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Originally posted by paradocs: Kremmen, While I understand that you do not want to pay more than the advertised price, I would never consider not paying gratuities to the cabin stewards and waiters. These people are not compensated well by the cruise lines. Sure, they have their living expenses met and a very small salary. They are often working to support their families back home. They work very hard and long hours. I have taken 1 or 2 cruises per year for the last 4 years. Each and every attendant working for tips has earned it. They have been gracious and have considered my comfort above all else. I will not deny them their gratuity whether I agree with the cruise line's policy or not. I would either take it up with the cruise line or stay home. These hard working people are dependant on gratuities and that's just a part of the cost of cruising. Shame on the cruise lines if they do not make that clear up front! That even goes for the lines who advertise a "no tip" policy like Holland America. Their employees seemed just as in need as any other line I have sailed with. I could never imagine not leaving these devoted employees a tip. I agree that tipping is a controversial subject, but it is still customary in the USA. I want to reward those who serve me selflessly even if their company does not pay them as it should. or so :-) |
imagine the airlines would say - tip every FA another $20 or so ------------------ Craig |
Originally posted by Craig: My, that seems excessive. My usual tip for stewardesses is just $2. Isn't that the norm? The normal tip for FAs is zero, except for very very special circumstances. [This message has been edited by peter42 (edited 02-22-2001).] |
I also tip the cruise ship staff who provide personal services to my family and me. For example, I follow the guidelines of the cruise ship with regard to cabin stewards and waiters. However, I draw the line at maitre d's, restaurant managers and people like that who come around and say hello occasionally and then expect a large tip (on the order of $50 for a week).
First of all, these people have done little or nothing for me (or that is apparent to me). Second, they are essentially management staff who should be paid directly by the cruise line. In general, tipping on cruise ships is out of control, but I do not penalize the underpaid staff because of my feelings on the matter. Bruce |
Originally posted by paradocs: They work very hard and long hours. I have taken 1 or 2 cruises per year for the last 4 years. Each and every attendant working for tips has earned it. They have been gracious and have considered my comfort above all else. If tips are not optional, they should be included in a published charge, as indeed happens in some situations. By tipping in more and more circumstances, you are just encouraging these unscrupulous employers to pay lower and lower wages. Will Americans end up tipping FAs? Pilots? Checkout-chicks? Everybody they ever meet in the context of receiving goods or services? [/QUOTE] |
Kremmen I am with you - the wage should be the big part of their income, tipping is above that for exceptional service,
eventhough I am forced to tip the cruise stuff at the moment. But thinking of this now, I may only cruise with NCL and other inclusive price cruise lines in the future. |
If I get a unexpected upgrade or some very special treatment by a gate agent or in the AC I always give them a book of Starbucks Coupons. I figure that they were simply kind to me and that NEEDS to be rewarded. If I pay for the upgrade then no coffee b/c I have not been given anything special.
I firmly believe that if someone goes beyond the job requirements for my behalf, then I owe them the recognition. It's simply good Karma. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif |
Right Dudemon, tipping is for going the extra
mile, not for the normal service! |
Regarding NCL's tipping policy, the recommended tip is usually about $10 per day per passenger and is not included in the cruise price. It is, however, automatically added to your shipboard account so that you can pay it along with your bar and excursion charges, by credit card, at the end of the cruise. I like this new policy, it eliminates the need fo sorting smaller bills into multiple envelopes. However, it certainly is an "assumptive close." NCL states emphatically that this is a service provided as a convenience to passengers, and that the purser's office will gladly adjust the amount up or down at the passenge's request.
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Originally posted by peter42: imagine the airlines would say - tip every FA another $20 or so :-) This could help them make up for the now-illegal fuel surcharges http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif. I find that flight attendants, GA's and other staff appreciate a bit of German chocolate as a gratuity substitute. I even got upgraded to Envoy class on USAir after giving a GA a 1DM chocolate bar! (see: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum51/HTML/000707.html) yonatan (edited for spelling) [This message has been edited by yonatan (edited 02-23-2001).] |
Originally posted by numbbutt: Regarding NCL's tipping policy, the recommended tip is usually about $10 per day per passenger and is not included in the cruise price. It is, however, automatically added to your shipboard account so that you can pay it along with your bar and excursion charges, by credit card, at the end of the cruise. I like this new policy, it eliminates the need fo sorting smaller bills into multiple envelopes. However, it certainly is an "assumptive close." NCL states emphatically that this is a service provided as a convenience to passengers, and that the purser's office will gladly adjust the amount up or down at the passenge's request. the tip for NCL is included in the package deal here in Germany. |
Why is it that employers in the USA are allowed by law to pay the waiters, stewards, bartenders etc. less than minimum wages, expecting the customers to make up for that by tipping. The amounts that I pay for similar meals in big cities in the rest of the world turn out to be 20% cheaper than the cost of eating out in the USA. Does anyone know the history behind this 'policy'?
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First of all, the Federal minimum-wage law applies only to businesses engaged in interstate commerce, so all restaurants do not have to comply (although many states have similar laws, some with higher minimums, in fact). In those cases where the Federal law does apply (national chains, for example), the rule is that the sum of wages plus tips must equal the minimum wage. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. Requiring employers to pay minimum wages on top of tips would presumably overcompensate these employees, but that's a value judgment, of course.
Bruce |
Originally posted by knit-in: Why is it that employers in the USA are allowed by law to pay the waiters, stewards, bartenders etc. less than minimum wages, expecting the customers to make up for that by tipping? Because the minimum wage laws are made by the US Congress, which acts in part to the benefit of the public, and in very large part to the benefit of those who fund their next campaigns. The restaurant industry finds it extremely beneficial to continue the current system: this applies not only to owners, but also to the majority of those who receive a large portion of their wages through tips. Don't forget, the lawmakers who came up with the minimum wage rules are the same ones who developed the tax laws. Next time you read about the baseball star who's making $11 million/year, remember that you are subsidizing him. Teams can afford to pay those salaries because of corporations paying ungodly amounts for their corporate boxes (or even just season tickets), and those amounts are tax deductible. (If you want to take your kids to a game, you cannot, of course, use that as a tax deduction -- it's only businesses that write it off.) And, if 100 corporations deduct, say, $1 million each for the corp boxes at you local ballyard, then the rest of us taxpayers get to make up that $100 million. And if there are 30 major league ballparks, plus another 30 NFL stadiums ... [/rant] Phew, that feels much better. Thanks for asking! |
Thanks for the info. And I'm glad you could get it off your chest http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
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