Cruise Gratuities: The Elephant in the Room Cruise Lines Can No Longer Ignore
58 Comments
A
Anonymous
3 months ago
Definitely add them into the price and let people pay gratuities as and when they appear justified. Not all cultures are the same as regards this situation.
A
Anonymous
6 months ago
i wish to choose how and when to pay my cruise gratuities
A
Anonymous
6 months ago
Definitely would be more transparent and make life easier!
A
Anonymous
6 months ago
I agree
L
Lea Treen
6 months ago
All cruise lines should come together and charge one rate with gratuities included!!
J
Julia Rieke
6 months ago
I have been saying this for years. Include the gratuities as a service charge that cannot be removed.
G
Glen Toyer
6 months ago
If cruise lines paid staff a fair wage there would be no need for gratuties.
I
IAN JACKSON
6 months ago
Pay cruise staff fairly and include it in the fare!
T
Tammy P
6 months ago
They work hard and should get the tips
M
Matthew Rosenblatt
6 months ago
As a former crew member (I was salaried, thankfully) that has also sailed countless times as a guest, I'm seeing people get more and more frustrated with the tipping situation on board. Stop calling it tips - just mandate a "Service Charge" or raise the cost of the cruise by $15-20/day to compensate and make sure everyone is paid. Tips should be above and beyond - not mandatory.
K
Ken Shore
6 months ago
I support this petition and the included gratuity in price.
A
Al
6 months ago
Featured
I'd be happy to see gratuities included in the quoted price. I dislike the idea of having to fork out an extra (up to $1000) at the end of the cruise. Not finishing the cruise on a high note - in my opinion!!!
K
Kathy Rimkus
6 months ago
Featured
crew works extremely hard for lower pay than most of people who cruise. if you cannot afford gratuities then maybe stay home until you can afford to vacation . it is part of the cost of a cruise vacation.
A
Anonymous
6 months ago
Agree 100%
A
Anonymous
6 months ago
Featured
From a country where tipping is not the norm, I always get then taken off on cruises. If tips are included in the price of a cruise then I could fairly compare cruise prices before booking and I wouldn’t need to remove tips, nor could I, once onboard.
R
Richard Warren
6 months ago
Featured
The fare should be the fare...no surprises and no slight of hand to make a deal appear better than it is. Drinks and food can be a choice, service levels should be consistent and therefore the gratuities should be included within the cost of the cruise. Be open about it and the discussion goes away.
A
Anonymous
6 months ago
Featured
Gratuities should be included in fare. This way ALL staff, including behind the scenes staff, receive a bonus at the end of each cruise.
Passengers can still give a generous "thank you" tip to individual staff who have gone above and beyond, to make our cruise even more enjoyable.
D
Doris Beiswinger
6 months ago
Being in this business over 30 yrs & at one time dealing with NCL directly, (in the same sentence on confirmations, they used the words "discretionary" & "mandatory" pertaining to gratuities. They did correct, after I contacted them. You have outlined this situation really well, but I do question, if some cruise lines add gratuities & include in their price; does that affect their TAX structure? As opposed to the cruise lines that add pre-paid, day by day, etc., & these can be changed by pax. I do believe more pax may remove them, these days, because many do not know or feel the crew does receive them. And, any that have asked do not get direct answers or ones they seem to believe. I could write a chapter on this subject alone. I, also have higher end clients that continually tip crew in cash & still pay gratuities if they are added. Pax love to cruise, if all the cruise lines include gratuities, it will be just fine.
S
Sharon
6 months ago
include gratuities in the price of the trip not separately. THAT WAY no one can removed them and everyone pay is equal. Now if a guest chooses to tip a crew member or staff member individually for exceptional service that is the guest prerogative to give extra or not give extra tip. JUST MY THOUGHTS
A
Anonymous
6 months ago
People can still tip directly in cash for personal 1 to 1 service, as they wish. The daily gratuity charged amounts to very small per staff payouts. Maybe included grats will be a first step to just paying a better overall wage?
Definitely add them into the price and let people pay gratuities as and when they appear justified. Not all cultures are the same as regards this situation.
i wish to choose how and when to pay my cruise gratuities
Definitely would be more transparent and make life easier!
I agree
All cruise lines should come together and charge one rate with gratuities included!!
I have been saying this for years. Include the gratuities as a service charge that cannot be removed.
If cruise lines paid staff a fair wage there would be no need for gratuties.
Pay cruise staff fairly and include it in the fare!
They work hard and should get the tips
As a former crew member (I was salaried, thankfully) that has also sailed countless times as a guest, I'm seeing people get more and more frustrated with the tipping situation on board. Stop calling it tips - just mandate a "Service Charge" or raise the cost of the cruise by $15-20/day to compensate and make sure everyone is paid. Tips should be above and beyond - not mandatory.
I support this petition and the included gratuity in price.
I'd be happy to see gratuities included in the quoted price. I dislike the idea of having to fork out an extra (up to $1000) at the end of the cruise. Not finishing the cruise on a high note - in my opinion!!!
crew works extremely hard for lower pay than most of people who cruise. if you cannot afford gratuities then maybe stay home until you can afford to vacation . it is part of the cost of a cruise vacation.
Agree 100%
From a country where tipping is not the norm, I always get then taken off on cruises. If tips are included in the price of a cruise then I could fairly compare cruise prices before booking and I wouldn’t need to remove tips, nor could I, once onboard.
The fare should be the fare...no surprises and no slight of hand to make a deal appear better than it is. Drinks and food can be a choice, service levels should be consistent and therefore the gratuities should be included within the cost of the cruise. Be open about it and the discussion goes away.
Gratuities should be included in fare. This way ALL staff, including behind the scenes staff, receive a bonus at the end of each cruise. Passengers can still give a generous "thank you" tip to individual staff who have gone above and beyond, to make our cruise even more enjoyable.
Being in this business over 30 yrs & at one time dealing with NCL directly, (in the same sentence on confirmations, they used the words "discretionary" & "mandatory" pertaining to gratuities. They did correct, after I contacted them. You have outlined this situation really well, but I do question, if some cruise lines add gratuities & include in their price; does that affect their TAX structure? As opposed to the cruise lines that add pre-paid, day by day, etc., & these can be changed by pax. I do believe more pax may remove them, these days, because many do not know or feel the crew does receive them. And, any that have asked do not get direct answers or ones they seem to believe. I could write a chapter on this subject alone. I, also have higher end clients that continually tip crew in cash & still pay gratuities if they are added. Pax love to cruise, if all the cruise lines include gratuities, it will be just fine.
include gratuities in the price of the trip not separately. THAT WAY no one can removed them and everyone pay is equal. Now if a guest chooses to tip a crew member or staff member individually for exceptional service that is the guest prerogative to give extra or not give extra tip. JUST MY THOUGHTS
People can still tip directly in cash for personal 1 to 1 service, as they wish. The daily gratuity charged amounts to very small per staff payouts. Maybe included grats will be a first step to just paying a better overall wage?