NEWS: Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Policy, No Removing Tips Onboard

Of course your opinion matters Yankee47!

This time an old thread got dredged up and its a worthwhile read. All the folks who say they should tip on their own have no clue how the system works. And just how do they plan to "tip" the people they themselves don't personally meet? bah! some folks in here "get it"...we had a separate thread on the mechanics of cruise line gratuities, and how it works...and not for the benefit of those "contract employees either. I deliberately bring a small roll of bill onboard specifically for that purpose. A FEW BUCKS ON BOARD GOES ALOT FURTHER THAN IT DOES ON SHORE. I didn't do it back in the day. I thought the "autogratuity" took care of it. Live and learn. And btw, I haven't ever done it, but if someone is so cheap (or angry) that they want to dispute tips, they should be permitted to do it. not that MY opine means anything.

This is such a lie. They do not refund you back anything. I had this issue happen to me on top of that I tip addition & still was not able to get a refund before I closed my account. So please this is false information. I even had my bank involved. So don’t believe this statement.

Soda and Lee -

I agree that on the surface, allowing cruisers to tip in person would be a better way to do it..

However, when eating at the buffet, would everybody think about tipping the line servers? How about the bar bussers? Or any of the other dozens of staff who work transparently to provide you with your outstanding vacation?

I was about to say this isn't a new policy, but then I realized the original post is a year old.

Sodapop I agree w/ you. I tip my cabin steward at the beginning and tip bartenders and other staff along the way. It I have a consistent wait staff I also tip them at the end of the week. My point that those who are going to tip will continue to do so, even in light of auto gratuities. Those that don't want to tip won't. By the cruise lines charging mandatory tips under the guise of it ALL being for the crew, I believe this is bogus. I think it is another way for them to make money. If is ALL goes to the staff wonderful . . . . but I don't believe this is the case. I believe they have found another way to profit off the backs of some very hard working people. I don't have a problem w/ paying the auto gratuities I just don't believe they go where they say, so I do endeavor to tip the staff that work hard to make my vacation a happy one.

I tip well and am happy to do so. Our upcoming cruise the amt is $16.99/day per person. Great, no problem. I will also tip the concierge in advance some amount and if helpful more than that at the end. Same with the butler (beginning of cruise always)...then again at the end if consistent but a larger amount. I tip the cabin stewards as I go typically and always room service/porters/bartenders. It's just part of the cost of travel anywhere. I would at a hotel so what's the difference? IT's easier for the cruise line to not include the gratuities in the fare as they would have to pay income tax on it but not really receive it---it would be part of their profitability...plus I think people recognize the need for all those staff members. Everybody tries to get out of paying money and some people think it's clever to remove tips, or return dresses at stores they wore several times, or take tires back to Nordstrom...I get it---it's just dishonest not clever. The workers on those ships are doing things you will hopefully never have to nor will your children: thank them with money--- it's that simple.

Auto gratuities are a money grab for the cruise lines, pure and simple. Why else would they not allow cruisers to tip the staff on their own. It worked for the cruise industry for years. Now all of a sudden its a problem. I do believe that the staff do get a PORTION of the gratuities collected but I also believe that the cruise companies skim some of this money. Their have been plenty of articles that address the low wages that cruise workers receive. This is the reason that the cruise companies register in foregian countries so their are not wage concerns as to how they pay their workers. As long as we continue to cruise the companies will continue to come up with ever more creative ways to separate us from our money. Never forget this is a business and every business will continue to make money. Cruising is more popular than ever.

http://marketrealist.com/2015/01/breaking-royal-caribbeans-operating-costs/

My post was not permitted