Onboard gratuities on cruise ships do you have to pay these,can i refuse if i want to?

Question

Have the ships got the right to make you pay, or is it optional

Answer 1

On the BIG liners, e.g. the QE2, it is obligatory. On cheap ones, it is up to you. If you don't, remember, as they will, service is always better if you stay 'friends'

Answer 2

Different cruise lines have different policies. Some just include it in the costs now. When we went on Holland America, my mother -in law said to bring $100 in cash for tips. I thought she was crazy and ridiculous, but by the end of the cruise we were practically chasing the guys down to throw money at them because they were SO nice, helpful, learned our names, catered to our eccentricities, that we were very happy to tip them. I don't know when they ever had time off, slept, ate, or anything because they were always available. Our cabin steward and dining attendant felt like old friends by the end of the cruise. The policy at the time was to only tip at the end of the cruise, and they provided envelopes if you wanted to.  I don't think they get paid that much, and so it didn't seem unfair to tip them.

So, check with the cruise line's website and learn about their policies.

Answer 3

Optional; however, IF you receive great service, your room steward helps you out with your requests, the head waiter helps you, then these deserve some form of a tip.  Its like tipping for restaurant services when you eat in a restaurant.  have a great time.

Answer 4

Bob.  You can see the purser and tell him you don't want to have tips included in your 'fare'.  You can then just tip the people who look after you like the waiter or cleaner.  I don't like the system as we did pay and then it is shared with all the staff, but some people on our table opted out and just tipped their cabin staff.  This was cheaper for them, and they were obviously better thought of by the cabin staff, but it then seemed unfair on us as we tipped far more. Its personal choice

Answer 5

They made me pay for it up front. $10 a day. Technically it's optional, but you have to actually tell them to take it off or decrease it. But I would leave it on until the last day. You'll still have that choice at the end. This way, if you choose not to tip them, or tip them less, they won't know it until you're gone.

Answer 6

If you are SO CHEAP that you refuse to tip, then go the purser's desk and they will remove the charges

Answer 7

The tips are optional.

However, you should be aware that "for your convenience", Carnival charges the tips to your on-board account the moment you step on board.

You will need to go to the pursers desk the first night at sea and tell them you prefer to handle the tips personally and request that they remove the charges from your account.

Other lines still use the tip envelopes so you don't have to take any action.

However, you will find the service staff on a cruise ship to be exceptional!  We have been cruising since 1989 and I have only declined to tip one service person.

Answer 8

Tipping is optional

Answer 9

Give good tips. A bartender on Princess for instance is only paid $800 a month, that's £400 in English money. They rely on tips to give them a bit of spending money. They have to be off ship for at least two months a year in which time they don't get paid as each cruise they do is a separate contract. Consequently any money they are able to save all goes to paying rent etc once back in the UK for 2 mths.

Answer 10

right , we've been a few times on p&o oceana. on her they are doing a test,wheras they debit your account say for a fortnights cruise £3.75 a day per person. now you have the option to cancell this which we do. the idea is you dont feel obliged to tip anyone at the end of youre cruise. but our way of thinking is tip who you think deserves tipping,your cabin steward,and waiters at your evening dinner table. the £3.75 per person is just a rough guide what they set out for you to tip,but tip who and what if anything you think is about right,there is no obligation.

Answer 11

What if you were the sever or bartender...you wouldn't want to be refused...they are SERVING You, why would you NOT tip...selfish

Answer 12

The tips are reccomended but not required..but if you go on either a very long cruise or expensive one, then the gratuities are included...it will say that when you purchase the cruise if its included or not

Answer 13

I couldn't have said it better than Double A. If you're too cheap to tip, maybe you shouldn't cruise. These people get paid squat and work their butts off for you.

Answer 14

optional

Answer 15

Some of the people who work on them are from all over the world and send most of their money back home. To be honest i`m more uncomfortable with someone else making my bed for me than giving them a tip.

Answer 16

They wont MAKE you pay,its optional,but expected.

You wont be very popular with the staff if you dont,you will probably have to wait twice as long as the tippers for everything.

Answer 17

Hi.

The bar tenders, waiters and cabin stewards make very little money a month and rely upon tips, that why their service is impeccable and second to none. Can you imagine working day in day out and having to have a huge smile on your face and doing your job to the best of your ability when you are missing your family and friends back home?

If one person ie a bartender doesn't meet your requirements of customer service, please take the time to find out their by looking at their name badge and then ask for the gratuity to be taken off!!!!!

I have worked on ships for 10 years and have seen how hurtful it is for the cabin stewards etc to have their tips taken off them for no apparent reason.....its not nice, obviously unless there is a reason, and then this should be taken up with the Pursers desk.......and please dont wait until the last day, as someone else said that they will not know if you have tipped or not.....THAT is just plain RUDE!!!!!

Enjoy your cruise and all that the staff do for you in order to make your stay as comfy as poss......

Answer 18

A gratuity is always optional, but you're a douche bag if you don't tip.

Answer 19

Tipping on a cruise ship is like tipping at a restaurant.  The tip should reflect the level of service you receive.  A tip is optional.  A mandatory service charge is not optional.  You will have to check to see which it is on the ship you are planning to cruise on, since you have not included this information in your question.