Cruise Talk: Gratuities on your credit card

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Topic: Gratuities on your credit card

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 01-22-2000 03:18 PM

In the past you always paid your
gratuities in an envelope to your
caring and waiting staff. When we
were on the S/S OCEANIC, they put
it on our card and we had already
paid all of our attendees that
night. When we were on the S/S REMBRANDT, they said you can put
no gratuities on your registration
form. I over heard some passengers
on the REMBRANDT talk about this
and they did not like the option of putting it on their credit card,because you don't know for sure if everyone will get their tips. How do all of my fellow passengers feel about this?

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 01-22-2000 03:49 PM

One should be able to give what one feels appropriate. We usually give what is suggested and more if warranted but what if you have a bad steward who you really dont want to tip much. No I want to make my own mind up at the end of the week not the cruise line make it up for me.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 01-22-2000 06:54 PM

I prefer to give the gratuities myself. I agree with DianaD, since there are times when someone may deserve more than what is suggested by the cruise lines. Gratuities "charged" to your card could get lost in the system.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 01-23-2000 10:10 AM

I must agree that giving the cruise line authority to bill my credit card with the gratuity is dangerous. How can you trust the cruise line to turn over all of the gratuity to the people in question when they give them a very miserly compensation for a job well done in almost every case. How do you know they don't hold it back and gain the interest on it, do you know for sure that there isn't a small handling fee to the staff for doing this service for them.

I will pay the individuals themselves thankyou.

The other downside to this could be that there would be no incentive for individuals to put in that extra effort, would they become complacent knowing that they will recieve the same gratuity effort or not.

Credit Card gratuity is not a good idea in my mind.

Decideyourowntip.

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 01-23-2000 11:16 AM

Now as I said earlier I like to decide what I give. It cant remember which cruise I was on, but it was one of the major lines, they offered the credit card service and I asked how it would look if other people on the table gave their envelopes and I didnt and they told me if you pay by credit card they give you a voucher to put in the envelope which the waiter,steward or whoever you are tipping claims back Hope that sort of answers the question.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 01-23-2000 04:32 PM

The voucher for CC gratuities sounds better. Still prefer to give cash- I'm sure gratuity money is useful when stewards etc. have a few hours in port. Have no idea how salaries are paid but I wouldn't think it's every 10 days or so.........anybody know?

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

robertnew
First Class Passenger
Member # 751

posted 02-01-2000 12:52 AM

One of our cruises...I think it was Seabourn but I'm not certain...charged us up front for the tips along with port charges, etc. The staff was informed that we had paid tips in advance. I liked it. It saved a lot of calculating, cash handling, etc., and we got the benefit of frequent flyer miles for the tips charged to our credit card. We feared the service might not be the best since our tips were prepaid, but such was not the case.

Posts: 16 | From: Johnstown, PA USA | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Laura
First Class Passenger
Member # 924

posted 02-02-2000 09:02 PM

Does anybody know if Royal Caribbean allows you to put your gratuity on a credit card...Voyager in particular? Personally, we prefer putting tips on our card. Princess lets you put it on your card, and then you can personally hand the voucher to your crew on the last night. It made it nice to not have to worry about keeping enough cash. We're sailing at the end of Feb. on VOTS!!! Can't wait!!!!

Posts: 114 | From: Ohio | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 02-03-2000 03:07 PM

It's a hassel to be stuffing envelopes with cash at the end of a cruise. I consider myself a very good tipper, always over the recommended amounts. I prefer a credit card form for tips. One thing I don't agree with is tipping the Head Waiter. The Head Waiter should capture a certain percentage from his staff below him. His tips should reflect his entire operation of which he is in charge of.
He does not provide me any direct service, therefore I should not have to tip him.
I also don't believe in automatic tips. Tipping on merit is the best motivation for service.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

nononsense42
First Class Passenger
Member # 1013

posted 02-03-2000 06:24 PM

I just received my tickets from Premier Cruise Line, and there it was! They advised me they would be adding tips to my credit card. I will decide who and how much I am going to tip. Convenience is a good thing, but somethings may deserve being inconvenienced a little. I find it hard to believe that staff would extend themselves as much knowing they were going to get a tip no matter what. I have to wonder what has brought this all about. I have been on many cruises, and sadly on one of them, a couple did not tip the dining room staff. They informed them they had forgot their envelope and would bring it at breakfast. Well, they were a no show at breakfast. I think it is really awful when someone goes unrewarded for giving good service. I wonder ,is this credit card thing for the convenience of the cruiser, or is it to insure that all get their tips? I would consider at the end of my cruise going to the desk and stating how much I wanted to put on my card and for whom. That would be a convenience. They would have to provide me with vouchers to give to the staff. There is no way I will do it prior to sailing. On the subject of Head Waiters, I only tip when they provide me with a service. There are a few who are excellent and very interested in how you are enjoying your cruise, others barely speak, so none for them! Tipping is a reward for a job well done.

Posts: 19 | From: canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-03-2000 08:13 PM

nononsense42 - did Premier say you COULD pay tips by credit card or that tips would be CHARGED to your credit card?
I would be extremely upset if any cruise line decided to charge my credit card with any amount which I had not authorized.......I'd refuse tp pay. As you say, "I would consider at the end of my cruise going to the desk and stating how much I wanted to put on my card and for whom. That would be a convenience. They would have to provide me with vouchers to give to the staff."
Happy cruisin'

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

nononsense42
First Class Passenger
Member # 1013

posted 02-07-2000 08:04 AM

The info I received with my tickets on the Seabreeze states as follows:
For your convenience gratuities for your on board personnel will automatically be posted to your on board account. Prepaid gratuities described below are for the entire cruise for each person in the stateroom. Should you wish to make adjustments to your account, the Pursers Desk staff on board will assist you.
It sounds like I will have to be INCONVENIENCED by making a trip to the pursers desk to have the charges removed. Very annoying!

Posts: 19 | From: canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 02-07-2000 10:47 PM

When we were on the S/S REMBRANDT, when I asked the Ladies at the Purser's Desk. They told me that we
could print do not include gratuities on my account. You word it exactly that way in the area where it says about the gratuities spot is on your sheet. And they did'nt bill us since we handled the
payment in person to each who took
care of us on the cruise.

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Lrus
Just Boarded
Member # 1079

posted 02-08-2000 05:59 PM

I believe we should have the choice. However, I prefer waiting until the cruise is almost over as I usually tip more than recommended if the service is excellent!

PS..Would love information on the Rembrandt!
We sail her 4/2.

Posts: 1 | From: Duluth, GA USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun2
First Class Passenger
Member # 975

posted 02-09-2000 10:44 AM

From some of the above inputs, I"d lay bets that cruise lines are having some staffing problems as a result of reduced tipping. In my own recent experience there were quite a few first timers who appeared to be in the lower income group. There is nothing wrong in this, but any cost cutting they might make would probably be in gratuities.
I predict that we may shortly see a "service charge" in addition to port taxes etc.
Its only a matter of which line is first.

Posts: 26 | From: burlington,ont,can | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 02-09-2000 02:46 PM

Well, it really has not beet that long ago that one would pay cash for drinks and tip the waiter then! Now I believe all lines have included it in the price. That was when a beer was $1.85 - $210 ea. (maybe it has been quite awhile ago. I think that there are some that are poor tippers or not at all.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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