if I buy a trinket from the gift shop or a bottle of adult beverage that is duty free and taking home. All the person did was ring me up at the cash register? Do you tip the cashier at your local stores when making a purchase?? When you go to your local Starbucks to get your drink do you always give a tip? At any of the bars and even at the MDR if I asked for a soft drink they all hand me a glass of ice and a closed can to serve my self. Does that really deserve an 18% gratuity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadTravelled Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 11 hours ago, euroguy said: @Kendall James-Vargas the massages that I have received on my last two cruises actually have been pretty decent and on par with land based massages that I get. I would say this last one was better than the one prior but to be fair this time I added the hot stones and was a bit longer...making it more rewarding. I didn't have a problem with the 18% gratuity for the massage but did take a bit offense to the expectation of additional tip. The one big Debbie downer of a cruise vs. Land massage is that the ship massage has hard sell tactics to buy additional products and that a simple "no thank you" is not sufficient and the pressure to buy ramps up to the next level. Really takes away from the whole relaxation part. Yes I do buy beverages be it alcoholic or non on individual basis. The drinks pkg is like $60 per day multiplied by number of days on cruise and they do add 18% to that purchase. For me I receive all the super stiff drinks I want in casino for free and usually only buy a few (5 or less) elsewhere on the ship during a 7 day cruise. Soft drinks also are very few. Sometimes during dinner but again I can get thise for free in casino as well. With all that said I might have to start drinking more as the new offers I'm receiving include free drinks everywhere on the ship not just the casino 🙃 😅 Excessive gratuities... why should I have to pay 18% gratuity if I buy a trinket from the gift shop or a bottle of adult beverage that is duty free and taking home. All the person did was ring me up at the cash register? Do you tip the cashier at your local stores when making a purchase?? When you go to your local Starbucks to get your drink do you always give a tip? At any of the bars and even at the MDR if I asked for a soft drink they all hand me a glass of ice and a closed can to serve my self. Does that really deserve an 18% gratuity? @euroguy Thanks for all of the good comments. As others have mentioned, this subject always brings up a wide array of opinions. One thing that should also enter into the discussion is the fact that there are many people who work on the ship who are not CCL staff or crew. And, thus they don't participate in the usual CCL gratuities that are added as part of the overall cruise. For example, all of the staff in the gift stores are actually employees of 3rd party concessionaires. I'm not totally positive, but I believe the spa staff fall into this category as well. I certainly agree with you though that simply ringing up a purchase isn't really worthy of a tip. But, I've had some salesman really go above and beyond in helping me choose particular items, and even in one case, sized my watch band to fit my wrist. Anyway, complicated subject, but just thought I'd throw this bit in the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroguy Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 @RoadTravelled you're good sir. Everyone has a point regarding the matter. I shared mine...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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